Kids on the Coast Magazine | Sunshine Coast - Issue 101. Jan/Feb 2021

ISSUE 101 January/February 2021 SUNSHINE COAST

www.kidsonthecoast.com.au

BENEFITS OF THE YEAR 5 SWITCH TOP TIPS FOR STARTING PREP EASY FREEZY LUNCHBOXES

Discover.

Achieve.

Belong.

At Immanuel, exceptional teachers inspire learning.

Contact us today to register for our next Open Morning. #InspiringLearning #BuildingCommunity #EnrichingLives

WELCOME

H

appy New Year! As we step into 2021, the start of a new year is often a time of reflection and new beginnings. For me, this typically spirals into a guilt fest of everything I am still to achieve from the previous year: ✔ I’m going to lose 5kg. ✔ I’m going to get on top of my email inbox. ✔ I’m going to get the kids to eat something other than mac ’n’ cheese. ✔ I’m going to be a more present parent.

But, if 2020 has taught me anything, it is to drastically lower the self criticism and accept those things you cannot control.

Feeling suitably equipped for a zombie apocalypse (or whatever else the world may throw at us) and totally accepting of my COVID curves, I have a totally different view on the new year this time around: ✔ Curvy is cuddly. Let’s just focus on being a bit fitter. ✔ Your inbox has over 24,000 messages, accept you will never find the end. ✔ Pasta is a staple food. So is Vegemite toast. We should be grateful we can still get both at the supermarket. ✔ You know what? I really am trying my best.

And as I peek cautiously around the corner at whatever the new year has in store, I’m quietly optimistic about 2021. I’ve seen a surge in small businesses supporting each other, schools doing amazing things to keep kids engaged and learning despite restrictions, and communities pulling together to help those in need. I have no idea what the year ahead will hold, but I know we are going to tackle it as best we can, together.

And there’s nothing better to put a spring in your step than getting ready for a new school year! It’s such an exciting time—the little ones are heading to Kindy for the first time, the new Preppies are in their oversized, sparkling new uniforms, and the Year 7s are getting ready for a whole new adventure at secondary school.

So, this issue is all about getting back to school! We explore the merit of making a school switch in Year 5, and we have some great tips on nurturing those precious early friendships. Plus, with all the must-have back-to-school gear, freezable lunchbox recipes, books, games and more, we have everything to kick-start the kids’ 2021 school year.

Angela xo

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THE TEAM

PUBLISHER & EDITOR IN CHIEF Angela Sutherland

PUBLISHER & SALES DIRECTOR Helen Rush

NATIONAL ACCOUNT MANAGER Francesca Goad

DIGITAL MANAGER Karine Godin

PRODUCTION MANAGER Tanya Nissen

GRAPHIC DESIGN Danielle Lunn

facebook.com/kidsonthecoast kidsonthecoastmagazine pinterest.com/kidsonthecoast issuu.com/kidsonthecoastmagazine K I D S O N T H E C O A S T.C O M . A U • K I D S I N T H E C I T Y.C O M . A U

J A N U A R Y / F E B R U A R Y 2021

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CONTENTS

Features

PUBLISHED BY

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EDUCATION: The Year 5 switch—why more families are opting to move schools mid-way through primary.

EARLY LEARNING: Wondering what your child should be able to do before starting ‘big school’? The experts are here to help!

SH RE

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ADVERTISING

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helen@shoremedia.com.au 0424 577 706

Regulars

francesca@shoremedia.com.au 0432 674 159 MAR/APR 2021 BOOKING DEADLINES

FROM THE EDITOR ............................................................................................................... 3 WHAT’S ON: Events and activities for families........................................................................ 6 NEWS: Community news from across the Sunshine Coast .................................................... 12 NEW BUSINESS: Exciting local start-ups enhancing our kid-sized lives............................ 14 THINGS TO DO: Maroochydore’s UH-MAZING new adventure centre ......................... 16 CHECK THIS OUT: Kick-start your 2021 school year with these fab finds .................... 18 CASE STUDY: The benefits of a Pre-Kindy to Year 12 school.............................................. 26 KINDY: Simple tips for nurturing your child’s first friendships...............................................28 PROFILE: Meet the chef that’s helping the next generation cook up a career................... 34 LOCAL: The education hub proposed for the southern Sunshine Coast............................. 37 HIGH SCHOOL: Managing the transition to high school—for teens and parents!.......... 44 PARENTHOOD: The personalised books helping parents tackle the hard stuff ................ 47 HEALTH: Instilling a love for fitness in young kids ............................................................... 50 RECIPE: Easy freezy lunchbox recipes.................................................................................... 53 CLASSIFIEDS: Family friendly products and services ..........................................................57 REVIEWS: Books and apps for the family............................................................................... 58

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PO Box 852, Coolum Beach, QLD 4573 inbox@shoremedia.com.au Phone 07 5471 2362

More than a magazine, we are a vibrant community, bringing the best in local news, events, features and more to parents across the Sunshine Coast, Gold Coast and Brisbane.

Made by local parents, for local parents, we strive to be the first place that families come to connect; where they are understood, supported and inspired.

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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.

MEDIA

Ad booking: 3 February 2021 Art deadline: 10 February 2021 Distributed directly to parenting hotspots across South East Queensland: Brisbane, Gold Coast & Sunshine Coast.

For distribution enquiries inbox@shoremedia.com.au Printed at Print Works All editorial and advertising in Kids on the Coast and Kids in the City publications are published in good faith based on material, verbal or written, provided by contributors and advertisers. No responsibility is taken for errors or omissions and opinions expressed do not necessarily reflect those of the publisher. All material in Kids on the Coast and Kids in the City is subject to copyright provisions. No part of this publication may be reproduced without written permission from the publisher.

Feedback, comments or suggestions?

Send to: inbox@shoremedia.com.au.

We aim to reply to all correspondence.

We are committed to bringing you editorial with integrity. Any assistance we do receive from local businesses to produce stories does not compromise the integrity of our coverage.

K I D S O N T H E C O A S T.C O M . A U • K I D S I N T H E C I T Y.C O M . A U

www.rackleyswimming.com.au

1300 109 675

WHAT’S ON VISIT OUR WEBSITE TO SEE MORE EVENTS! S I G N U P AT K I D S O N T H E C O A S T.C O M . A U F O R O U R W E E K LY W H AT ’ S O N E-N E W S

STEM PUNKS

AT SEA LIFE SUNSHINE COAST

Historical aviation tours

UNTIL 31 JANUARY 2021 Online www.stempunks.com

UNTIL 26 JANUARY 2021 SEA LIFE Sunshine Coast, Mooloolaba www.sealifesunshinecoast.com.au

Every Monday & Wednesday throughout the school holidays Queensland Air Museum, Caloundra www.qam.com.au

Design an airport, be a Crime Scene Investigator, explore space habitats, learn about drones and much more with these fun online STEM workshops. Designed and delivered by Australia’s best STEM Educators, with live learning support, your child can experience STEM in a fun and supportive environment.

Sink your teeth into the world of these fascinating sea creatures during the school holidays. Visitors can discover all there is to know about the 11 different shark species at the aquarium through a range of activities focusing on myth-busting, conservation, shark safety, fun facts and more.

QAM offers complimentary historic tours to visitors every Monday and Wednesday. Run entirely by volunteers, kids can learn about aviation history from someone who has helped create it!

VOICES ON THE COAST 25 – 26 February: Student Days at USC Sunshine Coast 27 February: Literary Breakfast 1 – 5 March: Online Author and Illustrator talks www.voicesonthecoast.com.au Acclaimed literature festival Voices on the Coast is back for its 26th year! Join a range of Australian authors and illustrators as they engage with Year 4 to Year 12 students, bringing literature to life.

The festival will showcase Queensland authors and illustrators in person, and many more presenters across Australia online. Deano Yipadee and Peter Carnavas will return as festival favourites.

TUNNEL RIDGE RANCH

Summer School Holiday Camps

SUNSHINE COAST LIBRARIES SUMMER PROGRAM UNTIL 31 JANUARY 2021 Online www.library.sunshinecoast.qld.gov.au The Summer Reading Club returns with plenty of awesome prizes up for grabs. And don’t miss the Libraries’ school holiday program, offering a bunch of ‘At Home Holiday Packs’. Register on the Libraries’ website now.

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17 – 22 JANUARY 2021 Tunnel Ridge Ranch, Landsborough www.tunnelridge.com.au School holidays are here and what better way to keep the kids busy than to send them to camp? Tunnel Ridge Ranch in Landsborough offers a fabulous set of camps for kids aged 10-15. Explore the stunning 40 acre Sunshine Coast Hinterland retreat and make friends with the 17 beautiful natured horses.

K I D S O N T H E C O A S T.C O M . A U • K I D S I N T H E C I T Y.C O M . A U

* 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.

Summer of Sharks

ONLINE SCHOOL HOLIDAY CLASSES

We love creating lifelong learners

who ask questions and investigate the world they live in.

VACANCIES AVAILABLE FOR PRE-KINDY & PREP 2021

+ EXTRA KINDY CLASS NOW OPEN

BOOK A TOUR TODAY!

Ph: 07 5436 6777 | 7 Gregson Place Caloundra Qld Email: enrolments@calcc.qld.edu.au | www.calcc.qld.edu.au

FraserIsland A U S S I E A DV E N T U R E S F O R T H E W H O L E FA M I LY

Guided tours and resort activities for all ages!

FAMILY FRIENDLY ESCAPES

AFFORDABLE ACCOMMODATION

IMMERSIVE ISLAND ADVENTURES

Nestled along the western bay, Kingfisher Bay Resort is the perfect base for ecotourism adventures and island fun for the whole family!

Enjoy the comforts of home, with interconnecting hotel rooms, 1-3 bedroom villas and holiday houses, with full access to resort facilities.

Explore Fraser Island’s freshwater lakes, beaches, and rainforests with guided tours and cruises from your base at Kingfisher Bay Resort.

FAMILY HOLIDAY DEALS ON QUEENSLAND’S #1 BUCKET LIST DESTINATION

Picture - perfect family memories...

Kingfisher Bay Resort on Fraser Island is the place for family adventures in paradise this year!

