My Child Magazine Issue 116 May 2021

MAGAZINE.COM.AU

ISSUE 116 - MAY 2021

healthy children

EDITOR IN CHIEF

Bianca Medina ART DIRECTOR

Bianca Medina DEPUTY EDITOR

Feba Maryann CONTRIBUTORS

Sheree Hoddinett Amy Adeney Lance Green Liza John Allan Mas Monstera Ketut Subiyanto cottonbro Yan Krukov August de Richelieu Mon Petit Chou SHVETS William Fortunato Marcos Paulo Prado Olia Danilevich Elina Sazonova CONTACT

My Child Magazine Newcastle NSW Australia +614 11 572 877 editorial@mychildmagazine.com.au

Contents 6

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9 Engaging Activities To Keep Your

Creative And Fun Ways To Announce

Top Tips To Help Your Child Adjust

Family Healthy

Your Pregnancy To The Whole Family

To School

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44

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How Do You Boost Your Kid’s

Get The Look Interiors

Dad Read - Fun Activities For Long-

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Distance Dads To Do With Their Kids

Immune System Naturally?

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90

Debunking Common Labor Myths

How Do You Encourage Your Kid To

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Be More Physically Active?

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5 Signs Of An Effective Co-Parenting Relationship

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How To Teach Your Baby To SelfSoothe Back To Sleep

How To Pass On Healthy Life Habits

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On To Your Children?

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Blogger -All That Is Mum

Toy Reviws

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Book Reviews

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What Are The Most Effective Ways To

Top 5 Tips To Keep Your Child

100 Fashion

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Deal With Your Child’s

Fashion Feature

Whining?

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Healthy

Recipes

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MY CHILD DIRECTORY

DISCLAIMER: It My Child Magazine and mychildmagazine.com.au are wholly owned by My Child Magazine (ABN 79 167 787 662). No other parties or individuals have any financial interest in the company or in My Child or mychildmagazine.com.au. My Child contains general information only and does not purport to be a substitute for health and parenting advice. Readers are advised to seek a doctor for all medical and health matters. The publisher and authors do not accept any liability whatsoever in respect of an action taken by readers in reliance on the recommendations set out in this magazine. Reproduction of any material without written permission by the publisher is strictly forbidden. We cannot accept responsibility for material lost or damaged in the post or for any unsolicited manuscripts and photographs. All reasonable efforts have been made to trace copyright holders.

Bianca Medina editor-in-chief

Editor’s Letter

Hello My Child Mamma’s and Papa’s, Hope you are all doing well and staying safe!

My motherhood journey never ceases to amaze me. I’ve learned so much from a six year old and not all of it is rainbows and cotton candy, but mostly it is somewhere in this realm. My Daring Daughter has taught me so much about patience and understanding, about processing feelings and emotions and generally about being a better human!

At six years of age, she is wiser that I could have ever imagined and is the old soul I’d wished for. She has an amazing sense of self and her level of empathy that is way beyond her young years. As the saying goes -“While we try and teach our children about life, our children teach us what life is all about!”. These words have never been truer to me than they are in this moment!!

Until Next Issue!

Bianca oxo

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The Game of Life $25 kmart.com.au

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Bluey Floor Puzzle 46 Piece $10 bigw.com.au

9 ENGAGING ACTIVITIES TO KEEP YOUR FAMILY HEALTHY written by: Liza John

Kindling a healthy lifestyle is indispensable to the development of your child. In addition to having a healthy body, a healthy lifestyle also promotes mental health, builds resilience against stress and boosts immunity.

Studies show that parents who have sedentary unhealthy lifestyles tend to pass this onto their children and is often cited as a major cause for childhood obesity. So the point is fitness and health should be a family affair.

How can you keep your family healthy? In this article we have compiled nine engaging activities to keep your family healthy. Let’s get this bread!

Ball games A large air-filled soft ball is all it takes to get some good exercise and a session filled with laughter and fun. We recommend trying the following: Dodgeball, an all-time favourite among children, can be played indoors or outdoors. You can tweak it depending on the age and numbers to suit your family.

Four Square, as the name suggests, divide the area into quadrants with one player in each square making it perfect for families. It provides a good upper body

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workout and is a great way to keep restless children with an endless supply of energy engaged.

Mimic Animals Kids love mimicking the movements of various animals like frogs, monkeys or elephants. Leap around the house as a frog or trumpet like an elephant while moving on all fours. Apart from being entertaining these movements will also engage various muscles in your body.

