Westside MamaMag Dec/Jan 2020

WESTSIDE

mamamAg Dec/Jan 2020

WIN shrek the musIcal tIckets Swim into Summer A mum’s kingdom Let’s talk about ‘it’ The art of packing Festive fun

free Local fun for the Westside mum 1

Children’s ideas and thinking form the basis of our learning environment

Open and progressive flexible indoor and outdoor programs.

Experienced staff who value learning and what each child has to offer.

Community based local incursions and excursions.

Keilor Downs

7 Copernicus Way 9366 4380 keilordowns@shel.edu.au

Grow N Learn Tarneit 414 Derrimut Road 9749 6300 grownlearn@shel.edu.au

1300 786 794 www.shel.edu.au

Sand Sculpting Australia presents

D SAN NG LPTI U C S TY EALI R D TE NCE MEN AUG XPERIE E

Graeme Base’s

IN SAND

BONEO DISCOVERY PARK FINGAL, MORNINGTON PENINSULA

TICKETS AND INFO

www.sandsculpting.com.au /sandsculptingaustralia /BoneoDiscoveryPark

the SILLY Season Here, here, for the end of the year! How is it almost 2020 already? They say time flies when you’re having fun, so I must have had a fabulous year as this year has absolutely zoomed by! Now Summer is here and this mama is excited. It’s my favourite time of the year.

The tail end of the year starts with Halloween fun as a warm-up, then we move into the Christmas spirit and warm sunny nights filled with BBQ’s and beach hangs.

Speaking of Christmas, there is SO much going on.

We’ve pulled together a bit of a guide of our favourite things happening in the area, so check it out on page 14. We also chatted with gorgeous mama Debbie Gasser who runs Santa’s Magical Kingdom with her family.

What a fun family to grow up in! Santa’s Magical Kingdom is in full swing now at Caulfield Racecourse and it is simply amazing and well worth the trip.

There is plenty of other fun stuff on if you don’t get into the Christmas spirit. Artvo has just reopened with 80 new original artworks which are simply amazing. The kids had a ball taking photos in there. Funfields is open all Summer long and has some fabulous new rides including the Mystic Kingdom. There are some great family shows coming up at the Arts Centre Melbourne including the latest Treehouse instalment, the 91-Storey Treehouse in Jan. With no major holiday plans for my little family, we will be filling our summer holidays with lots of fun day trips. Time at the beach, maybe some mini golf, a day on the Peninsula to check out the new Animalia sand sculpting at Boneo Discovery Park. Melbourne kids are really spoilt for choice over the Summer months, there is really no need to leave Victoria.

So as we wrap up the year, I get to sit back and appreciate all that 2019 brought me. I’m still on a massive high from my recent 36km hike at Wilson’s Prom, raising money for Canteen. This was such a rewarding challenge on both a physical and emotional level. It’s also been an incredibly rewarding year at MamaMag with my team growing and the magazine bringing me such joy. I can’t wait to continue the MamaMag fun for you all in 2020. xxx @localmamamag

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Local fun for everyone • Bayside • Eastside • Northside • Westside

WIN

Contents A mums’ kingdom

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Debbie from Santa’s Magical Kingdom

The art of packing

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Supermarket checkout stress

Swimming into Summer

10

Our local swimwear picks

Worth

Parklife 12 Tatman Reserve, Altona Meadows

Festive fun

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What’s on in the West

Let’s talk about ‘it’

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Talking ‘periods’

New year, new you

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5 health goals to set

Positive transition

20

Be ready for kinder/childcare

Holiday pet-fection

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Happy pets while you’re away

Mama can cook

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Celebrate with Chyka Keebaugh

Connecting with kids

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How to create quality time

Preparing for school

32

Tips for starting school easier

The art of Summer

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Potato print fun

Turn the page

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Mama’s top book picks

Experience gifts

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Top ideas from the West

Shall we dance

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Dancing, a positive impact on kids

Summer drawing fun

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Art ideas for the holidays

Colour to WIN

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1 of 4 family passes to Funfields

Write the world

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Notebooks for a better earth

Christmas your style Fun decorating themes

MamaMag Dec/Jan 2020

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WIN 1 of 9

$360 eac h

Family Passes to SHREK THE MUSICAL

Enter at www.mamamag.com.au/shrek The Broadway smash hit SHREK THE MUSICAL is coming to Her Majesty’s Theatre, Melbourne this February.

Each 4-ticket set is for the 18th Feb 7pm show.

Entries are open to Victorian residents only. Competition starts Dec 1st 12.01am and closes Jan 31st 2020 at 11.59pm. ©Dreamworks Theatrical Limited 2018.

All rights reserved ©SHREK THE MUSICAL. Visit www.mamamag.com.au/competitions for full terms and conditions.

shrekthemusical.com.au MamaMag is published bi-monthly for the mums of Melbourne’s West by Grizzle Design Pty Ltd. ABN: 26 042 138 550. PO Box 8018 Brighton East 3187 Phone: 1300 771 446 Email: info@mamamag.com.au www.mamamag.com.au | www.grizzledesign.com.au

12,500 copies per issue distributed bi-monthly across Melbourne’s West with 50,000 copies in total across all four MamaMag areas: Bayside • Eastside • Northside • Westside.

Editor in Chief/Creative Director: Sarah Cavalier: sarah@mamamag.com.au Westside Editor: Rebecca Gelsi For advertising enquiries contact: Olivia Wilson: olivia@mamamag.com.au For distribution enquiries contact: info@mamamag.com.au Want to write for us or have an article idea? submissions@mamamag.com.au The opinions expressed herein are not necessarily those of the publishing staff.

Reproduction in whole or part is prohibited without permission of the publishers.

Health related articles are designed to be informative and educational. They are not intended to provide specific medical advice or replace one-on-one advice from your health practitioner.

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A mum’s kIngdom For years we have been visiting Santa’s Magical Kingdom and wondering who the clever people behind it were. Well turns out it’s a gorgeous local family! Debbie Gasser, along with her husband Tony and their three kids, are from Gisborne in Melbourne’s outer North and together they bring the Christmas magic to Caulfield Racecourse every year!

Firstly, tell us a bit about yourself and your family.

My husband Tony and I run our business Unique Attractions full time with our youngest son and I am step mum to the oldest two, who are adults now and also work in the industry.

Fortunately we are able to work together on quite a few projects.

Your husband Tony is part of the family behind the amazing Silvers Circus. Tell us about your time in the circus together.

Tony started performing with his parents from a very young age and has performed everything from flying trapeze, lion taming, clowning and numerous aerial acts. Tony and I performed together in our Wheel of Death act and Flying Trapeze as well.

As Silver’s Circus is also a family business, everyone is involved in all aspects of the business, you definitely have to be adaptable as you wear many hats. Behind the scenes, aside from being involved with assembling and dismantling the tents and equipment, I drove trucks, made our costumes as well as the domestic duties in taking care of my family.

Your youngest son is now 7th generation circus. How involved are the kids in your businesses?

Our youngest son is definitely kept very busy as he has just finished year 12, however he has been very hands on in the business as well. In between his studies and school commitments he is working on-site with the installations 6

for events which could be anywhere in the country. On top of all of that he is very involved with the social media for the business.

How did Santa’s Magical Kingdom originally come about?

We thought that it would be a great opportunity to put a Christmas event together with our family and friends in the industry as we believed that we had the expertise, equipment and know-how between us to make a great event. Originally it was held in Burnley however from how well it was received, it was moved to its new home at Caulfield Racecourse which has allowed us the space to expand the event to the scale that it has become today.

How long does it take to bring the annual magic of SMK together each year?

The administrative side of the business is run almost all year round with research and development into the upcoming production but to actual build Santa’s Magical Kingdom on site takes approximately four full weeks with a team of approximately 70 of Santa’s Little Helpers.

What new amazing fun can we expect at Santa’s Magical Kingdom this year?

There are exciting new acts in the Circus Spectacular with very talented young performers. New decorations have also been installed throughout the Kingdom as well as the inclusion of new rides and attractions.

What’s your favourite thing about what you do?

As Santa’s Magical Kingdom has become a Melbourne Christmas tradition, we have many families that come back every year so it is wonderful to be a part of their celebrations and see the children and families getting bigger every time. We put a lot of effort and focus on

keeping the event and performances fresh for all of the families while making sure that we hold on to the Santa’s Magical Kingdom feeling that makes it so special.

