Bayside MamaMag Apr/May 2018 by MamaMag

BAYSIDE

mamaMAG Apr/May 2018

WIN A gumbuya world exclusive wIldlIfe ExperIence WORTH $58O Gold Coast goals Into the woods Travel treasures Give him a hug Sam Wood 7 minutes

free Local fun for the Bayside mum 1

FAMILY

FUN

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VICTORIA’S NEWEST THEME PARK

Fun · Adventure · Water* · Wildlife Buy tickets or Multi-Season Passes** at gumbuya.com.au * See website for Oasis Springs open dates ** See website for more information and full T&Cs

FAMILY TRAVEL It’s probably a little bit sad, but I literally took my kids on their very first real holiday with me in March (it’s sad because they are almost 8 & 10yo!). By real I mean jump on a plane and go and stay in a hotel and do fun stuff every day. Don’t worry, they’ve not gone without any family fun. We’ve had our annual camping trips and weekend at the snow every year as well as other local adventures, and they’ve done a few trips to Queensland with their dad and step mum, but when you’re busy running a magazine, a graphic design business and trying to make ends meet as a single mum, interstate adventures funnily enough don’t seem to find their way into the slim time and money budget. So when we were discussing ideas a MamaMag HQ for this travel issue we wanted to share some fun ideas on the Gold Coast beyond the usual theme parks, because everyone knows about them. So in the name of research, and with a little help from our friends at Paradise Resort, our first family adventure became real. So when I say adventure, I mean adventure. What a fun and amazing 6 days we had. We took a few cheeky days off school over the labour day weekend and once we arrived we didn’t stop. Paradise Resort was so awesome with its own waterparks and endless fun for the kids, (find out more on page 6 and I’ll give you a full report on our blog soon), but we packed in so much more fun. Dreamworld was a highlight with a themepark, waterpark and baby tigers all in one fun day out. Indoor sky diving (a highlight for the kids), a trip to the top of SkyPoint, Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary, a trip on the Aquaduck , King Tutts putt putt, Aqua Splash, we even visited a Crazy Cat Cafe!! It was super fun and equally exhausting, I felt like I needed a holiday after our holiday! So if you are planning some family adventures this year, both near and far, I hope there are some fun ideas in the pages of this issue. I’m actually sneaking off to Italy in July to visit my step mum, so I’m certainly making up for lost time. Happy adventure planning mamas!

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Local fun for everyone • Bayside • Eastside • Northside • Westside

WIN

Contents Gold Coast without the glitter Qld fun beyond the theme parks

If you go into the woods today Redwood Forest East Warburton

WORTH

$580

Parklife 12 Murrumbeena Park Island Action Spectacular Phillip Island

Give him a hug Simon Bishop’s amazing app

Travel treasures Must have travel items

Turn the page Reading with Grandad

My Ikaria Spiri Tsintziras’ journey of self

Mama can cook 24 Sam Wood’s 7 mins to better health Boy you can dance Creative boys on the rise

WIN an Exclusive Private Wildlife Experience for 2 Adults & 2 Kids! PLUS unlimited access to all the park’s rides* in their four worlds of fun. Enter at woobox.com/8ni3m8 or www.facebook.com/localmamamag * Seasonal operating hours may apply. Age and height restrictions apply. Competition starts April 1st 12.01am and closes April 30th 2018 at 11.59pm. Includes entry to Gumbuya World for two adults and two children (ages 3-15years) and an Exclusive Private Wildlife Experience. Entries and prizes are not transferable or redeemable for cash. Visit www.mamamag.com.au for full terms and conditions.

MamaMag® is published bi-monthly for the mums of Melbourne’s West by Grizzle Design Pty Ltd

Terrific travel 28 Why you should use a travel agent

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Precious cargo Kids and cargo, the perfect bikes

Colour to WIN Win the new Peppa Pig DVD

Travelling with twins or triplets or more!

MamaMag Apr/May 2018

Editor in Chief: Sarah Cavalier sarah@mamamag.com.au Westside Editor: Rebecca Gelsi Local Westside Advertising: Kate Thomas: kate@mamamag.com.au Melbourne-wide Key Account Manager: Clare Betts: clare@mamamag.com.au Want to write for us or have an article idea? submissions@mamamag.com.au The opinions expressed herein are not necessarily those of the publishing staff. Reproduction in whole or part is prohibited without permission of the publishers. Health related articles are designed to be informative and educational. They are not intended to provide specific medical advice or replace one-on-one advice from your health practitioner.

gold coast without the glitter No doubt you did the Gold Coast as a kid and perhaps you’ve also made the journey with your own kids. The promise of sunshine year round, an easy 2hr flight and endless fun for the kids is certainly a tempter. But not everyone is lured by the Glitter of the “three park super pass”. Rest assured, if you’ve already done the theme parks or they are just not your thing, there is so many other treasures to be found for families on the Gold Coast. I took my seven and nine year old up in March to find some family fun, some more well known than others, that will easily fill up a week on the Goldie!

Paradise Resort Well first you need somewhere to stay right? “Heaven for Kids...Paradise for Parents!” Sound good? That’s Paradise Resort’s tagline and they’re not wrong! This family resort really has it all, with it’s own waterpark, ice-rink, rock climbing, laser tag and an amazing Zone 4 Kids club which is free for one 4hr session each day (which I literally had to drag my kids away from) all under one roof, there is no need to leave. There is a mini-mart on-site for all your food and supplies and both a bistro and poolside cafe, we literally ate every meal there! But it’s the activities and the water play that really stand out. There is an organised kid’s activity every hour and even some for the adults (hello karaoke and cocktail tastings). Poolside there are of course the stand out waterparks (one for big kids, one for under 5), plus a huge family friendly spa, a great pool and even a pirate themed dunking machine. There are lots of different room options including interconnecting family rooms and some really fun colourful rooms with bunks like the Superior Junior Bunkhouse! 122 Ferny Ave, Surfers Paradise www.paradiseresort.com.au

Planet Chill Ice-Skating Located within Paradise Resort, Planet Chill is open to anyone, not just guests of the resort and is a great place to have some cool fun as long, as you’re three or over. Friday nights are “Family Disco” nights where you can join in the fun with games such as ice-hockey, marco polo and there’s even some cool prizes to be won. Never skated? Grab one of their cute penguin aids to push around and keep you off your bum! It can get a little chilli so bring a jumper. 122 Ferny Ave, Surfers Paradise www.paradiseresort.com.au/play/ice-skating 6

iFly Gold Coast This was certainly one of the highlights of our trip. Indoor skydiving! Where there is no parachute, no jumping, and nothing attaching you to planet Earth! It’s just you and the air. After you suit up into your flight suit and attend your instruction/safety briefing you simply lean into the wind inside our giant glass tunnel and a column of air lifts you up where you float effortlessly into flight guided by our qualified instructors. 3084 Surfers Paradise Blvd, Surfers Paradise downunder.iflyworld.com

SkyPoint If you fancy a drink and a something to eat with a view, then 230 meters up the Q1 building at The SkyPoint Observation Deck should fit the bill nicely! SkyPoint is Australia’s only beach side observation deck where you can enjoy the unsurpassed 360 degree views of the Gold Coast beaches to the hinterland and beyond, so it’s a great spot for pointing out all the places you will be visiting on your trip. If you’re feeling adventurous and can palm off any kids under 12, I recommend the SkyPoint Climb where you harness up and take in the views from the outside in a 90-minute climbing adventure to the base of the spire. I dare you to look over the side, it’s pretty fun! Q1 Building, Surfers Paradise Boulevard, Surfers Paradise www.skypoint.com.au

