Port Phillip MamaMag May 2015

port phillip

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 Port Phillip mum 1

Create lasting memories through sport

Sign up now for a free trial!

We are Australia’s leading sports program for 2.5–6 year olds!

Classes Monday–Saturday Your Local Class Days and Locations: MSAC, Albert Park – Mon, Tues, Wed, Fri & Sat Hawthorn – Mon, Tues, Wed & Sat Carlton Baths, Carlton – Fri & Sat

readysteadygokids.com.au 2

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

Tutoring for Prep to Year 12.

Call today for a FREE assessment.

Professional tutoring that builds the foundations for academic success.

At Kip McGrath Education Centre South Yarra we provide professional Maths and English tuition to Prep, Primary and Secondary students (including those completing their VCE). Our aim is to improve, maintain or extend your child's capabilities at school.

English

Reading

Spelling

Maths

Comprehension

Mention this ad and receive your ďŹ rst three lessons free

CALL KYLIE - 0410 588 358

Melbourne Polytechnic Building K, Level 2, St John St, Prahran www.kipmcgrath.com.au/Australia/South-Yarra.aspx

3

mama mia it’s may As I write this I’m sitting in gorgeous Tasmania!

Ahhh, Tassie. In all her shining beauty. The seafood, the eclectic mix of arty souls, the fresh produce and the unrivalled natural beauty.

Such a seducer. Until Jack Frost comes out to bite! Then I remember why we retreated back across Bass Strait. Despite the cold, how we’ve missed old mate Tassie. We spent our holiday lazing at old favourite cafes, spying shellfish in the rockpools and catching a few autumn rays from the deck of the family shack that overlooks the Derwent River.. We also took advantage of grandparents, a luxury we sorely miss in Melbourne. As always we got looked after a treat. It’s nice to come back to a familiarity and a rhythm of life that encourages more mindfulness.

It was just the slow down that was needed. I’m all ready for mindfulness in May! Kicking off with a nice relaxing massage for Mother’s Day. I can’t remember my last massage, so definitely due for some pamper time.

Get on that Endota promo mamas, what a prize!

Mama Mia, how is it May already? And it’s the month we celebrate all the wonderful Mamas and how they make the world go round. A day for homemade gifts from the kiddies and brekky in bed. I’m in awe of all Mamas. Especially true of our Mama of the Month, Peace Mitchell. I met Peace at a fabulous local playgroup that our girls went to last year. Her business celebrates and supports Mumpreneurs and is a vibrant positive community that shows the power of connection, celebrating and supporting mums in running their own businesses.

This month we also have a few education inspired articles for you, as many of you start to consider next year’s kinder and school enrolments for the first time. We really are blessed in Melbourne to have so many amazing schools to choose from. Of course there is a lot to consider - public versus private, school zoning, co-ed or not. Ultimately we’re lucky for so much choice.

I hope all you Mamas get spoilt this month, especially on Mother’s Day. And celebrated for the amazing job that you do every day. A red wine to warm the bones and some Pana chocolate and I’m pretty content these days (hint hint family). How things have changed! Keep living and loving local x @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

Worklife balance for kids Help build their blueprint

12

Reading confidence What makes a confident reader

14

Invest in education How it can work

16

Lovely locals Carlisle Street Balaclava

18

Feed kids right Helping our kids eat well

20

endota.com.au/port-melbourne

Mama of the month Peace Mitchel from AusMumpreneur

24

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

Parklife 27 Lyell Iffla Reserve South Melbourne

Port Melbourne

1 of 15* one hour relaxation massages from Endota spa

Visit our Facebook page to enter

www.facebook.com/localmamamag

Mama can cook Meatballs and Chia pudding

28

School yard bullying How you can help your child

30

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

Family travel made easy Top 10 tips to make it great

32

Turn the page Top picks from Avenue Bookstore

33

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

Building bricks to educate Working with Lego

34

Baby change challenges A dad’s story of a nappy gone wrong

36

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

Living with CF Cystic Fibrosis uncovered

38

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

40

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

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

42

MamaMag May 2015

5,000 copies are distributed monthly.

Editor: Kirsty Chick Creative Director: Sarah Cavalier

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?

• express ideas and emotions

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.