What’s the best thing about being a mum?

I am fortunate to be in a situation where I have been able to spend a lot of time with my son as well as being able to work alongside him.

I enjoy passing on family traditions with him and doing the things that I enjoyed to do with my family.

What does the Gasser family Christmas look like usually?

We incorporate the family’s European heritage and start celebrating with a big family meal on Christmas Eve and open our presents. This is a wonderful time with my mum, my husband’s parents, siblings and their families where we enjoy a delicious Swiss/German dinner which my mother in-law prepares. On Christmas Day we celebrate the day with extended family and friends.

Where do you see yourself in 10 year’s time?

As our business and our life is intertwined, I can see myself continuing to be as involved as I am now and surrounded by my family. Although I would like to think that I won’t be working so hard, I know myself too well!

And finally, care to share with us a funny parenting story?

I am known to be a clean freak and my friends have a saying that “It is not clean unless it is Debbie clean”. I went to one of my good friend’s houses one day with my son who was 3 years old at the time and we took our shoes off at the door. My son saw a little bit of dirt on the floor and asked me if it was ok for him to put his shoes back on because the floor was too dirty.

Thank goodness it was one of my very good friends who knows me very well because she just laughed and said “Yes, that is the mother’s child”. We still laugh about it today but I was so embarrassed at the time.

Catch Santa’s Magical Kingdom at Caulfield Racecourse until Dec 29. santasmagicalkingdom.com.au 7

THE ART OF PACKING Before I had children, I used to leisurely stroll each and every aisle of the supermarket, picking things off the shelf absentmindedly. I didn’t bother with a grocery list. There was only two of us and if I forgot something then I’d return another day.

No big deal. Never in my wildest dreams would I have thought of this simple act of necessity as being an enviable task. I mourn the days of languid and uninterrupted meandering, just like how I wish I had appreciated sleep-ins.

Nowadays, I go to the supermarket with either one or two kids in tow and the most pleasurable part of the experience is getting the kids back into the car and going home. I don’t know about other parents, but to me having two pipsqueaks continually saying, “Mummy, can we buy this?” and “Mummy, can I get that?” drives me insane.

I almost never leave home without a grocery list, and I speed down aisles to collect items like I’m on a My Kitchen Rules cook-off.

I obviously pass the chip, chocolate, and soft drink aisles because seriously, who needs the drama of wrestling contraband off a toddler?

Normally, I go through self-serve because it’s the quickest way out of the store. With a toddler that can drop a tantrum like a hot potato, it’s best not to procrastinate in a place with too many temptations.

On this one particular day, I had too many things in the trolley to go through self-serve and seeing a calm Henry, I opted for the manned checkout.

I methodically place items in groups that I hope get bagged together. The young man at the register begins packing the bags, arranging items in particular positions like he’s a Tetris prodigy. Simply perfect for my anally retentive grocery packing personality. I can appreciate good packing skills. No one wants a dirty tango between raw meats and fruit.

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As he continues to pack at the rate of one item per minute, Henry starts to grumble about wanting to hop out of the shopping trolley. I try to placate him with a yoghurt and silently pray for the dude to hurry up. Henry’s about to throw down and no one will be ready for the impending Hiroshima-like explosion that will be unleashed.

I twiddle my thumbs, glancing nervously at Henry’s whining and thrashing about. I give checkout dude one more minute for good measure but my eye twitches at the sight of him taking out a punnet of tomatoes and replacing them with the punnet of mushrooms.

They are the exact same size!

“Mummy!” Henry wails, his little fists gripping the bar and shaking it furiously.

I suddenly jump into action. I grab the tomatoes off the dude and shove them into a bag. “How about you scan and I’ll help bag,” I tell him with a smile that’s too wide to be considered normal.

He recoils at the sight of my crazed look and starts quickly scanning. I shove items left, right, and centre into bags, practically arm sweeping them in. I work at a rapid pace and only pause for breath once I hand over my credit card to pay.

I stand back and take stock of my surroundings.

The people behind me and the checkout dude are giving me strange looks. I start from the realisation of my erratic behaviour.

Embarrassed, I quickly leave with my screaming toddler. It’s a sobering moment of selfawareness at how different my life has become.

Do I regret having kids? Definitely not.

Would I change anything? Probably not.

Oh, wait. Yes. Avoid the Tetris guy.

By Kathy Ha. Kathy is a creative writer, storytelling enthusiast and Eastside mama of two, sharing snippets of her journey through life and parenting on her blog, KN J Tales and Snippets. She aims to inspire, empower and ignite laughter, with every word that she writes. www.knj.home.blog

swImMING INTO SUmmer

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Australian Swimwear all the way: Monte & Lou - monteandlou.com Founded in Sydney by best friends, Monte & Lou understand that no two women’s bodies are the same and they design with that very uniqueness in mind.

1. Monte & Lou Cross Front Bralette $99.95 and regular pant $74.95 2. Monte & Lou Copperhead Long Sleeve Surfsuit $199.95 Zella Swim - zellaswim.com.au Shiralee is a busy mama of 2 energetic boys and a self proclaimed curvy-girl. After kids she wanted to create what women want in a swimsuit, something that reclaims your confidence, makes you feel sexy and proves to you that you’ve still got it.

3. Zella Swim Rhi Rhi Adjustable Bikini Top $84 and Rhi Rhi High Waisted Reversible Bottoms $96 4. Zella Swim Ariella Versatile Reversible One Piece $170

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Marvell Lane - marvell-lane.com Designed in Byron Bay by Rachael Marelle, Marvell Lane caters specifically to style conscious fuller-busted women. Not only do they manufacturer ethically but do so as sustainably as possible, even limiting their use of plastics to almost nil!

5. Marvell Lane Sofia One Piece - Valentina Print - $169.95 6. Marvell Lane Ava Bikini Top $129.95 & Arianna Bikini Brief $69.95 Infamous Swim -infamousswim.com Famous for twinning your family, local Melbourne mum Gemma Crowe’s stunning range is for women who want to feel empowered in their swimwear no matter what stage of life. Purchase a pair of their Marshmallow Leopard swimwear and they will donate $5 to Share a Dignity Australia to support women in crisis.

7. Marshmallow Leopard GIA top $69 Marshmallow Ginger bottoms $66 8. Monochrome Miranda one piece $128

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Mara Swim - maraswim.com.au Sisters Kirsty and Naomi are behind the iconic Australian Made luxurious swimwear label - MARA swim Australia. After Naomi was diagnosed with melanoma, the siblings started a movement to spread awareness of sun damage while producing the long awaited style that has been missing from sun protection – and so MARA swim Australia was born.

9. Mara swim ADORE One Piece $275 10. Mara swim FLORALE One Piece $275 Une piece - www.unepiece.com Living by the mantra “Life is Beautiful” founder of UNE PIECE, Carly Brown, launched the brand with a single-minded passion to empower women to feel beautiful by the water.

11. Une piece Classic One Piece Leopard RRP $189

MummActiv - www.mummactiv.com 12. Breastfeeding friendly Mums Gone Wild swim top $69 Sunsoaked - sunsoaked.com.au 13. SunSoaked originated from a desire by the Australian founderKate Davis Steer to enjoy her outdoor lifestyle by the ocean, pool and beyond to the fullest. Bree Half Sleeve One Piece – Bahia. $239.00 SomerSide Towels - www.somerside.com.au 14. They’ve transformed discarded plastic bottles into the most uniquely designed and versatile towel. Each towel contains 8-14 plastic bottles $55 Tesalate Towels -au.tesalate.com The idea for Tesalate came to Aussies Jacky and Volkan when they were out hiking and when it was time to leave their towel was wet, heavy, and sandy and they started questioning if they could make a towel that not only performed much better but looked amazing too.

15. Tesalate Phoenix - Towel for Two $139 au.tesalate.com

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Parklife TATMAN RESERVE ALTONA MEADOWS This neighbourhood playground is a mix of old and new with some recent upgrades bringing a great drawcard – a double flying fox.

It’s a fantastic playground if you have kids of mixed ages – younger kids will enjoy the swings and smaller slide; older kids will love the flying fox and the sporting features; and kids of all ages can try the spinning basket with its stable birds nest base under a more daring climbing frame. The flying fox features an accessible seat and path.

