Northside MamaMag June 2016 by MamaMag

NORTHSIDE

mamamag June 2016

WIN your chIld a wIld actIon zoo bIrthday party Party time Mister Maker Theming fun Car restraints Messy play

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PARTY TIME Welcome to our special June PARTY edition. Whilst this Northside edition is just in its infancy, we are very excited that our siblings at MamaMag Bayside and Westside are turning 2 this month! I’m sure many Mums experience times where life seems to revolve around parties, especially children’s ones! Although it can feel chaotic sometimes, personally I love them; a theme or a dress up especially! Writing this brings back fun childhood memories of my parties, in particular a ‘purple and green’ themed slumber party in Grade 6. More recently I celebrated the big 4-0 with a 1940’s inspired cocktail party. I really enjoy coming up with party ideas and the organisation, but I especially adore seeing the excitement that it generates for my children and our friends. I do however, struggle with the Birthday Cake! I admit I don’t enjoy the process of making one. (I’ve tried; insert ‘sad face icon’) Do you buy yours or make it? Over the years my children have had Paw Patrol, Disney’s Cars, a diggers and dump trucks cake (my favourite thus far) Thomas the Tank Engine, and the plain old number chocolate cake covered in smarties. Thank goodness for my other half who loves baking and decorating the cakes I say! It certainly takes the stress out of the organising for me. Bought or made though, the children are always happy. This month we feature fantastic reading; Editor-in-Chief Sarah interviews the amazing Mister Maker (very popular in our house). We also have important information on road safety, my own family’s story about recent adventures aboard the new Spirit of Tasmania, and of course, lots of party ideas including a venue listing for your local area. So whether your celebrations are big or small, at home or at a venue, big budget or no budget; I hope you treasure this time. If this edition inspires you with some fabulous ideas, I’m sure it will make a great guide for future reference. Wishing you happy reading and magical parties!

@localmamamag

WIN

Contents It’s my party

and I’ll theme if I want to

Lovely locals

www.wildaction.com.au

We visit Napier Street Strathmore

Shaping up Mister Maker

We talk to Phil Gallagher

Fresh air fun

Get the kids off the couch

Party central

Local party idea wrap up

WIN tickets to The Big Freeze

Four chances to win

Finding time for you

Why you should make time for exercise

Parklife 24 26

You can do it yourself

Safety series

Imagine having real animals like a koala, crocodile, baby kangaroo, green-tree frog, gecko, goanna, bearded dragon, stumpy-tailed lizard, python, owl and vibrantly coloured parrots inhabiting your next birthday party!

Visit our Facebook page to enter

Holden Byrne Reserve Fitzroy North

DIY face painting party

a wild action zoo birthday party

www.facebook.com/localmamamag Entries are open to Victorian residents only. Competition starts June 1st 12.01am and closes June 30th 2016 at 11.59pm. Valid for a 1hr Wild Action party valued at up to $550 inc. GST. Party must be claimed by June 31st 2017. Visit www.mamamag.com.au full terms and conditions. Find out more about Wild Action parties at www.wildaction.com.au.

Part 1 - Road safety

Healthy party food

MamaMag is published monthly for the mums of Melbourne’s North by Grizzle Design Pty Ltd.

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

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Ideas for everyone

Mama can cook Breakfast and lunch for one/mum

Ship ahoy All aboard for Tasmania

Mama of the month

Helle warming from Lucas Loves cars

Colour & win

WIN a family pass to Charlie Brown

Mister Maker craft

His favourite pom pom bug

Messy play Why mess matters

MamaMag June 2016

Editor in Chief: Sarah Cavalier Northside Editor: Danielle Ross Walls Assistant Editor: Kirsty Chick National Key Account Manager: Justine Whatmore Like to contribute an article submission or products for Facebook giveaways? submissions@mamamag.com.au For advertising enquiries: download our media kit from www.mamamag.com.au or email info@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.

, It s my party

and I’ll theme it if I want to!

Celebrating your child’s birthday is such a happy and exciting time for everyone involved. Kids wait all year long and enjoy the BIG countdown to the day and usually the party that comes along with it. There are so many ways to infuse a little magic into your child’s birthday. So whether you’re throwing a party at home or at a venue, the key to throwing any themed party is all in the details. Here are four birthday party theme ideas and top tips from Nicole Flavien from ‘One Magic Day’ that are sure to have your child beaming with birthday bliss: Rainbow Party Theme:

Dinosaur Party Theme:

A rainbow party is a classic theme for all ages it’s super bright and cheerful and so easy to plan. It’s the perfect theme for a girl or boy and guaranteed to put a smile on everyones face. Ask the kids to come dressed head-totoe in their favourite colour. When it comes to decorations, wherever you can, try to stick with a white background so all the colours will really POP! The quickest way to bring your theme to life is by filling up a mixed bag of colourful balloons with helium (or not) then gather them together in various combos and sprinkle multi-coloured confetti all around your party space. Bring rainbow striped partyware to the table and fancy up your straws with happy flag stickers for a vibrant touch. Stack up a mountain of solid paper cups to take it to the next level. Keep the kids occupied by setting up a colouring-in station with non-permanent textas, crayons and pencils or make your own play-doh in different shades to play with or to hand out as a take home party favour. Serve up rainbow fruit skewers by choosing the most colourful fruit in season such as strawberries, mandarines, pineapples, grapes and blueberries. Everyone loves a rainbow birthday cake, the surprise is hidden inside where all the colourful layers are revealed once the cake is cut. Go grab the food dye and get your bake on! Hip, hip, hooray!

Are you in for a WILD time? A dinosaur party is hugely popular with the kids and it’s so much fun to plan. Throw your little party animal a prehistoric bash and you’ll be far from extinct.

Tip: Get online and download some FREE printable colouring-in pages for the colour-in station. 6

These tips from One Magic Day will guarantee your party is a roaring success. Dig out the kids’ collection of plastic dinosaurs and fill the corners of your party room with small rocks, plastic eggs, moss, little ferns or house plants and any other jungle looking paraphernalia you can find. Decorate the party space with giant dinosaur foil balloons, they’ll create such an uproar with the dino-mites! Set up a ‘dinodig’ game and bury assorted dinosaur fossils in a sandpit then send the little adventurers on a mission to dig and explore. Make your own birthday cake with a simple cream or chocolate frosting and top it off with a plastic dino toy. Crush up some picnic chocolate (if no nut allergies of course) or oreo biscuits and scatter around the base of your cake stand and food platters to resemble dirt. When the little herbivores and carnivores are ready for a bite, add an element of fun to the party food, fill-in buffet labels for each food item ie: veggie sticks for the herbivores or brontosaurus burgers for the carnivores! Tip: Fill up the loot bags with inexpensive items like dino stickers, gummy snakes, dino eggs (maltesers), mini magnifying glasses and plastic dinosaurs.

