Kids on the Coast Magazine - Sunshine Coast - Issue 91. March/April 2019 by Shore Media

ISSUE 91 March/April 2019 SUNSHINE COAST

www.kidsonthecoast.com.au

FREE TO TAKE HOME

TECHNOLOGY: Are your kids safe online?

y a d h iB rt

WE TURN

15! WIN

your own cake from the Cake Yard

KID-FRIENDLY BYRON FOR EVERY BUDGET!

Anything is Possible Children learn at their best when their education is enriched by memorable experiences. At Immanuel Lutheran College, we give students the ability to explore and discover in any setting, including the Collegeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s new Environmental Centre. Enrolling now for Prep and Year 7 for 2020.

OPEN MORNING

immanuel.qld.edu.au

7 MARCH

WELCOME

f I had to choose my favourite celebration, Easter would win every time. I adored the Easter Bunny as a child. I always believed he would give the most amazing furry cuddles, and the mischief of hiding chocolate eggs around the house was far more appealing than Santa’s stockings (plus the big red man kinda scared me a little!). The Easter Bunny also took the time to leave us a handwritten letter each year telling us what colour eggs were ours to collect (a clever way to stop my older siblings grabbing them all first, thank you Mr Bunny!). Even as an adult, he’s still my favourite holiday hero. Why? 1. Because he doesn’t live in the North Pole (brrrr… too cold for me!) 2. There’s no requests, letters or decisions. Just one product – chocolate eggs for everyone. That’s my kind of shopping list. 3. He’s cute, fluffy yet a bit of an enigma. Who knows what he really looks like? 4. He doesn’t just drop and run, he makes it into a fun game before he hops on out. 5. I love treasure hunts! 6. Did I already mention the chocolate? March also holds a special place for the Kids on the Coast team as it’s our birthday! And 2019 is a big one as we turn 15 (wow)!

Since joining the team many years ago, and then taking ownership several years ago, this fab little magazine is my third baby, where I live, breathe and (rarely) sleep everything that is Kids on the Coast. Every milestone we achieve, every comment we receive, I’m one very proud mama bear. So, a huge thank you to our amazing advertisers, whose support allows us to continue to produce. And a huge thanks to our fabulous readers, for liking, sharing, chatting and being an essential part of the Kids on the Coast community. As well as celebrating our birthday, this issue we head down to Byron Bay to get the low-down on enjoying a family-friendly, budget-friendly weekend in Northern NSW. We also delve into the digital world to chat to the experts about keeping kids safe online. And of course, with all the latest news, events, education stories, local interviews and more, it’s another bumper issue made with love and fuelled by (way too many) chocolate eggs. Hoppy Easter!

Angela xo

Talking sweet treats, how amazing is the cake on the cover, created by the uber-talented Cake Yard! To celebrate our birthday we are giving away a similar cake to one lucky reader for their next celebration. Just jump on over to our website to enter the draw: kidsonthecoast.com.au The Cake Yard specialises in personalised cakes and desserts. Every sweet treat they create is uniquely designed; completely customised for the person and occasion. It’s true dessert art. Now offering in-home catering for any event - birthday parties, weddings, baby showers, high teas and corporate meetings – their incredible desserts will ensure your next event is sweeeeeeeet! facebook.com/cakeyard @thecakeyard

THE TEAM

PUBLISHER & EDITOR IN CHIEF Angela Sutherland

PUBLISHER & SALES DIRECTOR Helen Rush

ADMIN/ ACCOUNTS Sheryl Thomson

ACCOUNT MANAGER Bridget Vallis

DEPUTY EDITOR Amardy Baucke

SOCIAL MEDIA MANAGER Amy Lou

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

M A R C H / A P R I L 2019

CONTENTS

Features

PUBLISHED BY

SH RE

MEDIA

TECHNOLOGY: How do we allow our

TRAVEL: Want to get away this weekend?

kids access to the online world whilst also

We head south of the border for a kid-friendly

ensuring they are safe?

weekend in Byron Bay... for every budget.

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

More than just 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 families come to connect – where they are understood, united and inspired.

JACKSON (1)

Cake // The Cake Yard Woodland Crown // Schooza on Etsy Romper // Cloth & Hide

ADVERTISING SUNSHINE COAST: helen@shoremedia.com.au 0424 577 706

Regulars

GOLD COAST: goldcoast@shoremedia.com.au 0468 868 087 BRISBANE: brisbane@shoremedia.com.au 0468 868 087

FROM THE EDITOR ................................................................................................................ 3 WHAT’S ON: The best local events for March and April.......................................................... 7 LOCAL NEWS: The latest news from across the region .........................................................12 NEW BUSINESS: Local businesses to enhance your kid-sized life .......................................15 NOTICEBOARD: All the news and achievements from our local schools ...........................16 CHECK THIS OUT: The latest products topping our #want list ......................................... 18 CELEBRATE: Celebrating 15 years of Kids on the Coast! ................................................... 20 EDUCATION: From bush babies to Prep success .................................................................25 RECIPE: Easy Baby Broccoli Egg Pies .....................................................................................47 LOCAL LIFE: Meet the playgroup that’s building a community on the Coast .................. 49 HEALTH: 3D/4D baby ultrasounds, are they safe? ................................................................51 CLASSIFIEDS: Local products and services ......................................................................... 54 REVIEWS: Movies, books and games for the family ..............................................................57 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.

M A R C H / A P R I L 2019

MAY/JUNE 2019 BOOKING DEADLINES Ad booking: 10 April Art deadline: 10 April Distributed directly to parenting hotspots across Southeast Queensland: Brisbane, Gold Coast & Sunshine Coast. For distribution enquiries inbox@shoremedia.com.au Printed at Printcraft 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.

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

Take some time out to relax, reset and re-energise in our mindful and creative space. Enjoy our workshops, including botanical watercolour, sewing, meditation, photography, pottery and much more. Thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s even complimentary yoga and bliss ball workshops for the kids!

Monday 1st â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Sunday 28th April Located next to Woolworths. Please note, bookings are essential and request a $5-$10 donation per workshop. 100% of proceeds will be donated to our charity partner, Waves of Wellness Foundation. Visit noosacivic.com.au for full details.

Big W Woolworths 100 speciality stores 28 Eenie Creek Rd (Cnr Walter Hay Drive) Noosaville Ph 5440 7900

FREE

personal nanny Need a helping hand while you shop? Whether you need to shop, get your hair done or simply enjoy a cup of coffee, Kawana’s complimentary nanny service is here to help. Drop off the kids while you enjoy some ‘me’ time and our professional nanny will do the rest. Visit www.kawanashoppingworld.com.au to book your personal nanny today. *Only available to Mums & Co. members. Bookings essential. Maximum 2 hours of nanny service.

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 / K I D S I N T H E C I T Y.C O M . A U F O R O U R W E E K LY W H AT ’ S O N G U I D E

MARY VALLEY RATTLER WED–SUN EVERY WEEK maryvalleyrattler.com.au

The right mix of fun and adventure, the Mary Valley Rattler offers a perfect family outing. Take a 3-hour round trip on the Classic Rattler Run, or a half-hour journey on the Silver Bullet, from the historic Gympie Station to Amamoor.

A warm, welcoming event to discover options for pregnancy, birth and the first years, the Baby Fair is designed for people to come and explore services, businesses, boutique and handmade items to nurture and support the journey from conception to childhood. An expo, with a market, it’s an opportunity to learn and connect, as well as a family fun day out.

* 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.

Baby Fair 2019

2 JUNE 9am – 2pm, Innovation Centre University of Sunshine Coast | thebabyfair.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

HAPPY GIRLS: WORKSHOP ONE 9 APRIL 9.30AM – 12.30PM BLOOMING HEALTHY STUDIO, 2/61 BULCOCK STREET, CALOUNDRA

https://bit.ly/2X1z7OL This workshop helps your girl to explore who she is and to feel confident in who she is. It gives her the tools to practice self-love, build self-esteem, problem solve, acknowledge her strengths, show compassion, master mindfulness, choose how she feels, make good choices and spread her love and kindness to others. Suitable for girls aged 8 – 11 years.

M A R C H / A P R I L 2019

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 / K I D S I N T H E C I T Y.C O M . A U F O R O U R W E E K LY W H AT ’ S O N G U I D E

Wriggle,Giggle Read libraries.noosa.qld.gov.au

A fun session for toddlers up to three years that caters for changes in children’s development as they grow. Includes active stories, songs and rhymes followed by shared play time. No bookings required.

Me andShadow PATC H T H E AT R E

Open Morning INFORMATION EVENING 27 MARCH 6.30–7.30PM Sanctuary Early Learning, Buderim sanctuarylearning.com.au

Meet other families and find out about support in the community. A variety of local child professionals will be there including: Sunshine Coast Psychology Clinic, OT therapist, Omaha Kids nutritionist, speech therapist, pharmacist, paediatric nurse and health nurse.

8 MAY 9–11AM

Suncoast Christian College suncoastcc.qld.edu.au The Open Morning is your opportunity to tour the College during an actual busy day at Suncoast. The personal Campus tour is conducted by Suncoast students – the same age/s as your child. Meet the teachers and students in their classrooms and gain an authentic (un-edited) view on life at Suncoast from a student’s perspective.

21 MAY

The Event Centre, Caloundra theeventscentre.com.au Me And My Shadow is a gentle magical visual poem for children, using paper, light, shadow, colour, water, music, sound and words to create a world of play where the imagined becomes real. With fantastical imagery, quirky physical performances and an intriguing score, Me And My Shadow ignites the imagination in an experience that explores the trials and joys of friendship.

Want your kids to be more active? Not sure what sport they like? Before signing up, check out Noosa Fit Kids! A weekly multisport program that offers a range of sports in a non-competitive and fun environment!