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Active features include a half court basketball, Aussie rules and soccer goal, and nearby trees to climb. Walk, scoot or ride along the nearby Bay Trail into Cheetham Wetlands or Truganina Park and the 100 steps of Federation.

There’s BBQs, a drinking fountain/tap, picnic shelter, and bike hoops. No toilets – Central Square Shopping Centre is an option a short drive away.

Tatman Drive, Altona Meadows

festive fun In the WEST Christmas in Maribyrnong

Newport Christmas Fair

Various locations.

See www.festivalcity.com.au

Sat 7th Dec, 9.30am-1pm.

Paine Reserve, Newport.

Christmas in Maribyrnong is going to be bigger and brighter than ever with stars, lights and colour setting the scene for this year’s festivities. In celebration of their new vibrant design, children under 10 can enter a colouring competition to win a special Christmas hamper (see page 27). They can also post letters to Santa at local libraries and get a response sent to their home.

Presented by Outlets Newport Community Education Centre and Newport Traders Association. Come down to Paine Reserve in Newport and enjoy children’s activities, jumping castle, animal farm, StringsWest performance, Frezzi the Magician ‘Magic’ Show and meet Santa. www.facebook.com/newportvic

The fun continues with Seddon Village welcoming their very own ArtVo 3D art installation, and there are several locations where residents can once again Elf -themselves in Footscray, West Footscray and Yarraville.

Carols at the Castle

Carols in West Footscray Sun 21st Dec, 2-10pm, Johnson Reserve, West Footscray.

Bring out your picnic rugs, picnic baskets to share and bring down the whole family and friends to celebrate Christmas and the New Year. You will get to see and hear, and sing along with the amazing hidden talents of the West! Talented Local Choir groups and bands will be leading the carols.

A visit by Santa, his hard working elves and Frosty the Snowman are in the works, providing the summer does not dehydrate his reindeer from the North Pole and Mrs Claus will also be coming along for story telling to kiddies of all ages. Fireworks will be happening at 9.30pm.

Christmas at the Lakes Sat 7th Dec, 3-10pm, Breezewater Reserve, Sanctuary Lakes.

This year’s event features live performances and Christmas carols by professional local talent and school children, children’s rides and an animal farm, face painting, food and craft stalls, a special visit from Santa and a fireworks finale.

There is something for all the family.

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Sun 15th Dec, 5-9pm, Overnewton Castle, Keilor.

Come and celebrate the festive season at the 2019 Carols at the Castle Gates open at 5pm, with the concert commencing from 7pm.

Pre-Concert entertainment includes a visit from Santa and Mrs Claus in the magical grotto, crafts for the kids and some amazing roving acrobatic elves. Food and drink will be available to purchase on site or pack a picnic and bring a low chair or cushion.

Melton Carols by Candlelight Sat 7th Dec, 6.30-9.30pm, Hannah Watts Park, Melton.

The 2019 Carols by Candlelight will return to the newly refurbished Hannah Watts Park.

There’s lots for the kids to do before the singing starts so make sure you come down from 6pm for free: Face painting, bauble decorating, Santa letter writing, say hello to the roving elves and gingerbread man decorating.

Bring your loved ones, pull up a patch of grass and get ready to sing.

Carols at the Substation

Christmas Kingdom

Sat 15th Dec, from 7pm, 1 Market Street, Newport.

Mon–Sun, 10am–5pm, corner of Ascot Vale Road and Duncan Street, Flemington.

Newport Fiddle & Folk Club presents its 11th annual community carols night. Celebrate the spirit of Christmas in the community by listening to and singing along with local musicians.

Christmas on Vernon Street Thur 5th Dec, 5-9pm, Vernon Street, South Kingsville.

Enjoy late night shopping and family entertainment celebrating Christmas on Vernon Street. facebook.com/vernonstreet3015

Williamstown Community Christmas Event Fri 6th Dec, 5-8.30pm, Nelson Place, Ferguson Street and Douglas Parade, Williamstown.

This community Christmas event will have plenty of entertainment, face painting, balloon twisting, local community musicians and of course Santa will be roving Douglas Parade and Ferguson Street in the local vintage fire truck. visitwilliamstown.com.au

Deck the Hall Street Fri 6th Dec, 4pm, Hall Street, Newport.

Presented by Newport Traders Association.

Celebrate Christmas in Newport! Head down to Hall Street and enjoy great specials, shopping, food, drink, live music, and more! facebook.com/newportvic

Santa’s Post Box On now until 14th Dec. Australia Post is encouraging young Australians to write to Santa this Christmas. To ensure Santa can reply, please attach a 65 cent stamp on the front of the envelope and write your name and return address on the back and post it by Dec 14. Please note that Santa will only reply to Australian addresses. Letters to Santa can be placed in a dedicated Santa mailbox at most Post Offices or any red street post box. postcard from Santa.

All the Christmas shopping fun you can want in the one store. Discover the magic of Christmas at Christmas Kingdom.

A wonderland of inspiration, with all your festive decorating needs under the one roof.

Santa’s Magical Kingdom On now until Dec 29th, Caulfield Racecourse.

The magic of Christmas will come alive at Santa’s Magical Kingdom with an interactive walk-through adventure land including everything that you love about Christmas, plus the Bertocchi International Spectacular Christmas Show that will amaze everyone at Caulfield Racecourse. Lasting memories of fun, laughter and special ‘family time’ will be remembered by guests long after the event has come to a close. Santa’s Magical Kingdom is for every child and the ‘inner-child’ in all of us. www.santasmagicalkingdom.com.au

Santa train at Bellarine railway 14th–15th Dec, 10am, 11am, 12pm, 1pm & 2pm, Queenscliff Station.

Make this Christmas extra special by joining Santa, Mrs Claus and the carolling elves on board the Santa Train. Enjoy a steam train ride from Queenscliff to Lakers Siding and return.

Gingerbread Village by Epicure On now until 24th Dec, 9am-8.15pm daily, St. Collins Lane, 260 Collins St, Melbourne.

This festive season, the Gingerbread Village will be showcased at St. Collins Lane (only 2 minutes walk from the Melbourne Town Hall), with plenty of activities organised for the kids to ensure a fun day out for young and old.

EPICURE’S pastry chefs will also be baking and selling delicious treats – the perfect Christmas gifts for friends and family!

Entry to the Gingerbread Village is by gold coin donation, with all proceeds going to the Royal Children’s Hospital.

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Let’s Talk About ‘IT’ At thirteen, I was the second last girl in our group to get ‘IT’.

If this was a race, it seemed I was destined to languish at the loser’s end. If having your period signified maturity, was I to remain a child forever? Worse still, was there something fundamentally wrong with me?

I was interstate when my daughter first got her period. The texts were never ending. Despite having discussed menstruation with her, the reality was as emotional as it was physical.

I’d abandoned her during this deep, dark, mysterious rite of passage and she had to fess up about bodily functions to a babysitter.

As over fifty percent of girls these days get their first period younger than thirteen and starting at nine is not entirely unusual, it’s imperative that we assist kids in demystifying periods. Culturally, it does seem we are learning to attach less shame to periods, but there’s still a way to go.

We need to be open and honest and remove stigma from a completely normal process.

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The only novel from my adolescence I can recall that openly discussed menstruation was Are you there, God? It’s me, Margaret by Judy Blume.

I wrote The Last One in the Universe partly as a homage to Judy Blume; updated for modern audiences but still entirely frank about an experience that affects half the population.

In children’s fiction, readers generally ‘read up’, looking to characters a year or two older than they are so as to vicariously experience their future. So, this book (as well as others in the Girl V the World series) is aimed at readers from 8 up.

Kids are crying out for knowledge in this area.

So, let’s talk about ‘IT’. Let’s talk about emotions, cramps, tampons, pads, leakage, what the blood looks like, how it feels, how symptoms can vary from person to person.

Let’s talk about PERIODS - Period.

By Chrissie Perry (who also writes as Chrissie Keighery). Chrissie is the author of thirty-five books for children and young adults, including the popular Go Girl series which has sold over 3 million copies. The Last One in the Universe, a Hardie Grant Egmont book, is refreshingly honest and deliciously heartwarming, perfect for readers aged 8 to 13.

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New year, new you Let’s all be honest, very rarely do we set ourselves a new year’s resolution that we actually stick to. This is largely due us falling into the trap of setting ourselves unrealistic or unachievable goals, especially when it comes to improving our health and well-being.

