Bayside MamaMag May 2015

BAYSIDE

May 2015

WIN 1 of 15 endota spa 1 hour relaxation massage vouchers Homework help School readiness Anxiety in children Feed kids right Investing in education

free Local fun for the Bayside mum 1

Create lasting memories through sport

Call now for a free trial!

Term 2 bookings now open We are Australia’s leading sports program for 2.5–6 year olds!

Your Local Class Days and Locations: Brighton Saturday

GESAC/Bent East Mon, Thurs, Fri & Sat

Sandringham/ Cheltenham Mon, Wed, Thur & Fri

Hampton Tues & Thurs

Beaumaris Saturday

Dingley Saturday

readysteadygokids.com.au 2

1300 766 892 Live Local - Shop Local - and don’t forget to mention MamaMag!

your local place to relax in style Sierra Tango is a great place to enjoy a get together with friends and family and we are open Tuesday - Sunday Prix Fixe lunch menu, weekdays 11.30am - 3pm, includes glass of wine or a soft drink Drinks and dinner from 5pm - late, Weekend brunch from 10am Regular daily specials Great selection of teas and hot drinks Child friendly with high chairs and children’s menu

277 Charman Rd Cheltenham sierratangokitchenandbar

Ph: (03) 8555 4060 www.sierratango.com.au

3

It’s Mama’s month It’s May and that means a big Happy Mother’s Day our lovely local mums. I love May, the month we get to really celebrate being a mum. Although there have been lots of Mumsy celebrations in our family lately with my beautiful mother turning 70th recently. May will be a very busy month for my little tribe. We are moving back into our little house after a 12-month change.

It’s right near our favourite Landcox Park so naturally I am sharing that little gem in our park review this month!

#run4kid

s

So what’s happened since we last spoke! Well I managed to make it through Run for the Kids in not bad a time for the level of fitness (or lack of) I had. That’s me and my cheer squad in the top pic at about the 13km mark. I was pooped and more than willing to have a little rest and pose for a photo! I’d love to do the Mother’s Day Classic with the kids on May 10, but as that is moving weekend, I think a lovely sleep in with my two munchkins will be a much better way to celebrate Mother’s Day, even if I do have to make my own breakfast.

So as May rolls in, it’s time for many of us to think about kinder and school choices for next year. We’ve also got lots of education inspired articles to get you in the swing of things. Kinder enrolments are only open from May 1 - June 30 and you can find out all the details on page 26.

My miss Milla is off to school next year so we are sadly leaving kinder behind. Which reminds me, best I enrol her soon!

It’s exciting times at MamaMag next month as we celebrate our 1st birthday, so we will be having a big birthday issue! If you have a business that does anything party like, make sure you get in touch.

It will be an awesome time to get involved in the magazine through editorial and advertising.

Happy B ’d

ay Mam a

d

rgoo #glowfo

Bring on the cake I say. xxx @localmamamag

WIN

Contents Homework tips From the Oz Super Nanny

6

Ready for school Is your child ready?

8

Anxiety in children 7 tips to help them

10

Parklife 12 We visit Landcox Park Brighton east

endota spa Brighton

Worklife balance for kids Help build their blueprint

14

Invest in education How it can work

16

Lovely locals Charman Road Cheltenham

18

Feed kids right Helping our kids eat well

20

endota.com.au/brighton-beach

Turn the page This months picks from Ulysses

22

Entries open to VIC residents only from May 1st 12.01am until May 31st 2015 at 11.59pm. *5 vouchers available for Endota Brighton, 5 for Endota Port Melbourne and 5 for Endota Williamstown. For further details and full terms & conditions visit mamamag.com.au

Mama of the month Linda Corr from Cuppa Corner

24

Off to kinder?

Bayside kinder enrolments

26

School yard bullying How you can help your child

30

Mama can cook Meatballs and Chia pudding

32

Living with CF Cystic Fibrosis uncovered

34

Building bricks to educate Working with Lego

36

Family travel made easy Top 10 tips to make it great

38

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

Baby change challenges A Bayside dad’s story

40

5 benefits of music everyday Learning with the 5 C’s

42

Like to advertise in our next month’s issue? info@mamamag.com.au or download our media kit from www.mamamag.com.au

Fun for the kids Kid’s crafts and our colouring comp

44

MamaMag May 2015

1 of 15* one hour relaxation massages from Endota spa

Visit our Facebook page to enter

www.facebook.com/localmamamag MamaMag is published monthly for the mums of the Bayside 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

5,000 copies are distributed monthly.

Editor in Chief: Sarah Cavalier Design and layout: Grizzle Design Distribution: Lara Schendzielorz

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.

homework

By OzSuperNanny Angela Jacobsen My advice regarding ‘homework’ is to start when your child is one! This may sound odd but homework can be classed as any educational work done in the home.

For a toddler ‘homework’ can be spending 30 minutes reading to them, using playdough, colouring with crayons, finger painting, playing with musical instruments or pots and pans if you don’t have any, water play, sand play and the list goes on. The main point is that your child completes an activity that is educational.

Most toddlers will need your help so this is great bonding time and also great practise for you as their ‘ homework’ will only get harder and longer!

When your child starts preschool, kindergarten and then big primary school, they will start to bring home homework. This will start with readers and completing tasks such as colouring in and other activities that were not finished in class, also learning numbers and letters which moves on to writing and tracing. Before you know it your child will have hours of homework every night and there will be lots of arguing with them about finishing it on time!

By starting homework when your child is young they get into healthy habit which will make education fun and not a chore.

The best thing to do is complete the homework as soon as it comes in, or have your child do this if it is not a joint venture.

This is helping to teach your child about being organised and prepared rather than rushing at the last minute. Even if the work is not due until Friday get your child to complete the homework the night they receive it so that later in the week they are free for playdates and

6

extra curricular activities. Also then if they are given more homework later in the week it does not mount up causing anxiety and stress for you both to get it finished. Doing homework over breakfast, rushed, when your child’s brain is not yet fully awake or functioning to their maximum is definitely not advised.

As your child’s homework grows it is best to have a planner. Most schools provide a homework planner but if your school doesn’t you can simply buy a white board so the homework can be altered from week to week. Your child can wipe off the completed homework to give them a sense of completion and achievement. Small goals should all be rewarded and if your child is using a sticker or reward chart homework should definitely be added to give further encouragement and praise.

For a toddler ‘ homework’ can be spending 30 minutes reading to them, using playdough or colouring with crayons Be sure to help your child when they need and pay attention wholeheartedly, this means phones away and focus on your child, they are little sponges and if you don’t concentrate on them they will not concentrate on their homework. Often a good place for children to complete their homework is at the kitchen bench while you make dinner, this way they are not being ostracised in their room to do homework and also you are there if they have a question or thought they would like your opinion on.

Never do your children’s homework for them, do it with them

tips Let them have their own ideas and creations, as bizarre as they may seem. It’s very easy to read for them and answer the maths questions but your child will learn a lot more if you make them sound it out or add it up themselves, even if they make mistakes praise their effort and encourage them to try again. When they get their homework correct praise them for concentrating and listening in class or to yourself if you were explaining to them.

Make sure you sit with your child or close by if they are using the internet to research their homework.

We all know what pops up on our screens from time to time and one wrong letter or click could have your child experiencing a cyber world you wish they never found! I suggest keeping your computer locked and close observation when your child is using the internet.

Most importantly make homework fun so it is not something to be dreaded and remember soon your kids will be moved on so make the most of this bonding time while you still have them at home.

Angela Jacobsen, Oz Super Nanny www.ozsupernanny.com

7

READY FOR As your child heads towards their first school year, you may be starting to think about whether they will be ready to take this next big step. Your child’s kindergarten teacher will also be observing their ‘school readiness’, and will discuss their thoughts around your child’s school readiness with you. So what exactly does school readiness mean?

A child may be considered ‘school ready’ when they have achieve a certain level of development that will allow him or her to cope with – and even thrive in – the school environment.

In the past, it was thought that a child was ‘school ready’ once they had mastered basic academic skills. It is now known that directly teaching academic skills in the early years is not, in fact, helping children develop cognitive skills any sooner.

The more critical building blocks for school readiness have been a topic of much interest in recent years in the fields of child development, education and well-being. With knowledge of these building blocks, caregivers and early educators may feel better equipped to foster school readiness during a child’s pre-school years.

The most significant factor when it comes to school readiness relates to a child’s socialemotional development. This is the part of development that relates to your child’s understanding of who they are, what they are feeling, and what they can expect from others.

Social-emotional skills are at the heart of all social interactions, and directly link to a child’s feelings of self-confidence and the ability to make and maintain friendships.

