Bayside MamaMag August 2015

BAYSIDE

August 2015

WIN a free term of ready steady go kids classes WORTH $195 Homework help Terriblereadiness teething School 5Anxiety movesinfor mums children Top Feed 10 motor kids skills right Taxintime sorted Investing education Children’s book week

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chattering teeth I love Winter. The weather gets cold so I get to justify spending money on new boots. No, just kidding! Both my babies were born in July so it’s party time for us. And school holidays, which meant I got to spend a wonderful week with my kids doing fun stuff. We had a weekend away at Mt Buller where the kids did a day of ski school and an equally fabulous time at Disney on Ice. We braved a 6 degree day at the MCG to see my son’s beloved Bombers get up for once and we finished it all off with a double birthday party at Inflatable World, the best place for parties EVER! It’s been an exciting month work wise. I had an interview and photo shoot for the awesome new initiative being run by Business Mamas.

The 52 weeks blog will showcase an inspiring mum in business every week for 52 weeks. Keep an eye out for me at www.fiftytwoweeksblog.com I’ve also been nominated for the Emerging Business of the Year award in the AusMumpreneur Awards along with the people’s choice award for ‘Making a difference’ with the latter being by public vote. So pop on to our Facebook page and follow the link to show me some loving!! Round 1 votes close Aug 7 and round 2 (fingers crossed) Aug 23.

This month we tackle Book Week costumes. If your school does dress up day we’ve got some great ideas and all the low down at the local libraries.

Finally we need to talk about something that many of us try to avoid. The dentist! With August hosting Dental Awareness Week, we thought we’d bring you a little dental flavour to this edition. When was the last time your family went for a visit?!

Until next month, stay warm by the bay and don’t forget to floss!

@localmamamag

WIN

Contents Terrible teething All you need to know about teething

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5 moves for mums 8 Make the most of your time at the park

a free term of ready steady go kids classes woRth $195

Teeth cleaning Nag free strategies

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Gross motor skills Top 10 skills for pre-schoolers

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Parklife We visit Murrumbeena Park

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A mama’s journey Fit body, fit mind

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Australia’s leading sport program for 2.5–6 year olds!

Learning and sharing Counselling for families

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Kid’s teeth What’s all the fuss?

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5 sports covered per term with classes available in Beaumaris, Bentleigh East, Brighton, Hampton and Sandringham.

Mama can cook Winter warming vegetarian dishes

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Mama of the month Tash White from Mamma Bubba

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Lovely locals We head down Hampton Street

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Entries open to Victorian residents only. Competition starts August 1st 12.01am and closes August 31st 2015 at 11.59pm. Prize is valid for Term 4 2015 enrolment only at one location listed above.

See readysteadygokids.com.au for more information on classes.

Visit www.mamamag.com.au full terms and conditions.

Inspiring boys to create Boys and dance

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MamaMag is published monthly for the mums of the Bayside area by Grizzle Design Pty Ltd.

Turn the page Top picks from Beaumaris Books

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Children’s Book Week All the dress up ideas you need

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Auction campaigns with kids How to manage

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Tiny technology Technology in early childhood

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All it takes A mama’s story of adoption

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Tax time 42 Tips for organising your tax documents Kid’s craft and our colouring comp 44

MamaMag August 2015

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Editor in Chief: Sarah Cavalier Design and layout: Grizzle Design Advertising sales: Daniela Simonetta Distribution: Lara Schendzielorz Like to contribute an article or products for review or giveaway? submissions@mamamag.com.au Like to advertise in our next month’s issue? info@mamamag.com.au or download our media kit from www.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.

terrible teething We’ve all been there! Some make it through like a walk in the park (yes I’m one of the lucky ones!), but for others teething can be months or years of pain and suffering.

It’s usually not very difficult to tell if your baby has started teething. Around 4-7 months you’ll notice frequent crying, red cheeks, more drooling, problems sleeping, and general fussiness. You might even notice your little one is refusing food or is trying to nibble anything he or she can get their hands on!

It’s teething time Teething isn’t much fun for anyone. Seeing your child distressed or being woken up in the middle of the night can be difficult. but remember your baby has teeth breaking through their gums for the very first time, ouch!

It’s important to remain patient and it’s natural to feel a little helpless. While there is no magic cure for teething there are some tricks that can help soothe the pain and keep things quiet(er), at least for a little while.

Soothing your teething tot Each child is different and sometimes you have to use trial and error to get results. The first thing to remember when you have a teething tot is that distracting them from the pain will help, and there are a variety of ways you can do this. First try affection and attention. Giving your baby plenty of cuddles and extra attention can help keep their mind off their mouth for some short term relief.

Some light pressure with something cold can also help relieve sore gums, like gently rubbing or massaging the gums with a clean finger or a cold spoon. Just remember, not too hard and not too cold! A chilled washcloth can also do the trick.

Written by The Australian Dental Association For more information visit www.ada.org.au 6

There are a range of teething rings available for babies to gnaw on. Chilled (not frozen) teething rings offer temporary pain relief through the pressure and cold and act as a distraction. Teething rings can be attached to your baby’s clothing, but never tie anything around the neck as it risks strangulation.

Lots of parents choose to let their baby suck or chew on a dummy as this can settle a restless baby and provide temporary relief.

Using dummies is OK as long as you don’t put anything sweet on them like honey or jam (or you’ll cause decay!).

Children who are eating solids can also use remedies such as hardened sugar-free rusks, peeled cucumber or frozen carrots large enough that they cannot be swallowed.

If these measures fail to provide relief for teething, ask your dentist or pharmacist for advice before using any pain medication or oral gels that contain a local anaesthetic.

Should your child present with symptoms not outlined above, do not assume they are simply teething. Symptoms such as diarrhoea, rashes (other than those caused by drooling irritation) and fever are not symptomatic of teething and your child should see a healthcare professional to rule out other illness.

When will my child’s teeth appear?

When you have your first child it can be both an exciting and anxious time. It’s natural to worry about what is normal and be particularly concerned about your new addition to the family’s health and teething is no exception.

As a guide, your baby is likely to sprout their first teeth around six months old. Sometimes teeth can come through as early as four months and as late as ten, so there is no need for alarm if teething starts a little early or a little late. If you’re worried, it is always a good idea to see a dentist to make sure everything as it should be. By aged three all twenty baby teeth should have come through, and by around age six your child will likely start losing them to make way for their adult (secondary) teeth.

The chart below illustrates what age your children’s baby and adult teeth might arrive.

baby teeth adult teeth 7

5 moves for mums A day at the park doesn’t have to be spent supervising and drinking lattes! As mums we are all so busy and, let’s be honest, it can be really hard to find the time to exercise. The next time you visit your local playground, why not get active with your little ones and squeeze in a quick, fun workout that you can enjoy together!

I spent the afternoon with young Zoe (4 years) recently at the lovely Northpoint Playground, Brighton which some of us local mamas also refer to as the ‘Pirate Park’. It’s a regular Sunday visit for my son and I with great pirate themed play equipment in front of an amazing beach and city skyline view.

We came up with 5 exercises that cover all of the main muscle groups and also integrated some of the play equipment to make things a little more challenging! Next time you visit your local playground, why not give this a go!

1. THE ROPE CLIMB Enjoy a rope/ladder climb with your little ones working the entire body. Who will get to the top first?

2. THE WALL SIT Sit against a flat surface, back against the wall and aim for thighs to be parallel to the floor, this will ‘burn baby burn’ those legs.

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3. BENCH DIPS Keep the body nice and close to the bench and perform your dips, squeezing the back of the arms (triceps) as you lower your body then push back up again.