• 5 – 8 years • Tuesday 4 – 5pm • ON NOW! 8

M A R C H / A P R I L 2019

9 Wallace Drive, Noosaville (07) 5329 6550 noosaleisurecentre.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

EVERY THURSDAY 10–10.45AM, Noosaville Library

WILDAS

LIFeGETS

2018 QUEENSLAND

GOLD WINNER

Crikey! Australia Zoo is Queenslandâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Top Tourist Attraction 2018!

australiazoo.com.au

5307

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

THINGS TO DO

SCHOOL HOLIDAY HAVEN

c i v i C a s oo N o t g n i com

chool holiday chaos is set to be a thing of the past this Easter, with a range of local wellbeing specialists banding together to create a mindfulness sanctuary for parents and children at Noosa Civic shopping centre. HAVEN Mindful and Creative Space will operate from 1 to 28 April, offering a creative outlet where participants can relax and rejuvenate. Noosa Civic Marketing Manager Aimee Agnew said following the success of the program in 2018, she was thrilled to welcome back a talented range of presenters this year, while also introducing a few new faces to the line-up. “We’re looking forward to rolling out a well-rounded program that appeals to a range of parents and takes the stress out of school holidays.” Aimee said a number of workshops had also been created solely for children, with the HAVEN Mindful and Creative Space featuring free kids’ yoga sessions. In addition to offering some much-needed relaxation time and tips for general wellbeing, the HAVEN initiative will also support a local not-for-profit organisation. “Aside from the free yoga classes, each workshop costs just $10, with all these funds donated to the Waves of Wellness (WOW) Foundation,” said Aimee. “This organisation is a mental health surf therapy charity committed to changing lives by delivering innovative programs for people experiencing mental health challenges.” “At Noosa Civic we firmly support WOW’s vision of a world where invisible mental health issues are treated like any other physical injury, and where anyone dealing with mental illness feels supported.” WOW offers surf therapy, education and corporate programs to encourage social inclusion, connection to nature and engagement in meaningful activities.

M A R C H / A P R I L 2019

W H E N: 1 – 28 A P R I L 2019 WHERE: NOOSA CIVIC SHOPPING CENTRE MORE INFO: N O O S A C I V I C .C O M .AU FA C E B O O K : @N O O S A C I V I C

HIGHLIGHTS • Botanical Watercolour from Cass Deller • Tween workshops with Shine from Within • Kids Yoga • Macramé Workshops with Jodie Townsend • Bliss Ball workshops with Emily Holmes • Gut Health for the whole family workshops with Georgia Nike • Instagram workshops with Jaharn Quinn from Mister Weekender • Botanical Kids Easter Workshops with Sarah Tuckey from The Botanical Collective • Sewing a Slip Dress workshop with Madeline Rawlings from The Essentials Club • Photography Workshop with Rebecca Colefax • Pottery with Bree-anne Jeffrey from The Syndicate Creative Full calendar at: noosacivic.com.au

ABOUT WAVES OF WELLNESS FOUNDATION

WOW is a for-purpose mental health charity committed to changing lives through innovative mental health programs, for people at risk of, or currently experiencing mental health issues in the community. For more information visit foundationwow.org

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

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

 Free pair of sunglasses (Up to RRP $19.95) for each of your children when they have a bulk billed eye examination with a Looking Smart Optometrist. (Age limit up to 12 years old)

 Tests are fun for children

The test takes approximately 15 minutes

 All staff hold a current blue card  Looking Smart Optometrists bulk bill

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

 Easy parking

Did you know... 30% of children have some type of eye condition that affects vision? In most cases if the eye condition is detected early enough, exercises can be given to avoid it developing into a vision problem at school. In some cases vision problems exhibit themselves in children who have short attention spans but often are undetected by the parents or carers. At Looking Smart Optometrists we recommend a vision test for every child who is 6 months of age or older. We bulk bill all eye tests so it costs you nothing to have it done, and you can feel secure that you are looking after your child’s eyesight.

Phone: 5439 7844 Between Coles and Woolworths at the Pelican Waters Shopping Village, Pelican Waters Blvd, Pelican Waters.

Email: info@lookingsmartoptometrists.com.au

www.LookingSmartOptometrists.com.au

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

76% OF PEOPLE EAT THE EARS ON CHOCOLATE BUNNIES FIRST. The name Easter originates from Eastre, the Anglo-Saxon fertility goddess whose symbols are a hare and an egg.

IT CAN TAKE A CACAO TREE 4–5 YEARS TO PRODUCE ITS FIRST BEANS.

IT TAKES 400 COCOA BEANS TO MAKE 45G OF CHOCOLATE. THE FIRST STORY OF A RABBIT (LATER NAMED THE ‘EASTER BUNNY’) HIDING EGGS IN A GARDEN WAS PUBLISHED IN 1680.

The tallest chocolate Easter egg chocolate was made in Italy in 2011. At 10.39 metres high and 7,200kg, it was taller than a giraffe and heavier than an elephant!

M A R C H / A P R I L 2019

THE BABY FAIR RETURNS FOR 2019 Following the huge success of the Baby Fair 2018, the popular event is returning to the Sunshine Coast for 2019. The Baby Fair is designed for people to come and explore services, businesses, boutique and handmade items to nurture and support the journey from conception to childhood. An expo with a market, it’s the perfect place to learn and connect with options for pregnancy, birth and the first years, as well as a family fun day out.

This year, the Baby Fair will host a range of exhibitors including: pregnancy and birth support professionals; infant and children experts; makers of boutique and handmade baby and kids’ items; photographers; clever products for home; mums self-care; nutrition for the whole family; and more. There will also be mini workshops for families to learn more about topics to assist with pregnancy, birth, children and the whole family. The Baby Fair 2019 is on Saturday 2 June, 9am–2pm at Innovation Centre University Sunshine Coast.

SWEET NEWS FOR THE COAST

Cake Yard has launched a new range of products including a selection of flavoured macarons, personalised biscuits, dessert boxes and gift boxes. “From baby showers and weddings to catering your home high tea, our custom cakes and desserts can be completely personalised,” said Steph Herber, owner and creator at Cake Yard. “We also offer sweet and savoury corporate packs and platters for your next meeting!” As well as desserts, Cake Yard has introduced children’s party food packs to accompany that special birthday cake. As a family run business, personalisation is at the core of everything they do. “We don’t make cakes from a list of specified designs. We chat to our customers and make a competely unique cake, created to tell a story,” said Steph.

facebook.com/cakeyard

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

More creatures to see and things to do than ever before

EXPLORE 11 FUN AND INTERACTIVE ANIMAL ZONES

Book online and save! sealifesunshinecoast.com.au

SugarRush Productions in conjunction with The Events Centre, Caloundra

And something special just for parents ...

presents the hilarious

MOTHERHOOD THE MUSICAL

Me And My Shadow

WARNING: Hilarious Adult Themes!

Tue 21 May @ 10am & 1pm

Sat 6 Jul @ 10.30am & 1pm

The good, the bad.... and the laundry

By ent ngem A r r a it h w er

pic id S Dav uctions d Pro

From prod the ucer of s

Live theatre Mon 16 Sep @ 9.30 & 11.30am

Written by Sue Fabisch

Meno p The M ause u s ic a l

for children & their adults

FRIDAY 2 AUGUST 7.30PM Bookings: 5491 4240 or www.theeventscentre.com.au SATURDAY 3 AUGUST 2PM & 7.30PM TICKETS:

theeventscentre.com.au | 07 5491 4240

Flinders

Explore, experience, excel

As one of the leading schools in Queensland, Flinders is dedicated to educating for excellence in learning and life. To find out how we inspire our Prep to Year 12 students to learn, to lead and to serve, visit us at www.mfac.edu.au. Stringybark Road, Buderim | 07 5477 3260

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

NEW LEARNING EXPERIENCE FOR LOCAL STUDENTS

Private pregnancy care

NOW MORE ACCESSIBLE

aving a baby is a very special the support of a team of midwives work in experience and patients value the collaboration throughout the pregnancy, benefits of private obstetric care, birth and postnatal care. All births are at a longer postnatal private hospital stay Buderim Private Hospital. and breastfeeding support following birth. “We do things a little differently at But choosing whether to go public or Sunshine Obstetrics – but exceptional private can sometimes be influenced by care is not compromised! Our shared care out of pocket expenses. model allows us to make the costs of private Sunshine Obstetrics is a new pregnancy care affordable “THE TOTAL OUT practice offering patients a for patients,” comments OF POCKET COST shared model of care by a team co-owner Dr Kirsten Morrow. of experienced obstetricians The $990 out of pocket is FOR THE ENTIRE and midwives. The total out PRIVATE ANTENATAL based on patients who are of pocket cost for the entire eligible to Medicare and have AND POSTNATAL private antenatal and postnatal private health insurance. The VISITS IS $990” visits is $990, this includes the practice offers a bulked billed planning and management fee. initial consultation with a midwife if you The new model of private obstetric care would like to learn more about Sunshine has been started by three of the Coast’s Obstetrics private pregnancy care services. trusted and respected private Obstetricians, For more information, head to Drs James Orford, Kirsten Morrow and sunshineobstetrics.com.au, Facebook George Bogiatzis. The three specialists with @sunshineobstetrics, or call (07) 5391 4088. 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

wner of NumberWorks’nWords Sippy Downs, Rochelle, is excited to bring a genuinely new learning experience to local families. Rochelle has taught all year levels in Queensland primary schools over the last 15 years and has had educational leadership experience as a Deputy Principal and Principal. As a mother, she knows what it’s like to want your child to feel confident and successful with their learning. “Our after-school tuition, in both maths and English, is specifically tailored to address each child’s individual needs and goals,” Rochelle said. “The unique learning programmes have been developed by educational professionals and are designed to match the school curriculum in both subjects,” Rochelle explained. Yet with thousands of success stories across Australasia and the UK, it’s the tuition experience itself that really inspires Rochelle. “We’ll go out of our way to make sure every student enjoys the learning process because, when that happens, educational success – and renewed confidence – follows naturally.” numberworksnwords.com/au (07) 5445 4412

M A R C H / A P R I L 2019

NOTICEBOARD ALL THE NEWS AND ACHIEVEMENTS FROM OUR LOCAL SCHOOLS E M A I L YO U R S C H O O L’S S TO R I E S TO: I N B OX@S H O R E M E D I A.C O M.AU

COAST ARTS FESTIVAL

attracts youth entries from across the Coast

Good Samaritan Catholic College, Bli Bli, is now open.

