Back to School Guide 2017 by MumsDelivery

Back to School Guide 2017

Dreambaby® Swivel Light AutoSensor Light up areas in your home throughout the night, to help stop

Getting Ready for kindy Personalised PreSchool Sun Hats Protect your children from the sun this summer with a personalised cotton sun hat with toggle and tie. Features * One size fits children age 3 – 8 * 54cm Diameter * 100% cotton * Machine washable * Personalisation max 12 characters * Heat pressed in Australia Available from: http://personalisedgifts.com.au

accidental falls and provide comfort for the whole family, as you prepare for the Back to School season. The ingenious Dreambaby® Auto Sensor Swivel Light automatically turns on in the dark and off in the light. The 360° rotating swivel head means you can cast a soft light in any direction. RRP$9.95 For stockists visit www.dreambaby.com.au

Preventing Head Lice

Read this for tips on how you can help prevent your child from getting head lice

Sight Word Games to encourage learning Dreambaby® Lady Bug Night Light A fun, safe way to add a sense of comfort and security to bedtime, especially for children who might be a little anxious about starting / returning back to school. Once turned on, watch as your child’s bedroom is gently lit in a warm glow, providing enough light to see and feel the space around the room, yet not bright enough to disturb sleeping children.RRP $32.95. Visit www.dreambaby.com.au

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Back to School Checklist Childâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Name: __________________________

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Preparing your child for School How to get your children prepared for school • Children often come from a preschool or day care centre with limited numbers of little children and limited size of area • When starting school they are mixing with many much bigger children and a much larger area, they can feel lost and overwhelmed. • 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. • Label everything – all clothing, bags, lunch box, 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. Labelling all items will prevent this and assist the teacher to sort out correct belongings. • School day starts at 7am or 7.30am and finishes at 4pm, with first & last hour at home. • Remove all conflict from mornings to ensure your child has a happy day. Helping kids start school happily • Have a few trial run days such as getting up with an alarm if necessary, getting dressed, washing face and eating breakfast within a set time frame. • Start a new school routine. • Children need to be aware of the time frame of preparing for school each morning. Much conflict erupts each morning with 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 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. • Ensure your rule includes no TV of a morning or at least until they are up, dressed, breakfast, teeth brushed and bag packed – ready to walk out the door. If they are ready early, some TV or computer game is permitted but only after they are ready. Kids that feel nervous or scared about their first day at school • Mum standing at the gate crying will only tell

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the child that this school is scary and bad. Parents hugging their child emotionally and telling them how much they will miss their child will make the child sad and anxious. Drop off and leave after the first day. If parents can assure their child they will collect them after school to hear all about what they did, who they played with and what they learned. Parents need to build up school to meet new friends, to learn new things & is safe. 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. 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.

Written by Dr Karen Phillip, Counselling Psychotherapist and Clinical Hypnotherapist. Karen works extensively with couples and families. Dr Karen is also the creator of VirtualHypnotherapy.com a new and innovative platform to assist those needing help using ground-breaking hypnotherapy techniques.

How to budget for the New School Year 2017 has dawned on us quickly – for some of us too quickly – so now is a good time to start thinking about and planning for the school year ahead. This is particularly true if your kids are making the transition from junior to senior school, as there is a fair amount of preparation to be done, and a lot of it involves making purchases! Unfortunately school necessities don’t tend to be cheap, so here are some tips for keeping costs under control. 1. Set goals and stick to them The first step of budgeting is generally to review your finances, analyse where your income is coming from, and where your main points of expenditure lie. If you’re comfortable, have a chat with your family about saving money and explain that you’re hoping to achieve something exciting for the end of the year. Setting goals ensures you are able to realistically visualise where your money is going, and stay focused on the bigger picture. Involving your family means that they’re across the plan and can support you through the year as you cut back. 2. Second hand uniforms Private school uniforms in particular can be expensive, but luckily there are usually second hand options available. If your kids go to public schools, although the uniforms may be cheaper, they are still an added expense. If you know older children at the same school, have a chat to their parents and see if they’d be willing to sell or give uniforms to you as their kids grow out of them. Often there isn’t much use for them later, so usually they will be more than happy to oblige! 3. Plan meals Studies show that feeding a family is expensive. So, consider planning your meals ahead of time. If you write a list for the week then you will be less likely to impulse buy anything at the shops that you don’t need. Try to stick to fruits and vegetables that are in season so that you can avoid any added off-peak expenses. Also, fast food racks up the most amount of yearly cost, so although it may be quick and easy, remember that in the long run the price will add up. 4. Review your subscriptions

