Port Phillip MamaMag June 2015 by MamaMag

port phillip

June 2015

WIN tickets to Disney on Ice

with a chance to meet one of the stars Homework help MamaMag turns 1 School readiness Tales from the clown Anxiety in children Local party people Feed kids right Let them eat cake Investing in education Party etiquette

free Local fun for the Port Phillip mum 1

Saturday 16th 20th June birthday

11.30am - 3.30pm Face painting with Fairy Moth and balloon modelling with Crumpette the Clown

celebrations

12 noon - 3.00pm JOY 94.9 outdoor broadcast

winter gypsy

Sunday 21st June 2.00 - 4.00pm Gypsy music performance by the Stilleto Sisters

shopping for every season music for every season

2 LIFTS & STAIRS ACLAND COURT GROUND FLOOR 158 ACLAND ST. ST KILDA (RIGHT AT THE 96 TRAM STOP)

aclandcourt.com.au 1200mm

370mm

ARTWORK APPROVAL SUBSTRATE

DATE:

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AUTHORISED SIGNATORY: 1.6mm ALUMINIUM

3mm ALUCABOND BRUSHED SILVER

OTHER LIFTS

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Whilst all due care is taken by Envision Digital Design in preparation of this artwork , final check over is required by you our valued client. Acceptance of this proof by authorised signatory is understood to be confirmation of your order & will be produced accordingly. Any amendments required after final approval may attract extra costs.

Acland Court Date : 16.06.14

: Proposed Signage Schedule - Signtype 20

ENVISI

DIGITAL

DESIGN

WINTER SCHOOL HOLIDAY FUN 28 JUNE TIL 4 JULY 2015

ROAR

KATY PERRY TRIBUTE PANTS DOWN CIRCUS

MR SNOT BOTTOM

LAH-LAH LIVE IN CONCERT CRAZY SCIENCE SHOW

full program & ticket info at fun4kids.com.au

ROALD DAHL’S REVOLTING RHYMES & DIRTY BEASTS

Fun4Kids App

Tickets on Sale NOW!

It’s pary time! That’s right, party time. MamaMag turns one this month and we got so excited we just had to throw a ‘party issue’ to celebrate! MamaMag has come a long way in 12 months, starting off its beginnings in Bayside, before joining us in Port, by the clever Sarah Cavalier (check her story out on page 22!). In recent times it seems that the humble birthday party has evolved from simple fairy bread and pin the tail on the donkey, into spectacular birthday themes, inspired by hours trolling Instagram and pinning like a sinner on Pintrest! Don’t get me wrong, I’m not complaining! I love it. I’m a frustrated party stylist at heart. I never thought I was particularly creative growing up, but I’ve come to learn that my heart is fullest when I’m creating and everyone around me is happy. And there’s no better feeling than a room full of loved ones celebrating a birthday together. I love fussing with the party table and spending hours on the details that others may not notice. Details. Details! I was up until 4am on the eve of Lotte’s 2nd birthday getting those details just as they looked in my head. Of course, it’s not just the details that make a party so amazing it’s the energy and love. There’s no doubt that the world of kids parties is bigger than it’s ever been before and inside this edition we’ve got some fantastic tips on how to plan and style your next party. We also bring you some styling tips and party ettiquette and have scoped out the local party venues to help inspire your next celebration. And the cake. Oh. My. God. THE CAKE. I thought I’d just automatically be skilled in the art of baking when I became a mama, but it never quite kicked in. Luckily, there is a world of cake makers out there dedicated to creating the most incredible edible art. Almost too good to eat. Let them eat cake. Amen. Next month, as winter knocks on the door, we’ll bring you a big foodie packed edition. There’s no better warmth than a full and happy belly! Until then, keep living and loving local!

@localmamamag

Cover image by Enhance Studios www.enhancestudios.com.au

WIN

Contents Styling tips for a perfect party Big impact on a small budget

The magic party clown Tales from a local dad

Party people Local birthday party ideas and venues

Lovely locals We explore Clarendon Sreet

Get in the theme Party theme ideas

Let them eat cake We’ve got local cake makers covered

Perfect party etiquette Tips from an expert

Mama of the month MamaMag founder Sarah Cavalier

Kids in sport The importance of active kids

Mama can cook Party pizzas and racing teddies

The reluctant party guest A local mum’s story

Turn the page Three Four Knock on the Door

Creating a successful mothers group 33 The path to success

tIckets to DIsney On Ice Dare to Dream There are 4 chances to win 4 tickets each to the 2nd July 2.30pm performance PLUS one lucky winner will also get to meet a star from the show.

endota spa Brighton

Visit our Facebook page to enter

www.facebook.com/localmamamag Entries open to Victorian residents only. Competition starts June 1st 12.01am and closes June 20st 2015 at 11.59pm. 16 tickets in total. Tickets valid for the 2nd July 2.30pm performance only. For further details and full terms and conditions visit www.mamamag.com.au. ©Disney. All Rights Reserved. www.disneyonice.com.au

MamaMag is published monthly for the mums of the Port Phillip area 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

Bonjour! 34 French foundations

5,000 copies are distributed monthly. Editor: Kirsty Chick Design and layout: Sarah Cavalier

Parklife 36 We visit Elwood Park

Like to contribute an article or products for review or giveaway? submissions@mamamag.com.au

Take a walk on the wild side The low down on zoo parties

Fun for the kids Kid’s crafts and our colouring comp WIN one of 3 Globber Scooters!

Like to advertise in our next month’s issue? info@mamamag.com.au or download our media kit from www.mamamag.com.au The opinions expressed herein are not necessarily those of the publishing staff. Reproduction in whole or part is prohibited without permission of the publishers. Health related articles are designed to be informative and educational. They are not intended to provide specific medical advice or replace one-on-one advice from your health practitioner.

MamaMag June 2015

top 5 styling tips for These days’ parties are pinned all over social media and can make you feel like you have big shoes to fill. I hear you asking, what happened to a homemade cake from the Women’s Weekly Cake book? (Still one of the best cake books after all these years.) Don’t get me wrong, I love a low cost, low effort party, but even with a small budget you can still make a big impact, and give your special person a day they won’t forget. For some people, arranging a party can be a daunting and scary experience, especially if you have not done it before. I have listed my top 5 tips to style the perfect party to help you on your way.

1. Think about who the party is for A kid’s party should be fun for the kids. Whilst it is easy to become swept up into a frenzy of theming and perfectionism, at the end of the day I would be surprised if any of kids notice the difference.

2. The season If you have a July baby, chances are a picnic in the park isn’t going to work for you. If you don’t want to have it at your house (or can’t for space reasons) there are so many amazing play centres, party centres and halls to choose from. All of these can be “styled” really easily using these simple ideas.

a perfect party

on any budget

3. Theme A theme is such a simple way to create the wow factor. This can be as simple as using a pattern, like chevron, or a consistent colour palate, like baby pink and white. You can go all out with tried and tested themes like Batman, Pirate or Fairy – or try a modern alternative to these such as Woodlands, Moustache, Vintage transport or Milk and Cookies parties. Why not ask your guest of honour what they dream of…. you might be surprised at the answer. Pinterest is your friend. Start a board for your upcoming party to gather inspiration.