Princess Party Theme:

Super Hero Party Theme:

Host a spectacular birthday soiree for your little lady. Is she obsessed with Princesses? Make her dream of a royal celebration come true.

Do you have a little super hero at home who won’t take that mask or cape off? Even when it’s bedtime?

Turn your home into an enchanted castle, complete with soft pastel shades of pink, lavender and a touch of silver sparkle in your decorations. Assorted balloons and honeycomb tissue balls will transform the party room into a magical space. On arrival, adorn royal guests with a sparkling item from the treasure chest; you can find loads of costume jewellery and tiaras from most $2 shops. Purchase a heart or crown shaped cookie cutter and cut out princess perfect sandwiches and magical shaped cookies. For the birthday party drinks I love the idea of serving up princess punch (pink lemonade) or strawberry tea (pink milk). Dress up all the chairs at the party table with bows of tulle and decorate the main throne with extra beads and ribbons for the birthday girl. Tip: every party needs some music; play the soundtrack from your favourite Disney princess movie to get the party moving!

Little boys (and girls) are just super heroes in disguise. Whether your child is more Spidey, Batty-boy or Man of Steel a super hero party will have their imaginations running wild! Ask every guest to come dressed as their favourite super hero. Get out the scissors and some black and yellow cardboard and craft your very own cityscape backdrop. Use it as a photo booth complete with props, masks, capes and the kids in costume for an action packed photo session. Take your super hero decorations to the next level; hang ‘SUPER’ bunting and star shaped balloons around the party space. Serve up green rock candy kryptonite and POPcorn as the ultimate super hero snack! Top off your cupcakes or party food with comic book inspired toppers. Tip: on the day of your action packed party, make sure you have spare masks or capes on hand in case any little crime fighters forget their costumes. By Nicole Flavien - One Magic Day onemagicday.com.au

Images by Clare Martin Lapworth - The Little Me Collaborative

COMING SOON!

Ni単o ELA Preston 365 Bell Street, Preston E: info@ninoELA.com.au Ph: 9421 6755 9

lovely locals 1.

Napier Street, Strathmore 1. Hey Boo Locally owned and operated is this gorgeous little shop offering a large range of baby and toddler gifts, scented candles, spa inspired body products and unique home and kitchen ware. We love the the gorgeous gift wrapping and beautiful range of hand-made cards. Open Weekdays from 10am-5.30pm and Sat 9am-3pm. 335 Napier St, Strathmore Ph: 9379 2654

2. Idlewild Boutique This stylish ladies fashion boutique stocks the favourite labels including Mimosa, Goddess Of Babylon, Samvara, Natasha Gan, Sissy, Status moda, True Religion, Mavi Jeans, Seduce, Pink Ruby, Honey & Beau, Joes Jeans, Paco Lito, Bella Dahl, Fujinella, Ermis, Clothes Horse, Grace & Hart, Phylis Boho, Moda Immagine and many, many more. Open Mon-Fri 10am-5pm and Sat 10am-3pm.

311 Napier St, Strathmore Ph: 9374 3222

3. Revatilise Café This popular local café is full of friendly staff, great coffee and offers a sumptuous well priced menu with breakfast and lunch options. They also offer takeaway, gluten free and vegetarian options. The café is child friendly and also has Wi-Fi available. Open Mon to Fri 8am-4pm, Sat 8am-3pm and Sun 9am-3pm. 293 Napier St, Strathmore Ph: 9379 9222

4. Gusto Bakery This bakery claims to serve ‘the best vanilla slice in Melbourne;’ and you know what, based on the testimonials I have read and my experience, I think they actually do! One of their customers drives across 4 suburbs to get some pastry goodness! Open Mon-Fri 6.30am-6pm, Sat 6.30am-4pm and Sun 7.30am -3pm. 285 Napier St, Strathmore Ph: 9379 8001

5. Barry, Buttigieg & Turner - Travel Associates This stylish boutique travel agency is part of the national Travel Associates brand and specialises in exclusive packages, escorted and special interest tours, luxury cruises and holidays with a difference. They offer personal travel consultation by appointment from Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm. 281 Napier St, Strathmore Ph: 1800 440 785 10

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shaping up mister Editor-in-chief Sarah Cavalier knew she was the envy of children everywhere as she sat in the office one afternoon waiting for Phil Gallagher to call her from the UK. Otherwise know as Mister Maker, Phil is pioneering arts and crafts for preschoolers throughout the world.

If you weren’t Mister Maker, what would you be doing? My first job was in my local sports shop, which is actually still running. I would probably still be there! I’m quite a sporty guy!

Have you always been crafty and creative or has that developed with the spotty waistcoat? Definitely. I have always loved craft since I was little. I made lots of things when I was mini maker age. I used to make pom pom bugs with my grand father, which is still today my favourite minute make. One of my first pictures I remember drawing was of a soccer player called Tony Cottee from West Ham United. I posted it to him and he actually signed it and sent it back!

How did you prepare for the audition for Mister Maker, all those years ago? Quite a long process. It happened over a few months. There were 4 different stages and the whole process was an amazing thing for me. I was tested in many different things from arts and crafts to working under pressure in a studio environment. Lucky I passed that bit. I’ve had kids climbing on stage before and one time I even had a mum climb on stage, plant a kiss, take a bow and run off. Unexpected but really lovely!!

How much of your own personality is part of the Mister Maker character? Quite a lot. Certainly when we started the TV show as I got the job only 2 weeks before we started filming. There was a brief for the 12 12

character but I could pretty much help create the character. He has evolved over the years, especially with the live shows.

What’s your favourite part of the job? I would say without a doubt it’s being able to tour around the world. It’s beyond my wildest dreams. The TV show was my dream come true but I cant even express how amazing touring is. I write the live show and put it together, so I’m completely involved and it has become my life. It’s a huge effort from a very small team and I’m so privileged to be able to travel with the team and see the world.

Mister Maker has taken you around the world, what has been your favourite country and experience? Wow, so difficult to say. Everywhere we go is incredible. I love revisiting Australia. What’s lovely about Australia is catching up with friends we’ve met along the journey and having time off to explore. I love visiting amazing places we already love, but each time I visit we perform in different venues, so that’s always exciting. I’ve heard wonderful things about The Recital Centre and can’t wait to get on the stage there in July.