Healthy social-emotional development is sometimes described as the ability to: • make and maintain appropriate relationships • experience a range of emotions, while feeling that those emotions are manageable

8

• express ideas and emotions • be curious and willing to learn, explore and interact with the world Children with well-developed socialemotional skills are also considered to be more able to: • display empathy • manage tough feelings, such as disappointment or frustration • demonstrate resilience • develop self-esteem and feel confident in themselves • become independent with ageappropriate tasks • make friends • succeed in school All areas of development (thinking skills, motor skills, play skills, social interaction skills and language development) are directly influenced by how a child feels about himself and how he or she is able to express his or her own ideas and feelings.

This social-emotional development occurs through a child’s early experiences, particularly through their relationships with primary caregivers. These early experiences and interactions influence a child’s social-emotional development, and how their whole brain develops.

So how can we create early experiences and interactions that foster social-emotional development?

Parents, caregivers and early educators can support development by exposing their child to a variety of materials and spaces where the child can experiment and play, by following the child’s interests, by setting up situations where the child can make appropriate choices, and by providing lots of opportunities for sensory, hands-on experiences. The aim is to allow

children to explore, create and discover, and develop a love of learning – thus securing the necessary foundation skills for a successful education.

As we support a child’s social-emotional development, the child’s natural interests, curiosities, confidence and brain connections lead them towards developing other valuable ‘school skills’, such as: • speech and language skills such as the ability to express our ideas and emotions clearly, and understand other people’s ideas and emotions • phonological (sound) awareness including listening to language and looking at books • the ability to encounter problems in play, and overcome these through regulating our emotions and communicating with another person.

So what happens when a child requires more support to get ‘school ready’?

For some children, social-emotional development may not occur as naturally as for his or her peers. In these cases, either extra input, or a slightly different type of input, may be required for that child to reach the socialemotional milestones required for school.

Some families find it helpful to access early intervention services in the year leading up to school, to gain ideas around supporting their child’s individual needs. Early intervention

services that may be helpful in preparing for school may include the following: • Screening assessments – a Paediatric Speech Therapist and/or Occupational Therapist will be able to complete a basic set of screening assessment tasks with your child to determine where they are currently performing with a range of social, communication and play skills, in order to guide you around what interventions may be of benefit.

• Formal assessments – when planning to commence at a particular school, some families are encouraged to have formal assessment completed in regards to their child’s language, social, and/or cognitive development.

• Individual therapy – individual Speech Pathology, Occupational Therapy, and/ or Psychology sessions are sometimes recommended by a child’s kinder teacher, to address certain areas of need.

• Social Skills Groups – often a child is able to demonstrate a good range of socialemotional skills with supportive adults, such as their kinder teachers or caregivers, but have things ‘fall apart’ when around other children. A play-based social skills group can be a positive forum for practising socialemotional skills with peers.

Written by Alyssa Mann, Speech Therapist, Sensational Kids, Ormond. www.sensationalkids.com.au 9

anxiety in children The Anxiety Recovery Centre Victoria state that the prevalence of anxiety in our children ranging from 7 to 11 years old is now between 5.7% and 15.4%. The rate in adolescents is extremely alarming at between 8.7% and 17.7%. As a teacher in many different primary schools over the years, and many of these years in a Prep classroom, I have all too often come across children that are anxious about the learning taking place in their classroom every day who have not been armed with the skills to overcome this distress.

Here are some great tips to assist your child if they are anxious about school and learning:

1. Don’t talk them out of it As a parent we need to reassure our children that we understand how they are feeling and that the feelings of anxiety affect all people at different stages of life. Phrases like “You’ll get over it” are not comforting or not what children want to hear.

10

2. Normalise Anxiety is a normal feeling and it can be experienced in many different circumstances like sitting an exam or talking in front of the class. However, there are tactics that can be used to make it go away.

3. Explain how anxiety feels We need to explain the physical feelings associated with anxiety.

• Breathing can change from slow deep breath to fast little breaths.

• Your heart beats faster to get the oxygen around your body.

• Your arms and legs may feel tense and your muscles tighter.

• You will sweat, that is your body’s way of cooling you down.

• You may have butterflies in your stomach or your mouth may feel dry.

4. Explain how common anxiety is in adults and kids 1 in 8 kids have had to deal with anxiety.

Don’t bottle it all up because there is a pretty good chance that one of your friends or someone in your class has felt the same way, maybe even your teacher!

5. Give it a name Get your child to give the feeling of anxiety a name. Also allow them to picture what they think the anxiety would look like. Externalising this feeling can help children to see that something else is the problem, not them.

6. Now get them into position You need to feel like the boss again. Breathe deeply and slowly, hold your breath for a second and breathe out. Make sure you are breathing right down to your belly, not just into the chest. Do this about 5 or 6 times.

Anxiety in children ranging from 7 to 11 years old is between 5.7% and 15.4%.

7. Practice mindfulness Being aware of the present moment. • Close your eyes and notice your breathing.

Concentrate on the belly rising and falling and how the air feels inside. • Listen to what you can hear? What can you feel on the inside and the outside of your body? If your mind starts to think about other things, focus on how you are breathing again.

Anxiety is very treatable, but it requires practice and time to assist your child to feel comfortable and confident. The most important thing is to talk about it with your child and to normalise it! At Kip McGrath tutoring centres we assist students to become more confident, organised and capable learners. We cater for all students.

Those who may need a little extra assistance in understanding the daily learning taking place in the classroom, to those students who are wanting to achieve more than standards require.

By Kylie Egar Kip McGrath Education Centre www.kipmcgrath.com.au

Anxiety in adolescents is between 8.7% and 17.7%.

11

Parklife

MamaMag park of the month!

Landcox Park Milroy Street & Mavis Avenue, Brighton East This gorgeous park, with its pretty duck filled lake in the middle, is a park I’ve been coming to since I was a kid. Visiting the ducks and riding bikes along the lakeside paths. In my teens we used to fish for yabbies and water daphnia and climb the willow trees. But now as an adult, and being lucky enough to live only a street away, my kids and I frequent the park all the time still.

The play equipment is not new and fancy but still has something for everyone of all ages. The playground has a spiral slide, inclined climber, ladders, small straight slide, walkway, flying fox and monkey bars. Also four swings, springy horse (that my kids love), see-saw and a little wooden cubby house (that has been there since I was little mind you!) There is a fabulous hill for rolling down, open space for ball games and running around plus plenty of paths for riding bikes (although scooters are not recommended due to the gravel surface). If you’ve never picniced at Landcox, it’s about time you did! And it’s great for a bit of duck watching too!

Also, the new ‘Cafe Bliss’ has just opened up directly opposite the park, with a gorgeous deck overlooking the playground area. So now mama can sip coffee and watch the kids play at the same time!

12

Limited places are now available at Mentone Our ELC with TLC currently has a limited number of places available from 3 months to kindergarten. We’re open every day except Public Holidays – from 7am - 6.30pm Monday to Friday.

Book a tour today

• Nutritious, yummy meals all provided • Government funded kindergarten program • Latest educational technology, incursions and parenting info sessions all included • Privately owned and family operated since 1996

37 Venice Street, Mentone. To book a tour, call Libby on 9583 4566 Scan the qr code or visit platypusjunction.com.au/mentonetour © 2015 Platypus Junction Mentone Pty Ltd IEZZI H432 MM

13

work life balance for kids It might sound crazy using the term work life balance and kids in the same sentence but childhood really is the time in which we develop the work life balance blueprint for our future.

My Gecko team works with thousands of children across the country every week and I also have a personal training studio dedicated to working with busy mums and dads here in Bayside, so trust me when I say the challenges facing children are not that different to those we face as adults. Children have social pressures of making friends and maintaining existing friendships, academic pressures of consistently getting good marks and making decisive subject choices and of course staying active and healthy with so much of their social and academic existence revolving around screens and social media.

As parents we are always role models in which our children will continually absorb information and mimic behaviours and attitudes.

As adults we continuously feel that there are not enough hours in the day to be able to get everything done. Kids may not outwardly voice this frustration, but they feel the same way.

We need to understand the cycle of work life balance; habits we create for our children are likely to become a precedent for their adult life and equally important is the work life balance we have as parents as this will be perceived by children as the acceptable norm.

I never underplay the importance of a great education for our children. Combined with family environment it is the most critical influence in a child’s life but if you believe, 14

like I do, that balance in all things is a key consideration in quality of life then you should read the following: 1. Take a close look at your own work life balance and make sure you are setting a good example for your kids. If you need to make changes – make them in a transparent manner and talk to your children about the changes you are making and why.

2. Review your children’s current situation and evaluate screen time per day in and out of school as well as minutes of activity per day.