4. Invitations and decorations Your invitation is the first element of your party and introduces guests to your theme. There are great sites like etsy.com that create custom listings, and you can save some money if you go with a theme that has been done before. Alternatively, there are some free templates on Google. Next, start to source decorations from your house (and your family and friends too), finding anything that you can use. These days you don’t need a table with a plastic cloth – you can use anything from baby change tables, to suitcases to storage units. Hiring key items such as kid’s chairs and tables, cake stands etc. is a cheaper alternative to purchasing them and ensures you are on trend for minimal cost. Once you have your “table”, head to the $2 shops for plain coloured plates, napkins etc. This is much cheaper than using a “Disney” or the themed variety, and you can stick in your colour theme for half the cost. If you want to, add a couple of more expensive key themed items, but keep your cost down with everything else. Don’t forget the finishing touches. Thank you cards, lolly bags and a big smile on the day!

5. Entertainment This really depends on your budget. There is nothing wrong with pass the parcel wrapped in newspaper and musical chairs, but if you have some extra money to spend, there are so many options for entertainers in theme – e.g. Queen Elsa, a magician, jumping castles and so much more. A party doesn’t have to be stressful; and there are plenty of experts out there to help you if you would like to outsource your next party. Don’t forget to check out sprinklewithstyle.com.au for all your hire and styling needs. Good luck and happy planning By Pip Hunt - Owner of Sprinkle With Style - Elwood www.sprinklewithstyle.com.au

the Magic Party Clown A true story. It was a suburban household birthday party for a five year old boy as I recall. There I was as I arrived through the front door... and it hit me! The sea of colour across the specially decorated Birthday Table set centre stage in the middle of the living room. Red lollies. Yellow biscuits. Green party hats. Blue balloons. And a big rainbow coloured birthday cake. Wonderful! It was psychedelics in real 3D! Terrific for Birthday Boy and the kids. Anyhow -- there I am in attendance and I take step number two into the house and--I sense the party is about to crank up a notch or two. In fact I know for sure it is. I’ll tell you why. It’s somewhat personal! I’m at this party because I’m the hired entertainment! Hey, not just any entertainment, I’m there as Muddles the Magic Party Clown.

Yep - I used to be a real-life, genuine, ‘‘can-I-get-yourautograph-please-Muddles’ magic clown. For how long? Oh, about ten years or so.

Now get a picture in your mind. Muddles is entering said Birthday Party House. The excited Birthday Boy, at first sight of Muddles, triggers his family, friends, the dog (and I’m sure I heard a lyre-bird) to a sudden, hair-raising shrill of “Yaaaaaaaayyyyyy. The clown! The clown’s here!!”. Yes--Muddles was making his grand entrance.

Show Time People Of course, like all good party clowns, I had to feign a stumble over an imaginary something within the first few steps didn’t I? Muddles does the old reliable ‘bang the toes of the back foot into the heel of the front foot and stumble forward’ routine. He half turns to look at the floor. Squats. Looks closer and scratches his 100 percent genuine synthetic nylon red clown hair and says to the party group... “Hmmm, Boys, Girls, Mums, Dads and BaldHeaded Babies...wait just one minute!” “(pointing) What was that I just tripped over?” and Muddles would then swish the floor from side-to-side with his white-gloved hand as if clearing the ‘object’ away. “Now, lets try that entrance again shall we?!” he says.

Well, you’re probably ahead of me with this part of the story (especially if you were ever in the audience of a Muddles show) because you might know what happens next... Yes, correct. Muddles re-enters. He stops to face the party group and holds his gloved hand open behind his cocked clown ear and prompts to hear the “Yaaaaaaaayyyyyy” greeting once more. Birthday Boy and party guests respond on cue. Straight away Muddles takes his second and third confident stride of an entrance and says, looking around the room, “Where’s our Birthday Boy?!”

But just then... oh no! He trips AGAIN over that same imaginary object.

you--wave them under your nose-- and tempt you to ‘pick a card--any card’. Quite tragic.

Was I really that bad at magic. Yes! Believe it or not Ripley. Not once did I succeed at making an elephant appear in the fridge. Saw a lot of the inside of people’s fridges though. And juggling bowling balls, half-eaten apples and roaring chain saws? Don’t even ask! I’ve gotta tell you though--I loved playing Muddles and especially when entertaining children. Mike Searles is a local dad and a freelance writer available for hire at MikeSearles.com

Well... it’s giggles all ‘round for Muddles and the birthday party entertainment is under way. I’d love to go through the entire 45 minute Muddles the Magic Party Clown routine. Some other time maybe. Why did I name my character Muddles? Because he would ‘muddle’ almost everything he did. But truly. That was how I escaped from getting any REAL magic to work. I kid you not. I mean I was (and still am) the world’s worst magician. Which hurts because I’ve loved magic since I was a boy. Don’t EVER pull out a deck of playing cards in front of me ‘cause I’m likely to swipe ‘em off 9

Party people Mama has got local birthday party fun covered. Check out these awesome ideas in our local area! CREATIVE PARTY - ARTea Parties hosted by professional artist Helen Pollard and team who truly personalise each party. Inspiration is drawn from the birthday child, listening to their wishes and getting creative with handmade decorations to bring to life their dreams. All imagined entertainment requests can be organised, including a tailored art and craft session that the studio specialise in. ARTea now offer â&#x20AC;&#x153;Themed Parties in a boxâ&#x20AC;? delivered to your door. 9A Raglan Street, Port Melbourne www.artea.com.au Helen 0415 039 791

CREATIVE PARTY - Habitots Habitots offers 2 beautiful spaces that cater to parties for 10-40 kids and adults with a range of themes and packages to choose from. The downstairs rooms ajoins a wonderful outdoor area where younger kids can play in the sandpit, cubby house or enjoy an entertainer or jumping castle. Kids from 4yrs + also love parties in the beautiful art studio and love creating pieces to take home. Habitots is flexible with their packages and has options for self-catering to fully catered, low-key to fully themed celebrations. 146 Bridport St, Albert Park www.habitots.com.au, 9686 1312

CREATIVE PARTY - Apples and Jam Apples and Jam is a place of wonder and laughter that delivers a magical experience for children. Irene and her fabulous team can plan unique parties for your children. Set in a historic school, a wide range of party themes, and a creative space to stimulate imagination is on offer. Parties set a new standard with ecofriendly practice, whilst still delivering that magical experience for children. 217-239 Montague Street, South Melbourne, www.applesandjam.com.au, 9682 6367

GLAMOUR PARTY - Mini Taju Mini Taju Kids Pamper Parties is a mobile beauty and entertainment company, specialising in kids pampers parties & cupcake decorating. Mini Taju have taken care of the hard work and will pamper the party host and their friends with VIP service. Their parties incorporate high quality products, interactive games, prizes, music, dancing, yummy treats, makeovers and glitter to help create the most amazing party with a twist! www.minitaju.com Tania: 0404974100

THEMED PARTY - The Party Room For Kids

The Wow factor! The Party Room for Kids will transport party guests to another world with their professional set up showcasing quality, themed children’s birthday parties. With nine stunning themes to choose from, including snow queen with actual snowfall on arrival, mermaid with large opening glowing shell and dinosaur jungle with 4.5m high dinosaur, this is the place to impress little and big guests alike! Sensational entertainers, superb hospitality staff and a pastry chef to delight with delicious themed cakes. 70 Dow Street, South Melbourne, www.thepartyroomforkids.com.au, 0438 542 292