4. BURPEES Get out in the park with your little ones and perform 45 seconds of burpees (the kids love these) you can step them out or jump them, or just jump around and enjoy your family fun time. These work your entire body!

My favourite most functional exercise!

5. BENCH PLANK Feet up on the bench, plank position with wrists and shoulders aligned, hands shoulder width apart- & hold! Warning: as you can see here, I can promise you that your child will want to jump on top so be sure to enjoy the extra resistance!! Ouch!!

TIPS: Perform 45 seconds of each exercise, with a 15 second rest in-between. Ensure you are nice and warm before starting.

Walking to the park is a great warm up. Hit as many rounds as you can do and ask the kids to join in too!! They will love it!

When complete, head over to the cafĂŠ for that well deserved latte!

If you have any questions on the workout or anything health and fitness related, let’s connect! Bianca@blueskyfitness.com.au

By Bianca Basile, Blue Sky Fitness www.blueskyfitness.com.au

Photography: Kellie Mastwijk Styling: Runway Room Hampton Clothing: 2XU Australia

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Top Eight Nag-Free Teeth Cleaning Strategies 1. Make it fun! While many parents want to reduce the amount of tech time, there are times when it is very helpful. Check out the two-minute apps that are available for android or apple devices including Macleans Nurdle Time or Oral B’s Disney Timer for younger kids.

They help make the experience into a game and really fun.

2. When at the toddler stage, try two toothbrushes. One for them to hold and play with (after all they love their independence at this age) and one for you to get in there and give their teeth a gentle clean.

3. Give them an electric toothbrush or a brightly coloured toothbrush. Make sure you use kid’s toothpaste that they’ll like the taste of.

Your dentist may have a range of fun electric toothbrushes with suction cups to help stop them getting lost on the floor.

4. Make it part of their morning and night ritual. This will start the habit from an early age. Remember kids learn by example so make sure you are setting a good one for them to follow.

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5. Brush your teeth alongside your kids.

It’s amazing how much kids model from those around them, so get cleaning together.

6. Brush each other’s teeth. Make it a game of seeing who can get the cleanest teeth.

7. Show and tell! Kids often need to know why they need to clean their teeth regularly. A good way to show them is to get dissolving agent tablets that they chew. The pink dye shows where the plaque is. Kids love to understand and learn why…why…why.

8. See a professional. If you still have problems with a bit of defiance, sometimes hearing it from a professional can make all the difference. Give your friendly family dentist a call; we are always ready to help!

The friendly team at Bayside Family Dentistry (03) 9589 4472 are on hand to offer further helpful advice and full dentistry services.

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gross motor skills There’s a lot of chatter going on about gross motor skill development and the importance of getting started on this before kids go to school. But what exactly are gross motor skills?

Gross motor skills are the larger movements your child makes with their arms, legs, feet, or entire body. For example, throwing, running, and jumping are gross motor skills. These skills are important as they assist a child with their core stability and being able to function independently in their day to day life, doing things such as putting on their own clothes and getting themselves a drink from the tap or fridge.

Developing gross motor skills early on will also help with the development of fine motor skills. Fine motor skills are the coordination of small muscle movements, usually involving both hands and fingers, with the eyes. When the core strength is developed through gross motor skill development, fine motor skill activities such as drawing, writing, arts and crafts and eating at the dinner table are easier for a child as they will be able to sit up stronger and for longer.

It is not just physical and day-to-day things that are positively impacted by exercise and gross motor skill development. Research suggests that not only is it healthy to get children moving, it is also great for memory, imagination, social development and brain functioning.

In a study conducted on children up to 19 years of age1, it was found that aerobic physical exercise is positively associated with cognition, academic achievement, and behaviour.

Unfortunately, despite the many benefits of exercise and early gross motor skill development for our kids, Australia is lagging behind when it comes to physical activity.

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In 2014, a landmark survey of 15,000 people compared the physical activity of children from 15 countries and found that the majority of 5 to 17 year-old Australians do not meet exercise guidelines and more than 70 per cent spend more than two hours a day watching an electronic screen. In the same study, it was found that more than 80 per cent of children fail to get one hour of exercise each day, ranking us behind Britain and Finland as among the least active in the world.

(SMH May 2014) This aligns with the global trend of rising childhood obesity which has become increasingly worrying. Over 20% of 5 to 17 year olds in Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) countries are considered overweight or obese on the basis of 2011 data.

Adding to this our gross motor skill development is not up to scratch, with many Australian kids not having the gross skills required as they start school which can lead to many social issues such as bullying and trouble with fitting in.

Knowing the activities that will best support your pre-schooler’s growth and development is not easy, so I’ve compiled my top ten gross motor skills to teach your pre-schooler this year. I hope you find them valuable. This list of skills is available in poster format by emailing me at briony@readysteadygokids. com.au or if you would like some more help with these skills and more, come and see my team in one of our many locations across Bayside!

Lees C & Hopkins J 2013, Effect of Aerobic Exercise on Cognition, Academic Achievement, and Psychosocial Function in Children: A Systematic Review of Randomized Control Trials, Preventing Chronic Disease Journal 10: E174.

By Briony Vince - Ready Steady Go Kids Bayside

Top 10 skills to teach your pre-schooler this year!

1. Jumping Jump and land with both feet landing on the ground at the same time, using the arms to swing to assist with forward motion.

2. Balancing Balance on a low wall or balancing beam walking either sideways or with one foot in front of the other.

3. Hands in the air Raise both hands up into the air at once.

4. Walking backwards Look over one shoulder and walk backwards, careful not to bump into anything!

5. Walking on a straight line Walk on a line one foot in front of the other.

6. Throwing and catching a ball Practise throwing and catching a big ball with your pre-schooler, then move on to a smaller ball such as a tennis ball.

7. Walking on tip toes Walk up high on the balls of the feet, step on small stones placed in a line or along a line.

8. Kicking a ball Swinging the stronger leg, give a ball a big kick with the inside of the big toe and then run and get it. Repeat!

9. Weaving Weave (zig zag) around small cones or anything you can mark out on a flat surface, with aeroplane arms out for balance.

10. Bear crawl Crawl along the ground on hands and feet with bottom raised up.

Don’t forget to enter the August MamaMag Promotion to win a FREE term of RSGK classes!

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Parklife

MamaMag park of the month!

murrumbeena park Kangaroo Road, Murrumbeena Sometimes mama just feels the need to venture out of Bayside and bring you a gem from somewhere else close by. Glen Eira Council never disappoints in the park dept. and this one certainly fits the bill. I last visited 2 years ago when it had just opened. It’s so lovely to return and see how beautiful it has become with so many native plants flourishing. 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

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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.

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A mama’s journey I have always been a very active person.

Growing up I loved horse riding and I was an avid netball player, competing for my schools and suburban teams!! After school I completed my Honours degree in Environmental Science and Graduate Diploma in Education and went on to work as a secondary teacher. However I always felt like I wanted to pursue my fitness passion and work as a personal trainer. So whilst teaching I studied part time and gained my qualifications as a PT and started running bootcamps for women in Elwood, St Kilda and Port Melbourne. After 3 years working part time as a teacher and PT I moved to London where I didn’t continue my work as a PT, therefore my registration lapsed back in Australia.

When we returned to Australia I was 12 weeks pregnant with my first child so I continued working for the education recruitment company I had been with in the UK. After the birth of Drew I certainly went through many of the early challenges that the first time mother faces. I couldn’t get him to sleep. He had reflux and was quite restless so didn’t like being restrained in the pram and car seat etc.