Be Fit Food shares their top 5 (achievable!) health goals to set yourself with easy ways you can change up small parts of your day to day and improve your health in 2020.

1. Swap it Simple swaps with your food choices can help you feel more energetic and get all the vitamins and minerals you need for a healthy body.

Practice a balanced, respectful and healthy relationship with food. Become aware of your hunger cues to learn when you are hungry and what you are hungry for. This can stop habitual eating for the sake of it. After eating a meal, take the time to notice your feelings of fullness.

Pause for a moment to contemplate what you’ve eaten and how it made you feel. Don’t simply eat more because you can... we all know food comas lead to fatigue and bloating!

5. Take the stairs There can be some very easy ways to slowly incorporate more movement into your day to day:

Some easy and simple swaps can be:

• Choose the stairs rather than escalator

• adding herbs or spices to your meal rather than salt

• Park further away when at the shops

• swap deep fried food for grilled, sautéed or poached options

• Take your runners to work and walk 10-20 minutes on your lunch break

• choose water or soda/mineral water rather than sugary drinks or alcohol

• When you’re waiting for the kettle to boil or the microwave, squeeze in as many squats or lunges as you can.

• trade processed meat like sausages, hamburgers or bacon for chicken breast, steak or fish

It’s always a good idea to seek support with practitioners in the field who may support you in achieving personal health goals.

• make a fruit platter for dessert

2. Add variety and colour Add as much colour as you can to your dinner plate from veggies. Try to buy a vegetable you aren’t familiar with each week and explore the different ways you can cook it. Variety ensures you get an array of different vitamins and minerals into your diet.

3. Morning routine Allow 10 minutes at the start of your day to make time for a healthy, wholefood breakfast.

If you’re wanting to get active, set your alarm 40 minutes earlier and to make time for a 30-minute walk around the block. Walking can have hugely positive impact on both our weight and mental health.

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4. Practice mindful eating

Be Fit Food provides the food, resources and dietitian support to help you lose up to 5kgs in two weeks. For more information head to www.befitfood.com.au.

Are You Looking For Child Care or Kindergarten in 2020?

Secure your child’s place on the waitlist

Enquire today on 8481 1100 or visit ecms.org.au for a list of centres in your area

ECMS is a leading community not-for-profit provider of early learning and care services across Melbourne.

Let’s Connect @ecmschildren @ecms_childhood @ecms_childhood

POSITIVE TRANSITION 8 tips for a positive transition to childcare or kindergarten Starting at an early learning and care centre (childcare) or kindergarten for the first time is a big step and can be a daunting experience for both you and your child. It’s important you feel comfortable with the environment and with the educators who will be caring for and educating your child.

For some children change is easy. They embrace it and will confidently smile, wave goodbye to you on the first day and not look back. For others, it may be the first time they’ve been away from their immediate family, and it can take some time for them to settle into a new environment and routine.

Both responses are perfectly OK, and a sign of healthy emotional development.

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To help in this transition, Early Childhood Management Services (ECMS) has put together a few tips to support you and your child navigate this emotional time:

1.

1. Visit the centre or kindergarten several times before you leave your child for the first time so they can start to develop relationships with the educators and familiarise themselves with the space, equipment and toys. The more familiar they are, the easier it’ll be when it’s time for you to go. Many early learning centres offer staggered orientation to suit individual family needs, so ensure you have conversations with your child’s educator about what you believe will work best for you.

2.

3.

7.

4.

8.

2. Prepare your child for the upcoming change. Talk with your child about what will happen when they go to kinder/childcare and who’ll be there to look after them.

3. Building strong relationships with your child’s educators is important. Talk to your child’s educator about any concerns you may have. They will be able to support you in a consistent strategy that will assist your child to settle into their new environment. At times your child may need an educator to support your farewell. Work together to assess the best way for the transition or handover from parent to educator. Each child is different and requires different support, but by working together you and your child’s educator can plan and adapt strategies to meet your child’s needs.

4. A consistent and predictable routine at drop off time can help promote a positive separation. A simple routine such as putting your child’s bag in their locker and spending a couple of minutes with them doing an activity they enjoy can help a child to feel comfortable. Then let them know it’s time to say goodbye. Telling your child you’ll be back after lunch/afternoon tea/outside time can help them feel secure. Keeping your language predictable (by having a little script) can also be reassuring for the child, builds a sense of familiarity and comfort and they learn to predict ‘what comes next’.

5.

6.

5. A comfort item can assist in the transition.

If your child has a special teddy, toy or small blanket they use to comfort themselves, ensure you let educators know and bring it along. Transitional comfort items can assist the child to feel safe while they’re adapting to a new environment.

6. Be part of the centre! Children love sharing their new space and friends with their family.

You could volunteer to help for a session as educators are always on the lookout for willing parents to spend time reading stories, gardening, cooking, making music, or sharing any other special skills. The more involved you are with the centre, the more your child

will see you have a strong relationship with educators, which assists them to feel secure and safe.

7. Once you’ve said goodbye to your child, it is time to leave! Dragging out the goodbye or going back several times because they are upset is not helpful for you or your child.

It’s hard to walk away knowing your child is upset, but educators are highly skilled at settling children. And the more confident you appear with this routine (even if you end up having a quiet cry in your car after drop off), the sooner your child will develop responsive relationships with the teaching team, and feel settled and safe.

8. Feel free to call the centre to check in with. It’s important you’re confident in the team supporting your child, and that you’re working together in transitioning your child into the program.

With some thoughtful planning and preparation, you can support your child’s transition to their new environment to ensure their early learning experience is filled with exploration, discovery, friendships and fun!

By selecting an ECMS childcare or kindergarten program, you can rest assured your child will have access to the best possible start to their educational journey.

They have been helping thousands of Melbourne children through high quality, play-based programs for over 22 years.

In fact, now more than 6500 Melbourne families each week entrust ECMS with their child’s early learning and care.

For more useful tips follow ECMS on: Facebook: @ecmschildren Instagram: @ecms_childhood Twitter: @ecms_childhood

By Shannan Mudie, Deputy Director Early Childhood Education, Early Childhood Management Services. Shannan holds a Bachelor of Early Childhood Education and a Certificate 4 in Workplace Training and Assessment. www.ecms.org.au

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HOLIDAY petfection How to make sure your pet is happy and cared for when you and the family are away!

It’s holiday season! But you’re a pet owner...

Even though you love seeing new places and revisiting old favourites, the one thing that is always difficult is leaving your pets behind.

Here are some of my favourite tips on how to make sure your furry family members are happy and healthy while you’re gone!!

Plan ahead. Before taking off, give yourself time to find the right person or service to care of them. Consider the dates you’re leaving, if it’s at peak holiday times get organised early to book your pet care.

Leave your pets at home. We understand some pets are happier at home in their own environment with their usual smells, and surroundings. A lot of pet owners also have more than one pet and possibly fish, rabbits, birds the list can go on and on. See if you can have a friend house/pet sit or engage a professional service like My Pet Watch to come to visit them each day, walk them, play with them, clean the yard and feed them. This means your pet(s) get to enjoy the comforts of being in their own home.

Insurance. A lot of pet owners these days have pet insurance, but what about the people who care for your pets? Using a professional service can alleviate this concern.

Leave prepared. Leave your pet’s minder with detailed instructions about how to reach you if there’s a problem and what to do in case you are 80 feet underwater diving or staying in a safari camp and she or he can’t contact you.

Your vet’s details, microchip numbers, your pet’s like and dislikes, food intake and meal requirements, favourite toys, beds, blanket and 22

an emergency contact if you’re unreachable.

The more information the better. That way you can be assured that they can proceed until you can be reached. It also makes it a lot easier for you to relax when you’re gone.

Collars and name tags. Even at home, have your dog or cat wear a collar that has your phone number on it. You’ll be happy you did this, in case they ever try to run away.

Communicate. Take a tip from ET: Phone home. Your pets love to hear your voice!

Thanks to technology nowadays, we can also visit “in person,” thanks to Skype and FaceTime.

There is now even a PetCam device that you can hire through My Pet Watch and selfmonitor your pets through an app on your smart device.

Take your pet with you — in photo form. Kids often miss their pets when away. Slip photos of them in your purse or wallet to pull out when they are needed most. Alternately you may have hundreds of photos of them on your smartphone. Sharing your photos with other animal lovers while you’re on holidays is always a great conversation maker!