School screen time is a key part of education these days but I recommend a 1:1 ratio of outside hours screen time to activity.

3. Make sure your children are involved in at least one sport all year round. Sport not only ensures our children are active and are developing key motor skills, it also provides imperative social platforms for having fun with friends and is the start of developing healthy habits for later in life.

4. Make sure balance carries over into nutritional choices. The best advice for children is to make their plate look like a rainbow!

It is always harder to change a bad habit later in life than it is to develop good ones as children when we are easily moulded and influenced. …….and remember that as parents we are always role models in which our children will continually absorb information and mimic behaviours and attitudes.

By Sam Wood – Founder and Director of Gecko Sports and the Woodshed. www.geckosports.com.au

Keepsakes Made With Love

FREE PRINT KIT

with every framed sculpture booking

INKLESS PRINT RANGE

PRINT GIFTS

FRAMED SCULPTURES

www.bellyart.com.au

T 03 9509 4060 E info@bellyart.com.au Order online or visit our shop at 700 Inkerman Road North Caulfield Gift vouchers available

SINCE 2003

TWO-WEEK FREE TRIAL Must Register by 11 May! Find out how your child can develop essential maths and English Kumon. local Kumon Trial the skills Kumonwith English or MathsContact Programmeyour over two weeks, from Centre by and 11 find May secure their place in child the 18–31 May 2015 outto how Kumon can develop in your FDOFXODWLRQ DQG UHDGLQJ DELOLW\ Free Trial!

FRQFHQWUDWLRQ

Kumon Brighton .......................... 0423 448 528 D GDLO\ VWXG\ DQG UHDGLQJ KDELW Kumon Cheltenham .................... 0406 121 230 WKH FRQILGHQFH WR OHDUQ LQGHSHQGHQWO\ Kumon Hampton .........................

963 933 Contact your local Kumon Education Centre 0426 to secure your child’s place in the Free..........................

Trial!

Kumon Mentone 0403 772 516 Kumon Moorabbin ...................... 0423 910 263 Call 1800 458 666 or visit au.kumonglobal.com for Kumon Centre details.

Visit http://au.kumonglobal.com Terms and conditions apply

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

15

invest in education What better investment can you make than in your child’s education?

Parents and grandparents with the means to do so, often wish to set aside money to help their children or grandchildren with the costs of education, the purchase of a home or car, or overseas travel.

However investing on behalf of a child comes with its own complications and considerations.

For instance, do you know that children under the age of 18 and not earning an income are taxed at the highest marginal tax rate? This means that if you make an investment under your child’s name, he or she will lose almost half of their investment gains in tax. This seems unfair, I know, but the tax office established these rules specifically to prevent wealthy parents from investing their money in their children’s names to avoid paying tax. So it makes sense.

Not only that, there can be potential issues for adults should they invest on behalf of children but in their own name. Often the adult will still be regarded as owning the investment (their money was used to fund the investment after all and the investment is in their name) and this can potentially impact their Centrelink benefits.

There are also gifting rules around the Age Pension that must be considered.

How about Estate Planning considerations?

If the adult were to die (a particularly important consideration for grandparents) and they are still the legal owner of the assets, the investment would form part of their Estate.

Even if these are to be passed on correctly according to the Will, it is possible that issues could arise if another family member wished to contest the Will.

Why does it have to be so complicated?

It doesn’t. One way to reduce all this complexity is through an Investment Bond. An Investment Bond allows you to invest in various asset classes such as cash, fixed interest, property and shares, but they have a unique tax treatment, and are particularly useful for long term investments such as children’s education costs.

An Investment Bond has a number of key advantages over other investment products: • Tax effective: income is taxed inside the bond at the corporate rate (30%) rather than your marginal rate. This makes it ideal for high income earners looking to get their kids into private schooling.

• No capital gains: when you switch between investment options (you don’t incur any capital gains tax, you do with managed funds) • No impact to your tax return: there’s no need to include anything (income or capital gain) on your tax return if your funds remain invested for 10 years. If withdrawn in less than 10 years, tax rebates apply.

• After 10 years there is no tax liability whatsoever on withdrawals. (That’s right, if you keep your Investment Bond ticking away for ten years you will not pay any tax on the proceeds when you withdraw.)

• You can access your money at any time (just like any other managed fund, which should give you peace of mind) • You can nominate beneficiaries (the kids) and the proceeds can be paid very quickly and directly to them with no tax implications. (proceeds do not go via the estate so it cannot be contested)

Information contained in this article is of a general nature only. It does not constitute financial or taxation advice. The information does not take into account your objectives, needs and circumstances. We recommend that you obtain investment and taxation advice specific to your investment objectives, financial situation and particular needs before making any investment decision or acting on any of the information contained in this article.

16

How it all works in practice: The adult is the policy owner who nominates an age (between 10 and 25 years old) when the policy is to be transferred into the child’s name.

No stamp duty is payable on the transfer. At the time of application the nominated child needs to be less than 16 years old and if no vesting age is nominated, the transfer automatically occurs at age 25.

Have a few set up, and stagger them, for education, graduation, or a house, or car, or to fund a gap year.

You can start with a lump sum, or as little as $500. You can make extra contributions to your Investment Bond each year, provided you don’t invest more than 125% of your previous year’s investment amount. If you do, the ten years tax free period starts again.

Of course investing on behalf of a child or grandchild requires considerable research and consideration. And the most suitable option for you will depend on a range of factors such as your tax position, the child’s situation, grandparent’s situation, and how and when the investment needs to be accessed.

It always makes sense to seek professional advice specific to your situation before proceeding with a strategy. If you would like to discuss these options in more detail, please contact Nicole Heales. www.creatingprosperity.com.au

17

Mama love s local!

Like us to ex plore your local street?

Send your ideas to info@mam amag. com.au

lovely locals We VISIT charman road cheltenham

1.

Cheltenham Train Station

Park Rd

Railway Rd

Station Rd

6

Barker St

1

5

3

Maude St

2

4

Charma

n Road

2. y

an

e ep

Hw

N

1. New hot spot for lunch - Sierra Tango This new restaurant, with lovely tasteful interior is a fantastic lunch spot for you and your little ones. Super kid friendly, with highchairs and kids menu, they encourage groups of mums to come end enjoy their Prix Fixe lunch menu which includes a glass of wine! Open Tue-Sunday lunch and dinner.

277 Charman Road www.sierratango.com.au

3.

2. Homewares and gifts - My Little Empire My Little Empire is a colourful, fun and creative hub offering talented designers, artists and the like the opportunity to show their talents off to the rest of the world! Every piece is carefully hand selected to bring you a collection of the most beautiful, unique and eclectic mix of homewares and accessories.

245 Charman Road www.mylittleempire.com.au 3. Toys and models - Brunel Hobbies Brunel Hobbies stocks a huge number of products for the hobbyist including model railway track and train sets, die cast models, scenic materials and trees, plastic and wooden kits, scenery and weathering products, tools and glues, puzzles and jigsaws, construction products, remote control planes, helicopters and cars. 20 Station Road www.brunelhobbies.com.au 4. Health and organics - The Organic Merchant’s Store The Organic Merchant’s Store is a brand new health food store focusing on organic, quality products, locally and Australian made. With a café and clinic rooms on site, the OM Store is there to provide you with all your healthy living needs. 321 Charman Road www.theomstore.com.au 5. Yoga family fun - Mudita Yoga Studio Mudita hold regular kids, prenatal and general yoga classes. Try the daily 9.30am slot, perfectly timed for after the school run and a perfect way for busy mums to take care & nurture themselves.

292A Charman Road www.muditayogastudio.com.au 6. Market madness - Cheltenham Rotary Trash and Treasure The Rotary Club of Cheltenham runs a Trash and Treasure market every Sunday, 8am – 1pm, with heaps of fun stalls including plants, bikes and tools.

And being undercover it runs rain, hail or shine, right through winter!

Undercover car park (off Railway Rd) www.cheltenhamrotary.org.au 18

4.

5.

6.

Osteopaths • Yoga • Complementary Therapists • Perinatal Health & Wellbeing Counselling • Hypnotherapy • Psychologists • Assessments Groups and Education (First Aid, Health, Antenatal Classes & Mental Health)

Shop 3, 487 Highett Rd Highett Vic 3190 Tel: 03 9077 2096 - www.essentiahealth.com.au

NOW OPEN IN HIGHETT! ALL UNDER ONE ROOF!

50 Church St Brighton Live Local - Shop Local - and don’t forget to mention MamaMag!

T 9592 8587 19

Feed kids right Late last year I was invited to give educational talks about Nutrition and Healthy Eating at a local school. It amazed me how eager the children were to learn about their growing bodies and the impact of food on their health.

