Kids on the Coast Magazine - Sunshine Coast - Issue 81. July/August 2017

ISSUE 81 July/August 2017 SUNSHINE COAST

www.kidsonthecoast.com.au

FREE TO TAKE HOME

EDUCATION: Why creativity is critical in the modern classroom

FAMILY: Simple craft ideas for non-crafty parents

LOCAL: The best arts and crafts activities in your area

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I’ll be honest, when we decided to do a ‘Creative’ issue, I was a little hesitant.

I’ve never been a crafty parent. I’d rather sort laundry than trawl through Pinterest and birthday cakes in my house only happen with a LOT of help from Betty Crocker. Nevertheless, I boldly stepped outside my comfort zone for a month of dress ups, collage and far too much glitter … and I learnt a lot along the way.

Because I discovered that it really doesn’t matter if your creations always end up as stick figures or badly arranged chocolate sprinkles. Creativity is about so much more than being able to paint a picture, or expertly decorate a cake.

Luckily for me, creativity isn’t about talent. It’s about opening yourself up to new concepts, and about mindset and how you approach the world. Do you follow the rules and colour inside the lines, or are you able to view things a little differently, finding alternative ways to approach a situation or idea?

Creativity will lead to future inventors, future problem solvers and future leaders. And in our rapidly changing world, where we have no idea what roles will even exist for our little ones by the time they grow up, creative thinking and the adaptability this frame of mind brings is increasingly critical for their future happiness and success.

This need for creative thinking is the topic of our Education feature, where we delve into the 4Cs, and why creativity is critical in the modern classroom. In our Babies section we look at music for babies and why it’s never too young to introduce music and rhythm to our littlest ones. We have some great (and VERY simple) craft ideas for non-crafty parents, including some super-easy Book Week costumes, whilst our Local guide rounds up the best arts and crafts activities in your area. And for the app-happy kids, we test out the latest tech toys and games designed to spark creativity in even the most screenhungry of little ones. And with all the usual news, local events, school notices and reviews, there is something for every budding artist!

As always, if you have a story to share, or any feedback, do drop me a line on editor@mothergoosemedia.com.au, I’d love to hear from you!

Visit www.kidsonthecoast.com.au or

Happy glittering!

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Angela Sutherland, Editor

JULY/AUGUST 2017

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[CONTENTS]

COVER PHOTOGRAPHY Verve Portraits Prop designs & styling: Michelle Craik Jacket: Evolve, Peregian Beach

Saskia, 8 years

3 FROM THE EDITOR

24 FAMILY: Craft for the non-crafty parent

6 WHAT’S ON: The best local events for May and June

30 LOCAL: Live, create, play local

8 SOCIAL: What's trending on our social pages 10 WHAT’S NEWS: The latest news in your area 12 NOTICEBOARD: All the news and achievements from our local schools 16 EDUCATION: The Four Cs and creativity in the 21st century classroom 22 CHECK THIS OUT: Seriously cool products to encourage kids to create, imagine and play!

34 EARLY LEARNING: Sparking early literacy with creative play 36 BABIES: Groovy Baby – the gift of music for our littlest creators 42 TECH: Get creative with technology 46 LOCAL LIFE: Baby Give Back 48 WEB WRAP UP: The latest from online 50 REVIEWS: Movies, books and apps

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

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FREE SHOWS

animal EncOuntERS

BinDI’S ISlanD

EXPLORE AFRiCa

Open daily 9:00am - 5:00pm (Closed Christmas Day) Steve Irwin Way, Beerwah, Sunshine Coast, Queensland

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3058

australiazoo.com.au

ast

WHAT'S ON Co ine

Visit ou r website to see more events!

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DON'T MISS OUT ON ANY EVENTS! Sign up at www.kidsonthecoast.com.au for our weekly What’s On guide.

JULY 7 TO 9 QUEENSLAND GARDEN EXPO This three-day expo is Queensland’s premier gardening event attracting over 35,000 visitors from all over Australia and New Zealand. Some of Australia’s leading Gardening experts take part in lectures, demonstrations and workshops. www.qldgardenexpo.com.au

JULY 8 & 9 ABBEY MEDIEVAL FESTIVAL Australia’s largest Medieval event!

Experience Medieval times up close and personal, hold a bird of prey, meet a jouster, hear the clash of swords, taste the medieval foods and delight in the colour and pageantry of the dark ages. www.abbeymedievalfestival.com

JULY 21 NATIONAL PYJAMA DAY By wearing your favourite PJs (to school or work) and by making a donation, you’ll be making a difference to the lives of children in foster care. www.nationalpyjamaday.com

JULY 21 TO 30 NOOSA ALIVE! A 10-day festival of theatre, literature, music, dance, film, visual arts, cuisine and barrier-breaking forums, in one of Australia’s most enviable destinations: Noosa Heads. www.noosaalive.com.au

AUGUST 1 CIRQUE AFRICA

AUGUST 5 BUDERIM STREET PARTY

This vibrant and highly entertaining blockbuster production which transports each audience to the positive side of Africa through modern stage performance. www.theeventscentre.com.au

This is a massive night of street entertainment, music, fun and food for everyone. The streets will be blocked off from the small roundabout in Burnett Street, down Main Street to Centreview Court. www.buderim.com/buderim-street-party

AUGUST 20 7 SUNSHINE COAST MARATHON

AUGUST 12 & 13 SUNSHINE COAST INTERNATIONAL READERS AND WRITERS FESTIVAL

TOP 5

ART GALLERIES

& MUSEUMS Caloundra Regional Art Gallery Monteville Art Gallery Art Nuvo Gallery Queensland Air Museum Abbey Museum

With a distance to suit every ability and age group, this communityfocused, world-class athletic event caters to all those wanting to take part, including families. www.sunshinecoastmarathon.com.au

The Festival features authors, poets, songwriters, musicians, publishers, illustrators, comic book writers, indigenous writers, storytellers, environmentalists and surfing writers. www.sunshinecoastreadersandwritersfestival.com

AUGUST 25 TO 3 SEPTEMBER HORIZON FESTIVAL OF ARTS AND CULTURE AUGUST 25 WE’RE GOING ON A BEAR HUNT The wonderful story of a family out for walk and on the lookout for a growling bear. They have to march through long, swishy grass, wade through thick gloopy mud and maybe they will finally spot the bear. www.theeventscentre.com.au

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From the coast to the hinterland, Horizon brings together an incredible array of colourful creatives and partner events featuring art, music, film, food, culture, exhibitions and creativity. www.horizonfestival.com.au

AUGUST 26 NOOSA CRAFT BEER FESTIVAL There are celebrity guests, charity raffles and talks on brewing techniques, as well as kids’ entertainment, face painting, balloon making, jumping castle. www.noosareef.com.au

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

Sun

Anything is

Possible Connect@Immanuel

Open Morning

24 August We understand that each child is unique

immanuel.qld.edu.au kidsonthecoast.com.au • kidsinthecity.com.au

Our focus is on discovering what makes each child special, and encouraging them to develop their own personality. We surround them with an environment that embraces their individuality and allows them to explore new and innovative ways to look at the world.

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SOCIAL

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Join us ... for daily conversation, insp iration and information CREATIVE INSTAGRAMS TO INSPIRE @funcraftskids

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FOLLOW US ON INSTAGRAM ‌ See behind the scenes,

events & more! @kidsinthecitymagazine @kidsonthecoastmagazine

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Whats news 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 editor@mothergoosemedia.com.au.

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

DID YOU KNOW THE SNOWY MOUNTAINS RECEIVE MORE SNOW THAN SWITZERLAND

Pteronophobia is the fear of being tickled by feathers!

ALTHOUGH POLAR BEARS HAVE WHITE,

FLUFFY FUR, THEIR SKIN IS ACTUALLY

BLACK

IF YOU LIFT A KANGAROO’S TAIL OFF THE GROUND IT CAN’T HOP

IN 2015, MORE PEOPLE

WERE KILLED FROM INJURIES CAUSED

BY TAKING A SELFIE THAN BY SHARK ATTACKS

THE GOOD MAN PROJECT

A new book aims to tackle domestic violence by focusing on establishing good role models for young boys to help them grow into a good man. Written by Sunshine Coast author Angela Bueti, The Good Man Project will be distributed to all primary schools across Australia along with its companion Teacher’s Guide which has been prepared

by Sunshine Coast Grammar School.

“The book is fantastic, it’s fun and engaging and we believe it goes a long way towards helping young boys make good decisions around their attitude and behaviour towards women,” Chris Turner, SunnyKids CEO said. “It’s clear that what’s been done in the past isn’t getting through, and it’s effecting every community including the Sunshine Coast where 56 domestic violence incidents were reported from Good Friday until Easter Monday this year.”

Ms Bueti said she has been delighted the way the Sunshine Coast community has joined together to provide a long-term solution to address domestic violence. “Good men come in all shapes and sizes, as well as different age groups and nationalities; we want kids, especially young boys, to be able to recognise those positive characteristics in the good men around them and to aspire to be like them.”

YOUNG FILMMAKERS MAKE THEIR MARK ON THE COAST If you have a budding filmmaker with a passion for the environment and who dreams of following in the footsteps of eco-documentary greats, a new film competition on the Sunshine Coast could be their first step to sharing their films with the world.

