Eastside MamaMag Dec/Jan 2019 by MamaMag

EASTSIDE

mamaMAG Dec/Jan 2019

WIN 1 OF 4 famIly day tIckets to adventure park Christmas crackers Naked and freezing School holidays Dads of autism What’s app’ening

free Local fun for the Eastside mum 1

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summer love Summer. Mama’s favourite time of the year. Time for swimming, lazing in the sun and eating fabulous summery food. Mind you I’ve been doing a bit of all that already. In October I did something super spontaneous and jumped on board a mum’s trip to Bali, joining some fab local biz-mamas, with only a week’s notice. I know not every mum can just drop everything and go OS, but I’m a big believer of things happening for a reason and also a big believer to looking after yourself so you can be the best mum possible. At that very week forging some new friendships and having some me-time was exactly what I needed and the universe delivered. I wasn’t going to knock back the opportunity for a ‘mumcation’. And the result, besides drinking my own weight in cocktails, I had the most divine time (look at those smiles>>), made the most beautiful friendships (that I know will last forever) and I came back refreshed, tanned, and a happy mama. Whilst I’m not suggesting you drop everything and head overseas pronto, do make sure you book in some time to nurture yourself and your friendships soon. A night away, a special lunch out. Put yourself first, you deserve it. And if you’d like to plan your own Bali mumcation in the future, I’ll be sharing all our escapades in our April/May Home & Holidays issue! I promise you, we’ve got some hot spots to recommend! So back in the real world I’m now renovating bathrooms (kids are loving it!), enjoying new parks in the sun and planning 2019. And guess what!? This little magazine is growing again. We’re printing an extra 10,000 mags to spread the mama-love further across Melbourne. You can check out the map on our website to see where you’ll find us in the new year, we’re so excited! So much more mama-love! And speaking of love, a big thank you to everyone who took part in our recent reader survey. You gave us some amazing feedback and thank you for all your kind words in the comments section. They really reinforce just why I create this magazine and why I love being a mum. Have a marvellous Christmas with your family and see you in 2019!

@localmamamag

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

WIN

Contents Christmas crackers

Festive fun in the East

Parklife 8 Box Hill Gardens

Naked and Free-zing

Avoiding sugar this Summer

Turn the page

Mama’s top book picks

School transition

Worth each

Take the family to Adventure Park Geelong with four free general admission tickets! 4 sets to be WON!

Helping kids through

Lovely locals

Exploring Wheelers Hill

Clever Christmas

Old fashioned play gift ideas

Some big dreams

Enter at https://woobox.com/57nk7b or www.facebook.com/localmamamag

Tickets include unlimited rides ALL DAY so you’ll have the best day ever! Entries are open to Victorian residents only. Competition starts Dec 1st 12.01am and closes Dec 31st 2018 at 11.59pm. Prizes are not transferrable or redeemable for cash. Visit www.mamamag.com.au/competitions for full terms and conditions.

A book made by Melbourne kids

Carry on bag The ultimate guide to packing

Mama can cook

Eat by Design cook up a family feast

ABC of school holidays

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

ABN: 26 042 138 550. PO Box 8018 Brighton East 3187 Phone: 1300 771 446 Email: info@mamamag.com.au www.mamamag.com.au | www.grizzledesign.com.au

26 ideas for holiday fun

Hearing for speech Exploring its importance

A dad and his nest

Kidnest founder Tim Wise

Summertime cooking

What to whip up with the kids

What’s app’ening

40 42

Dads share their stories

Colour to WIN

Sandsculpting at Boneo Maze tickets

The perfect Christmas photos How to create your family story

MamaMag Dec/Jan 2019

12,500 copies per issue distributed bi-monthly across Melbourne’s East with 50,000 copies in total across all four MamaMag areas: Bayside • Eastside • Northside • Westside. Editor in Chief: Sarah Cavalier sarah@mamamag.com.au Eastside Editor: Kara Wilson

Mama’s top app picks

The dads of autism

For more information visit www.adventurepark.com.au

Eastside Advertising: advertising@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.

CHRISTMAS CRACKERS Mama’s picks for Xmas fun in the East Carols at Como Park

Sun 16 Dec, 7.30–9.30pm. Como Park, 305 - 325 Williams Road, South Yarra. Hosted by one of Australia’s most popular actors, presenters and all-round funnymen Shane Jacobson, this star-studded line-up will be headlined by Australian Idol and I’m A Celebrity winner Casey Donovan and feature unmissable performances by Genevieve Kingsford (The Light of Piazza, Brigadoon), Blake Appelqvist (Priscilla Queen of the Desert and Kinky Boots) and Josh Piterman (The Ten Tenors, West Side Story, Cats).

Carols by Candlelight, Ivanhoe Sat 15 Dec from 6.30pm–9.30pm Ivanhoe Park, The Boulevard, Ivanhoe East.

Get into the spirit of Christmas and enjoy Banyule’s very own Carols by Candlelight at Ivanhoe Park. This family friendly event is guaranteed to delight old and young with an array of activities and entertainment. Bring your own picnic or visit the onsite food vendors and join in the carols with your Carols by Candlelight program and songbook.

Whitehorse Carols

Sun 16 Dec, 5.30pm–9.30pm. Free rides and amusements: 4.30pm–9.20pm. Whitehorse Civic Centre precinct. Santa Claus is coming to town and so are a host of wonderful performers including popular entertainer Rob Mills, and Verity Hunt-Ballard. Beloved children’s act The Mik Maks will open the event, followed by performances from the National Boys Choir, the local jazz talents of the Blackburn High School Senior Jazz Orchestra and the Combined Churches of North Blackburn. Santa and his elves will be there from 4.30pm for photos before leaving for their around-the-world sleigh ride.

Family Christmas at Central Park

Sun 9th Dec 6.30–8.30pm. Central Park, 83 - 141 Burke Road, Malvern East. Hosted by musical theatre sensation Lucy Durack (Wicked, Legally Blonde), this year’s event will feature incredible performances by Emily Williams (Australian Idol), Bobby Fox (Jersey Boys, Riverdance, Mamma Mia) and Euan Doidge (Priscilla Queen of the Desert, Kinky Boots).

Kew Community Carols by Candlelight

Sun 2 Dec, 6.30–9pm, Petrie Square corner Cotham Rd and Charles St Kew. Christmas celebrations in Kew. Come along for a night of fun, carols, and food! It will be a great night to hang out, have fun, and get into the spirit of Christmas with some festive carols. Hosted by Kew Churches Together with sponsorship by Boroondara Council.

Monash Carols by Candlelight Sun 9th Dec, 4pm–10pm, Jells Park, Wheelers Hill.

Hosted by well-known TV and radio personality Pete Smith, the magic of Christmas is captured under the stars each December at Jells Park, where the community comes together to enjoy the Monash Carols by Candlelight Concert. Now in its 29th year, this celebration has become the City’s most prestigious event, which has a strong sense of community and involves the invaluable work of volunteers. Two community bands come together on stage to provide the music, with a variety of talented performers leading the audience through all their favourite carols.

Carols in Canterbury

Sun 2 Dec, 6.30pm–9.30pm. Carols start 7.30pm. Canterbury Gardens, 190B Canterbury Road Canterbury. A fun community event with great local bands and talent, face painting, animal farm, glow products, sausage sizzle, pancakes, strawberries and cream plus hot and cold drinks Admission is free with all profits from food and drink going to charity.

Maroondah Carols

Sat 1 Dec 6.30pm, Town Park Croydon. Ppreshow entertainment by Bethany Fisher in the ‘Christmas Spectacular’ show. Main show at 7.30pm features soloists Daniel Hearn and Caitlin Spears followed by a stunning fireworks show that will light up the Maroondah sky (weather permitting) around 9.45pm. The fun also includes: food vans, face painting, an animal farm, roving performers and glow products!

Myer Windows and Santaland Sat 10th Nov - Mon 24th Dec. Myer Bourke Street.

Myer Christmas Windows is a free exhibition open every day, 7.30am - 1am. The queues are sometimes long but well worth the wait, then head on up to Santaland on level six of Myer. You don’t need to journey to the North Pole to experience the wonder of Christmas. Tell Santa your Christmas wish, get your photo taken and enjoy lots of exciting activities including a ride on the Santaland Express train.