MUSIC PARTY - Music Works Magic Enjoy musical entertainment like no other! Let the experienced music teachers / party leaders at Music Works Magic create a memorable musical party to suit the age and needs of your child. The Birthday child and their guests will love singing and dancing, will be delighted by our beautiful puppets and instruments, and the fun musical games and stories we’ll share. 560 Glenhuntly Road Elsternwick www.musicworksmagic.com Ph. 8554 4339

ACTIVE PARTY - Melbourne Sport and Aquatic Centre (MSAC) MSAC offers a range of action and adventure-packed parties for kids aged 4+. Choose from a ‘Wet ‘n’ Wild’ pool and waterslide party, surf the incredible FlowRider waves, explore the indoor pirate’s cave and jumping castle or host a high-energy ‘Super Sport’ party in their world-class facilities. Parties are fully supervised and catering is available. Enquire at parties@ssct.com.au or 99261618. Visit www.melbournesportshub.com.au/msac/parties/

COOKING PARTY - Itsy Bitsy Chef Masterchef has inspired a new generation of curious little chefs ready to create in the kitchen. Itsy Bitsy taps into children’s innate love and curiosity of cooking. Hosted by a qualified Chef/ Patisserie Chef with 20 years experience, Tafe teacher and mother of two, your culinary party bases are more than covered. The kids measure and weigh everything and then knead, roll, whip, twist, sift everything by hand themselves, unlike any other cooking program. Quality and real party food and cake as you would expect. 147 Liardet Street, Port Melbourne, www.itsybitsychef.com.au 0425 745 784

ANIMAL PARTY - Wild Action Why not have the WILDEST party in town..and have Wild Action ‘The Zoo that Comes To you!’ visit your child’s next party. Engaging presenters and unbeatable interactive wildlife, your party guests won’t realise that learning can be this much fun! Operating for over 21 years, Wild Action has it’s very own private Zoo…..that’s why they have the best animals! Are you ready to take a walk on the wild side? Chris Humfrey, 0419 385 245 www.wildaction.com.au

SOCCER PARTY - Soccer Time Kids and Football Star Academy Soccer fans at home? Choose your location and a qualified coach will come in and deliver an action packed soccer class tailored to your child’s ability. Pre-schoolers (1-5) will love Soccer Time Kids with obstacle courses, skills and fun! For the budding Ronaldo, school kids (4-12) check out Football Star Academy where guests will learn lots of skills and compete in their very own tournament.

www.soccertimekids.com.au 1300 476 223 www.footballstaracademy.com.au 1300 372 300

DANCING PARTY - Glittery Tapping Wonderland Offering TuTu cute parties, is there anything more darling than a party full of ballet fairies? With a studio in Glen Huntly, let Miss Daisy Chain bring her trademark sparkle to the party, offering any number of Fairy Ballet, Jazz Tap, Funky dance and Acrobatic dance styles - just bring the birthday cake and food. Let your kids wiggle, juggle and giggle to their heart’s content. 1109a Glen Huntly Rd, Glen Huntly www.glitterytappingwonderland.com Miss Casey 0423095590 12 12

lovely locals We VISIT clarendon St, south melbourne 4 Yarra Pl

Clarendon

Park St

Bank St

Coventry St

York St

CoventrySt

Street

Charles St

Dorcas St

1. Massage retreat - Relative Therapies Patty and her wonderful team of therapists will bring a good energy flow back to your body. This multi-modality natural health clinic focuses on finding the underlying problems, not just treating signs and symptoms. The massage glow continues long after the body works! Lomi Lomi treatment is meant to be bliss. 373 Clarendon Street. 2. Kids boutique - Little Darcy Filled with colour and fun, Little Darcy stocks some great labels to have your little one styled to perfection. Great place to come for gifts, be it that quality organic cotton baby gear or oh so soft vibrant baby blanket, darling tutu dress, teepee or wooden funky scooter. 257 Coventry Street. 3. Spa Oasis - Body Freedom Urban Spa A sense of calm as you step inside to a real sanctuary away from the busy city buzz. Even waxing seems relaxing in this environment! Hard pressed to find a better pregnancy massage anywhere in Melbourne. You’ll leave floating after these indulgent spa treatments. 392 Clarendon Street. 4. Brunch Buzz - St ALi Always has a buzz, a big warehouse space with an equally cool vibe. Not your average brunch fare, expect something a little more edgy with added flair. The Pepe Sayer’s Fluffy Bits (aka pancakes) with burnt figs deliver a sweet punch. Serious coffee and spacious fit-out. 12-18 Yarra Place 5. Jaffles are back - F.T Tuckshop Hole-in-the-wall local with limited outdoor seating but plenty of feel-good nostalgia vibe and pucker tucker. Soups, subs, rolls, salads - a quality quick weekday lunch on the run. Delicious old-school jaffles making a comeback complete with old-school prices. 2 Charles Street. 6. Home Decor and Gifts - Pomegranate Some gorgeous homewares to style your home from luxe screen printed cushions to Pop and Scott ceramic pot plants out in the courtyard, lots of interesting treasures to be found. We can’t go past the portholes and crosses by Byron Bay artist Jai Vasicek. 251A Coventry Street. 7. Sweet Spot - Bibelot New dessert boutique, artisanal patisserie and gelateria from the master team behind the French-inspired every-popular cafe Chez Dre. High tea salon set to operate late this month. A place where chocolate literally comes on tap. Enough said. 285-287 Coventry Street. 14

get in the theme So it’s party time, your little one is getting excited about getting bigger and they have been telling everyone that their birthday party is coming up, but what type of party will it be? Often young children have a favourite movie or character that they like for that moment so the party theme is chosen to reflect what your child is into at the time. Whether it be superheroes, Ninja Turtles, Wizard of Oz or Frozen there are so many ways you can throw a party using these themes without them looking completely commercial. Pick elements of the theme and use three of them, for example if you are going with the Ninja Turtle theme you could use garbage cans, slime and pizza. Take your colours from these three elements; silver, green, red and beige and think mini garbage cans to house desserts, hold the cutlery or the shape of the cake. The slime could be represented in food like jelly, mousse or drinks and pizza could have the kids making their own, pizza boxes could be used as invitations or cookies could be made in the shape of pizzas.

Frozen has been a massive hit with both boys and girls, and with the amount of Frozen props out there you can easily put together a great party. But if you wanted to hand make things rather than buying from the shops you could make some great snowflake cutouts, get the kids to paint them and cover them with glitter. Marshmallow pops dipped in blue sugar would make for an easy sweet and why not have the little guests make papermache Olafs. It will give the kids a fun activity to do and take home. Other party themes that are big for kids are boho or tribal parties incorporating feathers, teepees, face painting and doily bunting. Ice-cream parties tend to be a favourite for little girls with large balloons and confetti dots for pretty décor, ice-cream stands and cakes with upside down icecream cones on them. Automobile parties like cars, planes or trains can be a great theme to go with for little boys and can be vintage or contemporary styles. Colours of sky blue, red, charcoal grey and white are a great base to start with.