Council is calling on all young aspiring Sunshine Coast filmmakers and environmentalists to submit a short two-minute documentary-style film featuring the Coast’s brilliant biodiversity.

There are some great prizes up for grabs including a GoPro camera and chance to work with well-known local composer and multi-media artist Linsey Pollack on a custom-made audio soundtrack for the film.

Details of how to enter, as well as a full list of themes can be found at www.marycairncross.com.au.

Films can be up to two minutes long and anyone under 18 years of age and living on the Sunshine Coast can enter.

Entries close on Friday, August 18.

4 INGREDIENTS AUTHOR WINS INTERNATIONAL AWARD Sunshine Coast businesswoman and writer of the successful 4 Ingredients cookbooks, Kim McCosker, is the winner of the 2017 International Gourmand Award – Cookbooks Best Selling Author at the Gourmand Awards ceremony in Yantai, China. The annual awards, which were founded in 1995 by Edouard Cointreau, honour the best food and wine books and food television in the world and have been compared to the ‘Oscars’ for the industry.

Kim McCosker’s 4 ingredients Slow Cooker book won the Cookbooks Best Selling Author against seven other shortlisted authors from across the globe. Kim self-funded the 4 Ingredients project and sold the books door-to-door to maximise her zero budget marketing strategy. Her books are now sold in 26 countries and printed in six languages.

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GRAMMAR

BOOK YOUR SEAT

www.scgs.qld.edu.au/Open Day

SECONDARY OPEN DAY PRIMARY OPEN DAY Wednesday 16 August, 2017 Wednesday 30 August, 2017 Sunshine Coast Grammar School 372 Mons Road, Forest Glen Qld telephone 07 5445 4444 email enquire@scgs.qld.edu.au web www.scgs.qld.edu.au

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A School of the Presbyterian and Methodist Schools Association

JULY/AUGUST 2017

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NOTICE BOARD All the news and achievements from ou r local schools

STUDENTS’ VIRTUAL TREK ACROSS THE GLOBE Year 4 students at Pacific Lutheran College are participating in Out of Eden: Project Learn – a joint collaboration between Harvard’s Project Zero and National Geographic.

CREATIVE CARE FOR LITTLE LEARNERS A new childcare centre with a focus on creative learning is opening in Peregian Breeze in July. Big Day Out Care & Education Centre has been custom designed and built by a dedicated team of local people who know and understand early childhood.

Operator Pam Maclean has 30 years’ experience in the early childhood world, holds a Master’s Degree in Education and has previously operated several high quality centres – her last centre was named in the Prime Minister’s top three businesses in its category in Australia. Offering care for children from 6 weeks of age to school age, the new centre offers an approved kindergarten program as well as before and after school care and vacation care. “Our play spaces encourage children to cooperate with friends creating imaginative games or explore independently.”

The centre also offers the BDO Studio where children can create, experiment, and experience creative sessions with visiting accomplished local artists.

PROMOTING LITERACY WITH SUNSHINE BEACH STATE SCHOOL Sunshine Beach State School and Noosa Library Service have joined forces to promote literacy in the wider community. A group of students from the school’s Junior Literacy Leadership program joined librarians to read stories and sing songs to the young, eager learners. Year 4 student Timothy said of his first experience: “It wasn’t as scary as I thought it would be. They (the young children) are really funny and they ask so many questions!’ Student Zara said she wished she could play in kindergarten all day while Luna said: “I was so nervous, but I didn’t need to be. I want to do it again.”

Tara Bruin, who works in the Prep Transition Program that supports children moving from Kindergarten into Prep at Sunshine Beach State School, says, “We really value the relationship that we are building with Noosa Library service. The librarians have been wonderful to work with and it makes sense to work in partnership, with our shared focus of the promotion of literacy and reading with young children.”

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Students are placed into ‘walking groups’ with young people from around the world and virtually follow the footsteps of Journalist Paul Salopek as he treks from Africa to South America following the old Silk Road.

Hayden (left) and Toby (right) connecting with their online walking groups.

Year 4 teacher, Mr Damian Davis, said it was an exciting journey to be involved in.

“Every 100 miles, Paul posts an update. Through the online portal, students then reflect on the update, complete activities and share their understandings and thoughts with others,” Mr Davis said. “Our students have conversed with and learnt from young people all over the world including Brazil, Greece and the USA.” Students, Toby Creamer and Hayden Burnett, have enjoyed the project so far. “We’ve learnt a lot about how people in different countries travel to school, the foods they eat and their surroundings,” they said. “The project has taught us to listen to others and to be more aware of our surroundings as you might just learn something new!” kidsonthecoast.com.au • kidsinthecity.com.au

OPENING

August 2017 Peregian Breeze

where everyday is an adventure...

Big Day Out Care & Education has been custom designed and built by a dedicated team of local people who know and understand early childhood. Our operator is an award winning director with over 35 years experience in early childhood education. You know your family will receive the best care.

Big Day Out Care & Education of fers busy families:

Beautiful meals prepared, on site, daily Appealing, well equipped, stimulating indoor and outdoor play spaces Nappies and sheets for infants The BDO Studio provides opportunities to develop creative thinking and explore different learning experiences

Contact us to reserve your place

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15 California Blvd, Peregian Springs, QLD | breeze@bigdayout.net.au | www.bigdayout.net.au | 0412 525 426

PREP OPEN MORNING find your child’s future

OPEGN P E R P IN MORN th uly 20 Jm 9a

re ngs a Bookoiuraged u.au enc c.qld.ed .nc www

F RE E OFFER 12 AUGUST

Under Th e Stars

Animal Nursery Gourmet Market Stalls Show Bags Crazy Hair Great Food & Coffee FREE RIDES OFFER Entertainment FOR UNDER PREP’S Silent Auction We are offering your under Prep aged Books & DVD’s children FREE access to age appropriate Second-hand items rides at our Carnival. Present this flyer to the Cakes & Games Rides booth at the Carnival and you will be issued with a ride band entitling your child Face Painting to ride free for 6 hours. You can purchase Fireworks ride tickets for other children at the Carnival. + more

6 HOURS O F F RE E RI D ES FO

R UNDE 5 YE AR O R LDS

Loads of fun for the whole family.

www.ncc.qld.edu.au

JULY/AUGUST 2017 Road, Woombye QLD 4559 | (07) 5451 3333 14 2 McKenzie

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At NCC early learners, every element in our centres have been chosen to encourage children to explore and create, with space for learning through drawing, creative play, stories and music.

With two campuses on the Sunshine Coast, parents have the choice to discover the joy of learning that’s best suited for their child.

SOME EARLY ADVANTAGES

Fro e a rl y m a g e 2 . 5 h av e l e a r n e r s a ye a r s , a t e a ch s w i m l e s N a m b o u r s o n in we e k s w im w i t h a n N cl u d e d m er s CC e a A gr e in s t rl y a gain t way for ructor. ch il d w at e r r co n s af e t fiden en to y sk hand ills and es ce and y f or p e ci a bu lly a n d d s y m um s a ds .

ACTIVE KIDS SPORTS PROGRAM This super fun program includes a focus on ball skills, dance, balance and fitness and is designed to enhance motor skills in young children giving life-long benefit.

WE HAVE OUR OWN FARM Based in Nambour, our campus is surrounded by a five-acre farm where visits to the miniature horses and chickens, learning to care for animals and growing fruit and vegetables is a part of the NCC experience.

BUDERIM CAMPUS

Our Reggio Emilia focused approach emphasises hands-on discovery learning, through investigation and exploration.

With natural materials and surroundings, our educators collaborate, inspire and engage with your child.

NAMBOUR CAMPUS

Our uniquely designed facility enhances the children’s learning and we also offer weekly swimming lessons with our very own pool on site. The children venture into the community on excursions designed around their interests which previously have seen the children enjoy Australia Zoo, Maroochy Botanical Gardens and the Ginger Factory.

COME AND SEE MORNINGS

Join the fun of Come and See Mornings to learn more about the opportunities available at NCC early learners.

These open mornings offer a range of activities for your child to enjoy while you meet the teachers.

Come and See Mornings are held every second Wednesday from 9:30–11:00am.

Contact our centres to register.

www.nccearlylearners.com.au

2017 15 34 McKenzie Road, Woombye p: 5451 3330 | 1-3 Lakeshore Ave, Buderim p:JULY/AUGUST 5476 8333

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[EDUCATION]

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[EDUCATION]

the

FOUR Cs CREATIVITY IN THE 21ST CENTURY CLASSROOM

“THE ILLITERATE OF THE 21ST CENTURY WILL NOT BE THOSE WHO CANNOT READ AND WRITE, BUT THOSE WHO CANNOT LEARN, UNLEARN, AND RELEARN.” --ALVIN TOFFLER Since the phrase ‘The Three Rs’ was first coined way back in 1825, reading, writing and arithmetic have become the cornerstone of education. School days were spent sitting in rows learning by repetition and asking impromptu questions was generally discouraged. However, as we rapidly advance into the digital era, is this 20th century educational mindset still relevant, and does it suitably prepare our children for success in the modern world?