• manage tough feelings, such as disappointment or frustration

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

• 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

• 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. 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 my Kip McGrath tutoring centre in South Yarra 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 South Yarra 0410 588 358

Anxiety in adolescents is between 8.7% and 17.7%.

11

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, 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, 12

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

Sell your house fo r more

THINKIN G ABOU A BIGG ER HOM T E FOR YO UR FAM ILY? Here are some tips to

help you get starte d

MOTHER’S WINTER WELLNESS RETREATS July & August 2015

Professional nannies Approved in-home care

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

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

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

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

Chateau Yering, Yarra Valley

Weekend package priced at $798* includes: Luxury overnight suite accommodation 3 course dinner at Eleonore’s restaurant Relaxation massage in your private suite Hypnosis, yoga and meditation sessions Stress management & self awareness Morning & Afternoon teas by the open fire Breakfast & Lunches in the Sweetwater Cafe 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.

13

Reading confidence What makes a confident reader?

Have you ever seen a child who is able to read a passage of text aloud only to be stumped when it comes to explaining what they have just read? A child’s reading development is a gradual process and as parents, being there to support them every step of the way can ensure your child becomes a confident reader with a love of books.

Here are some tips to support you in modelling a love of reading to your children:

Many parents think that their bed-time story ritual is over as soon as their children are able to read by themselves. But reading doesn’t just mean saying words out loud, it means understanding what the text is trying to tell us.

1. Pre-read the book first. This will help you to know when to show emotion and how, whether it be surprise, suspense, sadness etc. It also gives you time to practice different voices for different characters.

While being able to recognise and pronounce words from what is seen on the page is an impressive feat, it does not always mean the child understands what the text is trying to say. It would be similar to reading a different language that uses the English alphabet – we can read it but we can’t understand it.

2. Read with enthusiasm. Take the mindset that you are telling a story, not just reading.

Telling a story requires an element of performance; changes of voice or hand gestures are a good start, you don’t have to be an Oscar winner to hold your children’s attention.

One significant element which makes a confident reader is the skill of comprehension.

Children who are able to comprehend what they read will start to see fantastic stories where they can escape to another world rather than seeing words as text in front of them. So what can we do to support our children towards understanding what they’re reading? The answer is almost as old as a book itself.

3. Engage your child in the story. If your children can read, ask them to do one of the voices of the characters.

Reading to our children has always been recommended but how we read to our children may be just as important. It’s not always easy after a long day but the next time you read to your children, think about reading a book as telling them a story. This might mean changing your voice to signify a character is speaking or creating drama by whispering a secret.

14

By modelling story-telling techniques, your child will understand and enjoy books more and more. And, as we know, children are quick to copy what we do so you can expect to see your child trying to read with expression and gain a greater understanding of the story in the process.

4. Check your children’s understanding of the text with questions like, ‘how do you think this character is feeling?’, ‘what do you think will happen next?’, ‘what happened to that character?’

5. Continue to share books and stories even if they can read alone. Reading development is a journey that continues well after a child can pick up a book by themselves. Make your next book choice easier by visiting www.readtogether.com.au.

For more information visit Kumon Australia at http://au.kumonglobal.com/

TWO-WEEK FREE TRIAL Find out how your child can develop essential maths and English skills with Kumon. Contact Leah by 11 May to secure your child’s place in the Kumon Free Trial!

Kumon St Kilda East Education Centre Suite 17, Beller House, 285 Carlisle Street Balaclava, VIC 3183 03 9528 4248/ 0419 247 421

Because languages matter

BILINGUAL babysitters and nannies for bilingual FAMILIES 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

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

We also offer: • Language holiday programs.

• After-school hours language classes.

• Information sessions and workshops.

We look after your children in YOUR language

Early Learning Classes 3-4 and 4-6 year olds Is your child ready to read?

Will your child be ready for school?

Nurturing & Celebrating Creativity - Magical art parties all ages - Creative high tea - Early learning - Afterschool & holiday - Adults & children Something for everyone!

www.artea.com.au 0415 039 791 3 free classes or 20% off parties Port Melbourne studio - Simply present this ad Live Local - Shop Local - and don’t forget to mention MamaMag!