Doing an overview of your regular payments is a good way to eliminate some of your unnecessary costs. Whether you’re paying for television packages such as Foxtel or Netflix, or something more expensive such as insurance extras you don’t use or need, there are ways to cut back on these costs. You can lessen entertainment packages fairly easily, but consider comparing health policies for families online so that you can make sure you are paying for a tailormade policy without the fluff. Also, if you let your bank know you’re considering switching lenders, they may offer you a better interest rate in order to retain your loyalty. 5. Entertain kids cheaply over the holidays There are many ways to keep kids busy without paying for entertainment. Simply heading to the park with a ball or a kite is a great way to get some of their energy out without spending any money. Because kids are home all the time during the holidays, it can be tempting to take them to the movies or out to the zoo or museum. However, remember that these costs add up and there are often cheaper alternatives available. 6. Wait for back to school specials A lot of sales occur in Australia just before the school year, so sit back (if you can do this without panicking) and wait for these to kick in. Also, remember that things such as writing books, patterned contact, lunchboxes and other essentials don’t have to be top of the range. Your kids wouldn’t know the difference between something expensive, or something you bought from the supermarket, so don’t spend a lot on these items. Article from Bessie Hassan. Bessie is a Money Expert at finder.com.au, and mother of two.

Batman Big Face Bag Your lunch is protected under Batman’s watchful eyes! This insulated lunch bag will keep every

Lunchboxes

Smashbox Smash have combined Australia’s number one plastic lunch box AND one of our most popular insulated lunch bag shapes, to create the greatest innovation in school lunchesThe Smash Lunch Box! And the best part is, one size fits all! Available at Coles and Big W RRP $15 My Squeeze - Reusable Food Pouch A Reusable Food Pouch great for babies 6months + right through to young school aged children. Fill with yoghurt, smoothies, homemade purees and much more. Microwave, Dishwasher and freezer friendly. RRP: $22.50 Available from: www.mysqueeze.com.au

Super Hero’s lunch cool this summer. The zip close feature will keep your lunch safe and Batman’s steely stare will keep away even Gotham City’s most dangerous SuperVillains. RRP: $12 Available from: Big W

DC Super Hero Girls Sandwich Box Enjoy lunch in style with the DC Super Hero Girls sandwich box. Fight hunger and squashed sandwiches with this hard cased sandwich box, perfect for keeping lunches fresh and fabulous. RRP: $5 Available from: Target

Insulated Lunch Bags - Featuring Blue IQ Our friends at Smash HQ are about to release their new Back to School Range of Insulated Lunch Bags which all feature the new and never seen before Blue IQ- Antibacterial Lining. Available at Coles, Big W, Woolworths, Officeworks and Target.

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Nude Food Movers Rubbish free Enviro Box. Build a nutritious, rubbish free lunch for a healthy body and a healthy planet! With three separate storage compartments, 2 x snack pots and a sandwich seatbelt. Available at Woolworths & Big W from $13.99

Décor Pumped Fresh Cooler The Pumped® Fresh Cooler keeps lunches cool and fresh. It features durable wipeclean nylon fabric; triple layer insulation and a PEVA liner that is BPA, Phthalate, Lead and PVC free. RRP: $11.99 Available: Woolworths, Big W and independent supermarkets