Gingerbread Village by Epicure

Santa’s Magical Kingdom

On now - Dec 23rd, Caulfield Racecourse. Melbourne get ready to see a truly magical experience. Santa’s Magical Kingdom returns this November and December 2018!. The magic of Christmas will come alive at Santa’s Magical Kingdom with an interactive walk-through adventure land including everything that you love about Christmas, plus an International Spectacular Christmas Show that will amaze everyone. Lasting memories of fun, laughter and special ‘family time’ will be remembered by guests long after the event has come to a close. Santa’s Magical Kingdom is for every child and the ‘inner-child’ in all of us. www.santasmagicalkingdom.com.au

Festive Projections

Now - Tues 25 Dec, daily from 9–10.20pm, Federation Square. It’s that time of year again, when the city comes alive with glittering Christmas light projections. Melbourne’s famous Christmas projections are back with free animated shows illuminated on iconic city locations. Catch the feature show at Fed Square and make your mark on the Yarra Building using savvy ‘fingerpaint’ technology to control your own vibrant light projection. This year, the Christmas Projections will be at Docklands for those looking to have a night out beside the water. These colourful creations will be unlike the traditional animations and will create a new way to experience the area. Projected onto the ‘Silence’ sculptures along New Quay Promenade, this interactive experience will bring plenty of festive cheer. fedsquare.com/events

1 - 24 Dec, 9am–8.15pm daily. Federation Square. Now in its seventh year, the Gingerbread Village by EPICURE is moving location this year from Melb Town Hall to Riverside Gallery at the Federation Square, only 5 minutes from the Melbourne Town Hall. Built entirely out of gingerbread, see if you can spot iconic Melbourne landmarks and the gingerbread chefs getting up to mischief! With activities and plenty of treats for the kids, the Gingerbread Village is sure to add smiles to your festive season. Looking for delicious Christmas gifts? EPICURE’S pastry chefs will also be baking delicious treats that can also be purchased. 7

Parklife Box Hill Gardens Follow the winding paths through the tranquil manicured grounds until you find this large, pastel-tinted new adventure playground. There is definitely something for all ages here, even the tweens will enjoy themselves. The highlight for the pre-school aged kids is the slide tower, featuring a long twisty tunnel slide. If they need time to work up the courage, they can always whizz down the shorter slide. Then the older or more foot-sure kids can cross a rope bridge and climb through (and above!) a maze of rope climbing nets, where they can practice their balancing skills while you watch on with your heart in your throat. For the toddlers, there’s a smaller climbing structure with slides, a little built-in trampoline, and a fun musical and megaphone zone. It doesn’t stop

there! There are two flying foxes, a huge nest swing, more climbing structures with monkey bars galore, and a ride-on spinner and bouncer. The park includes clean public toilets (BYO soap), BBQs, drinking fountains, and colourful rubber paths to make navigating with a pram easy. Unfortunately the park is fully exposed to the elements but there are picnic tables under cover, and it’s surrounded by shady trees. Bring a picnic, a basketball for the court, and a kite to fly. If you have a runner, the playground isn’t enclosed but it’s set well away from any roads but beware of the pond. This play space will not disappoint.

Irving Avenue Box Hill

naked and free-zIng! Childhood obesity is becoming an increasing concern and in Australia 1 in 4 children are considered overweight or obese. For Australians aged between 4 and 17 years, obesity is a very concerning condition as once gained it is quite hard to lose. And one of the main causes of this problem? Sugar. With Summer here, kids across the country are no doubt reaching for their favourite Summer treat; a frozen icy pole in a tube. Last year alone Australian kids consumed over 4,000 tons of sugar just from this frozen fun. Makes you shudder, hey! These quick and convenient treats (almost every family has them floating around in the freezer somewhere) also contain a dangerous amount of chemicals and additives and the market leader (we wont name names, but you know who they are) sold 10.2m tubes last year. With 2 teaspoons per tube, that’s a lot of sugar! So enter Melbourne man David Andrew. He’s not a dad yet, but he’s a super proud uncle and he is on a mission to help our kids. He wants to remove 500 tons of sugar from Australian kids’ diets every year, without them missing out on any frozen fun! Ironically I met with Dave the morning after Halloween, so the full effect of sugar and kids was fresh in my mind after a big night of ‘trick or treating’ and I was keen to hear more about his mission. He was bursting with enthusiasm and you couldn’t wipe the smile off his face as he told me about his two businesses; Naked Life Sparkling and Sugar Free-zies. Clearly this was a man incredibly proud of what he was doing for families across Australia.

While working as the General Manager at sugar replacement company Natvia, Dave’s partner (who is fructose intolerant) often complained she couldn’t drink her favourite drinks (aka gin and tonic) when she was out and about (aka some Melbourne bar!). Most sugar-free soft drink alternatives had a bad taste and chemicals to boot and he knew there was a massive gap in the market here for quality sugar-free alternatives. So in 2016 he poured all of his life savings and passion into starting Naked Life Sparkling, a guilt-free soft drink range naked from sugar, artificial sweeteners and nasties. Naturally (pardon the pun), due to their quality and natural ingredients, they kicked off, with both adults and kids loving them. Dave started receiving lots of positive feedback from parents who were giving his soft drinks to their kids and loving his products, but they were also calling out for other healthy alternatives for their kids. It was then, after looking after his nephews and niece, he discovered there were no healthy alternatives for frozen treats and the Sugar Free-zies idea was born. Everyone has a nostalgic childhood memory of an icy sweet treat on a hot summer’s day, so he knew this was the perfect place to start. It’s taken two years and a whole lot of love in developing Australia’s first Aussie made and owned, sugarfree 100% natural icy pole but they are finally here and Dave is very proud! And he’s winning uncle of the year status while he’s at it! But making a treat sugar free wasn’t enough for Dave. They needed to taste amazing, because kids won’t eat something with an inferior taste to their sugary competitors. It was also important to him that they contained no artificial colours or flavours, no artificial preservatives or thickeners and they had to be manufactured right here in Melbourne. This involved sourcing expensive manufacturing equipment from the US, because no one had the machinery here, but outsourcing manufacturing overseas simply wasn’t a quality sacrifice Dave was willing to make.

We know parents today still want to be able to treat their children, but at the same time they are well-educated on the negative effects sugar and artificial preservatives can have on their health. Dave is creating a solution to this! Committed to the cause, he’s also started The No Nasties Icicle Project which pledges to donate $100 for every one-ton of sugar removed through his sales to a selection of not-for-profits, driving awareness around better food choices in Australia.

Last year Australian kids consumed over 4,000 tons of sugar in frozen icy-tubes alone. A recent study commissioned by Sugar Free-zies and delivered by ORC International found 70% of Australians surveyed strongly agree that being free from sugar, artificial preservatives and additives is an important purchasing decision. Despite this, the sugar icy treats category in Australia continues to rise, with leading brands receiving a 21.4% year on year growth without any healthy alternatives in the Australian market until now. “I’ve been overwhelmed with the amount of positive responses from Australian parents since Sugar Free-zies have been in production, it’s phenomenal! The first word I hear from everyone’s mouth is, finally!” says Dave. Mama couldn’t agree more. You can find Sugar Free-zies at Woolworths and all major independent supermarkets nationally. www.sugarfreezies.com.au

Here are some of Dave’s key tips to help reduce your family’s sugar intake: Watch for the “No Added Sugar” marketing trap. “No Added Sugar” can still contain a huge proportion of sugar through natural fruit sugars! Careful of natural sugars like dates, agave and dried fruits. They sound nice and healthy but they are still sugar. Sauces - keep an eye out for tomato and bbq sauces that are packed with sugar! - There are quite a few brands with no added sugar around now so look for them instead! Muffins and banana bread - These are sugar bombs! Swap with a savoury option. Juice - You wouldn’t eat 4 oranges because you’d feel sick - but that’s what’s in a cup of juice... as well as the same amount of sugar as a Coke! - Eat wedges of orange instead! Chocolate - Dark Chocolate instead of lollies (still as a treat). Yoghurt - Low fat yoghurt is usually full of sugar. Use unsweetened and add your own fruit. Ice cream - Eat it and enjoy it! (but use it as education that it is a really really special treat!)

turn the page Tricky’s Bad Day by Alison Lester Poor Tricky! Nothing is going right for him. Milk spills, pyjama buttons won’t work, his little sister wrecks their game, and when he tries to help out, everything gets worse. Tricky’s having a very bad day! Then Dad has an idea. Outside it’s wild, but there’s a lot to explore… From Australia’s favourite picture-book creator comes a warm and funny story about the very recognisable mess, muddle and love that is the life of a young family – and the freedom of an outside adventure. Published by Affirm Press Kids affirmpress.com.au

Baby + me written by Lauren Gardiner. Illustrations and design by Grace West. With space to write and draw, this is a book for soon-to-be big brothers and sisters with a difference! In baby + me the child’s special place in the family is reinforced and the child learns positive and helpful behaviours that make them a S-U-P-E-R big brother or sister! Featuring beautiful artwork and words by a local Melbourne creative team, this book is a must for families preparing for a new baby. Published by me mo books and available from selected stockists and online. See www.memobooks.com.au.