What can we expect of your Melbourne show in the July school holidays? What I want to do was exceed people’s expectations. I want to match what they see on TV then make a really tight, slick show with high production value and lots of creativity and arty fun. I’ll be showing a completely different side of Mister Maker that you don’t see on the TV. Singing, dancing, fun and games, lots of audience participation. I get you on your feet and pull a few volunteers on stage. The most willing volunteers to date have been Australians. Kids are so confident on stage. I love helping them have an exciting experience they will remember for a long time.

maker Do you get recognised on the street? Yes I do. It’s a lovely thing. Mostly by parents! Now I’m a bit older I need to wear glasses and my hair is flat in real life, so I look a bit different. Occasionally I have a beard, but quite often I’m still spotted by grownups.

After all that pressure in the Minute Make how do you like to relax and unwind? Watching my favourite soccer team Gillingham. I’ve only made it to one game this season. I like to put everything into my work and the reality is to do a tour anywhere in the world is incredibly hard work. So there isn’t much time for social things. So I always make sure I catch up with my family when I have spare time as that’s the most important thing.

What goes on behind the scenes of the Mister Maker television show? Are you involved in the production aspect? Yes. Since the 2nd series I have been involved in the script writing and the art ideas. Two months before we start filming I get involved and completely dive straight into the content and keep practicing everything.

What’s your biggest tip for the non-crafty mama? To start collecting your own doodle drawers at home. It doesn’t have to be big or elaborate. Start with a shoe box and fill it with things that can be reused/recycled and turn something ordinary into something extraordinary!

Who is your favourite shape? I love them all equally but if I had to choose I think I most like rectangle as he is the most like me. He is the silliest. It never fails to excite me when the shapes come out. I love watching the phones come out and try and get selfies with the shapes in the backgrounds.

And lastly, any ideas on what has been the all-time favourite Mister Maker make? Apart from the pom pom bug, I love the splat picture made with tennis balls in gloopy paint. Do it outside and get grown up help. I love how it gets everyone involved. Mister Maker and the shapes are performing live on stage at the Melbourne Recital Centre on June 29th, 30th and July 1st. You can purchase tickets at melbournerecitalcentre.com.au

fresh air fun Ways to get your kids off the couch and into the great outdoors! Growing up these days isn’t what it used to be, whilst we may have made mud pies and played backyard sports with our siblings, these days’ kids are more often than not being handed the latest technology to keep them busy. Playing outdoors is a form of natural exercise that promotes well-being and wholesome physical development which is why it’s so important to remember the benefits of getting children off the screens and interacting with the environment. Take it back to basics - go for a walk! Whether its grabbing the dog and pacing a few laps of the block, strolling on the beach or walking to or from school one day a week, it’s easy to mix it up. Walking is the easiest form of exercise and doesn’t cost a thing. Join a local sport club. No matter what your child is into, most local sporting clubs will have junior programs on offer to help encourage participation from kids of all ages. Football, netball, soccer, cricket and basketball are all sports that are usually readily available in local communities. If these options don’t take your child’s fancy, why not look into martial arts or dance? No matter what sport is the one for your child, you will find that they are making friends and enjoying being active in no time. Visit National parks, State parks and reserves. There are 2991 in Victoria, including 470 within 100kms of Melbourne so chances are there is one close to your house that you don’t even know about. Most of the parks have interactive information readily available on the Parks Victoria app – enjoying a new environment has never been so easy and accessible! Why not grab a picnic, pack up the car and make a day trip of it… Adventure in nature may be closer than you think.

Visit an adventure park. This is a great way to put on a special day out for your kids. Pick a park that focuses on getting your kids climbing or swinging in trees – this is a great way to interact directly in the natural environment whilst improving confidence and agility. Why not get the crew together and celebrate the outdoors together; most adventure parks offer great birthday packages with something for everyone. Make it part of your routine, whether its daily, weekly or monthly, make time for you and your child to enjoy the outdoors. and most importantly… Lead by example. Encourage participation, show that you like being outside. Remember that if you have a sense of adventure, then so will they. Written by Bridget de Lange. For more school holiday ideas visit www.enchantedadventure.com.au

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Party Central Wild Action

For a truly memorable, special and educational party experience, let the zoo come to your party! It’s something unique that will stay with your child and guests for a lifetime…who wouldn’t want a cute koala to come to their party or get a birthday hug from a python? Zoologist, Chris Humfrey creates the perfect balance of education and ability to entertain and captivate audiences young and old. His passion for wildlife will create a party like no other. Chris Humfrey. 0419 385 245. www.wildaction.com.au

Ready Steady Go Kids

Offer a multi-sports program for 2.5-6 year olds. Kids really build a sense of team and individual confidence in the bi-weekly rotating sport offerings. RSGK parties include a one-hour session of sport, fun activities and games run by qualified staff with all equipment supplied. A free trial class coupon is provided for all attendees. The standard party package allows a choice between AFL/Rugby and Cricket, Soccer & Athletics or AFL/Rugby & Basketball. 1300 766 892. www.readysteadygokids.com.au

Crocs Reservior

Most kids will instantly recognise the Crocs mascot as representing all things fun and entertaining! Kids will be entertained by the ocean themed play area, multi-level ball battle zone, slam dunk basketball room, bike lanes with ride-ons, giant speed slide and toddler play area. Kids parties will include a dedicated party host in a themed party room. There are different party packages and food options to suit your needs, including a new healthy food option. 9469 3338. Unit 5/87 Newlands Road, Reservoir. www.crocsplaycentre.com.au

Andy’s Antics

Andy’s energy and exciting activities entertain 3-13 year olds in your home, backyard or local park. Parents can relax and there’s nothing to do but organise the food and drinks. Any location across Melbourne. 0402 091 965. andysantics.com.au

Collingwood Children’s Farm

Organise your own basic farm party, where normal entry prices will apply for your group. Otherwise hosted parties are a more organised option and very popular, so you need to book well ahead – dates open up a year in advance. The hosted parties will see kids have a pony or tractor hay ride and milk the cow hosted by one of the friendly farmers. And then there is time to explore and interact with all of the other farm animals. The café provides yummy wholesome food options and can cater for parties also. 18 St Heliers street, Abbotsford 9417 5806

Pip Dot Art Studio

Arty parties are full of fun and creative energy. The best part of these parties is that they can be tailored to a particular interest or theme. Making the party experience very individual and unique. Examples of activities include painting on canvas, mobiles, fabric painting, decoupage, wire construction, collage, jewelry making and more. Bring the cupcakes and/or cake and let Pip Dot provide all other materials to create a wonderful art keepsake and party occasion. 249a Gold Street, Clifton Hill www.pipdot.com 0448 842 890