Don’t make a big deal when you leave and return. Long goodbyes and hellos can make your pets feel nervous and can lead to separation anxiety. To help keep your pet calm, walk out like you’ll be back in a minute, and when you return, greet them like it hasn’t been that long. Pretending like it’s not a big deal will help them think so too.

By Natasha Morgan, security and pet care expert and founder of My Home Watch. myhomewatch.com.au

ts a CDP e presen Melbourn e tr n e C Arts

duction Kids Pro

Ages

6+

LIVE ON S TAG E !

4 – 19 JANUARY Arts Centre Melbourne BOOK NOW

artscentremelbourne.com.au

mama can Cook!

Peach glazed ham Ingredients

5–6 kg (11–13 oz) ham leg, skin removed and trimmed Glaze: This glaze can be made up to two days ahead. How’s that for getting organised?

2 tablespoons olive oil 1 small brown onion, roughly chopped 2 star anise 1 teaspoon ground cardamom 2 yellow peaches, stoned and finely diced 125ml dark rum 125ml white-wine vinegar 230g dark brown sugar

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Serves: 8 Time: Approx 1 hour 30 min

Method

Preheat the oven to 200°C. To make the glaze, heat the oil in a saucepan over a medium– high heat. Add the onion, star anise and cardamom and sauté for 4 minutes, stirring with a wooden spoon. Add the peaches and rum and continue to sauté for 5 minutes.

Stir in the vinegar and cook for 4 minutes. Add the sugar and cook for a further 4 minutes, stirring until the sugar has dissolved.

Remove the star anise with a fork and carefully pour the mixture into a blender, then purée until smooth.

Using a small, sharp knife, score the ham fat in a large diamond pattern. Cover the hock with aluminium foil.

Place the ham on a lightly greased wire rack in a roasting tin lined with non-stick baking paper.

Brush the glaze all over the ham, then cook for 40–50 minutes, basting with the glaze every 10 minutes, or until golden, caramelised and cooked through.

This is an edited extract from Chyka Celebrate by Chyka Keebaugh published

by Hardie Grant Books $40 and is available where all good books are sold.

Photography ©Commission Studio

Christmas Pud Ingredients

Method

Butter, for greasing

Grease a 1.5 litre/6 cup pudding bowl with butter.

100g pitted dates

Roughly chop the dates, then combine with the ginger in a large mixing bowl. Add the remaining ingredients and mix until very well combined.

3 tablespoons chopped crystallised ginger Zest of 1 orange 500g mixed dried fruit, such as cranberries, cherries, apricots, sultanas and raisins 125g plain (all-purpose) flour 125g caster (superfine) sugar 150g fresh breadcrumbs 2 tablespoons brandy Handful of chopped nuts, such as pecan nuts, Brazil nuts and hazelnuts 1 large, free-range egg 150ml milk

Transfer the mixture to the greased bowl and cover with a double layer of aluminium foil. Tie a piece of string around the bowl to hold the foil in place.

Place the bowl in a large stockpot with a tight-fitting lid and pour in enough water to come halfway up the side of the bowl. Bring to the boil, then place the lid on the pan and simmer for 3 hours – don’t forget to check the water level regularly to make sure it never boils dry. If it does, it will burn and the bowl will crack.

After 3 hours, remove the foil and turn the pudding out onto a plate. Serve warm.

Chyka likes to serve it with cute gingerbread reindeer antlers on top!

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PLEASE RETURN YOUR COMPLETED STAR TO FOOTSCRAY TOWN HALL OR YOUR NEAREST MARIBYRNONG LIBRARY SERVICE. Name: ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Age: ___________________ Address: ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Parent’s Name: _________________________________________________________________________________ Parent’s Phone Number: _____________________________________ Terms & Conditions: Entry is open for children under age 10. Winners will be selected by members of staff at the Maribyrnong City Council. All winners will be notified by telephone within three days of the competition close date. Competition dates are 8 November – 14 December. Prizes to be collected from the Footscray Town Hall.

Maribyrnong City Council is committed to its obligations in protecting your personal information pursuant to the Privacy and Data Protection Act 2014 and the Health Records Act 2001.

The personal information requested on this form is being collected by Maribyrnong City Council for the purpose of the 2019 Christmas colouring competition. The information will be used by Council for this primary purpose or directly related purposes. Council may not be able to assist/provide a service as a consequence should this information not be provided. Council will not disclose your personal information to any third party unless required to do so by law. Requests for access to and/or amendment of the information provided may be made to Council’s Privacy Officer on 9688 0200. For more information please refer to Council’s Privacy Policy, available for download from Council’s website.

There’s something for everyone in Maribyrnong City Council’s program of free Christmas activities from 13 November 2019 to 6 January 2020 Enter the colouring competition for your chance to win a Christmas hamper of prizes including: Maribyrnong Aquatic Centre swimming passes, cinema tickets, art supplies and more. Return your coloured star to your nearest Maribyrnong City Library or the Footscray Town Hall before December 14.

For the full Christmas program of events visit festivalcity.com.au

ConnectIng wIth KIds It’s important to find time to connect with your child every day, even when you work full time. There is a lot of research on the amount and quality of time that parents spend with their children and how it effects their relationship and future outcomes.

“Children have to feel they get enough of you, whether you’re in the house or not.”

“It’s about having a warm, physical connection, talking to them, playing with them, being responsive to them. You don’t have to be at home all day to do that,” says Dr Markham.

Based on the above research and ideas about finding times to connect with your child one on one, look into their eyes, hug them and listen to them…

Oxytocin is a chemical in the brain released during times when a person feels love and connection. It has been shown to help parents bond with their children, adding a sense of trust and support between them. This bond most likely helps our brain produce and use oxytocin, causing a child to feel more positive emotions.

Here are 15 times of the day when you can find a few minutes to talk, engage and enjoy the connection with your child.

1. When getting your child out of bed in the morning – Start the day with a big kiss and cuddle, tell your child you missed them, ask how they slept (even if they can’t talk you can talk to them as though they can). Tell them what the plan is for the day.

5. When getting them dressed – It’s a good time to talk about what to wear, what colour are their socks etc. You can also get in a little cuddle at this time. This is one of my favourite moments, as I get to hug my child with just his nappy on and hold his whole body close to me.

2. When changing their nappy – This is a great time to have a little chat, tickle, sing a song with your child. It’s also a great time to give them a big cuddle when you put them down on the change table (or floor, or mat) and again when you pick them up.

6. When walking out to the car – Take them by the hand (or carry them depending on their age) and count the steps together or have a look at the flowers in the garden, or the clouds in the sky. Have a quick chat on the way to the car.

3. When making and eating breakfast – Even if they are too young to talk, you can ask them what they’d like for breakfast, toast or Weetbix for example and they will likely respond in some way to you (they may point).

4. While packing bags – Have some random dance time after breakfast, if you aren’t running late. I like to put a song on and dance around the kitchen holding my child and singing to them. They usually laugh and find it very funny if I spin them around and sing.

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7. When putting them in the car and doing up their seat belt – Pick them up and give them a squeeze as your put them in the car. Say “clip” as you clip in the seat belt and they will tend to copy you.

8. When dropping them off – Get down to your child’s level and say goodbye, give them a hug, say have lovely day, ask them who they are going to play with today.

9. When picking them up – Pick up your child, tell them you missed them, and give them a huge hug and kiss. Ask them about their day, what did they have for lunch, did they create/draw/paint anything, who did they play with, did they go outside?

10. When giving them a bath in the evening – Kids need to be supervised in the bath, so it’s a great time to get a few minutes with them. You can play with ducks and boats in the bath, use bath crayons to draw on the bath and your child.

11. When giving them dinner – Similarly to breakfast time, you can discuss what you’re going to have for dinner. Talk about the colours of the food, why they are healthy (e.g. carrots are good for your vision, protein helps build muscle).

12. When brushing their teeth – You may do this in the bath or at a different time. You can talk to them about their teeth and all the parts of their mouth they need to brush. It’s a good

Finish off the day with a little chat; if they are old enough ask how they are feeling, talk about what will happen tomorrow (e.g. kinder, weekend, a party). You may want to have a little night time ritual such as doing round and round the garden on their hand, or laying with them for a few minutes.