Décor Pumped® Fresh® Lunchbox, 2.25L The Pumped® Fresh® Lunchbox has room for a delicious sandwich and plenty more. It includes 1 x 250ml container, 2 x 110ml containers, a 300ml drink/freeze flask and a fork all in bright colours that add a bit of fun to lunchtime. RRP: $12.99 Available: Woolworths, Big W, Howards Storage World and independent supermarkets

Perfect for teachers or Mums, Smash’s new ‘Dining at Work’ range provides Aussie Adults with sophisticated and innovative options to help to pack and transport homemade, healthy lunches that their stomach and wallet will thank them for! Available at Coles, Woolworths, Big W, Officeworks and Target.

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Five ways to create waste free school lunches Children’s school lunches can create a lot of waste from the plastic wrap used to contain sandwiches to fruit juice containers and zip-lock bags. Packing waste free school lunches is not as difficult or time consuming as some may think. The main objective of packing a waste free lunch is to eliminate the use of unnecessary packaging by using reusable environmentally friendly products instead. Packing waste free lunches is a great way to increase your child’s intake of nutritious whole foods and reduce their consumption of processed packaged foods. Tracey Bailey, founder of Biome Eco Stores has provided five ways you can pack non-toxic, wholesome and waste free lunches. 1. Bento lunch box Bento lunch boxes originated in Japan during the Kamakura Period (1185-1333) and have recently increased in popularity due to their fun waste free design that provides multiple compartments for storing a variety of foods. From cooked rice to vegetables, bento lunch boxes make it easy for you to add an assortment of nutritious foods to your child’s lunch box while reducing the use of packaged products full of preservatives. 2. Reusable water bottle Plastic water bottles and fruit juice containers are a hazard to our environment. These types of single use packaging not only take hundreds of years to breakdown in the environment but also release numerous toxic chemicals during production, consumption and disposal. Replacing fruit juice containers and single use plastic water bottles with reusable BPA free plastic or stainless steel water bottles will reduce the chemicals your children are exposed to and lower your contribution to landfill. 3. Sandwich wraps and reusable containers Plastic wrap used to cover sandwiches and

contain loose foods is incredibly damaging to our environment. This single use wrapping destine for landfill can end up in our waterways and harm our precious wildlife. Instead of wrapping your child’s lunch in plastic wrap, opt for reusable sandwich bags or containers instead. This will significantly reduce lunch box waste and save you money in the longterm. 4. Reusable pouches Zip-lock bags and yoghurt containers require an incredible amount of natural resources to manufacture and generate lots of pollution during production, distribution and disposal of this packaging. Reusable food pouches provide an eco-friendly and no-toxic option to storing liquids and loose foods in your child’s lunch box. The packaging is more durable than conventional zip-lock bag as they are designed to be reused multiple times. 5. Reusable cutlery set Disposable cutlery generally made from polystyrene is difficult to recycle and usually ends up in landfill. Instead of packing plastic cutlery in your child’s lunch box, provide them with their very own set of reusable cutlery. This will reduce your impact on landfill and prevent you from losing your good household cutlery. Written by Tracey Bailey. Tracey Bailey is the founder of Biome Eco Stores, a Brisbane-based retail business which provides Australia’s largest range of eco-friendly products in-store and online, offering deliveries nation-wide. From natural skincare and green cleaning to safe, reusable water bottles and food pouches, Biome Eco Stores helps Australians live waste free, toxin free and ethical lives. Visit www.biome.com.au.