Cheetah the Cheater by Jarrad B. Elson An entertaining rhyming story about Cheetah the Cheater, that super-sly creature, who always seems to come out on top while playing games. His jungle friends, however, decide that a lesson is on the cards, and challenge him to a race An entertaining story by Australian dentist, Dr Jarrad B. Elson, and illustrated by Russian illustrator Erika Tcogoeva, enjoyable not only for the kids, but especially for the adults! Purchase from:cheetahthecheater.com and on Amazon

All the ways to be smart by Davina Bell Smart is not just ticks and crosses, smart is building boats from boxes. Painting patterns, wheeling wagons, being mermaids, riding dragons … From the award-winning creators of The Underwater Fancy-Dress Parade and Under the Love Umbrella comes this joyful ode to all the unique and wonderful qualities that make children who they are.! Every page of this book in joyous, imaginative and life-affirming… All the Ways to be Smart is a celebration of what childhood can be, and it will likely become a classic. Published by Scribe Publications scribepublications.com.au 12

school transItIon Starting school is a big milestone in the lives of children and families. Children who make a positive start to school are more likely to feel comfortable, relaxed and motivated to learn, have good relationships with others and develop a sense of belonging within their new school community. Helping children to make a smooth transition to school as capable and involved learners is an important part of any preschool curriculum. To understand what makes a great preschool curriculum it is important to understand what a curriculum is. Intentional educators aim to deliver a curriculum that delivers a holistic ready for school program that supports every child to reach their full potential considering that all the day’s routines are learning opportunities. ‘Belonging, Being and Becoming, The Early Years Learning Framework’ (2009) defines a curriculum as ‘all the interactions, experiences, activities, routines and events, planned and unplanned, that occur in an environment designed to foster children’s learning and development’. Intentional educators work to equip each child to take on new challenges during the transition to school by promoting children’s wellbeing, sense of identity, their capacity to look after themselves (dressing and feeding, for example), to plan, play and create with

others, to show care and respect for others and the environment, to make choices, take risks, manage change and celebrate achievements. When looking at what being truly ready for school means it is for each child to display some or all the following traits: • Building and maintaining positive relationships with other adults and children around them. • Being ready to make good, independent decisions and be able to solve any problems that may arise. • Displaying confidence in following routines, coping with transitions and interacting with a wide group of people with confidence. • Being a curious, interested and engaged learner. • Having the ability to be responsible for their own belongings. • Demonstrating the ability to collaborate in both small and large groups with ease. All this is achieved through carefully prepared, interesting and challenging learning environments, play based learning, intentional teaching and exploratory creative play. Through giving children the opportunity to explore and learn through play – they learn how to make independent decisions in a safe space, explore and learn skills that build the foundation of the learning skills they will use throughout their lives!

We can all help children’s start to formalised learning an absolute joy.

This transition to formalised schooling can be a positive and enjoyable time for children, parents and educators alike when approached in a holistic and authentic way through this partnership between the service and families. There are many things that families can do to help their own child get ready for the transition to school just as the early learning service does each moment of every day. Some of these things include: • Having conversations on topics of interest with your child will help develop critical thinking, vocabulary development and confidence • Providing a literacy rich environment at home with a variety of books available and reading to children regularly to help develop a love of quality literature. It is always a great idea to discuss the illustrations with the child, ask them to predict what happens next and talk about what happened in the book afterwards to help develop analytical thinking skills.

• Creating a visual routine to help children understand the steps in common-place experiences, such as getting ready for preschool, to help them to predict what happens next, understand the meaning of routine and manage transitions (something that happens a lot in school). Getting children excited and ready for the transition to school is an equal partnership between the early learning service and the family home and by educators and families working together, we can all help make children’s start to formalised learning an absolute joy. By Emma Forbes, Head of Education and Curriculum at Oac Emma holds a Bachelor of Teaching (Early Childhood) as well as Master of Education (Leadership) and enjoys working with esteemed colleagues in an collaborative way.

• Regularly give children the responsibility of looking after their own belongings and putting them away to help assist with the self-help skills.

lovely locals

EXPLORING WHEELERS HILL 1.

1. Wheelers Hill Library – For some indoors fun The Christmas school holidays are busy, so for a change of pace and scenery, head to the library to keep cool this summer and read some books together. Check the website for their fun holiday activities that will be sure to keep the kids occupied. The library is nestled in a reserve with a lovely pond and picnic area out the front, so pack a picnic lunch as well. 860 Ferntree Gully Rd, www.monlib.vic.gov.au/Kids 2. Monash Gallery of Art – For a day of art and exploration Bring your young art enthusiasts to the home of Australian photography. This gallery holds a collection of over 3000 significant works, and is situated on a parkland with amazing views and a fascinating architecture and sculpture park that the kids will love exploring. See their website for upcoming events and opening times. Admission is free.

860 Ferntree Gully Rd, www.mga.org.au 3. The Rogue Squire – For a lazy (kid free) lunch

While it’s a family-friendly pub, why not have a long lunch without the kids so you can relax out on the deck taking in the panoramic views of the Dandenongs, maybe sampling a James Squire brew. Choose from their beer grazing menu, pizzas, share plates, and delicious modern pub fare. Gluten free, vegetarian, and vegan options are available. Corner Jells and Ferntree Gully Rds, www.jamessquire.com.au/ brewhouses/the-rogue-squire/ 4. Kidsdoo Art – For the little artists Encourage the kids’ creative sides in this art studio, which offers experimental workshops on various themes during the school holidays. They’ll be inspired to have fun and be imaginative while experiencing a variety of art materials. Check the website for workshop details, or book in for a weekend of after-school class during term time.

Building 3, 624 Ferntree Gully Rd, www.kisdooart.com 5. Wheelers Hill Farmers’ Market – For community spirit It happens every third Saturday of each month, 8am to 1pm, so pop it in your calendar and make it a regular event with the family. Bring your dog, your shopping jeep, green bags, and your hunger, and get to know your local growers, bakers, brewers, and creators. Purchase gorgeous, unique Christmas gifts while you’re there, or stock up on your healthy fruit and veg once the silly season finishes…when you overindulged a little (okay, a lot!). Jells Park South, Ferntree Gully Road, FB: Wheelers-Hill-Farmers-Market

CLEVER CHRISTMAS Unique Christmas gift Ideas for kid’s old-fashioned play that won’t cost the earth.

Engaging, yet space minimising

Whilst Christmas is a time of celebration, holidays, overindulgence and anticipation for children, let’s face it, it can also be a time of financial burden, unwanted presents and household clutter for parents.

For younger children, magnets for the fridge are a fabulous idea. Whilst my daughter absolutely loves her magnetic scenes (she can build up her own scene with characters on a magnetic background), the favorite was definitely the photo magnets that we had made of all the family. The bonus was it helped her remember all the special people in her little world.

Alice Zsembery, the author of “Real Kids, Real Play” shares her ideas on how to create unique gift ideas for children that won’t require a second mortgage or be discarded after an hour.

The key to gift giving You will often see it written that your gifts for Christmas should cover off the following points: Something they want, something they need, something to wear and something to read.

Last Christmas, Santa left us a BIG surprise; a black board wall! (well, actually, it was the backside of our kitchen island bench as we have limited space). The chalkboard paint was only $16 from Bunnings, some chalk was only $4 and for a grand total of $20 they have had endless fun without taking up any space at all!

This is an excellent rule to live by. Additionally, when considering toys or play items, I like to ensure that any play gifts that my children receive promote flexible play; that is, they are not overly prescriptive in the ‘way’ they need to be used. I also like gifts that do not contribute significantly to household clutter.

Make a Kit

Be creative

• Car Track Kit - tape, new cars, cardboard tubes. We just use masking tape at home, but you can buy road tape from Kmart for $2! [Hint: buy a few!]

Typically, parents and gift-givers have their blinkers on when it comes to gifts; simply looking at the toy aisles and book stores for inspiration. Children, particularly younger children, find joy in the most unexpected places. My son once thanked me profusely for buying the sunscreen that he loved and told me it was the best present ever (true story)! There are so many alternatives out there that can create bigger bang for your money. The best thing is that with so many of these ideas, you can avoid the mad December rush at the large shopping centres and pick up your supplies from Bunnings, Spotlight and supermarkets!

Think about what play you can provide for vertical surfaces…

Kits are a great idea for both younger and older children, aligned to their interests. It doesn’t need to take much time or money, but some carefully curated items can amount to endless play! Here are some ideas:

• Cupcake Kit – cupcake mix, cupcake tray or stand, variety of decorations, patty tins, apron • Sock Puppet Kit – colourful socks, pom poms, googly eyes, glue, various bits of felt to cut ears, nose, mouth etc. • Dino Excavation Kit - small dinosaurs, plastic containers, plaster, sand, paintbrush, magnifying glass • Fort Kit – colourful flat sheet, flashlight, rope, pegs, even glow sticks. If you are really a sewing champ, you could also sew a few loops to each corner and the centre of the sheet to make them easier to hang.

• Craft Box – these are always a hit and can usually be stocked from the local $2 shop. A fishing tackle box makes a great craft box, and then you just need to fill it with a variety of pencils, crayons, arts and crafts supplies and stickers. • Playdough Kit – some homemade playdough, cookie cutters, a rolling pin and a board and you have yourself hours of fun.

By Alice Zsembery, Jack and Lu’s. jackandlus.com Alice is the founder of Jack and Lu’s: a company created with a simple dream of bringing back real childhood; where the toys were simpler, the items were fewer and the imaginations were greater. She is a busy working mum of 2 preschool aged children and has just released her new book Real Kids, Real Play – 150 activities to do around the home using household items.

• Gardening Kit - A great present to encourage outdoor play and engage in nature, it is really easy to stock on a budget from Bunnings or even a supermarket. Be sure to add in a sheet of stickers so that they can decorate their pot! If you need more details on the kits above, head to www.jackandlus.com for your free guide.