In 2002, the Partnership for 21st Century Skills began looking at the skills students need to be successful citizens beyond school. They identified a set of four essential skills they call the ‘Four Cs’: critical thinking, creativity, collaboration and communication. Since then, schools across Australia have been shifting their pedagogy to address this new skillset, designing active learning environments where students are encouraged to ask questions; where they seek out relevant information and then apply their findings.

Mrs Sue Zweck, Head of Teaching and Learning K-5 at Pacific Lutheran College, explains, “The reality is that today’s wealth of information makes it essential that every student must be able to compare and evaluate facts and opinions and make decisions based on that analysis.

We need citizens who know more than ‘about’ something, kidsonthecoast.com.au • kidsinthecity.com.au

we need citizens who can take information and apply it to solve problems and create solutions.”

As we move from a manufacturing and industrial economy to a complex future of information and technology, creative thinking skills, adaptability and innovation are now top of the skillset list for many businesses, as they increasingly recognise that these are the skills that will keep companies growing and profitable. The Ernst & Young 2010 Connecting Innovation to Profit report stated: “The ability to manage, organise, cultivate and nurture creative thinking is directly linked to growth and achievement … We assume that 50 per cent of our revenue in five years’ time must come from sources that do not exist today. That is why we innovate.”

The CEDA (Committee for Economic Development in Australia) estimates that, due to technological advancement, more than five million (or 40 per cent) of Australian jobs have a moderate to high likelihood of disappearing in the next 10–15 years. This means that one in three preschoolers today will grow up to pursue careers that don’t yet exist, many of these probably being contract or shifting roles as opposed to steady, full-time positions. To support them in this, we need them to be able to flourish in a culture of innovation, self-reliance and change.

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[EDUCATION]

WHY IS CREATIVITY CRITICAL TO THE MODERN CLASSROOM? # Creative thinking encourages children to explore, enquire and discover, which are all crucial for innovation. # Because children are more engaged and interested, creative learning gives them a deeper understanding of what is being taught and they retain more of their learning. # Creative thinking encourages children to feel safe in taking risks in their enquiries. # Without feeling there is right and wrong, children have the opportunity to question and grow. # Creative thinking encourages thinking outside the box and develops problem-solving skills.

CRITICAL THINKING

CREATIVITY

Leading to better concentration, deeper analytical abilities and improved thought processing, critical thinking has always been a much-respected skill in high-achieving roles.

But in an information-driven world where you must sift through the vast array of information to make decisions and find solutions, it has now become a vital skill for everyone – whether choosing household insurance or solving climate change. As well, the jobs least likely to be outsourced or automated are those roles that require critical thinking, complex communication and expert thinking.

If we look at the big picture, creativity is at the root of progression. Without it there would be no books, no cars, no medical breakthroughs and no space missions. Creativity calls for curiosity, abstract thought, innovation and empathy.

It requires perseverance and teamwork as well as spontaneity and self-expression. These are all skills that are now critical in today’s world of mass communication and information overload.

As Sir Kenneth Robinson, international advisor on education and the arts said, “Creativity is as important in education as literacy and we should treat it with the same status.”

To introduce critical thinking into their classrooms, Sue Zweck explains that Pacific Lutheran use the Teaching for Understanding and Visible Thinking from Harvard. “These frameworks guide us to plan instruction that promote higher-order thinking – requiring them to think, internalise and contextualise. Our classroom cultures value questions more than answers and students are equipped with skills for categorising, deconstructing big ideas into component parts and building relationships.”

To promote creativity in students, Pacific Lutheran provide a learning culture that values and promotes creative behaviours. “One of the biggest predictors of a person’s creative capacity is their openness to experience. We ensure classroom cultures value risk-taking and that difference can help students overcome their reluctance to try new things, especially those things at which they might not initially excel. We make it clear that creativity is a positive, valued attribute of every student.”

ENCOURAGING THE 4 CS AT HOME* Use resources that support Accept the mess that goes with creative interactions investigations, critical and pursuits! thinking and reflections.

Use information books and IT.

Make the time to have conversations about the how, when and why, depending on the child’s interests and responses.

Visit nature, the museum, art galleries and other events for as long as the child is interested – it should be fun, because learning is fun!

*Courtesy of Kath Reilly (EN, BFA) Artist in Residence at Banks Street Kindy and Ann Lock (B.Ed Dip BKTC), Director and Educational Leader of Banks Street.

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DISCOVERSUNCOAST

Pre-Kindy & Kindy in the heart of Suncoast Christian College

DISCOVER the difference 

Loving and respectful Christ-centred approach



High ratio of fully degree qualified teachers



Pioneers of Bush Kindy



No Kindergarten fees on school holidays



Access to College library, computer lab, community garden and sporting facilities



It’s OK to get Dirty!

DISCOVER for yourself 

Stay and Play Thursdays - curious kids and parents to spend a morning with us.



In the heart of Suncoast Christian College, Cnr Shubert & Kiel Mtn Roads, Woombye

Enquiries: Janelle Appo on 5451 3600

Personal Tours - Book a tour and meet the staff and children at Little Learners.

suncoastlittlearners.com.au kidsonthecoast.com.au • kidsinthecity.com.au

JULY/AUGUST 2017

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[EDUCATION]

COMMUNICATION Effective communication skills have always been highly valued.

However, with the changing nature of literacy, being able to share thoughts, questions, ideas, and solutions in ways others can understand is now essential to 21st century life.

In a world where customer relationships are critical and immediate, communication is far more complex, requiring negotiation across many platforms. Employees need to be able to understand, listen, empathise and communicate in different languages and across several continents.

Students must be capable of clear, concise writing as well as effectively using new modes of communication such as video and multimedia tools.

Giving students audiences for their work that value the content and delivery for more than academic purposes is one way of addressing this. “Technology makes it easy to connect students to the world around them, providing an authentic audience for their communication, explains Sue Zweck. “The Web makes it easy to connect to a specific audience, allowing students to share an idea or solution that make a real difference in the lives of real people.”

COLLABORATION Due to globalisation and the rise of technology, collaboration has become critical to 21st century success.

Where traditional roles saw individuals working alone, much of today’s significant work is achieved through teamwork, in many cases global teams, where we ‘use the wisdom of crowds’. As author James Surowiecki stated, “A large group of diverse individuals will come up with better and more robust forecasts and make more intelligent decisions than even the most skilled ‘decision maker.’”

Learning to build on one another’s knowledge and expertise involves respect, listening, and contributing.

At Pacific Lutheran, they scaffold the learning process by assigning roles, allowing students to see the different tasks needed to complete a project and understand how their strengths can contribute to the overall success of their group. Sue Zweck explains, “We also make sure students have time and opportunities to reflect on their own strengths and weakness, as well as how to utilise the strengths of their team members for maximum effect.”

Pacific Lutheran is a leading Kindergarten to Year 12 learning community on the Sunshine Coast that provides a rich education for a well-rounded life. To find out more about the college and their programs, head to pacificlutheran.qld.edu.au or contact (07) 5436 7300.

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Acquiring these skills isn’t something that waits until formal education begins. Kath Reilly, Artist in Residence at Banks Street Kindy believes that children need time to practise and develop these skills, and providing opportunities for children to explore play ideas with loose materials is a key part in this process. “We encourage the children to think that they are not able to do something ‘yet’ and to keep practising. It’s okay to make mistakes – what can the child learn from these mistakes.”

Through their Artist in Residence Program, Kath works with the children either in small groups or individually responding to and guiding the children in developing their knowledge and skills. “All their life skills and dispositions are being developed and practised, as they engage in activities that encourage creative thinking – pre-literacy and pre-numeracy skills, fine and gross motor skills, self-regulation, higherorder thinking, language and communication skills and socio-emotional skills as they share ideas and resources,” Kath explains. “From this, children are developing personal and learning dispositions that assist their learning journey; especially the resilience to persevere with ideas.”

Banks Street Kindy is a nurturing early childhood setting that extends children’s literacy, numeracy, communication and socio-emotional skills through art, dance and dramatic play. Find out more about their programs at www.banksstkindy.org or contact (07) 3352 6940.

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VISIT OUR NEW EARLY LEARNING SPACES!

Growing people

to make a difference

FROM

2 Yrs +

Pacific Lutheran Early Learning encourages children to grow through connections with people and places. Co-located on the Pacific Lutheran College campus, our centre provides an inspiring environment where your child can explore their interests and flourish.

Core focus on relationships

New flexible learning spaces

Specialist early childhood staff

Kindergarten program within a long day care model

VISIT US ON ANY WEEK DAY! CONTACT Chris Henschke, College Registrar on 5436 7321 Woodlands Boulevard, Meridan Plains 4551

pacificlutheran.qld.edu.au kidsonthecoast.com.au • kidsinthecity.com.au

JULY/AUGUST 2017

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[CHECK THIS OUT]

PLAYMAIS WORLD FARM

RRP $44.95. rainbowfun.com.au This fabulous eco-friendly creative activity will fire any child’s imagination and keep them busy for hours. Build all your farm buildings, decorate them with PlayMais then create all your favourite farm friends with PlayMais too. PlayMais® is a versatile craft material made from corn starch, water and food colouring. It is natural, safe and 100% biodegradable.

