Get Ahead Kids Magazine Vol. 4. No. 4. Jul/Aug 2012

EDUCATING FAMILIES ON THE GO

Vol. 4 • No. 4 • Jul/Aug 2 012

An Interview with

e n y e R d i v a D Learning Innovations & Technology Special The True Definition of Technology Kindle the Author in Your Child Can You “Get Ahead” While Taking A Chill?

July/August 2012 Subscription $6.60 AUD INC GST 04

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Jul/Aug 2012

Contents

This Month’s

F O R FA M I LI E S O N T HE G O

Spotlight

®

4

Editorial Your Letters

6

Spotlight An Interview with David Reyne Giveaways

An Interview with David Reyne

24

Australian Reptile Park Family Pass Giveaway

Cover Photo Courtesy of smoothfm.

25

Happy 110th Birthday Peter Rabbit Giveaway

Get Ahead Kids® © MAP Marketing 2012 Publisher MAP Marketing ABN 38 003 493 007 Villa Franca, 2 Scott St. Newcastle NSW 2300 P: 02 4929 7766 www.getaheadkids.com.au Managing Editor Maria Charlton MAP Marketing ABN 38 003 493 007 Villa Franca, 2 Scott St. Newcastle NSW 2300 P: 02 4929 7766 maria@mapmarketing.com.au www.mapmarketing.com.au Graphic Design Katie Hurst MAP Marketing P: 02 4929 7766 Advertising Maria Charlton MAP Marketing ABN 38 003 493 007 Villa Franca, 2 Scott St. Newcastle NSW 2300 P: 02 4929 7766 maria@mapmarketing.com.au www.mapmarketing.com.au Get Ahead Kids® is published by Marketing Advisers for Professionals Pty Ltd T/A MAP Marketing. The views expressed in this publication are not necessarily those of the publisher. The publisher does not accept responsibility for the opinions, errors or omissions.

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LeapFrog Tag Reading System Giveaway

Learning Innovations & Technology 8

The True Definition of Technology

10

Kindle the Author in Your Child

12

Learning Technologies

14

Can You “Get Ahead” While Taking a Chill?

16

Top 10 Internet World Users by Language Health

20

Posture & Modern Technologies

22

Multiple Sclerosis News

26

National Year of Reading Tours Newcastle

27

Boori Monty Pryor Australia’s First Children’s Laureate

28

Activity Zone Brain Power

30

Reviews

34

Advertisers Index

to Subscribe ids dK Get Ahea azine ag Digital M scriber ub to enter S away e Only Giv ge 5 Details Pa

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Editorial Apart from his media persona, I knew very little about David Reyne prior to interviewing him for this issue. At the end of the interview I found him relatable, clever and fascinating!

The learning innovations and technology issue and its related articles show that technology is much more than APPS, tablets and computers - it’s about new ways of doing things.

The international medical charity Medikidz provides informed advice on Multiple Sclerosis (MS) and how this disease can be managed. As 21,000 people in Australia suffer with

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I enjoyed the article ‘To do or no to do homework?’ as my daughter is in Year 1 at school. Fortunately, she is a keen learner and likes doing her homework but this article has given me some tips to deal with the inevitable homework battle. It was also interesting to read that having meals together is the single strongest predictor of better achievement scores and fewer behavioural problems for children aged 3 to 12.

Note to self: MUST have more family meals together!

S. Woodhouse, Macquarie Hills NSW

As a new proud grandfather I must say I enjoyed all of the articles in the issue and relayed these to my daughter for her to read as well. The standard was very high and content was practical.

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Get Ahead Kids® Jul/Aug 12

Checkout our great giveaways!

Family passes to the Reptile Park and double passes to enjoy ‘Happy 110th Birthday Peter Rabbit’.

To reward our digital subscribers we are also giving away one LeapFrog Tag Reading System with 3 activity books.

Maria Charlton Managing Editor P: 02 4929 7766 maria@mapmarketing.com.au www.mapmarketing.com.au

Mindful Communication certainly was a calming and reassuring article to read. It reinforces the importance of listening and responding to your child in a relaxed state of mind.

I have a three year old, a sweet sixteen and an eighteen year old adolescent. Young children can be demanding both physically and mentally. Being able to take that extra time to reason and give your full attention, when day to day life is so busy, can be learnt if you are aware of its importance. The ground work Kara Matheson describes, certainly does come to fruition if it has been started early in a childs life. It makes things easier when you need to keep peaceful lines of communication open with young adults!

V. Wattus, Wallsend NSW

J. McLennan, Hamilton South NSW Please send letters and stories with I found ‘First Books and Early Language Development’ reinforcing and encouraging, with useful tips on some good classic books.

G. Wingate-Pearse, Waratah NSW

75-81 Chelmsford Drive Metford NSW 2323

MS, each family will be touched by a relative or friend that is at odds with this disease.

your name and contact details to Get Ahead Kids® Villa Franca, 2 Scott St. Newcastle NSW 2300 F: 02 4929 7827 maria@mapmarketing.com.au

1 Rea Leap Fro 3 A din News ctiv g S g Ta to Gity Stoystem g ive ry B & aw oo ay! ks

LeapFrog Tag Reading System

Giveaway!

The LeapFrog Tag Reading System brings books to life. Easy to use, amazingly responsive and small enough for a child to take anywhere, the Tag stylus takes just one touch to make words talk and pictures sing.

Kids can continue to use the Tag system as their knowledge grows, choosing to hear an entire story read aloud in character voices, hear it read word-by-word or play activities with three levels of difficulty.

A small, sophisticated infrared camera at the tip of the stylus ‘reads’ letters, words and symbols printed on the special dot-patterned pages of books in the Tag library.

By using the computer application specially designed for the Tag system, parents can download each book’s audio content from the internet onto the stylus - just like managing digital camera or MP3 files. With 32MB capacity, the Tag stylus can store audio content for up to 10 books at any one time.

Every Tag comes with the special Disney ‘Let’s Play Tag’ activity book.

Kids will love using Tag to follow the adventures of their favourite Disney characters - a great starter for all ages.

Designed for children aged 4-8 years, the Tag Reading System features a diverse library including classics Olivia and Dr Seuss’ Cat in the Hat as well as activity storybooks with popular characters Toy Story 3, Disney Pixar’s Cars 2, Disney Fairies Tinkerbell, Scooby Doo and Ben 10.

tal Digi ibers scr Sub nly!

O With special thanks to LeapFrog, Get Ahead Kids has one Tag Reading System and 3 activity story books to giveaway to ONE GET AHEAD KIDS DIGITAL SUBSCRIBER! Visit www.getaheadkids.com.au follow the subscribe link and sign up to the free digital magazine (must be subscribed by August 10 2012 to be eligible). Subscribers will receive a special link via email for entry to the giveaway.

The LeapFrog Learning Path As an added benefit, parents can create each child’s individualised profile with the free online LeapFrog Learning Path. Each time a child finishes playing with Tag, parents simply connect via USB to their computer to view details about the learning games played, skills engaged and progress made.

More information www.leapfrog.com.au

www.getaheadkids.com.au

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food. There’s Herrings everywhere.

If you get the chance, check out Copenhagen and remember to take lots of money. It’s expensive.

Who/what inspired you to pursue a career in the media?

An Interview with

David Reyne

What has been your most rewarding career experience?

What was your favourite destination while working on Getaway?

One of my most rewarding career experiences was, like so many people I guess, my first. I was 22 years old, had just left Uni where I had studied film making, and was hell bent on a career as either an actor, musician or film director.

This is the question I’ve been asked a gazillion times and I’ve never prepared an answer. When I was working on Getaway, I was happy to travel anywhere. Still am. I could tell you of places that were among my least favourites... a little hotel in Ukraine, for example, where I discovered there is something worse than having no hot water. This joint had only hot water, set at a blistering thousand degrees! Couldn’t do a thing with it.

Since being offered films to direct was unlikely to happen overnight, I joined a band as a drummer while auditioning for acting roles. One of the first that came along was for the ABC series, Sweet and Sour about a fictional band known as the Takeaways. I auditioned for the role of the drummer... and succeeded in getting the part of the guitarist. Go figure. I was thrown in the deep end and had to learn very quickly, right there on the job.

It was an absolutely enjoyable and inspiring experience. I loved every minute. The fact it was particularly well received certainly made it all the more terrific.

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One place I often think of very fondly though, is Copenhagen, the capital of Denmark. It is a remarkably delightful city. Very clean, modern and stylish. There’s something about those ‘cold’ cities.

Everybody rugs up in beautiful clothes and makes sure they’re constantly surrounded by things that bring them comfort, such as great design, reliable public transport and great, if not slightly weird,

I did my last two years of secondary education at a fabulous school where they’d set aside a couple of hours every day for ‘activities’.