These keen little students, not only grasped with ease complex nutritional concepts, but they were also very interested to know what effects chemicals in processed foods can have on their bodies. After one of the lessons, a 9 year old girl came up to show me her usual snack bar and enquire about its nutritional value. This savvy customer wasn’t at all pleased with some of the listed ingredients in her snack and made a declaration of choosing more wisely next time. Amazing I thought!

Education really is key.

This year, my 5 year old started school and as we adjust to the new routine, I can’t help but notice the frustration many parents feel over their child’s lunchbox contents and eating habits in general. Rightly so, because the fast, easy, packaged, convenience approach may be ok on occasion, however, there’s no secret, taking regular shortcuts in the way we feed our kids can compromise their

20

optimal growth, development and future health. The most prevalent health problems affecting Australian children include obesity, emotional and behavioural issues and learning difficulties.

Your child’s meal should do more than just provide energy.

Food is the source of cellular nourishment providing the body with the building blocks necessary for countless chemical reactions and all bodily processes. Don’t forget, even when your child is asleep, their little bodies are growing and building new tissue. Busy little ones, indeed.

High energy-density foods like fast foods, lollies, biscuits, packaged snacks and sugary drinks are not only poor nutritionally but they tend to fill kids up quickly and push the more nutritious food choices off the menu.

So let’s look at ways you can maximise your child’s potential, intellectual performance and help them stay physically and mentally healthy by making more educated food choices at the grocery store.

Get fat smart! Essential fatty acids found in foods like fish and seafood, eggs, butter, animal products (preferably organic to limit exposure to chemical residues), legumes, full fat milk, nuts and seeds, avocados, whole grains, coconut oil and sea vegetables, are not only nourishing for the brain, but they also enhance the immune function, improving your child’s protection against microbes and infectious organisms. Fats to avoid like the plague, however, are the highly processed vegetable oils. Hydrogenated and chemically altered, these fats are highly inflammatory and carcinogenic. Margarines, and vegetable cooking oils are prime examples.

Hydrate! Your child is likely to put play before adequate hydration so it may feel like you are constantly running after them with a glass of fluid.

However, helping your child develop a habit of drinking water through the day, even before they feel the sensation of thirst, is a wise investment in their health. For school lunch boxes, a frozen water bottle will also work well to keep the contents cool and fresh.

Less processed more plant! Your child needs a wholesome diet, abundant in fresh, living, nutrient-dense foods. Including fresh plant foods, like fruits and vegetables will make sure that your child is getting the vitamins, minerals, enzymes and phytonutrients that every cell in their body relies on. Choose organic, locally grown and seasonal. Aim to include as many bright colours as possible on your child’s plate. As a general rule, the more brightly pigmented the plant, the better its nutrient profile.

Cookies and snack bars are best home-baked. Search for healthy recipes and involve your child in the kitchen. Every time you cook

something healthy as a family, you are establishing a healthy food culture at home ensuring that your child learns the skill of eating for their health. Children love to cook, and are fascinated by the preparation of food. Use that natural curiosity to help them build a healthy relationship with food, one that is filled with culinary adventure and experimentation.

Be sugar-savvy. As with most foods, it is not the food itself, in its natural form, that is either good or bad, but rather what we then do to that food, and how we process it, that makes all the difference. White sugar, high fructose corn syrup, glucose syrup and artificial sweeteners are the hidden baddies in most processed foods. These are highly refined, bleached or altered, poor nutritionally, inflammatory, addictive and giving your child (and you) mood swings from hell. But don’t despair. Not all that is sweet, is bad for you. Whole, natural sweeteners in their unprocessed form (e.g. unprocessed cane sugar, rapadura sugar, coconut sugar, maple syrup, rice syrup, raw or manuka honey) still have all their nutrients intact. Rich in vitamins and minerals, these are not as detrimental to our health as their processed cousins. So feel free to bake your cookie and eat it too!

When planning your child’s meals and school lunches don’t forget to include quality protein.

Best sources include animal products such as meat, fish, full-cream milk, cheese, and eggs and plant sources such as nuts, seeds, whole grains, legumes and sea vegetables. Proteins are the building blocks of life so ensure a steady supply in your child’s diet.

As parents it is important to teach your child a healthy attitude towards food. Seeing food as a source of nourishment beyond the physical level, delicious and joyful source of life that it is. Food choices should never be about deprivation or fear. Your child will pick up on your attitudes towards food and imitate your beliefs, so it is important that you have a healthy relationship with food. Don’t label any particular food as GOOD or BAD, be balanced and flexible. Relax at birthday parties and celebrations, there is a time and place to educate your child about healthy eating and there is a time to just enjoy the moment.

Be the best example that you can be, and trust that the efforts you make at home, will empower your child to make smart choices in time.

By Justyna Kalka Justyna is a qualified nutritionist, fitness lover and martial arts expert. www.justynakalka.com.au 21

turn the page Big Digger ABC, Margaret Mayo & Alex Ayliffe, $24.99 With one vehicle for every letter from A to Z, this book is a great introduction to the alphabet and includes all the vehicles little ones love, from diggers and fire engines to spaceships and underwater robots. The rhyming text is perfect for reading aloud, and the bold and colourful illustrations bring each mega machine to life.

Age 1 plus Back-To-Front Bob, Belinda Ellis, $15.99 This special picture book cleverly combines words and visuals for a delightful dose of wordplay and fabulous fun with grammar - the words are often illustrations, or hidden within the illustrations (look closely and you’ll discover all sorts of surprises!). Back-to-Front Bob fills a gap in the market by crossing the boundary between fiction and fact. The content is educational in a cheeky, playful way.

Age 3 upwards Ten Unlucky Pirates, Andy Griffiths & Terry Denton, $6.99 Many readers with primary aged children will be familiar with the “The Treehouse” books, but we now have these great small format colour editions which feature one of the stories from The 26 Storey Treehouse and are perfect for beginner readers.

The other story that has been released in this format is Barky, the Barking Dog. Suitable for Foundation and above

Anti-Princess Club: Emily’s Tiara Trouble, Samantha Turnbull, $9.99 This great new series is the perfect antidote to all those fairy and princess books.

Talented ten-year-olds Emily, Bella, Chloe and Grace are sick of adults trying to turn them into helpless princesses. When maths whiz Emily Martin’s mother enters her in the local beauty pageant, it’s the last straw - the four friends form the Anti-Princess Club, with the motto “we don’t need rescuing”. Other books in the series include: Bella’s Backyard Bullies, Grace’s Dance Disaster, and Chloe’s River Rescue.

Suitable for Grade 2 and above

Our monthly kid’s books are brought to you by our friends at Ulysses Bookstore.

They are passionate about their children’s books with an extensive range, informed staff, and they love nothing better than to inspire children’s reading with their programme of taking children’s authors to visit local schools. In addition, they have an extensive range of fiction and non-fiction titles for their adult customers.

Ulysses Bookstore, 33 Melrose Street, Sandringham Ph 9521 8020, www.ulyssesbookstore.com.au Live 22 Local - Shop Local - and don’t forget to mention MamaMag!

22

· Melbourne Australia · Chamonix France · Shop 3, 11 Waltham Street Sandringham Ph. 9598 1692 www.lesalonmelbourne.com info@lesalonmelbourne.com OLAPLEX· IS HERE!

#olaplex

We are so excited to be in the first 100 salons in Australia to be able to offer your Olaplex!

OLAPLEX is going to make your hair stronger, healthier and your colour will last longer!

STEP 1 - We mix the BOND MULTIPLIER No.1 directly into your colour STEP 2 - We apply No.2 BOND PERFECTOR before we shampoo STEP 3 - We will give you a bottle of the No.3 TAKE HOME HAIR PERFECTOR that is part of this professional service, you will use this once a week

It will make a huge difference in the health of your hair! $60 to add on to any service. · Melbourne Australia · Chamonix France ·

Shop 3, 11 Waltham Street Sandringham Ph. 9598 1692 www.lesalonmelbourne.com · info@lesalonmelbourne.com

Soup season is here!

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

23

MAMA of the month This month we met with Linda Corr, a Hampton mum of 2 cute girls and the owner of Sandringham’s equally cute Cuppa Cottage Tea Rooms. Cuppa Cottage is the perfect spot for local mums to come in for a chat, a cuppa and a nibble on the gorgeous homemade sweeties and treaties!

How old are your little ones now?

Zahli is 5 months and Layla’s 2 years old What were you doing before you had kids?

I’m actually a registered nurse so was nursing at Cabrini Hospital before I bought the business.

When did you decide to open Cuppa Cottage and where did the idea come from?

