Adelaide MamaMag Feb/Mar 2022

ADELAIDE

mamamAg

Feb/Mar 2022

WIN A FAMILY HOLIDAY AT PARADISE RESORT GOLD COAST Back to school Jules Robinson Curtis Stone Sam Wood Choose kindness Support and fun for the Adelaide mum 1

Relay For Life Cancer is a leading burden of disease in South Australia with an average of 31 new cancer diagnoses made each day. Join Relay For Life and help us raise vital funds to fight back.

Saturday 9 & Sunday 10 April 2022 SA Athletics Stadium, Mile End, SA relayforlifeaustralia relayforlife.org.au

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1300 851 331 busybees.edu.au

Kilburn Noarlunga Downs Smithfield Plains

OH HEY THERE I’m Sarah, and I’d like to introduce you to my 3rd baby, MamaMag! You might have been following along with MamaMag already, entering our awesome giveaways, checking out the website, but this is your FIRST local Adelaide MamaMag and I’m so thrilled to have been able to put it together for you. I started MamaMag back in 2014 in Melbourne and it has grown and grown ever since.

But producing a free print magazine was an expensive business, so expanding into other states just wasn’t an option. But then a little pandemic came along, and us, along with a gazillion other businesses were forced to go digital, and so here we are! Hooray!

So 2022 hey. Kids are back to school. Excuse me while I just poke another RAT up my son’s nose! How are we all feeling about the year ahead? Our year hasn’t started off particularly well after Mama’s baby girl (she’s actually 11) caught COVID four days before she became eligible for vaccination #sigh. Thankfully we had already enjoyed a gorgeous Christmas, some time soaking in a river and the kids got a surfing adventure with their dad in before COVID reared its ugly head.

But enough about me, welcome to Adelaide MamaMag! We’ve chatted to some awesome parents this issue.

Curtis Stone is back in Oz perfecting the school lunch, our old fave Sam Wood is coming to terms about being a dad to four girls and Jules Robinson shares her thoughts on parenthood too! So sit back, enjoy and don’t forget to enter our awesome Paradise Resort Gold Coast giveaway, because who doesn’t need a holiday right now? Pick me!

Sarah Cavalier Editor - MamaMag - @thecavaliermama

Support and fun for the everyday mum

MamaMag is published bi-monthly free for Adelaide mums, families and carers.

Publisher: Grizzle Design Pty Ltd. ABN: 26 042 138 550.

PO Box 8018, North Road LPO, Brighton East VIC 3187 Phone: 1300 771 446 Email: info@mamamag.com.au www.mamamag.com.au www.grizzledesign.com.au

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Support and fun for the everyday mum

Editor in Chief/Creative Director: Sarah Cavalier: sarah@mamamag.com.au For advertising enquiries contact: Olivia Wilson: olivia@mamamag.com.au Want to write for us or have an article idea?

Support and fun for the everyday mum submissions@mamamag.com.au

Support and fun for the Adelaide mum

WIN

CONTENTS Jules Robinson

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Figur-ing out motherhood

How much homework?

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What’s the trade off

Lunch with Curtis

10

Mama chats to Curtis Stone

Fab family fun

12

What’s on in Adelaide right now

Going nuts over Sam Wood

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Worth

We talk the best way to feed kids

Join us Choose kindness

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Dolly’s Dream helps stop bullying

Adelaide Festival

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The family fun this year

Clean up Australia day

$2705

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Fancy being part of the MamaMag team?

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WIN a 5 night family escape at Australia’s favourite family resort, Paradise Resort Gold Coast.

How you can get involved

How to reduce vaccine anxiety

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The conversations to have first

New on the shelf

28

Top new book picks

WIN Smiggle prizes worth over $360

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Simply colour to win

International women’s day

32

Sarah Sutter’s reflections

No celebrating after drop-off

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Separation anxiety

Ten-ager friendships

36

Madonna King’s Ten-ager book

Considering home schooling

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Things to consider

Literacy tips

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How to start school big

The back to work and school juggle

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7 tips to manage

Plastic’s not fantastic

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How to reduce your use

The opinions expressed herein are not necessarily those of the publishing staff. Reproduction in whole or part is prohibited without permission of the publishers. Health related articles are designed to be informative and educational. They are not intended to provide specific medical advice or replace one-on-one advice from your health practitioner.

MamaMag Feb/Mar 22

Entries are open to Australian residents only. 5 nights for 2 Adults and up to 2 Children (0-12years) in a Superior Resort Room plus continental breakfast daily.

Flights not included. Competition starts Feb 1st 12.01am and closes Mar 31st 2022 at 11.59pm. Conditions: This prize is valid for travel until 16 December 2023 and excludes travel in high and peak periods. Bookings are subject to availability and vouchers may not be accepted on all dates. This prize includes one kids club or teen club session per child 0-17 years plus continental breakfast daily for up to 4 people in Penguins restaurant. The prize is not transferable and may not be exchanged for cash. Any unused portion will be forfeited.

Vouchers will not be extended past the expiry date. All other expenses will be the responsibility of the prize winner including but not limited to current passports, spending money, transport to and from departure and arrival points, transfers, activities, gratuities, services charges, travel insurance, pre and post accommodation, optional activities or excursions and all other ancillary costs. Travel insurance is not included in the prize but is highly recommended.

Visit www.mamamag.com.au/competitions for full terms and conditions.

For your chance to win enter at www.mamamag.com.au/paradise

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Jules ’fIgur‘Es out motherhood

By Liv Wilson

The nation’s favourite MAFS mama, Jules Robinson, is busy reshaping the world, one woman at a time, with her new shapewear brand Figur! She talks to MamaMag about motherhood, the work/life juggle, and embracing the body we’re given!

Jules, you have to be one of the busiest Mama’s we know. You’ve had an amazing jam packed few years, did you ever expect your life to take this direction?

Don’t waste energy on mum guilt! It pops its ugly head up from time to time but there’s no need to feel guilty about anything you’re doing for your child’s future. It’s normal to ask yourself if you’re ‘enough’; but I look at it as if we’re juggling; some balls are glass, some plastic, and at times you have to choose what’s plastic and can be dropped. Find a balance that works for you and your baby.

Jam packed definitely describes the last few years. I’ve always lived life to the full and had an exciting life full of ups and downs and adventure. I thrive on being busy and living with passion and purpose so I guess it’s no surprise my life has taken this turn.

Many women struggle with their body image postpartum. How have your feelings changed toward your body since Oliver arrived?

Congratulations on becoming a Mama to gorgeous Oliver. What’s been the biggest parenting surprise so far do you think?

Parenting is just one huge surprise! I feel like I nail one thing and then the next challenge appears! A big surprise for me has been how much you can be in love with one tiny person.

The joy, happiness and laughter Oliver brings into our lives is like nothing I could have imagined.

When Ollie first arrived, Cam and I were the blind leading the blind, but it’s incredible how that motherly instinct kicks in and you just know what to do. A mother’s intuition is an incredible thing; to instinctively know how to care for your little one and understand what your baby wants from the little sounds they make is magical!

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If you had one bit of advice for a new or expectant Mama what would it be?

My main priority postpartum was learning to be a mother. It wasn’t until Ollie was eight months oId that I felt ready for change. I remember thinking “ok this is my new body, this is me now!” Of course my body looks and feels different, I made a baby! I felt good but trying to find something to wear other than activewear frustrated me. Like many women, my body didn’t “bounce back” but with dedication and the help of Jenny Craig I lost 20kg! I’m grateful for my body, the baby it’s made and the life it’s given me, but it’s ok to say “I want my body to be how it was before.” A healthy mindset and patience are key when it comes to your body.

You’ve had a huge positive impact on the way women view their bodies! Let’s talk Figur! Where did the idea for this incredible shapewear range come from?

Shapewear has always been my little superpower and I wore shapewear the whole

time on MAFS but was so uncomfortable filming for three months in all these different brands. I had to find better. I also received so many messages from women who were lacking confidence. They’d say “I wish I dressed like you” or “my body is like yours but I don’t have your confidence” and would ask me for advice. I also got awful messages about being fat and was body shamed. This is how FIGUR was born. Our motto is “Work with what you’ve got” which is what I’ve always done!

Shapewear has forever been my superpower.

I put it on and feel amazing in whatever I’m wearing. It accentuates my curves and makes a good dress great!

We’re all equal and FIGUR is a wonderful space of appreciation. It’s really inspiring to see women connect with us and our ambassadors, who share their stories so others can see themselves in a reflection and be a part of the FIGUR movement. This year our Ambassador search is on the lookout for mums and daughters, and my all-inclusive fashion label for women, Moira Muse, is launching!

motion with a sponge to keep my skin matte. I love Autumnal colours like burnt oranges and warm undertones on my eyes with apricot toned cream blushes.

You’re mama to a beautiful baby, wife to Cam, co host on an awesome podcast, savvy businesswoman? Come on Jules, tell us your secret… How do you do it all?

For me it’s about only doing things I’m truly passionate about, enjoy and believe in. I fall in a heap from time to time, like all mamas, but energy finds its way through passion. Cam and I made a pact to always give each other space to be individuals so we do what we can to help each other in all aspects of life. Having that support is priceless.

You’re a firm believer in self care and recognise how important it is for mamas. What do you do regularly to look after yourself and your mental health?

Busy working mama’s have to rethink self care. I find it in many ways, from pulling in the driveway and staying in the car an extra 20 minutes or staying up late binging a series. To really make sure I’m in fine form I never look at my phone before bed! I try to be in bed by 9.30pm and up early because I’m better able to ‘respond’ rather than ‘react’ when I’m feeling great. Patience is what us mama’s need right?

We love your makeup tutorials Jules! What’s going to be the ‘go to’ in your makeup bag this Autumn?