Just remember if you going to go with a theme, make that clear with your invitations, especially if there is a dressing up option involved. Then carry this through the party from the games played to the food served. With plenty of party inspiration available in magazines and Pinterest your child’s next party can be themed to perfection. For more party ideas grab your copy of Confetti Fair Junior in all good newsagencies June 8th.

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15 15

Atomic Cakes - 9528 3529 www.atomiccakes.com.au

Itsy Bitsy Ch ef - 0425 745 784 www.itsybits ychef.com.au

Cakes by Belind www.cakesby

We put out the call to find you some great local cake makers

200 829 linda - 0408 Cakes by Be et.au bybelinda.n www.cakes

Sparkles & Frosting -0424 664 499 FB: /sparklefrostingcakes

The Tastin g Kitchen www.thetas tingkit

da - 0408 200 829 ybelinda.net.au

292 38 542 ids - 04 K u r .a fo om ids.com rty Ro mfork o o r The Pa ty The Tasting hepar Kitchen - 04 www. t 12 885 152 www.thetasti ngkitchen.co m.au

and we were pretty pleased with what we discovered!

n - 0412 885 152 tchen.com.a u

Sparkles & Frosting -0424 664 499 FB: /sparklefrostingcakes

0438 542 292 The Party Room for Kids s.com.au rkid mfo roo www. theparty

For your child's next birthday party, why not invite

Dancing, Games & Party Fun Awesome Songs & Music Glitter and Tattoos Prizes for all & Birthday Gift Theme & Character Options s, Princesse bows Rain rs & s ie ir a F Dinosau Dancingroes Space Aliens! e h r e & Sup “Check out our cool Party Glamour Pamper, ove! Themes. There’s something Gro for everyone!”

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Coco’s Early Learning Centre is a new family focused First Class kindergarten and long day care for children from 6 weeks to 5 years

• • • • • •

A new state of the art centre A secure and nurturing environment for children Highly qualified and caring staff Natural and sustainable environments to allow for discovery and investigation Fun filled programs enriching each child’s individual development Nutritious and delicious meals using the highest quality ingredients and produce prepared by the house chef • Complimentary Yoga, Music and Sport programs • Multicultural programming and events

249 Glen Eira Road Caulfield North • 9528 2812 • www.cocoselc.com.au

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perfect party Etiquette Does the thought of thirty-five sugared-up, hyperactive children running laps around your lounge room fill you with dread? Never fear! Simone Norris, owner of online gift & party boutique www.inviteme.com.au has been in the party game for 10 years. Here she shares some pearls of wisdom to help make your next party run smoothly.

What’s an appropriate number of children for a party? Firstly, it’s as many kids as your venue will hold or as many as you can handle, but a good rule of thumb is invite as many kids as is the age of the child. Eg. a six year old inviting six friends. Big parties can be overwhelming for the best of us, let alone small children and let’s not even get into the pressure it puts on the adults hosting the party! That said, the ‘all-inclusive’ approach can also work as well. Invite the entire grade and your child is almost guaranteed a return invite from their classmates. The best part about this is that no one is left-out.

Invitation etiquette There are some key things you can do to make the invitation process easier: • Sometimes it’s not possible to invite everyone from the class – so listen up, this one’s important – DO NOT HAND OUT INVITATIONS AT KINDER OR SCHOOL IN FRONT OF CHILDREN WHO AREN’T INVITED! While it’s often unintentional, try explaining to a five year old why everyone got invited except them. It is heart-breaking. Be discreet! Hand invitations out quietly to parents at classrooms or ask kids to pop sealed envelopes in their bags. There are even some teachers who will hand out invites privately during class time. • Note on your invitation whether it’s a ‘drop-off’ party or not. As a general rule, parties of children aged five are not dropped off but people won’t know how you want to handle that unless they’re instructed. 20

• Ask for RSVP’s by text. This means you will have their number in case of an emergency. • If entertaining at home, keep parties short and sharp. A two-hour timeframe is about right. By the time you factor in your guests arriving, two or three games, eating, playing and then blowing out the cake, you’re up to your two hours. • Can you leave your other child at the party as well? Unless invited by the host, the answer is probably not. These days, most hosts have pre-organised games and prizes around a set number of kids and have just enough take home bags for their guests, so throwing in an unannounced child into the mix can also throw a spanner in the works.

What’s an appropriate budget for kid’s birthday gifts? My experience behind my counter has led me to this conclusion: • An invitation from a classmate that your child doesn’t know well. $15-25 • Close little friends and besties: $25-40 • Close family friends and relatives $40-65 Yes, throwing parties can be stressful but there are a few simple planning principles to follow that will help. At the end of the day, you cannot lose sight of why you’re having the party in the first place – which is to celebrate that special little person in your life by letting them know they are loved by those around them. By Simone Norris from Inviteme Shop online at www.inviteme.com.au Follow her on Instagram: @invitemeshop

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SINCE 2003

MAMA of the month What better time than our one year anniversary to turn the tables and go behind these printed pages to find out a bit more about Sarah Cavalier, the owner, publisher, creative director and all round multi-tasking single mama behind MamaMag. Kirsty Chick, Port Phillip Editor, get’s the behind the scenes story...

Happy Birthday to your baby MamaMag!! One year down, how on earth did this crazy and wonderful adventure get started and what were you doing before MamaMag? My background is Graphic Design (that’s why MamaMag looks so good!!) and I have run my own design business, Grizzle Design, for over 13 years. Before kids I was based in an awesome shared studio in Richmond. Once Lachie was born, almost 7 years ago, I moved my business home to the Macedon Ranges, where I lived, and worked on the business part time. Two years later Milla came along and business went on as usual. (No such thing as maternity leave for me.) I worked, tried to play happy housewife and juggled two children who never slept. But I never really felt happy. Some would say country life should have been idyllic, part time work fun, but I was tired and lonely and finally when my marriage unraveled I left the country with my two kids in tow back to the big smoke. We shacked up with Grandma in Brighton for 2 months before moving into our own place where I got back to rebuilding my business and my life. It’s a scary thought to suddenly need a full time wage again after 5 years part time and a hubby to cover the rest. I couldn’t just go out and get a job. I hadn’t worked for anyone since 2003! So I picked up some freelance design work to top up my Grizzle stuff and found a new studio to share in South Yarra. I was just making enough to pay the bills, but something was still missing. Corporate design and marketing just wasn’t exciting me anymore and I knew, as I rebuilt my life, it was time to build something new business wise as well.

You launched MamaMag and ran it completely solo for the first few months, only to call out for a small hand when you couldn’t physically distribute two publications at once. How hectic where those early days? I’m still not sure how I even got that first June issue off the ground. I pounded the streets for a month with a colour laser printout of my Media Kit and a few printouts of proposed articles for the first issue. It was so amateur! But I believed in my product and so did everyone else apparently because I sold enough ads to make a small profit and MamaMag was off and racing. I was selling ads, coordinating content, designing the magazine, designing ads, handling the accounts and distributing all 5,000 mags all by myself (plus still managing my Grizzle Design work) and for some reason 4 months later I decided it was a good idea to launch a second publication in Port Phillip! Bayside had been such a hit from the getgo and Port Phillip is like my second home, having lived in St Kilda before and Milla going to kinder in Elwood. So it was always going to be next. But suddenly I had almost doubled my workload only handballing the distribution of Bayside over to Kirsty when it became apparent I couldn’t deliver two publications at once! Kirsty was always going to do more with the mag, but at the time I couldn’t afford to pay her! Some people seem to think MamaMag is some big business. But it’s just a crazy single mum with a dream and a few other awesome mums now helping coordinate the content in the other two areas. Westside is managed by my sister who lives in Footscray and Port Phillip is looked after by the wonderful Kirsty who stepped up as Port editor when it all got too much for me to do by myself.