PlayMais® stimulates creativity and helps little fingers build fabulous things. No glue needed. All it takes is water and your imagination! This activity kits contains more than 1000 PlayMais®, pre-cut cardboard, instruction booklet, sponge and biodegradable modelling knife. As much fun to play with as it is to build, this set will provide more than 10 hours of entertainment! Recommended for Ages 5+.

DOODLE FRAME PLACEMATS

RRP $52.00 hardtofind.com.au Make mealtimes fun with this set of four 100% cotton printed placemats and ten double-ended wash-out pens from eatsleepdoodle. Kids can doodle, draw and scribble on their placemats, and when their masterpieces are finished, simply pop in the washing machine for fresh clean canvasses, ready to use again.

KIDS CULT CLOTHING & ACCESSORIES

RRP $25.00–$35.00. kidscult.co Inspired by the traditional Mother’s Group who come together to connect, Kids Cult is designed for anyone who wants to be part of a ‘cool cult’. An uber-cool range of kids’ clothing, hats and accessories, it’s all about encouraging kids and parents to connect to new peeps in their area when they are out and about. The collection features a suite of hats, onesies and tees, car decals and wall hangings each printed with the community of your choice! Whether it’s Sunshine Coast or Gold Coast, Brisbane or Byron, each of the pieces are stamped with a suburb or city around the globe and encourage kids to be proud of where they live and form their own cool little community.

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A $150* online voucher to spend on your own kids’ cult clothing, and be a part of the cool cult!

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kidsonthecoast.com.au • kidsinthecity.com.au

[CHECK THIS OUT]

ART HOUSE

RRP $29.95. mocka.com.au This life-size cardboard cubby house offers hours of creative fun.

Draw, paint, colour, decorate, then have a tea party inside or create an imaginary world outside. Features window, door and shape cut outs.

The perfect gift for the crafty kid.

seriously cool products to

encourage kids

POLYMORPH MOULDABLE PLASTIC

to create, imagine, draw and play!

$24.95. coolthings.com.au Possibly one of the coolest craft materials, polymorph mouldable plastic can be moulded into anything, then painted, carved, or stuck to another object. If you make a mistake, simply reheat the plastic and remould it again and again. Super-easy to use, non-toxic, biodegradable and strong.

Parental supervision is required for kids under 14 years old.

SEEDLING UNDER THE SEA PUPPET PLAYTIME

RRP $29.95. rainbowfun.com.au Enjoy pretend play at home or on-the-go with the Seedling Under The Sea Puppet Playtime Kit. Unfold the cotton tote bag to reveal an ocean floor scene, then place the soft sea creatures into their underwater home. Bring out all your sea creature puppets and create your own underwater adventure story. This adorable role play kit for littlies sparks hours of imaginative play and makes a perfect toddler gift. Recommended for Ages 2+.

DJECO COLLAGE FOR LITTLE ONES

RRP $30.95. rainbowfun.com.au Adorable collage kit for ages 3–6 that includes four animal pictures to make and create.

Contains 4 cardboard pictures, 4 envelopes filled with collage pieces, a glue stick and easyto-understand booklet.

kidsonthecoast.com.au • kidsinthecity.com.au

JULY/AUGUST 2017

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[FAMILY]

CRAFT FOR THE

parent NON-CRAFTY

WE KNOW THAT CREATIVITY IS AN ESSENTIAL PART OF PLAY AND GROWTH FOR LITTLE ONES, BUT FOR MANY PARENTS, CRAFT ISN’T SOMETHING THAT COMES NATURALLY. THERE’S NO SURGE OF GLITTER HORMONES AND NO SUDDEN DESIRE TO SCRAPBOOK THE MINUTE THE BABY ARRIVES! SO, HOW DO YOU GIVE KIDS THAT LITTLE SLICE OF SELF-EXPRESSION AND CREATIVE EXPLORATION, IF YOU AREN’T A CRAFTY PARENT? The first step is to keep things simple and seriously lower your expectations, accepting that whatever you create will never look quite how you imagined. And that is totally fine.

This is one situation where it is really all about the journey and not about the destination. The time you spend together creating something new is all that matters.

If you like to have a reasonably organised house then you might dislike craft activities simply because of the mess they make. This can be solved by creating a ‘messy corner’ of the house. Cover an old kids’ table with a vinyl tablecloth 24

JULY/AUGUST 2017

(cover the floor too, if you like), and this becomes where all painting, gluing and creating happens. Grab some old shoe boxes and create some ‘bits-and-bobs’ drawers filled with pens, pencils, paper, bits of ribbon and stickers. All the mess is then contained to that one area of the house.

If the thought of Pinterest makes you go cold, there is absolutely nothing wrong with heading down to the nearest craft shop and grabbing a few ready-made craft kits. They provide everything you need without you having to plan or design anything in your head. kidsonthecoast.com.au • kidsinthecity.com.au

There’s so much happening here...

You see children playing outdoors, we see...

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Learning through play is so important to us and I feel that she gets the best start at New Leaf!”

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JULY/AUGUST 2017

25

[FAMILY]

3 SIMPLE CRAFT projects

LIFE SIZE PORTRAITS

NATURE COLLAGE

What you need: One large roll of paper (big enough to lie on), felt tip pens, any decorations you can find.

What you need: Coloured pieces of card, glue stick, coloured pencils.

Instructions:

1. Take the card and glue sticks into the garden (or to the local park).

1. Roll out the paper.

2. Take turns to lie on the paper whilst the other traces around your outline.

3. Then stand up and decorate the life-size drawing. You can colour in clothes and features, stick on string hair, and add pasta jewellery.

Instructions:

2. Gather sticks, leaves, and stick in a pattern to the card.

3. You can use coloured pencils to draw around the leaves, add patterns, or turn them into a picture.

Visit our Pinterest page for more crafty ideas

TISSUE PAPER STAINED GLASS WINDOWS What you need: Clear contact, different coloured tissue paper, torn into small shapes.

Instructions: 1. Take a square of contact, remove the backing, place on a table sticky side up.

2. Stick the tissue paper onto the contact in different patterns, leaving a small space around the edge of the contact.

3. When happy with the design, stick the contact onto the window for the light to shine through the tissue paper.

Need more creative inspiration? Check out these fabulous Insta feeds.

@BabbleDabbleDo

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@art_we_inspire

@raisingcreativekids

@handywithscissors

kidsonthecoast.com.au • kidsinthecity.com.au

Flower crown parties

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27

[FAMILY]

BOOK WEEK: 19-25 AUGUST 2017 For most non-crafty parents, Book Week will likely be a dark cloud looming on the school calendar. Here are a few great ideas for costumes that require zero craft skills.

FOIL CROWN

Crowns and royalty can be applied to many books and most themes. Simply cut a crown shape from cardboard, staple together at the back and then cover in aluminium foil.

Feeling clever? Decorate with stickers that look like gems.

PIRATE

The ‘go-to’ basic kids costume, a pirate can be easily rustled up using a stripy t-shirt, bandana on the head, an eye patch. If you are really stuck, the dollar store always has pirate accessories such as a hat or a telescope.

2017 THEME: ‘ESCAPE TO EVERYWHERE’ HARRY POTTER/HERMIONE GRANGER

A black robe, a wand. Doesn’t get much easier than that!

CHARLIE BUCKET

Old clothes and a giant golden ticket made from cardboard.

BUSHRANGER

Khaki clothes, and an old wide-brimmed hat will do here. If you want to go all out and really nail the cliché, attach some corks to the hat with string.

CAPTAIN UNDERPANTS

ANIMAL COSTUME

A cape, some giant undies over a pair of long pants. Done.

Animal costumes are some of the easiest to make because animals often have pronounced and noticeable features that are easy to recreate. Bug eyes? Must be a frog.

Pointy ears and whiskers? Must be a fox. Green woolly jumper and little black ears? Must be the Green Sheep!

WHERE’S WALLY

Red and white striped t-shirt. Old black-rimmed glasses and a red and white bobble hat.

*Remember that Book Week is all about making literacy fun and visual. It is not a parent craft competition!

Help your child choose a book and a character, provide them with the means to make the costume, support them, and take a photo at the end. They will get a lot more out of it if they do it themselves!

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kidsonthecoast.com.au • kidsinthecity.com.au

JULY/AUGUST 2017

29

[LOCAL]

LIVE, CREATE,

play local DO YOU HAVE A BUDDING ARTIST ON YOUR HANDS? OR SIMPLY WANT THE KIDS TO TRY SOMETHING DIFFERENT? FROM CERAMICS TO DRAMA, OUR LITTLE CORNER OF THE WORLD IS BRIMMING WITH CREATIVE ACTIVITIES FOR YOUNG, OLD, AND EVERYONE IN-BETWEEN.

B

RISBANE

RAW ART West End rawart.com.au Raw Art offers a range of art classes for kids from toddlers through to after teenage holiday classes. Toddler classes have a different art experience every day, with clay sculpture, mobiles, or weaving. For the older kids they offer after-school art clubs and holiday classes that cover a wide range of art mediums. They even offer adult classes too!