• Fun Small Groups • Computer Activities • Prover Methods • Phonic Based • Qualified Teachers 9681 7616 9a Raglan Street Port Melbourne

www.back2basics.com.au 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

lovely locals ry St

St

Westbu

Camden

5 3

Balaclava Station

Camden

6 4

Street ck St

Chape

l St

Carlisle

Woodsto

7

Nelson

St

St

We VISIT carlisle street Balaclava

1 2

1. Lulu - Lovely little boutique with some great made-in-Melbourne finds, from the quirky painted dinosaur planters to that really special standout scarf or locally designed and made clothing item. You’ll find an eclectic mix of treasures inside. Little Lulu is next door for some gorgeous kid’s inspired fashion and accessories. 322a Carlisle Street, Ph: 9525 8844 2. Little Sparrow - A truly unique toy store. The owner Shelly showcases toys that are locally sourced or locally-made, often handmade (Shelley makes the whimsical felt treasures herself) and environmentally friendly lots of recycled wooden gems, knitted cuddly cuties and felted friends.

Learn to make your own unique toys in their craft making classes.

259 Carlisle Street, Ph: 9041 0103 3. Las Chicas - Las Chicas serves up an impressive fresh and seasonal menu, using local produce that inspires some iconic dishes. The famed Breakfast Burrito will fuel you all day, but our FAV is the delicate coconut sago.

Colouring in for the kids, great ALLPRESS coffee and amazing smoothies.

A local institution for good reason. 203 Carlisle Street, Ph: 9531 3699 4. Wall Two 80 - It’s all about the wall AND the Genovese coffee that barista Roddy Fulton pumps out to consistent excellence. Perfect place to swing by for a coffee and toasted pide on the run, or linger by the graffiti-splashed wall and watch the characters drift by. 280 Carlisle Street, Ph: 9593 8280 5. Yo-Chi - You can tell a lot about a person by their do-it-yourself froyo combos! Do they go a little too crazy with the spoilt-for-choice toppings (hello choc covered goji berries and lychee fruit pearls!)? You are the creator.

It’s edible art in motion and it’s the ultimate family treat.

292 Carlisle Street, Ph: 9527 7001 6. Aunt Maggie - This store offers a one-stop shop packed full of healthy, organic and environmentally conscious delights. Product quality is high and those with dietary restrictions and lovers of good quality produce are well catered for. 270-272 Carlisle Street, Ph: 9534 6588 7. Muddle Puddle - This quaint store sells gifts for kids ranging from newborns up to 12 years old, sourced from around the country and abroad.

They also offer clothing, shoes exciting toys and gifts, costumes, personalised artwork and much more. 155 Chapel Street, Ph 9525 5195 18

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 ie Fair Dinosaurs Dancing Aliens!

Space uperBoys &S SuperGirls Glamour & r, e p m Pa Groove!

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.

“Check out our cool Party Themes. There’s something for everyone!”

www.jitterbugs.net.au 0415 438 990

Our products are BPA, Phthalate, Lead and PVC free.

20% OFF for MamaMag readers. Simply enter the code ‘Mama’ at the checkout.

Silicone teething jewellery and teething toys designed by a Melbourne Mum!

www.mummabubba.com Live Local - Shop Local - and don’t forget to mention MamaMag!

MummaBubbajewellery 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

Discover a treasure trove of toys, gifts and home inspiration in our Bay Street boutique.

Stay for a coffee and cake while the little ones keep entertained in our in-store play area.

Open seven days.

51 Bay Street Port Melbourne | 9646 1135 juniorrepublic.com.au 23

MAMA of the month This month we caught up with Peace Mitchell, one half of the sister team behind AusMumpreneur. They have created a vibrant online community that aims to support, celebrate and empower Mumpreneneurs. The network runs online business programs, hosts an annual conference and the coveted annual St George Banking Group AusMumprenear Awards.

Two years ago you moved from sunny North Queensland to Port Phillip, what brought you here?

My eldest son Alexander was accepted into the Australian Ballet School’s full time program at just 12 years old. He was too young to move by himself and it was too good an opportunity for us to let him pass up so we made the difficult decision to upend our family of 5 and move interstate. Not knowing whether my husband would find work easily or how our other sons would transition into new schools. Then, only weeks before arriving, we also found we were soon to be welcoming baby #4! It has been the most amazing adventure for us.

Tell us about the inspiration behind your fabulous business AusMumpreneur?