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drink bottles

Pura Stainless Sport Bottle The Safest and Most Adaptable Sports Bottles. Crafted solely from premium stainless steel and silicone. The only Non Toxic Certified bottle on the planet. 100% Plastic-Free RRP: from $32.95 Available from: www.purastainless.com.au

ecococoon vacuum insulated drink bottles Our drink bottles are leak free, spill proof and keep beverages cold for 24 hours and hot for 12 hours. A range of colours, sizes and illustrations are available. RRP: from $34.95 Available from: View our complete range at www.ecococoon.com.au

See our School Drink Bottle Comparison Reviews

DC Soft Spout Bottle After running around and saving the world, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s time to power up and rehydrate with DC soft spout bottles. The easy-to-carry handle makes it the perfect accessory to every crime fighting adventure. Available in Justice League and DC Super Hero Girls designs RRP: $12 Available from: Target

Smash Slimline Stainless Steel or Tritan Bottles These Slimline bottles have a nice cylindrical shape. The range is available in a range of sizes and in a stylish clear colour, fun fashionable designs or Stainless Steel. Some come with a removable freeze stick. It is BPA Free.

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Smash Sports Bottle 750ml Designed for the sporty child, the Smash sports bottle offer fast refreshment with ergonomically designed grips to ensure it is suitable for sweaty hands. BPA free, PET free.

Water Bottle Tip: Add ice blocks or freeze your waterbottle in the hot summer months to keep the water cool for your kids

Décor Pumped® Soft Touch Stainless Steel Bottle with Snap n Seal lid 500ml The Pumped® Soft Touch Stainless Steel Bottle is made from premium food grade 304 stainless steel with soft touch coating. The innovative Snap n Seal lid locks the dental safe drinking spout into place for a leak proof seal. RRP: $10.99 Available: Woolworths, Big W and independent supermarkets

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Lunchbox & Snack Recipes

Roasted chick pea Snack LLN Gluten Free Chicken Nuggets Healthy, homemade chicken nuggets free from gluten and preservatives. Note: This recipe is free from gluten, grains, dairy, nuts, eggs and sugar. Makes: 16. Prep: 10 mins Cook: 10 mins Ingredients: 500g free range chicken mince 2 teaspoons garlic powder 1 teaspoon paprika 1 teaspoon dried oregano 1/2 teaspoon onion powder 4 tablespoons sesame seeds Olive oil for frying

Plain 3 tsp garlic salt 4 tbs olive oil or olive oil spray Spiced lime 4tbs olive oil or olive oil spray 1 lime, juiced 3 tsp cumin powder McKenzies Sea Salt Grinder, to taste Honey & Cinnamon 2 tbs honey or rice malt syrup 1 ½ tsp McKenzie’s cinnamon

Method: 1. In a mixing bowl combine ingredients well. (Try not to overwork the mince too much). 2. Using clean, wet hands shape tablespoon portions of the mixture into nugget shapes. 3. Roll each nugget in sesame seeds to coat. 4. Heat oil in frying pan and cook nuggets for 3-4 minutes each side over medium heat or until golden and cooked through. Recipe Tips: In place of sesame seeds you can also coat your nuggets in organic shredded coconut or almond meal (if nuts are tolerated) for a different texture. This recipe was designed by Brisbane nutritionist and recipe developer Casey-Lee Lyons from Live Love Nourish. For more healthy recipes please visit her website www.livelovenourish.com.au

Ingredients 375g McKenzies chick peas

Method 1. Soak chickpeas in 3 cups of water overnight. Drain, place in fresh water, bring to the boil and simmer until tender, usually 20-30 minutes. Drain and spread on a single layer on paper towel. 2. Preheat oven to 200°C. Line a large baking tray with baking paper. To make the plain variety, place chick peas in a bowl. Pour in oil and salt and stir to coat the chick peas thoroughly. Spread onto lined baking tray evenly and place in oven. To make the spiced lime variety, place chick peas in a bowl. Pour in oil, cumin and salt and stir to coat the chick peas thoroughly. Spread onto lined baking tray evenly and place in oven. As soon as the chick peas are cooked, pour over the lime juice, toss to coat and put back in oven for a further five minutes to evaporate the juice.