Thank you!! #askjules came from all the questions I get and I’m amazed how women connect with the tutorials. My approach shows makeup application is simple and should enhance what you have, not cover you up. Autumn can be muggy so my ‘go to’ is Revlon colorstay powder applied in a dabbing 7

how much homework For students, as for all of us, life is a matter of balance, trade-offs and compromise. Studying for hours on end is unlikely to lead to best academic results. And it could have negative impacts on young people’s physical, mental and social well-being.

Our recent study found the best way for young people to spend their time was different for mental health than for physical health, and even more different for school-related outcomes. Students needed to spend more time sitting for best cognitive and academic performance, but physical activity trumped sitting time for best physical health. For best mental health, longer sleep time was most important.

It’s like a game of rock, paper, scissors with time use. So, what is the sweet spot, or as Goldilocks put it, the “just right” amount of study?

Using our study data for Australian children aged 11 and 12, we are developing a timeoptimisation tool that allows the user to define their own mental, physical and cognitive health priorities. Once the priorities are set, the tool provides real-time updates on what the user’s estimated “Goldilocks day” looks like.

More study improves grades, but not as much as you think Over 30 years of research shows that students doing more homework get better grades.

However, extra study doesn’t make as much difference as people think. An American study found the average grades of high school boys increased by only about 1.5 percentage points for every extra hour of homework per school night.

What these sorts of studies don’t consider is that the relationship between time spent doing homework and academic achievement is

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unlikely to be linear. A high school boy doing an extra ten hours of homework per school night is unlikely to improve his grades by 15 percentage points.

There is a simple explanation for this: doing an extra ten hours of homework after school would mean students couldn’t go to bed until the early hours of the morning. Even if they could manage this for one day, it would be unsustainable over a week, let alone a month.

In any case, adequate sleep is probably critical for memory consolidation.

As we all know, there are only 24 hours in a day. Students can’t devote more time to study without taking this time from other parts of their day.

Excessive studying may become detrimental to learning ability when too much sleep time is lost.

Another US study found that, regardless of how long a student normally spent studying, sacrificing sleep to fit in more study led to learning problems on the following day. Among year 12s, cramming in an extra three hours of study almost doubled their academic problems.

For example, students reported they “did not understand something taught in class” or “did poorly on a test, quiz or homework”.

Excessive study could also become unhelpful if it means students don’t have time to exercise.

We know exercise is important for young people’s cognition, particularly their creative thinking, working memory and concentration.

On the one hand, then, more time spent studying is beneficial for grades. On the other hand, too much time spent studying is detrimental to grades.

We have to make trade-offs Of course, how young people spend their time is not only important to their academic performance, but also to their health. Because what is the point of optimising school grades if it means compromising physical, mental and social well-being? And throwing everything at academic performance means other aspects of health will suffer.

US sleep researchers found the ideal amount of sleep for 15-year-old boys’ mental health was 8 hours 45 minutes a night, but for the best school results it was one hour less.

Clearly, to find the “Goldilocks Zone” – the optimal balance of study, exercise and sleep – we need to think about more than just school grades and academic achievement.

Looking for the Goldilocks Day Based on our study findings, we realised the “Goldilocks Day” that was the best on average for all three domains of health (mental, physical and cognitive) would require compromises. Our optimisation algorithm estimated the Goldilocks Day with the best overall compromise for 11-to12-year-olds. The breakdown was roughly: • 10.5 hours of sleep • 9.5 hours of sedentary behaviour (such as sitting to study, chill out, eat and watch TV) • 2.5 hours of light physical activity (chores, shopping) • 1.5 hours of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (sport, running).

We also recognised that different people – or the same people at different times — have different priorities. Around exam time, academic performance may become someone’s highest priority. They may then wish to manage their time in a way that leads to better study results, but without completely neglecting their mental or physical health.

To better explore these trade-offs, we developed our time-use optimisation tool based on Australian data. Although only an early prototype, the tool shows there is no “one size fits all” solution to how young people should be spending their time. However, we can be confident the best solutions will involve a healthy balance across multiple daily activities.

Just like we talk about the benefits of a balanced diet, we should start talking about the benefits of balanced time use. The better equipped young people and those supporting them are to find their optimal daily balance of sleep, sedentary behaviours and physical activities, the better their learning outcomes will be, without compromising their health and well-being.

By Dot Dumuid, Senior Research Fellow, Allied Health & Human Performance, University of South Australia and Tim Olds, Professor of Health Sciences, University of South Australia. This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons License. Read the original article here.

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LUNCH WITH CURTIS

By Sarah Cavalier

It was funny chatting to Curtis Stone on the phone. His voice is so familiar that it feels like I’m talking to an old friend, but really, it’s just familiar because we hear him on our TV screens so often telling us all about the best fresh food available at Coles! After two years away, being stuck in LA due to the pandemic, where he lives with his wife Lindsey and their two boys Emerson and Hudson, Curtis is finally back in Australia for Summer, sharing the Coles love, and doing what he loves best, cooking. This Mama was lucky enough to have a chat with him too...

You’re back in Australia for the first time in over 2 years. What’s it been like reconnecting with your family after so long?

Well mum shed several tears. It’s been so great catching up with everyone. Nieces and nephews to hug. My brother has three kids and my sister has a daughter. The whole tribe is here.

What Aussie food do you miss most when you’re in LA? Sausage rolls! So I make my own! Luckily I own a pie shop in LA. The biggest thing I miss is Australian bread. How does the whole of America have such bad bread? There are certain fish you can’t get there either fish. Dory, flounder, flathead. Imagine no flathead! Coffee is terrible too, so I import Australian roasted coffee to my restaurants, and I have good coffee at home. I never order coffee when I’m out and about.

What’s your advice for family meals with young kids?

Don’t ever cook them anything different.

Whatever you’re having for dinner, give it to them, whatever you are eating, except maybe a hot curry! If you need to blend or mush it, do.

That’s exactly what we did, and both my boys have been pretty adventurous with food since.

What would we find in Hudson and Emerson’s school lunchboxes?

Variety is king and I’ve got to constantly give them something different to keep them interested. They expect and embrace it now.

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But if you narrow down what kids eat, new things can become a challenge, so don’t reinvent the wheel. Swap similar things up.

My boys like sandwiches, so we work with that as a base but get creative. I use one of about 20 different fillings, swap between six different types of bread, use wraps etc. Simple changes are the way to do it. We change fruit every day too and then let them tell us what doest work.

What are your top tips to parents for creating a healthy-yet-tasty lunchbox?

Start with colours. Make it fun and appealing.

A few different fruit and veg. Celery, carrot, dips, home-made or not. Spread dip on a sandwich.

How you cut it can matter too. Mix up the presentation. Sandwich fingers, triangles, get a shape cutter or don’t even cut it at all.

What you put in there depends on how adventurous they are. Frittata (or eggy squares as we call them) are cool. Little tarts that are like mini quiches are great. I make a muesli bars or a lemon bar once a week. Homemade things are nice once in a while, but don’t feel you have to do it all the time.

What can we do if kids are coming home with uneaten food?

It’s tricky. It can be a time thing, too busy playing with their mates, but a straight question won’t always give you the right answer.

Understand why they didn’t like it. Make them feel a part of it. Get them to help you put together the lunchbox so they feel involved. Ask “how can I do a better job?” “show me how”.

Tommy Hood and Riley Sinclair, both aged 10, with their lunchbox creations they made with Curtis, supported by Redkite, one of Coles’ main charity partners.

You’ve worked with Coles for over 10 years. What’s that been like?

Do you ever think you’ll come back to live here?

It’s amazing because as a chef you don’t expect to get this kind of influence. I’m not just a face of Coles. I actually help them decide where to source food from. It’s an amazing influence to have on not only the company but the Australian public. I get to share my ideas and influence the way food is produced in this country by being a part of such a huge player in the food industry. One meeting we were discussing beef growth hormones and we sat around the table and worked through it and in the end, we got rid of it from all Coles beef products. This has helped revolutionise the beef industry in this country. What chef gets to have that kind of input and opportunity? It makes me incredibly proud to have that influence over the food and diets of Australian people and families.

I’d love to but I don’t think Lindsey ever would.

Her work and family are in the States and at the end of the day my family life dictates what will happen. But hopefully we can start visiting more often now that the borders are open.

How has it been coming back to Australia on your own without your family?

I miss them like crazy but I’m here for work, so it is nice to have a break after a busy day. But I call them multiple times a day. I can’t help it!

Do you think Emerson or Hudson are a chance to follow in your culinary footsteps?

They love food, but honestly, they probably see me work way too hard to want to do it themselves!

And finally, what is your funniest parenting story.

I’m pretty young at heart and get wrapped up in what the kids want to do. Recently they wanted to put gumboots on and go to the creek and cross it, but me being so carefree, we all ended up completely saturated and drove home soaking wet. I’ve had so many dad fails because I’m just a big kid and can’t say no. My poor wife, she’s really has got three children!

Get more from mama - www.mamamag.com.au | Get social with mama - @localmamamag

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fab famIly fun The school holidays may be over and lunchbox Mama back on duty but that doesn’t mean the fun has to stop! Adelaide continues to be jam packed with wonderful activities, events and adventures to keep your free time fun filled right through to the next school holidays!! Here are some of Mama’s favourites.

1. The MIX 102.3 Giant Wheel -Moseley Square, Glenelg.

Now until 8 May, 10am-9:30pm daily. Family of four $40.

MIX 102.3 & Lumo Energy are bringing the fun back with the return of the Giant wheel! Take a ride 35 metres in the air and enjoy the most incredible 360 degree views of Glenelg beach and beyond! This is definitely one of the best family experiences you can get this summer, so grab your tickets now!

2. Bonython Park/Tulya Wardli Port Road, Adelaide.

Climb, swing and spin your way through the playspace here and watch as your children’s imaginations fire on all cylinders. Watch their delight as they investigate the water play options here (don’t forget to pack a change of clothes!). Kids on two wheels, especially those just getting started, might like to head to the SAPOL Learn-to-Ride School (if it’s not being used for formal lessons) to practice their cycling skills.