My sister and I started AusMumpreneur as we recognised a need for a place for home based business owners to connect. Mums with young children find it difficult to get to traditional networking events so the online space works so much better for them. It all started out of a passion for supporting mums, we believe that the mother is the heart of the family and if a mother is happy and fulfilled personally and professionally she’s better equipped to care for the whole family and the benefits of this flow through to the community as a whole and the economy too!

What do you enjoy most about your work?

I love working with other women and following their journey, I love seeing someone with a simple idea turn it into something amazing.

I also love the freedom and flexibility of working for myself and setting my own hours.

24

The annual St George Banking Group AusMumprenear Awards attracted 200 entrants in 2012 and grew to 1000 last year, what’s in store for the future?

I love the Awards, they attract the most incredible women and we have so much fun at the conference and awards night meeting everyone and all getting together in person.

We’re introducing a couple of new categories this year which is really exciting – digital innovation, influencers and sustainability will all feature for the first time in the 2015 awards.

How have you seen the general perception of Mumpreneurs change?

Everyone is starting to recognise that home based business is not just a hobby anymore, which is how it was seen in the past. The reality is that mums in business are generating millions of dollars for the Australian economy, creating new employment opportunities and changing the way women work.

We’ve heard you’ve been doing some work with Government to further support mums in business?

Raising the profile of mums in business has been a goal of ours since the beginning so we were delighted that the Federal Government is now taking notice and recognising that mumpreneurs are driving small business and digital innovation. 46% of women with children under 4 are currently full time stay at home mums and we know that around 75% of these women have considered starting a home based business which is a huge untapped resource for the Australian economy with a whole host of benefits at an individual level too. We’re in

the early stages of talks with Bruce Billson, the Federal minister for Small Business and we’d love to see more grant opportunities to help get new businesses off the ground.

With 3 boys at school and a gorgeous toddler girl to balance things out, do you have a memorable parenting story to share?

I love being a mum, every day I am grateful to have this life and my gorgeous baby girl and to be able to have so much time with her. The boys all absolutely adore her too but when I called them together and sat them down to announce I was pregnant, my middle son Max was disappointed I wasn’t getting them together to tell them we were getting a pet octopus!

Is the entrepreneurial spirit alive within the family?

Yes, I think kids who grow up with business, especially home based business, can’t help but be influenced by that environment, and Shark Tank is compulsory viewing in our house too! My eldest two boys each have blogs and are often talking about inventions, ideas and entrepreneurial projects they want to undertake. While neither have made their millions from blogging yet, Alex my eldest was invited to opening night of Strictly Ballroom the Musical to review the show for his blog The Aspiring Dancer. I think it’s important for kids to think outside the square of just going to school and getting a job working for someone, times are changing and we need to ensure our kids are ready for that.

Any special plans for Mother’s Day? My favourite tradition on Mothers Day is breakfast in bed, it always involves the kids sitting around on the bed watching me eat and usually helping themselves to some of the toast!

And finally, what’s your guilty pleasure?

My guilty pleasure is reading! There’s nothing better than curling up with a good book and a cup of tea and reading all weekend, it doesn’t happen often enough so when it does I really enjoy it.

Find out more at www.ausmumpreneur.com 25

like mamamag on facebook TO win great prizes 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

We give away all sorts of great stuff to our ‘likers’! @localmamamag

Baby Sleep Workshop

The Deck - Bay st, Brighton newborn - 4 months: Wednesday 27 May 9:30am - 11:30am

Baby Hampers and Baby Gifts The perfect gift for colleagues, friends and family

Encourage healthy sleep habits for your newborn Learn gentle & practical solutions for your baby sleep concerns

www.healthybabyhub.com.au 0402375833 - hannah@healthybabyhub.com.au 26

Celebrate a new arrival with a beautiful Baby Hamper or Gift from Little Turtle Baby

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

Parklife

MamaMag park of the month!

Lyell Iffla Reserve Between Dorcas, Lyell and Iffla Streets, South Melbourne This little community park has many great reasons to earn a spot on your hit-list of playground adventures.

There are a number of things to love here, from the nature reserve element with timber balancing beams, the log step trail amongst the shrubs and the wooden carved animals to climb upon. This is a nice neat and maintained reserve area that celebrates the natural surrounds. We loved looking for the fairies amongst the shrubs however they didn’t seem to be home when we knocked upon the very whimsical mushroom house!