Interactive Video Games You must have heard “Video games are bad for health and promote sedentary lifestyles!”. Well think again, interactive video games have been found to promote physical activity and cognitive functions. Play tennis, cricket or baseball without having to leave your home.

Controlled use of these video games can be fruitful in introducing your children to various sport activities that can be difficult to replicate at home.

Bring Out Your Inner Child Hopscotch, Red-light Green-light, Simon says, remember all those games we used to play as kids? Pass them onto your children and tag along. Relive your days as a child playing and laughing with your children.

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Dance Night Put on some good music and dance your hearts away.

Dancing burns a ton of calories and creates some good memories you can cherish. You can make it a family tradition to have a dance night every week and pass on some of the O.G. dance moves to your kids.

Veggie Delight Ask a child to eat a piece of broccoli and it won’t take long before you understand why children and veggies don’t go well together. Veggies are filled with vitamins, minerals and antioxidants that are essential for your child’s growth. Here are some ways to get it into your child’s diet: Vibrant platter, fill the plate with various veggies that look appealing and colourful. Instead of just a bland looking piece of broccoli go for a platter filled with tomatoes, lettuce, carrots and radishes.

Use Dips, children may enjoy eating veggies with different dips or dressings.

Include them in prep, the more involved children are the more they are likely to eat their creations.

Gardening and Yard Work Weeding the garden, raking the leaves and clearing the 10

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yard of other debris requires a good amount of strength and endurance while having some fun quality time with your family. According to the Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, gardening qualifies as an exercise burning up to 300 calories in just 30 to 45 minutes. As an added bonus, your children will be more likely to eat the veggies you grow in your garden.

Staying Hydrated Getting your child to drink enough water might seem like a tedious task but staying hydrated is really important as water is essential for normal functioning of the body.

Here are some creative ways to get those fluids in: Flavour water with fruit slices, herbs or juices.

Incorporate more fruits and veggies in your diet.

Get them their favourite superhero sippy cups.

In addition to these you can try drinking games with your family (minus the alcohol obviously). For example, toss a coin and make a call, you take a sip if you make a wrong call.

Final Thoughts If you aren’t creative enough, you could find yourself in dire straits trying to keep your family healthy. So put on those thinking caps and figure out what works for your family and have some fun while you’re at it.

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HOW DO YOU BOOST YOUR KID’S IMMUNE SYSTEM NATURALLY? Written By: Liza John

It is safe to say that most parents fight the urge to place their kids in a bubble before sending them out into the world. Much to everyone’s displeasure, occasional sniffles and common colds are necessary parts of being a child. Even then, there is much you can do as a parent in order to equip your child against the other, more potent, diseases.

The best time to start boosting your child’s immunity is right after birth. You can get a head start by consuming sufficient fruits and vegetables during pregnancy and staying hydrated during the time. Experts recommend breastfeeding to aid in building the baby’s immune system because breast milk contains HMOs and Colostrum which helps the body produce probiotics and antibodies. Parents who choose formula over breast milk should take care to use ones that include benefits of breastmilk.

More than emotional bonding, skin-to-skin contact with the parent in the first few hours after birth has other health benefits. This way, parents can pass on some microbes from their bodies into the baby’s budding microbiome. If your child is past the newborn stage, there are other ways to naturally boost their immune system.

The role of gut health is unavoidable in immunity.

The billions of microbes residing in the human gastrointestinal tract, to an extent, can determine the strength of an individual’s immunity. It is necessary 14

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to maintain a balance between the ‘good’ and the ‘bad’ microbes so that the body is prepared for anything thrown at it.

Food And Immunity

“The best time to start boosting your child’s immunity is right after birth.”

The adage ‘you are what you eat’ holds true when it comes to boosting your child’s immune system. Once the junior starts on solid food, feeding them whole foods, raw, cooked, or pureed, can strengthen their growing immune system.

Foods like bananas and asparagus are rich in prebiotics which promote the growth of probiotics.

Remember to include more greens in the kid’s meals. Vegetables like broccoli and kale are loaded with B-vitamins and they help in detoxifying the body even from pollution and second-hand smoking.

Regulating the amount of sugar consumed by children ensures the reduction of pathogenic bacteria in the gut. You can swap unhealthy MAY 2021 | My Child Magazine Issue #116

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sugars in your child’s diet with fruits and fermented foods like yogurt to help their microbiome.