3. The Beachouse, Glenelg Keep that Summer vibe alive with a trip to The Beach House! Jam packed with world class attractions, The Beachouse is the perfect destination for a fun-filled day out and guess what, there’s no entry fee, just top up your ‘funcard’ and off you go! You’ll find everything from games and rides to waterslides and a carousel, plus, you can even book your kids’ birthday party here! Everything under one roof!

What could be better than that?

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4. Children’s Story Book Trail at Carrick Hill. Free.

This beautiful walk was designed to enable children to explore the natural world, via a short walk through Carrick Hill’s parkland that uses classic children’s tales to encourage the imagination. Little ones will love this beautiful walk (with a few stops for climbing and exploring) combined with tales including Charlotte’s Web, Wind in the Willows and The Lion the witch and the wardrobe.

5. Adelaide Festival - 4th - 20th March. Skywhale 5 March King William Street. FREE. The Adelaide festival returns this year, with plenty for the whole family. If you missed the ‘Skywhale’ when it was flying over Canberra this is your chance to get up close and personal as Patricia Piccinini’s monumental ‘balloon’ is coming to South Australia with a new companion, Skywhalepapa (Mama couldn’t be more excited!) Bring your picnic crew and spend a while marvelling at this colossal couple.

6. PAW Patrol Live! “The Great Pirate Adventure!” Presented

by Paramount+. Adelaide Entertainment Centre.

30 April-1 May. Tickets from $29.

It’s time to get your tickets before they sell out!!

In PAW Patrol Live! “The Great Pirate Adventure” Presented by Paramount+, Mayor Goodway is getting everything ship-shape for a big Pirate Day celebration in Adventure Bay. When Cap’n Turbot falls into a dark and mysterious cavern, it’s PAW Patrol to the rescue! Chase, Marshall, Rubble, Skye, Rocky and Zuma save Cap’n Turbot and discover a secret pirate treasure map that leads them on an epic adventure. No job is too big, no pirate pup is too small!

7. WOMADelaide - 11 -14 March.

Children under 12 FREE.

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Yes, it’s back and Mama cannot wait!

WOMADelaide is extremely family friendly and as always, there’s an entire area dedicated to little humans! A world of fun awaits in the KidZone with daily activities programmed specially for kids.

Immersive activities, science discoveries, story telling, dress-ups, face painting and much more. KidZone is much more than just a place to keep the kids happy. Celebrating its 30th year, WOMADelaide is a destination where thousands of grown-ups began their WOMAD love affair and a place where a new generation of lifelong WOmemories begin.

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8. Dolphin Sanctuary Kayak Tours - Dolphin Sanctuary Guided Eco Kayak Tour.

From $72.

If you’re an adventure loving kind of family, you’ve got to join this incredible guided tour through some of South Australia’s most beautiful waters! It’s not every day you get the opportunity to paddle your way through a 10,000 year old mangrove forest amidst hundreds of migrating and native dolphin species with your own personal guide. Paddle gently through the waters and get up close and personal with the local dolphins.This will be a family adventure none of you will forget!

No experience necessary!

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9. Adventure Rooms - 51-53 Rundle Mall. Ages 5+ must be accompanied by an adult.

Think you’re the brains in your family? Reckon you could escape even the toughest escape room? Well now’s your chance. Your team will be locked in a room with hidden and mysterious objects. With only these objects as clues, you have 60 minutes to escape.

In Adventure Rooms you’ve all gotta think outside the square.

Sounds fun right?

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going nuts over Sam wood Hey Sam, great to have you back in MamaMag! It’s no secret that your 28 program and nutrition is 100% amazing for mums, but you’ve got to be an expert at feeding kids, with your two little girls and a fabulous teen at home.

Haha wonderful to be back. Firstly it’s important to say that I don’t know if anyone is a complete expert when it comes to kids nutrition, they can always throw you a curveball.

I do have some rules that I really believe in and through my own experiences know they can really help - Try and get your kids plates to look like the rainbow with as many colours and nutrients as possible.

- Get your kids involved in the cooking/preparing process as much as you can as the more involved they are the more engaged they are the more interested they are in eating it and knowing what its all about.

- Lastly, but most important never forget that they’re kids – eating an ice cream or fairy bread or packet of chips is completely normal and ok and life will go on. Important they eat pretty well most of the time.

You announced in November you were having another baby girl.

When is Snezana due and what’s it like living with all these wonderful women?

Things are certainly going to from 5th to 6th gear but to be honest everyone is exited! New little girl is due in June.

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Willow is four now, so it’s time for kinder! Time for lunchboxes!

4 year old kinder, yes, so we pack her a little lunch and to be honest she gets excited so about it. We do it the night before and she’s got a little bento lunch box that allows her to make sure we’ve got some dairy and protein and veggies and fruit and always space for a little treat!

What would be your top inclusions for a well-rounded lunchbox?

Dairy, protein, fruit and a little snack. Important to make sure there are some food quality carbs to make sure they’ve got lots of energy. And that they always drink enough water.

What sort of foods does Eve like to take for lunch to high school?

Eve is definitely a different kettle of fish. She chops and changes a little with her preferences.

Can fluctuate depending on what she’s into. Being Macedonian, it’s interesting how she’ll love to pack a pasta dish or something traditional from the night before which I’m sure is unique and she loves it

Protein is an essential nutrient for children’s growth and development. What are the best foods to be giving our kids?

It certainly is, in fact it’s probably under utilised nutritnet from an adult perspective too. My girls love omelettes and scrambled eggs. They love fish and chicken and being summer we’ve had plenty of beautiful summer bbqs over the last couple of months.

You involve your girls in cooking and preparation of meals all the time. What do they love most about this and why do you recommend it to others?

One of the big challenges we face in today’s world is that so many foods come in a packet.

Most kids, and to be honest most adults, have no idea what they’re actually eating. When you get kids or anyone for that matter involved with cooking food with real ingredients at a foundational level they learn by doing. Not to mention it can be incredibly creative and lots of fun and laughs.

As a Mayvers ambassador, you’re often featuring great peanut butter recipes. What’s your favourite dish using their products?

I can’t believe how many things I put peanut butter in, whether its some on a banana in the freezer for a healthy kids snack or a dollop in my favourite protein smoothie. It really is one of the simplest but best ingredients to help get in protein and good fats.

What’s your favourite fitness or outdoors activity to do as family?

We’re at that stage with Willow being four and Charlie being her little shadow, that now our best outdoors option is bike riding. Still a few wobbles but we’re getting there.

You’ve been isolating away from the girls while recovering from COVID. How was that?

I’m one of the ‘lucky ones’ as my symptoms have not been as severe compared to others. So I went and isolated away from the girls as I was so worried about Snez being pregnant.

And finally, what is your funniest parenting story?

Such a hard question to answer when my life is full of laughs. The girls crack me up every day.

Especially Charlie, she’s definitely the cheekiest and one we’re going to have to keep an eye on.

Sam Wood is the founder of 28 by Sam Wood and a Mayver’s ambassador.

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Peanut Butter Slice Prep Time: 30 minutes Cook Time: 5 minutes Serves 8 Ingredients: 1 cup Medjool dates, pitted ½ cup Mayver’s smooth peanut butter 1 cup shredded coconut ½ cup peanuts ¼ cup coconut oil Chocolate Drizzle: 50g dark chocolate 1 tbsp coconut oil

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Method: Add all of the slice ingredients into a food processor and blitz to combine. The mixture should be sticky and still slightly chunky.

Transfer the slice into a square baking dish lined with baking paper and flatten it with your hands.

Place the baking dish into the fridge for 10 minutes.

Prepare the chocolate drizzle by melting the chocolate and

coconut oil in the microwave or over a double boiler.

While the chocolate is melting, remove the slice from the tray and cut it into 8 pieces.

Drizzle some chocolate over each slice and place back into the fridge for 15 minutes, until the chocolate is solid.

Store in an airtight container for up to a week.

Sam Wood’s Satay Chicken Burger Time: 30 minutes

Satay Sauce:

Method:

Serves: 1 Ingredients:

1 tbsp Mayver’s Crunchy Peanut Butter

1 tsp extra-virgin olive oil

½ tbsp coconut milk

120g chicken breast

1 tsp tamari, or soy sauce

Salt and pepper, to taste

½ tsp raw honey

Heat the olive oil in a pan and add the chicken breast. Season with salt and pepper and cook for 5 minutes on each side, until cooked through.

1 sourdough bread roll

½ small red chilli, minced (optional)

1/3 cup baby spinach 1/3 Lebanese cucumber, shaved into ribbons ½ tomato, sliced

¼ lime, juiced

Cut the roll in half and place the bottom half on a plate.

Add the spinach, cucumber and tomato.

Combine the satay sauce ingredients in a bowl.

Once cooked, add the chicken to the burger.

Top the chicken with the satay sauce and top with the other half of the roll to serve.

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CHOOSE KINDNESS Wouldn’t it be nice if all children were kind?

As kids head back to school, it’s a timely opportunity to read the following advice from Dolly’s Dream and think about bullying and how we can spot, and stop, it.

Dolly’s Dream was created by Kate and Tick Everett following the shattering loss of their 14-year-old daughter, Dolly, to suicide, after ongoing bullying. Kate and Tick’s goal is to prevent other families walking this road.

They want to change the culture of bullying by addressing the impact of bullying, anxiety, depression and youth suicide, through education and direct support to young people and families.

So what is bullying?

Bullying is behaviour which causes harm or hurt and is done deliberately and repeatedly.

A person being bullied may feel intimidated, helpless, or unable to stop it happening.