HUSH LITTLE BABY EARLY CHILDHOOD MUSIC CLASSES Various locations hushlittlebabymusic.com A fun, developmental community music class for children ages 0–5 and their caregivers held weekly across Brisbane. Based on the philosophy that music should belong to everyone, the classes provide a solid basis in music education. They also offer childcare centre music programs, birthday parties and mother’s group classes too!

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BRISBANE YOUTH THEATRE

BIM BAM BOOM

Paddington brisbaneyouththeatre.com.au

Graceville bimbamboom.com.au

Facilitated by professional actors and drama teachers, Brisbane Youth Centre offers after-school programs and school holiday workshops for kids ages 7–17. Nurturing creativity, confidence and growth the classes are adventurous, fun and supportive.

From its Toddlers Get Messy class (for kids ages 2–4), to Mini Artists (kids ages 4–6) and its Art After School classes (for kids ages 5+), there is something for all budding young artists. The little ones enjoy play dough, painting, glue, collage and messy play in shaving cream, while the older kids experiment with painting, pastels, mosaics, clay and much more.

ZOOM ART FOR KIDS Everton Park flyingfoxstudios.com.au Flying Fox offers a unique art curriculum designed to develop a child’s skills, observations, thinking and experiences in the visual arts. Kids learn about a large range of visual art media, techniques and experiences such as drawing, painting and printing.

They have classes for children aged from two, right up to Year 12, with classes for pre-school age children using stories, games and drama to complement the theme of each unit.

Preschool classes run during the day; school-age classes run after school and during school holidays.

WEAVE AND WONDER Various locations around Brisbane weaveandwonder.com Don’t let the name fool you – Weave and Wonder offers much more than weaving classes, although the child’s weaving class is a great place to start. Some of its other offerings include architecture and design for children, clay, drawing, fashion, wirework and textiles.

kidsonthecoast.com.au • kidsinthecity.com.au

[LOCAL]

SUNSHINE

COAST

MY LITTLE ART CLASS Caloundra mylittleartclass.com

MAINLY MUSIC Maroochydore 0401 635 978 A new and exciting addition to the Maroochydore community, Mainly Music sessions bring families together to enjoy music in a fun and engaging way. Perfect for babies, toddlers and pre-schoolers, there are scarves, puppets, simple percussion instruments, hats, pictures. There’s jumping, tapping, dancing, clapping, and after the session there is time for the grown-ups to chat whilst the kids have space for free play.

Music enhances all areas of a child’s development, Mainly Music does that and so much more.

MY SCHOOL OF ART Buderim myschoolofart.com.au My School of Art offers classes for kids ages 4–8 and 8–17. The younger students get to experiment with a variety of mixed media, and the older kids follow specific units covering illustration, ceramics, acrylic painting, block carving, printing and much more. Run by an experienced art teacher, there is something for everyone. Classes run after school through term time. kidsonthecoast.com.au • kidsinthecity.com.au

Students learn drawing and painting techniques including shading, drawing 3D objects, face and body proportions, colour theory and principles of art and design from a qualified art teacher. The classes are split into two age groups: 5–9 years old and 9 years and over.

RHYMETIME Sunshine Coast Libraries library.sunshinecoast.qld.gov.au Rhymetime is a fun session that features songs, rhymes and finger plays to promote early literacy, language development for infants up to two years old. Held regularly at libraries across the region.

GO ARTY Maroochydore Goarty.com.au An art studio offering arty birthday parties and kids classes that focus on canvas and paint. Workshops are flexible, contact for times and party packages. There is also an art gallery on site featuring Australian-made artworks.

A LITTLE CREATIVE Warana alittlecreative.com.au A Little Creative runs a range of art classes and programs for all ages, inspiring budding artists, and making it easier for parents to nurture creativity in their children. Also offers birthday parties at the studio in Warana.

AST GOLD CO ARTLIS STUDIOS Currumbin Artlis.com.au Artlis offers a wonderful range of art classes, suitable for different age groups. Teens (12–16 years) can choose an art therapy session aimed at increasing confidence and self-esteem, while younger kids (5–14 years) can explore a range of media including acrylics, watercolours, oil and chalk pastels, clay, pencil and charcoal, or join the sketch club. They also provide classes for 3–6 years, which are all about play-based learning.

MY SEWING CLUB mysewingclub.com Nerang My Sewing Club offers a range of classes where kids can see a project through from start to finish over a number of sessions. Workshops have included making a peasant top, wrap top and quilted purse. Holiday workshops and birthday parties are available.

JULY/AUGUST 2017

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[LOCAL]

Creative SCHOOLS AST GOLD CO GOLD COAST POTTERS Benowa goldcoastpotters.com Gold Coast Potters run children’s pottery workshops on a Saturday from their Benowa studio. Kids can learn to throw a pot on a wheel, how to hand build with clay, and sculpture. Check website for class times and prices.

GOLD COAST ART SCHOOL Southport artschool.com.au For children over 6 years old, classes cover various art forms including colour pencil drawing watercolours, oils, pastels, collage and more. Classes are held weekdays after school, check website for details.

CRAZY CANDLES Mobile, venues across SE QLD crazycandles.com.au A mobile initiative that brings the candle making to you! Perfect for birthday parties or group and school incursions, programs include making colourful candles, wax hands in neon colours, or a retro record clock.

Visit our website www.kidsonthecoast.com.au & www.kidsinthecity.com for more local ideas!

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If you would like your little one to have regular access to creative programs, a school with an in-house arts initiative could be the perfect solution.

MONTESSORI INTERNATIONAL COLLEGE, FOREST GLEN The Montessori+ Program is an innovative social initiative at Montessori International College. The program sources and forms partnerships with local professionals, who utilise their facilities after school hours to share their knowledge and skills. Montessori+ provides an opportunity for the Sunshine Coast Community to engage in creative endeavours, and have access to talented and experienced tutors all in the one location.

Since launching this program at the end of 2016, the College has had 25 tutors instructing activities such as Yoga, Fitness, Art, Performing Arts, Creative Writing, Robotics and Coding and Crafts.

MIC also contracts tutors to facilitate classes within the College. In 2016, MIC students received instruction from world renowned choreographer Lyn Fitzsimons, resulting in a beautiful and unique interpretation of the ballet Coppelia.

BIG DAY OUT CARE & EDUCATION, PEREGIAN BREEZE Big Day Out Care & Education places an emphasis on the importance of creative thinking in the early years. Young children learn to develop persistence and resilience, the ability to think outside the box and try new ideas if given opportunities to do so. To achieve this, the forward-thinking childcare centre has a dedicated creative place called the BDO Studio space. So much more than a simple art room, children explore, hypothesise and create using a range of new and recycled materials. As an embedded part of the program, the centre also invites creative adults such as artists, sculptors, potters, inventors and recyclers, to visit and share ideas and creative thinking with children and educators.

These experiences enrich and inform the regular program so children benefit in many ways from the activity in the studio. kidsonthecoast.com.au • kidsinthecity.com.au

We will help you with:

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What people are saying about RB Family Law “Many thanks for your time, expertise, support and mentoring….. for the first time in a long time, I actually feel like I am moving forward and empowered, which is such a good feeling! Please know that what you do, is far beyond legal advice and makes a significant positive difference to ones life!” - Di, Sunshine Beach: 2016

We are located at Noosaville but will happily travel from Gympie to Caloundra to meet with our clients.

We offer an initial FREE half hour consultation T: 5430 6667 E: candice@rbfamilylaw.com.au W: www.rbfamilylaw.com.au

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JULY/AUGUST 2017

33

SPARKING EARLY LITERACY WITH

CREATIVE PLAY HAVE YOU EVER HAD A MOMENT WHEN YOU ARE COMPLETELY IN AWE OF YOUR CHILD’S IMAGINATION? THOSE CHERISHED OCCASIONS WHEN THEY SAY SOMETHING WONDERFUL OR CREATE AN IMAGINARY WORLD, AND YOU CANNOT FATHOM WHERE IT CAME FROM? As grown-ups, we are often wholly ingrained in structured learning and templated rules. Somewhere along our journey into adulthood we lose all the wonder and imagination; how do we play if there isn’t a plan?

But creative play is central to a child’s learning and development, particularly in the first five years of life.

Nurturing problem solving, critical thinking, gross and fine motor skills, these creative experiences help children develop their senses and express how they see the world. For children under five this fun, imaginative space is where learning happens – where their creativity is used to process their experiences and lay the foundations for critical early literacy skills.

LET KIDS LEAD Creative play isn’t about giving them templates, a structured plan, or ready-made materials. It’s about letting them just imagine, design, or create whatever they see.

Want to paint the sky green and a bear blue? Absolutely.

GREAT CREATIVE BOOKS TO SHARE Books are not just tools for literacy. They can also be a fabulous connection between literacy, art and imaginary worlds. Some great books to share include: ★ Press here by Herve Tullet ★ The Dot by Peter H Reynolds ★ Andrew Drew and Drew by Barney Saltzberg ★ Sky Color by Peter Reynolds ★ Chalk by Bill Thomson

Want to create a fairy garden in the backyard out of sticks and leaves? Not a problem.

And this creativity can happen anywhere. A bucket and spade and a morning at the beach can result in sandcastles, knights, battlefields and dragons. A lazy afternoon can mean some serious cloud busting in the backyard.