We got to nominate which interests we’d like to pursue and then spend a six week block getting hands on experience. I did a video activity... remember video?... grabbed a camera and just started shooting.

Seems I had a bit of a flair I didn’t realise I possessed. One thing led to another and I found myself being accepted into the Film and Television course at Swinburne College in Melbourne. I’ve got that fabulous school to thank for giving me the inspiration.

What advice would you give to someone seeking a career in media?

Firstly, make sure you’re utterly committed to the business. If you’ve only a bit of an interest, forget about it, it’s too tough. However, if a career in some aspect of the media is all you’ve ever wanted to do, you’ll find a way. Be doggedly determined. Apply for everything you hear about or see advertised.

I believe it’s probably easier these days because there are so many outlets for one’s creativity. Blog. Post interviews you’ve done with mates or scenes you’ve performed, online.

Send letters to the opinion columns of the newspapers. Just keep practising your skills. If it’s acting you wish to pursue, do classes, hound agents, never give up. It only takes one break... followed by about a hundred more, but hell, that’s the nature of that part of the business.

Just keep at it. You’ll get there.

Spotlight Who is the most inspiring celebrity you have interviewed or worked with?

What’s with all the tough questions?

I had to interview Dame Edna Everage. I obviously knew of her wicked reputation for chewing interviewers up, making minced meat of their less than stellar attempts to ask a half decent question, ridiculing them mercilessly, and then spitting them back out, so I was a little nervous, to say the least.

I did my homework and allowed her the space to be her amazingly funny self. It was fabulous. I was completely spellbound by her brilliance. I was in the presence of a master, oops, I mean mistress. Every time she returned to Australia after that first visit to our TV show, she’d happily come on again and prove each time to be equally acidic, energetic and riotously amusing.

What embarrassing on air moments have you had?

Too many to count I’m afraid.

When you’re doing live television, you have to develop a very thick skin, jump in where angels fear to tread and pretty much throw all caution to the wind. I often found myself conducting interviews about remarkable medical breakthroughs with the leading exponents in the field. Being somebody who’s just as likely to reach for a toe to check my pulse, I’d often get very confused with medical terms and jargon while becoming totally absorbed in the fascinating story.

I remember talking to a burns victim and her specialist about her treatment that involved the insertion of a bladder beneath the skin to help, I think, with encouraging the elasticity of the skin. I heard the word bladder and, well, you can guess the rest.

As an actor I spent some time in the television series, The Flying Doctors where I played a Doctor.

I remember doing 22 takes of one scene because I simply couldn’t spit out the word, ‘metastases’... not even sure how to spell it. Every time I’d try again, I’d just start giggling. It was very embarrassing!

What are your most memorable media interviews?

Dame Edna Everage. The great writer, author and thinker, Clive James. Film and media mogul, Jeffrey Katzenberg. Author and provocateur, Germaine Greer. The actor Viggo Mortensen. There are hundreds really.

How do you enjoy spending your spare time?

I don’t have any spare time; I’m too busy filling out questionnaires! Either that or I’m mowing my damn lawn. I live in the country and the property next door came up for sale so I bought it. Great idea! Now all I do is mow.

Please tell us about your family.

I’ve been married for about 300 years to my beautiful wife, Karina who clearly wears the pants in the family. We have two children; a sixteen year old aspiring musician and actor, Hunter, and a thirteen year old aspiring musician, Eva. I’ve tried to encourage them to think about banking or international diplomacy as careers but, hey, what can I do? They’re hell bent on the business and are prodigiously talented.

What is your most unforgettable personal experience?

Anybody that has children will tell you the same thing... no experience comes close to the arrival of a child. However, once the arrival has occurred, batten down the hatches, there are many sleepless moments you wish you could forget.

What are your five tips for someone seeking a career in the media?

See question 4, and again, let me reiterate... never give up.

Biography David Reyne has had a successful career in the media spanning more than thirty years and has held a variety of roles including; host, reporter, actor, writer, producer and musician.

From 2006-2009 David was the cohost of ‘9am with David & Kim’ on Network Ten, where he impressed audiences with his entertaining and thought provoking interviews.

David spent 14 years working on Australia’s longest running television travel program, ‘Getaway’. It was here that he earned himself a reputation as Australia’s most informative travel reporter; David also wrote and produced for the show.

During his time at ‘Getaway’ he wrote a regular column, ‘Reyne’s World’, which appeared in The Melbourne Herald Sun. David’s screen and stage involvements include ‘The Man from Snowy River’, ‘The Flying Doctors’ and ‘Sweet and Sour’.

David is a former host of the ‘Midday Show’ and has presented at the AFI Awards, The Logies and The People’s Choice Awards.

As a musician, David was the drummer with the multi platinum selling, Chantoozies. He was also the original drummer with Australian Crawl.

Currently, David can be heard on smoothfm hosting the Wind Down week nights from 8pm to midnight.

More Information www.smoothfm.com.au

www.getaheadkids.com.au

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The True Definition of

Technology

By Amanda Tocci

If I were to ask, what the definition

to day existence, it must allow us to

Just because an application presents

of technology is, I’m sure words

bring, to change and to impart a

itself as being technologically based

such as computers, advancement,

branch of knowledge that pushes

does not mean it allows your child

development etc, would emerge.

us to redefine and re-examine

true interaction with their environment

However would your response

how we currently interact with our

or gives them knowledge to be used

incorporate the words life, society

environment.

within the classroom.

For technology to do any less is

The louder, the more colourful, the

merely robbing us from experiencing

faster or the more expensive does

That is the branch of knowledge

the true benefits of technologies

not mean greater acquisition of

that deals with the creation and

potential.

knowledge. What it can mean is the

and environment? Isn’t that the true definition of technology?

use of technical means and their interaction with life, society and the environment.

As parents, always be mindful of

opposite of your intention.

the promises those who distribute

Do not be conned by technology

technology make. Technology is not

that promises everything in the world.

For technology to bear its true

the problem, it can be the unfulfilled

Be aware of what and how that

definition it must exist to contribute

promises distributors make in order to

technology will allow your child to

to the way we function in our day

sell their product.

improve within the classroom and always, always ask questions.

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Learning Innovations & Technology Computer Use Checklist

About Amanda

❑❑ Check your child’s search history frequently ❑❑ Go over online safety rules with kids ❑❑ Never use your real name on public sites ❑❑ Never give out your address ❑❑ Stick to familiar & reputable websites ❑❑ Supervise the site access information ❑❑ Limit weekday computer time for homework or research ❑❑ Research shows that technology usage before bed can impair sleep ❑❑ Encourage kids to take note & analyse the quality of online information ❑❑ Be aware of age restrictions on social networking sites

Amanda Tocci is a Literacy Specialist and Managing Director of the Australian Literacy Clinic Pty Ltd. Amanda is currently undertaking her PhD in Psychology at Newcastle University, investigating appropriate strategy instruction for children with working memory and reading disabilities. The Australian Literacy Clinic Pty Ltd is a specialist centre located in Maitland and Newcastle, working with families and schools in assessment, planning and intervention for children with reading difficulties.

Australian Literacy Clinic Pty Ltd Assessment, Planning & Intervention for Children with Reading Difficulties.

Specialist Clinics Located in Maitland & Newcastle

More Information Amanda Tocci Managing Director & Literacy Specialist Australian Literacy Clinic Pty Ltd. P: 1300 869 905 contact@auslit.com.au

Full Reading Checklist

P: 1300 869 905 contact@auslit.com.au www.auslit.com.au ACN: 147 916 676

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Kindle the Author in Your Child

By Rev. Dr. Kim Miller Parents these days don’t have to push their children towards modern technology. It’s our kids who drag us towards this week’s ‘must have’ gadget. OK, so my new smart phone taught me how dumb I really am, but I am a tech-head from way back and part of me loves the gadget-strewn yellow brick road.

One hundred years earlier a young boy named Frank Baum had a similar printing press and he printed a family newsletter on it. Frank went on to write The Wonderful Wizard of Oz. Do you remember the machinery behind the curtain in the movie? That was Frank’s tech-head side revealed behind his fantasy world.

Like many authors I rejected e-readers. They would reduce our royalties, decimate the industry, bring doom on us all, destroy the world.

OK, they are probably not quite that bad. One day the tech-head in me won out and I bought one. Suddenly I was hooked. There was something different happening here. It’s not only about reading. It’s also about writing.

I started writing when I was very young. My handwriting was messy and I learned to use my mother’s typewriter. I loved the technology of pressing this key and that lever jumping out and hitting the paper.

Typos didn’t matter when the tech-head in me loved the machine for its own sake.