Cuppa cottage was already a reputable business when I bought it in 2012 and when the opportunity came to buy it I allowed fate to take its course and see whether having my own business was meant to be. Then my journey began. In one month I had moved into my home after months of renovating, bought the business and was pregnant with my first child! They say everything comes in 3’s and it certainly did for me!

The tea room represents my personality and I wanted to create an environment where people enter the café like they were entering my home and enjoying the food as I would cook at home for my family and friends.

Did you have much of a background in baking because your food looks amazing!

I don’t have any professional qualifications in baking but have loved to bake ever since I could remember! I’m a big fan of old school recipes that our nannas have past down to us.

24

Cuppa Cottage has a gorgeous vintage look. Do you get people spending hours just hanging out and drinking tea in there?

I certainly would!

We definitely have our regular customers and it feels like that everyone who walks through the door we know by name or if not by what coffee they order! I love the fact that I can provide a warm cosy environment for customers to have meetings, celebrate special occasions or simply just to catch up!

How do you juggle being a mum and running a café? Where do the kids go while you are at work?

Well let’s just say it’s tough! But luckily for me I have a great support network of family, friends and great staff so that makes a huge difference.

Mum has been my lifesaver in many cases and if I’m at work they are either with her, at creche or with my darling husband!

When the girls are with me I bring them to the café to visit and Layla loves going there because it’s like her second home (we even have toy boxes in the dining room for her and all the littlies that come to the café!). Zahli and Layla have both been there since birth (literally!) so most of my customers know them and have seen them grow.

Any advice for other mum’s thinking of opening their own business or store?

Anything is possible but having a good support network to help out with the kids makes a massive difference because looking after one, two, three or more kids is already a full time job on its own so imagine having a business is like having a second full time job. Despite how hectic and crazy it can be at times, all the highs and lows of being a business owner, I enjoy and love every moment.

Are there any exciting plans for Cuppa Cottage in the future?

Yes so watch this space! We are working on plans to renovate and expand the business as it is getting a bit tired given that we have been running for 12 years. We are looking forward to giving it a face lift so Cuppa Cottage can continue to be here for many more years ahead.

You must have your hands full with your two little ones. Got any funny parenting stories you’d like to share?

Layla absolutely loves being a big sister and she’s very protective over Zahli so anytime someone comes near the baby in the café she’ll run up to them and say “mine!” Very cute.

Motherhood has taught me…

That there’s nothing more important in life then the little human beings I have created.

As every parent would agree, words cannot describe the amount of joy our children bring into our lives even if they are entering the challenging terrible twos!

My guilty pleasure is…

All things sweet! I have such a big sweet tooth so being surrounded by delicious cakes and scones during my pregnancies resulted in me having very big babies!

Most importantly where can we find you?

Pop down for a cuppa, scones and so much more at 88 Station Street Sandringham www.facebook.com/cuppacottagetearooms

25

off to kinder next year?

Bayside enrolments open May 1 - June 30 Do you have a child ready to start kinder next year? The majority of sessional kindergartens in Bayside are managed by the Bayside City Council Central Enrolment Service and you can only enrol between May 1st and June 30 this year.

How to choose a kindergarten As some kindergartens can be oversubscribed, you are advised to visit as many kindergartens in your area as possible and decide which best suits your child’s needs. Remember, there is a benefit in choosing a kindergarten close to your home, as proximity is one of the weighted criteria. You may choose a first and second preference kindergarten. However, please remember nominated preferences do not guarantee a place. By choosing a second preference you are indicating a willingness to attend first or second preference.

When to enrol for kindergarten Enrolments for kindergarten will be accepted between 1 May and 30 June in the year prior to your child’s attendance in a kindergarten program. Enrolment applications received after 30 June will be held until the last round of offers have been made. If there are available places in the kindergarten(s) of your choice, a place will be offered to you. If there are no places available, your details will be passed to your first and second preference kindergarten to be placed on their waiting list. You will also be advised of any vacancies at other kindergartens in the Bayside municipality.

Please note any changes to your registration MUST be received prior to 30 June in the year before your child is to attend.

26

How to enrol Registration and payment is made via the online registration process at www.bayside.vic.gov.au/families If you are unable to complete the registration and payment online please contact Children’s Services Department on 9599 4733 to arrange for a manual application form to be provided to you. Payment will then need to be made in person at Bayside City Council cashiers desk, 76 Royal Avenue, Sandringham.

Registration Fees

How kindergarten places are allocated

There is a non refundable registration fee of $27.50 for non Concession Card Holders; this payment must accompany your online registration form. There are also charges levied by and payable to the kindergarten. You will need to contact the kindergarten for details of these charges. Registration for kindergarten will not be processed without receipt of payment.

If there are an equal or greater number of places than applications received then all applicants will receive an offer according to their preference. If there are more applicants than places then a computerised weighted priority system will apply. If there are more applicants with the same weighting than there are places available then a computer generated ballot will select who receives an offer. First preferences will be considered in the first and second rounds, whilst first and second preferences will be considered in round three.

Acknowledgement of application Your kindergarten application will be confirmed with an Acknowledgement of Application letter.

If you enrol for 3 year old and 4 year old at the same time you will receive a letter for each year. If you do not receive a confirmation of your registration within two weeks of lodging your application contact Bayside City Council on 9599 4733.

For further information visit www.bayside.vic.gov.au/families

Bayside Central Enrolment Kinders: Brighton/East Brighton: 1. Brighton Baptist Kindergarten 2. Hurlingham Pre-School 3. North Brighton Kindergarten 4. St Mary’s Kindergarten 5. St Peters Pre-School

NORTH

3

1 2

Beaumaris/Black Rock/ Cheltenham: 6. Beaumaris 3 year old 7. Black Rock Pre-School 8. East Beaumaris Kindergarten 9. Gordon Street Pre-School 10. Jack and Jill Kidergarten 11. Janet Mundy Kindergarten 12. Olive Phillips Kindergarten 13. Olympic Avenue Kindergarten Highett/Moorabbin:

4 5

17

16 14 15 18

14. Livingston Kindergarten

15. Grange Road Kindergarten 16. Grange Road, Sandringham 17. Hampton Community Kindergarten 18. Helen Paul Kindergarten 19. Nagle Pre-School 20. St John’s Kindergarten For other non-central enrolment kindergarten options, please refer to Bayside City Council website.

13

19

Sandringham/Hampton: 11

9

7 10

8 6 12

27

Toddler Music & Dance Classes

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

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

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

145 McKinnon Road McKinnon - Call 9578 5096

Hubby Prompter

This is what I really want this Mother’s Day Professional nannies Approved in-home care

Ranges Fingerprints H Five/L K’kers Love Letters Mini Masters Scribes



Our professional and friendly nanny service provides you with the highest quality and best solution for your family’s needs.

Fingerprints

High Fives & Little Kickers

m: 0487 864 817

Rogan Family Care is Melbourne’s premier nanny agency, working with families for over 20 years.

Shapes Hearts Oval Teardrop Circle Oblong



Laura Jones

e: laura.jones@smallprint.com

Authorised agency for government funding and rebates to eligible families. roganfamilycare.com.au Suite 504C, 198 Harbour Esplanade Docklands VIC 3008 9670 7686 office@roganfamilycare.com.au Proudly part of IntoWork Australia.

facebook.com/RoganFamilyCare

Smallprint Bayside www.smallprint.com 28

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

$5ticket sales

$10 on door (kids under 12 free)

sunday 31listammstaowyn

seaworks, wil

10am until 3pm

petting zoo,ironman, optimus prime, elsa, anna, cupcake decorating, Free demonstrations proudly sponsored by

LittleONE magazine

tickets on sale now confettifair.com.au

school yard Bullying We all know that bullying is a big problem in schools but what can we as parents do about it? Here are a few anti-bullying topics for you to discuss with your child to help educate them on the subject.

How can you prevent your child from being bullied?

What is bullying?

Bullies quite often aim for easy targets who look unhappy, who always look down with bad posture and are alone with no friends. To avoid this, teach your child to walk with their head held high, smile and have good posture. To improve their confidence, enrol them in martial arts or a team sport. Another way to prevent bullying is to improve your child’s situational awareness. For example, if you know a bully is playing on the playground then avoid them.

Talking through different situations is a great way to cement these concepts with your child.

A confident child with a strong network of friends and knowledge about bullying will no longer be an easy target for bullies.

Bullying is a harmful action done by an individual or group that is repetitive and intentional. There are four main types of bullying: - Verbal bullying: This includes insults, teasing and name calling.

- Physical bullying: This is where you hurt someone with physical actions (punching, kicking and biting).