Initially I was quite apprehensive about taking him out in public as I thought everyone would stare at me if he started crying. This was when my anxiety problems began. We went to Masada sleep school at 4 months, which was a godsend, but on the last day he developed a slight cough. This didn’t alarm myself or the doctors there, however he rapidly deteriorated throughout the day and we took him to emergency around 4pm. It took two hours to be seen by a doctor and then to our utter disbelief we were sent home and assured that he would be fine.

It’s the only time I second-guessed my own judgement and I will live with that for the rest of my life.

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That night as my four month old baby boy struggled to breath we rushed him to emergency at Monash Hospital. He was put on a feeding tube and oxygen straight away but within a few hours he was under sedation in intensive care with several machines attached to him to assist him with breathing and he was diagnosed with acute broncollitis. He needed doses of adrenaline and I remember being told “we believe he will pull through and make a full recovery”. Which is such a frightful sentence to hear. I remember thinking and what if he doesn’t what do we do then?

He did pull through and within a week we were back at home. But that was just the beginning of my son’s struggle with broncollitis and subsequent asthma.

For the first 2 ½ years of his life he was admitted 15 times to hospital for an average 3 day stay.

Every time he caught a cold/virus I would have to call the ambulance and we’d go to the Royal Children’s Hospital. Each time it was the same.

The first sign of a running nose I would pack our hospital bags so we were prepared for day three when we would make that trip. He underwent a full range of tests by his specialist team at RCH to try and find a diagnosis, as they couldn’t believe that it could be just such acute asthma. He was tested for cystic fibrosis and a range of immunity disorders. The end result is however asthma.

Throughout this time I developed anxiety and panic attacks and I lived in constant fear of what could happen to my son. Each time he caught a cold I would feel my heart race, a lump build in my throat and a whole range of thoughts race through my head. I would have flashbacks to him lying sedated in intensive care. I could burst into tears at any moment if these thoughts became too much. Often if I saw an ambulance driving on a road I would have an attack.

I coped as best as I could with these feelings and hid them from my friends and family as I felt they were a sign of weakness and I didn’t want to be a failure. My wonderful husband is the only person that truly knows how hard those first 2 ½ years were for us as a family.

I wasn’t able to work in any capacity as my son wasn’t able to attend day care. At one point I was advised by my specialist to keep him at home as much as possible and keep him away from other children so he would stop getting sick. Of course I followed doctor’s orders but it was a very isolating experience and one that didn’t help my anxiety.

When Drew was around two he started to show signs that he was growing out of these acute attacks. We managed to look after him at home through some of his asthma attacks and they were becoming less severe in duration.

Around this time the fog I had been living in also started to lift as that intensive fear I felt was abating. This was also the about the same time I noticed a Facebook ad popup on my feed for a fitness class where you could exercise outdoors with your young children with you.

So I promptly turned up for ‘Tone up for $10’ and met Blue Sky Fitness owner Bianca.

She worked my butt off!

I remember feeling amazing after that session.

I then purchased session passes and started attending sessions weekly with Drew during the week and on my own on the weekend.

I was so grateful and thankful that I had found an environment that allowed me to exercise that was child friendly. We were outside enjoying the fresh air and working towards a better future and our health.

Armed with drive and determination I put in the hard yards to move that baby weight and get fit. I joined the Facebook group HIIT Monthly Challenge, used the PT in my Pocket app and did a weekly session with Bianca. It was during these PT sessions that we started talking about whether I would like to start work as a trainer again and more importantly for BSF. Of course my answer was yes.

So with quite a lot of nerves and self-doubt, but a whole heap of enthusiasm, I taught my first Metafit class in Hampton when Kate was 4 months old. I now run 4 Metafit classes in Sandringham and Hampton and I absolutely LOVE IT. From this experience I have learnt many things. Most importantly I have learnt just how precious life really is and how it can be taken away in an instant. I have learnt how important your health, both in body and mind really is. And how the two are intrinsically linked. It is my aim that the Bayside community can view my classes not just as an exercise class but also as a supportive community. It is due to this supportive environment that I am where I am today and for that I am extremely grateful.

By Nikki Thomson Nikki has pre and post natal exercise accreditation and would love the opportunity to work further with mothers groups, maternal health centres and schools.

Get in touch: nikki@blueskyfitness.com.au

www.blueskyfitness.com.au

I began thinking that perhaps I could work as a PT again. I was inspired and motivated by Bianca as a fit, healthy mum and absolutely loved the business model.

Whilst I was pregnant with my second child I made the decision to work as a PT again. I continued training with Bianca until I was 37 weeks pregnant and after a straightforward birth I started exercising again at six weeks.

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learning & sharing Relationships can be hard work. And life can sometimes get in the way.

Raising children, work demands, health concerns, caring for aging parents and managing family routines can all contribute to feeling time poor and overwhelmed. Often it is our closest relationships that suffer as we fail to invest the time or energy into maintaining a healthy relationship with the people who matter most to us. Over time this may play out as a feeling of indifference towards our partner. Communication breaks down. Relationships break down.

Asking for help is not a sign of weakness, it is a sign of strength.

You are actually seeking an opportunity to learn.

If your computer isn’t working right do you put up with it, try to fix it yourself or ask an expert for help?

The same can be said for parenting and relationships. Are you an expert in parenting and relationships? Taking the plunge to speak to an expert about relationships means that you are open to the opportunity that you don’t already have all the answers and that you are willing to learn if there are ways that you could help yourself and your loved ones. By improving your communication and strengthening your understanding and skills for respectful, healthy relationships, you can improve your own life, your relationships and the lives of those around you.

Family Life has been helping Bayside families since 1970. Founded by a caring and concerned group of citizens, they worked hard to ease the growing pressures on the family unit. Some of the demands have changed but the need for family support services is a strong as ever before and the sense of community is still alive and well in Bayside.

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Everyone is better off when we are sharing.

Speaking up and sharing that you need help, is the best way for others to know that you need support. Asking the question “can you share with me what you know works to….”

• be better at relationships • be a better parent • be a better friend • manage your grief • prevent conflict during separation • manage your anger • stop shouting Qualified Family Life counsellors are an invaluable community resource that is available to share their expertise with you. Family Life Bayside Counselling Service is a Social Enterprise business. So, by choosing to use our ‘for-profit-for-good’ services, all fees will be reinvested back into programs and services which support Family Life’s mission; enabling children, young people and families to thrive in caring communities. You will be sharing and supporting the local connected economy an enterprise with a heart in the community.

Located at our Sandringham centre, the service offers confidential, quality assured professional counselling, in a comfortable child and family friendly environment. Both daytime and evening appointments are available. Fees per one hour appointment: $132 individuals, $165 couples and families (incl. GST).

Take the time to invest in your relationships with loved ones

Family Life’s Bayside Counselling Service provides counselling for individuals, young people, couples and families.

Learn about relationships and parenting to strengthen your family.

To find out more please call Family Life on (03) 8599 5488 or visit www.familylife.com.au/baysidecounsellingservice 21

Kid’s teeth.

What’s all the fuss?

Unless your kid is a shark, they will only get two sets of teeth, and both are equally as important.

With Dental Health Week this month, lets stop and have a think about our children’s teeth and address some of the most common questions.

Let’s talk numbers!

A full set of baby teeth consists of 10 upper and 10 lower teeth.

First adult tooth appears at around 6, but it varies. Usually lower front incisors come through first, followed by the “6-year old” adult molars.

By 13 years old, most teenagers will have lost their last baby molars.