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To make the honey cinnamon variety, add chick peas to a bowl with honey and cinnamon. Place on the prepared tray. Place in oven. 3. Cook for 40-45 minutes, checking them regularly and every 15 minutes shaking the tray and stirring the chick peas to ensure even cooking. The chick peas should be crisp and golden brown. The sugared variety may need 5-10 minutes less cooking time. 4. Cool chick peas on tray. Serve immediately or store once cold in an airtight container. Makes: approximately 2 ½ - 3 cups Preparation time: 30 minutes (excluding chick pea soaking time overnight) Cooking time: 35-45 minutes

Cheesy Popcorn

Recipe provided by the IGA Family Program. Ingredients: 1/3 cup popping corn kernels ½ cup finely grated cheese Salt How to make it: Place the popcorn kernels in a large microwave-safe bowl. Cover with plastic wrap and pierce the plastic once with a fork. Cook on high for 4 minutes, or until the popcorn has popped. Transfer the popcorn to a heatproof bowl and discard any unpopped kernels. Add the cheese and toss until well combined. Season with salt. Serve immediately.

Tips: For a spicy kick, try a mix of Clive of India curry powder, olive oil and McKenzies salt. Try a herb mix by finely chopping fresh rosemary, sage and thyme and mix with olive oil and salt. Try finely grated parmesan cheese and garlic salt. These could even be served on top of thick or chunky soups in place of croutons.

Healthy Fruit Muesli Bars Ingredients: 125g butter ½ cup honey 1/3 cup brown sugar 1 cup rolled oats ½ cup natural muesli ½ cup shredded unsweetened coconut 1½ cups rice bubbles 1 cup sultanas or sliced dried apricots ¼ cup sunflower seeds ¼ cup pepitas (pumpkin seeds) How to make it: 1. Preheat the oven to 180°C. Line a 30cm slice pan with baking paper. 2. Heat the butter, honey and sugar in a medium saucepan over low heat until the sugar dissolves. Cook for a further five minutes. 3. Stir in the remaining ingredients until well combined. 4. Spoon into the prepared baking pan and press down with a spoon until evenly spread. 5. Bake in the preheated oven for 20 minutes, being careful not to let it burn. 6. Remove from the oven and set aside to cool. Cut into bars when cooled and then allow to cool completely before storing in a cool, dark place. These can also be frozen. Recipe provided by the IGA Family Program.

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5 Non Sandwich School Lunch Ideas Sandwiches are easy and can be quick, however children like adults, will get bored of sandwiches, so here are 5 non-sandwich school lunch ideas. 1. Banana Bread Two slices of Banana Bread, buttered and put into the lunch box is one of our favourites. The children love the taste of Banana Bread and it is a nice alternative to sandwiches. So far, my kids love traditional Banana Bread the most, however I have experimented by adding coconut, chia, pear and more to create something different. When I bake Banana Bread, I make two batches; one to eat now and another that I cut up, butter and freeze into zip-lock bags. These are perfect for the days when we are running late. Muffins are also a great alternative to a sandwich. 2. Wraps I love wraps, so naturally they are a great treat for the kids. When making a wrap, we generally use whatever meat we have left over from dinner, however salad wraps would be just as delicious. Our favourite is a traditional chicken wrap. Made with Mayonnaise, Lettuce and left over chicken, I secure it with a tooth pick and pop it into their lunchboxes. Another great trick is to add some Tabouli to chicken or left-over meat. Hummus with left over lamb and lettuce or tabouli is also great. 3. Pasta A number of children bring cold pasta for lunch. Simply cook the pasta and then refrigerate. Pop into the lunchbox and voila lunch. I like giving Pesto Pasta, however the sauce with this can leak, so you need to be extra careful with the container seals. 4. Fried Rice or Quinoa Salad Make a large portion of fried rice or quinoa salad for dinner, then use the leftovers the following day as a school lunch which is quick, easy and healthy. If you donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t have quite enough, you can add a can of tuna to make it more fulfilling. The good thing with either fried rice or a quinoa salad is that you can add the ingredients that your child likes and will eat. With the salad add a little dressing, not too much otherwise it may spill. 5. Rolls or Croissants Another school lunch idea that offers variety is to create a roll or fill a Croissant. Ham and cheese croissants are delicious, while rolls with butter are loved by my children. Cheat option: You can buy already made cheese and ham rolls and freeze them separately so you just need to pull a roll out when required.