- Cyber bullying: Bullying behaviour done using technology, for example social media (Facebook and Instagram).

- Covert bullying: This is a form of bullying that can be hard to recognise and done behind someone’s back. An example to tell your child is when someone calls you names behind your back.

Why do people bully?

There are a lot of reasons why people bully.

Here are a couple: - They are redirecting their frustration and anger onto others in the form of bullying.

- Lack of attention at home.

- Victim of bullying themselves.

- Copying parents, friends or people on television.

30

What should your child do if they see someone being bullied?

Tell your child to be an ‘Active Bystander’ when they see someone being bullied. An Active Bystander is someone who makes an effort to help out someone who is a victim of bully. The things they can do to help include: - Telling the bully to stop.

- Step in and take your friend out of the situation. For example saying “Hey Tim, let’s go play over there.”

- If your child feels unsafe at all straight away tell a teacher on yard duty.

It is important to tell your child to never stand and watch someone being bullied. If they do this, they are supporting the bully.

What should your child do if they are getting bullied?

Depending on the situation your child can do many things. Here are some basic actions to discuss with your child if they are getting bullied: - Tell the bully to stop. For example “Stop.

I don’t like it”.

- Walk away and avoid the bully.

- Tell the teacher.

- If nothing is being done, tell your parents.

- Do not retaliate or bully them back.

- Remind your child that just because they are being bullied doesn’t mean that there is anything wrong with them or that they deserve it.

- Bullying is not always victim-centric. If you child understands the reasons behind bullying, they will gain resilience towards future attacks. Good emotional coping mechanisms reduce the effectiveness of the bully’s attacks, which may lead to the bully giving up when they see it isn’t affecting your child.

This article was written by Sensei Ken from Twins Martial Arts in Newport.

Anti-bullying is part of their life skills curriculum. www.twinsmartialarts.com.au

mama can Cook!

Sierra Tango Amazing Meatballs Serves: 4 | Prep: 5min | Cook: 25min

Method:

Ingredients:

Mix spices together in a bowl. Add 1 teaspoon of spices to mince and mix together thoroughly adding a little egg to bind mixture together. Season with salt and pepper

250g Veal mince 250g Pork mince small pinch cayenne pepper (optional) ½ tsp tumeric 1 tsp ground cumin ½ tsp sweet paprika ½ tsp ground coriander 1 egg, beaten 1 onion, finely diced 1 clove garlic, crushed 3 tbsp tomato paste 1 cup veg stock salt and pepper

Form mixture into walnut size pieces and sear in a hot pan until nicely coloured on the outside. Do this in batches if your pan is small.

Heat another pan with a little oil and sweat onion until soft. Add the garlic, remaining spice mix and tomato paste and cook for a few minutes until the tomato paste changes colour. Add stock and bring to gentle simmer. Add seared meatballs and simmer until meatballs are cooked through.

Tips: - Toast Turkish bread or baguette and spread over meatballs for a filling tasty teatime treat - Cook pasta and mix with meatballs at the end of cooking for a quick and easy dinner - Grate carrot or other veggies and cook into sauce to get in those vital daily serves of veggies, secretly!

Give this amazingly simple and versatile dish from Sierra Tango in Cheltenham a go this month!

32 32

This pudding is full of super foods and is super yummy too.

Thanks to The Diplomat Highett!

Chia Seed & Quinoa Pudding with Coconut Caramel & Blueberries Serves: 4 | Prep: 2 hrs | Cook: 20 min

Method:

Ingredients: ¼ cup chia seeds ½ cup coconut milk ½ cup coconut water 125g fresh or frozen blueberries 200g natural yoghurt ¼ cup castor sugar ¼ cup black quinoa 3 red apples ½ cup flaked almonds

Pudding: In a bowl whisk chia seeds, coconut milk, coconut water, sugar and half of the blueberries together and set in fridge for 2 hours.

Coconut Caramel: 200g castor sugar 200ml water 1 cup coconut milk

Quinoa: Place quinoa in a small saucepan and cover with water and cook until soft (15 - 20min), drain then cool in fridge.

Caramel: Combine the caster sugar and water in a small saucepan. Stir over low heat until the sugar dissolves.

Increase heat to medium and boil, uncovered, without stirring, for 10 minutes or until the mixture turns a light golden colour.

Remove from the heat and stir in the coconut milk (it may splutter a little) until well combined.

To Serve: Fold pudding, quinoa and yoghurt until combined. Place in bowl or glass and garnish with shredded apple, flaked almonds and the remaining blueberries then drizzle with coconut caramel.

33

living with cf Did you know that one in 25 of us are healthy and unaware carriers of the gene changes that cause Cystic Fibrosis (CF)? CF is the most common inherited life limiting condition in Australia.

If two carriers have a child, there is a one in four chance that the child will be born with CF and a two in four chance of being a CF genetic carrier. Over 95% of children born with CF have no family history of CF, which makes carrier screening relevant to all of us.

A person with CF can experience a lot of symptoms that range in severity but some of the most serious are a persistent cough, difficulty breathing, susceptibility to infections and being underweight due to maldigestion.

Frequent hospitalisations, a constant regime of physio to keep lungs clear and taking up to 40 medications daily are also part of living with CF. Knowing your carrier status can help families make important life and reproductive choices. We understand and respect personal decisions regarding testing for carrier status.

The potential impact of this is different for everyone. It is our goal to ensure that Victorians have the information they need to make informed choices.

Karin Knoester, CEO Cystic Fibrosis Victoria For more information and a brochure please call Cystic Fibrosis Victoria on (03)9686 1811 or visit www.cfv.org.au

34

In a nut shell...

What is Cystic Fybrosis?

Cystic Fibrosis (CF) primarily affects the lungs and digestive system because of malfunction in the exocrine system, responsible for producing saliva, sweat, tears and mucus.

There is currently no cure. People with CF develop an abnormal amount of excessively thick and sticky mucus within the lungs, airways and the digestive system. The mucus causes impairment of the digestive functions of the pancreas and traps bacteria in the lungs resulting in recurrent infections which lead to irreversible damage. Lung failure is the major cause of death for someone with CF. Who gets Cystic Fybrosis?

In Australia, one in 2,500 babies are born with CF, that’s one every four days. On average one in 25 people carry the CF gene - most of whom are unaware that they are carriers.

Because carriers of CF are unaffected (and therefore show no symptoms) it is hard for them to appreciate that CF may be a real risk.

Any of us could be a carrier and we wouldn’t know – think about it, that’s about 1 million unaware carriers – it could be you!

How is it diagnosed?

Since 1986, all newborns have been subject to a heel prick test. This test is used to screen for a number of conditions, one of which is an indicator for CF. Diagnosis may also result after a baby is born with obvious CF symptoms such a bowel blockage or failure to “thrive”. The heel prick test does not detect everyone; and the definitive test for CF continues to be The Sweat Test, as high levels of salt in perspiration is extremely common amongst those with CF.

Stories of personal experience...

Our longed for son and third child was born on Christmas Eve 2013. My husband and I were in awe of our beautiful boy who looked like an angel in the light of the birthing suite.

My husband whispered ‘he looks like a Myles to me” and I agreed, and so he was named Myles Alexander. I felt so extremely lucky to have such a healthy boy who was feeding well and gaining weight. During those early newborn days and weeks, I couldn’t stop telling everyone how great his birth was.

It was on a hot 40 degree day five weeks after Myles’ birth that I received a call saying that my son had Cystic Fibrosis (CF) - a genetic condition detected through the routine new born heel prick test. Nothing could have ever prepared us for that news. It was disbelief. It was fear. I wanted more than anything for it to be some terrible mistake. My joy and happiness turned to despair, fearing for my son’s future, for all that stood to be taken away – most precious of all his life. I was trying to keep it all together, but I couldn’t even keep standing up. Appointments were made for the hospital the following day, and I needed to call my husband to tell him this news. We read relentlessly everything we could find on CF, we armed ourselves with questions. We hurt, we cried, we feared.

When I consider CF carrier screening and prenatal screening for CF, I’m glad that I didn’t know during the pregnancy. I’m grateful for those days of carefree bliss when everything seemed perfect. We have learned that while I carry the most common CF gene mutation, my husband carries a very rare CF gene mutation. Thus even if CF carrier screening had been investigated, this second, very rare, gene change may not have been detected. I have found strength in accepting that my son has CF. Although there is no cure at present, I really feel that with all the amazing advances that are being made in the management of this condition it is not the end of the world.

Life is full of mysteries, and difference is not something to be feared. Myles was born of love, to love and will be loved forever.

I’ve known about CF for most of my life; my younger sister was diagnosed with CF at birth.