When should I take my baby to the dentist?

If only I get a dollar every time I get asked this!

Our recommendation is around 2.5 years old.

Your child’s first visit may just be a quick peek, ride in our dental chair on your lap, and a “hi-5”, but it’s important to desensitise your child in the dentist’s room (and to us!).

Do I need to brush my baby’s teeth?

Do try, I know it’s hard. For infants up to 2 years old, gentle brushing with plain water with a age-specific kids toothbrush is adequate.

By 3 years of age, they will be more tolerant of the toothbrush, you can introduce a small smear of children’s toothpaste and it’s important to spit out the excess. Do not use an adult’s toothpaste as the fluoride concentration may be too high, and always store toothpaste safely to prevent excessive ingestion.

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Baby teeth will fall out anyway, why bother?

The same can be said about your hair!

Untreated decay in baby teeth can cause many irreversible problems such as infection (hence pain!), alignment issues and orthodontic problems, gum disease, damage to developing adult teeth etc.

The only time we recommend leaving decay untreated is if your dentist agrees to do so.

Sometimes that is when the tooth is pain-free and it’s so wobbly that the tooth fairy is at your doorstep. But when in doubt, please consult your dentist.

My child has crooked teeth, does my bubba need braces?

There are different types and causes of crooked teeth, such as genetics, thumb-sucking, tongue thrusting, trauma etc. It is important to get an assessment from your dentist who has had adequate orthodontic training and experience, or a specialist orthodontist. In some cases, early orthodontics intervention may be advisable and in other cases, extractions of permanent teeth and full braces are needed.

Written by Dr Lother Poon BDSc. (Melb) F.I.C.C.D.E (Ortho)

Take in the superb view over Landcox Park while relaxing with a coffee made with love by our happy barista Kel. Tuck into our delicious vegetarian meals or perhaps one of our winter warming soups.

Open every day. Mon-Sat 8.30am-4.30pm, Sun 9am-4pm 3 Mavis Avenue East Brighton, opposite Landcox Park

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www.starfishswimschool.com.au Live Local - Shop Local - and don’t forget to mention MamaMag! Starfish Swim School Landscape V2.indd 1

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2015/05/20 9:30 AM

mama can Cook!

And this month it’s some vegetarian delights from Cafe Bliss in Brighton East.

Baked Bean Bliss Serves: 2-3 | Prep: 2 min | Cook: 15 min Ingredients:

Method:

3 tbsp veg/olive oil

Heat oil in a sauce pan and add onion, tomatoes, garlic, paprika, cumin and salt. Slowly cook until soft.

1 large brown onion, thinly sliced 3 large red tomatoes, chopped 1 garlic clove, finely chopped 50g roast red pepper 1 tsp paprika ½ tsp ground cumin 400g cooked mixed beans ¼ tsp salt or to individual need

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Add cooked mixed beans and roast pepper.

Stir regularly for about 3 minutes.

Serve with bread or rice.

Cafe Bliss is located opposite Landcox Park in Mavis Avenue Brighton East. Pop in and visit Tsering and Kel and try their other amazing vegetarian bliss!

Cafe Bliss is mama’s new favourite, just a quick walk across my local park Landcox Park.

Fine food, great coffee and one of Bayside’s best parks for the kids!

Lentil soup Serves: 4 | Prep: 2 min | Cook: 15 min Ingredients:

Method:

3 tablespoon veg or olive oil

Heat oil on medium. Add onion and garlic and stir for 1 minute.

1 large onion, finely chopped 2 clove garlic, crushed 1/2 teaspoon turmeric

Add turmeric, salt and tomatoes and keep stirring until soft.

1 cup (210g) dried red lentils rinsed

Add lentils, 6-7 cups veg stock or water, bring to the boil, reduce the heat to medium and simmer, stirring to prevent sticking for about 12 minutes

1 medium size zucchini slice thinly

Add spinach and zucchini and stir for 1 minute.

30g fresh spinach

Serve with crusty bread and butter.

2 large tomatoes chopped

1/2 tsb salt 25

MAMA of the month Whilst we are exploring all things teeth this August, there couldn’t be a better time than now to chat to Brighton mum to two gorgeous girls and owner of MummaBubba Teething Jewellery, Tash White.

Of course you are a mum, that’s why we are chatting to you! Tell us about your girls…

I have two gorgeous little girls aged Milla age 5 and Indi age 8. They are very spirited little girls and keep us on our toes.

What were you doing work wise before they were born?

I am a florist by trade but after a few years of doing that I decided I wanted to go into fashion. I spent 10 years in fashion before taking a break to start my family.

What inspired you to start a business and why this one?

When my 2nd daughter was just 6mths old I use to give her my bangle to keep her entertained while changing her nappy. Of course it would always go straight into her mouth. One day in the nursery I said to my husband that someone should make chewable jewellery for mums to wear that was safe for babies to put in their mouth. His response was “that’s a silly idea” After researching the market I found that the idea had already been thought of in America.

So I started designing my own range of teething jewellery which then extended into teething toys and taggie comforters.

There are lots of teething jewellery businesses around now. What sets MummaBubba apart from the rest?

We design everything here in Melbourne and have it manufactured in China. We have spent nearly $30,000 on our test reports which is 26

the main difference between our brand and some of the other mass produced jewellery that is sold on the market. Chinese trading websites sell their jewellery with generic certificates which means the person who is reselling that jewellery can’t say 100% that it’s safe as they have not conducted the safety testing themselves. Also all the handmade jewellery being sold doesn’t get to go through the mechanical testing we put our jewellery though to make sure they don’t break under certain pressure.

Does the lack of safety testing of other brands concern you?

It’s a major issue. The ACCC are looking into the industry now and we are hoping that they will set some strict guidelines around the Teething Jewellery market. I was told of one factory in china that was selling teething jewellery but the cord didn’t pass the toxic tests. So unless people were doing their own tests on that jewellery they would never know that the cord was toxic. Chances are those necklaces have already made their way into the Australian market.

You’ve aligned your business with some great charities and I see you joined forces with Pinky McKay on a Boobie Beads range. How did that come about?

I met Pinky at one of the Baby expo’s while testing out her new Boobie Bikkies. In the following months I designed the boobie beads to assist with breast feeding and thought Pinky would be the best person to approach with the beads to assist in a trial to test them out with breast feeding mums. Pinky and I then worked together on releasing them to the market. She has been one of our greatest supporters and I love working with her. We have also worked with some great charities like the www.panda.org.au and www. pinkhope.org.au by designing exclusive jewellery for them to sell and raise money for their charity.

The MummaBubba range has grown over the years with the addition of Little Num Nums and more recently amber beads and taggies. Is there anything else exciting in the pipeline?

We are always working on new products.

Watch this space…

Can you share any advice to other mums thinking about starting a business?

Starting up a business with small children can be challenging but it’s also very rewarding to have another outlet to keep you stimulated. I would suggest to try and find that work / life balance early on. For me it took aver 2 years, and I wish that I had found it earlier.

What is your guilty pleasure?

French Champagne!

What does the future hold for MummaBubba?

I hope we continue to bring our customers products that they can trust. There are so many product ideas floating around in my head and hopefully I can bring them to fruition.

Where can we find you: www.mummabubba.com.au www.facebook.com/MummaBubbajewellery 27

red Proudly sponso ris from

by Niclas Haida

lovely locals

face in The fresh new ate bayside real est Call Niclas on 0431 014 496 branon.com.au

6

Willis S

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We pop down Hampton Street!

5 Crisp Str eet

1.