Connecting with your child every day will build your bond with them, and these will become moments that you will treasure and reflect back on when they grow.

chance to get down to their level and look in their mouth and their little face.

13. When getting them into their pyjamas – You can talk to them about what a nice day it was, something nice that happened today or if something not so nice happened how tomorrow is a new day. Again a great time for a kiss and cuddle.

14. When reading a book before bed – This is a really nice time to connect, ask your child to choose a book and then read together. If they are quite young but can talk you can ask what’s happening on the pages, what animals they see, you don’t have to just “read” the book.

15. Bedtime feed – If your child has a bottle or or breastfeed before bed, you can hold them in your arms and get them to relax. This is a good time to sing softly to your child, look into their little face and enjoy them. Hug them close.

When two humans hold each other closely for an extended period oxytocin is released which feels great.

By Kristen Dias from Travel Karma.

Kristen created Travel Karma to help parents feel calm and prepared when getting on a long-haul flight with their children, knowing they would be captivated and engaged with educationally designed activities. Travel Karma’s activity packs don’t distract your kids, they Teach them. www.travelkarma.com

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shall we dance?

Did you know Australian kids love to dance!

More Australian children participate in dance classes per week than in any team sport.

And the good news: it’s good for them.

Here are the top five reasons why dance has a positive impact on children.

1. It promotes social interaction and fosters relationships Dance classes pulls kids out of the bubble of screen-time and brings them face to face with each other. Learning choreography together requires patience and partnership, and teaches the value of working as a team. Children can develop new and lasting friendships and build trust and openness with others. Socialisation can help kids break out of their shell and improves their self-esteem and communication skills. Dance friends are forever friends!

2. It improves physical health Dance is a firm foundation for health in later life. Dancing can increase a child’s flexibility, physical strength and stamina, and instilling a love of dance from a young age can help motivate kids to stay active as they grow up. Learning to dance can improve posture, balance, coordination and overall cardiovascular health. When a child is more physically active, they are more likely to participate in sports and other school activities, and less likely to put on unhealthy weight.

Dance also offers a positive physical outlet for kids with boundless energy who need to release pent-up excitement.

3. It teaches discipline and focus Eyes on the prize! As children practise for endof-year concerts, they learn about perseverance and hard work. Dance is the ideal creative outlet in that it balances freedom of movement with instruction and structure. During dance classes, teachers inspire kids to try new things while promoting self-motivation and selfdiscipline.

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4. It nurtures confidence and boosts self-assurance Find your light … As children begin to understand the movements and postures required in dance, they gain a better sense of their bodies and themselves. As they become more comfortable in their own skin, their confidence and self-esteem also significantly improve. Dance lessons can encourage children towards more positive attitudes and help them explore their own self-expression.

5. It sparks creativity Dance happens outside the box. It encourages kids to open their imaginations, and to explore the creative worlds inside them. Because dance incorporates many other art forms, it may also lead to the discovery of other creative outlets such as art, music or drama. Early childhood is the best time to foster creativity, and creative problem solving will serve your child for life, whatever field they pursue.

Looking for a way to inspire your child to dance? The Australian Ballet’s Storytime series is designed especially for kids aged 3 and up.

At under an hour, these interactive, narrative versions of the great classics are the perfect introduction to the magic of dance. Storytime: The Nutcracker will be running in Melbourne and Sydney these summer holidays.

Written by Rose Mulready and Keshia Contini The Australian Ballet australianballet.com.au

SWIMMING SWIMMING LESSONS LESSONS SAVE SAVE LIVES LIVES

GET A GRIP ON THE RIP! COULD YOU SWIM OUT OF IT? LEARNING TO SWIM IS A SKILL FOR LIFE, AND IT’S NEVER TO SOON – OR LATE TO START!

LEARN FROM THE SURVIVAL SPECIALISTS

7 great Paul Sadler Swimland centres located across the Western Suburbs paulsadlerswimland.com

Just for kids

T H E N U TC R AC K E R 11 – 15 DECEMBER 2019 Arts Centre Melbourne

Performances: 11am, 2pm and 4pm

The perfect Christmas gift your tiny dancers won’t forget!

Artists of The Australian Ballet. Photography Jeff Busby

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PREPARING FOR SCHOOL 7 tips to start school easier Starting school for the first time is a major milestone for children and parents. Here, leading family relationship expert, Dr Karen Phillip, shares her tips to make the transition to school easy and fun.

1. Have a few trial lunch days where you pack the child a lunch box at home (if not done at preschool) and ensure they eat correct little lunch first then big lunch, this is particularly important if all food is in one lunch box. And ensure they can unwrap their lunch.

2. Shop together for stationery, shoes and uniform. Check the school equipment list and make the shopping list together to help make it fun and exciting. Shop ahead to avoid last minute rushing and unnecessary stress. Getting their school uniform will allow the child to feel big. Ensure they are comfortable in their new uniform look, have them choose their lunch box and drink bottle or backpack. This allows them to have ownership of the school experience.

3. Children need to be aware of the time frame of preparing for school each morning.

Much conflict erupts of a morning between parents and children when the children are slow to become ready for school or bus. Set clear expectations and consequences so they understand and remember that children have no concept of time under about 7 years old so telling them you have half an hour to get ready will mean nothing to them.

4. Use a calendar or planner to show your child what is happening each day. This will help reduce any anxiety or confusion and get them ready for the day/week ahead.

5. Separating from the child when they commence school. Mum standing at the gate crying will only tell the child that this school is scary and bad. Parents hugging their child emotionally and telling them how much they 32

will miss their child will make the child sad and anxious. First day, meet the teacher, show your child around, smile and go. Drop off and leave with a smile, perhaps wearing a large dark pair of sunglasses to hide any tears or emotion.

6. Take the child to the school and show them around. Many children are scared they do not know where their classroom is or where the toilets are. Show them the Kindy area and toilets.

7. Label everything – all clothing, bags, lunch box and drink bottle. If the child puts their item down and other children’s items are the same, a child can become distressed thinking the other child has taken their item or it’s lost. Labelling all items will prevent this and assist the teacher to sort out correct belongings. Place their first name and first letter of surname at least.

Dr Karen Phillip is a leading relationship and parenting expert highly skilled at working with families who are experiencing problems with conflict and child behaviours and is a published author and speaker.

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the art of Summer Not all mamas are inclined to enjoy DIY or the clean up afterwards, so here are some tips to get you through the Summer break when the cries of “I’m bored” echo through the house.

Firstly, like going into most battles, you need to be prepared! Have a basic art kit ready to go by investing in: • Acrylic paints in primary colours as well as black and white so you can mix ANY shade!

And lastly, this stuff doesn’t have to cost a fortune or require much forethought, you can use whatever you have laying around at home. The humble potato print can easily bring the fun!

How to: • Grab a potato or three from your pantry – firmer is better but use up the ones that are starting to sprout by all means

• Paint brushes in a few different sizes]

• Cut them in half so you have nice flat edge and a big enough round end to act as a stamp “handle”

• Coloured paper and card

• To make “patterns” in the flat surface you can:

• A watercolour palette

• Scissors • PVA glue • Hole punches in different shapes Be like the magpie and keep all the bright and shiny wrapping and ribbons from Christmas to use on a rainy day.

Make inside a glitter-free zone or you’ll be sparkling until at least Valentine’s Day (and remember that the “eco” variety is best when you’re hosing or sweeping the mess into the garden).

Combine two activities like a nature walk with a creative project. Figure out your purpose before you leave the house and then forage for leaves, sticks and rocks, to paint or print or weave with when you get home.

Pay attention to the process over product. Not all budding little designers are created equal, so try to find the fun and focus in the making and not necessarily a “perfectly” executed final piece. Use this as a mindfulness time. No really!

Hear us out.

Leave your phone in a different room, embrace the mess and the imperfection and just be present with your offspring. Remember what it’s like to get paint on your hands or peel glue off your fingers; put your mum guilt in the bin and worry about the housework later, your small folk 34

value laughing with you way more than having a steady supply of clean socks and undies (it’s summer after all, they can wear their togs).

Use a chopstick or skewer to poke holes for polka dots Use a paring knife to make cross-hatches for a waffle pattern Use a melon baller to remove lines for stripes Use cookie cutters to make a template for various shapes and cut them back carefully with a knife • Place a generous amount of acrylic paint on a takeaway container lid and either dip the potato pattern-side down straight into the paint OR use a brush to coat the paint onto the spud • Press the pattern-side down firmly onto paper – try to avoid moving it or it might smudge your pattern – and voila, a print!