Inflatable World Bundoora

Watch your kids Gladiator battle it out, pin-drop into a sea of plastic from a giant height, leap inflatable lilies like frogs and generally bounce all that boundless energy out in the ultimate jumping experience. Kids will love to have parties here, as will parents who will welcome a tuckered out kid from all that jumping and fun! Parties run for a duration of 90 minutes. You can choose to self-cater your party or choose a package with food included. 39 Clements Avenue, Bundoora www.inflatableworldoz.com.au 9467 2422

Pretty Little Parties

Jewelry making parties that are specially tailored to different age groups starting from 5-7 year olds, 8-11 year olds and tween parties. High quality beads sourced from all over the world are provided to make the event and keepsakes really unique and beautiful. As well as the hosted party option, there are also do-ityourself kits available with easy to follow illustrated instructions and a suggested party guide. Each child designs up to 2-3 pieces of jewelry including a necklace, bracelet and earrings (pierced or clip-ons). Professional tools and equipment provided. www.prettylittlethingsparties.com 0421 999408

Clip n Climb

Clip n Climb in Richmond was the first of its kind in Australia and a fabulous new concept in indoor climbing. There’s colourful challenges and climbs that look like nothing you’ve seen before. Clip n Climb parties include a 15 minute safety briefing, 1 hour climbing session, harnesses, free Vertical Drop Slide and Leap of Faith for the party child, private party room and food. 144 Murphy Street, Richmond. 9421 6600. www.clipnclimb.com.au

Crafternoon

A favourite local café that offers a craft menu that will fuel your littlie’s creative appetite. A dedicated party host will run the craft activity in a private party area. There is an option of party themes with craft activities such as a Frozen Party with a Frozen jewelry workshop, Super hero parties to make masks and cuffs, as well as Fairy, Pirate and Flower themed parties. Homemade beef sausage rolls are included in the party menu, along with fairy bread and popcorn. And platter packages can be added on if desired. 718 Sydney Road, Brunswick 9995 2861

Bounce

BOUNCE is an action-packed adventure, made up of more than 100 interconnected trampolines housed within a huge colourful space. Dodgeball, slam dunks, wall-jumping, taking a leap into the big bag for a cushy landing – there’s endless adrenaline action. All party packages include 60 minutes of free jumping mayhem followed by 30 minutes access to your own party room, a dedicated party host to guide you through the action, delicious food options to feed the crew and official BOUNCE grip socks for everyone. Expect the party crew to work up a hardcore appetite after all the bounce activity – this one is especially good for kids with boundless amounts of energy! Hangar 4, 236 Wirraway Road, Essendon Fields 1300 000 540. www.bounceinc.com.au

Gourmet Kids

Little MasterChefs will revel in having a cooking party for their next birthday celebration. Gourmet Kids taps into kid’s innate love and curiosity of cooking. Parties include a cooking session, party food and hosted games. Children love to dress up in the chef’s hats and aprons to create a delicious recipe under instruction from the kitchen crew. Each guest gets an individual set of equipment and is given as little or as much guidance as needed. Party cooking recipes are divided up into age groups – with many options to choose from that will be age and skill appropriate. Mobile parties are also an option. Brunswick South Primary School, 56 Brunswick Road, Brunswick South. 9824 5979. www.gourmetkids.com.au

WIN WIN

buy” t ’ n a c y e n o m 1 of 4 “ riences to expe 9 interactive kid zones including a snow pit!

L A V I T S E F Y L I WINTER FAM

tickets to ’s id k 2 & t l u 2 Ad ebrations l e C g in n e p O the e Festival z e e r F ig B e h of T at 3pm. on sat July 3 with the t e e r ’G ’n t e e M ss Sisters. e c in r P w o n S dise Pack. n a h c r e M TBF Pass to 4 Park Familnyd nature parks. Phillip Isla

6 july 2-10,a2c0e1course cranbourne r

thebigfreezefestival.com.au To enter simply visit www.mamamag.com.au and sign up for the monthly ‘MamaMail’ newsletter and ‘like’ the Big Freeze post on the MamaMag Facebook page Entries are open to Victorian residents only. Competition starts June 1st 12.01am and closes June 24th 2016 at 11.59pm. Visit www.mamamag.com.au full terms and conditions.

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finding time for you With the colder months approaching, motivation to maintain or increase physical activity becomes increasingly difficult. The daylight hours are shorter, and the drop in temperatures makes you want to stay inside to seek warmth. Research has also shown that bleak weather causes you to feel less energetic, which further decreases your desire to participate in exercise. However, winter is the best time to set SMART (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic, Timely) goals, in preparation for the warmer months where your activity levels are higher. Setting goals help you to stay accountable and motivated, and whenever you get side-tracked, (as is often the case in real life); you can look back at that list of goals to stay on track. One of the biggest hurdles when trying to prioritise health and fitness for women (especially mums!) is lack of time. Between work (part-time and/or full-time roles), taking care of the children, managing the household and other daily personal commitments, mums struggle to incorporate exercise into their lives. There just doesn’t seem to be enough hours in the day to dedicate to a fitness routine, and for many, it is just another unmanageable block of time, which will only lead to further fatigue! But there is good news! Not only is it possible to fit exercise into your busy life, but there are some major life-long benefits to be had by making it a non-negotiable part of your day. You make time to wash your hair, brush your teeth and bathe your skin – all daily routines that are good for your body – so why can’t you make time for exercise? It is the one physical activity that maintains the body, from the inside out! You only need 30 minutes of exercise a day to lose weight and/or maintain a healthy lifestyle. There are 1,440 minutes in a day – you can find 30 minutes for yourself.

Once you’ve figured out this, the rest is easy! In the warmer months, take advantage of a 30-minute walk daily, during your lunch hour, or after work with the family or pets. Walking improves the cardiovascular system, which circulates blood, oxygen and nutrients throughout the body. It is an easy activity suitable for all ages and fitness levels. During winter, you can still get your steps up by ditching the elevator and taking the stairs; parking the car a little further away from the shops or riding the bike for shorter journeys. Wearing a pedometer and calculating your daily steps keeps you motivated and mindful of your physical activity.