Hampton Train Station

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1. The perfect coffee - Mr Willis Mr Willis, which opened just shy of 12 months ago, boasts friendly service in a welcoming and relaxed atmosphere. Indulge your senses with delicious selections of cakes and sandwiches but most of all for your optimum coffee experience. Shop 2 379-381 Hampton Street www.mrwilliscafe.com 2. Healthy lunch - Red Moose - Opening August After the success of their fabulous Sandringham store, Red Moose are coming to Hampton, so get excited mamas, I know I am! Freshly made smoothies, juices, wraps, soups and salads make this the ideal lunch stop.

396 Hampton Street www.red-moose.com.au

4.

3. Books and story time - Kidna Books Kidna Books encourage everyone’s passion for reading, and have an extensive range of titles for all ages. They invite families to come along to their preschool story time on Thursday’s at 10.30am where they introduce children to new stories, revisit loved ones and have fun. 422 Hampton Street 4. Gorgeous homewares - Frankie + Coco It’s all about making life more beautiful here! And they do it so well with a wide range of furniture, homewares, giftware, clothing and accessories from all over the world. There is always an amazing Kirsten Jackson canvas or two in store as well. Love! 398 Hampton Street frankieandcoco.com 5. Tone it up - KX Pilates This fabulous new KX studio offers a fast paced, high intensity, body-toning workout that fuses core strengthening elements of reformer pilates with circuit, cardio and endurance training. They also run specialised post natal mums and bubs classes. Level 1, 249 Hampton Street www.kx.com.au 6. Be fit and look the part too - 2XU Always on-trend, Melbourne based brand (did you know that?) 2XU’s clothes exude world-leading, high performance standards and really, no mama should be without a pair of their wide waistband compression tights to hold all our lumpy bits in! 376 Hampton Street www.2xu.com

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7. De-fuzz and brown up - Brazilian Butterfly Just because it is cold doesn’t mean we should let ourselves go! Let Penny and her team sort you out with waxing, laser hair removal and spray tans.

259 Hampton Street brazilianbutterfly.com

5.

6.

7.

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SIMPLE PARENTING

There are endless dos and don’ts that surround parenting. Parenting expert Justin Coulson will simplify the confusion in this not to be missed parenting seminar.

Bookings Essential: http://www.trybooking.com/138186

SEMINAR

7 September 7.30pm Bayside Centre 99-101 Argus St, Cheltenham $10 per person

Red Moose offer smoothies, juices, wraps, soups and salads, made fresh in store every day. With taste and convenience on our side, we’re offering Bayside something new!

32 Waltham Street, Sandringham and opening August our NEW store at

396 Hampton Street, Hampton! p. 9598 8273 welcome@red-moose.com.au

Now serving coffee!

29Live Local - Shop Local - and don’t forget to mention MamaMag!

facebook.com.au/RedMooseSmoothiesWraps

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InspIrIng boys to create The Importance of Creativity

Boys and Creativity

Creative development is an essential element of every child’s cognitive development. Specialists in childhood development and education identify creativity as one of the most important aspects of learning. Creative thinking skills don’t just apply to participation in the arts - they are critical to mental flexibility, complex reasoning, emotional intelligence, and problem solving.

It is for this reason that many experts believe creative thinking skills are a better predictor of lifetime achievement and satisfaction than IQ.

There are many opportunities for children to engage in creative learning; however social canons about gender appropriate activities can sometime be problematic when trying to engage boys in creative activities. While girls are generally encouraged to be expressive and to participate in a broad range of creatively expressive behaviours (music, arts and crafts, dress ups) the stereotypical “boy-appropriate” activities are often centred on practical thinking and physical exertion (sports, outdoors skills, mechanics).

All children are naturally creative in their younger years. Yet research indicates that from when children reach school age many experience a steady decline in creative thinking skills. This would seem to correlate with two key realities of formal education: • The first is that mainstream education has a strong focus on convergent thinking; in most aspects of their schoolwork, children are taught to look for a “correct” answer. The opposite of convergent thinking is divergent thinking; the ability to generate a range of possibilities and to develop original ideas and innovative solutions.

• The second is that school is the first time that most children will experience the powerful force of peer judgement and the need for peer approval. This means that for the first time in their lives, kids are being exposed to social influences outside of the home.

While this is an important part of a child’s emotional and social development, it can also create new pressures that can effect motivations and interests. This is particularly apparent, and problematic, for boys and creative learning.

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While sometimes it might be appropriate to allow social standards to determine the choices we make for our children, there are also times that we must challenge these standards for the benefit of their futures. This is no more apparent than when navigating our children through the complex and sometimes restrictive social attitudes towards gender appropriate behaviour.

While it’s important to encourage our little girls that they can build, lead, and be independent, it’s equally as important to teach our little boys that they can create, express, and feel.

Because gender-normalised activities often exclude boys from creative outlets, it is important that we as parents create sufficient opportunities for our boys to engage in this essential intellectual practice. It’s important for social, emotional and mental development to encourage boys to engage in creative activities.

It is our role to reinforce positive attitudes about creativity by praising and promoting creative behaviour. It is also essential that we nurture these skills by providing safe environments for boys to express their creativity; places and opportunities to be creative without judgement or exclusion. Ultimately, we are in control of the learning environments we create for our children.

Teaching Creativity Through Kinaesthetic Learning When trying to engage boys in creativity we need to consider their specific learning needs. Neurobiological differences mean that many boys respond more to learning through movement and visual demonstration.

That is why dance training offers a unique opportunity for creative learning in boys; dance is a form of kinaesthetic learning. Kinaesthetic learning is the concept of learning through action. Dancing conveys feeling and creativity through movement, offering a tactile learning experience that is often effective with boys as it taps into spatial reasoning and connects the tangible with the conceptual.

Extensive research indicates that dancing will help boys: • Develop cognitively: Dancing encourages boys to imagine and create, to express thoughts and ideas, and to exercise discipline and focus. When their imaginations are being engaged so fully they will be naturally inclined to explore new ideas and ways of approaching problem solving. This not only promotes creativity, it also provides them with positive experiences of innovative thinking which will encourage them to generate new ideas and exercise mental dexterity in other areas of their lives. Additionally, the ability to test new ideas in a safe and inspiring environment will empower them to take reasonable risk and make thoughtful judgements. • Develop physically: Dancing is all about movement and is highly physically demanding; few other physical activities offer such an intense, total body workout. Better Health

Channel Victoria recommends dance as an effective method of maintaining overall health, fitness and strength (Better Health Channel, 2014). Some of the benefits of regular dancing are improved physical strength, stamina, muscle tone, flexibility, coordination, and overall cardiovascular strength. • Emotional intelligence: Dancing is a social activity. It involves working together with others, cooperating and negotiating, and public performance. The collegiate nature of dance promotes positive interaction with others and enriches emotional development.

Dancing also gives boys a better sense of their bodies and in turn, of their internal selves, this helps to improve self-esteem and confidence. Boys who have the ability to communicate their emotions, create meaning and think reflectively are going to grow into well-rounded, happy men.

If you have a son who you think would benefit from dance training, spaces are now available at the Australian Boys Dance Academy. The ABDA was established by men passionate about changing the negative attitude towards maledancers in Australia. Their mission was to create a dance school specifically for boys and young men, where students could come and feel safe and included; and in that they have succeeded.

Try-outs and trial classes are now open at the Australian Boys Dance Academy in Brighton and Hawthorn.

By Gemma Giles For more information visit boysdance.com.au or call (03) 9384 1644.