Luckily, a parent’s role couldn’t be simpler – there’s no need for expensive toys or technology, just provide them with a few tools and the encouragement to explore. Have a busy box in the house filled with bits of paper, empty cardboard containers, ribbon ends and stickers. Or, if they prefer dramatic play, keep a dress up box with old hats, shirts and jewellery. Then sit back and let the children lead.

CREATIVITY = LITERACY Creative play is the perfect opportunity to explore new language and concepts whilst being engrossed in that imaginary world. By having conversations with your child and helping them solve problems (not giving them the answer though!) you can help to place real world literacy in the exciting world of a child. And from these conversations, new concepts evolve.

Always aim to use a range of new words to describe textures and experiences – leaves can be crinkly, soft, furry, veiny; paint can be bright, runny, gooey, streaky.

These moments when they are completely engaged in an activity are when they absorb new concepts and vocabulary.

And these conversations you have with your child as you explore and create together are some of the most wonderful.

Shared with you, they will always remember the softness of a ribbon, or the spikiness of sticks.

So, when they next proceed to paint the driveway with nothing but a leaf and a bucket of water, why not join them?

You never know quite where it will take you. After all, it’s the activity that’s important, not the result.

Stuck for ideas? Head to your local library for stacks of exciting activities, including Storytime sessions and create stations during the school holidays.

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71968D 06/17. kidsonthecoast.com.au • kidsinthecity.com.au

JULY/AUGUST 2017

35

[BABIES]

Groovy

baby

HAVE YOU EVER WATCHED YOUR BABY LIGHT UP TO HER FAVOURITE TUNE? SHARING A MUSICAL JOURNEY WITH YOUR BABY IS NOT ONLY A SPECIAL WAY TO INTERACT AND BOND, IT ALSO SETS THEM UP FOR A LIFELONG LOVE FOR MUSIC. AND, DID YOU KNOW IT STARTED BEFORE THEY WERE BORN? Babies are truly amazing things. As we busily measure, weigh and tick off their growth chart, their cognitive development is racing along at a lightning pace, rapidly forming new connections and pathways to interpret and understand, whenever they hear new sounds.

Unlike eyesight, babies have highly developed hearing from the day they are born. And even before they are born, babies begin to remember music and sounds from inside the womb. From 25 weeks they’ve been soothed by the rhythm of your heartbeat and enjoyed the lyrical tone of your voice, they even begin to recognise particular songs and language patterns.

As we are caught up in the early months of feeding, settling, explosive nappies and sleep deprivation, often the simple joy of music is forgotten. But there are many benefits from taking a moment to share a tune.

Music is beneficial for brain development. Even before babies can walk or talk, studies have shown that exposure to music-making, learning nursery rhymes and lullabies can increase a baby’s sensitivity to musical keys, as well as showing signs of earlier communication skills.

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Music lifts spirits. Just as music can relax and take away our stress, babies are also emotionally affected by music, being more relaxed and soothed when they hear a good tune.

Music introduces rhythm. Tapping the beat teaches babies the basics of movement. Something that they will be very thankful of come the first school disco.

It’s a great way to bond. On a difficult day, nothing brightens the mood better than popping on your favourite song and having a dance around together.

Music fosters creativity. Stimulating the brain to think outside the ordinary, music keeps you in touch with your creative side.

It’s fun! Sharing and enjoying music is a passion that they will keep with them for the rest of their lives.

Music boosts language skills. The rhythm of lyrics exposes babies to the nuances of language. Studies have found that babies who actively engage in making music and singing are more likely to acquire language skills early, because setting words to music helps the brain learn words more quickly. kidsonthecoast.com.au • kidsinthecity.com.au

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[BABIES]

Simple ways to introduce music There are plenty of ways you can introduce music to your little one’s world, without the need for expensive music lessons, or for you to have any musical aptitude.

SHARE MUSIC TOGETHER. This doesn’t have to be ‘Wheels on the Bus’ or classical music, nearly all music is baby-friendly. You’ll have a lot more fun if you play music you enjoy, and seeing you enjoying the music will show your baby the joy that music can bring, sparking them to begin building their own musical memories and tastes.

Just pop on your favourite CD whilst you are driving the car or cooking dinner and sing along. Now you have the perfect excuse to dust off those ‘90s compilations!

TRY TOY INSTRUMENTS. Toy guitars, plastic electronic keyboards, baby xylophones, all introduce young children to the joys of instruments.

SING LULLABIES. There is nothing more special for a baby than a cuddle with Mum or Dad and a lullaby or gentle singalong before bedtime. Don’t worry if you don’t know the words, or if you sing something completely different, it’s all about the time together, not about what you sing.

CREATE YOUR OWN. Introduce rhythm and music by using everyday objects from around the house – wooden spoons and pan lids, bottles filled with varying levels of water, or a plastic bottle half-filled with dry pasta to create a shaker. If you are feeling super-crafty, you can make a guitar from rubber bands and an empty tissue box.

ROCKING TO MUSIC. Even the littlest babies can enjoy music.

Just singing, patting, or rocking together to music helps to strengthen musical pathways in their brain.

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USE TOYS. Introduce rhythm and tempo by having soft toys dance along to the music. Set up a teddy bear band, or a barbie singalong.

TRY DIFFERENT GENRES. Expose them to different styles, flavours and rhythms. Whether it’s Katy Perry or the Rolling Stones, baby will enjoy sharing them with you.

YOUR VOICE. The most significant part of their early memories is your voice. Talking and singing strengthens the bond between mother and child.

Don’t worry if you don’t have a great singing voice, they will always think it is perfect.

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[PARENTING]

THE THE BIG BIG QUESTIONS QUESTIONS ABOUT ABOUT

HOME HOME EDUCATION EDUCATION

Parenting brings with it different phases. When my son William was born with I consumed all phases. information relating Parenting brings it different When my son to babywearing, breastfeeding, co-sleeping, baby-ledWilliam was born I consumed all information relating weaning, emotional development... anything baby-lednatural and to babywearing, breastfeeding, co-sleeping, attachment based! But now William is six andnatural we areand moving weaning, emotional development... anything into the next phase of home education. attachment based! But now William is six and we are moving A common people William now is, ‘Are you into the nextquestion phase of homeask education. in Prep?’ or, ‘Did you start school this year?’.

A common question people ask William nowHis is, ‘response Are you is always a confident ‘I’m home in Prep?’ or, ‘Did you start schooleducated’. this year?’.The Hisgeneral response response is ‘how wonderful’ and the adult enters into is always a(luckily) confident ‘I’m home educated’.

The general some dialogue about how they wished it was an acceptable response (luckily) is ‘how wonderful’ and the adult enters into option when their children younger. some dialogue about how were they wished it was an acceptable With sowhen manytheir unknowns home education, here are option childrenaround were younger. answers to theunknowns big questions many parents want tohere ask:are With so many around home education, answers to the big questions many want to ask: WHY DID YOU CHOOSE TOparents HOME EDUCATE? We felt,DID for our family, that homeTO education the best WHY YOU CHOOSE HOMEwas EDUCATE? option.

This was for a number of reasons: We felt, for our family, that home education was the best 1. This This phase of for ourarelationship is just an extension of option. was number of reasons: our strong family connection (natural parenting).

1. This phase of our relationship is just an extensionFor of us, sending ourfamily son to a school, five daysparenting). a week, six hours our strong connection (natural For us, asending day would be too much time spent away from the our son to a school, five days a week, six hours unit (atbe thistoo tender afamily day would muchage). time spent away from the 2. family In the lower of school, unit (atyears this tender age).my understanding is that the average timeyears children spendmy ‘learning’ in schooliseach 2. In the lower of school, understanding that the day is approximately minutes.

However, when each home average time children51spend ‘learning’ in school educating, we can spend 30 minutes in thewhen morning, day is approximately 51 minutes.

However, home 30 minuteswe in the he still more educating, canafternoon spend 30and minutes in receives the morning, learning than heafternoon went to school, gets to more play for 30 minutes in ifthe and hebut stillhereceives the rest of the time! learning than if he went to school, but he gets to play for 3. the In my honest rest of theopinion, time! children learn how to conform in school.

For myopinion, son, this is not alearn lesson I would like him 3. In my honest children how to conform in to learn.For I would likethis himistonot beaalesson free thinker and nothim school. my son, I would like follow rules simply heaisfree toldthinker to. Questioning to learn.

I would likebecause him to be and not everything important to me, something I would like follow rulesissimply because heand is told to. Questioning to instil in him too. everything is important to me, and something I would like 4. to Every hastoo. unique gifts, many of which are not instilchild in him within our schoolgifts, system.

4. valued Every child has unique manyChildren of whichcan arego notto school and, if their gifts are not the ones that are valued within our school system. Children can govalued, to be left feeling inadequate dumb. school and, if their gifts areornot the ones that are valued, 5. be Theleft Australian educationalorsystem feeling inadequate dumb. is showing a decline results year after year. I feel that is providing 5. in The Australian educational system showingonea decline on-one tuition can provide a personalised beneficial in results year after year. I feel that providing oneeducational foundation. on-one tuition can provide a personalised beneficial educational foundation.