Gift of experiences Some of our most loved presents are memberships or unique experiences. The zoo and museum are good-old favourites, but there are plenty of other unique experiences out there; indoor rock-climbing, go carting, Luna Park entry and even designing your own bags and accessories.

Think travel With so many families taking some time off and packing up the car for a summer adventure, a travel pack is always a great idea to keep them entertained both in the car and on holiday. Two of our favourites are: • Travel Lego Kit – glue a lego board to the inside of a carry tin and fill the tin with a small packet of lego. You can also include some printed activity cards (free to download at www.jackandlus.com) which prompt younger children to follow a set of instructions and duplicate the card. • Magnetic Travel Box – stocked with magnetic figures for younger kids or, for older kids, how about picking up a packet of magnetic letters and icy pole sticks and create a word activity game for the car?

SOME BIg Dreams Early Harvest 7 is a book for young readers with big dreams. It was the last editorial meeting for the young editors of Early Harvest 7 – but an important one. The 14 editors, aged 10-12, were considering whether or not to include the story submitted by the Australian Children’s Laureate Morris Gleitzman in Early Harvest 7, an annual collection of stories and poems by young Australian writers and professional children’s authors. The editors were excited to have Morris’ work in the publication. But they were determined to not treat him any differently than the other 150 young writers from Australia who had also submitted their works. As with other writers, they had editorial changes to suggest – but would Morris be offended? The editors decided to exercise their editorial independence and sent their honest feedback with suggestions to Morris. What transpired was a feisty and entertaining back and forth between Morris and his toughest critics yet. Luckily for Morris, the story made it into Early Harvest 7, which hit the stands on 10th November. Early Harvest is an annual collection of stories, poems, quizzes and games – written and edited by children for children. The book is the end result of a publishing program run by 100 Story Building, a children’s creative space in Footscray. Each year, 100 Story Building partners with a group of schools in areas of high need for the program. Over the first two school terms, they hold several workshops with the Year 5 and 6 students on story writing and narrative building. These include bringing professional children’s authors to the schools to talk about their craft with the children.

Next, they select a group of 13 to 15 children to act as editors of the annual publication. The editors have heavy responsibilities. They decide the theme, call for submissions, select the stories, commission the cover art and the illustrations, and put the publication together. They are mentored by publishing professionals who sit in on their weekly editorial meets throughout Term 3. This year, the editors were selected from six schools in Greater Dandenong. The dynamic group of boys and girls chose ‘Dreams’ as the theme. They called out for stories by students across different Melbourne schools – including their own. They wanted stories about exciting, fantastic, nightmarish and aspirational dreams. Their only condition was that any story that ended with ‘…and then they woke up and realised it was a dream’ would be rejected outright!

‘I love amazing stories written by children the same age as us. Some of them are better than the professionals’ Prepare yourself to meet a sell-out Rockstar being chased across alternate dimensions by the Police of the Universe, BFF’s facing their biggest fears, multiple volcanoes, a dream gobbling monster, wereverines with knife-like claws, and a very fancy moustache. There is something inspiring for children to read stories written by other children, the same age as them.

‘If your audience is kids, you should be asking children to read your book first!

Eleven-year-old Ciara L says, ‘The stories really inspired me to write my own stories.’ Another 11-year-old reader of the book, Kirsteen, says, ‘I love amazing stories written by children the same age as us. Some of them are better than the professionals’!’ That’s a hell of an admission, given that the authors who have contributed to the publication in the past include Andy Griffiths, Sally Rippin, Terry Denton, Shaun Tan, Alice Pung, Sherryl Clark, Jen Breach, Jane Goodwin and more. Perhaps, the key lies in the young editors acting as gatekeepers for content that children would love. As Oskar K, one of the editors of Early Harvest 7, confidently states, ‘If your audience is kids, you should be asking children to read your book first! We can give great feedback and make it better!’ Oskar said he felt empowered by the process, like his opinions and feedback mattered!

Early Harvest 7 is available for sale at Readings Kids in Carlton. It can also be purchased online at 100storybuilding.org.au/shop-2/. All profits from sales of Early Harvest go back to 100 Story Building, a not-for-profit organisation, to run free literacy programs for children.

The ultimate guide to packing your carry-on bag Summer school holidays are fast approaching and given the long holiday break it’s the perfect time to head off on a family adventure. Book, pack and make memories that will last forever! Here is the ultimate packing guide to help you on your way, whether it be short or long haul we have you covered… Packing the carry-on bag to keep little hands busy and grow little minds doesn’t need to be stressful or time consuming. Ensuring you have everything you need at your fingertips whilst in transit and on the plane will make travelling a fun family experience.

Special snacks - A range of healthy

and special snacks you know your child likes that don’t require cooling, heating and are mess free. If you plan to keep any uneaten food be sure to check which foods you can keep on arrival at your destination.

Engaging toys and activities -

When flying you encounter a lot of planned waiting, but then there is also the unforeseen long periods of waiting, like delayed flights. Plane Play specialise in toys and activities to keep your children engaged and off the screen from the moment you check in to arriving at your destination with pack and play items. Head to planeplay.com.au to see the full range from babies up to age 8.

Change of clothes - Accidents always happen when you least expect them, so best to be prepared with easy access to these items at all times. A change of clothes and pjs for your child as well as a spare top for yourself to freshen up on arrival.

By Brooke Gribble, Owner of Plane Play www.planeplay.com.au

The standard everyday leaving the house items - Nappies, a few more

than usual and a change mat, a disposable one can come in handy for messy moments. Wipes and two extra plastic bags for wet/dirty clothes, food or bottles. Several dummies so you’re prepared with clean ones for when they drop on the floor or a dummy leash. Your child’s usual drink/milk bottle and formula if need be.

Cosy blanket - A familiar blanket from

home for comfort on the plane and naps in transit. Babies have a knack for wanting to nap when it’s least convenient for you!

Communicating with your child - Talk to your child prior to leaving the house about what to expect, it will help them feel more comfortable throughout the journey and less stressful for everyone.

Baggage - Choose your carry-on bag wisely to maximise space, weight and to also free up your hands during transit. Check your carry-on luggage allowance so you can pack the bag strategically and ensure you aren’t over the limit before leaving the house. Happy holidays!

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mama can Cook! Haloumi and Corn Fritters Serves 4

Method:

Ingredients:

Combine the haloumi, corn, zucchini, chilli and coriander in a bowl. Whisk the eggs slightly and then add to the mixture and stir through.

180g haloumi, grated 2 cobs of corn, kernels only 1 zucchini, grated 1 small red chilli, finely grated 1 handful of coriander, finely chopped 3 eggs 1/3 – 1/2 cup buckwheat flour Salt and pepper 4 handfuls of spinach 2 tomatoes, halved and sliced into wedges 1 avocado, sliced

Add 1/3 cup of flour (you may need up to half a cup if your eggs were large – you don’t want the mixture too wet) and a pinch of salt and pepper and then combine. Heat a large pan to medium heat and cook the fritters for 3-4 minutes each side or until browned and easy to flip. Serve fritters topped with avocado accompanied by the spinach and tomato salad with dressing.

By Steph Wearn for EatByDesign meal delivery boxes eatbydesign.com.au

By Carissa Mason for EatByDesign meal delivery boxes eatbydesign.com.au

Oven Baked Chicken with Easy Greens and Honey Pumpkin Serves 4

Method:

Ingredients:

Preheat your oven to 180C.

2 chicken breasts, cut in half

On a lined baking tray spread the pumpkin wedges out evenly. Coat them in olive oil and then drizzle some honey over the top.

1/4 pumpkin cut into thin wedges 1 cup flaked almonds 100g spinach 2 tablespoon honey 2-3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil 1 avocado Salt and pepper 2 lemons

Season the pumpkin with salt and pepper and then sprinkle the almonds over the top. Put the pumpkin in the oven and bake for about 30 mins or until the pumpkin is roasted and has caramelised with the honey. On a separately lined baking tray, place the 4 pieces of chicken. Drizzle some olive oil over the top and season with salt and pepper. Once the pumpkin has about 20 mins left of cooking time, place the chicken in the over - it will typically take about 15-20 mins to cook. If youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d prefer you can pan fry it â&#x20AC;&#x201C; whichever your preferred cooking method is fine. Once the chicken and pumpkin are cooked remove them from the oven. Serve each person a piece of chicken and some pumpkin. Then add to each plate a handful of greens. Drizzle olive oil over the greens and garnish with some dill and half a lemon. 25

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A-Z OF SCHOOL HOLIDAYS Artvo at Crown. Our Docklands favourite has popped up at Crown once again. Interact with the artwork and snap a photo with each of the eight Crown Christmas murals, which have been painted on-site. You can even become part of the art and share your photo on social media using the hashtag #ArtVoCrown.

Gumbaya World. Get away from it all

Bounce. Fly through the air and bounce

Heidi Museum of Modern Art.

off the walls. BOUNCEinc is a massive indoor trampoline park for all ages which is all about jumping high and landing safe. Venues in Glen Iris and Blackburn North. bounceinc.com.au

Carnival for Kids.