New year, new school

FOR BLI BLI

he 2019 school year is successfully Executive Pam Betts congratulated underway at the newly opened Good foundation staff at the new school and Samaritan Catholic College, Bli Bli. wished them ‘every blessing as their Foundation Principal Greg Myers story began’. said it was heart-warming to see all the Ms Betts also extended a welcome to all foundation students gathered together for the parents and carers who chose a Catholic the first time. education for their children. “WE ARE LOOKING “The excitement on the “Parents play an important FORWARD TO faces of the students, staff role in the education of PUTTING OUR and parents was fantastic to their children, since it is to see,” he said. them that the primary and PROMISES INTO “From our college leaders in natural responsibility for their PRACTICE AS WE Year 7 to our Foundation Prep education belongs. BUILD OUR NEW students, all children settled “Ours is a partnership and LEARNING AND in well and had a great day. you can be assured of our FAITH COMMUNITY.” “We are looking forward to support of you as parents putting our promises into practice and of our commitment in creating and as we build our new learning and extending opportunities for you to be faith community.” involved in the life of the Catholic school… “It was a marvellous way to begin I look forward to an exciting and fulfilling the new college.” year in 2019.” Brisbane Catholic Education (BCE) Find out more at goodsamaritan.qld.edu.au

M A R C H / A P R I L 2019

ntries are now open to artists, both young and old, for the 39th Immanuel Arts Festival. Running from 23 to 26 May 2019, the Festival is a popular and wellknown event on the Coast’s cultural calendar. The Festival is an opportunity for artists – including students – to showcase their talent and increase their public profile; from emerging to established artists, all are welcome and are encouraged to enter. This year’s feature artists who will showcase their work are: printmaker Owen Hutchison; animal and landscape artist Rachael Curry; and artist, illustrator, author and motivational speaker, Peter Rowe. “The student section is always incredibly popular,” said Convenor Ms Samantha Moor. “Hosted by Immanuel Lutheran College’s Parents and Friends Community, the student section is open to young artists from Prep to Year 12 from any school,” she said. “An entry fee of $10 for one piece, or $15 for two or three pieces in the Sunshine Coast School Student Category, is paid by all student entrants, and prizes awarded are cash and vouchers,” said Ms Moor. Conditions of entry and entry forms are available at immanuelartsfestival.com.au. Student entries close on 12 April.

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 is a big step... Make it with a community that will help your family flourish. Choosing the school community you and your child will join is an exciting step. Why should you choose Pacific Lutheran College? At Pacific we are aware that young people are preparing for a very different world to the one we know. They will need to be innovators, entrepreneurs, lifelong learners and responsible global citizens. Pacific Foundation College engages students through stimulating activities in a vibrant environment inspiring creativity to foster confidence, collaboration and independence. Prep students are encouraged and supported to develop lifelong skills.

Core focus on relationships

K-12 learning community

Flexible learning spaces

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

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

Focus on problem solving

CHECK THIS OUT THE LATEST PRODUCTS TOPPING OUR #WANT LIST!

THAT’S NOT MY… CLOTHING RANGE Popular children’s book series “That’s Not My…” has launched an exclusive baby apparel line with BIG W. The range, which includes pyjamas, overalls and bibs, match with the bright and colourful illustrations and different textures of the books series. *Matching books are sold separately. Coveralls RRP: $20 bigw.com.au

PLAY’N PACK Keep the kiddos entertained for hours with the new Play’n Pack from Olli Ella. Available in a city or jungle theme, there’s a heap of fun in this little drawstring bag. Each backpack contains a mini Playpa roll of colouring paper, Play’n Cards alphabet colouring cards, stickers, non-toxic crayons and more. $49.95 au.olliella.com

TRIKE TOTS These fun three-wheelers for kids aged 2 to 5 years improve balance and navigation, while promoting independence. Designed to be lightweight yet sturdy and durable, they are available in three colours. Get 20% off Trike Tots ride-ons during March/April by entering coupon code KIDS at checkout. $39.96 (incl. discount) buythepallet.com.au

ILLUSTRATED YOGA CARDS These gorgeous yoga cards are a great tool to encourage children to practice various yoga poses. Each card has a cute instructional rhyme to help little yogis form the pose. Poses include: cat/cow, dog, frog, mouse, hello sun/ hello ground, magic carpet, adventure bus and more. Suitable for children 2–8 years old. $28 mindfulmunchkins.com.au

M A R C H / A P R I L 2019

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

MIOSOLO BUG’S LIFE COLLECTION

FLOSS & ROCK BALANCING GAME

This latest design range from Bambino Mio is a fun and friendly collection of insect-based prints with intricate details and a playful edge. Simple, stylish and super soft, the Miosolo all-in-one modern cloth nappy is as easy to use as a disposable, and the one-size design means it will grow with your baby from birth to toilet training. From $29.99 bambinomio.com.au

Test your balancing skills with this sweet bunny game! This classic 20-piece wooden balancing game has an added twist of having a dice to throw to determine which colour block piles on next. For ages 3+. $29.99 rainbowfun.com.au

COCOBARE BABY Using the purest of ingredients and formulated for a baby’s delicate skin, CocoBare Baby is safe for both bub and the environment. Unlike many ingredients in baby products today that are only designed to heal external tissue, the coconut oil used in CocoBare Baby penetrates deeper, moisturising and nourishing the skin. From $9.95 cocobarebaby.com

We have 6 CocoBare Baby Gift Packs to giveaway! Just jump onto our website for your chance to win! kidsonthecoast.com.au / kidsinthecity.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

M A R C H / A P R I L 2019

’it s our

th Can you believe that our humble little magazine has been going for 15 years this March? Thanks to our advertisers for the continued support and to our loyal readers for the ongoing love and shares. Looking forward to the next 15!

ISSUE 12 JAN/FEB 2OO6

TIMELINE

MARCH/ APRIL 2004 Kids on the Coast Sunshine Coast launched

FReE!! things to do, places to go, everything for kids & parents on the Sunshine Coast

Daddy’s home ...all day! The growing number of Mr Mums

Tackling Bullying What every parent should know

Easy summer family meals

WIN!!!

A makeover and $1000 worth of glamour photos! A Sunbeam hair appliance pack!

EDUCATION SPECIAL Who’s a big school kid then?

New year, new you!

PLUS Parent’s Choice Directory, Babies on the Coast, Calendar of Events and lots more! kotc12 janfeb06.indb 1

M A R C H / A P R I L 2019

JAN/FEB 2006 Kids on the Coast Gold Coast launched

kidsinthecity ISSUE 01 | August/September 2013 | BRISBANE

HIGHER LEARNING - A GUIDE TO STARTING HIGH SCHOOL HAIR-CARE YOU CAN LIVE WITHOUT FAST NUTRITION ON A BUDGET BREAST, BOTTLE OR BOTH?

OUT& ABOUT

with kids

AUGUST/ SEPT 2013 Kids in the City Brisbane launched

6/1/06 11:23:07 AM

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

DID YOU KNOW? 1.

WE ARE 100% OWNED AND OPERATED BY A BUNCH OF MUMS SPREAD ACROSS SOUTHEAST QUEENSLAND.

WE ALL DO THE WORKING MAMA JUGGLE AROUND THE KIDS. NAPTIME IS WHEN THE MAGIC HAPPENS!

WE UPDATE SOCIAL AT SOCCER TRAINING, AND CHAT TO CLIENTS ON THE SCHOOL RUN.

ANGELA ALWAYS WRITES HER ED’S LETTER IN HER PJS BEFORE THE KIDS WAKE UP.

IF YOU WORK AT THE MAGAZINE, YOUR KIDS ARE ALWAYS INVOLVED TOO!

THE TEAM TO CELEBRATE TURNING 15, WE ASKED OUR TEAM WHAT T H E I R FAV O U R I T E T H I N G WA S A B O U T B E I N G 15 Y E A R S O L D, A N D I F YO U C O U L D G I V E YO U R 15-Y E A R-O L D S E L F A P I E C E OF ADVICE, WHAT WOULD IT BE?

ANGELA Owner & Editor Going to my first music festivals, I totally fell in love with the music and energy. And working early mornings at my first job at a bakery to pay for it! Advice, I have soooo much! But mostly have more confidence in yourself. Those things you are itching to do, but don’t think you can? Do them! Oh, and never choose a boy over your passion. If he is right for you, you can have both the boy and the dream.

TANYA Production Manager It would have to be ‘80s music (A-ha, Bon Jovi and Duran Duran rocked my world!) and chasing boys (living in a small town in NZ there really wasn’t much else for a 15 year old to do!). Advice: Don’t sweat the small stuff and be true to yourself !

HELEN Owner & Account Manager

AMARDY Deputy Editor (Gold Coast)

At 15 I got myself a ‘proper’ job at Safeway as a checkout chick, worked far too many hours but saved lots of $$$$$’s! I also discovered Bacardi and Coke (sorry Mum!). I was IN LOVE with George Michael and my bedroom walls were plastered in his posters. Be nice to your parents, listen to them when they say you have plenty of time for boys. And enjoy being young, it doesn’t last long.

Definitely hanging out with my friends and dancing, those two things kept me in school! One of the things I do look back on now though, especially after having three kids is running around the beaches in a cozzie and never once giving a thought about how my body looked. Advice: Always be yourself. Never change for anyone. Don’t ever apologise for your confidence, your passion or your ambition.

SHERYL Accounts Admin

DANIELLE Graphic Design

I got my first job! I had some money to call my own (just a little of it!). Piece of advice for my 15-year-old self? Don’t worry about friends and fitting in at school. Life has got some interesting experiences in store for you. This will lead you to find your place in the world and give you some valuable friendships.

By 15 it felt amazing to be out of that awkward phase of high school and have a great group of friends that you could share everything with and have a laugh together. Hard work will get you far plus create goals. You are the creator of your own life so shape and steer it in the direction you want it to go!

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

AMY Digital Manager My favourite thing was finally having a proper job and some money to buy clothes and make up! It was at a party place and I had to dress up as different characters for kids’ parties. I definitely earned my money! Advice: Don’t sweat the small stuff, you are definitely not going to marry any of the boys you think you are, by the time you get your first job no-one will care about your UAI mark. Oh, and stop being so dramatic.

BRIDGET Account Manager (Gold Coast & Brisbane) This is totally inappropriate, but I think my favourite thing at 15 was discovering my parents booze cupboard! Advice: Never drink wine out of a box!

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PROFILE

A day in the life of a

Carly Brown

KINDY TEACHER KINDY TEACHERS ARE AMAZING. BUT DO WE REALLY KNOW WHAT IT’S LIKE TO RUN A SUCCESSFUL DAY IN THE KINDY ROOM? WE CHAT TO CARLY BROWN, EARLY CHILDHOOD TEACHER AT SANCTUARY EARLY LEARNING ADVENTURE TO FIND OUT. WHAT IS YOUR BACKGROUND? I became interested in education after I had my three children. I began my Early Childhood degree with my youngest being under a year old. I completed my degree and moved to Gladstone to take a position as a Prep teacher – which I have held for the last five years. During this time, I also completed my Graduate Certificate in Brain Based Education. WHAT IS YOUR NEVER-FAIL TECHNIQUE FOR SETTLING AN OVER-EXCITED KINDY CL ASS? I like to use music and singing to get the children’s attention and to settle them down. This works in with my routines, so children know what I expect. I believe that when children know the routine and what to expect, they are more settled.