Creative play is encouraged and at work here! We climbed the wooden lizard and then rode the worm with delight. The impressive climbing structure

towers at a peak of 4.5 metres where agile climbers are rewarded at the top by a gorgeous view and curved slide. There were a number of parents tackling this one. Although with a toddler in tow we spent our time exploring the community garden, hopping on the sea-saw and some assisted monkey bar action! The playground is mostly secure with high fence alongside the road and amenities include two picnic tables, bubble taps, curved bench lounge chairs, but no restrooms.

The community vegetable garden really sets the tone for this gorgeous space, the general rule for the garden is take what you need and leave the rest to grow. With its raised garden beds and seasonal produce, the garden has been an initiative from council on a one year trial, so let’s hope it continues to thrive with some local love. Perfect to take the little ones for a spot of gardening.

mama can Cook!

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!

Just in time for the colder weather, give this amazingly simple and versatile dish a go!

28 28

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

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.

29

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

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.

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

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.

32

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.

All-Inclusive Holidays 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 all-inclusive holiday packages.

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.

turn the page That’s What Wings Are For, Patrick Guest, Illustrated by Daniella Germain Little Hare $24.95 There are three things that all respectable dragons need: strong wings for flying, strong lungs for breathing fire, and strong, shiny scales ... But Bluey the Gragon has none of these. Even so, Bluey has other abilities, some of them truly wonderful ... if only he can work out what they are!

My First Dog Book: 35 Fun Activities to do With Your Dog, Dawn Bates Cico Books $22.95 Find out how to read your dog’s body language and help him behave well around people and other dogs. Once you’ve mastered all the basic training techniques, ‘Clever Dog,’ shows you how to teach your dog some skilful tricks. Impress your friends by getting your dog to roll over, wave, or give a high-five with one simple command from you!

For ages 7 plus

Jojo’s House, Xavier Deneux Chronicle $22.95 Jojo is back in his own book exploring his world with Fuzzy Rabbit.

Jojo voyages from room-to-room and out to the garden where Jojo experiences the four seasons - and makes a new friend. The unique tabbed-section format of the Jojo collection gives readers a sense that they are holding a guidebook through life’s little adventures.

For babies and toddlers

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

Award-winning Avenue Bookstore celebrates 29 years in 2015! One of Australia’s best independent bookshops, Avenue Bookstore opened in 1986, and is located in the heart of Albert Park village. It continues to be a favourite local meeting place, as well as a destination store for book lovers across Melbourne and beyond.

Avenue Bookstore, 127 Dundas Place Albert Park.

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

33 33

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.

34

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

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.

35

Baby Change Challenges

As told by local 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!

36

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

$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

tickets on sale now confettifair.com.au

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

37 37

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

38

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

39

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.

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

40

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: 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 visit www.BonkersBeat.com

Photography Newborn and Maternity Port Melbourne based and mobile

0405 714 219

ejmphotography.com.au SPORTS AND EXERCISE FOR KIDS AGED 2-6

FREE TRIAL AT MSAC, ALBERT PARK WE TEACH CHILDREN A DIFFERENT SPORT EVERY 2 WEEKS SOCCER | TENNIS | FOOTBALL | CRICKET | VOLLEYBALL | BASKETBALL GOLF | RUGBY | HOCKEY | NETBALL | BASEBALL | ATHLETICS

CALL 0412 373 505 - WWW.GOKIDZGO.COM.AU

live local – shop local MamaMag is a FREE magazine for the mums of Port Phillip!

And we keep it free with the support of our wonderful local advertisers. So make sure you support them too and let them know you saw them in MamaMag!

Live Local + Shop Local! Then you will be a true Local Mama!

advertise local Advertise in Port Phillip MamaMag and target over 5,000 local mums and families every month!

MamaMag is distributed in over 200 locations including local maternal health centres, kindergartens, childcare centres, play centres, libraries, toy libraries, popular cafes, health centres, gyms and many other local hot spots where you find mums.

So it’s an awesomely targeting local publication and perfect for gaining exposure locally. Plus we have excellent advertising rates as well!

For advertising enquiries visit www.mamamag.com.au or call 1300 771 446 Live Local - Shop Local - and don’t forget to mention MamaMag!

43

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