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turn the page Brown Bear Treasury by Eric Carle, $29.99 This beautiful hardback is a ‘bind-up’ of four of Eric Carle’s ‘What Do You See’ picture books - Brown Bear, Panda Bear, Polar Bear and Baby Bear. It is perfect for young children because the repetition, rhythm combined with Eric Carle’s beautiful, simple animal illustrations make it a winner. All four books in one volume make a special gift.

How the sun got to Coco’s house by Bob Graham, $24.95 - NEW How the sun got to Coco’s House’ is an enchanting story about the sun, and how it makes its journey from the far side of the world to the home of one small girl. From polar bears to the eye of a whale, through the trees of frozen forests, making shadows in a little girl’s footsteps, the sun leaps whole countries before bursting through Coco’s window.

Stuff Happens –Harry by Alex McDiarmid, $9.99 - NEW Harry is dealing with his observation that being good at something means you risk attracting attention. Although reluctant to go initially, Harry is inspired by a colourful painting on an excursion to an art gallery. Will he risk standing out from the crowd and display his own art for all to see? It’s about enjoying what you do, and being yourself is what’s important. Can Harry see that for himself?

65 Story Treehouse by Andy Griffiths and Terry Denton, $12.99 The stories in the Treehouse books by Andy Griffiths and Terry Denton have encouraged so many children with their reading. The 65-Storey Treehouse even has a pet-grooming salon, a birthday room where it’s always your birthday (even when it’s not), a room full of exploding eyeballs, a lollipop shop, a quicksand pit, an ant farm, a time machine and Tree-NN: a 24-hour-a-day TV news centre keeping you up to date with all the latest treehouse news, current events and gossip.

Available after 12th August.

This month’s kid’s books are brought to you by our friends at Beaumaris Books Beaumaris Books is an independent bookshop in The Concourse. Cheryl and Andrew Martin have worked hard to build on a wonderful reputation in the local community. Their excellent customer service has attracted a strong and loyal customer base. Customers appreciate the ‘staff picks’, assistance in selecting appropriate children’s books and complimentary gift wrapping, making the birthday party present selection task easy.

24 South Concourse, Beaumaris. Phone 9589 4638.

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BEAUMARIS BOOKS

Toddler Music & Dance Classes

Tuesday, Wednesday & Thursdays Music 9.45am and 10.30am, Dance 11.15am Suitable for ages 8 months - 4 year olds Mention MamaMag for 20% off your term class booking

Children’s Birthday Parties Stylish party venue for children & parents OR invite Polkadot’s entertainers to your house with characters & themed parties from $220

Winter Warmers now in stock Socks Gloves Scarves Blankets Beanies Umbrellas

School Holiday Programs also available www.polkadot.net.au

145 McKinnon Road McKinnon - Call 9578 5096 Live Local - Shop Local - and don’t forget to mention MamaMag!

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Children’s book week Saturday 22nd August – Friday 28th August 2015 With the increasing number of honour weeks supported in schools – science week, art week, English week, etc. – it can be easy to dismiss Children’s Book Week as just another academic celebration. So, with the frankly limited time in our daily lives, why should we make a point of observing Children’s Book Week?

Firstly, it acknowledges the work of Australian authors and illustrators. Children’s Book Week has been hosted by the Children’s Book Council of Australia every year since 1945, and during this week the achievements and successes of Australian authors and illustrators are celebrated and awarded.

Secondly, it fosters your child’s imagination.

Dress up parades, fancy hats, and craft activities are all time-honoured parts of Children’s Book Week celebrations, and each one encourages your child’s ability to create something new with the resources at their fingertips. In a world where the rate of technological change is impossible to predict, having the imagination to invent and create is a vital 21st century skill.

Finally – and perhaps most importantly – by sharing our love of reading, we are showing our children that reading has an important place in our lives. As they grow, children learn what is important in their world from the adults around them. They learn what parts of society are valuable enough to earn their full attention, and what parts can be skipped over and fitted into the time between appointments. We know that having a teacher or parent model a love of reading does wonders for a child’s perception of reading as good and pleasurable; having this attitude modelled by a community for an entire week is invaluable.

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The benefits of reading have been repeatedly linked with academic success, increased empathy, and the ability to re-imagine the world into something new – just to name a few. Taking the opportunity to sit with your child and celebrate the reading experiences that made them laugh and cry is an important part of your child’s development. It can help transform the perception of reading from a necessary skill into an enjoyable pastime. It shows them that books have an important place in our daily lives, and that they matter.

When it comes down to it, books are meant to be shared, and that’s what Children’s Book Week is all about.

At your local Library...

Children’s Book Week is a great time to get along to story time at your local library.

Join in the fun at the Brighton, Beaumaris, Hampton and Sandringham branches.

Baby rhyme time – ages 0 to 18 months: Foster a lifelong love of reading in your child.

Beaumaris 10:30-10:50am Wed 26 Aug Brighton 10:30-10:50am Fri 28 Aug Toddler time – ages 18 months to 3 years: Stories, songs and rhymes.

Brighton: 10:30-11am Mon 24 August Hampton: 10:30-11am Thursday 27 August Preschool story time – ages 3 to 5 years: Stories, songs, rhymes 10:30-11:15am Beaumaris: Monday & Friday Brighton: Tuesday & Thursday Hampton: Monday Sandringham: Tuesday & Wednesday German story time – ages 3 to 5 years: Stories, songs and rhymes in German Brighton 10:30-11:15am Wed 26 Aug Check out the library’s website for other dates and info at www.bayside.vic.gov.au

Mama’s Book Week rescue dress up ideas: With Book Week soon upon us, those of us with school age children will probably need to pull a costume out of thin air! We’ve put together some suggestions for all levels of craftiness.

Make it: Mr Men – any of the Mr Men (or Little Misses) can be made with a box or sheet of cardboard decorated with paint or textas plus some ribbon or rope to attach your creation.

Olivia – the ears really make this one. Use material or cardboard attached to a headband.

Alice in Wonderland – if you have a blue dress all you will need to make is a white or apron.

The Cat in the Hat – you can make the red and white stripy hat from material or cardboard, perhaps added to a hat you have at home.

Miffy – with the right clothes you’ll only need to make the ears for this one. Again, adapting a headband can work well.

Red Riding Hood – it’s the hood and cape that really make this one.

Pippi Longstocking – a darkish blue or denim dress with patches of material sewn on. Long hair for plaits is handy.

Found or bought: Where’s Wally – always popular, Where’s Wally works best with a red and white striped shirt, blue pants, and red and white hat but near enough is always good enough with Book Week costumes.

Hermonie – very similar to Harry Potter; black robe, stripy scarf, wand. You may like to add a tie if you have one.

Dorothy from The Wizard of Oz – a blue dress and a toy dog. Too easy!

Fancy Nancy – princessy type dress and a feather boa. And add plenty of hair decorations.

Captain Underpants – you’ll need a red cape and underpants, but unlike the book, clothes under the undies are probably best for school.

The Saucepan Man from The Magic Faraway Tree – attach small metal pots and pans from the kitchen or play kitchen but don’t forget your child will need to sit down! A few on the front will work best.

Raid the costume box: You might already have one of these costumes.

There are any number of books with fairies, princesses, pirates and witches.

Snow White, Cinderella, Fairy or princess dress, Pirate or Witch

Oh no, is that today?

Best bet if you’ve remembered on the day is Specky Magee (or one of his female friends) because you just need to send your child in their footy gear.

Harry Potter – the black robe, stripy scarf and stick (wand) make this outfit. You might like to buy the glasses from a party shop.