Keep It Moving Regular exercise from childhood ensures that the individual develops a fitness habit. Exercise increases the natural killer cells in the system which enables the body to fight infections. This benefit is not restricted to the young ones, an hour of physical activity is beneficial to adults as well.

If you have a pet, letting the child play with them from an early age guarantees that their microbiome is diverse. This can also be done by allowing the kids to play outdoors as much as possible. Vitamin D is critical to a child’s growing immune system.

Catch More Shuteye Sleep is when the body restores and repairs itself. Children need a minimum of 8-10 hours of uninterrupted sleep-in order to stay healthy. Wellrested kids remain energized and are more likely to fight off oncoming sickness. Thus, sleep hygiene has a significant role in boosting immunity.

Preventing kids from getting screen time right before bed can enhance their sleep schedule. Also, stress and anxiety in children during the day can mess up 16

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their quality of sleep. Parents should always try to pay attention to such details in their children to ensure their health.

Think Twice Before Antibiotics There is no harm in getting expert medical advice when the kids fall sick but using antibiotics for every possible ailment is unadvised. Statistics show that almost 30% of the antibiotic prescriptions made annually are unnecessary. Antibiotics are designed to destroy the harmful bacteria in the body and as they work, they also kill off the microbes needed by the system.

This can seriously damper the kid’s immune system slowly. Therefore, always inquire with your doctor before utilizing the antibiotics. Chances are that the immune system may get rid of the disease on its own, or you may find alternatives to antibiotics and preserve the child’s microbiome.

Bottom Line Since prevention is always better than cure, it is only wise to strengthen your child’s immune response. It is best to familiarize the kids with such practices as early as possible to carry them into their adult life. Proper personal hygiene combined with a strong immune system can help your little one fight off most of the germs that come their way.

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HOW DO YOU ENCOURAGE YOUR KID TO BE MORE PHYSICALLY ACTIVE? written by: Liza John

Ask any kid how they go about their days and I’m sure the answer will be similar to the following: binge watching Peppa Pig, hours of online classes, playing video games and social media. The global pandemic has forced us to spend most of our time indoors and in front of electronic media. We’ve been fighting Corona for over a year now and with its new variant strains, a return to the normal seems impossible with each passing day.

Spending long hours indoors at a stretch, moving only to get a pack of chips or Coke isn’t exactly healthy. But kids being kids will not understand the effects of this unhealthy lifestyle. So how do you encourage your kids to be more physically active? Let’s find out.

Show The Way Model the lifestyle you want your kids to follow and give out positive messages about being physically active. Being physically active yourself will keep you healthy while showing to your child that you are not a Mr/Ms. All-bark-no-bite. Praising and encouraging your child when they take up a new physical activity will also help. Make time every day to have a good active playtime with your child.

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Stock Up on Toys That Require Physical Activity Roller blades, jump ropes, tennis balls, soccer balls promote physical activity whilst keeping it fun. These toys along with a good reward system will ensure that your kids stay active. Rewards act as positive reinforcement that makes your child develop a liking towards staying active.

Talk To You Child Emphasize the importance of staying active by talking to your child. Get your child excited about being physically active. Hype it up! Tell them how good it makes you feel, how it keeps you healthy and how fun it is to exercise. Do not forget about the importance of good nutrition and healthy foods.

DO NOT EVER BODY SHAME. Teasing or shaming your child will have long term repercussions on your child’s mental health. If you can’t seem to be able to convey the message properly, get your child’s doctor to explain it to them.

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Make It a Routine Establishing a regular routine will ensure that you and your child meet the amount of recommended physical activity every day. Incorporate physical activity as you would with studies, chores, and mealtimes.

Make it a point to set a limit on screen time and keep a tab on your child’s usage of electronic media. Create electronic free zones in your house and avoid installing Televisions or PCs where you can’t keep an eye on them.

Be Age Appropriate in Choosing Activities Don’t expect your three-year-old to bench 100lbs.

Now that was an exaggeration, but you get the point. Bear in mind that kids are usually not ready for competitive games until they are around ten, so engage them in fun, non-competitive activities instead.

Children who try to specialize in a sport early may get tired of it and end up being easily injured. So rather than encouraging your child to play baseball because you were on the school baseball team, expose your child to a wide array of activities.

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Let Your Child Choose Instead of doing what you love, ask your kids what activity they’d like to do. Depending on your child’s preferences you may end up taking a stroll down the road or maybe on a small trek or at the local park. Wherever you go, be sure to maintain COVID protocols and try to avoid crowded places.