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Bags & Backpacks 3D Soccer Keyrings This silicone alphabet keyring with embossed soccer balls on the front and back is cola scented for a cool smell every time. RRP: $6.95 Everything is available from Smiggle stores nationally (and internationally!!) or online at www.smiggle. com City Wallet Your favourite wallet is now available in our awesome City range! This 600d wallet with silicone scented character flap, velcro fastening, six cards slots including a transparent ID slot, zipped coin, and zipped notes compartments has everything you need. RRP: $16.95. Available from Smiggle stores nationally or online at www.smiggle.com

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Distinctive key rings With over 50 styles to choose from, Mister Minitâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s key rings are a great way to ID school bags to ensure they stand out. Engrave your contact details onto the key rings to help recover lost school bags. RRP: $9.95 ea Available from: Mister Minit. Find your nearest store here: http://www.misterminit.com. au/

Stationery

Pink Poppy Sparkle Calculator and Pen Set These beautifully gem encrusted Pink and Silver styles will glisten as you write and work out your mathematics. The calculator is easy to operate and battery operated, while the blue ink pen scribes many wondrous stories! RRP $18.95. Visit www.pinkpoppy.com.au City Pop Out Fan Pencil Case A pencil case with a fan?!?! Yes! An actual fan! That should take the heat out of exams. But that’s not all that pops out of this little baby – there are a stack of cool compartments including a shooting drawer, a pop out pen slots holder, built in sharpener and an eraser drawer. RRP: $29.95 Everything is available from Smiggle stores nationally or online at www. smiggle.com

ecococoon Chalk Pens ecococoon chalk pens are available in nine vibrant colours and can be used on any ecococoon bottle or cup. Design your creation then clean it off and create something new! RRP: $5.95 each View our complete range at www.ecococoon.com.au

Personalised School Supplies We have Backpacks, Insulated Lunch Bags, Drink Bottle Holders, Pencils Cases, Labels, Hats, Swim Bags and Towels all Personalised with your Child’s Name printed upon. www.personalisedgifts.com.au

Pilot Pen Frixion Erasable Pens Featuring thermo-sensitive ink that disappears with friction, if you make a mistake, or change your mind, you can erase your work quickly and easily with the built-in eraser – then start again without a trace. RRP From $2.99 Available from: http://www.pilotpen.com.au/ newpp/index.html and Officeworks

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Homework - Helping set good Habits As a new mum to the schooling life (Kindergarten last year) I am finding the ‘School’ experience somewhat overwhelming, especially the process of undertaking homework in the afternoons. Now the sad thing with all of this is that my daughter actually likes homework and wants to do it. I do think in Kindy that it is a bit early for Homework, however I agree with setting good habits and want to help her with it, yet some days we get busy doing other things and I simply forget. In some ways, I want to blame life for being too busy; along with my 5 year old I have a just4 year old and a baby, so let’s face it –some days I am doing well simply to be parked and at the school in time for drop off and pick up! Yet that doesn’t excuse me and it really isn’t a good way to set an example for the remainder of her school years. Homework provides a number of benefits for your children so the importance of developing and following a daily homework routine is important. Benefits of Homework: • Extending the skills learned in class to the home environment • Creating and building good work ethic • Involving the parents in the children’s learning process • At a later age, homework will help your child to understand time management and stress in coping with deadlines. Here are some tips on how to develop a routine encouraging your child to not only do their homework, but also to excel at it. When to do it Depending upon your child, they may wish to do the homework straight away and get it out of the way or later after they have unwound and had a play. Determine what works best for you as a family. Really active children may need a break to let off some steam before they sit down again, while those that are tired may need to get it done right away before they become over tired and upset by it. If your child struggles to do homework then you may want