WHAT ABOUT SOCIALISATION? We have aABOUT very big social life! William doesn't spend 30 WHAT SOCIALISATION?

hours a week with year olds, doesn't but nor spend would 30 I want We have a very bigother socialsixlife!

William him to.aAt six, they stillsixlearning what right, wrong, hours week with are other year olds, butis nor would I want good bad,they andare they other people’s him to.and At six, stillmodel learning what is right,behaviour. wrong, Ifgood he was with the same aged andspending bad, and that theymuch modeltime other people’s behaviour. would be thewith other Ifchildren, he was he spending thatmodelling much time thechildren’s same aged behaviour which be maymodelling not be the thing! children, he– would thebest other children’s I value being social may with not multi-aged people.

So we attend a behaviour – which be the best thing!

Bush Group onwith Mondays – where the children are aged I valuePlay being social multi-aged people.

So we attend a from 0–9 years old.

Tuesday we go to a Buddhist Temple Bush Play Group on Mondays – where the children are aged and talk theold.

Venerables ages of from 0–9with years Tuesday –wewho go are to abetween Buddhistthe Temple 30–60 old Venerables and LOVE speaking tobetween William. Wednesday and talkyears with the – who are the ages of we go to a home education co-op where approximately 100 30–60 years old and LOVE speaking to William.

Wednesday home getco-op together for the day. Thursdays we goeducated to a homechildren education where approximately 100 we doeducated learning from home. we go home children getFriday together for to thescience day. Thursdays workshops for home educated children the ages of we do learning from home.

Friday we gobetween to science 5–10! Then for on home the weekends spend between time with the family. workshops educatedwe children ages of WilliamThen can on talkthe to weekends any person,weregardless of with age.family.

I think that 5–10! spend time is a fair indication not anti-social!

William can talk tohe anyis person, regardless of age. I think that is a fair indication he is not anti-social!

HOW DO YOU HOME EDUCATE? We currently a ‘project based learning’ approach (AKA HOW DO use YOU HOME EDUCATE?

unschooling).

Thata essentially means that whatever William We currently use ‘project based learning’ approach (AKA is interested in, that is what we do projects on.

Currently it is unschooling). That essentially means that whatever William the solar system.

Soiswe learn the solar andithe is interested in, that what weabout do projects on.system Currently is doesn’t thinkSoit we is education! the solareven system. learn about the solar system and he I cannot even believe how I have learned too! Just this doesn’t think it ismuch education! weekend, we went and took the telescope out.

I cannot believe howcamping much I have learned too! Just this We found the moon and saw the craters, and used the Star weekend, we went camping and took the telescope out.

Walk 2 Appthe tomoon look atand thesaw different constellations.

We found the craters, and usedDoing the Star our in the literacy (writing the planet and Walkprojects 2 App tobrings look at different constellations.

Doing constellation names), numeracy (temperature differences; our projects brings in literacy (writing the planet and distances from the sun), science(temperature (chemical composition of constellation names), numeracy differences; the planets and sun), art (creating paper mache models; distances from the sun), science (chemical composition of drawing theand planets)… but(creating most of paper all FUN!!! the planets sun), art mache models; drawing the planets)… but most of all FUN!!!

If you would like to know more about home education, including styles, requirements outcomes, If you would like techniques, to know more about homeand education, make surestyles, you register to therequirements upcoming ‘Raising Happy Kids: including techniques, and outcomes, Connected Parenting & Home Education Conference’.

The make sure you register to the upcoming ‘Raising Happy Kids: ConferenceParenting is on 9–10&September 2017 onConference’. the Gold Coast Connected Home Education Theand will feature the best speakers on parenting & home Conference is on 9–10 September 2017 on the Gold education.

Coast and For more info to www.raisinghappykidsconf.com.au. will feature thegobest speakers on parenting & home education.

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

By Kristy Pillinger, event organiser of the Raising Happy Kids: Connected Parenting & Home Education Conference and Nurture Your Child’s Education Expo held at Southport on 9-10 September 2017. She is also the editor of Nurture ~ Australia’s Connected Parenting Magazine.

By Kristy Pillinger, event organiser of the Raising Happy Kids: Connected Parenting & Home Education Conference and Nurture Your Child’s She tries to get these things done around home educating her son, William.

Education Expo held at Southport on 9-10 September 2017. She is also the editor of Nurture ~ Australia’s Connected Parenting Magazine.

She tries to get these things done around home educating her son, William.kidsonthecoast.com.au • kidsinthecity.com.au 4 0 JULY/AUGUST 2017

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[TECH]

Get

Creative WITH TECHNOLOGY

WORRIED THAT SCREEN TIME IS HINDERING YOUR LITTLE ONE’S CREATIVITY? NOWADAYS THERE ARE STACKS OF APPS AND INTERACTIVE GAMES THAT INTEGRATE TECHNOLOGY WITH CREATIVITY, SPARKING IMAGINATION AND CURIOSITY IN THE MOST TECH-HUNGRY OF KIDS.

APPS

THE VERY HUNGRY CATERPILLAR $4.49 on iPhone and iPad Inspired by Eric Carle’s beautiful, original artwork, and featuring the much-loved Very Hungry Caterpillar, this stunning app is designed to spark your child’s creative exploration, cultivate imaginative thinking and encourage artistic expression.

TOCA BUILDERS $4.99 on iPhone and iPad Toca Builders is a new way of creating and crafting things with blocks, that encourages both creativity and curiosity. With simple touch gestures and unique controls the builders come alive and help create a world only you can dream up.

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ARTIE’S MAGIC PENCIL

WIZARD SCHOOL

$4.49 on iPhone and iPad

Free on iPhone and iPad

Artie’s Magic Pencil is an interactive learning adventure that teaches children the fundamentals of drawing to inspire them to get creative both on and off the screen.

Wizard School inspires curiosity and creative thinking. Explore fascinating topics, create something with fun stickers, and share your creations with family and friends.

FACES IMAKE

CRAYOLA COLORSTUDIO HD

$4.49 on iPad

Free on iPad

This app encourages right brain activity and it’s a great way for kids to relax, unwind, have some fun, and most importantly use their imagination.

This app turns your iPad into a colourful drawing pad. The iMarker stylus unlocks ColorStudio HD's world of colouring options, it available at major retailers and online at www.griffintechnology.com/crayola.

THE ROBOT FACTORY $6.99 on iPhone and iPad The Robot Factory is an open-ended building app that let kids ages 6+ create, test, play with, and collect whatever they can imagine.

LEGO JUNIORS CREATE & CRUISE Free with in-app purchases on iPhone and iPad In LEGO Juniors Create & Cruise, children age 4–7 can use their imagination to create their very own LEGO vehicles and minifigures. kidsonthecoast.com.au • kidsinthecity.com.au

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[TECH]

INTERACTIVE TOYS

SOFTWARE

OSMO

GARAGE BAND

$49–$289 www.playosmo.com Osmo is an award-winning game system that changes how your child interacts with the iPad, opening it up to hands-on play. Using blocks to control characters, Osmo introduces coding, word games, shapes and basic physics concepts to children age five and up. For the little artist, Osmo Monster brings your drawings to life, as they become part of magical animated activities.

SPHERO $199.95 www.apple.com/au Sphero SPRK is a transparent robot in a ball that makes coding super-fun for kids. Via the kid-friendly SPRK Lightning Lab app users code the ball to roll, flip, spin, change colour, creating increasingly complex instructions.

The app uses a block-based building interface that makes learning the basics of coding tangible and fun. Simply drag and drop the actions to give the ball orders and watch it roll!

COCO COLOR $34.95 USD www.cococolor.com Coco Color is a simple digital stylus that turns your device into a page. The buttons offer a range of 48 colours as well as the ability to adapt your strokes using pen, pencil, pastel or paint. You can also choose your colouring style and stroke size. Simply doodle via the Coco Color app, or download the Voyager app to colour your way through 12 fun and magical voyages.

COCO COLOUR

Free ROOMINATE Turn your apple device into an STUDIO instrument, record tracks, edit and add vocals with this simple yet professional music program. Easy enough for 6-year olds but robust enough for ROOMINATE STUDIO older kids to dig a little deeper the RRP: $49.99 www.kidstuff.com.au app offers extensive features, allowing A 70-piece set where you are the users to connect and record, using architect, engineer and designer, digital or real instruments. There is a building a studio for Alice and her puppy. desktop version for those with a mac, Design rooms, wire the motor to make and an app for iPad, iPhone and iPod an elevator or carousel, and when Touch. Comes pre-installed on iOS you are done, take it apart and build devices, or find on the app store. something new! Teaching basic circuitry, IMOVIE problem solving and creativity, there Free are several Roominate packs to choose A super-simple free app for iPad, from. iPhone and mac in which you can MAKEY MAKEY combine video, photos, audio to make $75.94 movies and trailer-style videos. Blend www.makeymakeyaustralia.com.au your favourite tune with a collage of Makey Makey is an invention kit for pictures, or turn your trip to the park everyone. Using alligator clips to into an adrenaline-fueled trailer, it’s a lot connect everyday objects to the of fun and easy enough for little ones to Makey Makey you can turn a banana use. Comes pre-installed on most iOS into a piano, a drawing into a joystick, or devices, or find on the app store. whatever else you can imagine.