You make time to wash your hair, brush your teeth and bathe your skin – all daily routines that are good for your body – so why can’t you make time for exercise? While cardiovascular exercise (walking, running, swimming, and cycling) helps strengthen the heart and lungs and burns stored body fat, strength training preserves and builds lean muscle and increases your overall strength and flexibility. By combining cardiovascular exercise and strength training, you can improve your body composition by decreasing fat and increasing muscle. Lean muscle boosts your metabolism, making it possible to burn more calories throughout the day, even at rest. The colder months are ideal

for starting an indoor exercise routine (at home with free weights or at your community gym), to achieve gains in muscle and strength and reduce the risk of chronic illnesses like heart disease, diabetes and hypertension. Participating in regular exercise is just one way to improve your general health and wellbeing. Maintaining a balanced diet rich in nutrients will sustain you during everyday tasks and enhance your workouts. Avoid foods high in saturated fats, sugars and sodium, and consume healthy carbohydrates like fruits, vegetables and wholegrains. A diet high in protein is essential as it gives you energy, keeps you feeling fuller longer and maintains muscle tissue when losing weight. Protein should be a part of every meal, and foods like eggs, chicken breast, lean cuts of meat (pork and beef) and fish are excellent sources. Tofu and beans are great alternatives to animal proteins, and when combined with wholegrain options like brown rice, they pack the perfect punch! Winter is the ideal time for soups and casseroles, and a combination of these whole foods and lean proteins keep you warm and satiated without compromising your workouts! By setting attainable goals and making small changes to your diet and physical activity this winter, you can lay the foundation to becoming a healthier you! Prioritising time for yourself is one of the best ways you can be a better mother, grandmother, partner, aunt and friend. You cannot be good to others if you are not good to yourself. Be kind to your body - there is always enough time for YOU. by Caryn Rae Adams Curves Reservior

Parklife Holden Byrne reserve Byrne Street, Fitzroy North. This fun park is situated between the Holden Street Neighbourhood House and a bike and running track. Lovely giant palm and gum trees surround it, and it has a welcome communitylike feel. Ideal for the toddlers here is the secure plastic baby seat swing, a shop front for imaginative play, climbing tunnel, stepping stones and a small slide. Older kids will no doubt love the unusual twisted climbing structure, the balance beam, sea-saws, double swings and getting dizzy whirling around on the balance pole. There is

also a fort with two slides, a small climbing wall and a firemanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s pole. Around the playground there is lots of lovely green grass for enjoying a picnic, a BBQ or kicking a ball or having a good run around. This area is partially fenced and there are no toilets in the reserve. Parking is limited, on the street with some permit zones. The area is wheel chair accessible. Holden Byrne Reserve has two distinct advantages: the addition of an enormous sun shade covering the entire playground, and beautiful surroundings making for a peaceful escape from the busy inner city buzz nearby.

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DIY Face Painting A kid’s party can be transformed into a wonderful dress up party without costumes. Create imagination and fun with just a touch of face painting! With these tips, anyone can be the face painter. You might just surprise yourself at how good you are! The key is, don’t make it complicated. Less is best when starting out. Minimise ideas by having two or three printed designs to choose from or one theme, like rainbows or tigers. This also means you’ll be able to purchase the exact colours you need rather than six or more. You can find face paint supplies at many art stores, big department stores, online and some $2 stores (although the quality is not as good and may be unsafe to use). Look for cosmetic products as this is safe for use on skin. Always ask parent consent first.

Your Kit!

Sponges! You will need at least 23. Sponges cover a large area quickly and when face painting young children, you need to be quick. Half or quarter circle sponges are easy to use and you’ll be able to use 2 colours on each flat side.

Brushes! A thick and thin face painting brush. These are used to add details. Water! A container of water to wash brushes, (you can wash sponges under the tap as needed) and a spray bottle to moisten the paints. Baby wipes! These are handy for cleaning faces prior to painting and also brushes whilst painting. Face paint! There are so many to styles to choose from! When starting out, ‘cakes’ are best. These are dry paints which require a little bit of water to activate and go onto the skin smoothly and easily. Avoid crayons or the already ‘wet’ paints as they are often harder to apply and do not achieve a nice result compared to the cakes. You can buy plain colour cakes, sets of palettes with various colours and ‘split’ cakes. Split cakes have multi colours in the one cake and these are great for creating a two toned or rainbow toned background in one stroke! Avoid painting too close to eyes and mouth. Finally, a mirror! You can’t forget the mirror, this is the moment that children grin with delight or roar like a dinosaur, or worst case, frown because you didn’t nail the design. Don’t worry, it happens to the professionals too!

Party! Painting tips and basic ideas!

Tiger

Usually you’ll sponge base or background colours on first. This does not necessarily have to be neat as you will then use your brushes for detailing.

Tigers are easy when you sponge the face with orange or yellow (avoid eyes and mouth). Using a thin brush, paint thick and thin black lines starting from the nose area and trailing outwards. Add a black nose. Try a blue wolf too.

Rainbow

Spider Man

Clown

Additionally, if you are still feeling a little unsure of your skill, you can always buy some stencils, sponge over the colour and add a tiny bit of line or shape detail if needed.

Best achieved when using a ‘rainbow’ split cake because all you do is load up your half sponge with paint by gently rubbing the whole flat side of the sponge into the paint. Then with one stroke, starting at one side of the forehead, curve the sponge over to the other side, finishing on the cheek line. Make sure your curve line has the rainbow colours sitting horizontally (or else the rainbow will end up as one colour). Using either the sponge or brush, circle or curl some white paint at either side of the rainbow to create clouds. Add some glitter if you wish.

Using a brush, paint a black triangle above and below one or both eyes, paint a circular red nose and big pink cheeks.

Using a thick paint brush, paint large white tear drops around the outer eyes area (don’t go too close to the eyes). Sponge remainder of the face with red. You might prefer to just paint the upper half of the face, or even just one side. Using a thin brush, paint lines from the nose area, paint lines outwards yet in a circular pattern as if you are creating a pizza cut look. Then using curved lines, paint the curved parts of the web. It is easier to start from the centre and work out.

By Rachael Morris, Little Art Big Art www.littleartbigart.com.au

safety serIes Research shows that properly restrained children are less likely to suffer injury and die in car accidents. Under the Victoria’s Child Restraint Road Rules (effective since November 9, 2009), all children under 7 years of age must legally be seated in a correctly fitted child restraint or booster seat. Children need different restraints as they grow. The restraint must be the right size for the child, properly adjusted and fastened, and correctly fitted to the vehicle. Choosing the right child restraint for your child can depend on both their age and their size.