If the local park is crowded, give your child other options to choose from and maybe a treat to make it up to them.

Making Screen Time Active Going outside to play does not seem to be a viable option in these pressing times. However, we can use technology to our advantage, instead of playing a conventional FPS shooter game or a car racing game, give them interactive video games that need physical activity like tennis, cricket, or football.

Bottom Line According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, children need at least 60 minutes of vigorous physical activity every day. Start from an early age and practice what you preach to instil a love for physical activity in your child.

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HOW TO PASS ON HEALTHY LIFE HABITS ON TO YOUR CHILDREN?

WRITEN BY: LIZA JOHN

Eating a healthy breakfast, sleeping early or maintaining good standards of hygiene are all healthy habits we usually follow in our lives. Ever wondered where they came from? No doubt they were passed onto you by your parents or caregivers. Now it’s up to you to pass it onto your kids.

“Children learn from influences rather than commands or instructions you give.” Meaning? Your child tends to pick up habits that they see in you, this includes both good and bad habits. So, commanding or instructing your child to do something will not work unless you display those habits.

What Healthy Habits Should You Teach Your Children?

Whenever we hear the words healthy habits, we instantly think about eating healthy, exercising regularly, brushing teeth twice a day and so on.

While these are important parents often overlook mental health, sexual education and talking about substance abuse.

Nutrition, Exercise, Sleep According to the WHO, worldwide obesity has tripled since 1975. Sedentary lifestyle, increased consumption of junk food is all to be blamed equally.

Inculcating a healthy lifestyle in your child ensures healthy growth, maintains healthy weight and protects your child from diabetes, obesity or cardiac problems later on in life.

Alcohol, Tobacco and Drugs As your child grows, at some point in their lives they will come across alcohol, cigarettes or drugs. The natural curiosity in their minds fuelled by peer pressure or stress might result in what may seem inevitable. So, what can you do about it? Brushing it under the carpet does not help.

You need to communicate to your child clearly that it is not ok to try alcohol, tobacco or any kind of drugs and that they shouldn’t give into peer pressure.

Sexual Activity According to the WHO, approximately 12 million girls aged between 1519 and 777,000 girls younger than 15 give birth each year. Apart from this almost 1 million people get affected by STIs each day. A lot of these problems can be accredited to improper sex ed, misconceptions and gender stereotypes. Do not rely on school education to teach your child about sex, sexuality and debunk myths. Start as early as you can and encourage talking about these issues. It may be awkward at first, but you’ll thank yourself later.

How Can You Pass on Healthy Habits on To Your Child?

Let us now see how you can get these habits into your child’s life.

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Be A Role Model Parents or other caregivers influence a child’s growth, development and habits the most. If you choose to eat healthy food low in refined sugar or salt, chances are your child will also develop a liking for these foods.

If you drink or smoke, never do it in front of your kids as your child might think it’s okay to drink or smoke. Word of advice, quit smoking not for you but for your child. Your child will pick up the smell of a cigarette even if you didn’t smoke in front of your child and it won’t take long for them to figure out what is happening.

Talk About It Talk about being healthy, why your child should choose a bowl of fruit over a slice of cake or play soccer instead of Call of Duty. Encourage asking questions and answer them with reason.

Talking about sex may be weird and awkward for you but it is imperative that you talk about it without inhibitions. Educate them about consent, protection and how to deal with unsolicited sexual behaviour.

Explaining how alcohol, smoking and drugs harm our bodies is essential but so is not giving into peer pressure. Most teens start drinking or smoking due to peer pressure and teaching your child to say no will be productive.

Getting Enough Sleep Promote sleeping early and ensure that your child gets at least 8 hours of sleep each day. Staying up late usually results in a sleep deprivation and also causes mood swings, fatigue, weakened immunity and even memory issues.

Other Influences Your child may be influenced by other factors such as social media, movies, mainstream media or by other people including schoolteachers, friends or other relatives. Can you control all of these influences? Fat chance! However, you can educate your child about internet safety and basic etiquettes to be followed while using it, you can also talk about their social media usage without breaching their privacy.

You can pressurize school authorities to get creative and find ways to ingrain healthy habits in children even though they use online platforms to deliver classes. If you have relatives who smoke or drink, caution them against it when they are visiting you.

Final Thoughts Going down this path, you may end up feeling that your child will pick up these healthy habits only when hell freezes over. Do not give up, the efforts you put in today will definitely bear fruit as your child grows up.