Nestled along the island’s calm western bay, the resort provides access to nature-based experiences for all ages. Fraser Island is easily accessed by ferry, just a few hours north of Brisbane – yet you’ll feel a world away in this World Heritagelisted wonderland… with freshwater lakes and safe swimming spots, ancient rainforests, expansive sandblows, a shipwreck, and epic sunsets across the bay. Time stands still here and it’s the perfect place to disconnect from devices and reconnect with what really matters.

Call 1800 FRASER

The executive houses and range of two-three bedroom family villas offer easy options for travelling with kids, and Kingfisher Bay Resort is a popular option for intergenerational family holidays and returning guests. PLUS, all guests have full access to the resort facilities and ranger-guided activities: Weekly “What’s On” Guide Junior Eco Rangers Program Guided 4WD Island Tours Lagoon Swimming Pools Island Day Spa (for the big kids!)

Kingfisher Bay Resort was voted the TripAdvisor Traveller’s Choice for 2020, and there’s no better place to #HolidayHereThisYear.

Make the most of what’s on offer in our backyard, with a road trip to paradise on Fraser Island this summer!

Eco Marine Cruises

www.kingfisherbay.com

H OT

DEALS

Sumfomr er !

WHAT’S ON WITH NOOSA COUNCIL VISIT OUR WEBSITE FOR MORE EVENTS!

Noosaville: 7 Wallace Drive, Noosaville Cooroy: 9 Maple Street, Cooroy www.libraries.noosa.qld.gov.au

Explore myths, legends and fairy tales with the Summer Reading Club. There are fun challenges and tales of wonder to discover this summer. There will also be plenty of activities held in the libraries through the school holidays. Visit the website for more information.

Bookings are essential for all activities.

Noosa Aquatic Centre

NOOSA REGIONAL GALLERY

Girraween Court, Sunshine Beach www.noosaaquaticcentre.com.au

9 Pelican Street, Tewantin www.noosaregionalgallery.com.au

Noosa Aquatic Centre is running Learn to Swim Intensives throughout the summer school holidays. All levels are catered for from infants to squad. And why not stick around for some inflatable fun? The inflatables will be open 12-3pm daily (weather permitting). With cafe and BBQ facilities available, it’s a fun day out for the family!

Noosa Regional Gallery has a range of fun art workshops for kids ages 6 to 18 years.

Discover the Japanese art of paper cutting with a Kirigami workshop or play with charcoal and pastels in a Masterpieces in Mixed Media workshop. Bookings are essential.

NOOSA LEISURE CENTRE www.noosaleisurecentre.com.au 9 Wallace Drive, Noosaville

For those with pre-school age kids, the Kids’ Playroom at Noosa Leisure Centre is the perfect place to escape the heat. Kitted out with a trampoline, jumping castle, climbing wall, balancing beam and lots of soft things to climb on, you are sure to leave with a well-exercised toddler! It’s $5 per child, parent supervision required.

Maybe you have a child who just wants to shoot some casual hoops with a mate? It’s only $4 to enter the courts (subject to court availability).

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J A N U A R Y / F E B R U A R Y 2021

K I D S O N T H E C O A S T.C O M . A U • K I D S I N T H E C I T Y.C O M . A U

* 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.

NOOSA LIBRARY SERVICE

Prep is Prep is Prep is a big a big a big step... step... step...

Make it with Make it with it with aMake community a community athat community will help that will help that will help your family your family your family flourish. flourish. flourish.

Contact Chris Henschke, ContactRegistrar Chris Henschke, College ContactRegistrar Chris Henschke, College PCollege 5436 Registrar 7321 P 5436 7321 AP Woodlands 5436 7321 Boulevard, A Meridan Woodlands Boulevard, Plains 4551 A Meridan Woodlands Boulevard, Plains 4551 Meridan Plains 4551

Visit pacificlutheran.qld.edu.au/prep to learn more Visit pacificlutheran.qld.edu.au/prep to learn more

LOCAL NEWS VISIT OUR WEBSITE FOR MORE NEWS: KIDSONTHECOAST.COM.AU GOT A STORY TO SHARE? EMAIL OUR EDITOR AT INBOX@SHOREMEDIA.COM.AU

NEW WELLBEING PROGRAM LAUNCHES AT CALOUNDRA CITY PRIVATE SCHOOL

C The program includes regular yoga classes

aloundra City Private School has launched a new wellbeing program, in a proactive step to counter the increasing numbers of anxiety and depression in children.

Dr McMahon Head of Sport and Outdoor Education at Caloundra City Private School said that the new program highlights the importance placed on each individual’s journey of emotional and physical wellbeing at the School.

“Wellbeing@CaloundraCity centres on the pathways to wellbeing in education through a supportive and caring School community, a strengthbased approach to wellbeing within the School and developing a sense of purpose and a healthy lifestyle for all members of the School community.”

This is being implemented across the School in several ways. New social

and emotional education initiatives are interwoven through all aspects of the students daily lives at the school. A new student diary and daily planner has been introduced, designed specifically for the School. The use of quiet time and reflection throughout the students and staff days. Linking with wellbeing organisations such as The Institute of Positive Education, Positive Education Schools Association and Action for Happiness Organisation. And a renewed importance placed on education outdoors.

“Wellbeing@CaloundraCity, aims to support staff and students to lead meaningful and fulfilling lives through the deliberate development and enhancement of the traits and elements which act as the building blocks for a positive and flourishing life,” said Dr McMahon. www.ccps.qld.edu.au

Fish give insight on SOUND SENSITIVITY IN AUTISM

A

tiny fish is helping scientists understand how the human brain processes sound, while also giving insight into autism spectrum disorder.

Scientists at The University of Queensland studied zebrafish, which carry the same genetic mutations as humans with Fragile X syndrome and autism, and discovered the neural networks and pathways that produce the hypersensitivities to sound in both species. By studying how zebrafish make sense of their world, the team could explore how neurons work together to process information.

“Loud noises often cause sensory overload and anxiety in people with autism and Fragile X syndrome,” said Dr Constantin from the Queensland Brain Institute. “We think

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J A N U A R Y / F E B R U A R Y 2021

the brain is transmitting more auditory information because it is not being filtered and adjusted as normal.”

The team recorded the brain activity of zebrafish larvae while showing them movies or exposing them to bursts of sound.

“The movies simulate movement or predators—the reaction to these visual stimuli was the same for fish with Fragile X mutations and those without,” Dr Constantin said. “But when we gave the fish a burst of white noise, there was a dramatic difference in the brain activity in Fragile X model fish.”

“We hope that by discovering fundamental information about how the brain processes sound, we will gain further insights into the sensory difficulties faced by people with Fragile X syndrome and autism.”

K I D S O N T H E C O A S T.C O M . A U • K I D S I N T H E C I T Y.C O M . A U

Discover

Flinders

Flinders is planning for a bright future with our Flinders Master Plan.

Discover why our College is one of Queensland’s leading schools and how we educate from Prep to Year 12 for excellence in learning and life.

Come and explore our new innovative Year 7 Precinct and learn about our Years 5 and 6 Precinct, opening January 2021.

Book your personalised tour today at www.mfac.edu.au Stringybark Road, Buderim | 07 5477 3260 | Find us on

NEW BUSINESS LOCAL BUSINESSES TO ENHANCE YOUR KID-SIZED LIFE WANT TO SHARE YOUR BUSINESS STORY? EMAIL OUR EDITOR AT INBOX@SHOREMEDIA.COM.AU

AUSTRALIA’S LARGEST HIGH ROPES COURSE LANDS ON THE

Sunshine Coast!

T A NEW DANCE STUDIO OPENS IN MAROOCHYDORE

M

aroochydore is getting a new “I’ve been fortunate enough to be born and dance studio, with the opening raised on the Sunshine Coast and my whole of Revolution Dance Company in dancing career has been here,” said Imogen.

January 2021. The studio will offer a wide Imogen is now excited to share her range of styles for dancers from age three love and passion for dance, as well as her through to adults, including Pointe, Jazz extensive knowledge and experience, with Technique, Hip Hop, Acrobatics Stretch and the next generation of dancers.

Strength and Competitive Teams. For the “Young dancers are free-spirited little ones, there will be Tiny Tots classes in individuals and it’s so important for them Ballet, Jazz and Acrobatics. And being an to incorporate creativity and friendships A.T.O.D. affiliated studio, into their lives,” she said.

“IT’S SO IMPORTANT they will offer classes and “It’s incredible to see the FOR THEM TO examinations in A.T.O.D. look of accomplishment on Classical Ballet and A.T.O.D. their faces when they have INCORPORATE Jazz. They will also offer learnt something new! We CREATIVITY AND weekly pay-as-you-go open feel extremely privileged that FRIENDSHIPS INTO classes in Contemporary and we can provide them with THEIR LIVES” Commercial Jazz. an environment where their Principal dancer and owner of Revolution dreams can flourish, and friendships of a Dance Company, Imogen Stoakes, began her lifetime are made.” dancing career at the age of three and has Revolution Dance Company opens dedicated her life to dance (and teaching January 2021, find out more at dance) since then. www.revolutiondanceco.com.au

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he action at Sunshine Plaza has soared to new heights with the opening of Next Level high ropes course. As Australia’s largest high ropes course, the park includes seven different high ropes circuits, categorised across four levels of difficulty. Budding ninja warriors can test their skills through over 145 aerial challenges including 16 ziplines stretching up to 135 metres over Cornmeal Creek.

TreeTops Adventure Group CEO Nicolas Dansin said, “There is something for every level of participant, starting from the age of six and ranging up through all ages and skills to the most capable climbers, who will enjoy the challenge of the three most difficult courses.”

As well as the challenging circuits, there are plenty of lower options for families to climb together.

“Our circuits range from low easy 5-metre circuits up to adrenaline pumping 18-metre ones.”

If climbing is not for you, then take in the sights and enjoy the expansive 360º views of the Sunshine Coast from the 22-metre high Viewing Deck above the circuits. www.nextlevelpark.com.au www.sunshineplaza.com

K I D S O N T H E C O A S T.C O M . A U • K I D S I N T H E C I T Y.C O M . A U

Individualised learning Individualised learning for for your your child child Caloundra School Caloundra City City Private School to 12 KK to

Book a Tour & Trial Day Today www.ccps.qld.edu.au | admin@ccps.qld.edu.au | 07 5437 5800 Book a Tour & Trial Day Today

Pelican Waters

THINGS TO DO

Rush Adventureland OPENS ITS DOORS A HUGE INDOOR FAMILY ENTERTAINMENT AND ADVENTURE CENTRE HAS OPENED ON THE SUNSHINE COAST, AND WE WERE THRILLED TO TAKE A SNEAKY PEEK INSIDE!