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How to manage the kids during an auction campaign Surviving an auction campaign can be hard work and very stressful especially when young children are involved. Marty Rankin from Village Real Estate in Melbourne’s inner west says

“it’s always hard for parents to keep the house looking pristine and ready for inspection when you have young kids. I have kids, and so do many of my team and we know what it’s like! We thought we would pass on some tips we have accumulated over the years, to help other parents of littlies when they are thinking about selling their home.”

So here are twelve tips to help parents prepare for an auction if they have young kids:

1. Once your home is listed it’s a good idea to allow a few weeks to get prepared for the 3-4 Open For Inspections (openings) that you will have, as well as the actual auction.

2. Put your ‘buyers eyes on’. Get your agent’s advice as to what they believe you may need to do to maximise your selling potential. Many agents offer a free visit by an interior designer or stylist. Accept that offer as they can often make suggestions you never thought about.

3. As any parent knows, kids’ toys are one

of the main reasons for clutter in the home.

Pack away any toys they haven’t played with for some time into boxes. Get them to keep a basket of favourites and involve them in the process. Make kids responsible for packing up their toys into that special basket before every open for inspection. Store the old toys in the garage, or if possible hire a small storage shed for the next few months. The kids will forget about them and it will be like Christmas when they unpack them again! But then again, this is a good time to do a charity run with clothes that have been outgrown, toys that are no longer needed, accessories, old story books, and anything that hasn’t been used or won’t be missed.

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4. If you have more than one bathroom in your home clean them on a Friday and then ban the kids from using one of them until after the opening. Share the one with them that’s easiest to clean. On the day of opening you will only need to wipe over one bathroom.

5. On the day of opening have a basket for

all your last minute clutter, you might find the odd shoe or toy and even last minute dirty washing can be put in it. Hide it somewhere - even in the boot of the car if you can’t find anywhere else.

6. Call in as many favours as you can from

family and friends. Rather than people coming to help you, farm the kids out.

Fridays are good days to try and get them looked after, as well as during the opening itself. If you haven’t had luck with the babysitters for the day of the open, it’s easier for one parent (or grandparent) take the kids and dog out for a couple of hours leaving the other to get organised. Much easier than two parents chasing kids around and cleaning up after them!

7. As well as the kids, see if the dog can be

relocated for a few hours so you won’t be picking up dog poop just before the opening starts.

8. You don’t want to mess up that sparkling

kitchen! Go out for dinner on the night before the opening, or order takeaway. And keep breakfast simple on the morning of the opening. If possible do as much cleaning as necessary on the day before the opening. Get in cleaners (or friends!) to help if possible.

Generally a thorough clean prior to the first opening makes the next few weeks a bit easier.

9. Teenagers! Get them to have a sleepover at their friend’s place. As we all know, teenagers like to sleep in, and getting them up and moving early on a Saturday is not easy! Make sure you get them to clean their rooms before they go!

10. Have plenty of clothes, tea towels on hand for last minute wipe downs, finger print removal on windows, oven doors etc.

11. Plan your open times around sleep times.

Open For Inspection times are generally locked in for the whole campaign so make sure you have a say. The last thing you want to do is have an open for inspection right in the middle of a two hour sleep time.

12. Make sure you don’t have to run around

after the kids when your most important asset is on the line. Your agent will need you to be focused and quick decisions need to be made with clarity. Ask for one more babysitting favour from family or friends.

By Village Real Estate. Based in Melbourne’s west, they consider themselves the ‘anti agents’!

They don’t like a lot of the things many real estate agents do. They are cheeky, irreverent and like to ‘stir the pot’ a little. For more information or the areas that they cover, go to www.villagere.com.au

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Tiny technology Technology in Early Childhood, by Ms Sarah Bethune.

Today’s children are growing up in a digital age which is quite different from previous generations. Children have access to a range of technology and media and from a young age many students know how to manipulate a mouse or navigate their way around a touch screen.

However, there must be a distinct difference between using technology for education purposes and entertainment. All experiences involving technology or media, in an early learning environment, must be designed to directly support educational learning and development.

When incorporating technology into the curriculum of an early learning centre, it is important students develop an understanding of the purpose of technology so it can be used to support their learning and development.

The use of technology and media in an early learning program should not be an isolated experience. Students must be encouraged to work in small and large groups. Small groups of children can use iPads to conduct research on a current area of interest or inquiry. Children can also work alongside one another on individual iPads whilst working on educational apps to develop pre-literacy and pre-numeracy skills, and iPads can also provide opportunities for creative expression and problem solving.

Exploration and play with the computer keyboard can be a great way for children to begin exploring letters and words.

If appropriately supervised the internet as a research tool provides a wealth of information to support children’s learning on current inquiry topics or interests. The Early Learning Centre at St Catherine’s School, Toorak recently researched the life cycle of the silk worm.

Through accessing the internet the children were able to look at images of silk worms and the various stages of their life cycle and gather information to help develop their understanding of this area of interest.

There are also many opportunities for students to access technology as a means for communicating. Exploration and play with the computer keyboard and a word processing program can be a great way for children to begin exploring letters and words. There may also be times when a class is using email to communicate with the wider community or to consult an expert in a particular field to ask a question relating to an inquiry. Through these activities children begin to learn that email can be used for communicating and interacting with others.

The use of technology in an ELC environment is also not limited to tablets and computers.

Light tables can be used in a multitude of ways in to provide children with opportunities to learn about light, colour, transparency and reflection. Similarly, overhead projectors allow children to explore the concepts of light and shadow or experiment with shadow puppetry. Children can also be provided with opportunities to use equipment such as digital cameras, video and audio recording equipment to document their play and learning.

It is important however, that technology and media are not used to replace creative experiences, physical play and real-life exploration. Play is central to the learning and development of children therefore their interactions with technology must mirror their interactions with other play materials. The key to using technology with young children is balance. Technology is therefore used as a learning and research tool at times when it is appropriate to extend or support the children’s learning and inquiries.

Ms Sarah Bethune is the Early Learning Centre Coordinator at St Catherine’s School, Toorak.

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All it takes All it takes to make a family is love and an open heart!

Some days my heart is just so full of love I feel it actually might burst.

When I was presented with the challenge of facing a life without children, one of the biggest questions I had to ask myself was, what am I going to do with all of this love inside of me?

I have always been the type of person who saw the best in everyone and the world around her.

But whilst going through my difficult journey to motherhood, it was bloody hard some days – actually almost impossible. How could I be happy for other people who seemed to be able to get pregnant just by saying the word ‘sperm’ or looking at a penis! Now I now it’s not that easy really, but that’s just what it felt like some days. Don’t even get me started on the times I would go down to my local shopping centre during school holidays, and be surrounded by women with 3 or 4 cheeky rug rats in tow. How come she gets 4 I would ask myself? I really only just want one – is that too much to ask?

The inequality of life at times really was too much for me to bear.

You see my problem is that I am the type of person who believes that you create your own life and the happiness that ensues. I am the master of my own destiny. If you want something in life, don’t sit around waiting for it to happen – go out and get it! I think that is why I found the whole IVF process so frustrating. It didn’t matter what I did, I had no control over the outcome. They said stop eating this and that – so I did. They said limit the stress in your life – so I took 12 months off work.

They said try acupuncture – so guess what – I did. Drink red wine – now that one I can live with! You name it, I did it all for the sake of becoming pregnant.

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For me though, none of it made any difference to my unexplained infertility. My body just did not agree that it was supposed to have a baby grow inside of it. I had never really been one of those women that was desperate to be pregnant. I just knew that getting pregnant was a vital part in creating the family that I so desperately wanted.