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W H AT D O YO U LOV E M O S T A B O U T YOUR ROLE AS A KINDY TEACHER? The children! Each child is unique in their understandings, personality and sense of wonder. Being a Kindy teacher means I am able to experience their world through their eyes and learn so much from them! WHAT PROGRAM DO OFFER AT S A N C T U A R Y E A R LY L E A R N I N G ADVENTURE BUDERIM? My Kindy program is play based, as this style of program suits the needs of the children as well as following their interests. If children are interested in a certain topic or idea, I plan activities and opportunities around that for the children to engage in and explore. Children are also engaged in early literacy and numeracy understandings through provocative play set ups, real-life experiences

and mat time discussions. The program also includes plenty of outdoor play time, as there is an abundance of opportunities for playing and learning outside. Playing outside allows for plenty of running and exercise, which is also an important part of my program. We also have a quiet time where children can rest their minds and bodies, as recharging ourselves is also important to our health and wellbeing. Overall our days consist of many opportunities to discover new knowledge and develop our understanding about the world around us through play and investigation. WHY DO YOU FEEL THAT P L AY-B A S E D L E A R N I N G I S S O I M P O R TA N T T O D AY ? Children instinctively learn through play; this is how they discover their world and 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

how things work. By engaging children in play-based learning, they will be more engaged and excited about learning and the knowledge that is attained will be more deeply embedded. I love the quote by Fred Rogers: “Play is often talked about as if it were a relief from serious learning. But for children play is serious learning. Play is really the work of childhood.” And the quote by Albert Einstein: “Play is the highest form of research.” This is my philosophy for Kindergarten learning. WHAT CAN PARENTS EXPECT FROM THE NEW CENTRE IN BUDERIM? Parents can expect that they will be very welcomed in my Kindergarten room and that I am approachable to talk to about their child. I believe in honest, open and respectful communication. I believe in involving parents in their child’s learning and the more we can talk about the children the more we can share and learn from each other. Parents can also expect that their child will be

treated with respect and dignity while at Kindy. I will be incorporating all children’s cultural backgrounds into the program, so all children will feel valued. WHAT IS YOUR SUPERPOWER? I would say my superpower is that I am a holistic thinker. I look at the whole child and all of their needs in many different areas – physical, social, emotional, academic. I’m very interested in new research, learning new techniques/strategies to assist me with my job. I’m also a team player – I love sharing ideas and resources and I’m very approachable. Enrolments for Sanctuary Early Learning Centre Buderim are available now at sanctuarylearning.com.au.

Play is often talked about as if it were a relief from serious learning. But for children play is serious learning.

ENROLMENTS FILLING FAST! CALL NOW 07 5322 5247

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We truly believe there needs to be a holistic approach to early learning. Call � to ﬁnd out more about our Music, Sports, Yoga, Dance and STEM Programs, which are included for all children.

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Our centres offer early advantages to give your child the highest quality of care and learning in a nurturing and supportive environment. Plus so much more! Come along and meet our amazing staff and see how we can give your child an early advantage.

Free swimming lessons (one per week from 2.5 years) Nutritious meals French lessons Active Kids Sports Program Bush Kindy Program Centre animals and onsite farm (Nambour)

www.nccearlylearners.com.au 34 McKenzie Road, Woombye ph: 5451 3330 | 1-3 Lakeshore Ave, Buderim ph: 5476 8333

E D U C AT I O N

From bush babies to Prep success

confident start to school can make a world of difference to a child’s learning journey. Feeling safe in their surroundings and undaunted by the new environment means a child hits the Prep mat running, excited by the many new experiences and thriving throughout the early school years. But what is it that makes the difference between a regular start and a truly great start to school? Critical for a smooth start to school is the family forming a strong connection with the school before a child starts. And though this is something that many independent schools impart – with daycare, Kindy and Primary connected through the one institution – it’s something that can often be lacking in the state school system. To remedy this disconnect, Sunshine Beach State School is one state school working hard to establish this integration and familiarity across all early learning levels – from playgroup through to Prep.

THE NOOSA BUSH BABIES

Beginning with the littlest learners, in 2018 Sunshine Beach State School introduced a free Bush Playgroup. Held in the school’s permaculture garden every Tuesday and Friday morning, the call of the bush brings families from across the region together to play and begin to build connections. Run by a specialist team of teachers, university lecturers, wildlife experts and horticulture enthusiasts it’s not your everyday playgroup. “Our team works together to provide a fun-filled environmentally charged journey each week that families will remember well into the future,” said Rebecca Kennett, Prep Transition Officer and Bush Playgroup Coordinator. “We get down and dirty with a variety of activities each week. We’ve made succulent planters wrapped in paper bark, natural teepees and so much more.” There are a variety of hands-on activities on offer each week, ranging from kids just playing with the worms in the worm bath, to creating clay creations, to sitting under the fruit trees with volunteer Bob Carey (nature

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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E D U C AT I O N

SUNSHINE BEACH PREP OPEN DAYS

Tuesday 21st May 9.15 – 10.30am Thursday 8 August 9.15 – 10.30am Tuesday 29 October 9.15 – 10.30am More information at sunshinebeachss. eq.edu.au

specialist and avid bird lover) and listening to his stories about plants and animals. “Families come together in our wonderful garden and share experiences. It is all about connecting with each other and the environment around us,” explained Di Seels, the environmental university lecturer at the heart of the program. “Families can be as active as they want or alternatively they can just enjoy the garden.” “The Bush Playgroup is the highlight of my son’s week,” said mum, Tameson. “He talks about Bob all the time! Whether Bob is weeding or creating a masterpiece, he is Bob’s shadow whenever we are there!” “The Bush Playgroup is great for transitioning children into Prep because families are there with their children,” Rebecca explained. “We do lots of interactive activities where they need to work together, and so the social network begins. Both parents and children are making those making those social connections here which is really helpful for when they’re starting Prep.” “Also, the thing that we find helps most with the transition into Prep is being comfortable with your surroundings; being familiar with the Prep area and how school works. Coming to the Bush Playgroup each week provides the time and opportunity for families to build that essential connection with the school.”

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“By the time it comes to Prep, our little bush babies are confidently running into their classrooms, not fazed at all about the school year ahead. They even have friendships from playgroup that go onto the Prep year together.” The Bush Playgroup is free and open to all families with under-school-age children.

ADEQUATE PREP TRANSITION R E A L LY M AT T E R S

Also critical to a successful start to school is a comprehensive Prep transition program. Familiar surroundings and friendly faces make the first day of school a breeze, with children eager to get started rather than worrying about the unknown. And this is another area that Sunshine Beach State School really excels. Rather than simply offering an orientation day prior to starting, Sunshine Beach has a plethora of events spread throughout the pre-Prep year. It starts with a ‘Get to Know Prep’ session in February, followed by several events each month for children and parents to get involved in. From open days and story sessions to sausage sizzles and Under 8s Day, the incoming Preppies are provided with a wonderful range of experiences to connect with and become comfortable with the school.

“My daughter was bursting at the seams to get to school on the first day of Prep!” said one Prep mum. “She had been here so many time during the Prep Transition Program she knew her way around the Prep area and already felt at home in the playground.” “This year’s group of Preps have settled in so quickly, they are full of enthusiasm and are keen to learn already,” commented Prep Teacher Tracy Down. “The children who were part of the Transition program last year have a wonderful confidence about them it’s so great to see.” Rebecca continued, “The children that started Prep this year who came through the Bush Playgroup and Prep Transition Program were telling their parents to leave even before the teachers got started, they were that confident and happy in the classroom!” Being an international school with no catchment area, the year-round Prep Transition Program also provides plenty of opportunities for families from further afield to come along and experience what Prep is like at Sunshine Beach. “We have families from Maroochydore, we have families from Iceland!” said Rebecca. “With a successful transition program in place we can be confident in welcoming families from across the region and beyond, knowing that they will settle into their new Prep classrooms quickly and happily.” 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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BE THE PLAYMATE IN YOUR CHILD’S EARLY LITERACY

e all know the importance of early literacy, but did you know that you (yes you!) are the most important tool? “There are many fun ways to introduce words and literacy to your child from a very early age,” said Karen Gawen, Young People’s Services Supervisor from Sunshine Coast Council. “Singing songs, telling stories, or simply chatting about things as you go about your day are all great ways to help build the foundations for learning.” The Queensland State Government’s First Five Forever initiative is a powerhouse behind promoting this cause. The program provides a comprehensive range of free resources including Rhymetime and Storytime sessions, and advice on how to bring early literacy into everyday life. The colourful Story Seats that have popped up in parks across the region are also part of this initiative. “Story Seats have been created to engage and promote literacy to families across the region in popular, high-usage parks,” explained Karen. “While the seats are a perfect spot to take books and read together they are also designed to not need a book. They are there so parents and caregivers can spend some quality time with their children just talking, reading, singing and playing. There’s no books or props needed – a caregiver is the best literacy playmate a child can have!”

HOW TO BE A STORY SEAT P L AY M AT E T A L K : Visit a seat to take time out to sit and talk to your child. Talk about the seat, the graphics, the characters, ask your child questions about what they think the characters are doing, what are their names, how do they think the book would end? Talk about everything and anything! Your little one is bursting with new ideas and questions so let them chat. R E A D : Use the graphics on the seat to aid in early literacy by helping your child read the text, count the characters, point out colours or make up stories about the images or what they think will happen next. S I N G : Create silly songs using the images or words on the graphics. Sing any song your child loves! Singing and the repetition of the words helps your child learn vocabulary and communication skills. P L A Y : Children don’t need expensive toys to have fun, they just love to play and can make up a game on the spot. Use the images on the seat to help make up games. Mad Magpie loves to swoop and fly – swoop around the park or lie next to each other on the grass and see how many birds you can count. Josephine is a dancing kangaroo – make up dance moves and have fun! Your child’s imagination is magical so let them come up with ideas and create games you can play with them.