to stop them from watching TV or playing on the computer until they do the homework so that the TV or computer games act as a motivator. Where to do it Help your child create a special space for their homework time. This could simply be through clearing a spot next to you at the Kitchen table or by giving them their own desk/area specifically for their homework items. Special pens or pencils may help to convert a reluctant child. How to do it As the parent helping with the homework, you will achieve a greater result if you can dedicate the time to that child and their needs. Switch off the computer, phone and other distractions and focus solely on them, watching their minds learn while internally they are proud to show you their abilities or can easily ask you for help if needed. If they don’t want you with them, be nearby doing paperwork or bills so that you can offer assistance if you notice the need. Take a positive approach to homework as it is then more likely that your child will view it in a positive manner as well. What to do when… You’re on Struggle Street. Try to think of interesting and unique ways that you can make the homework or learning’s more fun. A mum in our class is playing ‘hide and seek’ sight words with her boy to encourage his learning process. What about Alphabet iSpy? If the homework becomes a major hassle and point of argument between you and your child, perhaps turn to some other people/ resources your child can go to for help with

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homework. Talking to your child’s teacher is also a great tool when it comes to your child’s homework as it can shed light on how to address problems that you have noticed and/or to understand if there are any issues they have noticed that they would like you to focus on. Ultimately your goal as parent should be to continuously encourage your child, praise them for the work that they do and encourage them to solve their hurdles. Help them to think of interesting and different ways to solve the problem. If they are struggling with something in particular think of how you can utilise examples relating to this in your everyday lives. For example, asking your child to tell you how many people there will be for dinner if you have your family plus the grandparents or as my child is learning a new language I am saying Good morning and asking how she is or what her name is in the mornings to help reinforce the teachings. As a parent, remember to focus on the work that they put in, over the results they receive. This article was written by Lorraine Salvi; owner and Founder of MumsDelivery – providing solutions for Busy Mums.

Caring for your school shoes

The experts in shoe care services and products Mister Minit share their tips on looking after your school shoes

• Air your shoes out as soon as you come home from school, and use a stay fresh 24/7 antibacterial spray (made from natural silver salts) to keep shoes smelling fresh. • If your shoes are wet, stuff your shoes with scrunched newspaper overnight as this will draw moisture from the shoes without damaging them. Remember, do not dry any leather shoes in front of the heater or with a hair dryer, this can cause serious damage to the shoe • Use a damp cloth or all-purpose leather wipes to clean muddy or dirty school shoes • Buff any scuff marks you see at the end of the day. Any damage done can usually be rectified straight away • Follow with a liquid renovating polish to restore colour and shine to scuffed or dull looking shoes. If you want to achieve a spit shine quality polish, why not try a hi Shine polish for time saving results. Do this every 2 weeks • In between polishes use an instant sponge shine polish to give your shoes a quick and healthy shine • Leather is like skin and needs moisturising. Treating shoes with a leather conditioner is highly recommended to ensure shoes are nourished and kept supple, as well as regularly applying shoe wax • Always replace your laces before they break and always keep spare laces handy • Always make sure your child unties their laces to take their shoes off, this will maintain the shape of the shoe and can prevent the laces from wearing out • Waterproof your school shoes as soon as you buy them, and every couple of weeks thereafter • Have your school shoes re-soled with a non slip rubber sole as this can prolong the longevity of your shoe. • If shoes are slightly too big to allow for growing room, use heel grips to ensure a snug fit • Using an easy cleaner is a great and simple way to clean shoes

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school wear Pink Poppy Hair Bow Sets Pink Poppy has a lovely range of Hair Bow Sets, perfect to match with your school uniform, sport uniform or your everyday outfit at preschool or daycare! Available in a range of colours, youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll be sure to inspire your peers up-doâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s in the playground! RRP $8.95