What was your initial vision for MamaMag and how has that evolved? Initially I just wanted to create something fun and local for mums to read whilst giving local businesses a new place to get great local exposure to a really targeted audience. I thought it would be a fun and exciting project to run that would complement my existing design business. But it’s become so much more. MamaMag has allowed me to meet so many amazing mums and locals in business and I love having a platform to be able to help showcase their ideas. I introduced the Mama of the Month article off the back of this, wanting to share all these fabulous mum’s stories with the readers in the hope they might inspire other mums to try something new after having kids. Whenever a business contacts me for advertising I always look at their business and say “Hey, we would love you to advertise (after all the ads are the only place the magazine gets funding and I need to feed my kids!), but where else can we get you involved so you get the best exposure to our local mums.” If it’s a toy shop I get items to use as prizes in our colouring comp and pop their details in there, if it’s a café I encourage them to submit a recipe to share with our readers. I work with local bookshops publishing book reviews, and of course I love local businesses writing articles as it gives the mag great content and it gives them another outlet to get their name out there as well. How do you manage to keep MamaMag on track, meet deadlines, keep the kids nourished and have time for hobbies? Are there even enough hours in the day? In a few words, I wing it! And no, there are not nearly enough hours in the day. Publication wise everything is often down to the wire as I’m still doing far too many jobs at once. As I type this it’s Thursday. Tomorrow is advertising deadline, yet I still have 10 ads to design and get approved and I’ve only half done the Bayside layout and not started the other two. We go to print Tuesday! I did move house this week though, so I’m a bit thrown off from that. I will be working all weekend, that’s a given and happens at least twice a month, but thankfully the kids are at their Dad’s a lot of weekends! Week life is a juggle as a single mum with two kids. Milla does two days sessional kinder and three days long day care at her wonderful Elwood kinder whilst Lachie is in Grade 1. Mondays and Wednesdays are normal pick up, Tuesdays are after school care, 23

Soccer on Thursday. I had a little office but now I’ve moved the business back home to make working at night easier and allowing the kids to get home a bit earlier. Nourishment... luckily for me the kids love eating healthy. If we are home after 6, sometimes it’s just brown rice, tuna and peas. Total cooking time 1.30min! But you do what you have to do. Proudest MamaMag moment to date... There have been many. When I distributed the very first mag last June I was in a kindergarten in Black Rock. It was my first stop in Black Rock so I knew no one down there would have seen it yet. As I explained to the teacher what MamaMag was and handed over her new display box, a cute little 4 year old boy looked up at me and said “MamaMag, my mum’s already got one of them”. Brilliant, we’re famous already!! Then when I distributed Port Phillip for the first time, within half an hour of dropping it in Bay Street Port Melbourne the president of the Port Melbourne Traders Association called to congratulate me on such an outstanding publication for the community. I’ve had so many lovely messages from readers on Facebook as well. It always makes me smile and feel so proud that I am creating something mums love and doing something great for the community at the same time. Some say the first year is the toughest in business startups - yet you’ve launched three mags in that time - what has kept you strong and motivated? I love what I do. There is never a day that I don’t want to work on MamaMag. I wish I had more days in the week to make time to make this magazine even better. Some of publications financially are working better than others, but the amazing feedback we get from our readers makes me so happy that as long as I’m not making a loss, I’m ok with that. I’m not here to make lots of money, just as long as I can support my beautiful kids (and pay that nasty tax bill!). My children keep me strong. They have become an integral part of MamaMag and my biggest fans. Poor Lachie can’t work out why he never wins the colouring comp though!! Now everytime we go somewhere, Milla always says “Mummy, take a photo and put it in the magazine”. She loves her 5 minutes of fame! 24

So it’s the Birthday Issue. Do you make Lachie & Milla’s cake each year? I’ve made Lachie’s every year, although Milla has had the Woolworths Peppa Pig cake for the last 2 years in a row. Too easy! Lachie wanted a giraffe for his third birthday which worked out quite well, until I let him help do the spots. He ended up with pink and purple patches instead of brown but he thought it was fabulous. You’ve exposed many Mama’s guilty pleasures on these very pages, time to share yours... My guilty pleasure is candy. I have a serious issue with Skittles and will easily knock back a family pack if not intervened! What’s a life lesson you would tell your younger self and a value you would most like to instill in your children? To not be afraid to try something new, no matter how hard it seems. A little saying I love is “Stop focussing on how stressed you are and remember how blessed you are.” What makes your heart burst? Every time I pick my kids up from their Dad’s, or from an afternoon at Grandma’s, they always run up and hug me with so much excitement like they haven’t seen me in weeks, yet it’s only been days or even hours. To see the love in their eyes and to know I’m making them happy gives me so much joy.

Photos by Kelly Jord an Photog www.kelly raphy jordanphot ography.c om.au

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Kids in sport

With all the technology temptations of modern life, it’s more important than ever to engage our children in active, balanced lifestyles. When a passion for sport is ignited in children early on, it is likely to stay with them for life.

confronting for parents. It’s a great way to involve your child in a fun, social and healthy activity that also allows you to spend quality time together away from the television!

We want our kids to be healthy, active, happy children. Instead of excessive screen time, we want to encourage them to get outside, to run around with their friends and to enjoy the sunshine, but motivating your children to be active in these modern technological times can be a challenge.

· Promoting a fit and healthy lifestyle

One of the best ways to engage children in physical, outdoor activities is to involve them in sport early on.

· Improving communication

For some parents, the idea of sport can be intimidating. Perhaps they were not athletic growing up and have no real interest in sport themselves. However sport shouldn’t be

· Helping provide structure and discipline

The benefits of children in sport are almost endless. Some of them include: · Building confidence and self esteem · Reducing stress - for parents and kids! · Improving balance and coordination · Providing a sense of belonging · Developing social skills · Building relationships with peers, mentors and teachers · Encouraging teamwork, cooperation and leadership · Teaching the benefits of goal setting

And above all, sport makes kids happy! They love running around with their friends and sharing a common interest.

their favourite drink bottle ready with their favourite snack for after the class. All of this helps to build excitement for the session.

It’s natural for kids to be a little apprehensive about trying something new for the first time. Once they get there, they will, of course, love it, but getting them out the door can sometimes also throw parents a curveball.

Having to sit down and take instructions from a coach before playing can be a new experience for children of a young age. Parents need to emphasise that the child needs to listen to the coach, and reinforce directions given. It will really help develop a child’s ability to be attentive.