Aqua Splash This is incredible fun on the water and a great workout as well. AquaSplash is a series giant inflatables creating a ninja-worthy obstacle course for all ages (miniSplash caters for 1-9) that uniquely challenges the whole family. 5-9yos are welcome on the main course with an adult while 10+ can leave mum on the beach. We loved the giant swing, the huge slides, the inbuilt trampolines and volleyball court as well as just slipping and sliding across the smaller obstacles. Ticket price include a safety briefing and life jacket and the course is fully supervised with trained lifeguards. Marine Parade, Southport Broadwater Parklands www.aquasplash.com.au/gold-coast

Reuben Pelerman Reserve Next door to Aqua Splash is a great reserve with a HUGE jumping pillow, colourful playground equipment and fabulous little peddle powered car track around the outside that we spotted in a few places across the Goldie. The reserve has heaps of shaded areas and it is right on the banks of the Broadwater with a fully enclosed swimming net, which means it’s a great place to take a dip when you don’t want the surf. It’s also opposite Australia Fair Shopping Centre should you fancy a little shop as well. 7

Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary A family trip to the Gold Coast is not complete without a visit to Currumbin, even if you’ve been before as they have a fabulous new enclosure called Lost Valley where you can immerse yourself in an environment that existed millions of years ago. It features 5 acres of stunning rainforest where you can explore a forgotten world and get up close and personal with some of the world’s most unique and distinctive flora and wildlife including some super cute Lemurs. Photos holding a koala were a stand out, as was the Free Flight Bird Show where my daughter got called up on stage to help feed one of the stars! And don’t miss the lorikeet feeding at 8am and 4pm. 28 Tomewin Street, Currumbin www.currumbinsanctuary.com.au

King Tutts Putt Putt If you love a spot of mini golf then you’re going to love this place. It features three awesome individually themed 18 hole courses. Explore ‘Ancient Egypt’ through crumbling ruins and glow in the dark caves, get up close and personal with dinosaurs on the ‘Jurassic Course’ or the outdoor ‘Tutt’s Challeng’e. There’s also arcade games to have some fun on as well. Only a 10min walk from the centre of Surfers, this is also a great spot to have some fun when the weather isn’t playing nice. Surfers Paradise Blvd & Ocean Ave, Surfers Paradise www.kingtuttsputtputt.com.au

Aquaduck See the sights by land AND water with an Aquaduck tour. Is it a bus, is it a boat? Well it looks like a duck and it’s actually both! It’s an amphibious tour bus, certainly not something you see everyday! The kids had a great time on our 1hour tour and our driver was quite possibly the most entraining man I’ve met, with many a laugh had along the way with his jokes and fun facts about the area. Cruise along and take in the sights of Surfers Paradise aboard one of their three custom built Ducks before making a splash straight into the Broadwater to explore millionaire’s row by water. We then cruised up the Spit past Palazzo Versace, Sheraton Mirage and Sea World. The kids even get to drive the duck and receive a special certificate. 36 Cavill Avenue, Surfers Paradise www.aquaduck.com.au

Beach Front Markets Each Wednesday, Friday and Sunday night, locals, holidaymakers and bargain-hunters make their way to the Surfers Paradise foreshore to check out the 100+ market stalls while live entertainment setsthe mood and you can enjoy the sea breeze. The market features a variety of premium and unique products including fashion, jewellery, accessories, artworks, photography, beauty products, home wares and services. On the beach front at the end of Cavil Ave, Surfers Paradise www.surfersparadise.com/things-to-do/beachfront-markets 8

CREATURE Arts Centre Melbourne presents a Stalker Theatre and Out of the Box Production

An Adaptation of Dot and the Kangaroo Adapted by John Romeril

12 MAY

Arts Centre Melbourne

AGES

“A strikingly imaginative and effective adaptation.” STAG E W H I S P E R S

BOOK NOW | artscentremelbourne.com.au First commissioned by QPAC for the 2016 Out of the Box Festival. This project has been supported by Bundanon Trust, Arts Centre Melbourne, University of Technology Sydney and NSW Office of Environment & Heritage.

IF YOU GO INTO THE

WOODS TODAY... It’s easy to believe that we need to venture across seas or hop on an aeroplane to be able to explore magical places and feel like we’re well travelled. But we are incredibly lucky here in Melbourne that we have so much of mother nature’s beauty right on our doorstep. This year we have set out to take our young children (aged 2 and 3) on adventures closer to home and make the most of what Melbourne’s surrounds have to offer. Our first stop – Redwood Forest in East Warburton. Let me start by saying the sign posting is non-existent, so you do need to map your trip before you leave and keep an eye out for the turn off from the main road - “Cement Creek Road” is REALLY easy to miss! We actually saw the turn off, and pulled into it, but decided it couldn’t be the right road as there were no signs to the Redwoods. So we continued back along the main road, lost phone reception and thankfully decided to turn back and cluelessly venture down Cement Creek Road (is it even a real adventure if you don’t get lost at least once?!) Drive along the unsealed road for a few minutes and you should come across parked cars along a fence line - unless you’re the first person to arrive…in which case, keep an eye out for a gate (which is the access point) with some super high trees behind! Again, we were expecting to see some Parks Victoria signage to say where we were, but there was none – it really is a hidden gem!! Once you’re inside, there is no mistaking where you are. It is completely spectacular and you feel like you’re in another world (or, for the kids, in a fairytale!) It’s also such a diverse landscape – one minute, you are in a forest, surrounded by Californian Redwood trees that reach up to 55m high (and still growing!), and the next minute you are surrounded by lush green ferns and scenery that feels like you have been transported to somewhere in New Zealand. We had no idea when we arrived, but there is also a little river which has a walking track alongside

it. Given we had no phone reception and had no idea where the walking trails led, we didn’t venture too far along the track but it was really beautiful and we stopped along the river for a picnic lunch. Our kids had the best time exploring, getting dirty, having snacks, climbing on fallen tree trunks, eating a picnic lunch by the river, playing hide and seek and having more snacks. If your kids are anything like ours, you should basically just fill your entire backpack with snacks. A few important things to note when you are travelling with young kids - There are no toilets, taps, bins or other facilities – make sure you stop off in Warburton when you are driving through if you need a toilet break or to top up snacks/ water. Bring a bag to take your rubbish home with you! - It’s not pram friendly – we had a carrier in our bag in case our youngest gave up walking, but thankfully we didn’t need it. It’s not a huge area though, so even if you have a toddler that does give up the will to walk – you don’t have too far to carry them! - We had no phone/data reception from the turn off at the main road – so make sure you have mapped your route before you set out! - If you plan to spend some time by the river, bring bug spray. - We visited in summer and there had not been any rain recently, but when it’s wet, I imagine it would get VERY muddy. - Even if it’s warm when you leave Melbourne, pack some cool weather clothes as the temperature dropped once we got there. - This place is a photographers DREAM, so take your camera !! By Jess Worrall. Melbourne lifestyle family and newborn photographer, wife and Footscray mama to two littlies. www.jessworrall.com

Parklife murrumbeena park Kangaroo Road, Murrumbeena Glen Eira Council never disappoints in the park dept. and this one certainly fits the bill. It’s been a while since we have visited and it’s so lovely to return and see how beautiful the native plants have become as they grow and flourish. The playground facilities are amazing with two distinct play areas for both the toddlers and the older kids. I could list all the fabulous things available here, but let’s let the pictures do the talking this time because honestly, this park has got the lot. Some of the standout features however include a rock climbing hill, swings galore, a fantastic flying fox and a cool spider web climbing frame.