Bullying can be: • Physical – such as hitting, shoving, tripping or kicking

Bullying behaviour is repeated, or has the potential to be repeated, over time (for example, through sharing of digital records). Bullying of any form or for any reason can have immediate, medium and long-term effects on those involved, including bystanders. Single incidents and conflict or fights between equals, whether in person or online, are not defined as bullying.

Did you know: • Around 1 in 4 school-aged children in Australia has been bullied recently, with 1 in 5 bullied online recently • Each year, approximately 45 million bullying incidents occur in Australian schools.

• School is the most common place where teens experience bullying, followed by online spaces.

• Most of those who have been bullied online have also been bullied in person.

• Verbal – such as insults, threats, or nasty teasing

• Young people affected by bullying may suffer harm to their wellbeing, education and relationships.

• Social – such as spreading ugly rumours or telling people not to be friends with someone

• Compared to unaffected young people, they are at higher risk of various health problems, including mental health concerns.

• Cyber – such as spreading nasty gossip about someone online or posting embarrassing pics without their permission.

Cyber bullying can be anonymous, involve large numbers of people, and go on 24/7.

• The risks are especially high for those who have been bullied and have also bullied others.

The national definition of bullying for Australian schools (bullyingnoway.gov.au) says: Bullying is an ongoing and deliberate misuse of power in relationships through repeated verbal, physical and/or social behaviour that intends to cause physical, social and/or psychological harm.

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It can involve an individual or a group misusing their power, or perceived power, over one or more persons who feel unable to stop it from happening. Bullying can happen in person or online, via various digital platforms and devices and it can be obvious (overt) or hidden (covert).

• Sometimes teens understand bullying differently to adults or have been hurt by other bad behaviours. Rather than arguing about ‘is it really bullying?’, we should focus on finding out what happened, the impacts, and what we can do to keep everyone safe and respected.

Bullying advice for parents What can parents do to support their kids?

• Teach our kids to recognise when they need help – when they can’t solve a problem, or are feeling stressed, upset, scared, sleepless, or overwhelmed.

• Help them make a list of trusted adults they could talk to.

• Teach them the key steps to asking for help, including deciding who to ask, thinking about what to say beforehand, finding a quiet time and place to talk, and telling other people if the first person can’t help them.

• Remind them that everyone needs help sometimes – including parents.

What can we do about cyber bullying?

What advice could you give to other parents or carers?

• Bullying often takes place at and around schools. But it also happens online.

• Children sometimes don’t want to tell parents that they’re being bullied because the parent might take their device away or the parent might go down to the school.

• Many parents might have experienced bullying when they were young, but home would be their safe place where they wouldn’t have to deal with that anymore.

Yet, for today’s young people, the bullying can feel like it never stops. When they’re at home, they might be receiving messages and seeing things online.

• If your child says they’re being bullied, it’s important to stay calm and let them know they’ve done the right thing by telling you.

• Ask them for the full story and explain that bullying is never ok and that’s it’s normal to feel upset.

• Don’t respond to the bullying by becoming aggressive yourself, as this is likely to make things worse.

• Connect with your child’s school to discuss the situation. Make an appointment and bring a list of the incidents mentioned by your child.

• Every school in Australia should have an anti-bullying policy which you can often find on the school’s website. So prepare yourself by reading the document before your meeting.

• The school and teachers will also want the bullying to stop so remember that you’re on the same team.

• If the bullying happens online, you can report it to the website where it happens, like Instagram or Facebook.

• If the content is not taken down, the eSafety Commissioner has an online reporting tool where they have a strong compliance rate and provide valued advice to families.

For more advice visit dollysdream.org.au.

Following two years of severely disrupted school and home life, Smiggle and Dolly’s Dream are asking Australian kids to choose kindness when they head back to school for 2022. To help spread the message they have created a cobranded Choose Kindness keyring to be sold to raise funds for the anti-bullying organisation as part of its ongoing partnership supporting young people and parents.

The Choose Kindness keyrings are just $2 and available from Smiggle stores all over Australia and online now, with the proceeds from the keyrings sold donated to Dolly’s Dream.

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FESTIVE FUN IN ADELAIDE

For more than 60 years, Adelaide Festival audiences have delighted in an outstanding mix of internationally acclaimed theatre productions, the eclectic array of world-class musicians, breathtaking dance pieces, renowned writers and striking visual arts displays.

Enjoyed amid warm March days and starry nights, Adelaide Festival’s celebration of creative excellence makes for an event of truly epic proportions.

Adelaide Festival commissions and champions Australia’s most innovative new work along with presenting some of the world’s great companies and artists, so what better way to introduce your children to the arts. Here are Mama’s top picks for familyfriendly festival inclusions.

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Kids’ Day (ages 2-11) Be part of a magical Saturday of stories, performance and hands-on fun as writers, performers and illustrators take over the Torrens Stage to enliven and excite our youngest readers. The Opening Weekend kicks off with a stellar lineup of Australia’s biggest names in children’s books including Remy Lai (Pawcasso), Andrew McDonald and Ben Wood (Real Pigeons series), Mem Fox (The Tiny Star, Possum Magic), Felice Arena (Specky Magee series, Fearless Frederic) and artist Patricia Piccinini (of Skywhale fame) among many other guests. It’s a jam-packed program of free activities, so come join the fun with some terrific book-ish activities specially designed for the under 12 crowd.

Where: Pioneer Women’s Memorial Garden When: Sat 5 Mar

Tickets: FREE

Middle Grade & YA Day (ages 12+) The big names of the Australian Middle Grade and YA scene are coming to Adelaide this year with all-time favourites John Flanagan (Ranger’s Apprentice series), Katrina Nannestad (We are Wolves), Matt Okine (Being Black ‘n Chicken, and Chips) and debut South Australian YA writer Lyndall Clipstone (Lakesedge) on the bill. Rounding out the Middle Grade & YA Day are performances from Australia’s best Spoken Word poets on the Plane Tree Stage with the return of Hear Me Roar! Teens and tweens can relax and enjoy author conversations, panels and spoken word when the bright stars of contemporary literature light up the stage.

Where: Pioneer Women’s Memorial Garden When: Sun 6 Mar Tickets: FREE

Cupid’s Koi Garden You’re cruising past familiar hardware shops and fast-food outlets when suddenly, wha...?

A gigantic cupid surrounded by 10 oversized goldfish in mock terrazzo ponds? Have the good burghers of Mount Barker District Council gone mad? Have they commissioned some folly to trump Tailem Bend’s rhino or Kingston’s cray? No, they’ve partnered with the Adelaide Festival to delight you and your family.

The world’s first inflatable fountain is brought to you by ENESS, the creators of Airship Orchestra, a hit of Illuminate Adelaide. You might remember how nice it felt on a cold winter’s night to be crooned to by lullingly benign aliens. Well, this five-metre-high cherub may also boast cute LED eyes and an interactive soundtrack, but he’s prone to squirting you with jets of water – and on a scorching summer afternoon that’s nothing to whinge about.

ENESS could easily be a team of magical elves but are in fact an Australian collective who make truly wonderful things. Since 1997, this group of artists, musicians, software engineers, industrial designers and thinkers have entranced children and adults from museums of modern art to the streets of Mumbai.

They call themselves ‘Happiness Architects’ and their aim is to change public space by introducing unexpected artworks that forge deeper moments between friends and family which enable strangers to meet and find common ground. We think that’s about the best mission statement ever. The knavish lad is holding court for six fun-filled days only. Pack the kids in the car and zip up to Mount Barker.

Make a day of it!

Where: Keith Stephenson Park Adelaide Road, Mount Barker When: Wed 9 - Mon 14 Mar, 10am - 10pm daily Tickets: FREE Please note, small wading pools with approx.

10cm water feature in the installation. Children must be supervised at all times

The Adelaide Festival runs from March 4 - 20.

For more information visit adelaidefestival.com.au 23

let’s clean up australia Australians are urged to get in early and sign up for the country’s largest community based environmental event, Clean Up Australia Day (Sunday 6th March 2022), as the environment feels the effects of a COVID-19 hangover.

The opening of volunteer registrations comes after lockdowns and changed habits fuelled a significant increase in household waste. The last two years have seen significant increases in single-use plastics, alongside unprecedented amounts of face masks, takeaway coffee cups and food packaging littering our footpaths, parks and beaches.

Clean Up Australia Chairman, Pip Kiernan, says it’s more important than ever to protect Australia’s unique environment by stepping up on Clean Up Australia Day. “The environment is still experiencing the impact of the pandemic,” said Ms Kiernan.

“Our habits changed during COVID and most of these haven’t been kind on the environment. Surges in online shopping, meal delivery services and the use of disposable face masks and coffee cups, mean the environment is feeling the after-effects of the pandemic in ways not seen before.”

Four in five Australian households made an online purchase in 2020 alone. Over 5.5 million Australians aged 14+ (26.5%) used meal delivery services last year and less than 4% of 24

soft plastics are recycled in Australia, despite it being the most lethal consumer plastic for ocean wildlife.

The environmental organisation is encouraging volunteers to sign up early to show their commitment to improving the environment.

Registration is easy, and all communitybased participants receive a free Clean Up kit containing gloves and bags and other resources, with packs for individuals, families or groups available.

“Clean Up Australia Day is the opportunity to do some good – to roll up our sleeves, get out there and take action. Sign up now to make a pledge to protect Australia’s environment. Together, we can make a meaningful, long-lasting difference to the parks, beaches, rivers and pathways near us.”

If you can’t join a Clean Up, Ms Kiernan urges Aussies to make a donation to Clean Up Australia. 100% of funds raised through donations are allocated to the provision of educational resources and clean up materials provided free of charge to community, school and youth groups across the nation, year round.

To register to join in your local clean up or donate, please visit cleanup.org.au.

HOW TO REDUCE VACCINE ANXIETY Your child has no doubt knows about COVID-19 by now and may have some worries. They may also already have heard about “a vaccine” but not know what this is.

The focus in on how this vaccine prevents serious illness, but your child will by now be thinking about the injection. So here is the next step.