If you’ve ever been to a party here you will understand how fun this venue is. Cat and the team run some fanatastic holiday fun with different themes and ideas each day. Look up all the fun over at www.carnivalforkids.com.au

Day out with Thomas. A must for the

Thomas mad child. The whole family will enjoy unlimited rides with Thomas in the Troublesome Trucks, a 45 minute return train ride with one of Thomas’ Friends, plus all the boys and girls can meet Sir Topham Hatt! 19-20 Jan. bellarinerailway.com.au/day-outwith-thomas

Enchanted Adventure Garden.

A multi-award winning natural attraction nestled in the beautiful hinterland of Arthurs Seat. Get tangled in a maze, go Tube Sliding or book a Tree Surfing adventure. Or just set up a picnic and listen to the laughter. www.enchantedmaze.com.au

Fed Square fun. A highlight at Fed Square

is ACMI’s Screen Worlds: The Story of Film, Television and Digital Culture charts film’s early beginnings to the rise of television, games, the internet and the dominance of the digital age. Screen Worlds contains 220 screen-based displays, 30 hours of moving image content including newly commissioned works, and hundreds of original objects and memorabilia. www.acmi.net.au/events/screen-worlds/

with a delightful day of adventure and fun in the beautiful Australian bush. Experience an unforgettable brush with the wild as you get up close to 52 species of amazing animals, or spin out on awesome rides and waterslides under the gum trees. gumbuya.com.au

Explore the gardens and exhibitions at Heide. Walk in and out of the galleries, explore the sculpture park or have lunch in the café. Entry is free for children under 16. Play detective and follow clues around the gallery and sculpture park. Trails can be printed at home or collected from the Heide III information desk, in the main entrance to the museum. www.heide.com.au

Inflatable World Doncaster. Bounce

your way through the holidays at one of Australia’s biggest indoor inflatable playgrounds. It’s not just for the kids – they encourage the parents to have fun with their children. Sessions are for two hours per single entry fee – you will be tired by then anyway! www.inflatableworldoz.com.au

Julian Opie Studio for Kids. NGV Kids

presents an interactive exhibition for families, featuring hands-on and digital activities. Julian invites you to create a portrait in a new way. You can try constructing a head using felt shapes or create a digital self-portrait using only line and colour. Till Feb 17. www.ngv.vic.gov.au

KidsCo. KidsCo provide school holiday

programs run within your own office which are proven to increase staff employee satisfaction. Each day features an exciting theme that sets the stage for the days activities, specially designed and run by qualified teachers and child care specialists. www.kidsco.net.au

Latitude. Heidelberg’s place to bounce,

climb and fly! Latitude offers a world of aerial entertainment for little kids and big kids alike. From their dedicated Kids Zone for children 18 months to 5 years, to the fully integrated bouncing and climbing activity floor, there really is something for everyone. latitudeair.com

Melbourne Museum. The Children’s

Gallery is a wondrous place for babies to 5-year-olds to explore, play and learn. Budding palaeontologists excavate fossils in the dinosaur dig; aspiring botanists traverse the discovery garden; young curators gaze at the specially selected museum objects, and there is a ‘camouflage disco. museumvictoria.com.au

NIDA. NIDA run holiday courses for all school age groups helping identify and experience the essentials of screen acting. Build your on screen confidence as you develop skills in improvisation, character development and script work. www.open.nida.edu.au Old Melbourne Gaol. When the Old

Melbourne Gaol was built in the mid-1800s, it dominated the Melbourne skyline as a symbol of authority. Inside the Gaol, dangerous criminals were held alongside petty offenders, the homeless and the mentally ill. Find out what life was like for the men and women who lived and died here all those years ago inc Ned Kelly. www.oldmelbournegaol.com.au

will guide you along the waters edge and through to an incredible activity zone to keep you and the kids entertained all day. From Dec 15th. www.sandsculpting.com.au

The Art Factory. They offer dynamic art

and craft workshops to inspire kids from 4- 14. Choose the workshop that takes your fancy and create masterpieces such as stunning mosaics, fabulous canvas collages and lots of other groovy craft ideas. Facilitated by talented artists who create an enjoyable and satisfying creative experience. Malvern and Balwyn North. theartfactory.com.au

Ultimate sports lover tour. Visit

Flemington Racecourse, Tour the MCG then enjoy lunch overlooking Marvel Stadium. Immerse yourself in the history that has captured the attention of millions of sporting fans around the world. www.redballoon.com.au

Vic Market. The Queen Victoria Market run

school holiday activities and best of all they’re all free. Learn creative ways of making food and food decorations. Aged 4+. qvm.com.au

Polly Woodside. After sailing 1.7 million

Wild Action Keepkeeper Experience.

Queen Victoria Market. The Summer

X marks the spot. Geocaching is a

kilometres and circumnavigating the world 17 times, the Polly Woodside now welcomes you aboard. Open every day during the school holidays with Story Time at 10.15am and Children’s Crew Calls at 10.30am, 11.30am, 12.30pm, 1.30pm & 2.30pm! www.nationaltrust. org.au/places/polly-woodside/ Night Market has Melbourne’s largest and best array of global street food, artisan and vintage stall holders and quirky activations. You’ll be floating around the historic Market sheds with the cream of Melbourne’s busking scene and roving entertainers. Till March 20. thenightmarket.com.au

Royal Botanic Gardens Melbourne. The kids will love the Ian Potter Foundation Children’s Garden. There’s lots of fun places to explore including a water feature that sprays up out of the ground, a wetland area, bamboo forest, gorge, plant tunnel and kitchen garden. www.rbg.vic.gov.au

Sand Sculpting at Boneo Maze.

This Summer you can get in touch with your inner child and spend the day in Neverland. The Peter Pan exhibition will take you on a journey told through sand. The world class sculptures

Spend a whole day with zoologist Chris Humfrey, from ABC’s hit series “Chris Humfrey’s Wild Life!”, at his very own private zoo in Mount Macedon. Get up close and personal with over 2000 animals with this hands-on experience, which is offered nowhere else. www.wildaction.com.au treasure hunt using a GPS enabled device to find a geocache near your home. Use the app to navigate to a geocache nearby then once found sign and date the logbook inside, place it back where you found it and log your experience online. www.geocaching.com

Yarra Valley Chocolaterie.

Your child can become a Junior Chocolatier in a hands on class learning to make their very own chocolate creations with European Chocolatiers. www.yvci.com.au/classes

Zoos Victoria. This summer, experience

Healesville Sanctuary’s new two-week festival bringing together live music, local food, a bush bar and backyard games. The family friendly program includes acoustic Aussie favourites, bush dancing, Indigenous Dreamtime storytelling and guest appearances from our Zooperheroes. Jan 14-28. www.zoo.org.au

HearIng for speech and The importance of hearing for speech and language development Hearing plays a critical role in a child’s speech and language development, and the first five years of life are the most crucial. Unfortunately, during this time young children can develop either temporary or permanent hearing difficulties associated with middle ear infections, significant childhood illnesses and accidents involving bumps to the head. Hearing losses may be catagorised as sensorineural, conductive, mixed or central. A sensorineural loss is a permanent hearing loss that generally affects the inner ear or hearing nerve and stops the auditory signal reaching the brain. A conductive loss affects the outer or middle part of the ear and is most commonly associated in children with ear infections. A mixed loss involves both a sensorineural and a conductive loss and due to infections or fluid it may fluctuate. A central hearing loss is one that affects the central auditory nervous system such as an auditory processing disorder. Fortunately, in Australia most children with a hearing loss classified as moderate or more severe at birth will be detected through the newborn hearing screening program and early intervention will begin immediately. However, for many children with mild permanent losses or mild - moderate temporary hearing losses their loss may go undetected for some time and can have significant implications for their speech and language development; their social and emotional development and school progress. During early childhood young children are using all their five senses (sight, smell, touch, taste and hearing) to explore and learn about the world around them. Whenever, any one of these senses is limited or reduced the impact can be significant. For a young child with a hearing loss, learning to speak, learning the meaning of words, the subtle nuances of tone and inflection and the rules of social interaction becomes much harder. Young children don’t have the benefit of prior knowledge and experience, they are building 30

their understanding from the ground up. Many children with hearing losses associated with otitis media (a build-up of fluid behind the ear drum) or mild permanent hearing losses will have difficulties hearing soft speech sounds such as ‘t’, ‘sh’, ‘s’, ‘f’ ‘p’, ‘th” and ‘l’. When they have trouble hearing these sounds it is difficult for them to hear the difference between words. It is also hard for them to practice saying the words correctly and it is through the processes of speech that we learn the meanings of words and how to interact with others. If a child can’t hear these sounds, they may stop including the sound in their speech or they may not initially develop them which can make their speech very difficult for others to understand. When others are unable to understand what a child is saying the, child can become frustrated or distressed. Similarly when children have difficulty hearing some speech sounds they tend to have greater trouble learning the meaning of words, they have greater trouble learning function words such as ‘the’ and ‘a”. They also have greater trouble learning abstract words such as “before’ and ‘after’ than other children of their age and subsequently they tend to be slower in developing their vocabulary and also to develop sentences. They may also use sentences that are shorter and simpler. Children with hearing difficulties can also have trouble learning complex or abstract concepts and they can have greater trouble paying attention, hearing in noisy environments or environments with poor acoustics and overhearing incidental conversations which can contribute to difficulties at school. Hearing difficulties can also contribute to difficulties learning some of the subtleties of social communication or pragmatic language skills. Children with hearing losses are not able to overhear and incidentally learn in the same way as their peers. When this happens the subtleties of social communication can be missed, leading a child to appear “socially awkward”, they may have difficulties making friends or feel as if they don’t fit in. Pragmatic language is also important for school for written communication, literacy and abstract conversational communication.

language

References: ASHA – American Speech and Language Association. “Hearing loss affects communication.” Britton, Borden, Jamani, Jordan, “Otitis Media and Temporary Conductive Hearing Loss: How will this impact my child’s speech and language development” The University of Queensland and Mater. Hear the World Foundation (2013) “When Children Learn to Speak: The Importance of Hearing”.