S

unshine Coast, are you ready for an adventure?

A whole new world of fun and excitement has landed in Maroochydore, with the opening of Rush Adventureland. Located in Sunshine Plaza Shopping Centre Precinct (opposite Woolworths), Rush Adventureland is the Sunshine Coast’s largest indoor family entertainment and adventure centre. This impressive addition to family life on the Coast promises to take kids’ entertainment and play to the next level.

“The Sunshine Coast is a real family growth area and an increasingly popular Australian tourism hotspot,” said Rush Adventureland owner Jim Perry. “We saw the need for an indoor entertainment option for families, somewhere to escape the summer heat and rain and into air-conditioned comfort.”

kids ages five and over, which offers surprises at every turn. Kids can run, climb and slide their way around the many levels, in a safe but unique play space.

If the kids like to challenge their ninja skills, there’s a ninja and high ropes courses and climbing walls. And forget regular bumper cars, as Rush Adventureland’s Hyper Bumper Cars feature an infrared shooting system. For those brave enough, hop aboard the Rush Coaster to race through the skies on the indoor air coaster.

“We have so many different activities that I think the kids will have a hard time choosing a favourite thing,” said Jim. “We have an indoor air coaster that is the first of its kind in Australia, a multi-level playground, ninja course, high ropes challenge, hyper bumper cars, there is just so much to choose from!”

Tiny Tots

Of course, a play centre is only as good as its coffee, and thankfully Rush Adventureland has the parents in mind too.

“We have put a lot of thought and energy into making Rush Adventureland not only a fantastic place for kids, but also a great place for parents, specifically designing our 120 seat café with parents in mind. We have comfortable seating, air conditioning, free Wi-Fi, and of course great food and coffee.” Jim said.

The littlest ones will never get bored, with their own brightly coloured playground full of toddler friendly equipment and games. Specifically designed for kids under four years of age, it’s one of the largest play areas for littlies we’ve ever seen!

Kids There is a huge soft-play indoor playground for

Parents

WWW.RUSHADVENTURELAND.COM.AU

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K I D S O N T H E C O A S T.C O M . A U • K I D S I N T H E C I T Y.C O M . A U

www.saac.qld.edu.au enrolments@saac.qld.edu.au

5471 5555

40 Peregian Springs Drive, Peregian Springs

CHECK THIS OUT THE KID-SIZED ESSENTIALS TO KICK START YOUR 2021

DAYCARE SWAGGIES Our fav place for daycare essentials, Daycare Swaggies is your one-stop shop for being organised and bang on-trend for daycare 2021. Already well known for their genius Bedding Swaggie, which simplifies all daycare bedding into one roll-up bedding solution, this gorgeous site now also has everything needed to start daycare in the one place: bedding, lunchboxes, drink bottles, backpacks and more. #AddToCartBaby. www.daycareswaggies.com

MULTI-USE MIXED LABELS PACK This multi-use mixed labels pack is designed to save you time and money.

Use them on anything, regardless of texture or size—gloves, pencils, blazers, garage boxes, you name it! If you use them on clothes, iron them down to make them permanent. $39.95 www.stuckonyou.com.au

WEE GALLERY ‘SWING SLOW SLOTH’ CLOTH BOOK This gorgeous cloth book is a great introduction to different animals and textures for young infants. The soft book marries fresh design with engaging content, and features high contrast black and white images suitable for young babies. $19.95 www.urbanbaby.com.au

COLOUR-IN CAKE TOPPERS A fun and unique activity for kids’ birthday parties, these cake toppers are designed for kids to colour in! Perfect for topping home-baked cupcakes and available in a range of designs, each pack comes with a set of six Sugar Crafty edible markers and 12 edible icing cupcake toppers. Designs include unicorns, pirates, dinosaurs, princesses and seasonal favourites. $25 // www.topmycake.com.au

TRAPPED: ESCAPE ROOM GAME PACKS Designed by escape room experts, the three TRAPPED game packs contain the components needed to turn any room into a live-action puzzle. The family-friendly games are designed to get everyone up and about, thinking, talking and having fun. They are suitable for players eight years old and upwards. Available at all good toy stores.

RRP: $20

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K I D S O N T H E C O A S T.C O M . A U • K I D S I N T H E C I T Y.C O M . A U

METTA PLAY BILINGUAL YOGA CARDS

FLIPSLIDES A simple, sustainable alternative to the flip-flop!

With their comfortable, classic design, Flipslides are made of natural rubber that is sustainably tapped from rubber trees. Natural rubber is also waterproof, durable, supportive and better for your skin. Manufactured ethically using natural renewable materials, They are kind to the earth, your feet and your wallet. $34 www.biome.com.au

These gorgeous bilingual cards help kids learn yoga and mindfulness—and another language—through play. Comes as 15 matching pairs with pose names written in two languages (English and either Mandarin, French, Spanish or Indonesian). The set includes a guidebook printed on recycled paper with pose descriptions and game ideas, and comes in a calico drawstring bag. RRP $39 www.mettaplay.com

OSMO MATH WIZARD - MAGICAL WORKSHOP Quell the anxiety around maths through this fun, hands-on, adventure-driven game where kids learn maths by touching, manipulating, and experimenting with how it is used everyday. Kids brew potions with dragon claws and sparkle dust to master place value, and continue their quest by counting balloons to help dragons fly! Ages 6-8.

RRP: $99.99 // www.playosmo.com

DALMATIAN DOTS CLOTH NAPPY COLLECTION One of the most on-trend designs from their Pet Party Collection, these gorgeous Dalmatian Dots cloth nappies are spot-on for little ones. With playful characters dotted around the designs, Bambino Mio’s Pet Party collection offers a range of All-In-One and TwoPiece options, inserts and accessories.

RRP: $29 www.bambinomio.com.au K I D S O N T H E C O A S T.C O M . A U • K I D S I N T H E C I T Y.C O M . A U

MAY GIBBS BABY SWIMWEAR For more than 100 years, May Gibbs’ stories have inspired children and adults.

This summer, the team at Walnut Melbourne has combined her iconic Australian folklore with their much-loved baby apparel to produce an adorable range of baby swimwear. The range includes an assortment of hats, tees, dresses, pants, togs and summer onesies. www.walnutmelbourne.com www.maygibbs.org J A N U A R Y / F E B R U A R Y 2020

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TAFE QUEENSLAND

Welcome to TAFE Queensland’s Creative Showcase 2020 - a virtual exhibition highlighting the incredible talent of creative students on the Sunshine Coast.

Visit creativeshowcase2020.com to see a variety of amazing student work produced by 7 different creative areas and get insipired!

VIRTUAL TOURS FASHION SHOW STUDENT PORTFOLIOS

W

hen it comes to transitioning schools, most families believe the best time to make the move is at an education milestone: Prep, Year 1, Year 7, Year 10.

After all, switching schools part-way through primary or secondary is thought to be a stressful experience.

However, recognising that Year 5 is a pivotal year for students joining the College, Matthew Flinders Anglican College is turning that belief around, creating a warm and innovative Year 5 transition program that is making the mid-primary switch a refreshingly positive one for families.

“One of our major intakes now is actually Year 5,” says Trudi Edwards, Head of Primary at Matthew Flinders Anglican College.

“Students adapt very well at this age. Year 5 students embrace the 'adventure' of new offerings, particularly with our co-curricular programs. This attitude often results in our students finding a new talent or interest.”

“Most importantly, students coming to Flinders in Year 5 have the distinct advantage of knowing the Flinders Way, embracing the Flinders Learner Traits and being known and connected, with a strong sense of community, and this enables them to embrace all that the College has to offer K I D S O N T H E C O A S T.C O M . A U • K I D S I N T H E C I T Y.C O M . A U

before moving to secondary school. Our teaching and learning programs prepare students for secondary school in a very intentional way, so that they can thrive and feel confident in their first year of secondary school and beyond.”

“Also, these two years of learning in the Primary School means our students are growing in a culture of high expectations and one that focuses on developing both positive dispositions for learning and the character traits required to excel in life beyond school. The new routines and expectations of secondary school are easily adopted by our students on the basis of strong friendship and a known culture.”

To provide students with a sense of belonging and connectedness, Flinders introduced a broad range of orientation and transition processes.

“Relationships are key to providing such a platform and we know that learning only occurs once a sense of security is developed. Each new student entering Flinders in Year 5 is welcomed by two students who have elected to be buddies for new students. Our buddies write letters of introduction and welcome, and support our new students on Orientation Day and throughout the first few weeks of the new J A N U A R Y / F E B R U A R Y 2021

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E D U C AT I O N

year to ensure our new students are well taken care of. After meeting their buddies at our Term 4 Orientation Day, many of them organise a catch-up during the Christmas holiday to further build the relationship between the students and their families.”

THE YEARS 5-6 PROGRAM The Years 5 and 6 program that Matthew Flinders Anglican College now delivers helps to facilitate a successful Year 5 transition.

“Students in Years 5 and 6 are guided and encouraged to take risks in their learning and accept greater responsibility, so they may enter our Flinders Secondary School with the confidence, skills and knowledge to flourish,” says Trudi.

“We encourage students to engage in all aspects of school life and to pursue their personal best in a dynamic, motivating and ‘adventurous’ environment, where excellence is valued and learning is at the heart of all we do.”

“We are very intentional about transitioning our Year 6 students to Year 7 with visits to our beautiful, newly refurbished Year 7 Precinct to meet both teachers and students, informal lunch gatherings with current Year 7 students and the use of some of our Secondary facilities, including the Science Labs. This proves to assist our Year 6 students with becoming familiar with both the facilities in our Secondary School and also the staff there. A number of our Year 6 and Year 7 students are also in the same sporting teams at a Club, Regional, District and State level and this, too, assists them in feeling known when they move to Secondary School at Flinders.”

Treating Years 5 and 6 as their own 'Senior Primary School' extends the number of facilities that the students enjoy, which is all part of the Flinders Masterplan.

“Our strategic and master building plan provides for our students today, but also well into the future,” explains Trudi.