With COVID vaccination now open to 5-11 year olds, you may need some help tackling this subject with your little ones.

Step 2 – You can do this! You’ve already had loads of injections

It’s the “Not Knowing” that makes things scary for kids. So, I’ve made a 5-step breakdown of how to explain having a vaccine to your child.

Each step has a separate main point that you want to get across to your child. Following each step, in order, allows a natural flow to the discussion and gives your child the chance to voice concerns or ask questions.

I’ve written the discussion exactly as you might say it, in this font. This is what worked for my kids from about age 3 onwards. The younger the child, the simpler your language will be:

Step 1 – You need to have an injection “There’s a virus in the world called Coronavirus, or COVID, which can make people very sick. But we now have medicines to stop people from getting sick, even if they catch the virus. There is a special medicine called a vaccine. It’s a tiny injection that stops you from getting sick, even if you catch the Coronavirus. Pretty handy hey?!”

Then PAUSE and see if your child asks any questions.

If they don’t know what an injection is: “It’s a very thin needle that goes this far (hold your thumb and index finger 1 cm apart) in your arm for about 3 seconds to give the medicine to your body.”

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“Do you know you’ve already had heaps of injections? (At this point I like to bring out their immunisation record for them to hold, and we look at it together). You had an injection when you were born. Then you had more when you were 2 months old, 4 months old, 6 months old, 1 year old, 1 ó years old, and 4 years old! You’ve had heaps. And you were super brave for all of them!”

At this point your child may want to count the number of injections they have had. They may also be very interested in how they went with all these injections. This is a great time to ollow your child’s lead, as well as reflect on those experiences (which they probably won’t remember)

Step 3 – Reflect on previous injection experiences If your child asks how they went previously: “Well, you cried when you were a baby. You were too little for me to explain what would happen, so it was a big shock. But as you got older, you got braver and braver. Sometimes you cried a bit, but you sat on my lap and had a big cuddle and it was over really quickly. One time, they blew bubbles to distract you, and you hardly even noticed!”

Depending on how playful your child is feeling, you might show them what happened (a bit like the Bluey “Doctors” episode):

“When you were little the injection was like this (poke them gently in the thigh and say) “Sting!” right here in your thigh! Why? Because that was your chubbiest bit!.”

Step 4 – Be honest. It will hurt, but not much.

“This time, now you’re big, you will have the injection in your arm. You will feel the needle (Yes, it IS a needle, no need to make a big deal of it), but you’ve had heaps of ouchier things.”

Your child may think of all the pains they’ve had before – this is very helpful because you can then relate this vaccine to their previous experiences.

If your child doesn’t bring up previous pains: “It will sting more than a mozzie bite, but way less than a bee sting. It will hurt a lot less than falling off your bike. And the sting only lasts for about 5 seconds, maybe less. (Then count 5 seconds together)” Be ready to have the conversation about how much it will hurt more than once. Reassure your child every time that they will feel it, but that it is far less painful than so many other experiences they’ve already had.

NOTE: “It will hurt a bit, but I know you’ll be ok” will be more reassuring than “you’ll be fine”.

Step 5 – Explain the practicalities For this part, the amount of detail you give will depend on your child’s age and how much they want to know. Feel free to bring this down to the key steps of: when it is (day), how you will get there, and who will be with them the whole time. For those with kids who want to know everything, here it is (but you might break this up a lot with discussion along the way).

“We are going to get the vaccine on (eg Thursday).

That’s 2 sleeps away. We will go by car. After we park the car, we will put on our masks and go into the vaccination centre / pharmacy. There will probably be a queue. They might ask us to use the hand sanitiser and will take our temperature.

Then they check our details and show us how to get to the nurse’s station. You will sit on my lap, like this (practice child sitting on your lap, side on, and take the opportunity to give them a sneaky hug). The nurse will give you the injection while

I cuddle you and you will look at me the whole time. I’ll give you my best big hug.

After the injection we sit in a waiting area for 15 minutes, just to check you are ok. Then, we can go home. Your arm might be a bit achy that night, or it might be fine.

When we get to the car/ home …(Insert your treat here. “ For my kids, I said: We will take the iPAD and you can watch TV all the way home.)

If you want to set this out as dot points or make a visual plan, here are the 10 steps involved when you go to a vaccination hub: 1.

Follow the entry signs

2.

Hand sanitiser

3.

Join the queue

4.

Temperature check

5.

Check in

6.

You might get a treat (fidget spinners)

7.

Await your vaccine station

8.

Meet your nurse and Get VAXXED!

9.

Wait 15 min for obs – this is a good time for a cuddle.

10. Go home!!

If you can see that your child is still worried, ask them which part is worrying them the most.

After you have addressed the first worry, ask if they have any other worries. You may need this conversation, or parts of it, more than once.

By Kathryn Hackman, doctor and mum of two young boys. In collaboration with a leading paediatric psychologist and occupational therapist, Kathryn has created the Courageous Kids app which allows parents and carers to create personalised and tailored stories to help their children meet everyday challenges and new situations with calmness and confidence. www.courageouskidsapp.com @courageouskidsapp

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new on the shelf

kids

The Book No One Wants to Read by Beth Bacon A wildly fun, interactive adventure for the most reluctant of readers. A book was sitting lonely on the shelf, waiting to be read. Tired of having no one to talk to, it decided to make a promise to potential readers: ‘You keep turning my pages, and I’ll make it fun!’ Packed full of interactive jokes and games, The Book No One Wants to Read is a riotously colourful, mischievous book with a mission: to hook in even the most reluctant of readers.

Published by Pushkin Children’s . RRP $19.99 RRP

Sing Along With Me! This is the Way We Go to School illustrated by Yu-hsuan Huang An adorable Sing-Along board book story, with five robust board sliders easy for little hands to use! Each board book comes with a free instrumental and vocal version of the nursery rhyme - simply scan the QR code for little ones to listen and sing along! With bright illustrations this series make the perfect gift for a baby or toddler! Toddlers will love to join in with the tiger twins as they get ready for a busy day at nursery school!

Published by Nosy Crow. RRP $12.99

Mole’s Spectacles by Julia Donaldson Lift the flaps and join in the fun with Mole’s Spectacles, a brilliant story in the best-selling Tales from Acorn Wood preschool series by Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler, creators of The Gruffalo. Mole has lost his spectacles. He searches all around his house, in the garden and even in Weasel’s sweetshop, but he can’t find them anywhere! Where could they be? Lift the flaps to help him find them. With sturdy flaps on every spread and rhyming stories that are a joy to read aloud, Mole’s Spectacles joins the best-selling Tales from Acorn Wood which have been delighting parents and children for over twenty years.

Published by Macmillan Children’s Books. RRP $14.99.

Ouch: Tales of Gravity by Kate Simpson A funny story about gravity that explains why apples fall from trees, from an exciting new partnership in picture books.

Isaac Newton was sitting under an apple tree when he got hit on the head by an apple. People might tell you this is the moment gravity was first discovered, but the truth is people had been discovering gravity long before Isaac. Have you ever wondered how gravity works? Or what life would be like without gravity? Find out in this fun introduction to the idea that what goes up must come down!

Published by Allen and Unwin Childrens. RRP $24.99.

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t(w)een Welcome to Your Boobs. Your easy, no-silly-questions guide to your breast friends by Yumi Stynes, Melissa Kang Whether you’re worried they won’t grow, or that they are growing too quickly, this book is has all the info. And whether we’re ready for them or not, just about EVERYONE, of every gender, gets at least some boob growth when they hit puberty. This little book is packed with honest advice on all the things you need to know: from the easiest way to put on a bra, to the nitty gritty of the titty, to why boobs get so much attention. Welcome To Your Boobs includes case studies, first-person accounts, and questions from real teens, answered by real experts – us! Don’t worry – you’ve got this!

Published by Hardie Grant Children’s Publishing. RRP $19.95.

Northwind by Gary Paulsen This stunning historical adventure, set along a rugged coastline centuries ago, does for the sea what Hatchet did for the woods, as it relates the story of a young person’s battle to stay alive against the odds.

When a deadly plague decimates his fishing village, an orphan named Leif is forced to take to the water in a cedar canoe. He flees northward, following a wild, fjord-riven shore, navigating from one danger to the next. The deeper into his journey he paddles, the closer he comes to his truest self as he connects to the heartbeat of the ocean, the pulse of the landscape.

Published by Macmillan Children’s Books. RRP $16.99

Junior Atlas of Indigenous Australia by Macquarie Dictionary A valuable introduction to the culture and lives of Australia’s First Peoples, the Atlas visually represents patterns of human activities in space and time, from over 60,000 years ago to the present time. It covers an extensive range of topics, such as deep history, Indigenous mapping, material culture, cultural and religious life, art, sport, language, environment and Country, social justice, education and health and wellbeing. The 130 maps, which form the core of the book, are supplemented by easy-to-read explanatory text and over 165 photographs, artworks, illustrations, charts and graphs.

Published by Macquarie. RRP $39.99.

Beyond the End of the World: The Other Side of the Sky 2

by Amie Kaufman and Meagan Spooner The sequel to The Other Side of the Sky, this book has something for every reader: a star-crossed love full of tantalising longing, unique and immersive new worlds to explore, and nonstop thrills that escalate into an unforgettably electric conclusion.

Time to do the impossible. Time to find a way between worlds. Time to find each other again.

Published by Allen and Unwin. RRP $19.95.

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adults Find your unicorn space by Eve Rodsky With her acclaimed New York Times bestseller Fair Play, Eve Rodsky ignited a national conversation about greater equity in the home. But she soon realised that even when the domestic workload becomes more balanced, people still report something missing in their lives. Here Rodsky reveals what researchers already know: Creativity is not optional. It’s essential. Though most of us need to remind ourselves how and where to find it. With her trademark mix of research-based how-to advice and big-picture inspirational thinking, Rodsky shows you a clear path to reclaim your permission to have fun, manifest your own Unicorn Space in an already too-busy life.