Here are a few tips for preparing your children for a new sports program: Prepare your child for the class by speaking about it during the days leading up to their first session. Build excitement so they are looking forward to it. This also helps to overcome the nerves of entering into a new environment. Explain to your child that they are going to be part of a team and will meet new friends before arriving at the session. This helps by letting them know to expect to see lots of new faces. Sometimes kids are full of excitement at home, and then when you arrive to their first session, they curl up into a ball. That’s perfectly understandable. Your child doesn’t know anyone in a strange environment, so helping them ease into their first sports session is an important step for parent and child. When you arrive at the venue, try to dive straight into playing with whatever equipment is out…and don’t be shy, join in with them! We find this really helps to settle them into the new environment.

Don’t apply pressure! Sport is about enjoyment, especially at a young age. As long as your little one is smiling and laughing the rest will come. Your child may not pick it all up in one session, but with constant support and encouragement to try again if they don’t succeed, they will eventually reach their goal.

If at first you don’t succeed, what do we do? We TRY AGAIN! Parents MUST reinforce this. Even failing should be fun. If you would like to get your child involved in sport then why not check out Soccer Time Kids (1 - 5 year olds) and Football Star Academy (5 - 16+ year olds). We run terrific sports programs for kids that will provide hours of happy and healthy fun for your children. And we also run fun active kids parties! By Elliot Capel - Soccer Time Kids, Head of Coaching & Operations Manager Ph 1300 476 223 www.soccertimekids.com.au

Children of a young age feed off the energy that is around them. Put your phone away and fully submerse yourself into the session, and you will find your child follows suit. Of course, it may take some time for your child to start to really get comfortable with the sports program they are involved with. Parents need to walk a fine line of persistence versus pressure. We want to keep encouraging children to be involved but understand that sport is only a game and that ultimately it’s all about having fun. Here are a few thoughts to help keep your child excited about sport. Children love routine, so get them into one on the day of their sports session. Get the uniform out in the morning, and ask the child to get 27

mama can Cook! Mr Pizzas Serves: 8 | Prep: 5min | Cook: 5min

Method:

Ingredients: 8 English muffins

Toast the muffins and spread with either the tomato passata or green pesto.

Tomato passata

Divide the ham and cheese and layer on the muffins.

Green pesto

Then comes the fun bit, use the topping to create faces and then grill for a couple of minutes until the cheese is melted and is just turning brown.

Grated mozzarella cheese 100g sliced ham Red and green capsicum, sliced Black olives, sliced

Either prepare before the party, or get the kids to make their own as a super fun party activity.

Button mushrooms, sliced Pineapple cubes

These will be the hit of the party and full of yummy goodness! Thanks to the girls at messyfaces.com.au

Tiny teddy racers These served up at your next birthday are sure to get the party racing! Ingredients: 1 packet mini mars bars 1 packet smarties Tiny teddy biscuits 1 packet lifesavers 3 tablespoons icing sugar 1 teaspoon water

Method: This is more a case of construction work rather than cooking. Using a knife split the lifesavers in half and push one half into each mars bar car as a steering wheel and push in the teddy driver behind. Finally make up a thick icing solution with the icing sugar and water and use it as a glue to stick on the smartie wheels and ready, steady…party!

The Reluctant Part When I was a child I loved parties! It was such an honour to be invited and then there were games and lollies and treats and of course the cake. What’s not to like? Then eventually I had my own child, a very adventurous little boy. For this story, let’s call him Liam. As a toddler I would have to say that he loved parties a little too much. While all the other children were playing nicely together he would manage to find some broken glass that needed tasting, some power switches that needed investigating or even a small dog whose head needed biting. (And this was just one party.) Needless to say I did not have any time to socialise like the other mothers. Once Liam grew up a bit and I could take Sunshine Hospital emergency department off speed dial, we went to a party where his behaviour really stunned me. It was for a four-year-old girl from playgroup and he bizarrely refused to enter the house at all. I asked him sweetly, I demanded that he enter, I encouraged him nicely and used every other trick I could think of but he wouldn’t budge and we were stuck on the front veranda. “You are being silly, you know that there is watermelon in there Liam?” Liam loved watermelon and he pleaded with me to bring him some. I remembered that as a young adult I also found parties difficult and I forced myself to attend them. Eventually I came to enjoy parties and therefore I decided that that was the path that Liam should follow too, so I stuck to my guns. No I would not go in and get him some watermelon, he would have to go in himself. We were there for over half an hour with me encouraging and him refusing.

Eventually we found a compromise and we walked down the side of the house. He found some things to amuse himself with in the backyard and he got his watermelon. He did not join in any games and did not even want to see the candles being blown out. What was wrong with him? Why was just MY son the one who could not enjoy the party? He was later diagnosed with being on the Autism Spectrum with Asperger’s Syndrome. I’ve since learnt that he is not me. Just because I enjoyed parties as a child does not mean that he has to do so. My method of overcoming my adult shyness of parties has nothing to do with this little boy. He is his own person and has his own feelings. He did get to enjoy parties once he was able to approach them on his own terms. We went to a party of a girl in prep and he sat in the cargo bike in the front yard the whole time. His friends knew that he was there and brought him out cake and things to eat. Once all the other guests had gone home he did venture inside. He was invited to two parties in grade one but because he didn’t want to attend he gave the invitations straight back. Opps! I had to talk to him about how to politely decline. One of the children’s mothers kindly tracked me down and diplomatically said, “I think Liam lost his invitation, here is another one.” It was for a party at a swimming pool and Liam loved pools! I explained to the other mother about Asperger‘s and how Liam would not want to join in the organised pool games and she said that that was fine. We went and had a great time. He had a swim by himself when the organised pool games were on and then did actually sit down and join in the

ty Guest food part as well. He once went to a bowling party and did not bowl but did have the food. At a couple of play centres he hid around the corner with a plate of food but still had fun on the play equipment. At the next-door neighbours child’s party he spent the whole time literally on the side fence. At another next door neighbour’s party he put on a formal suit and played his cello for the pass-the-parcel and then went home again. I just take each one as it comes and now parties are a lot easier. I accept that some parties (most actually) he will not attend, some parties he will attend at a distance and some he will leave early. That is okay. Now that I have stopped fretting about it and talk openly with other parents life is a lot easier. He is not me. He is not Tommy down the street. He is himself and should not be compared with other people. I stop myself from thinking that he “should” be having more fun. I would be lying though if I did not admit that a part of me always feels sad when he is unable to be with the group. I suppose that that is my problem and not his. A great place to go for more information about autism spectrum disorder is Amaze at www.amaze.org.au or phone 1300 308 699

turn the page Pig the Fibber, Aaron Blabley $16.99 Pig the Pug is back! But this time Pig, the world’s greediest Pug, is telling great big lies. Won’t he ever learn? Multi-award-winning local author Aaron Blabley, brings us another fabulous story for reading out loud and it is guaranteed to make you laugh. This is a perfect book for teaching children about being honest. Age: 3+

Tom Gates #8: Yes! No (Maybe…), Liz Pichon $16.99 From the winner of the Roald Dahl Funny Prize, comes the eighth amazing installment of this brilliant illustrated series. Honest, silly and laugh-out-loud funny, Tom Gates is a superb and accessible voice for children. The diary format, likable characters, kooky illustrations and rollicking pace make it perfect for any reluctant reader. Age: 8+

Chooky-doodle-doo, Jan Whiten & Sinead Hanley $14.95 *while stocks last This cute funky rhyming counting book won the speech pathology book of the year in 2014. It’s an adorable read which explores the actions of chickens on a farm with lots of visual humour while teaching children about numbers and teamwork, with a fun twist at the end. It will entertain little ones for many repeat readings. Currently available with a super cute chook plush*! Age: 2+ Queen Bees and Wannabes: Helping Your Daughter Survive Cliques, Gossip, Boyfriends & Other Realities of Adolescence, Rosalind Wiseman $22.99 This groundbreaking book will take you inside the secret world of girls and change the way you look at girls’ friendships and conflicts. It is a compelling read for parents and daughters alike, offering practical advice and concrete strategies to help empower your daughter to make smarter choices, be socially competent and treat herself with dignity. Age: all parents of daughters!