“Those joining our school in 2021 will be the beneficiaries of two very exciting new Flinders Masterplan projects in the Primary School – our new Years 5 and 6 Precinct opening in 2021, along with a newly refurbished library.”

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IT’S A SPACE WHERE CREATIVITY AND LITERATURE ARE AT OUR CORE

The Years 5 and 6 Precinct provides Flinders’ Senior Primary students with a modern and inspiring space to learn and to gather, with flexible furnishing, a digital zone, and breakout spaces that leverage the natural environment—aptly called ‘treehouses’—where students can sit amongst the tree tops.

“The new Years 5 and 6 Precinct is vibrant, high energy and about ‘the head’,” says Trudi. “To provide students with a genuinely agile learning environment, the space will feature a large year-level gathering space on each floor, homerooms for classes and a full range of richly integrated technology, including iPads, drones, multi-level display capabilities, shared laptops and smart TVs, to complement our one-to-one iPad program.”

Also part of the Flinders Masterplan, the newly refurbished Library will be a place to engage ‘the heart’ as much as the head and aims to provide a sense of awe, connection and inspiration.

“Called the Wonderarium, the refurbished library will be a place for students, staff and parents; a space that draws people from the operational aspects of school to the inspirational – a place of wonder!” explains Trudi. “It’s a space which connects with the natural environment and welcomes students to explore more than just books. A place where creativity and literature are at our core.”

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E D U C AT I O N

What Year 6 students at Flinders say about moving schools in Year 5 WHAT MOST CONCERNED YOU ABOUT STARTING AT A NEW SCHOOL?

I was most concerned that I only knew a few people in my year level.

Knowing those few people, though, really helped me settle in and enjoy the transition.

CHELSEA: When I first started at Flinders, I was most concerned about not being ableKids to make new friends. always have a ball LUCY: The thing thatSlater's most concerned at Billy ball me was not being ableprogram! to catch up sports academically because I had been taught in a different way at my old school.

LACHIE:

WHAT THE FAMILIES SAY With the support of the transition program, the Everson family moved their three children to Matthew Flinders Anglican College at the start of the 2019 school year, joining Years 2, 5 and 7.

“It was a very clean integration and all three kids responded really well to the change,” says their dad, Dan Emerson.

“What’s been really impressive has been the positive shift in Hugo, our Year 5 boy,” Dan continues. “Where he was struggling in some areas at his previous school, he is absolutely thriving now.”

Dan believes that this is because the College looked at each child as an individual and encouraged and inspired them differently.

“I think one of the things about the school is that they genuinely understand each child,” Dan says. “All three of my kids are different types of learners. The school profiled each child very specifically, finding where each of their interests are and knowing how best to encourage, whilst also finding a way to work on their weaknesses.”

“The buddy system worked really well too.

But in the bigger picture, I think the success has been due to the overall culture at the school,’ says Dan. “Their culture is a college culture. They encourage a child’s curiosity; they instil in the students that learning is a challenge, an opportunity, and that there is potential in everyone. This culture makes joining the College really refreshing, as the students are all incredibly positive about school life.”

WHAT HAS BEEN THE BEST THING ABOUT JOINING FLINDERS?

LACHIE: The

Creativity, courage and curiosity are critical life skills for a bright future .

best thing about joining the Flinders community was having the chance to make lifelong friends. I have made heaps of new friends and we play together every day.

CHELSEA: The best thing about joining Flinders is that it has a lot of sport. I love to play games and to have fun with my friends doing Health & Physical Education.

LUCY : The best thing about joining Flinders is all the different co-curricular opportunities. Flinders has given me the chance to try things I couldn’t at my previous school, like debating, Opti-minds and more.

WHAT IS YOUR ADVICE TO OTHER STUDENTS WHO MAY BE WORRIED ABOUT STARTING A NEW SCHOOL?

Find people you want to play with. You meet a buddy who may help you to settle in and then you can make new friends too.

CHELSEA: Do not change yourself for other students to like you. You will be liked as you are a good person.

LUCY: Moving mid-way through primary school isn’t as scary as it seems. Teachers and students are willing to help you to achieve your goals. Just be honest and be yourself.

LACHIE:

FOR MORE INFORMATION, GO TO WWW.MFAC.EDU.AU

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J A N U A R Y / F E B R U A R Y 2021

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BENEFITS

of a

P RE-KIN DY TO YEA R 12 SCHOOL With so many education models available today, what are the benefits of staying at the same school for your entire learning journey? We head to Caloundra Christian College to find out.

Having all kids in one location makes drop-offs and pick-ups much easier when kids are in different stages of schooling. Also, my children have plenty of positive interactions with teachers and students in the upper levels. Just today, my Year 2 daughter was telling me they went to the Year 9 robotics class and the students got to show off their drone skills. It made the transition from kindy to prep so much easier, so I’m confident the Year 6 to Year 7 transition will be easy too. To think that they can complete their entire primary and secondary education in one place gives me joy, especially when I think of the friendships they will build.

Being a small school is important too. The close-knit community that I have experienced at CalCC is such a beautiful thing. I feel I’ve had more of an opportunity to meet and interact with the different staff and families. And my children know all of the children in their year level, while also benefiting from a closer relationship with their teachers—you can clearly tell it’s not just a job to them and they genuinely do care about our kids. Also, I love the facilities and that the kids can access them throughout their entire schooling journey.

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Vince Wakefield, Principal at Caloundra Christian College There are so many benefits! There’s the practicality of having all children at one location. CalCC caters for threeyear-olds onwards, and we also offer Outside School Hours Care at the same location. But more than the practical aspects, being part of a PK-12 school means the children and families become an integral member of a village; a community where parents and teachers have strong connections that support their children.

Some of our families have been part of the CalCC community for decades, from the time their first children started in Pre-kindy to the time their last child graduates.

As a small PK-12 school, we integrate a personalised, supportive program seamlessly through all year levels. A small school also allows me to build strong relationships with parents, students and my colleagues. Our vision talks about both students and staff flourishing.

As a small school, I love that you can see that flourishing close up.

And for me, personally? My day can include reading a story and making playdough with the kindy kids and watching a powerful drama about personal identity and resilience by the senior drama class. It’s fantastic! I would love families to come and tour the college with me, so you can see what I am talking about.

K I D S O N T H E C O A S T.C O M . A U • K I D S I N T H E C I T Y.C O M . A U

Vince Wakefield Credit: Kate Karanges

Amanda Valentine, mum of two at Caloundra Christian College

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Simple tips for nurturing your

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CHILD’S FIRST FRIENDSHIPS

s the new school year approaches, many of our littlest ones are preparing for the exciting step of starting Kindergarten.

“Your child’s kindergarten years are an exciting time where they will start to focus on building friendships as they become more interested in playing with others and working in teams,” says Edge Early Learning CEO Annie Bryce.

Making friends is an essential part of growing up and also helps to develop the social and emotional skills required for starting school.

Friendships teach a child empathy and altruism, whilst also helping to develop their own identity and self-esteem. And, as they mature, friends are a vital support network in navigating the more challenging times.

Good friendships can also have a positive influence on a child’s classroom learning. Children that don’t feel comfortable in their environment find it harder to learn. Having strong relationships is an integral part of making children feel welcome.

“We strongly believe in building powerful relationships that promote inspiration in early learning,” says Annie. “Strong relationships between our team and our families, the children and their educators, and between the children as they form friendships.”

It is important for children to manage their own friendships, but there are many things parents can quietly do from the side lines to support this journey.

HELP YOUR CHILD TO DEVELOP POSITIVE SOCIAL SKILLS FROM AN EARLY AGE. Understanding the importance of sharing, listening

to each other and taking someone else’s feelings into account are all important parts of positive social interaction. Guide your child to read social situations and interact positively.

MODEL GOOD FRIENDSHIPS. Let your child see how friendships work by letting them see you with your friends.

NURTURE THEIR INTERESTS. As your child discovers their own interests, help them find other children with similar likes. If they don’t have any stand-out interests yet, encourage them to try new things.

CONVERSATION STARTERS. Help your child become more confident in starting conversations by having regular conversations together and guiding them towards appropriate topics that they could use to start one. You can even role play what they might say! This is particularly useful for older children who might feel anxious or shy.

CHOOSE A KINDERGARTEN PROGRAM THAT ACTIVELY SUPPORTS SOCIAL GROWTH. The Kindergarten room is where most

first friendships begin, so attending a Kindergarten that supports social growth is vital. Programs such as the Active Early Learning Curriculum can significantly help with this.

“We have partnered with the Australian College of Physical Literacy to implement the AEL Curriculum, harnessing the importance of learning through structured games in team settings,” explains Annie.

“The AEL Curriculum not only promotes the development of strong physical motor skills, but also supports your child in developing their social, emotional, and cognitive skills to ensure that they feel confident starting school.”

ENCOURAGE FRIENDSHIPS THAT ARE IMPORTANT TO YOUR CHILD. If there is a friendship that your child values, take time to

nurture it – even if the kids are at different schools. Create time for them to see friends outside their school days.

RESPECT YOUR CHILD’S PERSONALITY. Some children may have heaps of friends, others may only need one or two to feel content and may even feel overwhelmed by more. If your child is nurtured and happy, they will develop positive friendships in their own way.

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TIPS FOR STARTING PREP Wondering what your child should be able to do before starting ‘big school’?

Rachelle Brutnell, Dean at Sunshine Coast Grammar School, is here to help!

I

t is an often-asked question—what should my child be able to do when they start Prep?

If we begin with the end in mind and consider the type of learner you see your child becoming, most would agree the ideal learner is one who loves learning, who collaborates with others and actively seeks to gain independent skills and knowledge about the world around them.

So how do we get them there?

Education is about valuing all the stages of development and recognising there is no end to being a learner. It’s not a race and there are a multitude of paths that children will create and take on their own journey, which began at birth (if not before). It is about mindset as much as skillset, and setting your child up for success requires bucket loads of positive encouragement.

At Sunshine Coast Grammar, our Prep team value each child and the character strengths they bring, along with recognising the journey that they have already begun.

The following areas of child development and learning should be considered prior to entering Prep.

ORAL LANGUAGE We love our learners to engage in regular conversations to develop the skills to converse as well as to foster their speech and language development. We recommend

that students who display speech difficulties be assessed by a speech pathologist as early as possible. Early intervention is key to improving children’s long term educational outcomes. We often work closely with speech pathologists here at Grammar.