Published by Hachette. RRP $32.99.

Life Admin Hacks by Mia Northrop and Dinah Rowe-Roberts The step-by-step guide to saving time and money, reducing the mental load and streamlining your life.

You have no idea what’s for dinner tonight. You need a gift for that party next week. You still haven’t consolidated your super. You’re out of contract on your phone and paying who knows what. Those cupboards won’t declutter themselves. The kids need a plan for the next school holidays. It’s time to get the gutters cleaned. You still haven’t made a will. Sound familiar? Then this is the life admin guide you’ve been waiting for. Life admin can’t be eliminated but it can be minimised, automated and better shared within families.

Published by HarperCollins. RRP $34.99.

I Didn’t Do The Thing Today by Madeleine Dore Any given day brings a never ending list of things to do. There’s the work thing, the catch up thing, the laundry thing, the creative thing, the exercise thing, the family thing, the thing we don’t want to do, the thing we’ve been putting off (despite it being the most important thing). Even on days when we get a lot done, the thing left undone can leave us feeling guilty, anxious or disappointed.

After five years of searching for the secret to productivity, Madeleine Dore discovered there isn’t one, instead, we’re being set up to fail, so this is an inspiring call to take productivity off its pedestal, to embrace the joyful messiness and unpredictability of life. Published by Murdoch Books. RRP $32.99

50 Questions to Ask Your Teens by Daisy Turnbull This is a fantastic guide for parents and carers navigating the confusing and exciting world of adolescence. For anyone who wants to better connect with their teens and help them to be functioning, self-aware and kind adults, Daisy Turnbull offers a simple framework with clever questions to engage your teen and pre-teen from age 10 onwards. You’ll find questions that encourage your teen to master the practical as well as trickier topics, including friendships, consent, self-compassion, managing conflict, mental health, boundaries and media influences.

Published by Hardie Grant. RRP $24.99

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WIN

a Smiggle kindness pack worth over $160 or 1 of 4 $50 runner-up Smiggle vouchers!

Simply colour to win!

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

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MY REFLECTIONS ON INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY If I’m being honest, it saddens me that we celebrate International Women’s Day because shouldn’t women just be equal?

As women, we know there is a need to keep championing for a gender-equal world. And whilst it’s not easy, particularly for young women navigating their identity, there are some positives (like the introduction of a Women’s AFL league which has seen packed stadiums, new mentors and role models for young girls, and boys witnessing the makings of gender equality).

Personally, International Women’s Day allows me to reflect on what I do, how I can influence equality, and how I can be the best role model possible.

As the CEO of Nature Play SA, I strive to lead an organisation with flexible working hours for all employees and challenge male colleagues in other organisations to have equal gender representation on their Boards. I am proud to share our Nature Play SA Board reflects gender equality and features inspiring women as our Ambassador and Patron.

But perhaps the most powerful influence I can make for a gender-equal world comes with my role as a Mum.

Raising confident and resilient young women As a Mum to a 14-year-old daughter, Jazz, I strive to empower her and provide opportunities to make her resilient and confident, so she believes she is equal in this world.

The language I use is always encouraging and never biased towards gender. There is no such thing as ‘throwing like a girl’. She is a competent young woman who deserves to feel confident, 32

valued and equal. I have always encouraged her to challenge herself physically and mentally, to take risks.

To climb the biggest of trees you need to have courage and belief, and from that point, the foundation of resilience begins to unfold.

Too often we associate risk-taking with boys and we shouldn’t.

What I have learned from my work at Nature Play SA is that society is overprotective of our children when it comes to risk. I see this in our traditional playgrounds where everything is so safe, removing challenges and risks for children.

Our children need opportunities for resilience to grow and thrive, and thankfully, our perception of the need for children to take risks is now changing again.

New, more challenging and exciting play spaces are being built, allowing children to fail, make their own decisions and learn to assess risks. I have loved watching both my daughter and son explores these places, be brave, and challenge themselves.

The strength in failure My latest request from Jazz has been a desire to play AFL footy. If I had asked my parents this forty years ago, the definitive response would have been ‘no, girls do not play football, it is too rough’.

But the rise in women in AFL has enabled me to say a resounding ‘yes’.

Providing her the opportunity to experiment in a physical sport enables her to decide whether she wants to play – it’s her choice. I endeavour to let Jazz make her own decisions, but I don’t shield her from the consequences if she makes a mistake, for there are great lessons in failure.

I talk to Jazz about failure a lot: it is ok to fail because it is how we develop resilience and understand the road to success.

Some of my biggest life lessons have been from failure.

When I was dropped from the Australian netball team, I could have gone two ways – given up or worked on my weaknesses and had another go. I’m so glad I chose to work through this ‘failure’ and my parents encouraged me to persevere.

When I was re-selected, it was one of my biggest achievements.

Even today when life throws me challenges, I know through my previous experiences if I work hard and keep positive, I will get through it: to succeed you need to fail.

Navigating technology One of the biggest worries I have for Jazz is social media, including how girls and women are portrayed. This social media world can feel like a nightmare – sometimes, I would love to throw the devices out of the house – but we need to realize that technology is a big part of their world and will continue to be.

As a collective society, we need to help show girls and women that what they see on social media is not a true reflection or expectation of what they should or shouldn’t be. We need to show them the power of acceptance, courage, and compassion.

Navigating technology for our kids is not easy and never will be. I guide Jazz through the world of online media the best I can whilst also having the necessary restrictions to keep her safe.

Trust and honesty form the basis of our relationship and it needs to when it comes to growing up in a technologically driven world. In the conversations we have, I always reinforce her strong attributes and praise her positive behaviours recognising that I can’t control everything in her life – but I can have a positive influence, empower her with life skills, and be the best mum and role model I can.

It is not easy being a woman, but I strongly believe that if we all, as a collective society, keep working together for equality and helping each other be the best version of ourselves, then we can achieve great things.

By Sarah Sutter, CEO Nature Play SA, a not-forprofit organisation aiming to get more children outside playing in nature. In their backyards, local parks and wilder places, like National Parks. natureplaysa.org.au

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This Mama aIn’t celebratIng after drop off!

By Liv Wilson

It’s done! The Summer holidays are over and the new school year is here. If you’ve been dreading this day, you’re not alone.

For many parents across Australia, with an anxious child, the first day of a new school year is much dreaded and not a day to skip out of the gates cheering with our friends as we head for a well deserved glass of bubbles!! And let’s face it, this year comes with added worry for some children after COVID lockdowns, and extended periods of remote learning, added to the awkwardness of trying to reconnect with friends they haven’t seen for a while.

I’m a mother of a child who suffered terribly with separation anxiety and I’ve spent many ‘1st days’ praying with every part of my being, that this day, this year, this drop off would be the one where everything clicks and saying goodbye at the gate would be a breeze.

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The mornings drag!

It’s no surprise that ‘separation anxiety’ can wreak havoc on your mornings. The sore tummy, the tears, the refusal to eat brekkie, the getting dressed in slow motion! The packing and unpacking of the school bag, the fussing over the lunchbox, the constant questions and the unrelenting need for reassurance. To get out of the door takes a huge amount of strength from the whole family and resisting the urge to slam on the brakes and take everyone home is a challenge like no other.

If you’re a Mama to a child with separation anxiety, there are lots of tried and tested (by me) ways you can help make the mornings run a little smoother, ensuring stress is limited and you’re not all frazzled by the time you reach the gates.

My tips to lessen separation anxiety before school • Set a good routine – too much time can create as much stress as too little.

The Ultimate Family Planner will help with family organisation, and the motivational quotes will keep you going.

• Discuss your morning routine the night before so everyone knows what’s expected of them when they get up.

• Prepare bags and lunches the night before to save over complicating the morning.

• Pop a cute note inside your child’s lunchbox - do this every day so they have something to look forward to. A daily riddle is fun too! Check out riddles.com or lunch notes from Sprout and Sparrow.

• Have a good, clear calendar so everyone knows what’s happening each day, what chores they need to do and what to look forward to. I love Daily Orders wall planners for this.

• Set a limit on questions and don’t be afraid to say “no more”. Constant questioning can increase stress levels for everyone.

• Ask the teacher for a breakdown of the timetable and add it to your wall planner – knowing what’s ahead means you can both prepare for the day.

This will also help prompt conversations in the afternoon.

• Apps like Smiling Mind and A Soft Murmur can help calm your child (and you) at home or in the car.

• Make sure you keep yourself calm as anxious children feed off your mood too. This can be hard but try your best!

• Get a set of print at home emotion cards from the Chaos to Calm Consultancy to help your kids understand their emotions and encourage them to talk about how they feel.

• Talk to the school and tell them what you need them to do. Ask for help!

They may have no idea your child is struggling.

• If other mums are offering to help, accept it. Sometimes just the simple act of another mama taking your child by the hand, will break the chain!

I’m not a doctor. I’m not a health professional, I’m just a mama who’s been where you are now, and I know how helpful implementing just a few of these tips can be. There’s no quick fix, it could take a few weeks, perhaps a term to get back in the swing of things, maybe even longer, but, everything will be ok, I promise! xx If you’re worried about your child, it’s important you speak with your GP at the earliest opportunity.

’ten-age‘ FRIENDSHIPS At ten, we know how girls are pigeonholing themselves into what they think they should be. Whether they see themselves as academic or not, whether they are interested in boys, puberty is a reality, friendship fights are underway, and the influence of social media is impacting.

With heightened pressure from what they see in the media, in movies and on TV, our girls are leaving childhood behind well before they hit their teens. Not surprisingly, emotions can be heightened and relationships can be fraught. So many parents struggle to understand the pressures our girls are under and how to deal with their emotional volatility.