WHERE TO FIND THE STORY SEATS The Children Who Loved Books by Peter Carnavas RUSSELL PARK, MONTVILLE

Grug by Ted Prior

MULLER PARK, BLI BLI

Home in the Rain by Bob Graham MAROOCHY LION’S PARK, MAROOCHYDORE

Mad Magpie by Gregg Dreise

POWER MEMORIAL PARK, MUDJIMBA

The Big Fish by Pamela Allen

SHELLY BEACH PARK, SHELLY BEACH

Bertha and Bear by Christine Sharp

KENILWORTH TOWN PARK, KENILWORTH

Where is the Green Sheep? by Mem Fox/Judy Horacek

GRAHAME STEWART PARK, CURRUMUNDI

I’m a Dirty Dinosaur by Janeen Brian/Ann James PIONEER PARK, LANDSBOROUGH

Jump and Shout! by Mike Dumbleton/Peter Carnavas

BRIGHTWATER COMMUNIT Y LAKE PARK, BRIGHTWATER

Josephine Wants to Dance by Jackie French/Bruce Whatley NELSON PARK, ALEXANDRA HEADLAND

WE HAVE A BUNCH OF STORY SEAT BOOK PACKS TO GIVE AWAY! EACH PACK CONTAINS 10 BOOKS – A COPY OF EVERY BOOK FEATURED IN THE STORY SEATS. JUST JUMP ONTO OUR WEBSITE TO GO INTO THE DRAW: KIDSONTHECOAST.COM.AU | KIDSINTHECITY.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

PROFILE

CONTACT Chancellor Park: 5476 9777 Brightwater: 5493 9797 Brightwater School Kindergarten: 5493 7275 Aroona: 5438 1414 Beerwah: 5494 0833 bellagrace.com.au

BEHIND THE DOORS AT BELLA GRACE

Choosing a childcare centre that is right for your child and your family is one of the bigger decisions you will make as a parent. We go behind the doors at Bella Grace Early Learning to find out what makes this service so popular with Sunshine Coast families.

he mission at Bella Grace is simple: to provide a higher level of education and care for the children in their community. And their Kindergarten programs are always planned with this mission in mind. “We believe that children learn best when they feel valued and respected,” says Kristy Griffiths, Beerwah Director & Nominated Supervisor at Bella Grace Early Learning. “Using a play-based approach to learning, each service builds individual programs that cater for their children’s current interests, strengths and developmental needs. Then using these interests, educators build a curriculum based inclusive of the QKLG with a focus on literacy, numeracy, science and technology.” The Kindergarten programs also introduce children to life skills through daily routines, and each service develops and embeds sustainable practices that are community specific. “By intentionally fostering these needs, we are preparing children to be active members of a greener community and reduce our carbon footprint,” Kristy explains. Children are provided with meals with an intent to help achieve optimum health and wellbeing, Kristy continues. “As a service, we

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promote a Healthy Growth program to build a solid foundation for positive eating habits through high quality, fresh and nutritious, tasty child-friendly foods.”

Collaboration in the community Easing the transition into Prep, Bella Grace works collaboratively with the local schools to ensure strong relationships are fostered to prepare the children and families for primary education. “Our Early childhood professionals in preparation for school readiness, build inclusive environments that are rich with natural resources, promoting inquiry, critical thinking, wellbeing, and sense of connectedness to diversity.” Building strong relationships with the greater community, Bella Grace also works in partnership with services to provide extracurricular activities to all Kindergartens. “Our current programs consist of Billy Buddies football, multicultural language lessons, Yoga, Ginger Sports soccer, Wildlife HQ travelling zoo, Prestige School of Dance and excursions to our wider community network.” 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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KEEPING KIDS SAFE

ONLINE With technology changing faster than you can say ‘snapchat’, how do we allow our kids access to the online world whilst also ensuring they are safe?

ne of the most hotly debated topics in households across the region is undoubtedly online access and screen time. Kids crave it whilst parents are justifiably concerned. Screens can be a wonderful way for us all to learn, get information, socialise and be entertained, but they cannot be the only way we do this. And unfiltered online access opens a door to a plethora of inappropriate content and chat. Martine Oglethorpe from The Modern Parent believes that managing screen time is based less on time limits and more on the effects of the screens and the impact on other areas of their lives. “Time limits can be effective when children are young and they aren’t able to regulate their behaviours without our input,” advises Martine. “However, we also need to be teaching our families and ourselves ways of incorporating the technology and devices in ways that are balanced and healthy.”

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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TO FIND OUT WHETHER THEIR SCREEN TIME IS HEALTHY, ASK THESE THREE QUESTIONS: 1. W H AT A R E T H E Y D O I N G W I T H T H E S C R E E N S ?

Are they playing games or viewing content that helps them learn? Are they merely consuming content or are they being creative? There are vastly different uses of screen time and this must be remembered when talking about how much screen time kids have. 2. W H AT E F F E C T I S S C R E E N S H AV I N G O N T H E M?

Is the activity or connection beneficial and helpful? Or is it taking away from their day, or having a negative effect on their wellbeing or their self-worth? Are they learning, growing and being motivated? Or are they wasting time and energy on people or followers that shouldn’t count? 3. W H AT A R E T H E Y M I S S I N G O U T O N?

Using screens can certainly play a part in their day but they also need time to have active play and exercise, have face-to-face interactions, have time to be bored, time to let their mind wander, time to eat meals with the family, and to sleep uninterrupted.

WHAT IS AN APPROPRIATE AGE FOR A CHILD TO HAVE THEIR FIRST PHONE? A lot of this will depend on what the phone’s capabilities are, because getting a phone and getting internet access are two quite different things. “A child of any age can have access to the internet as long as it is monitored, filtered and done with intention and purpose,” says Martine. “A parent can use the internet together with a young child for all manner of information and investigation and it may be a really useful tool to learn new things or explore areas of interest.” “Having free reign to search the internet without monitoring or filtering however, shouldn’t be given to children at all, as the internet obviously opens up a world of inappropriate content, as well as being a doorway for people to make contact with young people.” Getting a phone with internet capabilities is vastly different, as this opens a child up to a world of online content, contacts and connections that they need to be cognitively ready to handle in terms of their behaviours

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and their ability to think critically alone. “Having a phone usually means the parent has little input into what happens with that phone, so one needs to ensure that child is socially, emotionally and cognitively ready,” explains Martine. “As most apps and social media require an age limit of at least 13, getting a phone too soon before this time can obviously lead to times when that cognitive thinking and behaviour is not developed enough yet and can put young people in situations they are not ready for.”

HOW TO MONITOR ONLINE ACTIVITY Another quandary facing many parents is how much monitoring is required. Kids want a little privacy but parents want to ensure they are safe. Monitoring a child’s online activity varies greatly with different ages and with individual children. When young people start out on a social network Martine recommends giving access to one network at a time. “This way parents can access and monitor as much as they can, using this time to teach and guide in the appropriate

behaviours,” she says. “Looking for teachable moments to help learn skills and thinking is also a more effective way to teach than lecturing a child on cyber safety. There are people doing the wrong thing online all the time so one never needs to look far to find these teachable moments!” Whether it’s a sport star who lost their sponsorship deal for an inappropriate tweet, or the group text that was intended for four friends but was viewed by eight parents, using these examples of how we lose control of our audience are much more effective when we can provide real life examples.

ARE THERE ANY APPS TO BE WARY OF? All apps have the ability to get young people into trouble if they are not ready for them or not being used in the right way. “Every social network also has the ability for young people to view porn or inappropriate content, to experience cyber bullying, and to be contacted by people who don’t have their best intentions at heart,” says Martine. “That being said, there are certainly some apps that take more care when setting up for 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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safety issues, and there are those apps such as Yubo, developed for young people to ‘meet friends’, that can open them up to a world of people who are waiting for young people who may be somewhat vulnerable to make those online connections that won’t serve them well.”

WHAT ABOUT ONLINE GAMES SUCH AS FORTNITE AND ROBLOX? Having some knowledge and understanding of how games work must be a priority when allowing kids to play popular games. “You don’t have to know every single aspect of the game but some initial research can easily help determine whether a game is appropriate for your child,” Martine says. Organisations such as Common Sense Media review every app, game and media, and can be a great way to find out the dangers or elements to be aware of. “Watching YouTube videos of others playing a game can help alert parents to any themes or content they may need to know about or discuss with their child before allowing them to play,” Martine also suggests. “And having systems such as

Family Zone in place can also give parents reasons why they recommend or don’t recommend certain games for certain ages, and parents can then make their own informed decisions.” “Once again, if a parent decides they are going to allow a child to play a game, especially if it is not recommended for their age, then they must ensure that they have gone to the settings areas of the game and made the games as safe and as private as they can.”

yourselves as parents is not affected by the filtering system.” POPULAR If you don’t use a filtering SOCIAL system, Martine recommends APPS going through every device TODAY and setting up as safely as you can. Instagram “Parents must go to Snapchat YouTube and Google and set Tom Tok (formally up the search engines for Misocal.ly) strict settings and must also WhatsApp go to every game and app YouTube their child uses to ensure GroupMe they are using it in the safest Kik Messenger way possible,” advises Tumblr Martine. “Obviously, this can Yubo be tedious and is never 100 HOW TO SET UP per cent foolproof so getting DEVICES a system to back this up is When there are multiple devices in a always recommended.” household and multiple ages of children, “It is also important to note that despite the requirements for safety and wellbeing filtering and monitoring, young people also vary depending on the individual’s stage of need to be learning the skills, the thinking development. “Systems such as Family Zone and the behaviours to keep themselves safe can allocate different levels of access to and to make good choices, so education and different ages. This also ensures the access ongoing conversation should always be part for the older members of the family and of the equation.”

WHEN TO STEP IN

SIMPLE GROUND RULE

Though family groun d rules are based on th eir own family values and what works for them, here are some ‘no brainer’ rules that families can make to ensure every one is on the same pa ge. NO DEVICES E VER COME TO A D I N N E R TA BLE

DEVICES ARE N OT TO B E U S E D AT LEAST AN HOU R B E F O R E B E DT IME N O A C C E S S TO DEVICES DURING THE N IGHT

M A R C H / A P R I L 2019

If we manage to have constructive experiences online, to learn and be entertained in ways that still allow us to fulfill the many other elements of our lives, then screens can be a positive addition to family life. “If a child is still getting the right amount of sleep, coming to the dinner table without a fight, having time for all the other important elements of their lives then they are probably doing OK.” Martine suggests. “If these areas start to slip and we see warning signs of the devices taking over their lives, then it is imperative parents step in and make the necessary changes to avoid behaviours that can spiral out of control.” MARTINE OGLETHORPE O F T H E M O D E R N PA R E N T Martine is a digital educator, consultant and mother to five boys. She has a background in secondary education and a Masters in Counselling. Through her personal and professional work, she recognises the important role technology plays in the lives of young people today and thus the role we can play in not only their safety, but their social and emotional wellbeing. Find her at themodernparent.net 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

Love.