Victoria’s Child Restraint Rules

All forward facing child restraints must be held in place by the seatbelt and the top tether strap, and must have an inbuilt harness. Some forward facing child restraints can be used as a booster seat by removing the inbuilt harness. This type of restraint is often called a combination restraint. Only move your child to a booster seat when they have outgrown their forward facing child restraint. A booster seat can be used with a lap-sash seatbelt or child safety harness. Refer to the restraint manufacturer’s instructions. Children over 7 years of age:

Children under 6 months age:

Children aged 7 years to under 16 years must travel in either a booster seat, or an adult seatbelt.

A child aged 4 years to under 7 years must travel in either a forward facing child restraint with an inbuilt harness, or a booster seat. The type of restraint will depend on the child’s size.

A child should continue using a booster seat until they have outgrown it.

Children 6 months to four years of age: Children aged 6 months to under 4 years must use either a rear facing child restraint, or a forward facing child restraint with an inbuilt harness. Children of this age grow at different rates. Therefore you need to choose the type of restraint that is best for your child’s size. Even if your child is 6 months old they may not be ready to travel in a forward facing child restraint. It is recommended you keep your child in their rear facing restraint until they are too big for it. Children 4 to 7 years of age: A child aged 4 years to under 7 years must travel in either a forward facing child restraint with an inbuilt harness, or a booster seat. The type of restraint will depend on the child’s size.

Part 1 Road Safety

An adult lap-sash seatbelt is designed for people with a minimum height of 145cm. The average child will reach this height between 10 and 12 years of age. Front and rear seats If a car has two or more rows of seats, children aged under 4 years must not travel in the front seat. If all rear seats are being used by children aged under 7 years, children aged 4 years to under 7 years may travel in the front seat, provided they use a booster seat. In this situation you will need to use a booster seat that is manufactured without a tether strap. If your car does not have a rear row (for example, a ute) children are able to travel in the front row. However, a rearward facing child restraint cannot be used in the front seat where there is a passenger airbag.

On average, 7 children under the age of 13 are killed and 601 are injured as passengers in vehicles on Victorian roads every year.

National Guidelines for Safe Restraint of Children Travelling in Motor Vehicles. The National Guidelines provided by Neuroscience Research Australia and Kidsafe provide the best practice recommendations based on evidence based research. These are complimentary to VicRoads Child Restraint Rules and provide recommendations for child restraint safety. Some safety considerations to think about include: 1. Seat belts should never be used with the sash belt under the child’s arm or behind the child’s back. 2. When planning any journey with children, use a motor vehicle which allows each child to be in the appropriate restraint for their size. 3. Children under 12 years of age are safer in the rear seats of the vehicle. 4. Regularly check the child restraints are correctly installed and that the restraint is adjusted properly for the child’s size according to the restraint user’s manual.

When choosing a car seat it is important to ensure that child restraints and booster seats comply with Australian/New Zealand Standard 1754 for child restraints and that they are fitted following manufacturer’s instructions. It is recommended to use a child restraint fitting service that will assist you with the process of choosing the right car seat, checking and fitting restraints.

Want to find out more? For more information on road safety listento Little Rockers Radio, where Nataly from WONDERWOMAN CHILDREN, the resident first aid and safety expert, talks about all things pedestrian safety, road safety education for your family, safety in driveways and lots more! Our new Safety Series is bought to you by WONDERWOMAN Children and Little Rockers Radio. The series aims to improve your awareness on safety promotion, injury prevention and help you become Safety Superheros. www.littlerockersradio.com.au www.kidsafevic.com .au www.restraintfitters.com.au www.vicroads.vic.gov.au www.wonderwomanchildren.com

healthy party food Kids love birthday parties, and they particularly love the party food. When planning a child’s party at home, we immediately think of the ‘traditional’ fairy bread, lollies, and mini sausage rolls. It’s all yummy food but we probably wouldn’t feed it to our kids normally. It’s a party so they only eat it occasionally, right? But think about how many parties they go to in a year, and how they feel after the party. Are they irritable, sick, or wired? They’re loaded up on sugar, salt, and they’ve consumed all kinds of preservatives and additives. There is a lot of processed food in the supermarket that is cleverly marketed as kids’ food. Forget it and save your money. Kids can eat whatever adults eat. Party food is just about fun food, and that doesn’t have to mean unhealthy. It just requires a little creativity in the presentation, and thinking outside the box. Words by Kara Wilson

Kids love fruit • Rainbow fruit platter – make a rainbow out of sliced fruit. • Berries and yoghurt ‘sundae’ – layer in clear cups or glasses: yogurt, granola and berries. • Fruit skewers – put fruit onto icypole sticks, or skewers for older kids. A little dipping yoghurt would be fun, or melted dark chocolate for the big kids. • Sliced fruit with a nut or seed butter topping. Bananas with almond butter, or apples with peanut butter. If there are nut allergies, you could use tahini.

Drinks • Mini smoothies – blend some coconut milk, fruit, and vanilla and put into cute cups with straws. • Water is all kids need, but infused water is lovely. Fill a jug of water and add in fresh lemon slices, mint, cucumber, and strawberries.

Savoury ideas • Homemade chicken nuggets – crumb some small pieces of chicken breast and cook ahead of time. Serve cold. • Meatballs – using beef mince, form into balls and fry before the party. The kids can dip them into some homemade tomato sauce. 30

• Mountain bread chips - slice some mountain bread into whatever shape you fancy, drizzle with olive oil and bake in the oven until crispy. Serve with guacamole (mash some avocado and a squeeze of lemon juice). • Cheese and cold meat platter. Most kids love a platter with all kinds of interesting food that they can choose from themselves. Cheeses can be all types like fetta and haloumi. The cold meat could be the meat from a roast chicken, or sliced ham off the bone. • Sliders - mini burgers, what’s not to love! • Sushi/rice paper rolls - buy these from a reputable store if you’re like a lot of us, and haven’t quite mastered the art of rolling. • Individual cups of dip (humus or tzatziki) and veggie sticks. • Mini pitta pizzas - put all of the veg into the sauce, and they’ll never know! • Veggie fritters – grate some veggies and cheese, add eggs and flour, and fry in a little oil. There are so many yummy and easy recipes out there to try. • Salmon and sweet potato patties – put some lovely fresh salmon, cooked sweet potato, and coriander into a food processor and blend. Form into balls and cook in a frying pan or oven. Yummy served with some sour cream.

• Egg muffins – grease a muffin tray with oil, pop in some chopped mushrooms, zucchini, red capsicum, and grated cheese. Fill up the muffin tray with beaten eggs and bake in the oven until golden. Simple!