In another story, The Master Key, Frank writes of telephones that don’t need wires and everyone carries one. There is also a portable gadget that can show what is happening anywhere in the world in the last twenty four hours. He almost sees the laptop and twitter back in 1901.

When I was about ten I was given a small printing press. A rotating drum held rubber letters that I would set up by hand. It ran against an ink roller and pulled a small page through. Here was a machine capable of multiple copies. I was captivated.

This is where we dive back to my opening comments about your children. One of the gadgets they will want is an e-reader. Yes, I know you can read e-books on a desktop but I believe a dedicated e-reader is a must-have.

Frank Baum and I, we had little printing presses. We could print our words and give them a heightened sense of authority. When people hold a printed page in their hand, those words have bite. They become more than a handwritten note under a fridge magnet. Those words become part of the printed universe and they have gravity of their own.

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Kids these days need to experience that gravity. Printing a page off a desktop computer is the equivalent of my mother’s typewriter but e-readers give more. They often run on wireless and 3G networks and can receive emails. They are the equivalent of having a little printing press.

Learning Innovations & Technology

R

Think through the possibilities. You are on the train, reading your child’s latest family newsletter or short story on your e-reader. Other family members are elsewhere and reading the same page. Your children have entered a new universe and their words have a new gravity.

My young adult novel, They Told Me I Had To Write This, is about a teenager who writes letters as a way or dealing with the trauma of his life. I wonder, now that I have an e-reader, if I would now write the book a little differently. I’d like the character to have the best at his disposal. With e-readers taking the place of printed paper, the impact of the published word is being felt from a new direction.

It’s hard to keep up with the pace of technology. Rather than being pushed along by it, sometimes it’s better to grasp it firmly and make it work for us. When your kids start pestering you for the next gadget, don’t forget the possibilities of the world in which that gadget has authority. That old saying about the pen being mightier than the sword; even in the high-tech world of our children, that saying carries truth.

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11

Learning

Technologies

I believe our love affair with the printed page will continue for centuries to come. However, technology is here to stay, especially if we want to save a forest or two.

There are some very good reasons why touch sensitive screens and multimedia devices are part of our future; it’s all about learning.

Reading and writing are essential skills for survival everywhere in the western world. It’s a shock to know that up to 30% of Australian adults don’t have enough literacy skills for their everyday needs. The rate of illiteracy is higher in many countries.

How do people survive if they can’t read and write? More importantly, how can they achieve their goals?

Enter Learning Technologies. Touch screens and voice output software may hold some answers for those who can afford it. While there are many free forms of Text to Speech software, the quality versions cost.

12 Get Ahead Kids® Jul/Aug 12

If you can’t decipher letters and words, use Text to Speech or Read Out Loud. If writing is difficult, Word Predict software now exists. Type in the first letter or two of a word and your helpful technological assistant suggests possible options.

This form of software also helps with grammar to an extent. Even before you touch a key to type the next word, grammatically correct options appear onscreen.

For those who simply cannot handle the bewildering world of written letters and words, voice recognition software is now state of the art. Of course, the best versions need to be purchased.

The world has definitely changed for the better for those who struggle with reading. YouTube clips and Web-based photo guides can teach you everything from boiling eggs to soldering your computer’s motherboard, but beware not everything on the Internet is useful or safe.

By Jo Burnell

It is possible to achieve your dreams in this internet-based information tsunami, but it’s also possible to drown, so where does that leave our children? Where they once spent hours climbing trees and playing in the streets, they are now glued to screens of all sizes.

I’ve seen babies touch screens to make pictures grow, shrink and change. Toddlers navigate photo and video galleries, accessing their favourite games and e-puzzles with the swipe of a finger. However, little fingers can also erase entire programs in the blink of an eye.

If you allow young children access to your computers, iPads or tablets it may be wise to back up important data on an iCloud or external hard drive.

Preschoolers can be entertained in waiting rooms with free or low cost App’s that teach anything from colours to the effect of gravity.

Turning pages of an e-book is child’s play but there are darker sides to our technological revolution.

Learning Innovations & Technology Bishop Tyrrell Anglican College Children don’t understand that the world can view their Social Site news flashes. The most vulnerable can be lured into worlds beyond their understanding and tempted by the previously inaccessible while sitting in their own homes. Our kids need protection, especially when they don’t think it’s necessary.

Technology can also seriously affect health and well being. Research is finding that excessive screen time and addiction to game sites may have causal links to a growing incidence of depression and anxiety, particularly in teenagers.

Like everything in our world, moderation and a little bit of common sense allows the benefits and enjoyment of technology to outweigh the dangers. Software is available that restricts children’s access to adult sites. However, computer savvy pre-teens can scale cyber firewalls with relative ease.

Strategies offered below are similar to those recommended by many schools to safe guard children.

Checklist ❑❑ A Safe Place - access for all the family in a central, easily observable location ❑❑ Time Restriction - reward children for helping around the house & participating in outdoor activities ❑❑ Curfews for all, including Mum & Dad - dock all devices at bed time ❑❑ Set a budget for paid technology usage - this will help children develop good habits early so they don’t break your bank later with excessive texting, data charges & phone calls

Where and when can we start introducing children to technologies?

As soon as they show interest. Simple one touch Apps and e-picture books are a great place to start.

With parental guidance you can engage children in e-books and computer images from 6-18 months.

As visual skills develop, children will show more interest in detailed screen content.

Children’s techno savvy skills continue to outpace their parents, so it is a hard slog to keep up with what is available.

About Jo Burnell

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Learning Innovations & Technology

In a day and age where adults often fight with younger generations to turn down the music and minimize screen time, how do we meet a teen where they are at today, in this moment?

Can You

“Get Ahead” While Taking A Chill?

By Gina M. Biegel MA, LMFT

The first part of the aforementioned, “turn down the music,” probably sounds familiar to many generations, but “screen time,” and spending much of it on superfluous multimedia items (e.g., MP3 products and the like), is foreign even to young adults such as myself.

However, there are benefits and negatives to Facebook, Twitter and networking on-line. When does it go too far? Youth are hemorrhaging for someone to limit their screen time on computers, texting and other similar products.

How do teens sit in silence if they are never really in silence?

After asking myself such questions and experiencing clients going through struggles with these issues, I decided to meet teens where they are at and encourage them to slow down on a teen friendly iPhone and iPad application to “Take a Chill.”

This recently developed application contains tools to aid teens in managing their stress in this day and age where technology as a form of communication often supersedes live interaction between peers, families and people in general.

Bridging this gap is improved through the Take a Chill application, even for adults (yes, youth often learn from the modeling of their adult counterparts).

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Learning Innovations & Technology

There are a number of features available that include, but are not limited to:

Check your progress and make notes to share with your friends whenever you want.

It has been reported that teens develop more positive attitudes toward themselves (i.e. improving self-confidence) while enhancing their views of life.

About Gina M. Biegel Ms. Biegel, a psychotherapist in the U.S., created an evidenced-based program called Stressed Teens, utilising mindfulness and life skills for youth.

She conducts trainings in the U.S. and Internationally. Her first book, The Stress Reduction Workbook for Teens: Mindfulness Skills to Help You Deal With Stress is available now.

The quality teaching, outstanding facilities, balance of academic, sporting and cultural endeavours combine to make HVGS the right learning environment for your child.

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More Information Gina Biegel, MA, LMFT Founder of the Stressed Teens Program gina@stressedteens.com www.stressedteens.com/take-a-chill

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❑❑ Quick Exercises - for in the moment “chilling” out ❑❑ Daily Dose - activities to continually encourage and increase mindful practice ❑❑ Free Guided Audio Tracks including mindful homework and test taking to center and use before taking that oh so difficult test or homework assignment ❑❑ Stress Assessment - to assess how events, both positive and negative are currently affecting your life

www.getaheadkids.com.au

15

01 0 00100111000101

11 0

01 0

01 0

0 101 1000

10 1

Learning Innovations & Technology

10 0

100

10 1

010

10 0

0

0 00 1 0 01

110

100

0

0 00 1 10 1

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Language Tallying the number of speakers of the world’s languages is a complex task, especially as many countries teach English in their public schools.

How many Japanese or Indian people use English on the Internet?

16 Get Ahead Kids® Jul/Aug 12

010

1 1 1 0 00 1 0 1 0 1 0 1 1 0 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 1 0 101010 1

Top 10 Internet World Users by

Internet World Stats presents its latest estimates for Internet Users by Language but due to the lack of other sources these tables need to be viewed as estimates.

01

0 10 0 0

Braj Kachru’s new book ‘Asian Englishes’ claims that India and China combined have over half a billion “users” of English.