The park has a lovely natural atmosphere with stunning landscaped gardens and a dry river bed running along most of the length of the playground. There are interesting sculptured areas to explore, natural paths to follow and so much play equipment the kids will never get bored. It’s fenced from the road which is a real plus, there are nice toilets, BBQ’s, undercover tables and chairs, bubblers and plenty of free parking right out the front. This park ticks all the boxes and then some.

Fiery Light and Andrew Kay Management present

B RA N D N EW LI V E SHOW!

COMEDY THEATRE TUE 15 - SAT 19 MAY ticketmaster.com.au

NARRE WARREN BUNJIL PLACE 28 APRIL WERRIBEE WYNDHAM CULTURAL CENTRE 29 APRIL FRANKSTON ARTS CENTRE 8 MAY WANGARATTA PERFORMING ARTS CENTRE 10 MAY SOUTH MORANG PLENTY RANGES ARTS & CONVENTION CENTRE 11 MAY MOONEE PONDS CLOCKTOWER CENTRE 12 MAY BENDIGO ULUMBARRA THEATRE 20 MAY

BOOK NOW

www.peppapigliveaus.com Peppa Pig Â© Astley Baker Davies Ltd / Entertainment One UK Ltd 2003

Island ACTION For the perfect family getaway, only 90 minutes from Melbourne, Phillip Island offers an abundance of Australian wildlife, spectacular coastal scenery, and exciting new experiences for both adults and kids.

Penguin Parade Of course the stand out for kids is the natural spectacle of the world’s smallest penguins arriving home at sunset each evening at the world-famous Penguin Parade. Experience the nightly parade from the beachfront viewing stands as the penguins emerge from the waves and waddle across the sand, then be sure to spend some time on the boardwalks and watch the penguins up close as they make their way along their penguin pathways to their burrows. Take in all the action from the general viewing area on the beachfront stands and boardwalks, or upgrade to the premium Penguins Plus or Underground Viewing experiences. Accredited rangers also conduct small group guided tours each evening to further enhance your viewing experience and there is even a free Penguin Parade app (available in English, Mandarin, Korean, Japanese, German and Spanish) which includes a live penguin camera and free images to share.

Antarctic Journey Immerse yourself in the ‘hands-on’ family fun and interactive experiences in the new Antarctic Journey, opened in conjunction with WWF-Australia. ‘Feel the freeze’ in the Antarctic Chill Zone; compare your thermal image to an Emperor penguin; visit the Research Station

and Sound Lab; or check out the sustainable menu in the virtual café. The state of the art multimedia experience puts you right in the heart of the action, surrounded by creatures of the deep like whales, sharks and more. Thanks to cutting edge ‘augmented reality’ technology, the interactive wildlife experience is bound to be a highlight of any visit, as you see yourself on a huge screen, standing on an ice floe, patting a penguin or stroking a seal.

Koala Conservation Centre Come ‘face-to-face’ with wild koalas in their natural habitat from the treetop boardwalks at the Koala Conservation Centre. Learn about these amazing animals and the role the centre has played in protecting Phillip Island’s koalas and their habitat. Stroll along the woodland walking trails and you may come across some of the many visiting native animals including wallabies, echidna, and over 35 different species of birds.

Churchill Island Heritage Farm Journey back in time and explore the heritage and tranquil scenery at Churchill Island Heritage Farm, an historic working farm with Clydesdale horses, Highland cattle and an animal nursery. Hands on farming activities run daily, including sheep shearing, cow milking, whip cracking and working dog demonstrations. The farm also features a restored homestead, historic cottages and delightful heritage gardens and orchards. For more information visit www.penguins.org.au

Transport and Care For The Busy Parent Free to download, Free to use

The Hug App is a transaction based social platform for parents and their trusted network of family and friends. It is ideal for anyone responsible for the transport and care of dependants. Use your own Trusted Network Leveraging your own trusted network The Hug App provides a more time and cost efficient way of facilitating assistance with your current network.

GPS Tracking Users Users may share their location with another dependantâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s parent, giving them peace of mind, in the knowledge they know where their child is at all times.

Multi Layer Security Inviting others to your network is subject to meeting certain criteria. Facebook friends, a contact on your smartphone or your dependants must share a common address eg. school.

For more details visit www.thehugapp.com.au

give him a hug Are you a busy parent needing help with your children’s transport and care? Then you need to give this guy a hug! Why? Because he has created the perfect app for you. It was early 2015 when Melbourne dad Simon Bishop first began to appreciate the struggles parents faced when it came to juggling paid employment and the everyday transport and care requirements for their kids which in turn led him to develop The Hug App. The Hug App connects parents with their trusted network of family and friends through a simple and safe platform to manage transport and care requests. We chat to Simon about the idea behind the app and how he juggles life with start up business and a busy 9yo daughter. Firstly tell us a little bit about yourself and your daughter Bailey: After 25 years in the finance and technology sectors it was my 9 year old daughter Bailey who inspired The Hug App. Being able to

combine my two greatest passions, technology and parenting, I came up with the idea to build a solution that would save time and reduce stress when it came to sourcing assistance from friends and family. I’m lucky enough to share custody and maintain a friendly relationship with Baileys mum who does a great job with Bailey in her own right. Bailey’s role as creative director should not be underestimated as she was instrumental in the imagination and formulation of the in app animations that allows users to thank each other for their help. What inspired you to develop The Hug App? I began to notice at my daughter’s primary school many of the kids were being dropped off and picked up by someone other than their parents. I soon realised this was not an isolated issue and in fact common across many schools. My personal experience in sourcing help for school pick ups, drop offs, care etc was met with much frustration. Often waiting for a return call or text message I would sweat on whether I would be able to find someone to help out in a timely fashion. It got me thinking, I absolutely needed an app for this.

I searched far and wide for a platform that could automate all transport and care requests with my own network when it came to my daughter, for those occasions I was predisposed with work. Failing to find an adequate solution, I designed my own. What types of people will benefit from using The Hug App? Essentially, anyone responsible for the transport and care of dependants. Whether you’re a single parent like me, a busy working parent or a stay at home mum or dad, I’m sure you can appreciate the battles we all face as parents when it comes to the transport and care of our children. With so much going on, no matter what your status, most of us rely on our friends and family at some point, so every parent can benefit from the app. Can you explain a little bit about the services the app provides and how they work? The Hug App is designed to save time and reduce stress. I often get asked how different is it to simply using traditional forms of communication such as text messaging. The simple answer is that once you set up your profile, save your custom locations and create your dependant and activity specific groups, there is no need to ever have to re key the same information again ensuring the time taken to source assistance is reduced to a fraction of what it would be otherwise. In addition, parents have everything at their fingertips regarding who they are helping out for the week and who in turn will have their children on certain days. GPS tracking and in-app appreciation animations make The Hug App unique and fun to use. Tell us a bit about the safety involved by using the app. The most important aspect of the app to me is safety, security and an emphasis on leveraging my own network rather than outsourcing to unknown third parties. Its multi-layered security ensures parents are only able to connect with their own network of trusted contacts who use the app. It also puts an end to the worry of whether your child has been collected safely by allowing users to see where their children are at any time through its geo-location ability.