Signs that your child may be having difficulty hearing include: • Slow to respond to sound. • Babbling that is monotone or has limited sounds. • Slow to develop words. • Stops saying certain sounds. • Complain that their ears are sore or are pulling at their ears. • Constantly asks for repeats. • You always have to raise your voice before your child hears. • You notice that your child has to watch your face intently or turn to hear you. • The TV is louder than others would generally like. • Having difficulty with spelling and reading or seems inattentive at school. If you have concerns regarding your child’s hearing an audiologist can undertake a comprehensive assessment and suggest the most appropriate audiological intervention. Fortunately, the sooner the hearing loss is identified, the sooner both the hearing loss can be addressed and support strategies for speech and language development and school can be implemented.

By Susan Tegg-Quinn B.Nurs, M.Clin.Aud.M.Aud.SA(cc)

Hearelief Hearing and Tinnitus Management, Camberwell www.hearelief.com

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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 child's 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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A dad and hIs nest Meet Melbourne dad Tim Wise. He really is wise because he is helping to solve our unaffordable childcare problems. Tim was struggling to find childcare for his son and noticed many mums and bubs groups gathering at parks and cafes. He thought about how much easier it would be if these groups worked together - if each parent took a turn in looking after the children on a rotating cycle in the privacy of their own homes. It would free up the others to work, study or simply have time to themselves and also save lots of money to help pay mortgages.

Where did the inspiration come from for KidNest?

After thinking about the concept for many years and seeing no real change in the childcare industry, Tim decided to take a leap of faith and do something about it by creating his app KidNest, which he will be launching soon.

KidNest connects like-minded parents living in the same neighbourhood, who agree to help look after each other’s children on a rotating cycle. By forming various ‘Nests’ in their own homes, parents are connecting and supporting each other. Also, creating a reliable and robust roster system. The old saying ‘it takes a village to raise a child’ is all about recognising parenting as a shared responsibility and that is what KidNest is all about.

Firstly Tim, tell us a little bit about yourself and your son. At a young age, I went to live in the UK to race cars as I wanted to be a F1 driver. However, when the funds dried up and the dream went out the door, I moved onto journalism. Spanning over 10 years, I covered all the major war zones. My focus was on child soldiers in Africa and I went on to make numerous documentaries; one of them being the ABC TV documentary ‘Child Soldiers’. I filmed in places like Bosnia, Iraq, Sudan, Southern Sudan, East Timor, Liberia, Sierra Leone, Assam far East India and Somalia. I also directed a documentary ‘Soldiers of Peace’, which Hollywood actor Michael Douglas narrated. After returning to Australia, I moved into reality TV and have been producing the hit show ‘The Block’ - now in its 14th season. My son Zac is 10 years old and being a single dad, I get to spend every other week with him. He has taken up tennis and we play together weekly. I also started playing again as I don’t want him to beat me until he is at least 18. It’s a great way for me to stay fit and spend quality time with Zac. I said to him that the day he beats me; he gets some cash… so it’s game on!

The main inspiration came from speaking to young parents about the KidNest idea and receiving positive feedback. I continued to move forward, building on ideas and taking it a step further each time. I got to the point of no return when I put in quite a substantial amount of money to get KidNest off the ground.

So how does KidNest work?

An ideal Nest has five families and each parent minds the Nest for one day and frees up the other four days of the week to do whatever they want. The easy-to-use app will allow parents to register in their local community where they have the ability to connect with other locals. They meet several times, then inspect each other’s homes and then decide if they want to create a ‘Nest’ together. The App guides the parents along the way and is very easy to use.

How will I know my kids are safe in the Nest? KidNest has an extensive safety screening process that every family must go through when signing up. Each parent, family member or minder that will be involved in a Nest must have a Working with Children Check and Volunteer Police Check. Further security checks can also be requested by individual Nests. Anyone who signs up to KidNest will also agree to implement safety standards in their homes and your child’s location is always trackable

while they are at another Nest. We also offer educational modules that the parents can download. These modules have been designed by Childcare experts and will help parents teach the children in the Nest.

What’s been the hardest part of creating the app? Apart from having the money to pay the App development company, it’s all about the ‘User Journey’ - how the parent uses the App and how to make it as simple as possible and not confusing, which is pretty hard and very time consuming. We have been designing the App now for over a year.

We’re sure parents will be keen to get involved. When can we expect the full launch of the app? The App is now in its final stages of development and being tested by a group of trial parents who are loving it and the feedback has been incredible. It’s allowing mums and dads to get time off and also save lots of money. From speaking with many mums and dads it’s going to be a real life changer in terms of cost savings and more importantly - getting mums back into the work force. We will be doing more trials and when the App is ready, there will be a soft launch - word of mouth and building several Nests around local communities. Once we get to a certain number of Nests in Melbourne, there will be public launch through TV, Print and social media. It’s very exciting times ahead.

Back to parenting, what’s your favourite family friendly spot to grab a bite around town? As Baysiders, we really enjoy the Pantry in Church Street, Brighton. Not only is the food delicious but staff always arm Zac with a tin of crayons and drawing paper as long as the table!

Any funny parenting stories? I bought myself an electric bike and Zac and I go bike riding on weekends. The first time we went out, we rode from Port Melbourne to Brighton - quite the distance for an 8-year-old! Silly daddy forgot that he didn’t need to pedal. Zac stopped his bike and started crying as he was so tired. The poor kid now calls my electric bike the ‘Daddy Cheating Bike’ and YES he is right!

Finally you’re currently setting up a trial in Bayside. How can mums get involved? If you know any families in the Bayside area with pre-school aged children who would like to help us on our journey, let us know. The feedback has been incredible so take a little step forward and be involved in KidNest. They will be founding members and the first in history to trial and participate in what will change the landscape of childcare forever! Find out more at www.kidnest.com.au

Summertime cookIng with kids Cooking with kids is never easy, it can be messy, slow and often they get bored half way through, leaving you alone to finish off (and don't think you can get away with quitting too – they will definitely want to eat their efforts!). But it's also lots of fun, there are guaranteed giggles and is the most delicious bonding activity for you and your kids. Cooking also helps develop knowledge of hygiene, following instructions and strengthens their fine motor skills.

None of these recipes require sharp knives (with the exception of splitting the hamburger buns with a bread knife), making them perfect for all ages in the kitchen. They're also the kind of recipes that eventually they'll feel so confident cooking all on their own, you'll feel almost redundant in your kitchen!

Peach Melba Yoghurt Pops Makes 6-8 pops, depending on your mould size

These are the perfect summer treat to keep in your freezer for kids looking for a sweet treat. The best part is that the sweetness from the raspberries and peaches means you won't need to add any sugar to these! If you don't have popsicle moulds, you can use small plastic cups. Ingredients • 1.5 cups Greek yoghurt • 2 tbs honey • 1 tbs vanilla bean paste • 1 cup drained tinned or bottled peaches (about half a tin) • 1 cup fresh or frozen raspberries • Popsicle moulds Method • Mix the Greek yoghurt with the honey and vanilla 36

• In a blender or food processor, blend the peaches until they're lightly chunky • Rinse your blender or food processor and repeat with the raspberries, until they are a smooth puree • Layer alternating heaped spoonfuls of the yoghurt, peaches and raspberries into your popsicle moulds • Freeze for at least four hours (depending on your freezer, this may take longer) • Run the moulds under cold water for about 30 seconds to help dislodge them

Mexican Cheeseburgers Serves 4

Combine two family favourites for the perfect midsummer family dinner. Encourage the kids not to overwork the mince meat when forming patties, as they will become tough otherwise. Ingredients • 1 tsp each dried oregano, cumin and smoked paprika

• 1 lemon

• 400g beef mince

• 2 cups shredded iceberg lettuce

• 4 slices of cheese or 1 cup of grated cheese

• Salt and pepper

• 4 hamburger buns, sliced in half

• Optional: mild chipotle sauce mixed with mayonnaise

• 1 avocado

• 1 jar of salsa

Method 1. Mix the spices in a small bowl and season with salt and pepper. Then, divide the beef mince into four equal parts and, without handling them much, form them into four patties, pressing an indent gently into the middle of each (this will help stop them shrinking) 2. Pat the patties dry with some paper towel and sprinkle both sides liberally with the spice mix 3. Either on the barbecue, or in a medium-hot frying pan with a little oil, cook the burgers for about 4 minutes on one side, before flipping them over. Resist the urge to 'press' them with your spatula, as this will squish out all the juices! 4. Lay the cheese over the burger and cover with a lid or some foil for about 3 minutes or

until the cheese begins to melt. Remove from the heat and rest for 5 minutes 5. While this is happening, mash the avocado and lemon together and season with salt and pepper 6. Toast the buns lightly either under the grill, on the barbecue or in a toaster and top one half with the guacamole. Place the burger patty on top, top with the salsa and lettuce and finish with the burger lid (optional: smeared with the chipotle/mayo mix) 7. Serve immediately. We suggest serving these with some corn chips and salsa, a green salad or grilled corn on the cob.