GROSS MOTOR SKILLS We value students having time to actively develop their bodies which plays an important role in developing sustained concentration, motor planning, coordination and positive learning dispositions. A

K I D S O N T H E C O A S T.C O M . A U • K I D S I N T H E C I T Y.C O M . A U

Perceptual Motor Program with core strength and large arm muscle movements (e.g. painting on easels) is beneficial. Prep students at Grammar participate in PMP three times a week in addition to PE lessons.

FINE MOTOR SKILLS Create opportunities for learners to participate in a variety of fine motor skill development – threading, LEGO, mobilo, drawing, painting, playdough and cutting.

Although some young learners have a willingness to write, it is not an expectation J A N U A R Y / F E B R U A R Y 2021

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PREP

It’s important for them to have a love of books. when entering Prep. Most children do want to learn to write their name. We value a focus on letter formation, starting with a capital and the rest of the letters in lowercase. Writing habits develop quickly and it can be a greater challenge to correct poor formation than teaching from the start of Prep.

LITERACY A love of books. Children need endless opportunities to be exposed to great literature and to enjoy hearing and playing with language and vocabulary. Being able to say, enjoy and recite familiar nursery rhymes is highly valued.

ALPHABET KNOWLEDGE We would expect most learners to recognise their own name and identify the letters in their name. Children are more likely to be engaged in letters and sounds that have meaning to them. The letters in ‘Mum’, ‘Dad’ and sibling’s names are commonly acquired. Fun games like eye spy (something that begins with the sound ‘sss’) can assist children to listen to the sounds in words.

If your child is interested in learning the alphabet, we encourage you to support them to learn both the letter names and the sounds the letters make.

LOVE OF LEARNING We believe our learners should bounce through the door each day. To develop a life-

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J A N U A R Y / F E B R U A R Y 2021

long love of learning, it is important children are nurtured to have a growth mindset.

Mistakes are okay, attempts are valued, you need courage to try new things and know the power of YET. Parents and early childhood educators can have a significant impact on nurturing a growth mindset in children.

Adults should model that they too make mistakes, need courage to try new things and can learn new skills through persistence.

“THE IDEAL LEARNER IS ONE WHO LOVES LEARNING, WHO COLLABORATES WITH OTHERS AND ACTIVELY SEEKS TO GAIN INDEPENDENT SKILLS AND KNOWLEDGE”

PERSONAL AND SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT View students as capable and allow children to grow in independence where they are skilled to do so. Opening containers, managing lunch items and personal belongings, basic personal hygiene and independent use of the bathroom is expected. Children are usually willing to learn and play with others and are on the journey to developing self-awareness of big emotions.

CURIOSITY AND THINKING At Grammar, we nurture the learning assets of inquiry. We support our students to be self-managers, thinkers, collaborators, researchers and communicators. We value the natural curiosity in children and encourage questioning from our teachers and learners to drive student agency.

By Rachelle Brutnell, Sunshine Coast Grammar School, Dean, Prep - Year 2 K I D S O N T H E C O A S T.C O M . A U • K I D S I N T H E C I T Y.C O M . A U

PROFILE

PAUL HELPS LOCALS

COOK UP A CAREER

Paul Breheny is one of the highly experienced chefs at TAFE QLD.

H

aving spent more than 35 years in the hospitality industry, running his own businesses, cooking on television and catering for some of Australia’s biggest stars, Paul Breheny has had an illustrious career few could only dream of.

Paul Breheny fell in love with cooking from a young age, making his first loaf of bread at just five years old. Raised in Derbyshire, England by his publican parents, he was no stranger to the kitchen when he was growing up.

Fast-forward to his teenage years and there was no question when it came to what he wanted to do for a living. Attending a catering college in the United Kingdom, Paul spent two years studying everything from making beds to cooking for the masses.

Hungry to learn more and broaden his skills, he spent his first four years working for a variety of different restaurants and establishments, before making the move to Cronulla with his Australian wife. There, he

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campus in 2016. Paul now spends his time working as part of a highly experienced team of chefs who train the Sunshine Coast’s next generation of chefs in the latest cooking techniques and provide them with invaluable skills. Their training often sees them landing jobs working for some of the Coast’s—and the country’s—most prestigious restaurants.

Paul and his fellow cookery trainers regularly consult with local businesses to ensure they have their finger of the pulse cooked for high flying executives and senior of the food industry , so they can equip their politicians, before starting a successful film students and apprentices with well-rounded catering business that prepared food for the knowledge. This allows their students to cast and crew of shows like Home and Away enter the workplace as confident and capable and Australian Idol. He eventually sold this employees. The Mooloolaba campus even to open award-winning Sydney restaurant has students operate a live restaurant, Fratelli Del Mare, which he cowhere they speak to customers owned and operated for and put everything they’ve “Other chefs can’t 10 years. believe the modern learned into practice.

By this time, Paul had “When I explain to other chefs techniques we are developed a passion for what we do here, they are often teaching and the seafood and a knowledge of shocked—they can’t believe equipment we have.” the modern techniques we are the entertainment industry, which he put into practice as teaching the students and the the co-producer and presenter of TV show, equipment we have. We’re up there with The Hook and The Cook. what’s happening in Sydney and Melbourne.”

“It’s been pretty successful. When we With flexible delivery options for were on TV, we got to go to America with it, apprentices, TAFE Queensland has adapted and now we’re on YouTube, we have 18,000 to ensure young chefs receive the best start subscribers and some pretty big name to their career whilst also fulfilling the fishing sponsors,” Paul said. training needs of local businesses.

Paul has also worked as a commercial Visit www.tafeqld.edu.au or call 1300 308 233 cookery trainer since 2007, joining the to find out more about TAFE Queensland’s TAFE Queensland team at their Mooloolaba cookery courses and to enrol.

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FUTURE

EDUCATION HUB proposed for the Sunshine Coast

F

inding the right school for your child to thrive is a critical part of their learning adventure. Every child is unique so having a diverse range of education opportunities available nearby—from early learning through to high school—is becoming increasingly important to most families.

Hoping to fulfil this need, Stockland Aura developers have opted to focus on creating an education ‘hub’ in the growing city, including a huge 20 proposed education facilities on the masterplan.

“Aura is building a talented city with education at its heart,” said Josh Sondergeld, Stockland Project Director. “A city where learning is part of life.”

By 2023, Aura will be home to four schools: Baringa State Primary School, Baringa State Secondary College opening in 2021, Nirimba State Primary School opening in 2022, and a Catholic P-12 school in the City Centre, delivered by Brisbane Catholic Education, opening in 2023.

“Baringa Primary is very proud to be Queensland’s first Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) School of Excellence,” said Principal Noel Baggs. “Our primary school is an innovative and exciting learning environment, K I D S O N T H E C O A S T.C O M . A U • K I D S I N T H E C I T Y.C O M . A U

providing students with a world-class education.”

A NEW STATE SECONDARY COLLEGE

Baringa State Secondary College will be the first secondary school in the Aura community and will provide engaging, challenging and inclusive curriculum opportunities that empower all students to embrace learning and achieve their potential.

Opening to Year 7 and 8 students at the start of the 2021 school year, the new secondary college will eventually cater for students from Year 7 through to Year 12.

Josh Sondergeld said the delivery marked the next step in catering for the community’s growing education needs.

“Aura is committed to nurturing young minds and emerging talent and, with 10 new families moving to Aura every week, the school is a very welcome addition to our growing number of education facilities,” Mr Sondergeld said.

Newly appointed Principal Mr Matt Samson said, “At Baringa State Secondary College, we strive to create independent learners. We are driven by the shared belief that all students learn through effective learning partnerships between teachers,

PROPOSED EDUCATION FACILITIES AT AURA

• 5 public primary schools • 2 public high schools • 4 early learning centres • Up to 8 private schools • Urban university

J A N U A R Y / F E B R U A R Y 2021

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FUTURE

students and parents to ensure that our students are confident, creative and aspirational about their chosen future.”

“For me, the first 12 months will be an amazing year, with the opportunity to work with the community and the students to develop the traditions and aspects of the school that will be part of the school culture and identity forever,” said Mr Samson.

“I am also excited about ensuring that the amazing staff we have selected will be creating incredible, engaging and innovative curriculum options for all of our students. This will ensure that every student develops a love of learning, finds their special abilities and inspires them to set amazing goals and aspirations for their studies at school and beyond.

Creating happy, successful students who will be happy, successful adults is what motivates and drives each of us to create the best college we can for the students of Baringa!”

“I have really enjoyed starting to meet the community in Baringa, and have been so impressed and appreciative of the support and excitement that the community has shown for the emerging new State Secondary College. The community has a great feel—especially with the exceptional bike paths, which really encourage children and families to get involved in healthy lifestyle habits.”

Catholic Education (BCE) have announced plans for a new Catholic college, which is opening in Aura in 2023.

Situated on an eight-hectare site, the future Prep to Year 12 school has been designed to accommodate 1,500 students and around 150 teaching and nonteaching staff on completion.

The building facilities will be split into several stages with the construction of the first stage planned to commence in 2022.

Josh Sondergeld said the BCE partnership was a once-in-a-generation opportunity to create a leading education facility.

“We are looking forward to Brisbane Catholic Education joining us as we build a centre of education with pathways to suit all ages and stages,” Mr Sondergeld said.

“We’ve designed a city that will provide equity in education choices for a rapidly expanding population and, as the community grows, we aim to deliver a range of educational options through co-location, clustering and sharing of amenities.”

BCE Executive Director, Pam Betts, said the Sunshine Coast is one of the fastestgrowing areas in Australia and families moving to Aura will be seeking high quality, values-based education for their children.

“We are pleased to partner with Stockland to help develop a world-class educational community at Aura.”

Ms Betts said the planned Catholic college at Aura would be a welcomed addition to the Archdiocese of Brisbane’s educational mission and would join BCE’s established network of schools on the Sunshine Coast.