What makes the Hug app different from other apps on the market? Lets be clear. The Hug App is the first of its kind around the world and its patent pending intellectual property ensures it will forever remain the most efficient platform available to parents. It remains the only one stop solution that handles both Transport and Care for parents and unique in its security parameters, GPS tracking and in app animation. The Hug App was developed by Australia’s premier app developers Dreamwalk who are responsible for for over 30 number 1 apps on iTunes. The UX/UI is second to none and parents can see for themselves the amazing user experience compared to subsequent imitations. How do you manage juggling parenthood with running a business (besides using The Hug App of course)? It certainly is a juggle. I’ve always been one to give everything 100%. Being a hands on dad and business owner hasn’t left much time for anything else, however I remain committed to having The Hug App on as many parents phones as possible so they can take some more time for themselves and not constantly stress about family management. What’s your favourite part of being a parent? Its hard to name just one thing. I’ve loved the whole journey so far. While taxing at times, I wouldn’t change a thing. Everything from making school lunches, bedtime reading and arts and crafts to name a few, means being a parent constantly reminds me that putting someone else first and being responsible for their growth and development is by far the most rewarding experience in life. It helps when your daughter makes the whole job pretty easy indeed. You can find The Hugg App at www.thehugapp.com.au and download it free through the App Store or Google Play. Simon Bishop, is the Founder and CEO of The Hug App. Simon was previously a co founder of Coin Software (acquired by Macquarie Bank 2005) and Hub 24 (ASX listed). He also was an Associate Director at Macquarie and Account Executive at salesforce.com 17

travel treasures 3

1. Plane Pal Pillow - Plane Pal is a custom designed inflatable cushion that fills the space between your child’s seat and the seat in front. $69.95 www.planepal.com.au. 2. Frog Orange Baby Carrier for Water - Slippery when wet? This is a simple solution for new parents at the beach, the pool, under the sprinkler or for any water adventure. $139 frogorange.com.au. 3. Cutlery Carriage - For work lunches or feeding kids on the go. $19.95 cutlerycarriage.com. 4. Dessata detangling brush - Perfect for after the beach or pool. $32.95 RRP, www.dessata. com.au. 5. Chilly Towel - This unique towel becomes cooler than ambient air when wet, which enables the towel to maintain a temperature that feels cool to the skin. Bubs & Tots $24.50, adult $27.50 www.chillytowel.com.au. 6. Colour & Go Mini Pouch - The Colour & Go Mini Pouch comes with washable markers so you can colour the pictures and store all your toys or lego inside when you’re on the go. $49 www.playpouch.com.au 7. Aussie Mozi Spray - DEET free, so you don’t need toxic chemicals to deter mosquitos. 150ml $18.95 archernaturals.com.au 8. Rubiks Battle - This fun card game based on the old Rubiks Cube is the perfect travel game to chuck in your bag. For 2-6 Players, Aged 7+. $10.92 www.catch.com.au. 9. Trunki -Trunki was created to beat the boredom so often suffered by travelling tots. Designed to be used as hand luggage, kids can pack Trunki with all their favourite belongings whilst parents keep them in tow. $89.95 www.trunki.com.au. 10. Gro Anywhere Blind - A Portable blackout blind for when it’s still too light to say night night! $59.95. Gro-store.com.au. 11. Simply for Flying logbook Your child’s very own personal flight logbook, a fun and enjoyable way of documenting their many flying adventures! $19.95 www.simplyforflying.com. 12. Sash and Belle bags - Super gorgeous, these bags fit everything you need from nappy goods, your laptop and everything in between. Sofia Black leather $299.95 Perry tote camel PU $109.95 sash-belle.com.au. 13. Tesalate towels - Say hello to a vibrant, sand free, compact, quick-drying beach towels that fit in your bag. $79 tesalate.com. 14. CoziGo - The best sun and sleep cover for every stroller & airline bassinets. Blocks light, protects from sun, breathable and air permeable. cozigo.com $99.95 15. LaLa Mode Nappy Backpack - For mums on the go, 25 pockets to keep everything in place and change mat. $139 Lala-mode.com.au. 16 - Blister Balm - Prevent those nasty blisters on long walks, $13 www.blisterbalm.com.au. 17 - Tiger Tribe cars and trucks colouring set - Keep the kids busy on planes and trains. $18 www.lucaslovescar.com.au.

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turn the page The power of children’s books is undeniable in early childhood education. Children’s books allow key themes to be broken down to a child’s level of understanding. Hence books should be used to enrich children’s knowledge. Currently in Australia, according to the Australian Institute of Family Studies grandparents commonly care for grandkids, with 65% of grandparents from 40–69 years carrying out caring responsibilities at least once per week.1 I decided to compile a list of children’s books which focus on the theme of grandads!

Grandpa and Thomas by Pamella Allen This lovely book by Australian author Pamela Allen is about Thomas and his Grandpa going to the beach during an Australian summer. The narration features the fun repetitive line Swish, Swash, Swoosh the sea sings whilst Thomas and his grandpa are at the beach. This book is great for school aged children and preschoolers.

I love my grandad, by By Giles Andreas. Illustrated by Emma Dodd. A fabulous book that teaches little ones to appreciate all the little things their grandfathers do. The plot features all the activities that a grandfather does which a grandson is grateful for. From playing with toys, to adventuring and even sleeping. I’d recommend this book for school aged children.

Harry helps Grandpa remember, by Karen Tyrrell. Illustrated by Aaron Pocock. Written by local Author Karen Tyrrell from Brisbane,this book is about Harry relating to his grandfather who has dementia. At the end of the book there is a practical Note for Teachers & Families page featuring tips about dementia and Alzheimer’s disease. The plot explores Harry’s grandpa becoming confused and lost. Meanwhile, Harry comes up with clever ways to improve his Grandpa’s memory. This is an amazing book to gently introduce the realities of dementia and Alzheimer’s to children.

Happy reading to all the grandads and grandkids out there! Nicole Yaneza is an Early Childhood Educator based in Melbourne’s Western Suburbs 1 - https://aifs.gov.au/cfca/publications/changing-role-grandparents

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www.wildaction.com.au

PH 0419 385 245

LI VE Di AN re I Yo ct MA u! To LS

THE PERFECT WAY TO CELEBRATE YOUR NEXT CHILDREN'S BIRTHDAY PARTY!

my IkarIa In the morning I lie in bed for as long as possible before the kids are awake. I know that once I get up, the day will begin and I won’t allow myself to stop. When I hear the children stir, I force myself out of bed, and start to tidy the kitchen like an automaton – wipe down the bench, rinse the wine glasses and dishes we left in the sink last night, put a load of washing on. I eye the crumbs on the floor – they can wait until after my first cup of coffee. My body aches, and I feel heavy with fatigue. It’s a tiredness that seems to seep into my bones, threatening to overwhelm me. I can feel my belly push up against my diaphragm as I drink my coffee, willing it to work its magic so I can get on with my day. I regret having so many chips, that extra glass of wine. I’m reminded yet again that my body no longer forgives me trespasses like it did when I was in my teens and twenties. It now takes a few days to shake the sluggishness that comes from my weekend excesses. I can feel a migraine brewing. I stare it down as if it’s a recalcitrant toddler, refused lollies in a supermarket and threatening to throw a full-blown tantrum. As the kids join me at the table, I grumble that they need to do their Saturday chores – empty the dishwasher, the bins and the newspaper pile – before they can flop around on their devices. They look unhappy with my early morning harangue, and I can see Emmanuel squaring his shoulders, readying for an argument. I cast him a don’t-mess-with-me-this-morning look. He backs down. I ask Dolores and Emmanuel if they have homework to do, reminding them we’re visiting Nana and Nanou tomorrow so it’s best if they get it out of the way today.