The opportunities are endless!

MAKEY MAKEY

DIY SYNTH KIT $59.95 shop.australiangeograhic.com.au.

Discover the joys of electronic music and make your own synthesizer!

Connect the parts together to get your first taste of programming and electronics. Then, once you’ve built it, test out your music skills, experimenting with frequency, pitch and volume.

OSMO

DIY SYNTH KIT SPHERO

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[LOCAL LIFE]

Baby Give Back Believing that every baby deserves an equal start, five Gold Coast mums launched a charity to give back to the local community by collecting and recycling baby essentials for those in need. We chat to them to find out more.

WHAT INSPIRED YOU TO START BABY GIVE BACK? Carly [Fradgley], now one of the directors of Baby Give Back, had seen the amazing work done by St Kilda Mums in Melbourne. And when she couldn’t find anything similar in Queensland, she got together with four other local mums and we decided to start the charity.

We wanted to share the joy of motherhood by recycling much-loved baby items for families in need. We feel privileged to be able to give our children everything that they want and need and we wanted to give back to our community and help those who are not as fortunate.

A major motivation in starting Baby Give Back was asking the question ‘what if it were me?’. We all know how difficult motherhood can be, especially when you have your first child. We could not imagine having to choose between nappies and food for your baby.

HOW DID YOU GET THE CHARITY OFF THE GROUND? We started with Facebook and Instagram pages and realised almost immediately that Baby Give Back was going to be bigger than we initially anticipated. The need on the Gold Coast is greater than we could have imagined and the 46

JULY/AUGUST 2017

The Directors (left to right): Julie-Anne McBride, Kylie Gregson, Ainsley McLaren, Carly Fradgley and Natasha Borbidge.

generosity of local families and businesses has resulted in us being run off our feet from the very beginning.

We held a High Tea Launch event at the Royal Pines on 26 February this year and the event was a huge success.

There were nearly 200 people in attendance! This event allowed us to raise awareness about what Baby Give Back is all about and to raise much-needed funds to get our operations running smoothly.

WHY IS BABY GET BACK IMPORTANT FOR THE LOCAL COMMUNITY? Sadly, there are many families in need in our community for reasons ranging from domestic violence, poverty and financial hardships, sickness and disability, unplanned and underage pregnancy. There are those struggling with addictions, those affected by mental health issues, and many kids living in foster and emergency care. For some it is a long-term issue, while for others the stress may be the result of a recent and unexpected event.

Natural disaster is also a cause of disadvantage that we respond to. We were able to provide a quick response following the recent floods resulting from Cyclone Debbie when contacted by Red Cross. We filled the van they sent us with clothing, linen, toys and books for families who had lost most of their possessions. With one days’ notice we provided 23 small toddler clothing bags, nearly 700 nappies, 4 portacots, 150 toys, 200 books, and a number of other objects that together totalled nearly 1,800 items; which were distributed from the Beaudesert crisis centre. kidsonthecoast.com.au • kidsinthecity.com.au

[LOCAL LIFE]

HOW CAN PEOPLE IN NEED GO ABOUT RECEIVING DONATIONS FROM YOU? They need to get in contact with their local support agency who will assess their need and make contact with us.

The main agency we have been involved with since we launched is Pregnancy and Family Support (PFS) Agency Gold Coast Inc. PFS plays a pivotal role in assisting vulnerable clients to access all services which can assist them in having their needs met. The focus of the agency is to help pregnant women and families improve their quality of life and sustain a stable environment for their children.

WHAT CAN LOCAL PEOPLE DO TO SUPPORT YOUR WORK? We are desperately in need of a warehouse space to expand our operations and make a serious impact in our community. We receive and handle a large volume of donations and the lack of storage space and working space for volunteers is limiting the number of families we can help and how quickly we can get donations out to where they are needed. We are trying to raise around $40,000 to enable us to secure and fit out a warehouse. Baby Give Back is a deductible gift recipient so all donations over $2 are tax deductible. Donations can be made via our website or Facebook page.

We are also constantly in need of the larger items such as cots, car seats and prams. If any readers have these items to donate.

HOW MANY PEOPLE HAVE YOU HELPED SO FAR? Since we established less than six months ago, we have assisted five different social services agencies by providing over 4,200 items of clothing, 852 other items including wipes, toys, books, bottles and linen, over 3,000 nappies and around 30 large items (cots, bassinets, car seats and prams). All of these items go to families in need on the Gold Coast and surrounding areas.

A lot of us look around and see the Gold Coast as a fairly affluent area with a relaxed beach lifestyle and tourism mecca. However, the best available information (Poverty, Social Exclusion and Disadvantage in Australia, NATSEM, 2013) indicates that over 64,000 people on the Gold Coast live in poverty and over 30 per cent of households are living in rental stress. One in six children aged under 14 years

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on the Coast live in poverty – that’s over 14,000 kids! We believe we can help these families feel cared for by their community; help them experience the joys of motherhood by ensuring they can provide their babies with basic material needs.

WHAT ARE YOUR FUTURE GOALS FOR THE CHARITY? Our vision for Baby Give Back is that we can raise the funds to secure fit-for-purpose premises so that we can efficiently accept, safety check, recycle and rehome donated new and second-hand goods to maximise our impact in our community.

We want Baby Give Back to be well-respected within the region’s social services agencies and networks and to be a charity of choice for volunteering, donating and support by individuals, companies and community organisations.

HOW DO YOU MANAGE THIS, ALONGSIDE OTHER COMMITMENTS SUCH AS WORK AND FAMILY? We are all mums who work part-time, so it is often a tricky juggle, particularly because of the huge volume of donations we are working with and the time commitment required to establish Baby Give Back as a professionally run charity. However, we are all passionate about our cause and we are assisted by a growing number of wonderful volunteers, without whom we could not keep going.

YOU CAN FIND OUT MORE ABOUT BABY GIVE BACK AT WWW.BABYGIVEBACK.ORG and connect with them at: Facebook @Baby Give Back, #babygiveback; Instagram @babygiveback; email info@babygiveback.org.

JULY/AUGUST 2017

47

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apps

Books GUFF

By Aaron Blabey. RRP $16.99 “This is my Guff. He’s really nice. I’ve known him since I was little. And I still know him even now I’m big…”

LOOPIMAL

This funny and delightful picture book combines beautifully rendered illustrations with brilliantly chosen text to bring a huge amount of heart to this special story as well as finding the laugh-outloud humour in everyday situations. For 4+, or for anyone who has ever had a little fabric friend.

WRECK THIS JOURNAL

By Keri Smith. RRP $19.99 An updated edition of the bestseller, this fun, eccentric book is for those who've always wanted to draw outside the lines but were afraid to do it. Through a subversive collection of suggestions, readers can muster up their best mistakes and mess-making abilities to fill the pages of the book. Poke holes through pages, paint with sticky things, scribble and destroy to tap into your creative side and discover a new way to journaling. Perfect for kids 8+ who have a fear of the blank page.

$5.99 on iPhone and iPad LOOPIMAL is a building kit of handcrafted animations and sounds and makes it easy for young kids to learn about making music. With intuitive fun gestures kids can create sequences for different animals. The content is on melodic, rhythmic or movement bases and the possibilities of creations and compositions are endless. There is no goal, no wrong or right, it’s a safe kit for creation.

OLLIE’S TREASURE

By Lynn Jenkins, illustrated by Kirrili Lonergan. $24.99 Ollie’s Treasure is tale of mindfulness for young, developing minds. The story follows Ollie, who receives treasure map from his Grandma. Following the map, he is taken on a journey of his senses, encouraged to notice what he can see, hear, touch, smell and taste. It comes as quite a surprise to him to realise that noticing such things makes him feel happy, and that the key to happiness can be found in his own mind not in material possessions.

Movies SPIDERMAN: HOMECOMING

In cinemas July 6. Rating CTC A young Peter Parker/Spider-Man (Tom Holland), begins to navigate his newfound identity as the web-slinging superhero in Spider-Man: Homecoming. Thrilled by his experience with the Avengers, Peter returns home, where he lives with his Aunt May (Marisa Tomei), under the watchful eye of his new mentor Tony Stark (Robert Downey, Jr.). Peter tries to fall back into his normal daily routine – distracted by thoughts of proving himself to be more than just your friendly neighbourhood Spider-Man – but when the Vulture (Michael Keaton) emerges as a new villain, everything that Peter holds most important will be threatened. Starring: Tom Holland, Michael Keaton, Zendaya, Jon Favreau, Donald Glover, Tyne Daily, Marisa Tomei and Robert Downey Jnr.

MONUMENT VALLEY 2

$5.99 on iPhone and iPad The sequel to the award-winning Monument Valley, the new story brings beautiful new levels filled with illusory, meditative puzzles. Guide a mother and her child as they embark on a journey through magical architecture, discovering illusionary pathways and delightful puzzles as you learn the secrets of the Sacred Geometry.

Help Ro as she teaches her child about the mysteries of the valley, exploring stunning environments and manipulating architecture to guide them on their way.

Inspired by minimalist 3D design, optical illusions and palaces and temples from around the world, every monument is a unique, hand-crafted world to explore.

Levels get trickier as you progress, so younger players will need some adult help!

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Curious...

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