Many people are bilingual or multilingual, but one language has been assigned per person in order to have all the language totals add up to the total world population.

No adjustments have been made for infants or illiteracy in the Internet penetration rate calculations. Very few countries have 100% literacy.

Data Interpretation • There are 565,004,126 English speaking people using the Internet, this represents 26.80% of all the Internet users in the world • Out of the estimated 1,302,275,670 population of the world that speaks English, 43.40%% use the Internet • The number of English Speaking Internet users has grown 301.40% in the last 11 years (2000-2011).

0

Learning Innovations & Technology Top Ten Languages Used in the Web Number of Internet Users by Language Top 10 Languages

Internet Users

by Language

% Internet Users

% Internet Growth

% Internet World Users

World Population for this Language

English

565,004,126

43.40%

301.40%

26.80%

1,302,275,670

Chinese

509,965,013

37.20%

1478.70%

24.20%

1,372,226,042

Spanish

164,968,742

39.00%

807.40%

7.80%

423,085,806

Japanese

99,182,000

78.40%

110.70%

4.70%

126,475,664

Portuguese

82,586,600

32.50%

990.10%

3.90%

253,947,594

German

75,422,674

79.50%

174.10%

3.60%

94,842,656

Arabic

65,365,400

18.80%

2501.20%

3.30%

347,002,991

French

59,779,525

17.20%

398.20%

3.00%

347,932,305

Russian

59,700,000

42.80%

1825.80%

3.00%

139,390,205

Korean

39,440,000

55.20%

107.10%

2.00%

71,393,343

1,615,957,333

36.40%

421.20%

82.20%

4,442,056,069

350,557,483

14.60%

588.50%

17.80%

2,403,553,891

2,099,926,965

30.30%

481.70%

100.00%

6,930,055,154

Total Top 10 Languages Rest of World Languages Total World Internet

h t i w y p p a H t No t s a L ’s d l i h C r u o Y ? t r o p e R l o o Sch • Worried that your child is falling behind at school?

• Is your child struggling with reading?

• Are you at a loss to know why your child is struggling?

Traditional tutoring may not be the answer!

ENROLLING NOW Phone 02 4967 1205 Essential moves offers fast guaranteed results.

www.essentialmoves.com.au www.getaheadkids.com.au

17

Learning Innovations & Technology Africa 14%

Asia 26% Oceania / Australia 68% Europe 61% Latin Amercia / Carib.

40% Middle East 36% North America 79%

World Internet Users & Population World Regions

Population

% Penetration

Growth 2000-2011

Africa

1,037,524,058

13.50%

2988.40%

6.20%

Asia

3,879,740,877

26.20%

789.60%

44.80%

Europe

816,426,346

61.30%

376.40%

22.10%

Middle East

216,258,843

35.60%

2244.80%

3.40%

North America

347,394,870

78.60%

152.60%

12.00%

Latin America / Carib.

597,283,165

39.50%

1205.10%

10.40%

35,426,995

67.50%

214.00%

1.10%

6,930,055,154

32.70%

528.10%

100.00%

Oceania / Australia WORLD TOTAL

Top Ten Languages Internet Stats were updated May 31 2011 • Internet Penetration is the ratio between the sum of Internet users speaking a language and the total population estimate that speaks that specific language.

18 Get Ahead Kids® Jul/Aug 12

• The most recent Internet usage information comes from data published by Nielsen Online, International Telecommunications Union, GfK, and other reliable sources.

• World population information comes from the U.S. Census Bureau .

Users % World

• For definitions and navigation help in several languages, see the Site Surfing Guide.

Internet World Stats. Copyright © 2012, Miniwatts Marketing Group.

All rights reserved worldwide

More Information www.internetworldstats.com

Learning Innovations & Technology

THE 2D/3D FAMILY TICKET

1 ADULT & 2 CHILDREN

VALID FOR G & PG FILMS ONLY EXTRA KID’S TICKET JUST $7.50 (OFFER EXCLUDES TITAN XC & GOLD LOUNGE)

Blogging & Tweeting without Getting Sued Authors: Mark Pearson Although the laws of many countries lag behind the realities of the digital age, every time you post on the internet you become subject to a quagmire of laws both national and international.

As the laws in this area are numerous and complex, this book provides some important warnings about defamation, privacy,

official secrets, copyright and false advertising. A must keep reference for every household.

Age Guide: 9+ Years Extent: 240 Pages (Paperback) ISBN: 9781742378770 Price: AU $22.99 Publisher: Allen & Unwin P: 02 8425 0100 www.allenandunwin.com

Under New Management Long Day Care Service 7:30am-5:30pm 5 days Indoor & Outdoor Activities Experienced & Qualified Staff Childcare Benefit Available Accredited with NCAC West Wallsend Locations 0-3 Yrs P: 02 4953 1860 3-6 Yrs P: 02 4953 1865 georgemoro@hotmail.com

LAKES GRAMMAR - AN ANGLICAN SCHOOL

K-12 Co-educational School of the Newcastle Anglican Schools Corporation Lakes Grammar features: • Christian teaching and values • Dedicated, caring and friendly staff • A positive atmosphere of respect and responsible behaviour All parents want the best possible education for their children and at Lakes Grammar we believe we offer special opportunities for young people to be themselves, to grow into young men and women of integrity and purpose. We nurture students’ personal and academic talents so they can use these to serve themselves and their community.

Applications for 2014 are now being accepted.

For School Tours or More Information: Mrs Racquel Jolly 02 4393 4111 | enrolments@lakes.nsw.edu.au | www.lakes.nsw.edu.au Cnr Sparks Rd & Albert Warner Drive, Warnervale NSW 2259

www.getaheadkids.com.au

19

Health

Posture & Modern

Technologies I remember having the most wonderful experience when I was about 10 years old: I was the kingpin of my neighbourhood, the popular girl, the one everyone wanted to play with after school for a few precious weeks.

My father worked at a computer company and inherited an old computer when the company upgraded. We had the first PC in town! It took up half the space in the spare room, it was so huge.

We all squeezed in around the computer and stared at the wonder of this new amazing phenomenon and took turns to play ‘Pacman’; where little grey half circles could be manoeuvred by typing on the key board so they could gobble something that fell from the sky.

The novelty wore off pretty quickly and my status returned to normal: it really was much more fun playing tips, ball games and murder in the dark than waiting your turn to push buttons on a noisy machine which had to be rebooted.

Technology has come a long way, and has made life so much easier with regards to our everyday tasks, communication and instant access to information as well as games.

The downside is a decrease in activity levels accompanied by poor posture. The two go hand in handthe less you move the weaker you get and the harder it is to keep the spine upright and straight.

20 Get Ahead Kids® Jul/Aug 12

By Dorte Bladt

Posture is incredibly important for health, wellness and proper function of the body:

Homework Tips • “Posture affects & moderates every physiologic function from breathing to hormonal production.

Spinal pain, headache, mood, blood pressure, pulse & lung capacity are among the functions most easily influenced by posture.”

(American Journal of Pain Management 1994, 4:36-39.(1)) • “The more mechanically distorted a person is, the less energy is available for healing, metabolism, & thought.”

(Roger Sperry, Ph.D. Noble Prize in Physiology 1981) • Many mental functions, including concentration, memory & cognitive ability depend on the flow of blood & energy from the body’s core to the brain. Any misalignment in posture, especially as it relates to the neck & head, can impact blood & energy flow & hence function. (NDHealthFacts) On average 50% of an Australian’s day is spent sitting. Prolonged sitting without a break slows processing of fats, glucose and other substances and increases the risk of developing chronic disease – even when recommended physical activity levels are met.

Poor Posture ❑❑ Head in front of shoulders ❑❑ Shoulders rolled forward ❑❑ Slouching ❑❑ Forward pelvis & belly ❑❑ Hip rotation causing toes to point in or out ❑❑ Hips & shoulders that aren’t level Up to 90% of people experience poor posture. As you are reading this I know you are thinking, I tell my kids to sit/stand up straight all the time and it doesn’t make any difference.

What to do?

First of all, this is what good posture looks like, so check your child’s posture straight away:

Good Posture Viewed From the Side ❑❑ Ear should be in line with the shoulder ❑❑ Shoulders directly over hips ❑❑ Hips over knees over anklebones ❑❑ Normal, natural curves of the spine, forward curve in neck & lower back & backwards curve in the middle back

Good Posture Viewed From the Back ❑❑ Shoulders even ❑❑ Waist & hips level side to side ❑❑ Weight distributed evenly through both Feet ❑❑ Head & neck straight on top of spine & tailbone If your child’s posture, or your own for that matter, isn’t ideal, the time to do something about it is NOW!