This month’s kid’s books are brought to you by our friends at Three Four Knock on the Door. Three Four Knock on the Door sell beautiful books and toys in Port Melbourne. Pop in and say hello to sister team L-J and Danielle. The cornerstones of the shop are fun, education, quality and fantastic service. 222 Bay Street Port Melbourne - 9645 2058 - www. threefour.com.au Live 32 Local - Shop Local - and don’t forget to mention MamaMag!

Creating a successful mothers group Are you about to join a mothers group and want to ensure it works? Or are you already part of one that is starting to fizzle? A mothers group, like all relationships in life, takes effort for it to thrive. Whilst it will take time for your group to get to know each other there are a number of things you can proactively do to help put your mothers group on the path for success:

Communication is key: Make it easy for your group to keep in touch. Share each other’s contact details and create a private Facebook page for your group so that you can easily communicate the details of your catch ups, ask each other questions, share photos etc.

Keep it simple: Given you’ll all have baby brain, keep it simple and aim to have a regular weekly meeting (same time, day and location) as this will reduce the administration burden, avoid confusion and allow you to schedule other appointments around it.

Sleeping like a baby: The sleeping habits of your child will change over time and make it difficult for you to meet during the same hour each week so organise for your group to have at least a two hour meeting ‘window’ so you can come and go as you like during this time.

If you don’t want to have to worry about cleaning your house and hosting a large group of mum’s and babies in your house/apartment then community halls and playhouses are the best option – they provide you with indoor and outdoor space that are suitable all year round and playhouses have the added benefit of providing you with all the toys, play equipment and utilities that you need so all you need to bring is your child and nappy bag!

Allow flexibility for working mums: One of the main reasons mothers groups fall apart these days is a result of the increasing trend for mums to return to part or full time work. To cater for this think about running two sessions a week (different days and times), mum’s night outs or weekend family activities to enable those who have returned to work to attend. If this still doesn’t work, then contact your local playhouses to see if you can join forces with another mothers group or join a new one. The effort you put in to establish a successful mothers group will be worth it – both you and your child will benefit from the social interaction and potentially lifelong friendships that are made.

To locate a playgroup near you visit www.playgroup.org.au.

Location, location, location: Will you rotate hosting at each other’s homes or find a central location to meet? Cafés are one option (if you can find one that fits multiple prams) but are difficult once your baby starts to move. Parks are another option, however are weather dependant and therefore not a reliable regular venue given Melbourne’s variable weather.

Bonjour! French foundations Did you know that children have a natural gift for languages? They have an ear for languages, an unrivalled skill for imitation and they love to communicate. They have all the necessary skills to pick-up a foreign language like French, especially if they learn from the activities and games offered in an educational context.

Early learning The earlier that children start to learn the better. At three years of age, children have the intellectual capacity to imitate, to learn, to blend into another language and culture. In kindergarten, they learn foreign languages by singing, playing, making objects; effortlessly, in a playful manner. This is a unique window of opportunity for children to accumulate knowledge. They repeat the sounds they do not know in their own language. They do not have an accent. They do it because they enjoy it. The joy with which children explore their first language makes childhood the ideal time to learn a second language.

A window into French culture Enrolling children in French classes gives them a love for a new language and allows them to discover French culture: breakfast, typical French dishes, traditions, celebrations etc. French classes also give children the opportunity to reflect on their own culture, their own family. They acquire a different vision of languages. The main objective of classes is to engender cultural understanding, as students discover different countries, customs and ways of life. This is an integral part of the learning process – it makes the language interesting and dynamic and also inspires children to learn additional foreign languages. 34

Learning two languages trains your brain and makes it stronger Besides the linguistic knowledge acquired when learning French, studies prove that learning two languages during childhood also strengthens the brain, especially the parts dedicated to LANGUAGE, MEMORY and ATTENTION. A child who learns two languages: - Has better language and listening skills - Is better at reading and writing - Is more creative - Is better at multitasking - Has a better memory - Solves problems faster - Has more friends - Will have a better job later on

Why learn French? It goes without saying that an English-speaking child immersed early in the French language, for example once a week in an educational context, will not automatically become bilingual. Language learning requires time and patience. It’s highly beneficial to seek native-speaking teachers capable of fulfilling this task. To pass on the desire to learn, to give your child greater confidence speaking French and a wider knowledge of French culture. By Fanny Raflegeau – Children Course Coordinator - Alliance Française de Melbourne Translated by Laure-Anne Latinier

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Parklife

MamaMag park of the month!

elwood park Elwood Beach Foreshore - Enter carpark at 63 Ormond Esplanade Elwood Blessed with a cracking Autumn sun-filled day on a Sunday afternoon, we decided on a family adventure to Elwood Park. It was our first visit to this playground which sits just behind Sails By the Bay restaurant and the foreshore of Elwood Beach. With birthday parties on topic this month, we were looking for a park that catered well for a celebratory occasion and this one ticked many boxes. Fenced off from the road with plenty of reserve area, tennis courts next door and grass to run around, kick a footy, fly a kite or set up a picnic. Public toilets nearby, water fountain and BBQs to get the party snags sizzling and picnic tables for the party set up. There’s even sprinkles on top, with Mr. Wippy being a regular visitor. There’s pizza (La Porchettas) and soft-serve ice-cream within arms reach, which I’m sure many have taken advantage of for some no-fuss party catering! There’s plenty of car parking and with the beach just a stone’s throw away, the area offers sand and water play (in the warmer months) and a great bike path along the esplanade for some bike and scooter action. Back to the playground itself and it’s well spaced out, featuring a large fort with a smaller and larger slide, sliding pole, climbing net, wooden bridge and climbing rings. There’s a couple of flying foxes, climbing rings, monkey bars, sea-saw, swings and large balance swing. Our little “playground reviewer toddler” took great pleasure in climbing to the top of the A frame climbing structure. The playground caters to toddlers, pre schoolers and primary school ages. There’s protection from the sun over the play equipment with a couple of large trees and sail shades, however the adjacent picnic tables and bbq are uncovered - so as with any park party, hope the weather gods are kind.