Something sweet • Bliss balls – in a food processor, blend up seeds, nuts, oats, coconut, cacao, coconut oil, chia seeds, cinnamon, and anything else you can think of. Look online for some delicious and protein-filled recipes. Check first if there are any kids with nut allergies. • Apricot and almond balls • Sugar-free muffins – there are many recipes that use fruit as the sweetener instead of refined sugar. One idea is apple and cinnamon. • Mini pancakes – whip up a batch of pancakes that fit into little hands. They could be plain, or lemon and ricotta, or banana. So delicious! • Oat and raisin cookies – mix mashed banana with oats and raisins. Only 3 ingredients! Bake until golden and they’re done. • ‘Nicecream’ – freeze bananas ahead of time and blend up in the food processor when you’re ready to serve. It comes out so smooth and creamy. Try frozen berries too! • Homemade scones with ‘jam’ (pureed berries and chia seeds) and cream.

Serving tips Make it fun: use individual pots or mini buckets the kids can take home with them, use cookie cutters to cut out cheese and fruit, use icy-pole sticks, and paper patty cases. Think of the environment: There’s no need to use a whole lot of disposable plastic just for a couple of hours’ fun. There are plenty of eco-friendly options available like bamboo or paper that you can recycle. Kids can eat off regular plates too, or just keep it all finger food so they can pick and then go and play. Mess is inevitable! Don’t overcomplicate it, kids are happy to eat almost anything, especially when they’re with other kids and there’s lots of chaos and giggles. Relax, enjoy, and cherish this special day – your child is one year older. 31

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mama can Cook! Breakfast: Pink Porridge Ingredients:

Method:

45g porridge oats

Mix porridge oats, brown sugar and poppy seeds. Put mix in the pot with milk, bring to the boil and constantly stir.

10g brown sugar 5g poppy seeds 250ml milk 10ml beetroot juice

When the porridge is nearly ready, stir in the beetroot juice and mix well.

30g blueberries

Pour into your bowl, top with the whipped ricotta, blueberries and gel. Add some honey if you want to.

Optional: 30g beetroot gel

Serves 1.

20g whipped ricotta

Breakfast never looked so gorgeous. And trust us, it tastes amazing too.

You can make up several quantities in one go to last you throughout the week. Yum!

Lunch: Freekeh Bowl Ingredients:

Method:

140g freekeh

Boil freekeh for 15 minutes until crunchy, drain and leave to cool down.

20g pomegranate 30g diced beetroot 20g diced red onion 30g roasted japanese pumpkin Â˝ avocado 15g raw spinach 20ml french dressing 1 egg (poached) Sesame seeds.

Roast sliced pumpkin and beetroot in oven for 20 minutes. Whilst roasting, dice onion, peel avocado, deseed pomegranate and wash spinach. Once the pumpkin and beetroot has roasted then dice into large chunks. Time to assemble: mix the freekeh, pomegranate, diced onion and beetroot together with the French dressing. Place in a bowl, place the roasted pumpkin, avocado, poached egg and spinach on top. Sprinkle with sesame seeds. Serves 1. 35

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LITTLE PRICES FOR LITTLE SAILORS. Kids passenger fares $5 per child each way on a day sailing and $10 per child each way on a night sailing. Sail between 17 September and 10 December 2016. Book online by 2 July at: spiritoftasmania.com.au/mamamag

*Conditions apply. Visit spiritoftasmania.com.au/mamamag for details.

Ship ahoy This was my fifth visit to the Apple Isle, a place I’ve always been curious about. Perhaps it’s because of my ancestors who had the very first newsagency in Van Diemen’s Land. Or maybe it’s because of my secondary school speech debating the existence of the Tasmanian Tiger. Or perhaps because my idol, J.K. Rowling, allegedly has a holiday retreat there. Probably all of the above! I always discover more to do each time I visit. Tasmania has long been a destination for lovers of adventure and nature, but in recent years’ tourism has boomed with the opening of the Museum of Old and New Art (MONA). Recognition of the amazing local food and drink (with a nod to The Gourmet Farmer on SBS and Michelle Crawford’s book, A Table in the Orchard) has also generated an influx of visitors. When offered the chance to travel aboard the new Spirit of Tasmania, I knew on this occasion we wanted to explore parts of the Huon Valley and Bruny Island. The Spirit of Tasmania is the best way to get there in my opinion. Taking your car saves money on car hire and car seats. You can take all the luggage you need; games, bikes, and scooters! If you choose a day sail, there are circus performers, face painters, storytellers and entertainers who roam the ship teaching

kids about local art and wildlife. There is also an indoor playground, a games zone area and on-board cinema with the latest movies. We chose a night sail, which was ideal for us, and it included an ensuite cabin with two sets of bunks. We also had a porthole which created much excitement for my two boys aged three and six. After settling in to our cabin and some exploring of the ship, we headed to the restaurant TMK for a fantastic meal. I love that the little ones under 5 get their main meal for free with an adult meal. After dinner my husband took the boys to the games zone for some fun, whilst I headed for the Information hub to browse the tourism brochures. A little later, when it was time for bed, the boys, though still excited, were exhausted and gently rocked off to sleep, as did I. The next morning we docked bright and early in Devonport and commenced an easy drive to the Huon Valley. Our schedule was ideal; Launceston first, then the picturesque historic Ross for morning tea, a stroll in gorgeous Richmond and lunch in Hobart. We arrived at our accommodation in Ranelagh by 3pm and were greeted with a platter of local cheese and bottle of wine. Heaven!

When we awoke the following day, it was to a cloudless blue sky, and the divine smell of fresh air tinged with wood smoke. The town of Ranelagh, though quite small, hosts the popular annual Taste of the Huon. Our accommodation was The Cottage, where the roaring fire made a cosy atmosphere for card games at night, and the daytime outlook was over the beautiful mountains. Overall it was a great base for exploring the Huon Valley and an easy thirtyminute drive to Hobart. A highlight for us was our daily walk to the amazing Summer Kitchen Bakery nearby! Seriously, this place makes the type of bread and pastries that you would find in France. They are also at the Salamanca Markets each Saturday. The Huon area itself is the place that put the apples into the Apple Isle. The Valley is dotted with cute country cafes, wineries and a growing cider and craft beer industry. There is an abundance of fresh farm produce to enjoy, with farmers selling it from honesty stalls at their farm gates. We picked up a bag of some amazing apples; the Geeveston Fanny. Who knew there were so many varieties! The Huon Valley has beautiful rivers, forest and orchards as far as the eye can see.