Health

Regular exercise is beneficial for your posture as it builds up core strength.

Your core is what helps you to maintain better posture during your daily activities, and decreases the stress on your spine.

Every day you need to undertake movement especially activities that raise your heart rate counts; walking, jogging, bike riding, playing sport, skateboarding, surfing, vacuuming and washing the car.

Encourage your children to get out and run around with their friends in their breaks at school, rather than going to the library to play on the computer. Make sure they take part in lots of activities after school: playing with friends, building cubbies, climbing trees, helping with cooking as well as organised sport.

Try to keep screen time to one hour or less per day. This includes TV, computer, Nintendo, play stations, iPads, and any handheld devices.

Children under two years of age should not watch any screens at all.

❑❑ Only use wrist rests while resting, not when typing ❑❑ Sit so hips, elbows & knees are at open angles (slightly more than 90 degrees). ❑❑ Recline slightly to ease lower back pressure ❑❑ Have thighs parallel to floor ❑❑ Ensure feet are flat on floor (or use footrest) Remember that good posture is essential for good health, and that you can make a difference to improve your posture and your health by making small changes in your life; today and every day!

About Dorte Bladt Dorte specialises in posture and spinal health. She checks your spine to assess if the bones, muscles or ligaments are working properly and will gently, safely and naturally correct it to allow the body and the nervous system to function better.

Dorte also provides advice on which exercises would be beneficial as well as which position to sleep, stand and sit in for the best possible posture.

If you have a sit down job or are studying the trick is to get up and move for at least five minutes every hour. This could be to get a glass of water, to go to the toilet, to ask someone a question or simply to stand and stretch your body. Make sure your work station (or your child’s) is set up properly.

More Information

Good Posture Computer Use Tips

Dorte Bladt Doctor of Chiropractic Family Chiropractic Centre Charlestown 2 Lincoln St, Charlestown NSW 2290 P: 02 4942 4842

❑❑ Sit about one arms-length from the monitor ❑❑ Have the monitor positioned so the centre of screen is at eye level & tilt it upwards slightly ❑❑ Keep the alphabetical section of keyboard centred to you ❑❑ Keep your wrists in neutral position when working with mouse & keyboard, not bent up or down

We

ll Adj usted Kids

Safe, simple and effective methods for optimal functioning and wellbeing for the whole family.

P: 02 4942 4842 2 Lincoln Street, Charlestown www.familychiropracticcharlestown.com.au

Family Chiropractic Centre Charlestown

Our Family Cares for Your Family

Does Your Child Lack Concentration at School?

info@familychiropracticcharlestown.com.au www.familychiropracticcharlestown.com.au

Glasses or vision therapy may be the answer.

Behavioural Optometry • Vision Therapy Children’s Vision • Sports Vision Ortho-K Contact Lenses specialeyes OPTOMETRISTS Susan K Walton B Optom FACBO

245 King St, Newcastle NSW 2300 Appointments 02 4926 4799

www.getaheadkids.com.au

21

Health

Multiple

Sclerosis

Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is an autoimmune condition that affects the nerves. It is the most common long-term nerve condition among young adults worldwide. It mainly affects people around the ages of 20 - 40 years old and is more common in women than in men.

What happens in MS? Usually your nerves carry messages or impulses from all parts of your body to your brain. Your brain then processes these impulses and you experience them as touch, vision, sound, smell and taste. Your brain then sends impulses back to your body, which allow you to react to these sensations.

These impulses travel along your nerves very quickly thanks to a protein that covers the nerves, called myelin. Myelin insulates the nerve, and ensures the impulses travel as quickly and efficiently as possible to the brain and back to the body.

In MS, your immune system, which normally defends your body from invading bugs, starts to attack the myelin. The reasons for this are not currently fully understood. The damage this causes disrupts the travelling impulses, causing them to

22 Get Ahead Kids® Jul/Aug 12

slow down, distort or not reach their destination at all. This can lead to the symptoms of MS. What are the symptoms of MS? MS has a wide range of symptoms, and it will affect people differently.

The main symptoms involve problems with: ❑❑ Vision ❑❑ Balance ❑❑ Tiredness ❑❑ Bladder issues ❑❑ Muscle spasms or stiffness ❑❑ Memory & emotions If you notice any of these symptoms over a long period of time, you should visit your doctor. You may have a scan which can check if the myelin’s been damaged or not.

What types of MS are there?

MS can be classified into relapsingremitting MS which is the most common type, and progressive MS. Relapsing-remitting MS involves episodes of symptoms that may last for weeks (relapses), followed by relatively symptom-free periods (remission). During the relapses, your immune system attacks the myelin, while during the remission phases, your nerves try to repair the damage.

By Dr. Reshad Malik

Progressive MS occurs when the damage to the myelin is so great, that even after repair, the impulses are still unable to travel efficiently down the nerves. After recurrent attacks by your immune system, this damage can become more and more extensive, causing the symptoms to worsen.

Can MS be treated?

There is no cure for MS, but there are various ways the symptoms of MS can be tackled. Disease modifying drugs (DMDs) can reduce the number of relapses that you may suffer and can be given as injections, infusions or tablets.

Your doctor will be able to advise on what’s best for you. Along with this, maintaining a healthy lifestyle with a good diet and plenty of exercise can help you stay active as well as help improve your symptoms.

Being diagnosed with MS can be scary and bewildering, but there is help and advice available.

Support from friends, family and your care team can help you take control of your condition, and not let it get in the way of living a full, productive life.

Health There are also many support groups through which you can meet and share your experiences with others who have been diagnosed with MS. Remember! ❑❑ If you notice any of the symptoms listed, contact your GP. ❑❑ There are several types of treatment for MS; your doctor will help you decide which is best for you. ❑❑ There is a lot of support for people with MS, try searching online for your local support group.

About Dr. Reshad Malik Dr. Reshad Malik is a member of the medical writing team at Medikidz, a charity that provides children and teenagers with informative, accessible and fun comics to help them understand their bodies and illness.

KidsSmile

More Information www.medikidz.com

Providing specialist dental care for infants, children, adolescents & those with specialist needs.

Teen dental is also available.

Dr. Helen Cornwell Paediatric Dentist P: 4962 7300 40 Brown Rd Broadmeadow NSW 2292

Ryan learns that there are two types of MS and medicines can help but there is no cure.

What’s Up With Ryan’s Mum? Medikidz Explain Multiple Sclerosis Authors: Dr. Kim Chilman-Blair & Ian Rimmer Ryan has found out that his super fit mother has MS and is very confused and saddened as he does not know anything about MS. The Medikidz cartoon superheroes teleport Ryan to Mediland, a planet shaped like a human body, where he is told that MS affects the nerves and in particular the covering around them called myelin.

What’s up with Ryan’s Mum offers a sensitive and touching explanation of MS in an easy to understand format. As about 21,000 people in Australia have MS, most families will be touched by this disease. There is no better way for young people to get initial information on MS than through Medikidz. These are a great addition to your medical library.

Medikidz is a global initiative set up by doctors to explain medical information to children. The Medikidz superheroes are used to explain medical conditions, investigations, diagnoses, medicines and surgical procedures to children in a way that they can understand.

Age Guide: 9+ Years Extent: 32 Pages (Paperback) ISBN: 9781906935795 Price: AU $19.99 Publisher: Medikidz Limited P: +44 (0) 2073766630 www.medikidz.com

www.kidssmile.com.au

Respite, Short Term & Long Term Care

WE NEED YOU FAMILIES • COUPLES • SINGLES F O S T E R I N G

Family Opportunity Support Teamwork Empathy Relationship Individual Nuturing Guidance Allambi Foster Care Team provides professional training & 24 hour support

P: 4944 5900 www.allambi.org

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23

esws y! s s a a News 5 P eNaew prox. iv Ap G to d at ch a

lue .00 E a V $68

Australian Reptile Park The Australian Reptile Park features animal interaction and exciting wildlife shows.

Visitors to the park can have a close encounter with some of the scaly and furry animals during Snappy Hour 11am-2pm daily, including a walk with Hugo the giant Galapagos tortoise.

NSW’s biggest crocodile Elvis, is fed at 1:30pm on weekends and school holidays. Watch the spectacular alligator feeding from the banks of the ’gator lagoon.

See native and exotic reptiles and spiders in the unique exhibits The Lost World of Reptiles and Spider World, featuring Tarantula-ville.

24 Get Ahead Kids® Jul/Aug 12

Giveaways

Learn about the park’s work to help save the iconic Tasmanian devil with the exciting conservation project, Devil Ark. Visitors can witness venomous snake and funnel web spider milking every day, have a photo with a snugly python, wombat or cuddly koala.