The new state high school opens to Year 7 and 8 in January 2021

A NEW CATHOLIC COLLEGE

Adding to the growing education offering, Stockland and Brisbane

Students at Baringa State Primary (left) The growing city of Aura (right)

K I D S O N T H E C O A S T.C O M . A U • K I D S I N T H E C I T Y.C O M . A U

PREP

How to reduce separation anxiety in Prep

E

very child responds differently to being separated from their parent, and this is always apparent during the first few days of Prep. Tears, tantrums and clinginess are all common emotional reactions, but they can cause distress and ongoing issues if not well managed. Here are some tips to reduce anxiety for a positive start to Prep: P R E PA R AT I O N I S KE Y The more comfortable and familiar your child feels about school life, the more relaxed and less anxious they will be on their first day of Prep. There are many ways you can help them understand what to expect: • Attend all Prep Orientation and ‘Meet the Teacher’ events run by your child’s new school.

• Some schools have playgroups that meet on the school campus. These provide an excellent opportunity for your child to become familiar with the school surroundings.

• Organise play dates with other kids starting school at the same time as your child.

• Get your child used to spending time away from you. This could be time spent with grandparents or attending a sporting activity. It’s important that they practise saying goodbye to you and have positive experiences away from you.

• Spend time playing ‘school’ together (this can be a fascinating insight into what your child is expecting). Read books to them

Be positive and reassuring about your child's new school adventure.

about starting school and discuss the storylines.

• Take the journey to school together a few times and show your child where they will enter and be picked up.

• Go over the school routine with your child, so that they know what to expect. Young children often have no real concept of time.

Outline a distinct beginning, middle and end, with checkpoints that punctuate the day, such as morning tea and lunchtime.

• Teach them how to ask questions. One of the scariest things can be not knowing what to do or who to ask if they have a problem.

Talk through some scenarios with your child to help them prepare.

BE CONFIDENT BUT ACKNOWLEDGE THEIR EMOTIONS Children will pick up on their parents’ stress and fears. Be positive and reassuring about your child’s new school adventure and show them that you trust their teachers. Be excited to find out about their school day.

Children need to feel that their emotions are valued. Saying things like “Don’t be silly” or “There’s nothing to worry about,” may make them think you don’t understand.

Show empathy: “You’re finding this a bit scary, right?”, “I can see you’re worried about being without me.” Explain that it’s okay to feel that way and that you will miss them too.

E S TA B L I S H A G O O D BY E R O U T I N E Talking to your child about what will happen when that first morning bell rings will ensure there are no scary surprises. Sneaking away without saying goodbye often makes things worse and may lead to your child feeling confused and more difficult to settle the next day. Instead, let your child know that you are leaving and that you will be back later. Short goodbyes are always better. Lingering can lead to more anxiety as they anticipate your departure.

A hug, kiss and brief goodbye will suffice.

Make sure you firmly plant a bright smile on your face, even if you’re not feeling it.

Fake it until you both make it through an amazing first day of Prep!

By the Prep tream at King’s Christian College www.kingscollege.qld.edu.au

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K I D S O N T H E C O A S T.C O M . A U • K I D S I N T H E C I T Y.C O M . A U

Dr Caroline Hughes - Paediatrician Consulting in 2 locations across the Sunshine Coast

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Tel: 07 5345 5733 Email: reception@nurturepaediatrics.com.au

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GETTING SET FOR THE 2021 SCHOOL YEAR? WE’VE SCOURED THE LIBRARY SHELVES (VIRTUAL AND PHYSICAL) FOR THE BEST BACK-TO-SCHOOL RESOURCES FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY

THE BEST BACK-TOSCHOOL RESOURCES are at the library

I

t’s that time of year when families are starting to think about the new school year. Thankfully there’s plenty of resources available to ease the transition. Even better, you can find heaps of them for free at the local library!

Here are our favourites to kick-start your 2021 school year.

Preppies Early readers will play a huge part in your child’s first years at school and finding readers that grab their interest is pivotal in making reading fun. The library stocks a huge range of beginner readers from across the globe to aid in literacy development.

From Paw Patrol to Disney Princesses, Star Wars to Bluey, there are early readers at all reading levels to tempt every little preppie.

Primary and secondary students One positive outcome of the COVID lockdown, is that it quickly spurred Sunshine Coast Libraries into vastly growing their online learning resources. The result? Your

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J A N U A R Y / F E B R U A R Y 2021

child’s library card now gives them access to some of the best online resources to help with school. Maths, Science, Languages, The Arts – there’s online activities for every topic and every interest. Don’t forget to bookmark the pages, so they are always at hand anytime you need learning resources throughout the year or if you ever need some educational screen time! Check out: www.library.sunshinecoast.qld.gov.au/ Children/Kids/Education and www.library.sunshinecoast.qld.gov.au/ Teens/Education

Parents It’s not just the kids that can benefit from dipping into some back-to-school resources.

There is a bunch of support for parents too!

Get some great lunchbox tips from books such as Lunchbox Express by George Georgievski or The Lunchbox Effect by Belinda Smith. Find a range of titles by parenting educator guru Steve Biddulph to help with any parenting worries. Be ready to help your kids with homework and projects with free online access to resources such as Britannica

Online and World Book Online with your library card. Take advantage of the Help Your Kids DK Guides by Carol Vorderman, with guides on subjects including English, Maths, Music, Coding and Science.

And to make it even easier for Mum and Dad, Sunshine Coast Libraries has launched a new app! Providing families with a onestop shop, you can now find resources to reserve, access all the eResources from your mobile device or renew items if you can’t get back to the library. You can even link all your families membership cards to keep everyone’s details in one super handy spot.

Just search for Sunshine Coast Libraries in the Apple App Store or Google Playstore.

GREAT BOOKS TO EASE BACK-TO-SCHOOL NERVES The Battle: Starting School can be Scary Sometimes! By Ashling Kwok & Cara King I Have to Start School Today By Simon Philip I Love School! By Tracey Corderoy School Days By Sue deGennaro

K I D S O N T H E C O A S T.C O M . A U • K I D S I N T H E C I T Y.C O M . A U

Big Fish to Little Fish TRANSITIONING TO HIGH SCHOOL

N

ew school, new teachers, new subjects, new routine, new friends, new uniform… all for a child who is currently experiencing massive developmental change both physically and emotionally. It’s no surprise that the transition to high school can be an unsettling time!

This transition can also be a big shift for parents. There are many ‘this is the last time they will…’ moments when primary school is left behind and, at this age, children are moving into the stage of not wanting their parent to be as visible anymore.

So, what might be some of the feelings and emotions that pop up for our children and how can we best support them during this transitional time, whilst also being mindful of our own feelings and experiences?

During this time, it is important to remember that having mixed feelings about trusting they will be caught? I believe this is the imminent changes you and your child a little like parenting, especially as your child are going through is really normal. There transitions through a change in their lives. might be lots of excitement yet, as the start You want them to know you are there if they date approaches, this may turn to feelings need you. You want them to know that if they of concern, fear, worry and anxiety. Just fall, you will catch them, and that your hands like when starting a new job, it can be a are there whenever they need them and until nerve-wracking time. And the they pick themselves up.

“Having mixed feeling of uncertainty may be felt Supporting children through even more acutely this year due such huge milestones can be feelings about to many high school transition fun and exciting. It can also the imminent programs, parent information changes you and be exhausting, tiring and sessions and social activities emotionally depleting, especially your child are being cancelled in 2020. when our glass may already be going through is half empty.

When you are going through really normal.” change or transitions in your life, So, for those times when we what helps you the most? The feel like we don’t have much left knowledge that you have someone who has in our reserve, find those people that have your back. Kids are no different. our back and can help us to refill our cup, So, this article is a little reminder that through coffee with other parents, laughter what is most important to your child with our friends, time with our family or through this transition is…YOU! time for ourselves.

Have you ever done that team-building What we do know is that when we are exercise where you stand in a circle and the supported as parents, our kids do better. person in the middle has to fall backwards

By Jolanda at Parentline

TRANSITION TIPS • During the school holidays, walk/bike/drive past the school.

If possible, point out various buildings while looking at the school map.

• Practise travelling to and from school.

• Become familiar with school routines such as bell times and timetables.

• Help your child prepare for school, getting uniforms ready and packing their bag. Having a checklist can be helpful for some children as it provides a sense of organisation and calm.

• Be positive before and after school, and ask them about their day. For more than one word answers, get creative with your questions: ‘Can you tell me about what you enjoyed most at school today?’

• Encourage your child to talk about their feelings by asking, ‘How did that make you feel?’

I F Y O U N E E D S O M E O N E T O TA L K T O, PA R E N T L I N E I S H E R E F O R Y O U. C A L L F O R A C H AT D A I LY O N 1300 13 13 0 0 B E T W E E N 8 A M -10 P M , W E B C H AT 8 A M -9 P M O R V I S I T W W W.PA R E N T L I N E .C O M . A U

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K I D S O N T H E C O A S T.C O M . A U • K I D S I N T H E C I T Y.C O M . A U

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PA R E N T H O O D

PERSONALISED KIDS’ BOOKS

helping parents handle the hard stuff Guiding children through their trauma following the 7.8 magnitude 2016 Kaikoura earthquake inspired an award-winning children’s book.

A

By Hannah Davison

s the earthquake shook, shuddered and lurched, I held my son tightly. Gripped by primal fear, I had the horrific realisation I might fail, as a mother, to protect my children. Glass smashed, wood splintered, and brick chimneys crashed through roofing iron. Our fragility was in stark contrast against this monstrous force of nature.

In the following months, I guided my children through the trauma and the changes caused by that experience. They became my greatest teachers. They were unflinchingly vulnerable, honest and questioning as they reconciled their feelings, memories and physical bodily responses. They taught me, unfiltered, what it looks like to take on trauma and to release it.

During times they needed my presence and attention, I learnt more patience. I developed more compassion, not just for them, but also for myself in appreciating how time and expression play an unavoidable role in healing. Young children make no excuse for the journey of their healing process; unlike us, they haven’t been conditioned to ‘put on a brave face’. For my own healing to occur, they taught me to surrender to the nature of that journey.

I noticed that, as long as we provided love and continuity, they’d easily adapt to the changes around them. We had to move house four times in two years. They showed me that home is not a ‘what’ or a ‘where’, home is a ‘who’.

In material terms, the earthquake took a great deal, but what it gave us were the seeds from which our resilience grew.

K I D S O N T H E C O A S T.C O M . A U • K I D S I N T H E C I T Y.C O M . A U

The personalised picture books are designed to help children cope with the challenges and changes they face.