Communication about CF and CF carrier status has always been open in our family. I always knew I could be tested, and I made that decision years ago. I wanted to make informed choices myself and if I was a carrier then I wanted to know so I could provide that knowledge to my own children. CF is not just about myself and this generation of my family: it can carry on for generations. Every individual should be given the right to choose if they want to do carrier screening or not, but I just want people to know that the test exists.

Jane, 35 Last year my nephew Brody was diagnosed with CF. It was such a shock: I was aware of genetic conditions and how they could travel down the genetic line in families but this was never on our radar. I decided I wanted to know my carrier status as I needed to get some ownership of the issue; and I found that I’m a carrier too. I’m currently single but one day I’d like to have kids. It was tough at first but knowing my carrier status means I’m armed with information for my future.

Talking with friends has helped too, and I’m very confident to bring up genetic health and reproductive options in conversation. I know first hand the emotional toll that CF places on a family so if I can raise awareness of CF and carrier screening then I feel it’s a personal obligation.

Erin, 34

Catherine, 38

35

Building bricks to LEGO® bricks – When the 3 R’s meet the 4 C’s!

So what are the 4 C’s and why are they important?

We all know that LEGO® bricks are fun. But it turns out that those little blocks are also powerful educational tools allowing us to test our capabilities and stimulate children’s learning abilities.

1. Collaboration

True to its name, “Lego” after the Danish phrase “leg godt”, or “play well” unlocks learning and development benefits that last a lifetime. The brightly coloured pieces and easily interlocking combinations allow for an astonishing range of creative play opportunities and provide hours of patterning practice and fine-motor development.

This “hands on” learning tool deepens our engagement and understanding significantly, strengthening the most important pathways our brains use to learn and develop. Childhood presents a critical window of opportunity.

In an increasingly complex, demanding and competitive 21st century, children need to learn more than the 3R’s (reading, writing and arithmetic) they are tested on in school.

It’s time to help them go “above & beyond”, by embracing the 4Cs – collaboration, communication, critical thinking and creativity, or, SUPER SKILLS. For over 30 years, LEGO Education has been an innovator in the education field, offering products and curriculum material that draw in students in a way that few other teaching tools can and an innate ability to effectively fuse the three R’s and four C’s.

36

Generally, collaboration has been accepted as a skill that’s essential to achieve meaningful and effective results. In the past decade, however, it has become increasingly clear that collaboration is not only important but necessary for students and employees, due to globalization and the rise of technology.

Sites like Wikipedia highlight how interconnected our world has become and emphasizes the benefits of collaborative work.

The resulting products are those to which millions of users have contributed.

2. Communication Students must be able to effectively analyse and process the overwhelming amount of communication in their lives today. Which information sources are accurate? Which ones are not? How can they be used or leveraged effectively?

In addition, there are now “global teams” that work together in business. Linguistically and culturally effective communication is essential to contribute successfully to these teams. And as technology gives rise to global work teams that span time zones, nations, and cultures, it is imperative that tomorrow’s graduates communicate clearly and effectively in a variety of languages.

educate 3. Critical Thinking and Problem Solving The link between critical thinking and education is obvious: one can’t learn well without thinking well. Critical thinking contributes to career success, but also to success in higher education.

By Julie Lang, Director, Bricks4Kids Australia bricks4kidzaustralia.com.au/ges

4. Creativity and Innovation If students leave school without knowing how to continuously create and innovate, they will be under-prepared for the challenges of society and the workforce. Act on creative ideas to make a tangible and useful contribution to the field in which the innovation will occur.

Learning critical thinking leads students to develop other skills, such as a higher level of concentration, deeper analytical abilities, and improved thought processing. They must be active critical thinkers if they are to compare evidence, evaluate competing claims, and make sensible decisions.

Creativity is more than just artistic talent. It is a different way of thinking. In his globally famous TED talk ‘How Schools Kill Creativity’ (February 2006) Sir Ken Robinson PHD defined creativity as the process of having original ideas that have value.

The solutions to international problems, such as global warming, require highly developed critical thinking and problem-solving abilities.

In everyday work, employees must employ critical thinking to better serve customers, develop better products, and continuously improve themselves within an ever-changing global economy.

“Creativity is one of the crucial 21st century skills we’ll need to solve today’s pressing problems. I work a lot with Fortune 500 companies, and they’re always saying, we need people who can be innovative, who can think differently. Our world is changing so rapidly, it is estimated sixty-five percent of today’s children will end up in jobs that haven’t been invented yet”. Mr Robinson said.

He further explained, “Education is becoming so dominated by this culture of standardized testing, that we’re flattening and stifling some of the basic skills and processes that creative achievement depends on.”

According to Tony Wagner, Expert in Residence at Harvard University’s new Innovation Lab, the way to develop young people to become innovators is, in a word, play. “Research shows that human beings are born with an innate desire to explore, experiment, and imagine new possibilities.

37

Family Travel Made Easy Families are increasingly travelling abroad for their holidays. There is no better way to enhance your children’s education than exposing them to different cultures, languages and history.

It’s important when considering any travel with your children that you do your research and get yourself organised in advance. You know your family better than anyone so when choosing a destination take into account not only the country you have chosen but the culture, the language, the cuisine and then consider the resort, the location, the activities on offer for children & restaurants etc.

Tips For Traveling With Children.

All-Inclusive Holidays

1. If you have young children and would like car seats available for transfers, let us know so that we can arrange this.

For those who like to travel but would prefer to do so without having to think about: “where to go for meals; how much does each activity cost or will there be anything for our children to do”; we recommend looking at resorts that offer allinclusive holiday packages.

2. If your children get travel sick, take some of the air sick bags off the aircraft with you when you land.

3. Find out exactly what is included in the kids clubs i.e. meals, activities, babysitting service in the evenings etc.

4. Check what resort activities are included in the rate.

5. See if there are flights available that fit in with your children’s sleep times.

6. Some airlines offer an in-flight nanny service.

This is very handy on long haul flights.

7. If your child has allergies make sure that we are informed so that the airline can be notified to ensure that this requirement is catered for.

8. Don’t rely on the airline to provide your children with activities on the flight. Take a multitude of different activities to keep them occupied.

9. Airline food can be varied so take some snacks on board to keep children satisfied.

10. If your children require a cot make sure that the resort/hotel are informed so that their beds are ready for them when you check in.

38

Club Med is the premium location for allinclusive holidays that meet everyone’s different needs – taking holidays to a new level of enjoyment. Club Med caters to people of all ages and interests. Whether you do everything or nothing at all, Club Med packages include all gourmet meals, transfers, accommodation - which blends comfort & tradition - sports, leisure, all-day open bar, refreshments, night entertainment and so much more.

That just leaves it up to you and your family to experience everything that your chosen destination has in store for you.

For your next family adventure come and visit DESTINATION HQ today at 5 East Concourse Beaumaris or phone us on 9589 3294 or email:enquiry@destinationhq.com.au

Baby Change Challenges

As told by Bayside Dad by Mike Searles!

Picture in your mind those one piece baby costumes. The ones with studs running from the feet all the way into next year.

Cleaned our baby girl to infinity and beyond...

Generous spread of the J&J baby powder (more for me than baby - love that stuff).

For the life of me I cannot line those studs up so they snap into place. In fact I’d rather attempt an under-water Rubik’s Cube record than try and get those studs lined up.

On with a fresh clean soft nappy. Yes, folded like a kite. Three safety pins in place... Remind me to tell you my ‘Safety Pins’ story one day.

Anyhow, we had a baby change challenge at home involving one of those Rubik’s costumes.

It was with our first-born daughter. Situation?

Think ‘code-brown alert’. Old style cotton nappy (it was back in the 1980’s). Three safety pins in place. And the said one piece costume.

On this occasion it was like that oozing thing in the movie The Blob. If there was any gap ‘The Blob’ could ooze from, it did!

In all directions. And the smell...

Hold that thought for a moment because I’ve got a great anti-smell tip. Taught to me years ago when I was working in the medical industry. Pop a peppermint or two in your mouth just before you remove a smelly nappy.

The vapours from the mint will fill the back of your nose and throat and that will overpower any nauseating odours. Nurses still do it today when the need arises.

Back to our story...

Off with Rubik’s One-Piece. Off with the soiled singlet. Off with the soiled plastic-pants covering the... OMG!

40 40

It ends in tears. Mine.

Still no Darl in sight.

On with the clean plastic pants. On with the singlet. On with the Rubik’s...

Now for the first stud... ‘begin at the feet’ I remind myself.

‘Oh, come on... click in will you!’

Strange how we give inanimate objects the persona of an adversary at times like this.

Or is that just me?

‘Will you go in! I’ll go to stud number two and come back to you.’