I wanted children in my life and a family of my own.

I had waited so long to find the perfect man for me and I was losing him through the process of trying to become pregnant. We were exhausted, grieving and just going through the motions each day the best we could. Two years in we were told that basically our chances of conceiving were ‘fuck all’, and the best option we had was trying to use an egg donor. Luckily for us we did have a beautiful friend offer to be our egg donor, and I did fall pregnant twice, but it was not meant to be.

At that point we made the most difficult decision I think we will ever have to make.

We CHOSE to save our marriage over having a baby.

I remember calling my husband one day at work crying. I was inconsolable. He came home and we lay huddled together on the lounge room floor for hours, and we just sobbed our hearts out for the baby that we would never create.

It’s funny though, because almost as soon as we made the decision to put our marriage first, it was like a weight had been lifted.

a mama’s story

We had once again taken control of the situation and our lives. It felt amazing. We started to put our focus back into each other, and spending more time with our friends. We laughed more, and enjoyed all of the things in life that our friends with kids couldn’t do spontaneously – like see a movie or lay in bed all day reading the newspapers.

We still really wanted a family, and children in our lives. That had not changed. We were still focused on creating the family we had always dreamed of.

I have ALWAYS known that I would adopt a child.

For my husband however, the decision was not as easy. It was a process that he had to work though, and I had to wait patiently, being supportive and encouraging of him. We had learnt through our earlier challenges that we both needed to process and sort through things in our own way. For him it just took a bit longer than me.

When I see her run laughing down the hallway when her dad comes home from work and leaps lovingly into his arms, I am thankful that I gave my husband the space and time he needed.

When I think about all of the tears I cried and the times my heart ached, I can now smile, because without them I wouldn’t have my very own beautiful family to love.

By Chrissie Davies

Chrissie Davies is an educator, consultant, loving mama via an open adoption, and passionate advocate for understanding children with challenging behaviours. She is committed to empowering and supporting families to live the life they truly deserve. www.chaostocalmconsultancy.com For more information on adoption visit www.adoptchange.org.au or www.dhs.vic.gov.au

I will never forget the day he called me to say that we had been matched with our beautiful 16 week old daughter. I never knew that you could be in love with someone before you even met them. But you can.

Talk about a love explosion – my heart just about bursts every time I look at her.

Every morning when she wakes up singing, I am reminded that I am so glad that we made the decision to save our marriage and put our relationship before everything else.

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Don’t let tax time be For many of us, the thought of getting our paperwork together for tax time is a daunting one. Once a year, every year, we are expected to have our paperwork ready for our accountants, and yet somehow when the time comes around, we have no idea where to find it all!

Getting your tax paperwork organised with an easy system with some vital tools will not only take away the stress, but will also save you time and money. Here are some helpful tips to assist you in finding what you need when you need it for your accountant.

Top Tip 1: Know what you need Ask your accountant to give you a list of the information and records they will need for your tax return.

Is your paperwork personal or business related?

It will be the same each year (except for a few small budget changes) so once you have this list you can plan ahead for each year. To cut down on paper clutter only keep the paperwork you really need.

Top Tip 2 : Tools To set up your system I recommend the following tools:

Top Tip 3: Systems How to use these tools Magazine holder: Label your magazine holder with the tax year eg Tax Info 2014-2015 During the year place all tax related documents into this magazine holder.

The 5 tab plastic pocket divider and the plastic binder wallet go inside the magazine holder.

5 tab plastic pocket divider: label the tabs •

PAYG summaries

•

Private medical & super

•

Motor vehicle license, rego & repairs

•

Insurance & dividends

• Misc As you receive any of the information or paperwork relating to these categories, place them in the labelled area ready to hand over to your accountant each year. Easy, organised and your accountant will love you!

Plastic binder wallet: In here include all receipts and invoices for out of pocket medical expenses.

a) 1 magazine holder

Towards the end of the financial year, put together a spread sheet including the following categories:

b) 1 5 tab plastic pocket divider

1. Name on invoice

c) 1 plastic binder wallet

2. Amount of claim

d) 1 lever arch file

3. Amount received

e) 1 receipt box and 12 envelopes

4. Out of pocket/gap

There are also tax pack tools that you can purchase labelled and ready to go.

You can also ask your private health insurer and Medicare for this information. Remember to ask your local chemist for a list of claims you have made through the year.

Check with your accountant what the threshold amount is for you to claim this.

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taxing on you!

Receipt box: Use a box to save your receipts for expense claims.

Include 12 labelled envelopes per month for the financial year July to June. You may wish to include separate envelopes or plastic pockets for specific claims eg Donations/ Dry Cleaning/ Petrol /Self Education/ Misc /Work related.

Lever arch folder: Label your lever arch folder “finances”. Include all your bank statements for the current financial year in here. This comes in handy when you want to reference any interest claims over the financial year.

There you go… why not get those tools and implement this system, I guarantee that you will find this year’s tax time less taxing!

If you would like any assistance in setting this up or any other organising help please connect with me Sue Glasser Certified Organising Professional, Paper Flow Consultant & Workshop Presenter at info@paperclippo.com.au or call on 0402 109 007.

Don’t leave it too late – we want to get on top of that tax paperwork ASAP.

Top Tip 4: Schedule time No amount of tools will ensure organisation without scheduled time to work with them.

You will need to make time to get organised.

Schedule a time in your diary every week to keep on top of your tax paperwork. Treat this scheduled time just as if it was an appointment with your doctor or dentist or dare I say your accountant!

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Gracie’s Dream Clouds This activity is very special to me as it is the activity I made on Gracie’s Day with all her special friends. A day where we celebrated the beautiful, fun, creative and courageous Gracie. Gracie was diagnosed with leukaemia in her Prep year 2014 and is now dancing and singing in the clouds. Please visit her special page to see how you can support other children facing this battle. www.graciesgiftfoundation.weebly.co m What you will need: • White paper • Glitter • Pencil • Scissors • Glue • String • Sticky tape

Let’s get started!

Draw one cloud on your piece of paper, carefully cut this cloud out.

This cloud shape is now your template to make all the other clouds.

Using your cloud template trace and cut out 8 more clouds.

Place some glue around the edge of the cloud and spoon some glitter over it. (you could use glitter glue if you have some.)

Let the glue dry.

Fold the clouds in half with the glitter on the inside then open the back out again.

Pick your first cloud and place the string in the middle with some sticky tape, glitter on the outside.

We use 3 cloud shapes to make each cloud.

Cover half the cloud in glue (the non glitter side) Place a cloud on top, making sure only half is glued down, now put glue over both halves and stick the last cloud on. You should now have a 3D cloud with the string in the middle.

Repeat this 2 more times with the rest of the clouds.

I like to hang something from the bottom. A star, a heart or with this example a little girl flying on the clouds.

I would love to see some of your art work. Post your pictures on my facebook site.

Facebook.com/lizzyannstudio www.lizzyann.com.au 44

1 of 4 Disney Fairy packs

valued at $138 each Prize pack includes : 1 x Take Flight Tink 1 x Tink Bubble Fairy Doll 1 x 9” Classic Fashion Doll (random selection of either Tinkerbell, Periwinkle or Fawn) 1 x 9” Deluxe Fashion Doll (random selection of either Tinkerbell, Silvermist or Rosetta)

Then post your entry by August 31st to: MamaMag PO Box 8018 North Road LPO, Brighton East VIC 3187

Name: Address:

Age: Postcode: 45

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