And whilst the Huon has so many things to enjoy with children, we unfortunately had limited time. Some of our highlights included a visit to nearby Grove to visit the Apple Shed (a Museum and home to Willie Smith Apple Cider tasting- yum!) the Platypus walk and Traffic school in Geeveston, the Honey Pot (can there really be so many types of honey?) and a meal in the charming hamlet of Cygnet, food capital of the Huon, and home to the famous â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;folk festivalâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;. A day on Bruny Island was also a bonus. The boys loved the ferry crossing, which only took fifteen minutes, and having Adventure Bay all to ourselves (a landing place for Captain Cook). These adults also thoroughly enjoyed a quiet beverage and some sampling at the Bruny Island Cheese Company! Well, before we were ready though, it was home time. We at least had another sailing adventure to look forward to; the perfect way to end the holiday. We know we will be back. For more information on the new Spirit of Tasmania visit www.spiritoftasmania.com.au Words by Danielle Ross Walls

MAMA of the month Local Mum Helle Warming is the founder of Lucas Loves Cars, a gorgeous online store for parents who love quality and have children obsessed with cars, trucks, trains and all things with wheels. Helle drew inspiration from her own son who received a number of car-themed presents for his first birthday and has been car obsessed ever since! Lucas Loves Cars also stocks a stylish range of gifts and toys including puzzles, play mats, hats, cutlery, night lights, books, bath toys and much more.

the only mum wanting quality, beautifully designed toys? So of course I have created the store that I was looking for and Lucas Loves Cars was born.

What were you doing before you started your own business?

For mamas yet to discover your business, what can they expect?

Before I started Lucas loves cars I was working in a high rise building in the city. I enjoyed my job as a business analyst, and I honestly miss the people that I worked with. I had worked at the same place for 10 years. I remember before Lucas was born I would go to work at 8.30 and leave at 6.30. Some times heading out to dinner and doing my grocery shopping on the way home at 10pm. It was so hard to work part time after maternity leave, I felt like I wasn’t putting in enough effort at work, and I was missing out on things with Lucas too, always rushing to get to pick-up on time.

When you visit Lucas loves cars you become surrounded in colour and beauty. I imagine it as an old fashioned toy store with the convenience of visiting it on your couch. We concentrate on finding and stocking stylish toys that look good on the coffee table (because that is usually where they end up!) We have a wide range of toys and gifts, from dinosaur bath toys to wooden dump trucks.

How did Lucas Loves Cars evolve and how did the name come about? Would it surprise you that I have a son called Lucas? Every day he has different ‘special cars’ that he plays with, and even his favourite bed time reading is books with cars in them. At first I thought that my little boy was unique in this regard, but everyone keeps saying “It’s a boy thing”. What I couldn’t understand though, was that if all boys love cars, why are they so hard to find, particularly good quality wooden ones? The cars and trucks that are kept long after the little boy has grown up. It was also really hard to find ones that weren’t about TV shows or movies. I couldn’t understand why there were no websites dedicated to boys! Surely I wasn’t

What do you like most about what you do? There’s nothing worse than waiting for a delivery and then being disappointed when you open the box. I love to imagine the Mums and the kids receiving the parcels we send. We pack each order with love because we think opening an online order should be like Christmas. How do you balance the work with your family? I try to make sure I give my focus to where I am. When Lucas was little I would play with him for an hour and then ask him to play by himself for a little while so I could do Mummy things. When we played nothing else existed – it was just us and the fun we were having. Now that he is older and I am busier I have to actively remind myself how well that works. Oh and making big meals that I can freeze!

What have been your biggest highlights since starting your own business? I get excited when I see we are growing, sometimes they are little moments in the journey. My first personal photo shoot was a highlight, and our first celebrity mention on Instagram. We recently moved into a warehouse; that was a big highlight. It was a big step as it made the business feel larger. Giving our little car business a ‘garage’ has been a definite highlight. What key advice do you have for other aspiring business mums? I usually tell people I wish I had learned to network earlier. Not just meeting people but you have to do the right networking. No point meeting 60 accountants when you’re selling toy cars. Recently my advice is that being a business owner you don’t switch off at the end of a work day, it’s a full time job and then some. But it is important to have other interests so you recharge. A little like motherhood. Are there any key developments or products in the pipeline that you can share with us? I have a little dream that I have been working on this year. It’s top secret so I don’t want to share the details, but when it happens I think it will make a big difference. I can tell you that we are part of The Little Pop Up Shop and have a new Birthday Club happening. And I am busy finding beautiful products, which I’m always excited to share with everyone. And finally, where can we find you? www.lucaslovesars.com.au www.instagram.com/lucaslovescars www.facebook.com/lucaslovescars

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WIN

1 of 2 Family Passes to

A Reserve passes worth $120 each! The Smash Hit Broadway Musical brings all the “Peanuts” gang together; Charlie, his sister Sally, Lucy, Schroeder, Linus and of course his best pal Snoopy. Tickets available from Ticketek.

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messy play According to studies, messy play is an important part of a child’s early learning years, as it supports mental development whilst allowing the child to explore and learn. The best part is that messy play is fun! Instead of focusing on activities designed to create an end product, the goal is to focus on the experience and encourage an open-minded attitude towards new things. There is no right or wrong way to play, no rules or guidelines, so there is no pressure to get it right, only a positive way of building a child’s self esteem and confidence.

However, if the play is child-driven, not only does it boost confidence, it also allows the child to explore and learn through the use of body and senses, as messy play enables individuals to use all of their senses. By investigating new activities through the body (hands, arms, feet and body) as well as the senses (smell, taste, touch and sight), the child is developing and refining movement and coordination whilst working on brain development. The more absorbed a child becomes in an activity, the higher the levels of learnt concentrations skills.

Messy tactile activities such as water play, painting, play dough etc, helps a child to develop self-expression and self-creativity. They also improve confidence as they allow freedom of activity with no guidelines.

More importantly, messy play enables you, the parent, to actively engage with your child, rather than watching from the sidelines. Again this style of activity has been proven beneficial to a child’s development. With the support of adults, the young child also learns to develop language and communication skills, as they need to find words to describe what they are exploring through their sensory action and interaction.

Now I’m not suggesting that you allow your toddler to draw all over the walls of your house and call the little darling a genius, but there is something to be said for unstructured activities, where the child chooses what to do and with what materials. When the play is adult controlled, then the child has to follow the adults’ rules, which may be goal orientated, such winning and loosing. These are specific rules designed by the adult and can affect developing creativity, leadership and group skills.

By Toni Susskind Mess Matters www.messmatters.com.au

So what am I saying? Messy play helps develop healthy brains, fine and gross motor skills and coordination. But more importantly, it is fun for children of all ages too. So remember, mess matters!

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