‘What is going on here. You too?’

“Darl! Can you come here please?”

Darl comes in. Takes one look...

“You’ve got the one-piece inside out” she says.

She whips it off faster than I can blink in a sand-storm. And then I hear the insulting sounds of click-click-click.

“Darl. Check this out”.

The one piece is back on. Studs done up into next year. Baby clean and happy.

No sign of Darl so I carry on.

And I think to myself...

I piled the blobby mess into a container.

Rubbish-bins I think they’re called. I mean the nappy and all. Good-bye!

“I wonder if Darl should try for the under-water Rubik’s Cube record” Mike Searles is a freelance writer at MikeSearles.com

Kinderschool

Learn to read and write

Pre-school literacy & school readiness classes Age 3-5

FREE TRIAL VOUCHER Build your child's reading & writing confidence, lay the foundations early

Ph 0409 792 255

Sandringham location emily.kinderschool@gmail.com emilykinderschool.wix.com/kinderschool

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 in a R & s Fairie Dinosaurs Dancing Aliens!

Space uperBoys &S SuperGirls Glamour & r, e Pamp ove!

Gro

Baby Hampers and Baby Gifts

Celebrate a new arrival with a beautiful Baby Hamper or Gift from Little Turtle Baby “Check out our cool Party Themes. There’s something for everyone!”

www.jitterbugs.net.au 0415 438 990 Live Local - Shop Local - and don’t forget to mention MamaMag!

41

5 benefits of music everyday With school and kinder back in action it seems like a good time to revisit the benefits of music on children’s development, because while music is enjoyable it is also a very special gift we give to children that affects them in many varied positive ways.

As adults music impacts us in ways that other sounds don’t. It can relax us, take us to a different place or help us to revisit a memory. For children the impact of music is similar - it stimulates the brain, while opening children up to experience a range of emotions and forms of learning.

With the wellbeing of children in mind, let’s take a look at five notable benefits of music for children.

Creativity It’s an obvious and yet important element of listening to and creating music, but encouraging creativity allows children to embrace self-expression and experiment with their own unique approach to singing and playing music.

Confidence Learning to sing all the words of a song or learning to play an instrument – either way, the act of learning in a musical setting is a sure fire way to help children to gain confidence in their ability to take on musical skills.

Communication As the saying goes ‘Where words fail, music speaks’. As we all know, children can often have trouble with finding the words to express themselves but by being in touch with music and song children are able to explore feelings on a deeper level that they may not otherwise understand. Music often tells a story in a way that we can all understand.

42

To reference another adage, music is a universal language and so it makes sense that children of all ages can bond through music and the shared joy it brings.

Concentration To sing a song, one must first learn the words and keep practicing to get it right.

Listening to music to know when to start singing, or even playing along on a drum and trying to keep the beat. Music helps children to learn to focus which can help them in many other areas of their development.

Coordination Where there’s music, there’s movement and while learning an instrument is fantastic for hand-eye coordination, there’s a lot to be said for the combination of singing and movement to go with the song. Many songs tell stories not only through lyrics but through actions too.

“The main purpose of music is not to play an instrument in a band or to sing in an opera…The main purpose of teaching music is to enrich the whole child, develop their cognitive abilities, increase their learning capacity and enhance the quality of their life.” Galina Zenin And those benefits are just the C’s! There are countless other benefits to including music in children’s lives every day, from improving memory to relaxation to boosting brain power. But most importantly, music is fun too!

At Bonkers Beat, incorporating music into every day is our specialty! If you’d like to learn more about the Bonkers Beat programs and Bonkers Beat Music Kinder visit www.BonkersBeat.com

MOTHER’S WINTER WELLNESS RETREATS

Baby Sleep Workshop

July & August 2015

Chateau Yering, Yarra Valley

Weekend package priced at $798* includes:

The Deck - Bay st, Brighton

Luxury overnight suite accommodation

newborn - 4 months: Wednesday 27 May 9:30am - 11:30am

3 course dinner at Eleonore’s restaurant Relaxation massage in your private suite

Encourage healthy sleep habits for your newborn

Hypnosis, yoga and meditation sessions Stress management & self awareness Morning & Afternoon teas by the open fire Breakfast & Lunches in the Sweetwater Cafe

Learn gentle & practical solutions for your baby sleep concerns

Weekend facilitated by Justine Knott, Psychologist & Hypnotherapist *Medicare rebates of up to $256 available under a MHCP from a GP

Contact 9331 7391 or visit www.keilorpsychology.com.au for details.

www.healthybabyhub.com.au 0402375833 - hannah@healthybabyhub.com.au

Because languages matter

BILINGUAL babysitters and nannies for bilingual FAMILIES Information service and representation for non-government school parents Engaging parents with their child’s education For membership enquiries contact: vicpc@vicparentscouncil.vic.edu.au

/vicparents @VPC5 Live Local - Shop Local - and don’t forget to mention MamaMag!

Our babysitters have: • Bilingual Carers Training.

• Working with Children Check.

• First Aid Course.

• References.

Check availability in your language or contact us with your enquiry.

m: 0403 185 891 e: info@bilingualstories.com.au w: www.bilingualstories.com.au Bilingual Stories Australia We also offer: • Language holiday programs.

• After-school hours language classes.

• Information sessions and workshops.

We look after your children in YOUR language

43 43

my little jar of love for mum The month of May brings us the best celebration ever….. Mothers Day! Yes it’s time to tell Mum, Grandma and Nan how super special they are. Cover them in cuddles and kisses and maybe a little bit of homemade specialness. Mason jars are super cute at the moment so let’s make our own just for mum. If you are looking for a special present for mum come and join Lizzy Ann for an afternoon of high tea and crafting. “Monet Garden” is our mothers day special event on the 3rd of May. Facebook.com/lizzyannstudio What you need: Tracing paper Grey pencil Black marker Glue Plain card Scissors A collection of special things.

Lets get started: Place your tracing paper over the top of this page and trace over the shape of the mason jar with a black marker.

Place your plain card down on the table.

Place your special bits and pieces in the middle of the page, don’t glue them down.

Turn your tracing paper over and glue everywhere but inside the jar and then carefully place on top of the plain card.

Your special things should still move around inside the jar. Cut around the outside of the mason jar/card leaving a 1cm border where the glue is.

Have fun xx 44

WIN one of three cute school bag tags

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

Name: Address:

Age: Postcode: 45

Brighton & Hampton studios

Dancentre classes are serious fun.

We love dance so much that we want everyone from the age of 3 through to teenagers and young adults to experience the thrill that dance can bring.

We offer open and SFD syllabus classes in classical ballet, jazz, tap, hip hop & contemporary.

We have a specially designed preschool dance program and a transistion year that combines ballet & jazz. We also host birthday dance parties.

Mel’s Soy Wax Products candle making workshops 4hr workshops in Sandringham - $150 For details call Mel on 0402 246 458

Book now on 03 9596 9911 dance@dancentre.com.au

www.dancentre.com.au

Photography Newborn and Maternity Port Melbourne based and mobile

0405 714 219

ejmphotography.com.au

Lose weight and feel great “I was able to to lose 8.5kg’s and went from a size 14-16 to a size 10 using Herbalife F1 shakes, eating a good diet and adding walks to my routine.”

Let me help you, or someone you know, with promoting your well-being, personal coaching 1 to 1, group support and a free wellness evaluation as well!

Call Dimi today on 0412 850 400 46

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

Looking for help?

Can’t find the right service? childandyouthdirectory.com.au The Child and Youth Directory covers the Cities of Bayside, Glen Eira, Kingston, Port Phillip and Stonnington.

like mamamag on facebook TO win great prizes Winter Warmers now in stock Socks Gloves Scarves Blankets Beanies Umbrellas We give away all sorts of great stuff to our ‘likers’! @localmamamag Live Local - Shop Local - and don’t forget to mention MamaMag!

47

Chris Humfrey’s

ZOOKEEPER EXPERIENCE!

Spend a whole day with zoologist Chris Humfrey from ABC’s hit series “Chris Humfrey’s Wild Life!”

Work as his very own private zoo, and learn from Chris himself! Get up close and personal with over 2000 animals!

Discover what drives Chris to work with animals.

Who knows your child could follow in his footsteps!

This is an exceptional hands-on experience, which is offered nowhere else.

Chris has personally designed this exclusive program.

Stricly limited numbers of children will ensure that your child will get the WILD experience which they CRAVE! Chris’ zoo is nestled in the foothills of Mount Macedon.

It’s an easy 50 minute drive from Melbourne’s CBD.

GREAT GIFT IDEA!

Bookings and Enquiries www.wildaction.com.au Phone 0419 385 245