Nut-Free Bliss Balls

These are the perfect energy hit at the beach or by the pool, as they travel incredibly well. (I always have some stashed in my backpack when I'm babysitting) The best part? You can make these year round and pop them in your kids school lunchboxes, as they are nut free! Ingredients • 1 cup pitted dates • 2 1/2 cups rolled oats • 1/3 cup honey or maple syrup • 1 cup desiccated coconut, plus extra for rolling • Optional: ¼ cup cocoa powder to make chocolate bliss balls Method 1. Place the dates in a bowl and cover with boiling water, let soak for 10 minutes. Drain 2. In a food processor, add the dates, oats,

honey, coconut and, if using, cocoa powder. Blitz until it clumps into a ball 3. Pinch off tablespoon size amounts and roll into balls with your hands, before rolling them in the extra coconut to coat 4. Keep refrigerated for up to a week, or a month in the freezer Georgia Leaker owns Whipped Up, hosting cooking classes and birthday parties for children either at your home or at one of their trusted venues across Melbourne. whippedup.com.au 37

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What’s App’ening? Trying to conceive? There’s an app for that. Looking for something to do with the kids? There’s an app for that too. In fact there is an app for absolutely everything and some of these beauties help make parenting a breeze.

Mind the Bump Smiling Mind and beyondblue have teamed up to create a Mindfulness Meditation tool to help people mentally and emotionally prepare for having a baby. Mind the Bump provides tailored exercises to mentally and emotionally support you from day one of pregnancy through to 24 months after birth.

Fertility Friend Fertility Friend is the most trusted and accurate fertility tracker. This app is an advanced ovulation calculator, menstrual calendar, fertility chart and period tracker. It works to help you get pregnant because it interprets your own personal fertility signs. Fertility Friend creates an exclusive fertility chart and ovulation calendar with personalised trying to conceive tips and analysis.

Peanut Dubbed Tinder for mums, Peanut is the app for connecting mothers. The app makes it easy to connect and learn from like-minded women because let’s face it, it takes a village, the more women in your life, the better it becomes. Connect with mamas like you, near you, chat and create meetups and share experiences across meaningful topics. Ever share a smile with another mama on the street? It’s kind of like that.

Our Pact OurPact is a breakthrough screen time parental control app, app blocker, website blocker, GPS locator, kid tracker and family locator that enables parents to manage their family’s screen time and locate family members. Use OurPact Parental Control, App Blocker, GPS and Family Locator for complete family management.

Little Finders Little Finders is Melbourne’s most exciting and colourful online membership giving your family access to tons of savings. Little fun things to do, from play centers, to all things shopping, attractions big and small, places to eat and fantastic travel destinations.

The Hug app Are you a busy parent needing help with your children’s transport and care, or do you help family and friends by taking care of their dependants? The Hug App connects parents with their trusted network of family and friends and manages all transport and care requests. It is ideal for busy parents and anyone responsible for transporting and caring for others, eliminating the stress that often comes with these responsibilities.

Kids and Places The easiest way to find FUN places to take the kids across Melbourne & beyond! The app is loaded with kid friendly places and family attractions (including kid friendly cafes and family friendly pubs) so you can quickly see what’s around you. No more searching through cluttered websites just to find the information you need as the best places have been conveniently added onto one map!

28 By Sam Wood

Little Rockers Radio

Perfect for the busy mama who can’t find time for the gym or keeps picking at their kid’s meals and calling it dinner. Each day receive a 28-minute workout you can do anywhere and a fabulous meal-plan with snacks and three daily meals with options to “swap”, “drop” or “shop” any item you don’t like. Plus you will have access to a team of recognised professionals, from nutrition and fitness, through to mindfulness and motivation, plus a closed Facebook support group of 34k members who have got your back if you lose your way!

Little Rockers Radio is a 24/7 online radio station just for kids from birth to 6, and their mums, dads and carers! Press PLAY for songs, nursery rhymes, story time, yoga, meditation and more during the day and lullabies to soothe all night. Created by Melbourne mum Sarah Morrissey, we hope you love Little Rockers as much as she has loved putting it together for you!

ABC KIDS iview If you havent downloaded this are you even a parent? ABC KIDS iview is a video-on-demand app for preschoolers and shows all your ABC favourites for entertaining kids on the go. This one’s a total lifesaver sometimes! It’s an advertisingfree, trusted environment featuring iconic programs carefully selected to educate and entertain Aussie kids.

Playground Finder Playground Finder uses your iPhone’s GPS to show a map of your location and indicate where nearby playgrounds are. You can read reviews and check out images others have uploaded before you visit too, so you can choose whether to go or find somewhere else. Use it in your local area to find playgrounds you didn’t know existed. Use it when travelling to discover great break spots where the kids can let off steam.

Shebah Shebah is like Uber for chicks only and was born right here in Melbourne (love local). Shebah’s drivers are female only, undergo extensive background checks, and must obtain a working with children check as they do take children travelling alone. Capsules and toddler seats can also be pre-booked via the app.

National Public Toilet App Every mother has had a time when they desperately need a loo for either themselves or one of the kids. The free National Public Toilet Map app from the Australian Government Department of Health shows the location of more than 18,000 publicly available toilets in Australia and includes details of accessibility, opening hours and other features such as sharps disposal and baby change. A absolute must have when you’re toilet training.

Bumble Swipe right, you bet! You might find this one odd, but for the single mamas out there it is hard to get out and meet men in real life. Bumble is like a new ‘Tinder’ and was developed by a woman, so it must be ace! Similar process to most apps however once you match with someone, the woman MUST make first contact, putting the power in your hands and stopping that game of ‘who will message first?’. You have 24 hours to make the first move then the man has 24 hours to respond, so there is no silly waiting game either. If you’re keen, you’ve got to act swiftly or they disappear. Mama has road tested this one for you extensively and gives it the thumbs up!!!

THE DADS OF AUTISM When children are diagnosed with autism, the support structures in place are often tailored towards mothers – but where does that leave the dads? Sharing stories and experiences is how we learn and support one another – but there are few resources out there to support dads of children on the autism spectrum, who we know often have very different experiences to mums. Australian dads from all walks of life have opened up about their experiences parenting children on the autism spectrum - in a new film about autism and fatherhood simply titled “DAD”. The short film, produced by Autism Awareness Australia, follows the stories of twelve Aussie fathers with children on the autism spectrum as they discover a new world of parenting and what it means to be a dad. This group of dads, of all different ages and vastly different backgrounds, tell their stories of success, of struggle and of family. Each one of them is so different, but with one thing in common – a child on the autism spectrum. We meet these twelve inspiring dads here: CHRIS DOHERTY - Dad to Sophie and Alex I became a father later in life. I’ve found being an autism dad to Alex challenging at times but also life changing. Being Alex’s dad has opened my eyes and made me a more thoughtful and caring person. My dream is to become more involved in the autism community because I want to make a tangible difference to people’s lives. Recently I took one step closer to this dream by completing a degree in psychology. BRIAN OWLER Being a part of the medical industry means I’ve always been a strong advocate for public health and childhood injury prevention, and now as an autism parent I work closely with Autism Awareness Australia. I chose to be a part of this documentary because I want to improve the 42

lives of all Australians on the autism spectrum and their families. GREG RAFFERTY - Dad to Tim, Charlie & Alex My youngest, Alex, has level 3 autism, meaning he needs a great deal of support, along with a developmental delay and epilepsy. Men like to fix things, especially for their families, but autism can be isolating and no easy fix. But with effective evidence-based treatments it can certainly improve. Even with severe autism, life brings unexpected joys and rewards you never saw coming. ALEX JAMES-ELLIOTT - Dad to Taj Taj has been raised by his mother and my family through amicable and equal coparenting arrangements since birth. The reason I got involved with this project is because I am a huge believer in the importance of men’s mental health. As a father of a child who was diagnosed on the spectrum, I also appreciate how difficult and lonely that experience can be. When fathers watch my interview, I hope they can understand that they’re not alone in what they are feeling and experiencing. IAN ROGERSON - Dad to Jack and Tom As a toddler, Jack could barely speak, was hyperactive, and was unable to express ordinary affection. At that point, my wife and I knew we had to do whatever we could to make sure Jack could lead the best life he could. I became involved with the DAD documentary because I think the best person to talk to dads about raising an autistic child is someone who has been on the same journey. LAI HUYNH - Dad to Lachlan and Connor My older son Lachlan was diagnosed with autism when he was 3 and a half years old, just after Connor was born - it was a lot for our small family all at once.