Even before they’ve had their breakfast, I’ve bombarded them with other things they need to do. I immediately regret it. Just because I’m tired, I don’t need to project onto them. I take another sip of coffee and watch them slink off to their rooms. I’d be slinking away from me too if I was them. I’m sick of feeling perpetually fatigued and ever-so-slightly angry. It’s not as if I don’t know what to do to avoid this feeling. Don’t stay up so late. Don’t try and stuff so much into each day. Don’t have more than one glass of wine in one sitting. Don’t eat so much rich food. Don’t waste time on social media. So many ‘don’ts’. I can feel myself arc up already, railing against all this deprivation, even before I’ve deprived myself of a single thing. The minute I tell myself not to do something, I want to do it even more. I hop into the shower. As the hot water runs over my head and down my back, I think about the things that give me pleasure – wine, hot salty chips, cheesy ’80s dance movies. But I’m beginning to realise that all this good stuff, indulged in too often, makes me feel sick. Pleasure feels more like a compulsion, a guilty, adolescent addiction. Something I should have grown out of as an adult. It’s all too much to think about first thing in the morning. I make my way to our bedroom and force myself to make the bed so I don’t feel tempted to get back into it. The day has started and there’s lots to be done. Who’s got time for fatigue when there are crumbs to be swept up off the floor?

Some three years ago now, I found myself feeling constantly tired. It wasn’t just mental and physical fatigue, but spiritual depletion too. I was stretched thin, constantly trying to find a balance between raising two kids, being a partner, running a household and managing a freelance writing business. My days were full of activity, but I felt like I was running on empty. I was eating too much in order to give myself the energy to keep going – a girl deserves a bit of comfort, doesn’t she? – then slumping in front of the telly or lying in my bed each night, totally exhausted. I kept telling myself I had a good life and should be grateful for how fortunate I was. But there was a quiet little voice inside me asking, ‘What is it all for?’

My quest to lose a little weight, gain energy and have greater fulfilment in life took me from my suburban home in Melbourne to a small Greek island called Ikaria. Having learnt that the inhabitants of the island, particularly its elderly members, outlive people in many developed countries by around ten years, I wanted to know their secret. Why did they seem to live such simple, satisfying and healthy lives? What was it that the Ikarians were doing? And how could I incorporate elements of their lifestyle, diet and outlook into my own existence? My Ikaria by Spiri Tsintziras is out April through NERO books $29.99. Available in all good bookshops.

by Spiri Tsintziras What was it that the Ikarians were doing? And how could I incorporate elements of their lifestyle, diet and outlook into my own existence?

mama can Cook! Choc hazelnut goodness Serves: 1 Preparation time: 3 minutes Ingredients: 250 ml skim milk (or unsweetened plant milk) 125 g reduced-fat unsweetened Greek yoghurt 1 tablespoon cacao powder 16 hazelnuts 1 handful of spinach leaves, washed 1 tablespoon honey 5–10 ice cubes cacao powder, to serve

When anyone sees the word ‘chocolate’, they immediately suspect a recipe can’t possibly be good for them. In all our smoothies, we use either raw cacao powder or nibs, which are jam-packed with flavonoids – anti-oxidants that have powerful anti-inflammatory and immune-system benefits. The honey brings the sweetness. Method: Place all the ingredients in a blender. Blend on high until smooth. Pour into a glass and sprinkle with cacao.

This is an edited extract from 7 Minutes to Better Health by Sam Wood published by Hardie Grant Books RRP $39.99 and available in stores nationally.

Prawn salad with quinoa and minted yoghurt Serves: 2 Preparation time: 10 minutes Cooking time: 15 minutes Ingredients: 200 ml water 75 g quinoa (to make 1 cup) 200 g cooked Australian tiger prawns, peeled and deveined 2 mangos, peeled and cut into cubes 200 g baby spinach, washed and roughly torn 1 cucumber, sliced 4 radishes, sliced For the dressing 190 g natural Greek yoghurt ½ cup mint leaves, chopped 1 tablespoon lemon juice ½ garlic clove, diced finely sea salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste

Prawns and mango go together like strawberries and cream, only they’re a lot better for you. The dressing is similar to a tzatziki, but if you can’t eat dairy, a simple mix of olive oil, balsamic vinegar and lemon juice also works really well. Bring the water to the boil in a saucepan, add the quinoa, cover with a lid and simmer for 15 minutes, fluffing up the grains halfway through cooking with a fork for extra volume, until the grains are tender and the water has been absorbed. Set aside to cool. In a large bowl, place the prawns, mango, spinach, cucumber, radish and quinoa. To make the dressing, place all the ingredients in a bowl and stir gently until well combined. Add to the other ingredients and toss gently to combine. Photographer: ©Caitlin Mills.

boy you can dance Eight-year-old Ollie took his tattered and torn ballet shoes to his school recently as his inquiry artefact. He told his classmates and teacher about his life outside of school hours where he is a student at the Brian Nolan Academy of Dance. This is where he trains in ballet, jazz, contemporary dance, tap and hip hop. As the 2017 Royal Academy of Dance Australia’s Audrey Nicholl Award winner, the dance future of this little guy seems bright. Ollie first expressed interest in dance when he was just four years old. “I took him to a local jazz class and although he enjoyed it, he said he would really prefer to do ballet,” said his mother Sarah, “I didn’t even know that he knew what ballet was! So we found him a ballet class and he has been dancing ever since. He’s a bit of a perfectionist, so I think that is why ballet suits him so much.” The current statistics available from the Australian Bureau of Statistics showed that in 2009 there were approximately 348,500 females and 41,900 males aged five to 14 years in Australia who did dance as a form of extracurricular activity. Despite male dancers being in a clear minority, over the years, the ABS recorded an increase in the number of male dancers amongst children. Sasha Iwanick, from Stage School Australia, says that male dancers constituted over a quarter of her school’s enrolment. Enrolment numbers have grown and it has become easier and more socially accepted for young men to get involved in dance. The Australian Boys Dance Academy, which is part of Stage School Australia, was established in 2014 and was the brainchild of Artistic Director Robert Coates and Head of Dance Jacqui Green. “They recognised that boys develop movement skills at varying rates and are motivated to dance for different reasons from girls,” explained Sasha. With TV shows like ‘So You Think You Can Dance’ making its way onto our living room screens, boys and men doing dance as a 26

hobby or career has become a lot more mainstream, and the show hasn’t had to shatter preconceived notions about dance the way the movie ‘Billy Elliot’ had to when it premièred 17 years ago. “Dancing for boys has become a lot more popular,” said Ollie’s mum Sarah. There’s no reason why boys can’t do it, just like there’s no reason girls can’t play football. The discipline, strength, flexibility and confidence that Ollie has gained in the last few years is huge!” Sasha encourages all boys who are interested in dance to give it go: “Just do it. Dance has so many positive benefits for mind, body strength and fitness, but most of all, it’s fun!” By Janice Zheng, Point Cook mum and lover of dance. Images by James Gillot Photography.

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terrIfIC Travel Remember the days when you just threw your life in a SINGLE backpack and took off on adventures? Sometimes for months at a time! Now you’re more likely to post a question on a FB page where every mum and her posse will have opinions on the best kids’ clubs, who’s got buy-1-get-1-free meals at the hotel buffet and, no doubt, “my friend’s friend has THE best nanny in Bali”. It takes weeks just to wade through all the advice and by the end of it you need a holiday from the mental load! There is a very old fashioned way around this though... the TRAVEL AGENT! Remember them? They sit in an office with a head set and talk flights and transfers and hotel s all day, every day. Kinda makes them experts at it. And before you shout “But I can book everything myself online”, I’m going to make the suggestion of WHY BOTHER? Why bother when someone can do it for you? Rid yourself of one less giant job in your life and just wait for the itinerary and the tickets to arrive in your inbox. Simple. Still not convinced? Here’s 5 top reasons why you should choose a TA over the internet any day:

1. If it all goes wrong an agent will help you. While the idea of being stuck on a tropical island courtesy of a volcanic ash cloud might be nice for a day or two, the reality of being stranded overseas with your family can be a hugely stressful time and any relaxation you’ve managed will be wiped out trying to get home.