Your child will be loved, valued and respected by a mix of mature and younger carers all of whom have a genuine love of early learning.

Learning. Our Little Learners have direct access to the many facilities of big school! Our extensive library, sporting facilities, computer lab and veggie patch to name a few.

Adventure. Pioneered by Suncoast Little Learners, Bush Kindy is an innovative program where our Little Learners explore the bush, squelch in the mud, chase lizards, build cubbie houses and create pretend fireplaces.

Spots available now in P re-kindy Enquiries: Janelle Appo on 5451 3600 or Krystle Cullen on 5451 3648

Suncoast Christian College, Cnr Schubert & Kiels Mtn Road, Woombye

suncoastlittlelearners.com.au

FUN FOR THE KIDS AT AURA Keeping the kids active at Aura is child’s play with 6 amazing parks and playgrounds to choose from. With activities suited for all ages, kids can swing, pedal, scoot and play whilst parents sit back and relax in the great outdoors. Connected by bike paths, why not make a day of it and explore all of our parks with our free electric bikes? Simply pick one up from the Aura Sales & Vision Centre. For more information about our parks visit our news and events page.

TRY OUR NEW CAFE ‘GEORGIE’

Famous for its laid-back lifestyle and gorgeous beaches, Byron Bay is the perfect place to reconnect with yourself and the family. Whether you’re looking for affordable, luxury or something in-between, Byron Bay has something for every budget.

ON A BUDGET B Y R O N B AY T R A I N

Mix new-world technology with a 1949-era heritage train and what do you get? The world’s first solar train in Byron Bay! The Byron Bay Railroad Company has received national and international recognition including the highest awards for engineering, solar technology and sustainability. The not-for-profit train service has generated enough power over and above what it has needed to run the train to power 13 homes* for a year! The 3km return service runs between ‘North Beach Station’ in Sunrise Beach and the ‘Byron Bay’ platform, seven days a week. 0–5 years travel free; 6–13 years $2.00; adult one-way $4.00 byronbaytrain.com.au

D I S C O V E R Y PA R K S – B Y R O N B AY

Located just 2km from the city centre, Discovery Parks - Byron Bay offers the perfect escape for the budget-conscious family. Enjoy the gorgeous beaches, lush hinterland and peace along with exceptional holiday park facilities,

including Byron’s Barrel Waterpark. Choose from standard or deluxe twoor four-people cabins or a superior safari tent. The park also features a bouncing pillow, swimming pool, restaurant, sports facilities and more. 399 Ewingsdale Road, Byron Bay | 02 6685 7378 discoveryholidayparks.com.au

B Y R O N B AY LIGHTHOUSE

A must-do for locals and visitors, the Byron Bay Lighthouse is Byron’s most iconic image. Situated at Australia’s most easterly point, it is a great place to see humpback whales on their annual migration, and dolphins and turtles can sometimes be seen playing in the waves at the base of the Headland. For a small gold coin donation, you can be taken on a tour of the lighthouse and enjoy the 360 degree views from the top. The Cape Byron Walk is another way to take in the stunning views. The loop takes you around beach, rainforest, grassland and clifftops to the lighthouse. After your walk, enjoy a swim at The Pass Beach, one of Byron’s most pristine beaches.

Image: Destination NSW

B Y R O N B AY-B Y

The world’s first solar train in Byron Bay.

THE SUN BISTRO

A bistro and bar set among a spectacular natural bush setting, the Sun Bistro is a well-priced family friendly place to enjoy fresh, local food and a cold drink. With two big children’s play areas, a large TAB and sports bar as well as plenty of car parking, there is something for everyone. The Sun Bistro’s ‘Ride in Style’ offer includes an adult return train trip on the Byron Bay Solar Train and lunch with a schooner of Stone & Wood or glass of wine at $25.00. Open 1–9pm daily. Courtesy bus pick-up from Sunrise to Ewingsdale for groups of four or more. 61 Bayshore Drive, Byron Bay 02 6685 6500 | thesunbistro.com

*Average Australian three person homes 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

M A R C H / A P R I L 2019

T R AV E L

MID-RANGE MACADAMIA CASTLE

With over 150 native and farmyard animals, birds and reptiles, Macadamia Castle has been a popular family destination for over 40 years. Explore the castle and the animal park, and get up close with the animals by booking an animal experience. Taste a wide range of roasted and flavoured Macadamia nuts at the Nut Bar, along with a variety of locally grown and hand-made products for sale at the Macadamia Castle, or grab some macadamia-themed lunch at the onsite café. A trip to Macadamia Castle isn’t complete without a photo with the knight who stands guard in front of the castle. Open 8am - 5pm daily Hinterland Way, Knockrow (02) 6687 8432 | macadamiacastle.com.au

N O B O N E S B Y R O N B AY

With locally sourced ingredients, focusing on seasonal and organic produce, No Bones Byron Bay is a plant-powered restaurant even the biggest meat eater will love. A favourite spot amongst the locals, enjoy some delicious plant-based food while sipping away on their $11 cocktails – at that price you can have one, two or even a sneaky three! No Bones make everything in house which means no packet pasta or store-bought breads, everything is

A fun family day out at Byron Bay Markets.

fresh, sustainable, biodegradable and environmentally conscious. This family friendly restaurant is a must try when you’re in Byron Bay. Shop 1 /11 Fletcher St, Byron Bay nobonesbyronbay.com.au

B Y R O N B AY C O M M U N I T Y MARKET

Held on the first Sunday of the month, the Byron Bay Community Market is one of the most popular markets in Byron Bay. Local stallholders showcase a huge variety of arts and crafts, jewellery and clothing along with fresh produce and delicious cuisine you can enjoy while soaking up the atmosphere. These markets do get busy so it’s best to arrive early to grab a car space. Butler Street Reserve, Byron Bay

Image: Destination NSW

BYRON TWILIGHT MARKET

M A R C H / A P R I L 2019

In the heart of Byron Bay, this night market is popular amongst locals and visitors alike. If you’re looking for original, authentic and sustainable pieces, the markets showcase the best of local artisans selling everything from jewellery, clothing to accessories. Make an evening of it with the family, bring a rug, and enjoy some wholesome, locally sourced food while listening to great, live music. Open 4pm – 9pm. Railway Park, Jonson Street, Byron Bay

WAV E S B Y R O N B AY

Located in the heart of town and just a hop, skip and jump away from Main Beach and walking distance from the popular Byron Bay lighthouse, is Waves Byron Bay. With a location so perfect, you won’t need to drive anywhere! All the rooms have luxurious king-sized beds. The penthouses feature a private outdoor terrace with BBQ facilities. One of the suites offers a Teppanaki BBQ. Some of the facilities include free car parking, free Wi-Fi and family rooms, as well as facilities for guests with special needs. Guests are also free to use the beach towels and boogie boards. Guests can start their day with free muffins, coffee, tea and fresh fruit in the hotel foyer. 35 Lawson St, Byron Bay wavesbyronbay.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

T R AV E L

L U X U RY E L E M E N T S O F B Y R O N - B A R E F O O T L U X U R Y I N B Y R O N B AY

If you want something special, this award-winning beachfront resort offers luxury family friendly accommodation along with world-class facilities. Younger kids can enjoy playtime in the dedicated Lagoon Pool precinct, while older kids enjoy the large temperaturecontrolled pool. The Parkour-inspired, all-natural kids’ playground is located among the native rainforest. With a sand base, it’s challenging but safe for kids of all ages. There’s a large lawn alongside and a tennis court (simply borrow a tennis kit from receptio), so it’s a great spot away from the central resort area to play and relax. For organised play there is an outdoor games area where you can enjoy a game of giant chess and bocce as a family. Parents can calm the body and mind at the Osprey Spa, where you can choose from spa treatments including massages and facials or you can create your own package. 144 Bayshore Drive, Byron Bay elementsofbyron.com.au

M A R C H / A P R I L 2019

T H E FA R M B Y R O N B AY

Situated on 80 acres, The Farm encourages everyone to enjoy the surroundings of a real working farm and be inspired to talk, ask questions and experience where food comes from. Take the family for a wander through the grounds, see what is growing on the land, meet the farm animals, or pick up some fresh produce to take home with you. Whilst you enjoy a cuppa or a meal, the kids can burn off some energy in The Farm playground and run around the fields of macadamia and pecan trees, enjoying nature at its finest form. Open 7am – 4pm 11 Ewingsdale Rd, Ewingsdale | thefarm.com.au

Image: Destination NSW

F LY I N G F O X B I S T R O

Located within Byron Bay Bowling Club, this rustic bistro offers a great atmosphere, quality food and ice-cold drinks. With a large family friendly alfresco area, enjoy the classic menu – make sure you try the Duck Spring Rolls on Vietnamese salad, which the Flying Fox Bistro is renowned for. The $10 kids’ menu is also hit, serving up pizza, burgers, calamari, and mac and cheese as well as milkshakes and ice cream. Open Tuesday to Sunday 11.30am – 9pm 18 Marvell Street, Byron Bay flyingfoxbistro.com.au

With idyllic resorts and stunning beaches, Byron Bay is the perfect spot for a little luxury.

Image: Richard Whitbread; Destination NSW

C R Y S TA L C A S T L E

In the Byron Bay Hinterland lies the stunning Crystal Castle and Shambhala Gardens, home to the world’s largest natural crystals. Children can connect with the calming, healing power of crystals, bringing back into harmony your mind, body and emotions amidst the tranquil surroundings. Kids can play ‘Fireheart’ Crystal Dragon playground is while parents relax at the Lotus Café with local, organic coffees and teas, homemade cakes and desserts or a nutritious meal using ingredients from Crystal Castle’s very own organic food garden. Only 20 minutes from Byron Bay and 40 minutes from the Gold Coast, Crystal Castle is a beautiful spot to get away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life. Open 10am – 5pm daily 81 Monet Drive, Mullumbimby crystalcastle.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

Play now, pay later with Now available online

BABY BROCCOLI EGG PIES These baby broccoli egg pies are super easy to prepare and bake! Quick and nourishing, they are the perfect bite-size snack and ideal for school lunchboxes.