Men generally find it hard to talk about their feelings and struggles, and I hope my role will increase awareness, support and openness for fathers and families with children on the autism spectrum. I want fathers to know that it’s ok for us blokes to talk about these topics. MAT ROGERS - Dad to Jack, Skyla, Max and Phoenix Our youngest son Max has autism. For me, being a part of the DAD documentary was another way I could help more people understand the struggle and the enormous impact having an autistic child can have. It’s the fastest growing developmental disorder in the world, and I’m hoping that with my profile I can help more people to pay attention who may not have previously. MICHAEL WHELAN - Dad to Connor and Lachlan My son Connor has inspired me to become an autism advocate and share our family’s story. For me, educating the community and creating pathways for children with autism like my son is the most important thing I can do. The DAD documentary is another way I can help communicate this message, and I’m so proud to be a part of it. MONIR ELHAGE - Dad to Max Max attends a mainstream kindergarten but is primarily in a support class due to his multiple diagnosis. He has an early learning delay and is non-verbal. My wife and I take Max to an ABA integrated class five days a week. I want fathers in particular to see how important it is to keep the energy in their family, and to see the positives in the challenges of this new life with their autistic child.

NICK ORSATTI - Dad to Marcello and Lucia Both my son Marcello and daughter Lucia are level 3 on the autism spectrum. They are both non-verbal, however they make up for it by being exceptionally cheeky and cute. Our family lives by the motto “Different not less”. This is something we want to share with people. I hope my involvement in DAD can assist in some small way to provide a better understanding of what autism is. RAJ SHASHI - Dad to Raahi When we first received the diagnosis, we felt that our society and community needed more awareness on autism and that’s when we first heard about Autism Awareness Australia. We were so excited to be a part of the documentary and to provide as much help as we could. For my wife and I, we saw this as an opportunity to connect with other parents and families who are in the same boat as us. RICHARD PEAKE - Dad to Kelsey, Evan and Liam Being a dad to an autistic child doesn’t’ come with instructions. It can often be a lonely place. Not many of your mates or male family members can relate. I am increasingly hopeful that with initiatives like this documentary and a broader more positive dialogue in society around autism, dad’s like me realise it doesn’t have to be quite so lonely, and actually talking about “it” can only help you and your child. ‘DAD’ is available online at www.dadfilm.com.au. Autism Awareness Australia is Australia’s leading voice for autism with one simple goal: to improve the lives of all Australians on the spectrum and the families who love them. www.autismawareness.com.au

Chris Humfrey’s

ZOO kEEPER experience AS seen on

Great School Holiday Fun! Program runs from 9am to 4pm (selected dates). Suitable for kids aged 5-17 years.

Spend a day with zoologist Chris Humfrey, from Animal Planet’s new series “Chris Humfrey's Animal Instinct”, at his very own private zoo in Mount Macedon, just 50min from Melbourne’s CBD. Get up close and personal with over 2000 animals with this hands-on experience which is offered nowhere else. Chris has personally designed this exclusive program, with strictly limited numbers of children, to ensure your child gets the best WILD experience possible!

Bookings and Enquiries ww.wildaction.com.au Phone 0419 385 245 44

WIN

A Family Pass to Sandscuplting Australia at

This Summer you can get in touch with your inner child and spend the day in Neverland. The Peter Pan Sandsculpting Exhibition at Boneo Maze will take you on a journey told through sand. The world class sculptures will guide you through to an incredible activity zone to keep you and the kids entertained all day. Take part in a workshop, enjoy a coffee whilst the kids play in the sand pit or take a ride on a pedal boat and see the sculptures via the stunning waterways that surround them. Boneo Maze has 27 acres of wetlands and gardens to explore with giant games, mazes and jumping castle all included in your entry! On Dec 15, 2018 - Jan 28. Find out more at www.boneomaze.com.au

See www.mamamag.com.au for terms and conditions. Parent’s email will be added to our monthly MamaMail. You can opt out at any time.

Simply colour to win!

Post your entry by December 31 to: MamaMag, PO Box 8018, North Road LPO, Brighton East 3187.

Child’s name:

Age:

Parent’s name:

Mobile No:

Suburb:

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Email: 45

THE PERFECT ChrIstmas Photos As a child some of my fondest memories of Christmas were of me waking up on Christmas morning and rushing out to the living room to see all the presents under the tree. I remember going to bed each year on Christmas Eve and pretending to be asleep. I would then hear my parents wrapping gifts and pulling out presents that they had ‘secretly’ hidden away in cupboards. As I listened my excitement grew. I knew the truth, but I’d play along. I just couldn’t wait to get up in the morning to see what presents I would get. Unfortunately, taking photos back then was not big in my family and I don’t have any images to remember what it was really like. If only I could see photos of what my expression was like those times I woke up to find a Christmas tree laden with presents. These days everyone has a camera so there is no excuse not to capture those priceless memories of your kids on Christmas morning. Here are a few tips on how to make your images better as well as listing six important photos and scenes you should take so that when combined you will have a beautiful story.

Take quality photos To avoid blurry photos you need to increase the amount of light coming into the room where you will be taking the photos. So open up all the blinds and allow as much natural light in as possible. Turning on the overhead room lights is an option but you run the risk of giving everyone dark shadows under their eyes and across their face. Using flash should be your last resort because unless done correctly it looks very unnatural. Natural window light is the best. 46

The best way to tell a story with your pictures Your goal should be to tell a story with your final collection of images. So rather than having a random set of images, you could then use the images in other more creative ways. For instance you could create a family photo book or create a simple slideshow of the images with background Christmas music. By doing this you (and your kids) will have something to look back on years from now and remember the morning as it unfolded. The best way to get all the images you need for a story is to remember E. P. G. A. D. C. or “Every Photo Gets Appreciated During Christmas”. The letters stand for Establishing, Portrait, Group, Action, Detail and Concluding. These are all the shots you need. Apart from the Establishing and the Concluding shots the order can be randomised, but one good rule of thumb is to start off with wider shots (eg. large group shot) and then progressively get tighter and closer (eg. shot of a single person, then close up detail of something small but important to the story). Here is the list of the six most important photos you should try to capture in order to tell your family’s story this Christmas morning.

1. The Christmas tree (Establishing shot) Set the scene. This is Christmas so you will need a photo of the Christmas tree with all the wrapped presents underneath it. Do this before the kids wake up. Another option would be to take a similar photo the night before on Christmas Eve. Turn the main room lights off to create atmosphere but make sure that some light is coming into

the room either from nearby lamps or from adjacent rooms to avoid blur. Remember we want to create an emotional scene with the tree lights on so don’t use a flash.

2. Expressions (Portrait shots) For me as a kid, jumping out of bed and running into the living room to see all the presents under the tree was a highlight. Almost as exciting as opening the presents. So you’re definitely going to need photos of your kids expressions as they see the Christmas tree laden with presents for the first time. Photograph their expressions as they run into the room or when they find their present with their name on it and after they open it and have pure excitement on their face.

3. Opening their presents (Action shots) You are definitely going to need photos of your kids as they tear wrapping paper or open boxes or while assembling their toys. Maybe even one of Dad with instruction manual in hand looking confused, wondering how the heck that bike is going to piece together.

4. Family group shots After all the presents have been opened and things have calmed down a bit, now is your chance to take some group shots. Have the kids come together with their presents and have them looking at the camera. Next have your partner pose with kids and then it’s your turn! Know how to set your camera to timer and position it somewhere where you can get a family photo in front of the Christmas tree.

5. Don’t forget the little things (Detail shots) Detail shots are important especially if one day you decide to create a photo book for your family of the morning’s event. They act as great filler images that break up your story and put everything into context. Great examples of detail shots would be close-ups of decorations on the Christmas tree, the name labels or cards on the kids presents or close-up photos of their little hands as they play with their toys. The possibilities are endless.

6. Concluding photos These are photos that wrap up your story and bring it to a conclusion. Think about how you are going to end your story. It could be photos of an empty room with wrapping paper and ripped boxes strewn everywhere. Maybe photos of your kids trying to assemble their toys or photos of your kids outside playing with their toys. I remember when I was young, well before children received electronic devices as Christmas presents, all the kids in the neighbourhood would be outside after breakfast on Christmas morning playing with their new toys. If you gave your child something like a bike imagine a beautiful photo of you or your partner trying to teach your child to ride their first bike as a conclusion to your photo story.

Final thoughts Don’t forget to include yourself in the photos. Hand the camera over to your partner or set the camera on timer and frame it in a way that allows you be in the photos. Try randomising your point of view. If you take all of your photos standing up and pointing the camera at your kids who are on the floor it can get boring. For different points of view try taking photos of the kids at their level, lie down on your belly or stand up on a stool. Well there you have it, a very simple formula for telling your family’s story at Christmas. Wishing you and your family a Merry Christmas and an amazing New Year. By Warren Knower, Photographer, Volare Photography volarephotography.com.au

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