Enjoy the children’s adventure playground, cafe and picnic area, free BBQs and hand feed friendly kangaroos.

Ask about the behind the Scenes Tours, Devilish Encounter and Kids to Keepers program.

More information www.reptilepark.com.au

With special thanks to the Australian Reptile Park, Get Ahead Kids® has 5 Family Passes valued at approx. $68.00 each to giveaway!

Each pass allows a family of 2 adults and 2 children (3 - 15 years) a wildlife experience at the Australian Reptile Park.

Visit www.getaheadkids.com.au and click the giveaways link for a chance to win one of these fantastic Australian Reptile Park family pass giveaways.

5D o to Guble P Va lue iveawasses d $50 at A ay! p .00

p Eac rox. h

With special thanks to the Civic Theatre Newcastle, Get Ahead Kids® has 5 Double Passes to ‘Happy Birthday Peter Rabbit’ valued at approx. $50.00 to giveaway!

The double pass entitles the holders entry to ‘Happy Birthday Peter Rabbit’, Monday 23 July 2012, 6:30pm at the Civic Theatre Newcastle

Happy 110th Birthday

Visit www.getaheadkids.com.au and click the giveaways link for a chance to win this fantastic giveaway.

The Civic Theatre is staging Happy Birthday Peter Rabbit - a mischievous musical about the world’s most lovable bunny as part of the 110th anniversary of Beatrix Potter’s beloved classic.

“More bounce than a bag full of baby bunnies” - Herald Sun

Peter Rabbit Published in 1902 by Frederick Warne, The tale of Peter Rabbit has transported countless children to Mr McGregor’s veggie patch for over a century. It’s set to reach a new generation with this classic stage production that kids will love.

The stage play musical is adapted

by Australian writer and awardwinning producer Garry Ginivan and uses the original score by Mark Jones.

“Happy Birthday Peter Rabbit” seamlessly interweaves the tales of Peter Rabbit, Benjamin Bunny and Mr Tod, and is designed to delight children and adults alike.

The musical features Beatrix Potter as the narrator/storyteller, Peter Rabbit, Cousin Benjamin Bunny, Old Mr Bunny, Tommy Brock, Mr Tod and a three-metre high Mr McGregor.

Duration: 55 minutes - no interval Venue: Civic Theatre Newcastle Show dates: Monday 23 July 6:30pm Tuesday 24 July 10am & 12:30pm Wednesday 25 July 10am & 12:30pm

More Information www.civictheatrenewcastle.com.au

A Garry Ginivan Attraction

Celebrating 110 Years!

A mischievous musical about the world’s most lovable bunny. Adapted by Australia writer and award winning producer Garry Ginivan, this show is designed to delight children and adults alike.

Based on the books by Beatrix Potter.

Licensed by Frederick Warne & Co 2012.

23-25 JULY CIVIC THEATRE Tickets: 02 4929 1977 www.civictheatrenewcastle.com.au

www.getaheadkids.com.au

25

News

National Year of Reading Tours Newcastle Books Illustrated has partnered with National Year of Reading (NYoR) to tour the book, “Are we there yet”.

The NYoR set out to find one book that everyone in Australia could relate to. “Are we there yet?” written and illustrated by Alison Lester and published by Penguin Books, was the perfect choice.

It’s a fun and inclusive exhibition which includes Alison Lester’s original illustrations for the book as well as holiday photographs and her kids’ journals.

26 Get Ahead Kids® Jul/Aug 12

It highlights the wonders of Australia, family life and the importance of sharing stories through writing and reading.

Alison Lester is one of Australia’s most popular and bestselling creators of children’s books. She has won many awards; including the 2005 Children’s Book Council of Australia Picture Book of the Year Award for “Are we there yet?”.

The Newcastle Library Exhibition The “Are we there yet?” Exhibition showcases the original illustrations from this book along with the preliminary work for the making of this book.

Free workshops will be available for school groups. Contact Newcastle Region Library for more information Venue: Newcastle Region Library Date: 16 August - 8 September 2012

More Information P: 02 4974 5300 www.newcastle.nsw.gov.au/library

News

Boori Monty Pryor Australia’s First Children’s Laureate Boori Monty Pryor was born in North Queensland. His father is from the Birrigubba of the Bowen region and his mother from near Cairns.

Wetlands Fu n Pho to & Pri z es Enter Wetlands Photo Comp & Win Prizes Junior (4-15yrs) & Adult Sections Starts 1 Sept & closes 30 Nov 2012 Sponsored by Hunter Region School of Photography & The Herald www.wetlands.org.au 412 Sandgate Rd, Shortland NSW 2307 P: 02 4951 6466

A descendant of the Kungganji and Kukuimudji Australian Aboriginals, Boori has worked in film, television, modelling, sport, music and theatrein-education.

He has written a number of award-winning books with Meme McDonald including “Maybe Tomorrow”, “My Girragundji”, “The Binna Binna Man” and “Njunjul the Sun”.

His picture book collaboration with Jan Ormerod, “Shake a Leg” won the Prime Minister’s Literary Award for Children’s Fiction in 2011.

Boori’s stories are about finding the internal stamina to withstand and overcome environmental challenges. He helps to create positive visions of the future for both Indigenous and all Australians.

Boori will present two school workshops at Newcastle Region Library and Lake Macquarie City Library on August 29. For school bookings contact 02 4974 5300

NEWCASTLE OFFICE t +61 2 4926 1300 f +61 2 4926 5557 17 Arnott Street, Newcastle West NSW 2302 e sales@ncp.com.au

SYDNEY OFFICE t +61 2 9890 7029 f +61 2 9890 7036 8-10 Frank Street, Wetherill Park NSW 2164

More Information www.childrenslaureate.org.au A division of Bright Print Group

HUNTER TAFE FOR A VARIETY OF

CHILDCARE COURSES • Comprehensive Childcare Courses • Certificate III-Diploma for Centre Based Care • OOSH (Out of School Hours) Services • Family Day Care Services • Customised workshops for Childcare Courses • Short courses linked to • Early Years Learning Framework • Child Protection • NEW National Standards

• Caters for indiviuals & small groups • Modern learning facilities including a children’s play centre • State of the art library & internet access • Caring services including counsellors & disability support • Picturesque & tranquil campus • Well appointed car parking facilities

Enquiries 4979 1402 or 0437 448 432 www.getaheadkids.com.au

27

Brain Power Can you help find a magic number by solving the equations on the left?

When you have the answers to the equations find the number in the picture on the right and colour it in. Once all the answers have been found in the mans brain, two numbers will be left over. Add these two numbers together to reveal the magic number.

1. 4 x 3 = 2. 2 + 2 = 3. 5 + 4 = 4. 9 - 1 = 5. 3 x 9 = 6. 9 ÷ 3 = 7. 30 ÷ 2 = 8. 12 - 6 = 9. 12 + 7 = 10. 4 x 4 = 11. 10 + 10 = 12. 29 - 12 =

Add together the two left over numbers

+

Magic Number =

28 Get Ahead Kids® Jul/Aug 12

Activity Zone

Brain Facts • Your brain generates nearly 25 watts of power while you’re awake, which is enough to light up a light bulb • Every time you have a new thought, or recall a memory, a new brain connection is made between two or more brain cells • It’s not your brain that’s hurting when you get a headache without pain receptors, your brain can’t feel any pain • The left side of your brain (left hemisphere) controls the right side of your body & the right side of your brain (right hemisphere) controls the left side of your body • A newborn’s brain triples its size in the first year of life (no wonder babies have such big heads!)

• Some people (about 12%) dream only in black & white, while others dream in colour

• The first sense to develop while in utero is the sense of touch. The lips & cheeks can experience touch at about 8 weeks & the rest of the body around 12 weeks • It is thought that a yawn works to send more oxygen to the brain, therefore working to cool it down & wake it up • Japanese researchers have successfully developed a technology that can put thoughts on a screen & may soon be able to screen people’s dreams • Keep exercising your brain, because mental activity stimulates the creation of new neurons throughout your whole life!

Is Your Child Struggling with Learning?

Irlen Syndrome can cause visual processing problems that can cause Dyslexia and difficulties with: • Concentration • Reading • Spelling • Writing • Comprehension Irlen Diagnostic Clinic Suite 3/136 Nelson St Wallsend NSW 2287 P: 02 4955 6904 | joan@irlen.com.au www.irlendyslexia.com

Telestrations: The Hilarious Chinese Whispers Drawing Game Distributor: Crown & Andrews Telestrations is an entertaining, easy to learn, simple to play sketching game.

and a dice. Everything needed to make a perfect addition to a games night.

The game starts with a secret word that is passed from player to player. The word is sketched, interpreted and resketched.

The outcome is often hilarious and unpredictable.