J A N U A R Y / F E B R U A R Y 2021

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PA R E N T H O O D

“For a child, every new milestone or event has magnitude, their frame of reference for life’s experience is limited to the few years they’ve spent living it.”

As parents, we’re all just ‘winging it’

“I wanted to have the right words at the right moment.”

Added to the mentally, physically and emotionally demanding nature of parenting itself, the pressure to get it right for our kids is all too real. Not to mention, juggling life’s other responsibilities. It’s no wonder our anxiety is skyrocketing.

Being a primary caregiver, especially when children are very young, can bring feelings of isolation, inadequacy and overwhelm. This was certainly my experience and a sentiment shared by my peers.

I felt what many other parents must feel— through the most defining moments of our children’s lives, it seems like we’re just ‘winging it’, making it up as we go along. For a child, every new milestone or event has magnitude; their frame of reference for life’s experience is limited to the few years they’ve spent living it. While it’s almost impossible for us to relate to, it’s these experiences that are shaping their lives. I no longer wanted to feel I was ‘winging it’, I wanted to have the right words at the right moment.

Making parenting a little bit easier Discussing this with friend, and now business partner, Flicka Williams, we talked about how we could make the tricky job of parenting a little bit easier. We had the idea to create personalised children’s books that would foster resilience,

Hannah Davison is the author and co-founder of the award-winning initiative, My Big Moments, a personalised picture book series designed to help children cope with challenges, changes and milestones they face.

There are currently five titles in the My Big Moments book range: Ready for School The Hospital Visit Goodbye Comet Baby on the Way That’s Not the Plan

confidence and adaptability through big events in kids’ lives. Underpinning each book concept would be consultation with child development, neuroscience and play therapy experts, so parents could feel confident in the credibility of the ideas and techniques interwoven throughout the stories.

Research studies have found personalisation to be an effective way to inform, engage and enchant children, helping them to absorb and recall information encountered through storytelling.

Thinking innovatively, we decided to make use of the latest digital and print technologies.

How to raise resilient kids Resiliency in kids is primarily determined by strong emotional connections with parents and caregivers in an environment that feels safe and secure. That quiet story time, when parent and child sit together, creates the perfect situation for building those strong, secure connections. By exploring the story’s ideas and discussing how to handle their own situations, kids learn that when they need somewhere reliable to go to for help and support, they will find that with their parents. Reading a My Big Moments book creates a powerful dynamic for supporting children’s development. Through engaging storytelling, well-researched concepts, and encouraging oneon-one time for parent and child, the books are an effective but playful way for kids to approach big moments in life with curiosity and confidence.

FIND OUT MORE AT MYBIGMOMENTS.COM

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K I D S O N T H E C O A S T.C O M . A U • K I D S I N T H E C I T Y.C O M . A U

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Classes in: • Stretch, Strength & Tumbling with Air Track • Stretch, Strength & Aerial with Silks & Lyra • Classes in Pilates for strength & flexibility • Classes for social Mummas who want to have fun exercising and feel the ‘Booty Burn’ • Classes for 3-5 year olds in our ‘Little Explorers’ Program to discover Acrobatics & everything upside down.

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ENROL NOW

For 2021

H E A LT H

INSTILLING A LOVE FOR

FITNESS IN KIDS

D

id you know that eight out of ten Aussie kids aren’t getting the recommended amount of physical activity each day? At a time of critical development and growth, many children are learning that mobile devices are fun and physical activity is something that they only participate in when they have to.

So, how do we turn that around and instil a love for fitness in them from an early age?

At the core of a developing a lifelong love for anything, the activity has to be fun and something that they look forward to. (After all, when have you ever stuck at anything that you don’t enjoy?)

“A love for fitness comes from having fun,” says Jules Nagy from My First Gym Maroochydore. “This connection between fitness and fun can start from a very early age, and is something that will positively influence kids’ choices for their whole lives.”

With this in mind, My First Gym Maroochydore has built their whole program around ensuring kids are having fun while exercising and trying new things. Their unique approach to kids’ fitness has already led to hundreds of Sunshine Coast kids putting down their devices and finding a new love for being fit and active.

“Most kids don’t know what they want to do at the start. Therefore, we provide a huge choice of classes all under one roof, so kids don’t need to specialise too early,” says Jules. “They can come to a different class each week and try them all—our membership program means you can come to Martial Arts on Monday, Yoga on Wednesday, Dance or Parkour on Thursday!”

This also perfectly caters for those families with several kids who like different things. “Having three arenas means we can run a range of classes and ages at once,” said Jules. “This sibling-centric timetable, free play space, and drop and run facilities make it easy for families to incorporate My First Gym into their lives and busy schedules.”

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Putting the fun back in fitness This choice and flexibility takes away the pressure of choosing a specialised sport early, so kids really can just go along and have fun.

“Once kids do discover that thing they love, they may start to stick with regular classes,” says Jules. “But that’s because they’ve had the chance to try everything, so they truly know they are doing something they love. If at any point they fancy trying something new for a week or two, they can easily switch to something else! This flexibility is great for the kids, as it keeps the focus on having fun, getting involved, and being active.”

Fitness for all ages Kids can go to My First Gym from as early as 7 months and can continue through to 15 years.

“At 7 months, we are working on fine and gross motor skills, listening to instructions and getting accustomed to a social group with our Baby Explorer and Walking Wallabies classes,” explains Jules. “Then our Dingo Pups class (ages 3-5) is more focused on getting school ready.”

The MFG general activity programs run for kids right through to 15 years old. Each level is ageappropriately designed to develop children’s athletic skills and components of fitness, and to make them passionate about movement and exercise.

Specialist classes available include: Boxing, Yoga Gymnastics, Parkour, Dance, Ninja Warrior, Cheer, Playgroup, and Martial Arts.

“We also run school holiday camps, which include activities such as Parkour, an escape room and heaps more fun and action for the kids.”

Find out more about My First Gym Maroochydore at www.myfirstgym.com.au/maroochydore

K I D S O N T H E C O A S T.C O M . A U • K I D S I N T H E C I T Y.C O M . A U

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educe the emotional strain of family separation through mediation, a gentler process focussing on the needs of families.

Family separation can be a traumatic experience. Through fair, impartial and professional assistance, Kate Clark and her team help you navigate through it.

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3

FREEZABLE LUNCHBOX RECIPES

EASY FREEZY!

Dreading the return of the daily lunchbox grind? Ditch the vegemite sandwich and fill your freezer with healthy, nutritious and super-easy bites.

BY PAEDIATRIC NUTRITIONIST, MANDY SACHER

SAVOURY SCROLLS 3 WAYS These scrolls are a big hit in the lunch box or at birthday parties.

Prep time: 15 mins Cooking time: 20–25 mins Makes: 10 scrolls INGREDIENTS

DOUGH

2 cups (280g) wholegrain spelt flour 1 cup (260g) natural Greek yoghurt or coconut yoghurt 1 tsp baking powder ¼ tsp baking soda Pinch of sea salt FILLING OPTIONS PESTO & CHEESE

½ cup (125ml) pesto 1⁄3 cup (55g) mozzarella cheese, diced TUNA & GOATS’ CHEESE

¾ cup (105g) goats’ cheese ¼ cup (95g) canned tuna 1 tbsp fresh dill, chopped Juice of ½ lemon 2 tbsp Kalamata olives, pitted and finely diced Sea salt and pepper, to taste K I D S O N T H E C O A S T.C O M . A U • K I D S I N T H E C I T Y.C O M . A U

PROVENCIALE

½ cup (75g) sundried tomatoes, diced ½ cup (75g) sheep or goat feta cheese, crumbled 1 garlic clove, crushed ¼ cup (50g) Kalamata olives, pitted and diced ½ tsp dried oregano

•

EQUIPMENT

•

High-speed food processor INSTRUCTIONS

• Preheat oven to 180ºC and line a baking tray with baking paper.

• Place all dough ingredients into a food processor and process until smooth.

• Remove the dough, shape it into a ball and place in between two sheets of baking paper and roll it into a rectangle shape about 5-10mm thick. If dough seems too sticky, lightly flour the baking paper and sprinkle some flour on top of the dough before rolling out.

Remove the top sheet.

• For the pesto filling, simply spread pesto onto the dough, except for 1cm on the longer sides and sprinkle with cheese.

• For the tuna filling, place all ingredients in a blender and blend until desired consistency (you can also just mix the ingredients together

• •

without a blender if you prefer more texture).

Then spread onto dough, except for 1cm on the longer sides.

For the provenciale filling, place all ingredients in a small bowl and mix to combine. Spread mixture onto the dough, except for 1cm on the longer sides.

Roll dough into a log shape and cut into even slices to make scrolls.

Place on the lined baking tray and bake for 20–25 mins.

Leave to cool on a wire rack before serving.

Tips

STORING LEFTOVERS

Store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days or freeze for up to 4 months.

TIP

For a gluten-free version, use 1½ cups buckwheat flour, 1 cup almond meal and 1 tsp psyllium husk powder instead of the 2 cups of spelt flour.

J A N U A R Y / F E B R U A R Y 2021

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RECIPE

BEETROOT BLISS BALLS This is a really clever way to disguise beetroot, a rich source of vitamin C, fibre and phytonutrients.

INSTRUCTIONS

• Place all ingredients into a high-speed food processor and process until smooth.

• Roll into little balls and then roll the balls in the shredded coconut.

• Place bliss balls in freezer and leave to set for 1 hour.

Prep time: 25 mins (+ 1 hr refrigeration time) Makes: approx. 30 INGREDIENTS

1 cup (240g) dates, pitted and chopped ¼ cup (40g) beetroot, peeled and finely grated ¼ cup (5g) baby spinach, finely sliced and chopped 1½ cups (150g) pumpkin seed meal (ground pumpkin seeds) 1 cup (75g) shredded coconut 1–2 tbsp chia seeds ½ cup (35g) extra shredded coconut to roll balls in (optional) EQUIPMENT

High-speed food processor

WHOLESOME CHILD BANANA BREAD Store-bought banana breads are often loaded with processed flours, sugars and unhealthy fats.

This healthier version contains wholegrain spelt flour, no processed sugars, coconut oil and chia seeds. A perfect snack for the school lunchbox.