• Experiment with colour, shape and different amounts of paint to create all sorts of artworks • If you want to change colours just rinse your potato under the tap, pat dry on paper towel and start again

By Bel & Bree, Melbourne mamas with four kids between them, besties and co-owners of The Windsor Workshop on bustling Chapel Street, where they run craft classes for adults (with wine!) www.the-windsor-workshop.com

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turn the page Ask Hercules Quick, by Ursula Dubosarsky and illustrated by Andrew Joyner A hilarious and entertaining story about a boy who does a series of odd jobs for his eccentric neighbours, from the bestselling creators of The Terrible Plop.

‘How much money do I have in my piggy bank?’ asked Hercules.

‘Actually,’ said Aunt Alligator, ‘I don’t think you have a piggy bank, Hercules.’

Hercules sighed. No piggy bank, no money. I need a job, he thought. That’s what I need. He got out his paints, his paintbrush and a big piece of plain paper. On the paper, he painted some words. NEED SOMETHING DONE? ASK HERCULES QUICK!.

Published by Allen & Unwin. RRP $19.95

The Great Escape: Wolf Girl 2 by Anh Do, Illustrated by Jeremy Ley The wait is over - Wolf Girl returns!

I held onto the bars of the truck and howled to my dogs as they fell further and further behind. Sunrise, Brutus, Zip, Nosey and Tiny all ran as hard as they could, but there was no way they could keep up… After four years alone in the wild, Gwen is overjoyed to see another person. But when she is thrown into the back of a van and stolen away to a prison camp, things don’t look good. How will her pack find her? Where is her human family? Will the other kids in the camp be friends or enemies? Luckily, Eagle is fast, the dogs are brave, and bars and fences are no match for the one and only Wolf Girl!

Published by Allen & Unwin. RRP $19.95

The Sound of the Dark, by 13 young Australian writers If you want to be thrilled, excited, tantalised, horrified, frightened and shocked all at once, you’ve come to the right book! The Sound of the Dark features puppets, creepy girls, headless teddy bears and rashes to scare the pants off you! (Disclaimer: We are not responsible for run-away pants). Our 15 editors received 135 submissions from young Australian writers, including one by beloved children’s author Oliver Phommavanh. They have collected the very best stories and illustrations to deliver a creepy horror themed book like you’ve never experienced before.

Available at www.100storybuilding.org.au RRP $16.99

But We’re Not Lions by Karen Young The animals were mighty and magnificent, but they were miserable! For way too long, they’d been forced to become something that didn’t feel right - something that felt too much like bad days and scratchy things. The animals needed a hero, or someone to show them that a hero was in each of them all along. A book about boundaries, peer pressure, self-esteem, and self-acceptance, and a reminder for all kids that the very best thing about them, is them.

Available at heysigmund.com. RRP $24.95 36

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EXPERIENCE GIFTS IN THE WEST Experience gifts are becoming more and more popular and with good reason – they have a lower impact on the environment, can easily be tailored to your friend or family member’s interests, and you can tag along for some fun together.

4. Sunseekers Melbourne

We know men read MamaMag too but if that doesn’t happen in your house then a strong hint might be in order for some of these. And if you’re a single mum you might just treat yourself!

Local mums highly rate this spa in Williamstown. You can purchase vouchers for massage, facials, waxing, tanning, and packages with extras like brushing and wraps. There’s also offerings specially for men and for couples.

1. Two Birds Brewery Australia’s first female owned brewery, Two Birds is a popular local and everybody loves to see where their favourite brew comes from. For beer lovers Two Birds Brewery runs tours once a month on a Saturday. twobirdsbrewing.com.au

2. Laneway Festival Event tickets are such a fun gift. The West’s own music festival, The Laneway Festival, will be 8 February in Footscray Park. It showcases rising local and international talent and sells out every year. lanewayfestival.com/melbourne

3. Heart of Hall A cooking class is heaps of fun and a great social outlet too. Newport business Heart of Hall Cooking School and Cafe runs regular classes on cheesemaking, kombucha, fermentation, and smoked foods as well as once off classes featuring food from different nationalities and other specialities. heartofhall.com.au

Give the gift of Melbourne’s latest outdoors trend, stand up paddleboarding over this side of town with Sunseekers in Altona. You’ll be gifting a fun once of activity, and perhaps even a new passion. sunseekersmelbourne.com.au

5. Lavanya Spa Retreat

lavanyaretreat.com.au

6. Sun Theatre You can’t go wrong with a gift card to local icon Sun Theatre. This beautiful art deco cinema is a Westie institution with it’s gorgeous cinemas and extensive choc top varieties! Christmas gift cards are available at the box office or if you’re pressed for time you can purchase electronic or printed cards online. suntheatre.com.au

7. Mums Who Wine An annual membership to a VIP benefit program that offers generous discounts for over 300 local and national businesses that support self care. It also includes discounts on pop up Mums Who Wine events. mumswhowine.com.au

8. Melbourne Zoo Animal encounters are a great gift for animal lovers. At Melbourne Zoo possibilities include giraffes, meerkats and giant tortoise, and all round crowd pleaser the lemurs; Werribee offerings include lions, gorillas and koalas; and at Healesville choose from echidnas, pythons, dingos and more. zoo.org.au

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TreeHaus is an Allied Health Clinic providing specialised therapies to individuals, couples, children and families.

• Paediatrician • Psychology • Psychoanalysis • Couples Counselling • Art Therapy • Speech pathology • Occupational Therapy • Dietetics and Nutrition • Child Assessments

Group therapy also available

Medicare rebate available

9397 4499

www.treehauswilliamstown.com.au

2 Cox’s Garden Williamstown 3016

tiny ballet dancers give your child the gift of dance ballet classes for 3-8 year olds 1/65 ferguson st, williamstown 0488 949 992 westpointedance@gmail.com www.tinyballetdancers.com

SPECIALIST ORTHODONTISTS NO REFERRAL REQUIRED Dr Shelley Coburn provides expert advice and treatment for children, teens and adults for the following: Early intervention treatment (ages 6+) Jaw growth assessments (ages 6+) Orthodontic plates and expanders Traditional and clear braces Invisalign clear aligners

Free consultation when you mention "MamaMag" when booking. (*Valid between 10am and 3pm only.)

65 Droop Street, Footscray 9687 8243 www.westernortho.com.au 40 40

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

PRESENTS

SATURDAY 14TH DECEMBER 10AM-12PM MELBOURNE MUSEUM Includes concert and entertainment by Harrison Craig, Bethany Fisher, Damo Music For Kids, Livvi Kids Music, St Albans East Primary School singing choir and much more. Santa and his crew will be there PLUS you get free entry to Melbourne Museum after!

Tickets available at carolsbydaylight.eventbrite.com.au Friend In Me events are accessible to all and considerate of children with extra sensory requirements, with designated quiet break out zones.

Supported by

ADULTS

$30

KIDS - GOLD COIN DONATION! 41

Chris Humfrey’s

ZOO kEEPER experience AS seen on

Junior Zoo Keeper dates:

Saturday 14th December Great School Holiday Fun! Monday 6th January Program runs from 9am Friday January dates). to 4pm10th (selected Monday 13th Suitable for January kids aged Friday 17th January 5-17 years.

Wednesday 22nd January

Spend a day with zoologist Chris Humfrey, from Animal Planet’s new series “Chris Humfrey's Animal Instinct”, at his very own private zoo in Mount Macedon, just 50min from Melbourne’s CBD. Get up close and personal with over 2000 animals with this hands-on experience which is offered nowhere else.

Chris has personally designed this exclusive program, with strictly limited numbers of children, to ensure your child gets the best WILD experience possible!

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

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WIN

1of 4 Family Passes to Funfields Worth

Have a great day out at Funfields! Visit the new Mystic Kingdom, cool off in at the Volcano Beach wave pool, play in the Amazonian

$198 each!

Falls water play area, ride the Kraken Racer, Typhoon and Gravity Wave waterslides, plus many other wet and dry rides including Aqua Shak, Pirate Ship, Go Karts, Alpine Toboggan Slide and Mini Golf!

See www.mamamag.com.au for terms and conditions.