Who knew a modern visual twist to Chinese whispers could be so entertaining!

The box contains instructions, 8 erasable colour coiled sketch books, 8 erasable markers, 4 eraser cloths, 144 cards in, timer

Age Guide: 12+ Years Players: 4 - 8 ISBN: 700304043542 Price: AU $39.95 Distributor: Crown & Andrews P: 02 9898 3555 www.telestrations.com

www.getaheadkids.com.au

29

Raising Competent Children Author: Jesper Juul This is a serious parenting book that covers essential child raising issues such as family values, self esteem and confidence, responsibility, and social behaviour. It uses relatable methodologies that include examples, case studies, conversation clips and explanations.

Age Guide: Adults Extent: 260 Pages (Paperback) ISBN: 9781921878763 Price: AU $24.95 Publisher: Rockpool Publishing P: 02 9327 7150 www.rockpoolpublishing.com.au

To Hope and Back Author: Kathy Kacer This is an emotional book based on the true story of the St Louis, the last refugee ship to leave Germany in 1939 with over 900 Jewish passengers on board.

The book is told from the perspective of Lisa and Sol; two young children traveling on the ship with their families trying to escape Nazi occupied Germany

Little Witch Author: Juliette MacIver Illustrator: Cat Chapman Little Witch doesn’t go looking for trouble, but somehow it always manages to find her! Kids will enjoy reading about Little Witch’s adventures of having a crazy babysitter, learning the right magic word and turning goblins into frogs!

A series of three short stories, this book has great pictures, is entertaining and is a perfect first reader to help build reading confidence.

Where’s Wally? The Search for the Lost Thing Author: Martin Hanford From word puzzles and mazes through to traditional ‘Where’s Wally’ pages, this book is sure to keep kids occupied for hours on end! The bright colours and very varied activities will help keep young brains switched on and focused on the book.

This book is ideal for rainy days, and is sure to provide entertainment for readers of all ages!

Age Guide: 6+ Years Extent: 64 Pages (Paperback) ISBN: 9781921720468 Price: AU $11.95 Publisher: Walker Books Australia P: 02 9517 9577 www.walkerbooks.com.au

Age Guide: 6+ Years Extent: 112 Pages (Paperback) ISBN: 9781406336627 Price: AU $19.95 Publisher: Walker Books Australia P: 02 9517 9577 www.walkerbooks.com.au

and find new lives in Cuba and eventually the United States.

take the Jewish refugees. Sadly however, this happened at the outbreak of WWII and many of the Jewish passengers aboard the St Louis were eventually captured and perished in Nazi concentration camps.

However Adolf Hitler’s propaganda campaign against the Jews spread, and Cuba, the United States and Canada all refused to allow the Jewish passengers to disembark the ship to take residency.

After days circling the Cuban and US coast, the desperate negotiations between the ships’ captain, Jewish rights activists and the Cuban government all fail and the boat is ordered to return to Hamburg immediately, much to the terror of the Jewish passengers on board.

As the boat neared the European coast France, England, Holland and Belgium stepped in and offered to

This is a compelling and emotional book written in a format that will appeal to and capture young readers.

Age Guide: 12+ Years Extent: 216 Pages (Paperback) ISBN: 9781743310632 Price: AU $15.99 Publisher: Allen & Unwin P: 02 8425 0100 www.allenandunwin.com

For more great reviews visit www.getaheadkids.com.au 30 Get Ahead Kids® Jul/Aug 12

The Heuys in The New Jumper

The Very Hungry Bear

Author: Oliver Jeffers

Bear was in a grumpy mood, and he hadn’t eaten any food, so when he finally thinks he has caught a fish he is very surprised when it turns out to be a polar bear!

The thing about the Hueys is that they all look the same, dress the same, do the same things and even think the same! All until one day, one of the Hueys named Rupert knits himself a brand new jumper!

This change causes havoc amongst the Hueys- will the trend catch on?

With its large text and interesting illustrations, this book is a great way to teach kids that it is okay to be different from their friends.

Age Guide: 3+ Years Extent: 28 Pages (Hardback) ISBN: 9780007420650 Price: AU $24.99 Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers P: 1300 551 721 www.harpercollins.com.au

The Look Author: Sophia Bennett Ted Trout is 15 and freakishly tall with uncontrollable hair and a mono brow, so when she is spotted by the biggest model

Author/Illustrator: Nick Bland

The polar bear offers all his fish, if only bear finds him somewhere new to live. They try a cave, a river, a hole and a nest, will they find the perfect home for the polar bear?

This is an enjoyable book with rhyming words and humorous illustrations. It is a perfect book for parents to read with their kids.

Age Guide: 4+ Years Extent: 24 Pages (Hardback) ISBN: 9781742831701 Price: AU $16.99 Publisher: Scholastic Press P: 02 4328 3555 www.scholastic.com.au

Who You Are Is What You Do Author: Heather McAllister This informative and non intimidating workbook is designed to help teenagers make good choices upon leaving school and entering the ‘real world’. Incorporating activities, career examples and career tips, this book is perfect for secondary school students who are unsure about what to do after high school.

Encouraging the reader to focus on their strengths and interests rather than ‘the job’ this book is a handy tool for parents, teachers and careers advisers.

Age Guide: 15+ Years Extent: 72 Pages (Hardcover) ISBN: 9780980607024 Price: AU $29.99 Publisher: Wilkins Farago P: 03 9636 3026 www.wilkinsfarago.com.au

agency in London she can’t believe it. However, what she also can’t believe is that only a week later her gorgeous older sister Ava is diagnosed with Lymphoma.

Emotional and often confronting, this book illustrates the bond between sisters and how it can be strengthened by serious illness such as cancer.

While Ted is being spoilt with photo shoots and designer handbags, Ava is literally in the fight for her life. Ted would trade everything to have her sister healthy, and even jeopardizes her modelling career by shaving her head with Ava to help support and prepare her for the events to come.

Age Guide: 13+ Years Extent: 330(Paperback) ISBN: 9781906427917 Price: AU $17.99 Publisher: Chicken House P: 02 4328 3555 www.doublecluck.com

Can Ted manage to be a supermodel and a super sister, keep her friends and her self esteem?

www.getaheadkids.com.au

31

Recipe for Perfect Planet Pie Author: Kim Michelle Toft This book is ideal for teaching children that all the elements of the earth are linked and rely on each other in some way. The book includes information on how the earth’s crust is formed right through to how pollution is ruining our oceans.

With its bright and detailed silk illustrations this book is a perfect reference for the classroom.

Age Guide: 5+ Years Extent: 32 Pages (Hardback) ISBN: 9780975839089 Price: AU $24.95 Publisher: Silkim Books P: 0431 429 092 www.kimtoft.com.au

Banjo Bounces Back Author/Illustrator: Lachie Hume Banjo loves playing Hoofball and is the champion in his team The Whinnies. But one day during a game Banjo has a bad fall and the doctor tells him to stay off his hoofs for 6 weeks!

When his best friend Bella get put into horspital because of colic, Banjo must find a way to get fit quickly to take her place in the Hoofball finals!

The subtle themes of teamwork, friendship and fitness integrate effectively into the book, and the hilarious illustrations are sure to get kids laughing.

Age Guide: 4+ Years Extent: 32 Pages (Hardback) ISBN: 9781862918467 Price: AU $24.99 Publisher: Omnibus books for Scholastic Australia P: 02 4328 3555 www.scholastic.com.au

the book is an easy to follow meal plan which will help to keep daily foot intake in check.

The CSIRO Total Wellbeing Diet: Fast and Fresh Recipes Author: CSIRO This new collection of recipes from the CSIRO shows readers how to stock the pantry, fridge and freezer with all the essentials for a healthy diet.

Encompassing 120 fast and fresh recipes, readers will have plenty of meal options. Also included in

32 Get Ahead Kids® Jul/Aug 12

This is a great book for those wanting to maintain a healthy diet and lifestyle, it’s bright and appetizing photos and easy to follow recipes will have readers coming back for more!

Age Guide: 16+ Years Extent: 202 Pages (Paperback) ISBN: 9780143567851 Price: AU $35.00 Publisher: Penguin Group Australia P: 03 9811 2400 www.penguin.com.au

Tales of the Blue Jade #2: The Mapmaker’s Apprentice Author: Peter Cooper Dillen, Koto and Tajni are free of their cruel masters and ready for their next adventure. As part of his apprenticeship application to a respected mapmaker Dillen has to undertake a journey to a mountain pass haunted by a fearsome creature.

This is an easy to read action packed tale that is hard to put down even for adult readers.