Vegetariaannd dairy free

INGREDIENTS

1 tin of coconut cream 10 eggs ¼ teaspoon salt 1 cup finely chopped red onion 1 cup finely chopped broccoli ¼ cup of finely chopped parsley 2 tablespoons of coconut oil OPTIONS:

You can add any vegetables you choose, or have available in the fridge. 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

METHOD

• Preheat the oven to 180°C. Grease a 24 mini-cup muffin pan. • In a blender, blend coconut cream, salt and eggs (or whisk in a large bowl). • Add 2 tablespoons of coconut oil to a frying pan and fry onions, broccoli and parsley. You can always add other spices to the filling mix. • Spoon 1 teaspoon of the vegetable mixture into the prepared pan, and then pour the egg mixture to fill each cup to the rim. Allow 10 to 20 seconds for the mixture to settle and you may need to add some more filling. • Bake for 15 minutes, or until a knife inserted into the centre of the egg pie comes out clean. • Remove from oven and allow to cool a little to set. Then gently remove with a knife. • Serve hot or cold.

Did you know? BROCCOLI IS A KNOWN IMMUNE BOOSTER AND BODY S T R E N G T H E N E R . S E L E N I U M , Z I N C , PHOSPHORUS, AND COPPER ARE JUST A F E W M I N E R A L S T H AT A R E I M M U N E S Y S T E M B U I L D E R S . V I TA M I N C A N D B E TA - C A R O T E N E A R E A L S O H E L P F U L IN PROTECTING TO KEEP THE IMMUNE S Y S T E M H E A LT H Y A N D S T R O N G .

By Kerry Spina, author, educator and mindset advocate. Kerry's latest book, I Love My Body, inspires parents to encourage and embrace body love with their child in a nurturing and safe way. Find out more at kidsinharmony.com.au M A R C H / A P R I L 2019

THURSDAY FUN DAY @ DANCEEDGESTUDIOS Acro, Hip Hop, Jazz and Lyrical classes available. Term 1 Special for new enrolments. Quote this ad. Bring a new dance friend and you will get two for the price of one for Term 1 fees at DE. (Thursday classes only and students must not already be enrolled at DE for 2019.)

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WOODEN TOYS ECO TOYS EDUCATIONAL TOYS GAMES & PUZZLES BEAUTIFUL GIFTS DIY ART & CRAFT KITS

Follow Dance Edge Studios on Facebook & Instagram @danceedgestudios Dance classes available for students 2 years of age and up.

info@danceedgestudios.com.au

Shop 2, 16 Sunshine Beach Rd, Noosa Heads

LOCAL LIFE

The early childhood years can be an incredibly isolating time, when many new mums struggle for connection and understanding. We chat to Ursula Smith, coordinator of mothers’ programs at Lifepointe to find out more about the amazing community of new parents growing from their playgroup.

LAMBS AT PLAY Ursula Smith

WHAT MOTHERS’ PROGRAMS DO YOU RUN AT LIFEPOINTE? We have a range of programs for anyone with a 0–5 year old. We have Mainly Music, which is a great program for kids to be engaged, entertained around the fundamentals of music. And we have our very popular Lambs at Play playgroup which is an open-door playgroup for 0–5 year olds. We like to make sure all our parents are well known, and if they have any needs the church will try to fill those needs. We might do meals, food hampers… anything that helps to fill those gaps in this season of their lives. We know how challenging the early childhood years can be and we don’t want you to do it alone. T E L L U S A B O U T L A M B S AT P L AY Lambs at Play started around 10 years ago as a small playgroup one day a week, and grew organically to now be three days:

Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday. We have a great mix of families – mums, dads, some grandparents. It’s an open door for absolutely anyone; a safe environment that the kids love to come to, and where parents can relax, enjoy a coffee, and find friendship and connection. Though initially playgroup is about providing activities to engage children, I also believe, it’s about creating a place for adults to meet other adults in the same season of

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

life – to build a network for support. Thanks to our volunteers, we’ve created an environment that is really inviting and welcoming, where people can feel at ease and a place they can enjoy being. This doesn’t happen by accident; the team works hard to ensure it’s a place where everyone is included. We aren’t a business and we aren’t making money, rather we are building a community and want the community to know that we care about you. M A R C H / A P R I L 2019

LOCAL LIFE

WHY DO YOU THINK THIS IS IMPORTANT FOR FAMILIES T O D AY ? A big part of why we run Lambs at Play is that we find a lot of mums and dads feel quite isolated as new parents. Removed from the work place, it’s a whole new environment and can be a huge adjustment. Playgroup is a place they can feel comfortable and express how challenging parenthood can be with other people that understand where they are at. They are sleep deprived, frazzled, worrying whether they are doing it right! So, we set up a safe space to entertain the kids with toys, craft and playdough, to allow mums to chat and be themselves, and have someone ask how they’ve been. Also, a lot of parents on the Sunshine Coast don’t have family support – people move here often leaving extended family behind. It can be hard to meet people so this is a great place to break down those boundaries – the kids can’t run off, parents can relax and easily start up a conversation. W H AT ’S YO U R FAV O U R I T E T H I N G ABOUT RUNNING THE MOTHERS’ PROGRAMS? I love watching the mums connect with other mums, seeing lifelong friendships grow and develop over time. It’s really exciting to see that happen organically – from where we have provided the space and time. I also love to see the excitement on the children’s faces – when you see a young child

M A R C H / A P R I L 2019

“IT’S AN OPEN DOOR FOR ABSOLUTELY ANYONE; A SAFE ENVIRONMENT THAT KIDS LOVE TO COME TO, AND WHERE PARENTS CAN RELAX, ENJOY A COFFEE, AND FIND FRIENDSHIP AND CONNECTION.”

skipping in because they can’t wait to get inside! With big smiles, they run off and they are at the home corner making cups of tea, or delving into the craft, just that pure joy and happiness. I also love to build relationships with the families. We have families that have been with us for years – they start with us with one child and that child might now be at school, then they have one or two other children. It’s lovely to see them all grow from a baby to school-age. I get genuinely sad when it’s their last child heading to school and it’s time for a family to move on. But it’s wonderful to know that they have made friendships from playgroup that will continue with them into the next season of life.

Playgroup is a safe space with toys, craft and playdough.

TELL US A SECRET ABOUT YOURSELF! With a two-year-old and 11-year old and my work at Lifepointe I don’t have much spare time, but a little hobby of mine is ballroom dancing! I love the music and movement, and when I go there, I’m just me. It’s not about being a mum, a wife, an employee, I just put on my dance shoes and enjoy an hour or two of something that is purely fun and ‘in the moment’. Ballroom dancing is probably a bit old fashioned and daggy but I love that I have found something that really excites me. Where no one expects me to be anything other than me. I think it’s great to find that hobby you love, even if it is a little out of the box!

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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ballet shoes for all new enrolment

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The Sunshine Coast’s most loved introduction to Classical Ballet for toddlers & preschoolers  NO uniforms

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0405 478 909 www.danceempiresunshinecoast.com.au miranda@danceempiresunshinecoast.com.au WARANA, MAROOCHYDORE & PEREGIAN BEACH | CALOUNDRA - OPENING MID 2019

create your own.

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premium handcrafted gelato on a stick.

Open daily 10am - 9pm

Shop 6, On the Beach Noosa 49 Hastings St, Noosa Heads (opposite bistro c) P: 0404 314 468 happypops.com.au

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0411 801 144

Find us on Facebook and Instagram Amy Beccari Dance Studios Official

www.amybeccaridancestudios.com.au

YOU’RE INVITED TO THE

Principal’s Tour with Chris Ivey Prep to Year 12 Tuesday 28 May 9:00am 40 Peregian Springs Drive, Peregian Springs

e rienc Expe arning er Le Walk ndrew’s A at St ces d pla Limite able avail

RSVP: enrolments@saac.qld.edu.au or 5471 5555

H E A LT H

3D/4D baby ultrasounds

ARE THEY SAFE? 3D/4D elective, or nondiagnostic baby ultrasounds, are growing in popularity. Though they are a wonderful opportunity for parents to meet their baby, are they safe?

arents-to-be would agree that the safety of their unborn baby is of the utmost importance and priority. Despite this, many people head to non-diagnostic 3D/4D ultrasound centres without doing any research. What looks like a simple, fun procedure can actually have risks for your baby, especially when in the hands of untrained personnel.

WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW: 1. Non-diagnostic ultrasound should not be performed until 10 weeks The first 10 weeks of pregnancy is called the ‘embryonic period’ where delicate fetal tissues are developing and are at their most vulnerable. It’s a very fragile time for your baby and non-diagnostic, elective ultrasounds are not recommended. 2. Listening to your baby’s heart beat should not be done before 12 weeks To be able to hear your baby’s heart beat a Fetal Doppler is needed, which uses sound waves that can heat a baby’s tissue. Before 12 weeks of pregnancy, this may be harmful to your baby. Seeing your baby’s heartbeat from 10–12 weeks is perfectly safe but hearing it is not recommended. 3. Ultrasound scanning should not be for longer than 30 minutes at a time The only theoretical risk to a baby during scanning is that of raised temperature. Sound waves can cause a rise in temperature in the tissues they pass through. This rise in temperature is

dependent on machine power and scan duration. To monitor this, all modern scanners track the temperature output and tell the Sonographer (who are trained to be aware of this) instantly about any change in tissue temperature so that they know that they are scanning within the range. Scanning machines that are older than five years often need their settings higher and will scan for longer to achieve similar results of younger machines. 4. All non-diagnostic centres should demonstrate the ‘ALARA’ principle (As Low As Reasonably Achievable) It is important that the centre that is scanning is clinically safe for you and your baby. The ALARA principle ensures that your baby’s safety always comes first because the machine is set as low as possible and the sonographer is still able to achieve excellent quality images that you can treasure forever.

QUESTIONS TO ASK YOUR 3D/4D BABY ULTRASOUND CENTRE 1.

What is the maximum amount of time they will scan your baby for? 2.

Do they scan pregnancies under 10 weeks? 3.

Do they let you hear your baby’s heart beat before 12 weeks? 4.

Is the person scanning you and your baby a qualified sonographer who understands ultrasounds and what that means for your baby’s safety? 5.

How old are their scanning machines that are being used?

B Y D E N I S E D O N AT I – S N E A K P E E K U LT R A S O U N D S Wth over 30 years’ experience in healthcare, Denise is a Registered Nurse and Midwife, owner of Sneak Peek Ultrasounds and co-owner of Fertility Solutions. For more information, go to sneakpeekultrasounds.com.au or call Sneak Peek Ultrasounds Buderim 07 5406 0689.

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

M A R C H / A P R I L 2019

CLASSIFIEDS GARDEN SPARKLE

W: gardensparkle.com.au S: @gardensparkle / P: 0420 234 776 E: fairykate@gardensparkle.com.au

Use code: KO TC for 10% off your or der!