Pink Poppy Hair Essentials and Elastics Sets Tie your hair with simplicity and style with the Pink Poppy Hair Essentials and Elastics Set. Match up your uniform with a range of lovely colours, to suit your school and your own personal style! RRP $6.95 Stockists: Visit www.pinkpoppy.com.au

Mister Minit Instant Sneaker Cleaner Keeps sneakers white Cleans, conditions, deodoriser For canvas, leather and vinyl RRP - $15.95 Available from: Mister Minit stores

Back to School Kit Includes: 1. Renovating Polish 2. Instant Shine Sponge 3. Shoe laces RRP - $9.95 Available from: Mister Minit. Find your nearest store here: http://www.misterminit.com.au/

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Tech zone

MILO Champions band A health, fitness and activity tracker designed for kids aged 6 to 12, to encourage them to stay active. The easy-to-use band tracks a childâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s steps, kilojoules burned, time, distance and activity progress and syncs to the MILO Champions app. RRP: $39.99 Available from: Harvey Norman, Milo Website

City Media Pouch The City Media Pouch has a main zip compartment for your fave media device and smaller front zipped compartment for accessories such as earphones. Made from durable neoprene material, it comes with a handy carabiner clip and scented silicone badge. RRP: $16.95 Everything is available from Smiggle stores nationally (and internationally!!) or online at www.smiggle.com

Seagate Backup Plus 5TB portable hard drive Address the need for more storage needed for students as more of their work becomes digital while also centralising, organising and backing up that data. Compatible with both PC and Mac, it features USB 3.0 connectivity for quick file transfers so that they can get through their homework or assignments smoothly. Available at leading retailers RRP $319 in black, silver, red and blue colours.

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Tips for buying a student computer

Computers are an integral part of everyday life and this has transferred down into the School Syllabus to become a key learning component from a very young age. Programs such as Mathletics and Bug Club starts as young as Kindergarten, and for parents, this can create issues around computer requirements along with the need to provide increased security for your children.

Whilst many parents may believe that it is unnecessary to purchase a laptop for their children until they are in high school, we have found that the issue has become prevalent in our household with a year 1 child. We have a laptop (for my work) and an iPad (not compatible with Mathletics) so we fell into a situation where we were looking for a new computer specifically for homework. Whilst my daughter could use my laptop, I am too scared that something will happen: perhaps she deletes an important document or replies to an important email in gibberish. So we looked at purchasing a family ‘homework’ computer. Originally we purchased a used mini laptop that was very slow and lasted no longer than a month as when the lid was closed strongly it messed up the hard drive. So we headed to the computer store wanting a decent computer that didn’t cost too much (Original budget $400). After purchasing and returning our purchased laptop it became apparent that buying a computer, even if only for homework, needed more thought and was harder than originally thought. As computers are a high cost item, getting the right computer (the first time) is important. Our tips when buying a computer for student or school use. • Check with your school for minimum requirements, recommended configurations or compatibility issues. • Does the school have a preference between Mac or Windows PC? Tablet or Laptop?

• Pick a portable size. 11-14 inch laptops are ideal for transportation as they are not too heavy to carry. • Find out about the processors within the computer as this will affect the speed of the computer • Most computers include a WiFi ability however it is best to check this as it is important when connecting to a home or school network. • Don’t skimp on memory (RAM) – 4GB is a good rule of thumb for laptops. • Storage Capacity is important. Aim for a minimum storage capacity of 64GB • Look for computers that offer a battery life that will last throughout the school day so that it can be charged at home overnight. • Find out if the computer comes with Microsoft Office software, otherwise this is an additional expense you will need to include in your budget. Tips to keep your child’s Computer Safe • Ensure your anti-virus software is up to date. • Set up parental controls for web browsing • Get a storage case or padded cover to keep the laptop/tablet secure in transit. • Label your laptop/tablet and its peripherals clearly. Getting your computer engraved offers a safe permanent way to label it. • Keep track of the computer serial number just in case. • Look into theft recovery software options to find and track a lost or stolen computer. Written by Lorraine Salvi.

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