Parent’s email will be added to our monthly MamaMail. You can opt out at any time.

Simply colour in for your chance to WIN!

Post to: MamaMag Funfields Comp, PO Box 8018, North Road LPO, Brighton East 3187 by Jan 31st.

Child’s name:

Age:

Parent’s name:

Mobile No:

Suburb:

Postcode:

Email:

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wrIte the World Earlier this year I had an idea... in the shower… which is often where the best ideas happen, I reckon.

It was a little niggly idea at first. But it grew and grew, until before I knew it the idea was a project. Which is now happening. The idea in a nutshell: Write the World notebooks, unique notebooks designed to make the world a better place. Our point of difference: 100% of the $10 purchase price of each Write the World notebook sold goes to The Life You Can Save to go towards effective charities. That’s right, 100%.

“Just one $10 notebook can provide safe water to five people for a year or help protect six people from malaria for up to four years.”

I jokingly call it the love project. It’s such an apt name for it. I love so much about it. Selfishly, I love that it allows me to use my skills – working with specialists like designers and printers, creating, writing, implementing, organising. Oh yes, I’m an organiser!

I love that it’s increasing my horizons, allowing me to talk to and meet interesting people I wouldn’t have otherwise come across. It’s broadening my own world.

I love that the whole family is engaged in the project, offering ideas and suggestions and ever so patiently listening to my constant updates and latest Write the World thoughts.

I love that the idea has been so positively embraced by every single person I’ve told about it. It’s a project that seems to bring out the best in people.

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And I love that The Life You Can Save has agreed to be our project’s donor charity. It means the project is totally aligned to where our family has been putting our effective altruism efforts for the past 24 months.

Our family will be directing our monthly effective altruism donations to Write the World for the foreseeable future. We have funded the design and printing of the first 1,500 Write the World notebooks ourselves. For an initial outlay of $4,500 – which we would have donated to effective charities anyway over the course of the coming year – we will eventually be able to direct $15,000 in notebook sales to The Life You Can Save. More than three times what we would have otherwise being able to donate.

Because that is another thing I love about the love project. It has this magical multiplier thing going on. The more we print, the less the notebooks cost. The more we sell, the more we donate. Say, for example, we increase our print quantities in the future – with economies of scale, the notebook production price goes down and for a $5,000 initial investment, we’d see $30,000 donated to The Life You Can Save in notebook sales. How magic is that?

Our aim is to sell 100,000 notebooks by 2040, raising $1 million dollars for charity in the process. To date we have sold around 500 notebooks, so only 99,500 to go!

By Kate Tapping. Inspired by the work of ethicist Peter Singer, Kate and her family have been exploring effective altruism which brought her to launch Write the World notebooks in September this year. Each notebook costs $10 with the full $10 donated to effective charities. Find out more at www.writetheworldnotebooks.org

18-19 JAN 4-5 APRIL ited omas) Lim ited llane (Th Lim © 2019 Gu Entertainment © 2019 HIT

QUEENSCLIFF

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14 ER A T N DECEMB SAUPCOMING FAMILY SPECIALS S RAINTrain Special: 28 October THalloween &

BOOKINGS Santa Train Specials: 15 & 16 December ESSENTIAL

Visit website for details & bookings Gift vouchers available on-line

www.bellarinerailway.com.au W

HEELS

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W A M I M OT

LIVE TO RIDE

Now available at www.wheelsandmotion.com.au Get more from mama - www.mamamag.com.au | Get social with mama - @localmamamag

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ChrIstmas Your Style In Australia, we make our own rules - and that goes for traditional holidays as well!

While some of us still love the traditional Christmas themes and colours – these days – anything goes!

Although we cringe at the outrageously early arrival of Christmas at the shops, it’s worth starting to think about what your Christmas might look like this year.

Getting organised early allows you time to add some additional detail with some fun DIY projects. Not only does a bit of DIY add some budget-friendly finesse, it’s also a great opportunity to wrap the family, (particularly the kids) in the effort and the Christmas Spirit.

At Hirestyle we love all events… but have an extra soft spot for events where families gather, and special memories are made! Our team brainstormed our favourite on-trend 2019 Christmas and have shared three that you can easily adapt to your home decorating, whilst not breaking the bank, and having a whole lotta festive DIY family fun!

Going Natural With the gorgeous clean white spaces and natural materials of so many homes, a traditional Christmas isn’t necessarily complimentary.

Bringing together natural elements and either taking it rustic or ‘Scandi’ can work really well and be just as ‘Christmasy’.

Grabbing a packet of clear baubles is a really fun and easy base to use to bring the kids in to help. This theme allows for some very simple and yet ‘on theme’ decorations by the kids and works perfectly stretched over two days. A good nature hunt in the park to gather small sticks, leaves, moss, even pretty pebbles, will provide the perfect working materials.

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The next day, with working materials laid out, everyone can get to work filling the baubles.

Some may be as simple as some flexible curved vine inside, others may be stuffed full of moss.

Whether jammed full or highlighting just one hero piece, as a group they will work perfectly together. If it is all feeling a little too rustic just add a flourish such as some tartan or red bows to the top.

A Coastal Christmas We are never going to have a white Christmas in Australia, so let’s embrace a new look. Why not take Christmas coastal? I am sure, like my kids, there isn’t a child that doesn’t love beachcombing. So why not give them an additional reason to fill their buckets by repurposing their finds into sparkly Christmas decorations…

Shells can be dipped in glue and glitter with some sparkly wire wrapped around to hang them over your tree. Driftwood can be tied together as a start and left natural or again dip just the ends in. The trick is doing the decorations in a consistent colour and in enough volume to suit the size tree you are working with – don’t be apologetic… the quality of workmanship won’t matter when you have plenty.

To really change it up, grab an old longboard, stand it on its end, pop a star on top and wrap it in Christmas lights. You now have the perfect canvas to decorate your ‘surf tree’ Go to town decorating with any of your old decorations or just get a pile of colour paper and have the kids cut out stars and shapes of various sizes. The new framework will give your old decorations a whole new look and the kids will have a ball working on such a novelty.

Pretty in Pink Think pink when planning Christmas decorations that are fresh, pretty and easy to pull together. Although pink seems to be a perennial fave you could choose any colour and team that with whites or metallics or just make it a ‘splash’ to contrast within a traditional palette.

There is something a little magic about teaming pink with whites and metallics. If your tree is green, or a live tree, then grab yourself some bags of artificial snow and a glue spray. Spray downward to the top of the branches and then let the snow fall (and stick) down – this way it looks a little more authentic. Make sure you do this outside and place something underneath so you can gather up everything that didn’t stick and reuse it for a second or third layer- you can build it up as suits.

To create the easiest colour-led Christmas, it’s time to get out the spray paint! Don’t throw out the colour decorations or baubles you no longer want… blast them with your new colour for 2019! Yes, that includes all those scratched ones that are looking less than joyful. Get a can of spray paint and start spraying. Some may need a few coats. Did you know that you can actually get spray paint to match almost any colour and custom mixed if you have your heart set on a certain shade – just ask around your local paint shops for the nearest supplier. And check out your local craft shop for all the trimming usually used by scrap-bookers – they could also work well as a finishing touch on your baubles.

And just a tip for all those baubles that have lost their tops and remain in the bottom of the box year after year. Get out some glass vases and pile them up inside. Such a simple but stylishly Christmas effect.

By the team at Hirestyle. Hirestyle are specialists in the hire of decorative elements, props and party hire. Come and create a fun and beautiful theme to make your next event stand out. www.hirestyle.com.au

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Enrol for 2020

Discover an early learning adventure like no other.

Now taking enrolments for 2020.

At Niño Early Learning Adventures, everything we do is about providing opportunities for children to become brave, creative, resilient and kind.

Discover how our unique curriculum and Positive Education program gives every child the opportunity to have meaningful learning experiences, build positive emotions, strengthen relationships and evolve to their full potential.

Book your tour today!

Niño ELA Point Cook 60-62 Florey Ave 8878 2800

Niño ELA Saratoga Estate 1 Winterberry Rd, Point Cook 9111 8150

Niño ELA Newport NOW OPEN 519 Melbourne Rd 9111 8200

Niño ELA Footscray OPENING SOON 282-288 Geelong Rd 9421 6755

Niño ELA Melton 7 Reserve Rd 9216 6500

ninoela.com.au