If you’ve been in this situation before, you have probably wished you had a magic phone number to get through to your airline and just get it sorted. Travel agents have this number! Agents deal direct with reservations and it’s their JOB to help you. So sit by the pool, order another drink and wait for your agent to email you back with your new flight details and extended hotel vouchers.

2. You can’t ask the internet what you don’t know. Most travel agents work in the industry because they LOVE to travel. Find someone experienced and you will get insider knowledge that a Google search is never going to show up. It’s often the personal recommendations that will create the best experiences, so get chatting. Tell your TA what you like doing, what your children like doing, what their nanna likes doing and let the “perfect” itinerary become their problem! Worst case scenario, if the kid’s don’t like the theme park you can blame the agent.

3. They WILL have the best price. There are some GREAT websites that can search multiple airlines at once and show up all sorts of too-good-to-be-true prices. But buyer beware of hidden stops and horrendous fees should your kid get an ear infection 3 days before departure and you need to change everything. Most travel agents will not only price match what you’ve found online, but they will be able to beat OR find you an even better fare to suit your needs. Airlines deal direct with the big agencies and offer them prices that you will never find yourself when it comes to international travel.

4. Whoops I meant July this year. We’ve all got that “friend” that turned up the airport on the wrong day, or realised at their hotel check-in that they booked the 5th instead of the 15th and now there’s no availability, or spelled their own partner’s name wrong on the booking because the kids were screaming and the cat had just used the bath as a litter tray and now at the airline desk they are being refused boarding! These mistakes happen ALL THE TIME. Now travel agents aren’t perfect, but they DO have exceptional attention to detail and in the unlikely event that they DID mess up something in your booking, it’s up to THEM to fix and PAY for it – hello room upgrade!

5. You no longer have to sit in their office to make a booking. It’s 2018, travel agents now work remotely AND some are even mobile! They can come to your home, at a time that suits you and get everything done like some kind of fairy godmother or father. Or you can phone and email a retail agent through every step of the booking process. No need to drag the whole family to the shopping centre. You can just stay in your PJs, drink wine and type up your dream holiday wishes for somebody else to fulfil. It really IS that simple! Good travel agents are like hairdressers – once you find the right one, one that understands your needs and that you trust, you will build up a relationship that will last YEARS. Then all you have to do is pick a destination, start dreaming of the swim-up bar and count down the days until departure!

Anthea Riskas is an ex-travel agent and Melbourne mama to one little fire cracker. Even though she knows how, she’d never book her own holiday. 29

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word on the streat Tastes good, does good. It started in 2010 with one humble food cart in Federation Square and 9 troubled youth. It is now a multimillion dollar business and one of Melbourne’s most rapidly growing social enterprises. STREAT’s purpose though is to provide life-skills and supported hospitality training programs to disadvantaged and at-risk youth. These young people are often unseen members of our community, but with STREAT’s help they are striving to belong and gaining a qualification and a chance at a job. Aged 16 to 25, all face huge barriers to inclusion, leave school early and many are destined to be unemployed. STREAT has broken that cycle now for over 900 young people whilst serving over 2 million meals and coffees to its customers. In 2016/17 over 85% of graduates of STREAT’s 17-week main program were still employed or in further training – six-months after graduation. Today STREAT runs four cafes, a coffee roastery, an artisan bakery and a bustling catering and functions operation. These seven businesses are the locations for the young people’s training and work experience – plus they also generate 70% of the funds required to pay for the training and support programs. STREAT aims to be fully self-funding by 2022, with their amazing new flagship site, Cromwell STREAT, being the main driver of that growth. Here we speak with Ian Johnson, STREAT’s Marketing Manager of six years and one of the many dedicated members of team STREAT. Ian knows all the ins and outs of the business and how they are striving to reach their goal of helping one young person every meal time – that’s 1095 each year! Ian, how long have you been involved with STREAT and what does your job role entail? I started checking STREAT out in late 2011; it was tiny and risky, but I joined in January 2012. My background is mainly science and 32

marketing with large corporates – so it’s just a little different! The role involves media, marketing, corporate relationships, fundraising and selling food, coffee, events, cookbooks and hot cross buns. Best role I’ve ever had and I’m extremely fortunate to be part of STREAT. It’s an incredible organisation. What inspired you to be part of this wonderful business? It’s who really – and it’s Rebecca Scott and her partner Kate Barrelle – the two co-founders of STREAT. Bec and I had worked together in marketing and communications for CSIRO (she’s a plant biologist). Bec is now widely regarded as one of the top social entrepreneurs in Australia. Kate is also known nationally as a leader in her field of clinical and forensic psychology. Together, Bec and Kate are an unstoppable force for doing good. And I mean actually doing it! Step by step what is the process for a youth entering into the program and how are they supported and guided? Almost all the young people in our programs come referred to us through another social service – like the Salvos, Mission Australia, Frontyard, DHHS, and the Youth Services areas in local and regional councils. Many have a diagnosed mental health issue, or past drug and alcohol issues, or come from juvenile justice or the homelessness system. Most face all of these issues, unemployment and more. There are around 7,000 young people in Melbourne in this situation. Each young person will have a detailed pre-program interview with our resident psychologist (Kate) to review their lives and very complex needs. Each trainee then has a life-skills and health support program designed around those individual needs.

• Every night in Australia over 116,000 people are homeless. • 28,000 are aged from 12 to 24. • The majority of these youth will leave school before Year 10 with no formal education. 57% are destined for long-term unemployment. • $706,264 is the current cost of a young person remaining homeless across their life. • Their average life expectancy of a long-term homeless person is 47 years (compared to 82 years).

What programs and courses are set up? Many of our young people start with one of our introductory programs (Taster, Entrée), often one day per week for a number of weeks. They may do this while we assist them with other issues in readiness to start our Main Course or, after a while, they may be doing well enough to go straight into preparation for employment. After the initial interview, many go straight into our 17-week Main Course program. Typically, this means all day Tuesday at STREAT doing life-skills in a class of about 12 young people, then all day Wednesday at TAFE (Melbourne Polytechnic) training for a Certificate II in Hospitality, then Thursday, Friday and Mondays are open for work experience shifts in our businesses. All trainees are mentored and tutored by our professional staff. Tell us a bit about the new Cromwell STREAT location? In 2013, Geoff Harris, a key STREAT supporter, purchased a $2.5m property, Cromwell Manor, in Collingwood and gifted its use to STREAT for 50 years. Our collective dream was for it to be developed into a flagship site where STREAT could train and support 365 young people each year. To develop the site, STREAT needed to secure over $3.5m of funding through a combination of philanthropic grants and repayable finance. It had strong success securing funds from a range of sources (Breadsolutions funded the bakery, and a number of key philanthropic foundations 34