Aisha just wants one good friend at school, someone to sit with and talk to at lunch. ‘I find it hard to make friends because I am so worried about if they like me or not,’ she says. Francesca is equally anxious. ‘I’m hard to talk to,’ she says.

Mei can identify. For her, finding and keeping friends is the toughest part about being ten.

‘Some of them turn out to be using you,’ she says. ‘Real friends are hard to discover.’

These concerns can often be exacerbated when girls move from their primary school to a middle or senior school at around this age. ‘I find it hard to meet anyone because I am new and everyone has known each other for a long time,’ says Ruby. ‘I feel like I don’t fit in.’

Aanya’s concern is slightly different. ‘It’s easy to make friends but hard to find the perfect friend for life,’ she says. Lily doesn’t want to stand out.

‘I like to stick in a big group at my school, and at home I never go out and play with others because of my anxiety.’

Why is friendship so difficult to navigate at ten?

Why do so many of our girls not know how to make friends, or keep friends? Why do they want to find that best friend for life, at ten, and change so much of who they are, simply to fit in? How do we teach them not to exclude 36

others, and to value kindness and forgiveness when one of their peers makes a mistake? And why is there so much drama – with girls and not boys – around friendship?

Those questions didn’t begin as mine, and if there was a single issue that sat above others, where both girls and their parents struggled, this is it. ‘Why do some girls become so unkind and nasty?’ one mother asks.

Another has a story to tell: ‘Last year my daughter learnt the hard way that if you behave badly towards a friend and hurt their feelings then they may just walk away from the friendship instead of finding ways of forgiveness. The other parents told their daughter to walk away because “a good friend wouldn’t behave that way” and that there would be no forgiveness for the mistake my daughter made. I found there is a lot of information available about walking away but not much about forgiveness and how it can play a role in healing friendships for our girls.’

A third mother says, ‘All she wants is to be loved, and I believe it’s why she gets so frustrated and upset, because it doesn’t come easily to her and she assumes reasons, like she has hairier legs or isn’t pretty.’

And this from a fourth mother: ‘She is very worried and concerned about what others think, but I also think she is fairly intolerant of things herself and she is slow to forgive and forget.’

From a fifth mother: ‘She loves the idea of having friends but struggles to cross over from “being friendly” to actually being real friends.’

The problem for girls is not in recognising the attributes of a good friend but in cultivating and keeping friendships.

The girls themselves put kindness as the number one characteristic they want in a ten-year-old buddy.

That is to be celebrated. So too is the fact that they put ‘being funny’ strongly in second place. Together, those two qualities were

mentioned by more than half of all ten-year-olds.

The third most common attribute ten-year-old girls nominate in a good friendship is wanting someone who is ‘not a bully’, or ‘doesn’t share rude things about you even if they’re made up’, or ‘keeps a secret’, or ‘doesn’t spread rumours’.

Put those concerns under one umbrella and you have something close to what author and teens educator Rebecca Sparrow calls ‘drama cyclones’.

Sparrow says she spends weeks each year with this cohort, teaching them how to weather friendship storms. A few years ago she would have given the same talk to Year 9 girls.

Avoiding those drama cyclones should sit at the top of any friendship tips list we give our girls. So should an understanding of the fact that friendships are developed over time, and that we don’t ‘own’ friends. Girls need to be encouraged to allow peers to move between groups, and to have the courage to do that themselves. We as parents don’t befriend every person we meet, and girls need to understand that. They don’t need to be friends with everyone in their cohort, but they need be friendly – and understand that difference. Along the way, they will make mistakes and need reminding that the kindness and forgiveness they seek in others ought to reside in them too.

Principal Toni Riordan says the reason why the age of ten is so significant for friendships is that, up until that age, a girl’s world has largely revolved around her home, her parents, her siblings and her pets. But at ten she becomes more outwardlooking, and ‘friendships really start to count’. Girls are looking for others who will match the love they have for family, and tensions will inevitably arise.

‘Fitting in’ is the verb I most frequently heard during this project, and friendship is the challenge tenyear-olds nominate as their most difficult.

This is an edited extract from Ten-ager by Madonna King. Ten-ager takes our girls’ dreams and worries, wants and fears and puts them to the experts, in the hope it helps parents guide their daughter into adolescence. It gives our daughters a voice, to tell what they want us to know.

Published by Hachette Australia, RRP $32.99.

Out now at all good book stores.

“Real friends are hard to discover” “I find it hard to make friends because I am so worried about if they like me or not”

CONSIDERING HOME SCHOOLING Adjusting to a different way of learning has been a challenge for students, parents, carers and teachers alike.

However, not all kids are struggling with learning from home; those that are self-paced, flexible, independent learners, are thriving.

As a result, more families who have enjoyed their experience of remote learning are now considering full-time home schooling.

The growth of home schooling According to the Victorian government (statistics), the number of children home schooling is growing each year. In 2020, there was a 20 per cent increase in registrations, coinciding with the COVID-19 pandemic.

Some parents have found their children thrive in a more focussed environment and have found a merit in them being able to teach their child at their own pace. It has also been promoted as a viable option for families who travel a lot, with various influencers documenting their kids’ educational journey through social media. Children with learning difficulties or who struggle with school due to physical, mental, or social reasons, such as bullying, have also benefited from home schooling environments, and have been a catalyst for growth in the sector. For instance, if your child is falling behind in class, setting them up with a crash course of specific, one-to-one nurtured learning can help fill the gaps and accelerate their learning.

Many families saw how well their children learnt during previous COVID-19-related lockdowns, with less distractions leading to increased engagement and better results. If you are among those families exploring home schooling, here’s where you can start.

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What to consider Importantly, home schooling is not remote learning. During lockdowns, schools are providing planned lessons, video calls and relevant online tools aligned to the curriculum.

When home schooling, the onus falls on parent/s to plan lessons and undertake the assessments and reporting requirements.

A key consideration for parents who are going to be taking this on is whether they will be able to manage it. The workload of becoming a teacher can be a hard, but very rewarding and positive experience. It’s important that parents understand the impact it might have, and plan accordingly.

Consider also the teacher-parent persona how are you going to manage the difference?

How do you want to be seen, and how will it be different at different times of the day? Since you will be filling both roles, you need to set clear boundaries and schedules.

Before you begin, talk to your kids’ school and find out what level they’re learning at. It’s important to know where to start and identify any areas of learning you might need to focus on more.

Social implications You can invest in platforms and tools that help with education, but it is very hard to buy social interaction. This is what school offers that home doesn’t. The social skills, friendships and experiences your child picks up at school might not be apparent now, but will be vital in future.

So, consider other ways they can be involved in the community. This can include joining Facebook home schooling groups, local sports teams, afterschool programs, or even taking part in joint home schooling classes with other kids.

Government requirements

The right tools

Home schooling needs to be approved. Every state government has different registration requirements and various states require you to provide a range of information, including details about the learning environmentm how you track learning progress, and what you are teaching them. Get in touch with your local education body and find out what you need to meet their requirements. Most online resources will provide relevant content outlines or scopes for you to meet the government requirements.

It’s important you pick the right tools for the job. That’s ‘tools’ plural. Diversify what the kids are doing and ensure all your eggs are not in one basket. Keep it interesting by using a pen and paper and other tactile materials, incorporate P.E. and leverage online tools to gamify the lessons – this will ensure kids are more likely to be engaged. For instance, Education Perfect (EP) is an online resource that provides parents with thousands of curriculum aligned subject lessons created by teachers, in an easy to use, gamified application that can help personalise your home schooling approach. EP also offers regular parent training webinars and workshops so that it doesn’t feel too daunting.

Finding advice When you’re starting out, don’t try to reinvent the wheel. Your first-year of home schooling should be to master the basics and figure out the best way your child learns. From there you can start altering your education plan to suit their needs.

There are many forums and websites to talk you through home schooling. One recommendation is Fearless Home school, which has a wealth of knowledge surrounding anything home learning related. Social media is also a great resource for finding homeschooling groups in your region to join. You may be surprised at how many families are in the same situation as you. Talk to other families and connect with other people around you.

Home schooling can be a rewarding and fulfilling journey, especially when you start to see your child improve and close any learning gaps. With the right advice, tools and support, you can ensure your child can thrive, both educationally and socially, while learning from home.

By Tim Offen, International Community Lead at Education Perfect. Education Perfect (EP) is a complete digital teaching and learning toolkit that has become a core resource for thousands of teachers across the world, including over 1,600 Australian schools.

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3 LITERACY TIPS FOR STARTING BIG SCHOOL! What should my child know when they start school...and how to help make their learning joyful!

Starting ‘big school’ is a time of change for children and their families. As parents, we want to give our kids the very best opportunities to succeed. We may talk with them about their feelings of excitement, nerves and wonder; spend time practicing zips, buttons and laces, packing and unpacking their bag and lunchbox, wear-in school shoes and uniforms, walk the route to school, wonder about teachers, classmates and endless other aspects of starting something new.

All these tasks are important to a smooth transition from kinder to school. And what about reading? Do they need to know the ABC’s, how to read and write their name, what if they’ve never held a pencil? Argh!

Don’t panic, we’ve got your literacy questions covered. We want to take the pressure off, so that heading to ‘big school’ is as seamless and joyful as can be.

Read on for tips, games, tricks and tools for a smooth transition to school...plus a little bit of reading science lingo. Let’s Go! Phonological awareness is the ability to hear sounds within a word. It is made up of a set of skills known to be the crucial building blocks for reading. When kids have secure phonological awareness, they are much more likely to become proficient readers. Importantly, we 42

want to give YOU the tools to help them build these skills through play, fun and no-fuss.

Research has identified phonemic awareness (a subset of skills linked to phonological awareness) and letter knowledge as the best two predictors of how well a child will learn to read during their first two years of school (National Reading Panel, 2000).

Fact: Children who develop strong phonemic awareness skills at an early age are more likely to become fluent readers and better spellers than children who do not.