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like MamaMag on facebook TO win great prizes We give away all sorts of great stuff to our ‘likers’! @localMamaMag 37

take a walk on the wild side Why not take a walk on the WILD SIDE for your next Kids party? As a professional zoologist and a wildlife fanatic, I have been teaching kids about all things WILD for the past 21 years! The one thing that still puzzles me most from children when I teach them about animals is the outcry ”I’m not an animal!”, and I sigh… yes you are!” In my opinion, children these days are far removed from nature. I spent most of my youth jumping the back-fence of the family home in the search for blue-tongued lizards, tadpoles and even Sshhhh snakes! How can we possibly conserve the remaining wild places on our planet, and the animals and plants which inhabit them, if kids don’t have an intrinsic love and compassion for them? This is where zoo parties come into play! Why not celebrate your next child’s birthday, and at the same time give them a passion for nature and wildlife. Your children will have such a fun and adrenalin packed time…. they won’t realise that they are learning too! It’s overwhelming to discover how many reptile, farm and zoo party operators are out there in the market place. Like all industries, some animal parties are good and some absolutely ‘SHONKY!’ The purpose of this article is to give you a few tips on what to look for, and to help make your child’s birthday the WILDEST and most memorable of them all! The beauty of a reptile party or zoo party is that the animals are brought to your event or party. Kids can have the amazing opportunity to touch and interact with a wide variety of Australian animals. This interactive concept provides for a truly three- dimensional

experience, unlike a large zoo in which the animals are kept behind glass or in an enclosure. Not only should a zoo party be fun and entertaining it must have an educational element. For me, there is nothing more gratifying than encouraging children to get in touch with their wild side. The first of my tips is to do your homework. Talk to your friends, colleagues and read testimonials about any wildlife company. The company must not only handle and control the animals, but also manage and engage 30 ’rowdy’ kids. Most zoo parties run for one hour. Does the Company need to setup outside, or can the party show be performed indoors. It’s probably a good idea to vacate your pets for the day, after all you’d hate for them to be on the menu for the visiting wildlife! Were the animals in good condition? Did the creatures look stressed? Did the presenter have a good knowledge of their wildlife? Did all of the kids get a chance to touch and hold the animals? Make sure that the company you are choosing is ethical and conservation minded. A zoo party shouldn’t just be a ‘free for all’ in handling animals. Don’t be scared to ask questions about where the animals are kept, what are the experience, qualifications and background of the operator, and how long have they been operating for? Compare web sites and ask exactly which animals will attend your party. Anyone who displays wildlife in the State of Victoria must be licensed with the Victorian State Government, Department of Environment and Primary Industries.

At present there are over 30 wildlife demonstration companies performing children’s parties with wildlife in Victoria. It’s also a good idea to ask to see a copy of a company’s Public Liability Insurance. If the individual is ‘coy’ about this, then it’s best to keep searching. It’s buyer beware I’m afraid! One thing that I can guarantee you is that your birthday child will remember a zoo party for the rest of their lives…..I mean who wouldn’t! Imagine having a koala, crocodile, behemoth python snake, kissable frog, endangered owls, fresh-water turtle, eye-licking leaf-tailed gecko, giant monitor lizard, laughing kookaburra (which actually laughs I might add), baby joey kangaroo…and so much more inhabit your lounge room! A zoo party should be fun, yet educational to empower young minds to make a difference to conserve. Oh and make sure your party guests 100% wash their hands. This is of paramount importance before the party food is served. It’s such a refreshing idea to move away from super hero parties, fairy themes and magic shows, and let your kids discover the gift of wonderment, beauty and life pulsating joy in Australian wildlife….or is that just me? Well…regardless of your position, the photos and memories will be priceless! I’m even sure that some of the photos taken will end up ‘show-cased’ at your child’s 21st! By Chris Humphrey Wild Action www.wildaction.com.au

Party Hats Its party time!!! Happy Birthday MamaMag, This month I have created a couple of DIY party hats to make that birthday extra special.

Dino Hat

You will need: Pre bought hats, 100s and 1000s, PVA glue, paint brush, piece of paper.

To make; Using your coloured paper cut a zig zag line about 5cm in along one side of the paper. Measure your zig zag against the height of the hat. Cut to fit. Fold the edge of the zig zag down, run your glue stick over this edge. And glue into place.

To make; Dip your brush into the PVA and paint the number on to the hat. Put the paper under the hat to catch all the 100 and 1000s. Shake the 100s and 1000s over the glue number.

Monster Hat

This is a fun one to let the kids do themselves at the party. You will need: pre bought hats, scissors, pom poms, white paper, black markers, glue, scrap paper. To make; Pre cut all different sized white circles for the eyes, pre cut different shaped teeth. Lay out all the paper eyes, teeth, pom poms, markers, and scrap paper. Let the kids make and create their own monster hat.

Sprinkle Hat

You will need: pre bought hats, coloured paper, scissors, glue stick.

Mini Crown Hat

You will need: Coloured paper or an old picture book. Scissors, PVA glue, paint brush, glitter, elastic, piece of paper, sticky tape. To make; cut a zig zag line up the long side of the paper about 10cm in. Dip your brush into PVA and paint the edge of the zig zag. Put the zig zag over the paper to catch the glitter. Shake glitter over the glue. Wait till dry. Roll into a circle and tape together. Tape the elastic on each side of the crown to hold on the head.

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love your locals Tucked away from the buzz of Bay Street Port Melbourne, we stumbled upon a local community shared space, where art and the basics of learning come to play. On the surface two different businesses and philosophies sharing one space and sense of purpose, to make learning exciting and fun for the kids. We took a peek inside the 9A Raglan Street residence, sat in on a class and spoke with Helen Pollard from ARTea and Trevor Davies from Back 2 Basics, two passionate local business owners committed to the education of the next generation.

What is ARTeaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s philosophy? Helen: I aim to inspire my students to develop and nurture their creativity. By exposing students to lots of different types of creativity, the aim is to ignite that childâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s passion and interest. And Back 2 Basics Trevor? Trevor: I believe that confidence and a healthy self esteem are the most important attributes for learning and life in general. What was your background before starting your business? Helen: I studied a Fine Arts Degree in England and Masters of Art in Public Places at RMIT. I have been working as a professional artist and project manager for 10 years. Eight years ago I developed Mini Picassoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Creative Arts Program, offered in primary schools and community centres across Victoria. Following the success of this, I was inspired to open ARTea Art school. Trevor: I began Back to Basics Education Centre in Hampton in 1998. Before that I had over 20 years experience in primary/special education both here and overseas. It became obvious to me that too many children were missing out on the basics due to a busy, broad curriculum. So I decided to set up my own tutoring centre. What do you love about Port Melbourne? Trevor: A strong feeling of community. I love the Bay Street shopping strip.

You have quite different businesses how does it work sharing the space? Trevor: We do have our own time and space. But as we progress we are finding that we can overlap with singing, reading, dance and fine motor activities. Our main aim is to teach through enjoyment and play. Helen: Yes, to make learning exciting and fun! Helen what do you love most about the kids parties side of the business? Helen: We develop the party theme with the birthday child, therefore any theme can be explored. We hand paint all our decorations so beautiful drawings enchant the space. Also the art activity is developed by the birthday child so no party is the same from clay, painting inspired by their favourite artist, fabric animals, t-shirt designing, fascinator creating; the possibilities are endless. How important is imagination / creativity in learning? Helen: It allows the child to express themselves, develops fine motor skills, gain a sense of achievement, and helps with problem solving. If you could leave one lasting impression on your students what would it be? Trevor: The confidence to tackle new challenges. The key to success is... Trevor: Being happy with yourself and happy how you fit into society.

www.wildaction.com.au

PH 0419 385 245

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

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