provided grant funding, Ian Potter Foundation, TK Foundation, Helen Macpherson Smith Trust, Fidelity Foundation, Jack & Ethel Goldin Foundation, Greenlight Foundation/Sornem Private Wealth). STREAT won a 2015 Australian Social Enterprise Award for this pioneering deal. It took us 3 years to raise the $3.5 million. The building was finished in June 2016 and we opened to the public on the 14th of September. This fully licensed 1860’s manor turned 80 seat cafe has a beautiful garden with striped hammocks, deck chairs, outdoor seating, coffee roastery, artisan bakery, meeting spaces and function rooms - and it’s very kid and pet friendly. STREAT now runs seven interconnected businesses and has won many business awards. Where is it headed in the future? We are a third of the way to our 2022 goal of helping 1095 young people each year. Dandenong area is the next third and then out west (Brimbank, Wyndham) is the final third. Finally, and most importantly, how can we help and get involved? We’d love you to have a meal or coffee in one of our cafes. Across your lifetime you’ll have 80,000 meals – so why not share some with us? In doing so you’ll help provide training and support for a young person. That’s conscious consumption. You could also use our catering, for a lunch or event at your workplace or hold your Christmas party, birthday party or wedding at STREAT! Order our christmas puddings, hampers or a cookbook – they make the ideal corporate and personal gifts. It costs STREAT $5500 to put a young person through our 17-week life-skills, work experience and hospitality training program. Over 80% graduate and go on to their first job or further education, so we’d love your support. Find us at 66 Cromwell Street, Collingwood. Monday to Friday, 7.30am - 4pm, Weekends, 8am - 4pm. www.streat.com.au

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travelling with Big Kids Have you heard of Bleisure? Expedia Travel coined the phrase a few years back. It refers to someone who combines business and leisure travel together. Last October I officially became a Bleisure traveller. I scored my dream gig to present at the world’s leading learning event for marketers in my field at the Roosevelt Hotel in New York City, sharing the stage alongside Google and You Tube. I also decided to take along my husband and three kids aged 10, 12 & 14 years and enjoy a once in a lifetime month long trip around the US. I’d love to share with you my top five learnings about travelling with bigger kids.

#1 Travel light Our trip saw us head to Hawaii, Disneyland, New York, Washington DC, Las Vegas, San Diego and Los Angeles. My husband and I were determined to travel light. As a family of five we knew that meant lots of getting in and out of cabs. Coupled with this, US domestic air carriers typically charge passengers for any checked in luggage. For a month away each child was given a small wheelie bag and a small daypack. They were told they needed to keep their combined luggage weight to 7kg. You might feel taking only 7kg for a month was a little harsh but to be honest I found the experience liberating. I was able to take both work clothes for my conference and casual gear including five pairs of shoes, my computer and a couple of reading books. You will be surprised with how much you can fit in. My kids surprised me most checking in at Tullamarine with no more than 4.5kg total each. They clearly were looking forward to some shopping. Learning: By choosing to travel light we avoided all those lengthy delays waiting at the baggage carousel and was able to maximise our fun times whilst travelling.

#2 Give them control over their spending I’ve travelled with the kids before and I knew it drove me crazy when they wanted to buy things I thought were a waste of money. So, we decided to change things this time round. We gave each child $350 US in cash before we left Australia. It was completely their choice about how they wanted to spend it but we were clear that once it was gone we would not be issuing out any further cash. It worked exceptional well. My son, our saver amongst the kids, waited until we got to New York and LA to purchase two pairs Men’s Size 13 Basketball boots. As an avid basketballer and, with a growing shoe collection, he managed to fit these inside his luggage and keep his luggage weight under 7kg. My 10-year-old discovered American Girl dolls whilst in New York and she purchased ‘Alexis’ and a special backpack for her. She carried Alexis on her back for the rest of the holiday. Alexis even came to see Cats on Broadway with us. Whilst my 14-year-old bought herself lots of clothes and swimwear. Learning: Empowering them to manage their own money made shopping completely stress free and the kids felt happy that they could make their own choices.

#3 Get them involved in where you travel In the January before we travelled we got the kids to create a Vision Board about what they wanted to achieve in life and where they hoped to travel to. At this stage, they had no idea we were going to the US. It allowed us an insight into what was important to them. From here we worked out which cities we would visit. This meant San Diego for my youngest so she could visit the San Diego Zoo and see Disneyland. It meant Hawaii for my 14-year-old who follows a Hawaiian YouTuber called Jay Alvarez and LA for my basketball crazy son to watch the LA Lakers play the LA Clippers.

Learning: By ensuring we travelled to all their favourite destinations everyone had something special to look forward to on the holiday.

#4 Discover Uber XL My kids are exceptionally tall. My husband is 6ft 5” and my 14-year-old and 12-year-old are both taller than me. The 10 year isn’t far behind. As big people with luggage we weren’t able to fit in one cab so we were delighted to discover Uber XL. These are larger SUVs that comfortably fit the family and our luggage at less than it would have cost to take two cabs, plus we were all together. If you are a family of five or larger, I would definitely consider Uber XL as a great way to all travel together to and from the airports. Everywhere else we used the local public transport systems. The kids got very familiar with the subway in New York and in Washington DC we decided on one day to take Segways.

#5 Just say yes I was determined to make so many memories with the kids on the trip away. This meant secretly planning some unexpected theme parks on the holiday including Disneyland, Sea World, Universal Studios and San Diego Zoo. Given my kids are thrill seekers and my husband is not I decided to say ‘YES’ to every ride they asked me to take them on. Doing the opposite of my normal behaviour not only shocked them, it created some wonderful memories of having fun with them. I ordered the photo from each ride and we are in the process of framing the collection of funny images of me squealing on each ride with them. Learning: Memories are created when we say an unanticipated YES to our kids. Travelling with bigger kids can be immensely fun. Becoming a Bleisure traveller can assist you to offset some of the expenses too. I hope these tips might help you on your next family holiday. By Katrina McCarter Katrina is the Founder & CEO of Marketing to Mums, a marketing and research consultancy based in Melbourne. She specialises in helping businesses sell more effectively to the world’s most powerful consumer, Mums. www.marketingtomums.com.au 39

PrecIous cargo If riding your bike more often was one of your new year’s resolutions – you’re not alone. Everyone knows it’s a great way to get back into shape and if you’re living in the inner suburbs it’s definitely the best way to beat the traffic. But if you’ve got a baby or a child or two, you may have dismissed the whole idea of cycling or commuting by bike and have left yours rusting away in the shed since giving birth and now consider cycling as just a weekend thing. Cycling is the best way to avoid the daily car commute, searching for parking spots, having to move your car every two hours or fighting to get on packed trams and trains. With the right bike and accessories you can ride every day – yes, even with the kids – and avoid driving everywhere just because you can’t face the logistical nightmare of the childcare/school drop-off/pick up nightmare. Getting the kids where they need to go and yourself off to work this year could be much easier with a cargo bike.

What is a cargo bike? A cargo bike is designed to carry kids or cargo, or both. Already popular in bike friendly cities like Copenhagen or Amsterdam, cargo bikes are becoming more popular in Melbourne and are great for commuting, especially if you live near dedicated bike trails. Many employers are encouraging workers to ride their bikes to work more often, providing bike parking and showers and lockers for cyclists, so there’s no excuse to not to ride to work. There are many types of cargo bikes to suit urban families who want to ditch the car or at least the second car – from utilitarian, mountain bike styles to uber-trendy Danishdesigned three-wheeled cargo trikes complete with colour co-ordinated all-weather hoods and leather seats (to match your scandi designer clothes and Marimekko bag).

Some cargo bikes are similar to regular bikes but are longer at the back to accommodate a couple of kids on specially designed seats. A box cargo bike is a two or three-wheeled bike with a box at the front where the kids go. If you live in the inner city you may have seen food delivery box bikes or couriers on cargo bikes. Cargo bikes ride pretty much like a normal bike – the steering mechanism is designed to handle the longer frame or box out the front. While you may find a cargo bike a little weird at first after a few rides you get the hang of it. If you were a keen cyclist before you had kids you’ll hardly notice the difference. There are even electric cargo bikes for riders who need to travel a bit further on their commute – a pedal assist electric motor means there’s no need to wear lycra or take a change of clothes as you don’t need to break a sweat if you don’t want to.