Prep time: 15 mins Cook time: 55 mins Makes: 12 slices INGREDIENTS

2 large ripe bananas 3 large eggs ½ cup (125ml) coconut milk 4-6 medjool dates, pitted 1 tbsp chia seeds ½ cup (125ml) coconut oil, melted 1½ cups (210g) wholegrain spelt flour 1/3–½ cup (55g–75g) coconut sugar 1 tsp vanilla powder or extract 1 tsp ground cinnamon 1 tsp baking powder ½ tsp baking soda pinch sea salt

Bio 54

Tips

SERVING AND STORING LEFTOVERS

Keep bliss balls in the freezer for up to 6 months.

TIP

If your child doesn’t like shredded coconut, roll the bliss balls in carob powder or quinoa puffs.

Dairy free / nut free/ veg

EQUIPMENT

High-speed food processor INSTRUCTIONS

• Preheat oven to 180°C and line a mediumsized loaf tin with baking paper.

• Place bananas, eggs, milk, dates, chia seeds and coconut oil in a high-speed food processor and process for approximately 1 minute or until it reaches a smooth consistency.

• In a separate bowl, whisk together spelt flour, coconut sugar, vanilla powder, cinnamon, baking powder, baking soda and salt.

• Slowly add dry ingredients into wet mixture and mix together on a medium speed.

• Pour mixture into the loaf tin and sprinkle extra cinnamon on top.

• Bake for approximately 45–55 mins or until a cake tester or knife comes out clean.

• Allow to cool completely before cutting.

STORING LEFTOVERS: Store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to a week or freeze for up to 4 months.

Mandy Sacher is a Paediatric Nutritionist, mum to two small children, and author of Wholesome Child. More than just a recipe book, Wholesome Child is a complete nutrition resource that aims to clear the confusion, arming parents with a comprehensive guide that will make meal-times far more enjoyable and nutritious for the whole family. // www.wholesomechild.com.au

J A N U A R Y / F E B R U A R Y 2021

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23/11/20 4:50 pm

RECIPE

FAMILY THAI BEEF SALAD After the indulgences of Christmas, January is the time for a refreshing salad!

Simple, healthy AND delicious, this Thai Beef Salad is the perfect family meal this summer.

INGREDIENTS

MARINADE 2 garlic cloves, minced 1 tbsp palm sugar 1 tbsp fish sauce 2 tbsp sesame oil 1 tbsp soy sauce 1 tbsp ginger, minced Corianders stems, finely chopped 1 kaffir lime leaf, finely chopped 1 lime, juiced MEAT 2 tbsp vegetable oil 500g stir fry beef strips

SALAD 1 bunch coriander 1 bunch mint 1 bunch Thai basil 4 long red chillies, sliced diagonally 1 cucumber, deseeded & sliced diagonally 1 small red onion, thinly sliced Mixed lettuce leaves 1 tsp sesame seeds (to garnish) METHOD

1. Combine marinade ingredients except lime juice in a large bowl. Ensure that palm sugar is broken up and fully dissolved.

2. Add beef and combine well, ensuring marinade

is evenly distributed. Set aside for 10 minutes.

3. Pour lime juice over marinating meat to tenderise and mix in. (Combining it in marinade will overcook the meat.)

4. Combine herbs and vegetables in a large serving bowl. Gently take apart leaves and toss. Deseed chillies to reduce spiciness.

5. Heat 2 tbsp of oil in a pan over high heat.

Sear beef strips for 30-40 seconds, stirring well to cook evenly. Transfer to plate and set aside to cool for a few minutes.

6. Stir beef so strips are well coated with marinade. Pour liquid over the salad, then place beef strips on top.

7. Garnish with sesame seeds.

Serve immediately.

Recipe courtesy of Fresh Meats: (07) 5451 0522 | www.freshmeats.com.au | 86 Wises Road, Maroochydore QLD 4558 Now delivering fresh home-cooked meals, meat packs and groceries to your door

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KATH DICKSON FAMILY DAY CARE W: www.kdfc.com.au/dreamjob P: (07) 5446 7731

www.clarkmediation.com.au

@respectful_resolutions Brisbane | Sunshine Coast | Gold Coast

We are Australia’s largest multi-sport program for 1.5–6 year olds!

More than just sport

• Learn the basics of 10 great sports • Low child/coach ratios • Physio-designed, structured & FUN!

BOOK YOUR FREE TRIAL NOW!

readysteadygokids.com.au 1300 766 892

THE CAT RETREAT CAFE

W: catretreatcafe.com.au P: 0448 228 578 A: 129 Dales Road, Chevallum

Bring the kids along to our cat themed cafe to enjoy our yummy snacks and drinks.

Or, book a session in our interactive cat environment, The Zen Zone for only $15/ purrson. Bookings essential.

• Love & rehabilitate refuge cats • Ultimate cat lover’s experience • Encourages positive wellbeing • Controlled, relaxed environment T&Cs apply - minimum age is 5 years old

MARY VALLEY RATTLER

W: www.kasiapalko.com.au P: 0422 993 609 FB: @KasiaPalkoBehaviouralSpecialist

Through her creative observational techniques, Kasia develops behavioural management systems to help children interact with their environment, families and peers.

OPEN THURSDAYS, FRIDAYS & SATURDAYS 9:30AM - 2:30PM

Annual passes only $25 per child!

EXPERIENCE THE MAGIC OF THE

Behavioural Specialist and Early Childhood Educator

Come on a ujso!urney with

ENJOY A COFFEE & BITE TO EAT AT THE RUSTY RAILS CAFE EXPLORE THE HISTORIC GYMPIE STATION & HERITAGE DISPLAY

www.maryvalleyrattler.com.au K I D S O N T H E C O A S T.C O M . A U • K I D S I N T H E C I T Y.C O M . A U

NOW ENROLLING FOR TERM 1 2021 •Qualified teachers in all genres •3 fully air-conditioned studios •Professional sprung flooring with Tarkett •Student lounge and change room facilities •Free trial week offered

For further information, contact: 5450 1717 | admin@sccod.com.au www.sccod.com.au

WITTACORK FARMSTAY

W: wittacork.com.au P: (07) 5494 4369 A: 286 Tesch Rd, Maleny

Stay on a real working dairy farm!

With 150 acres of pristine rainforest to explore, guests can milk a cow, feed calves, goats, pigs and chickens and collect eggs. Our self-contained 2 and 3 bedroom cottages are set on a ridge overlooking Lake Baroon and the Kondalilla National Park.

We now also do led pony rides!

S E P T E M B E R / O C T O B E R 2020

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REVIEWS

s k oo B COUNTING CREATURES

By Julia Donaldson & Sharon King-Chai RRP: $29.99 From the duo who created the award-winning Animalphabet comes a stunning counting book full of gorgeous baby animals, with amazing flaps to lift and holes to peep through. Young readers will delight in counting each creature’s babies and seeing where they live—from a leopard with her cubs, to a frog and its tadpoles. With bright and beautiful artwork and a fabulous array of animals and their babies to marvel over, this is a gorgeous book to treasure and read over and over again.

WHEN A DRAGON GOES TO SCHOOL

THE GREATFULNESS GUIDE

By Jacqui Jones RRP: $32.99

By Rosalind Beardshaw & Caryl Hart RRP: $14.99

The Greatfulness Guide is a guide about the power of the mind and how we can train the mind to help us lead the life we want. This practical resource sets the foundations for mental health and wellbeing and builds coping skills by teaching young people how to think and not what to think.

This insightful book is packed with fun, engaging activities and real life examples from Novak Djokovic, Ed Sheeran, JK Rowling and many others.

For tweens and teens (and their parents).

When a dragon goes to school, will she enjoy a book in the reading den and save her lunchtime treats for a friend? Or will she throw the crayons and refuse to share? She’s going to need her friends to help her behave herself—she is a dragon after all!

This delightful follow-up to When a Dragon Comes to Stay by award-winning Caryl Hart and Rosalind Beardshaw is the perfect introduction to school for little dragons—and children everywhere.

CLASSIFIEDS

SUNNY COAST BABY & KIDS MARKET

W: www.sunnycoastbabykidsmarket.com.au P: 0403 883 903 Talara Primary College, Caloundra: 28 Mar, 20 Jun, 29 Aug, 28 Nov Mountain Creek Primary School: 21 Feb, 23 May, 25 Jul, 24 Oct The Sunny Coast Baby and Kids Market is a locally owned market selling pre-loved, new and beautiful handmade items. Come and experience the smarter way to shop!

Pre-loved stalls $40 Free bounty bags Books, toys & clothes Cots & Prams Indoor market!

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J A N U A R Y / F E B R U A R Y 2021

GDL NATURE PLAY SPACES

W: gdlnatureplacespaces.com.au P: 0410 863 756 | Sunshine Coast Specialists in the design and construction of nature-based play spaces. We can offer custom-made spaces that bring your ideas to life. From early learning centres, schools, public spaces and private.

We use our concept plans, work closely with you and gain inspiration from the children’s ideas to bring the best possible solutions to your space and budget.

K I D S O N T H E C O A S T.C O M . A U • K I D S I N T H E C I T Y.C O M . A U

@ kawana

PLAY, EAT & SHOP Enjoy

a great range of family friendly options at Kawana Shoppingworld:

• • • • • • •

Exclusive deals, prizes and activities via the Kawana Shoppingworld Rewards App Delicious food options in our Food Court & Outdoor Dining Precinct Planet Arcades: find them on Ground Floor of the Event Cinemas car park Event Cinemas: including the only Gold Class and Vmax on the Sunshine Coast Cheeky Little Monkeys Play Centre: find them near The Reject Shop Parents with Prams Parking and Parents’ Rooms Indoor playgrounds: find them in the Food Court and at the Ally Fashion Entrance

Join Mums & Co., our local community for Mums, Dads, Grandparents and anyone who takes care of little people. Be the first to hear out about special events and offers. Join here: www.kawanashoppingworld.com.au/subscribe

Book a

touR

n a s i y a d Every

Experience the adventure

CALL 5451 3600

e r u t n e v Ad in Prep discovery, th i w d e ll fi s i Each day personal a r o f s u n i o J ent and awe. m te i c x e r, e d n wo ence life at ri e p x e d n a rs e ach tour, meet our te .

Suncoast Prep

Suncoast students embark on an exciting learning journey as they discover their own unique place in the world.

a. Cnr Schubert & Kiel Mtn Rds, Woombye p. 5451 3600 | suncoastcc.qld.edu.au/prep

Faith Diligence Love