Now for the fun part...

Tip 1 - Oral blending and Segmenting A crucial early reading skill, encourage your child to listen for the sounds in words. Help them break words apart (segment), and put them back together (blend). This is a skill that provides a solid foundation for learning to read.

You say dog, they say d-o-g. You say b-oa-t, they say boat.

Tip 2 - What about the ABC’s?

There is no need to focus on teaching your child the alphabet. If you want to expose them to supportive literacy activities, play sounds games: - Eye-spy something beginning with the sound...

- Play with alliteration, “Sally sails seven sailboats”.

- Do these words rhyme? hat/cat, big/small.

- How many syllables (beats) in pig (1), rabbit (2), watermelon (4).

Tip 3 - What’s in a Name?

A preschool child knowing how to recognise their name has tons of benefits (though they don’t need to spell it just yet). Locating their belongings and having some independence in a group environment are just some. Plus, name recognition supports a deeper understanding of letters and sounds and how they work together.

Ways to expose children to their name: Name puzzles, name stamping, play dough, pompom or pebble name building. Labelling their clothing, toys and books also increases independence and ensures multiple exposures to their name.

If your child is ready to learn to spell their name because they have a solid grasp of letters and sounds, help them to listen for the sounds in their name as a first step. It is important to note that most names use alphabetic code knowledge far beyond what is developmentally taught in the early years.

Here are some examples: Tom: 3 sounds, 3 graphemes, 3 letters Claudia: 6 sounds, 6 graphemes, 7 letters Alistair: 6 sounds, 6 graphemes, 8 letters Poppy: 4 sounds, 4 graphemes, 5 letters

The Bottom Line Orient sound and letter play around your child’s interests. Keep this learning fun, keep it light and if your child isn’t yet ready, or they are not enjoying the process, take a break and try again another time.

By Nat and Sarah, SailAway Readers For more information, tips, tricks and tools to support early readers as well as all the info you need to book our preschool and primary school classes visit www.sailawayreaders.com

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7 tips to manage the back to work and school juggle The summer school holidays have ended and the new school year is here, many parents will be experiencing that dreaded “back to school” feeling.

The juggle is never easy and sometimes it can take a few weeks for everyone to adapt.

Here are a few tried and tested tips to help you navigate the back to school blues.

A mixture of emotions and nerves surround the return to school. We have the blissful feeling of dropping them off at the school gates for the day - hello freedom!

Organisation is under rated, especially by the likes of the messy Libras of the world. However, having a plan can really set up each day and week for success. Having an idea of what the week ahead looks like will help alleviate anxiety as there are no unexpected surprises.

However, the return to school also comes with its own set of stressors: can you get everyone where they need to be on time, and how will you juggle your work commitments around their school hours and extra-curricular activities?

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1. Start the week right

I love a weekly planner. This can be in whatever form works for you - a google calendar, a timetable on the fridge, or an app on your phone. By adding in each family member’s activities and commitments for the week, everyone in the house knows what is happening and when. It can also help you work out a roster for who is responsible for the kids, before and after school arrangements.

2. Prepare things the night before

6. Encourage independence

Ease the morning chaos by organising a few things the night before school. This could include laying out the school uniforms and making sure the school bags are packed. If you have an airtight lunchbox, making their lunch and storing it in the fridge overnight will save you precious time in the morning.

Set things out in the same place each day so that your children can take responsibility for themselves. This includes leaving out their school uniform so they can dress themselves, having toothbrushes within reach and keeping breakfasts simple so that they can prepare it themselves.

3. Consider implementing a meal plan

Create a designated homework space in the home. Encourage your child to take responsibility for completing their homework in this space. If your child is younger and needs support, this could be a communal area such as the kitchen bench so they can ask you for help while you are preparing dinner.

I’m not saying that you have to have a set meal for each day of the week, but there are definitely a few perks of a weekly meal plan. Firstly, it makes the grocery shopping experience quicker and easier. It also helps save you money. You will be more likely to focus on the items on your grocery list and less likely to spend on junk food and takeaway. To save an hour or two of your time – think about ordering your groceries online for click and collect or home delivery.

While everyone is adapting to the first few weeks of term, choose easy to prepare meals that are both nutritious and everyone in the family will eat. Avoid trying new recipes as this will be more time consuming. Cook up some batch meals that can be put in the freezer to reheat on busy week nights, such as bolognese, curry and lasagne.

4. Be realistic with your expectations We all want the best for our kids, but we need to be realistic. Accept that your child can’t do every activity under the sun. Rather, let them choose one or two extra-curricular activities or classes they are passionate about and schedule them into your weekly planner.

5. Remember to look after you

7. Don’t be embarrassed to ask for help Sometimes you won’t be able to achieve everything yourself, and this is OK. Think about reliable people who you can enlist for help. For example, can a grandparent, friend or neighbour do a pick up or drop off one night a week? Can you alternate days with another parent at the school?

Review your obligations for the week and make it clear to your manager or colleagues if you need to make any changes to your work schedule. Can you work remotely some days of the week to save on commute times? Flexible work spaces have become more possible with the current Covid-19 outbreak, so communicate with your boss to see if there are any alternative work arrangements that can be put in place.

Sarah James is the owner of The Sensory Specialist, a qualified Psychology teacher and a mother of two boys. Through her experiences, Sarah has lots of tips and tricks to help manage the working parent juggle. www.thesensoryspecialist.com.au

If you can, try to “switch off” from work at a reasonable hour. Turn off your email alerts and focus on being present with your family. Give yourself some time for you at the end of a busy day. Self-care can as simple as having a glass of your favourite wine, having a hot shower or watching an entertaining TV show.

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PLASTIC’S NOT FANTASTIC 10 simple ways to reduce the amount of plastic you use We all know that single use plastic isn’t great for the environment. Recycling options often aren’t ideal either, with plastic only really ever being able to be ‘downcycled’ a few times. The best way is to cut out single use plastic wherever possible. If you’re new to reducing your plastic consumption, here’s a few simple ways to make your everyday actions a little more green.

1. Bring your own coffee cup Takeaway cups are one of the most disposed single use items and also one of the most avoidable! With everything available from cute pottery cups to smart cups you can pay with there’s never been a better time to adopt a keep cup.

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2. Bring your own shopping bags This one is kind of a no brainer in this era however, so many people still forget. If you’re one of those forgetful people, try the small fold up bags which can be carried in your handbag or glovebox. Then, try and get in the habit of putting them back after you’ve unloaded your groceries!

4. Give up gum Did you know that gum is made of a synthetic rubber which is essentially plastic? You can replace this easily with bulk packs of mints or find packaging free mints at most local bulk food shops!

3. Start a Compost Bucket If you have a council green bin which is picked up weekly alongside your general waste and recycling, then you’re the perfect candidate to start composting. All you need is a cute tupperware style container (the larger the better!) with a good seal, and you can start putting all of your compostable waste in there. Then, simply empty the container each week into your green bin, ready to be picked up and composted. Check with your council re compost waste in your green bin - some actively encourage it, while others are limited to garden waste. If you don’t have a composting service offered by your council, consider investing in a compost bin yourself! The tumbling ones from Bunnings I find brilliant but there are many options that make it super easy and simple these days! You can even find countertop kitchen composting bins which is ideal for small spaces or apartments.

5. Start a veggie patch How many times have you bought a plastic tub of herbs to add a few sprigs to a meal? Start your own simple herb / veggie garden (in pots or a garden bed). Herbs and leafy greens are actually the quickest and lowest maintenance thing you can grow, but are disproportionately expensive because they’re tricky to transport and keep fresh. All round, growing a little garden will mean you’re spending less, spicing up more meals and - reducing your plastic use.

Win, win!

6. Make Your Own Cleaning Products This isn’t for everyone, I know. But if you’ve ever thought about it though, give it a go!

Making your own cleaning products is simple, effective and easy - not to mention you’ll be spraying around way less nasty chemicals.

Literally they can be as simple as vinegar and water (3 parts water, one part white vinegar). If DIY isn’t your style, check out your local bulk food store - most offer cleaning products. You just need to bring your bottle. Easy!

7. Give up bottled water It’s so simple to bring your own bottle and refill it when needed. It’s really just a habit. If you use straws, you can easily replace these with a

reusable stainless steel version which you can carry with you on the go as well.

8. Become a bar and box convert So many goods come packaged in plastic, from shampoo and body wash to laundry liquid or pasta. Get in the habit of always looking for the plastic free packaging option. For example, shampoo bars often come in a cardboard box, so by choosing this option - you’re avoiding another plastic bottle. Opt for laundry powder in a box over the plastic bottle of liquid. Once you get the hang of choosing bars and boxes, you’ll love it!

9. Choose natural fibres When you’re buying clothing, avoid polyester or other synthetic fabrics and opt for more natural ones like cotton, linen or silk. Support small businesses who put an emphasis on sustainability and longevity of their products, over sales and high turnover. There is something lovely about knowing your piece of clothing can be composted after a long and happy life. This tip isn’t limited to clothing either, opt for natural fibres in cleaning cloths, car covers - any time you’re purchasing something fabric!

10. Opt for plastic free postal packaging - like ours!

When you’re shipping parcels, opt for compostable satchels over plastic ones. For businesses, this is a huge way to reduce your overall carbon footprint and plastic consumption. If you have to use a box, opt for plastic free packaging tape and cardboard boxes over plastic. Also, ditch the bubble wrap for recycled paper or corrugated paper padding.

There are so many awesome new innovations like corn starch based packaging pellets, which make the plastic ones unnecessary. It’s never been a better time for eco packaging. Whether you’re just starting out on your journey to reduce plastic, or you’ve been walking the road for a while now, our compostable satchels are an easy and effective plastic free swap.

By Anaita Sarkar, co-founder of compostable mailer brand - Hero Packaging https://heropackaging.com.au/

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