Make a magical Easter themed fairy garden! Inspire the young at heart and create precious memories. Choose from Fairy Kate's designer kits, unicorns, hand-picked fairies, houses and mini accessories. Shipping Australia wide. Afterpay and Zippay available. Fairy fast and friendly service with lots of sparkle! Find lots of inspiration on their fairy garden blog too :)

EMPOWERING WORKSHOPS FOR GIRLS

FB: facebook.com/gratefulforme/ E: gratefulforme@hotmail.com / A: Buderim

Self Love - Self Esteem - Self Respect Supporting and guiding our younger generation of girls through monthly fun and soul-filled empowerment workshops. Providing confidence, building tools and strategies for self love, self esteem, self respect that will benefit them for the rest of their lives. For our girls to see they are worthy, strong and gorgeous inside and out in a safe space where they can truly be themselves.

QUEENSLAND AIR MUSEUM

W: qam.com.au P: (07) 5492 5930 A: 7 Pathfinder Drive, Caloundra. Queensland 4551 Looking for somewhere to take the kids, get them away from the small screen and keep them entertained for hours? Queensland Air Museum has more than 80 historically significant aircraft and many other aviation related displays, the best aircraft model shop on the Sunshine Coast, coffee, drinks and ice-creams. It's a great day out for the whole family!

GYMBAROO SUNSHINE COAST

W: gymbaroosunshinecoast.com.au P: 0452 512 327 FB: @GymbarooSunshineCoast

“GymbaROO is the best part of our week!” A fine and gross motor skill development focused program that includes an age-appropriate indoor obstacle climbing course, dancing, ball skills, music and rhythm. Children learn to roll, crawl, climb, walk, jump and problem-solve. Best of all, KIDS LOVE IT!

BORN TO SLEEP

W: borntosleep.com.au E: ask@borntosleep.com.au P: 0488 008 878

Are you struggling to get your baby to sleep?

Lisa is a certified baby sleep coach who is passionate about helping families thrive with healthy sleep habits. Choose from gentle to mainstream communication methods, suited your parenting style. To have your questions answered, head to the website to book in for a free sleep assessment.

WITTACORK FARMSTAY

W: maiveandbo.com E: orders@maiveandbo.com A: 8/62 Bishop St, Kelvin Grove Dress the bump with Maive & Bo! • Maternity & nursing wear • Brisbane boutique open Tues-Sat • Shop online, express delivery • 10% off online order with code KIDS 2-3 day delivery ~ Afterpay ~ online returns

GOLD COAST DENTAL & DENTURE CENTRE

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

P: (07) 5532 4168 W: gcdentalcentre.com.au A: 268 Ferry Road, Southport

Stay on a real working dairy farm!

Family owned Gold Coast Dental and Denture Centre has the only dedicated area and special program for children with nonnutritive sucking habits (thumb and dummies). Additional services include: tongue tie assessment and release with laser, Oral Myology – developing good oral habits around correct breathing and swallowing, and pre-orthodontic treatment with the Myobrace system.

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!

M A R C H / A P R I L 2019

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

CLASSIFIEDS ALIVE & KICKING MEDICAL PRACTICES

W: AliveAndKickingMedical.com.au P: (07) 5444 2666 A: Mooloolaba • Brightwater/Mountain Creek • Parklands/Currimundi

THE MILK PANTRY

W: milkpantry.com.au S: @themilkpantry E: sales@milkpantry.com.au

Are you looking for a doctor that really REALLY cares about you and your family? We offer the finest healthcare on the Sunshine Coast, with 16 GPs across our three clinics supported by excellent nursing and admin staff. Visit our websites to learn about our clinics, doctors and allied health services. Book online 24/7. Urgent sick kids always squeezed in!

KATH DICKSON FAMILY DAY CARE

Natural & Organic Skincare

W: kdfc.com.au/family-day-care P: (07) 5446 7731 A: 21 Ocean Street, Maroochydore

• No toxic chemicals • No animal testing • Recyclable packaging • Supporting children with Down Syndrome • Happiness guaranteed

P: 0499453294 E: info@missmagoos.com.au W: missmagoos.com.au Gentle on your family’s skin, the planet, and your wallet.

Looking for quality, flexible child care that suits your family’s needs? Family day care may be just what you need! Through our established network of fully trained and registered educators across the Sunshine Coast and hinterland region, we offer nurturing care in a small group within a home environment, with full access to your approved child care subsidy.

HEALTH NATURALLY CHIROPRACTIC

GDL NATURE PLAY SPACES

W: gdlnatureplacespaces.com.au P: 0410 863 756 A: Across the Sunshine Coast

The Milk Pantry’s extensive range of lactation products for busy breastfeeding mums includes cookies, brownies, shakes and hot chocolates. Options for those with food allergies are also available such as gluten free, dairy free and vegan options. Each product is lovingly hand-crafted and designed to nourish the body, taste great and includes special ingredients that target breast milk production.

GDL

Nature PlaySpaces

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.

P: (07) 5451 1121 S: @HealthNaturallyChiropractic A: Unit 7, 2-6 Beach Road, Maroochydore Have you even been curious about Chiropractic care for your family? Come and visit us for an Initial consult, Pre-care appointment and Report of findings – FREE – to see if we can help in any way. Give us a call on 07 5451 1121 or visit our office on the corner of Ocean Street and Beach Road. We look forward to seeing you. Regards Sam and Natise.

Put your business DIRECTLY in front of our readers! CONTACT YOUR BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT M A N A G E R T O D AY T O S E C U R E Y O U R CL ASSIFIEDS SPOT:

0424 577 706 / helen@shoremedia.com.au

SUNSHINE COAST:

0468 868 087 / goldcoast@shoremedia.com.au

BRISBANE/GOLD COAST:

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

r e f O l a i c e p S

BOOK 5 ISSUES AND GET THE 6TH FREE! M A R C H / A P R I L 2019

s e i v o M

REVIEWS

DISNEY’S “DUMBO”

In cinemas Thursday 28th March (CTC) Disney’s new live-action feature film Dumbo introduces Holt Farrier, a former circus star who finds his life turned upside down when he returns from the war. Circus owner Max Medici enlists Holt to care for a newborn elephant whose oversized ears make him a laughing stock in an already struggling circus. But when Holt’s children discover that Dumbo can fly, persuasive entrepreneur V.A Vandevere and an aerial artist named Colette Merchant swoop in to make the peculiar pachyderm a star.

SUNSHINE COAST - BRISBANE - GOLD COAST

SCHOOL HOLIDAY GUIDE

ONLINE

Mild themes and animated violence

IN CINEMAS MARCH 21 IT IN 2D & 3D Roadshow SEE Roadshow

Roadshow

THE LEGO® MOVIE 2

WONDER PARK

In cinemas Thursday 21st March (PG)

In cinemas Thursday 4th April (CTC)

The much anticipated sequel to the critically acclaimed, global box office phenomenon that started it all, The LEGO ®Movie 2, reunites the heroes of Bricksburg in an all new action-packed adventure to save their beloved city. It’s been five years since everything was awesome and the citizens are facing a huge new threat: LEGO DUPLO® invaders from outer space, wrecking everything faster than they can rebuild.

June spent her childhood days constructing an amusement park called Wonderland, filled with fantastical rides and inhabited by talking animals. Now grown up and following her mother’s death, June’s sense of imagination and wonder is lost, until she discovers the real Wonderland in the woods. She needs to team up with the animals to bring it back to life.

See a Cinebuzz Crew Advance Screening of The Lego® Movie 2 on Sunday March 10th at 10:30am with fun activities from 10am at Event Cinemas. Tickets on sale at eventcinemas.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

KIDS ON THE COAST KIDS IN THE CITY

Bring your little one to a special ‘Little Chicks at the Flicks’ screening of Wonder Park on Sunday 31st of March at 10.30am at Event Cinemas. Join in the pre-film fun in the foyer. Tickets on sale at eventcinemas.com.au

M A R C H / A P R I L 2019

REVIEWS

s k oo B BAZ & BENZ

By Heidi McKinnon, $24.99 This delightfully funny and warm-hearted book tells the story of a little owl exploring the boundaries of love and friendship. With her trademark humour, lightness of touch and beautiful expressive illustrations, Heidi McKinnon, creator of the much-loved I Just Ate My Friend, and It’s a Long Way to the Shop, tells a story of enduring friendship and what to do when your best friend is... kind of annoying. And this one might even have a happy ending! (Maybe.) For ages 3-6.

Apps 58

M A R C H / A P R I L 2019

BEE LINES FOR KIDS: 101 INSPIRING QUOTES FOR YOUNG ONES

LITTLE PEOPLE, BIG DREAMS: VIVIENNE WESTWOOD

By David Cozens, $17.95

By Isabel Sanchez Vegara $19.95

Created to help children feel more positively about the world Bee Lines for Kids is a collection of 101 quotes designed to inspire children to take on their dreams and develop a healthy habit of goal-setting. As a way of giving back to the community, for every student receiving a copy of Bee Lines, the same number of books will be gifted to underprivileged Australian children under the company’s GOGO Campaign (Get One, Give One). beeproject.com

The latest in the inspiring Little People, BIG DREAMS series, discover the story of Vivienne Westwood – the working-class girl from England who erupted onto the fashion scene with her iconic designs. Little People, BIG DREAMS is a series of books that explore the lives of outstanding people, from designers and artists to scientists and activists. All of them achieved incredible things, yet each began life as a child with a dream. For ages 4-7.

BOX ISLAND

A cute mobile coding game that takes kids on an exciting adventure, while teaching the fundamentals of coding. Kids apply the basics of algorithms, pattern recognition, sequences, loops and conditionals to progress through the super-fun and challenging gameplay.

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

MONTESSORI INTERNATIONAL COLLEGE...

the future of education

An IB World School supporting children to become self-confident, independent thinkers who learn because they are interested in the world and enthusiastic about life. Through self-directed, challenging work and hands-on, highly personalised learning, MIC students develop character and self-esteem in a collaborative, inclusive, small-by-design environment that values respect for self and others, inner peace and finding one’s place in the world.

JOIN US ON A COLLEGE TOUR AND EXPERIENCE THE MONTESSORI DIFFERENCE • 7 MARCH: SECONDARY COLLEGE TOUR • 21 MARCH: EARLY YEARS TOUR • 28 MARCH: PRIMARY COLLEGE TOUR BOOK ONLINE TODAY AT MONTESSORI.QLD.EDU.AU

P: 07 5442 3807 • 880-932 Maroochydore Road, Forest Glen @montessoriinternationalcollege A LEARNING CONTINUUM FROM 3 YEARS TO 18 YEARS