Cute commute Cargo bikes can be kitted out with welldesigned accessories that allow you to carry kids from 6 months to 12 years old and will turn your bike into a child limo. You can adjust the bike to suit your changing needs – like a new addition to your family, or accommodating a child who no longer fits in a baby seat but is still too young to ride their own bike. Even if your child can ride a bike, it’s not practical or safe if you are trrying to get to kinder on time. A padded seat on the back of a long-tailed cargo bike can be fitted with handlebars, a hold-on ring or a set of monkey bars – specially designed rails that can hold in up to three little monkeys aged 3 to 11. Monkey bars can be used with or without a baby seat. Modern baby seats for bikes and child seats in box cargo bikes all come with safety harnesses.

All kinds of cargo With a cargo bike, you can easily do a grocery shop on the way home from school or childcare – and get a rock star park at the shops every time. With the addition of panniers and a basket up the front of a two-wheeled cargo bike, you can hold heaps of shopping as well as the kids. A box bike has even more carrying capacity – it can hold up to 80kg, so there’s plenty of room for kids, shopping, the dog, pot plants, camping equipment etc. The boxes are low to the ground so adding a load doesn’t make the bike top heavy like an old style pack rack would. Whether you’re new to the idea of riding with littlies or are looking to get back in the saddle after babies, you’ll find riding with kids is easier than you think and you’ll join the growing community of biking mums and bubs in your area, your childcare centre or school. Learn more about cargo bikes and bike commuting at Cargocycles.com.au Bicyclenetwork.com.au

Nina Schwab and her partner René rode their bikes everywhere before they had kids and now take their two kids aged nine months and four to childcare on the back of a Yuba cargo bike on the way to work every day at Melbourne Uni. “My kids love sitting up behind me while I’m riding and watching the world go by – and a cargo bike becomes a real talking point at the childcare gates,” said Nina. “I can see huge potential for cargo bikes in Melbourne, especially with young families. We use the bike all the time; for shopping trips, going to farmers markets and playgrounds and the beach on weekends. It’s easy to park and as a family, we like the feel-good factor of cycling – feeling healthier and fitter, enjoying the freedom a bike gives us and knowing we’re not polluting the environment.”

Talk to Noah’s Ark about therapy and education for your child under the NDIS. Noah's Ark recognises the very important role that families play in their childs health and development. Our specialists with professional backgrounds in speech pathology, occupational therapy, education, physiotherapy, psychology and social work, are known as Key Workers and will come to you. For more information on our programs go to our website or call 1800 819 140

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At Sleep Sisters we provide personalised in home help. Respite/night nanny for babies under 4 months. Routines & sleep settling techniques for 4 months -4 years. We believe in a gentle approach, to suit the needs of your family. Our aim is to educate, empower and encourage you to help your baby develop great sleeping habits.

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travelling with twins or triplets or more! Timing of the flights and your routine

Travelling on your own with infant multiples

Try to choose a flight time that suits your routine the best. Replicate their usual routine for a nap as much as possible i.e. if they have a feed and then are wrapped, do so in the same order on the plane. You may even find the constant hum of the engine and movement of the aircraft may help them sleep.

All airlines insist on one paying adult per one infant. If you need to travel on your own with multiple infants, each additional infant must occupy a seat and be able to sit upright without assistance or travel in an approved child restraint. The applicable child fare must be paid. Alternatively you may need to purchase a seat for someone to travel with you.

ID for under twos You may be asked to prove your babies are under two. You may consider flying with a certified copy of their birth certificates, or their government issued baby book. Check-in staff reserve the right to request proof of date of birth and deny boarding if conditions are not met.

Child restraints Car seats may be taken on-board if they are approved for air travel (check with your airline for more information). A seat must be purchased a seat order to use a car seat onboard. Alternatively CARES harnesses may be used.

Bassinettes Bassinets need to be pre-booked and are only available on certain planes and only suit up until a certain weight. Check with your airline for more information.

Airline seats Each person (including infants) needs an oxygen mask. Depending on the configuration of the aircraft you may occasionally be seated across the aisle from one another. Some aircrafts allow both the forward and the rear doors to be used. Sitting near an exit makes disembarking with multiple (impatient!) children so much easier. These seats are also located closer to the toilets.

Getting to and from the airport Driving - Airport parking may be cheaper that you think when you book online well ahead of time. Be careful that it’s not an “off site” parking lot that requires you to catch a mini bus to the airport from the car park. Taxis - Check the local taxi rules per state as some don’t require car seats, others do. Some taxis may have car seats installed, others may allow you to put your own seats in the taxi.

Getting from the taxi to the plane Certain airports/airlines may let you take the stroller to the gate. Others may have airport strollers available for you to use or you may need to carry/wear your multiples. Regardless, you will need to remove them from the pram or carriers to go through security. Depending on the age of your multiples and the size and cost of your pram you may want to consider just taking two single cheap strollers. If you are travelling with someone, single strollers are so much easier to manoeuvre in crowded areas, plus it means you won’t get all the questions that come with multiples. While the airline will take utmost care with your pram, there is always a chance it may get broken or go missing, same as any luggage.

On the plane

Take off and landing

The stewards will be busy during boarding and deplaning, so they will not be able to assist you as they attend to their other duties.

To help their ears pop for landing, offer them something to suck – breast, bottle or bottle of water or dummy if not a feed time. If a bit older, they could also suck a food pouch or a lolly pop.

Even if they are toilet trained, use car seat protectors just for peace of mind. Or alternatively use nappy pants for the flight. Pack a couple of ‘grab and go’ basic nappy changing packs in zip lock bags. Ensure you pop them in the seat pocket in front of you rather than leaving them in the overhead compartments. Also remember a change of top at least for each adult, as even if they aren’t usually vomiters, they may get a bit airsick. Depending on the age of your multiples, try wrapping up their ‘entertainment’ in colourful paper and drip feed it to them during the flight. Ideas include a cheap toy or book from the $2 shop, a matchbox type car, colouring in book, sticker sheets, small playdoh tub etc. Anything you don’t mind ‘losing’ in transit. Consider wrapping some snack foods in a paper cup for the trip. They love the ‘surprise’ concept. Most passengers are very understanding of people travelling with babies. Remember, you paid your money, the same as them. Even the “best” kids have tough moments. This is the one place that you can practically guarantee no one will give you dirty looks for allowing your multiples access to an iPad or Tablet device.

Food and drink Take lots of snacks! If you have ordered a child or infant meal while booking, then call the airline to confirm it. Consider ordering one ‘special’ meal (i.e. vegetarian) as that generally comes out first. You can eat your meal quickly and then when the children’s meals come there is always one person able to help with the food side. It may be worthwhile taking some backup pre-made food pouches, just in case they don’t like the food provided. Make sure you keep your children well hydrated. Plane travel can be very dehydrating, especially for little ones. There are no liquid restrictions on domestic flights, so you can take any special milks, formula or water you may need. Just be very careful when opening it, as the change in cabin pressure can cause it to squirt everywhere! Passionate about all things multiple, Naomi Dorland is the founder of Twinfo. Twinfo is a community for multiple birth families. It brings together the products and services that make raising multiples that little bit easier, leaving parents more time to enjoy those precious moments. www.twinfo.com.au

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