Age Guide: 12+ Years Extent: 384 Pages (Paperback) ISBN: 9781862919303 Price: AU $17.99 Publisher: Scholastic Australia P: 02 4328 3555 www.scholastic.com.au

Daddy’s Cheeky Monkey Authors: Andrew Daddo & Emma Quay A simple and charming board book perfect for very young children. With its bright illustrations and large text depicting the special relationship between father and child, it is a perfect father’s day present for new dads.

Age Guide: 1+ Years Extent: 28 Pages (Boardbook) ISBN: 9780733331152 Price: AU $12.99 Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers P: 1300 551 721 www.harpercollins.com.au

Reviews

Little Mates Series Author: Susannah McFarlane Illustrator: Lachlan Creagh Oliver is the most organised octopus in the ocean and Poppy is probably the most playful platypus in Pontypool!

Young children will enjoy these books as they learn the use of the letter in the alphabet. Their small size and soft cover means they are highly portable and durable.

Organised Oliver ISBN: 9781742830490

Playful Poppy ISBN: 9781742830506 Age Guide: 3+ Years Extent: 24 Pages Each (Paperback) Price: AU $4.99 Each Publisher: Scholastic Press P: 02 4328 3555 www.scholastic.com.au

My Book of Jokes Author: Bronwen Davies This is a great first joke book for young kids. The jokes are age appropriate, and each joke has a humorous illustration to accompany it. With its contemporary images and glossy cover, this book is a perfect gift for young comedians!

Age Guide: 5+ Years Extent: 48 Pages (Hardback) ISBN: 9781742831657 Price: AU $9.99 Publisher: Scholastic Australia P: 02 4328 3555 www.scholastic.com.au

Meet Snugglepot and Cuddlepie

Get Ahead Kids® Partners

Author: May Gibbs May Gibbs is one of Australia’s best loved illustrators and authors. The bright illustrations and recognisable characters in this book will draw readers in, creating a new generation of fans.

Young readers can join Snugglepot and Cuddlepie in this book as they go on an Australian bush adventure.

Age Guide: 3+ Years Extent: 24 Pages (Hardback) ISBN: 9781742830209 Price: AU $19.99 Publisher: Scholastic Press P: 02 4328 3555 www.scholastic.com.au

hey dee ho music runs music programs for 1- 5 year olds. There are franchise opportunities in the inner Sydney suburbs & the northern suburbs of Adelaide.

Franchise Enquiries: (03) 9786 3104 | jenny@heydeehomusic.com.au www.heydeehomusic.com.au

The Children Who Loved Books Author/Illustrator: Peter Carnavas Angus and Lucy don’t have many material things but they love books.

When the books are taken away they discover that they are priceless possessions. A beguiling tale that is beautifully illustrated.

Age Guide: 4+ Years Extent: 32 Pages (Hardback) ISBN: 9781921928161 Price: AU $24.95 Publisher: New Frontier Publishing P: 02 9453 1525 www.newfrontier.com.au

TAKE A FRESH LOOK AT THE NEW

Pilates, Brass Band, Choir, Chess, Table Tennis, Judo, Akido Kickboxing Boxing, Gymnastics, Circus, Dancing, Fencing

P: 4961 4493 | www.pcycnsw.org

www.getaheadkids.com.au

33

Index

Article Themes 2012 January/February Back to School - Vanessa Amorosi Ad Booking Deadline Nov 11, 2011 Editorial Deadline Nov 18, 2011

Advertisers Index Advanced Careers College

13

Allambi Youth Services Inc.

23

Australian Literacy Clinic Pty Ltd

March/April

Bishop Tyrrell Anglican College

9 13

Physical Education - The Commando

Circus Avalon

Ad Booking Deadline Feb 10, 2012

Civic Theatre Newcastle

25

Editorial Deadline Feb 17, 2012

Essential Moves

17

Family Chiropractic Centre Charlestown

21

May/June

hey dee ho music 33

Languages & Communications Jessica Rowe

Hunter Development Corporation

5

15

Hunter Food & Wine

36

Hunter Valley Grammar School

15

Ad Booking Deadline Apr 5, 2012

Hunter Wetlands Centre 27

Editorial Deadline Apr 13, 2012

I Can Read System

33

INParenting 33

July/August Learning Innovations & Technology David Reyne Ad Booking Deadline May 25, 2012 Editorial Deadline Jun 1, 2012

September/October

Interrelate Family Centres

11

Irlen Diagnostic Clinic

29

Jungle Sports

11

Karrawong Kindy 19 KidsSmile 23 Lakes Grammar - An Anglican School

19

Maitland Christian School

4

the Master’s Touch Coaching

13

Study & Assessment - Iain Hewitson

NCP Printing 27

Ad Booking Deadline Aug 10, 2012

Newcastle Family and Sports Podiatry

9

Editorial Deadline Aug 17, 2012

Newcastle Grammar School

November/December

PCYC 33

Summer Learning - Nicole Livingstone Ad Booking Deadline Oct 1, 2012 Editorial Deadline Oct 15, 2012 EDUC ATIN G

• Sep/Oct 2

2

Reading Cinemas 19 Schoolchoice.com.au 33 specialeyes OPTOMETRISTS 21 TAFE NSW Hunter Institute

27

THE GO FAMI LIES ON

® Vol. 4 • No. 5

Newcastle Region Library

11

012

For more advertising information please contact Maria Charlton | maria@mapmarketing.com.au | P: 02 4929 7766

Advertisers media kit & booking form at www.getaheadkids.com.au

2012 September/October GST $6.60 AUD INC Subscription 05

9

771839

149000

Celebrity Spotlight Iain Hewitson Celebrity Chef/Restaurateur Study & Assessment Issue out

September 2012 34 Get Ahead Kids® Jul/Aug 12

Tom Gates: Everything’s Amazing (Sort Of) Author: Liz Pichon The third installment in the Tom Gates series is as entertaining as ever!

The diary format together with Tom’s artistic comic like drawings successfully share his mischief at school, his excitement about his birthday and worries about the school dance.

Don’t let the 400 pages turn you away. This book has minimal text and is packed with jokes and funny drawings, making it a quick read and ideal for reluctant readers.

Age Guide: 9+ Years Extent: 410 Pages (Paperback) ISBN: 9781407124414 Price: AU $15.99 Publisher: Scholastic UK P: 02 4328 3555 www.scholastic.com.au

Trust Me Too

Mindfulness for Life

Authors: Various

Authors: Dr. Stephen McKenzie & Dr. Craig Hassed

Trust Me Too features a great selection of kids/teen stories from over 50 of Australia’s leading children’s authors and illustrators.

This book is better than reading newspapers or buying magazines to read one story. Whether your kids prefer crime, adventure, romance, science fiction fantasy or fiction, this is the book for them. For those with little tolerance for novels it takes about 10 minutes to read a world class tale.

Age Guide: 11+ Years Extent: 497 Pages (Paperback) ISBN: 9781921665585 Price: AU $24.95 Publisher: Ford Street Publishing P: 03 9481 1120 www.fordstreetpublishing.com

Mindfulness for Life shows you how to apply mindfulness techniques to enhance your life in teaching, sport, medical conditions, personal development or spiritual development.

A interesting reference for teachers and parents, this book is easy to read and provides simple and practical ways of applying mindfulness to make positive lifestyle changes even under unfortunate circumstances.

Age Guide: Adults Extent: 304 Pages (Paperback) ISBN: 9781921966033 Price: AU $29.99 Publisher: Exisle Publishing P: 02 4998 3327 www.exislepublishing.com

Gertie The Witch

Katie & The Leprechaun

Author: Valerie Thomas Illustrator: Janet Wolf

Author: Kathryn England Illustrator: Emma Stuart

The local community is sick of Gertie the witch. She has turned Joe James into a duck and now the postman and his wife into pigs. The postman’s two children are not happy and are determined to break Gertie’s spell and teach her a lesson.

This is a cute tale about a young girl who after falling over on her way to school, meets Patrick Fitzpatrick. It turns out that Paddy, a leprechaun shoemaker, needs help to find a new footwear design. So together the pair go on a hunt to find the ideal shoe.

The combination of the large text and unique illustrations make this novel ideal for junior readers. As a bonus, this book comes with a ‘build a rocket’ in the back page.

Age Guide: 7+ Years Extent: 64 Pages (Paperback) ISBN: 9781921928222 Price: AU $12.95 Publisher: New Frontier Publishing P: 02 9453 1525 www.newfrontier.com.au

This is an easy to read novel, perfect for young readers.

Age Guide: 7+ Years Extent: 64 Pages (Paperback) ISBN: 9781921928239 Price: AU $12.95 Publisher: New Frontier Publishing P: 02 9453 1525 www.newfrontier.com.au

www.getaheadkids.com.au

35

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