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BOOK e

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by: Amy Adeney from Busy Bookworms

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T H E WAN T I N G M O NST ER

BY MARTI NE MURRAY AND AN N A RE A D This modern f able tells of a ti ny m onst e r who wanders into a small v i l l age and causes enormous trouble. The v i l l age , wi t h its stream and forest and fiel d s, i s p i t t e d against human greed, careful l y st i r r e d into the minds of the hapless v i l l age r s b y the attention- seeking Wanting M onst e r .

Th is is a won d erf u l sp rin g b o a r d f o r c on v ersa t ion s wit h rea d ers a g ed 5 a n d u p , a b ou t h ow we t a ke t oo mu c h from th e ea r th , a n d wh y we sh ou ld giv e it b a c k a g a i n .

T BEF O R E YOU WER E BO R N

BY KAT RI N A G E R ME IN A N D HÉLÈNE MA G I S S O N Be f o r e y ou w e r e b o r n and w h i l e y ou g rew , the r e wa s a p a r t y ju st f o r y ou .

T h is is a w o n d e rfully inclus ive book t o c ele b ra te t h e a n ticipated birth of a c h ild .

Fr o m w o n d e r i n g about the progres s of t h e pr e g na n cy to p re paring tiny clothes a n d a pe rf e ct b e d r oom, this he artwa rmin g pi c t u re b o o k ca p tures the e x cite men t a n d an t ic ip a ti o n o f the arrival of a baby. Filled wi t h lo v e , h o p e a nd happine s s , B e fore You We re Bo r n ce l e b r a te s the unive rs al joy of n ew ba b ie s i n a l l k i n d s of familie s , and is p erfec t to sh a re w i t h ch i l dre n from birth onwa rd s.

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T H E B O O K SH O P CAT

BY CI NDY W UME The Bookshop Cat loves h i s j ob at t he Children’s Bookshop, where he sp e nd s hi s time reading, purring and rec om m e nd i ng his f avourite books to all the c hi l d r e n t hat come into the shop. But one d ay , d i sast e r strikes! The bookshop is f lood e d , and t he children stop coming to visi t . W i t h a b i t of help from his f amily and f r i e nd s, t he Bookshop Cat comes up wi t h a b r i l l i ant plan to bring the Children ’ s B ook shop back to life.

Th is is a joy ou s a n d origin a l p i c tu r e b o o k a b ou t a b elov ed b ooksh op c a t, th e p o wer of rea d in g a n d t h e imp ort an c e o f f a m i l y a n d c ommu n it y . A lov ely c h oi c e f o r r ea d er s a ged 3 a n d u p .

LET’S BUILD A HOUSE

BY M IK E L U C A S A N D D A R O N PA RTON Fir st t h e f l oo r , an d t h en t h e w alls , T he n t h e r o o f . L et ’ s b u ild it t all.

Yo u a n d m e - w e’ ll b u ild it a ll! U p , up, up.

Slip o n y o u r o v e r alls , pop on your ha rd h a t and ju m p i n th e d igge r - le t’ s build a hou se!

This is a s te p - b y - step look at how a hou se is con st ru cte d , f r o m digging the found a t ion s and la y i n g th e brick s through to fit t in g th e dra i n s a n d painting the w alls . Let ’s B uild a H o u s e i s a high-ene rgy, gorgeou sly i llust ra te d p i ct u re book w ritte n by a rea ll if e e n g i n e e r , a n d will be a hit with rea d ers ag e d 2 a n d u p .

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TOP 5 TIPS TO KEEP YOUR CHILD HEALTHY WRITTEN BY: Liza John

Being sick is a trying ordeal for anyone. Seeing your child go through it regularly and caring for them at the same time can be hard for the parent as well. Therefore, it is no surprise that every parent wants their child to be at the peak of health. There is no need for a medical degree to ensure that your child is happy and healthy; care, attention, and lots of love might just do the trick.

The importance of staying healthy has skyrocketed amidst the COVID-19 pandemic.

The occurrence of the usual common cold and flu may have fallen thanks to virtual schooling, but this does not mean your child’s immune system has improved. Instead, the rigorous handwashing, sanitizing, and social distancing have prevented the transmission of the germs and protected your little one. That is a new lesson to keep in mind while trying to keep your child safe.

Keeping your child healthy, often, does not require drastic measures. Being watchful here and a little more care there can reduce the days of stuffy noses and sick leaves. With that in mind, here are top 5 tips to keep your child healthy.

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Establish The Importance of Eating Right There are little to no scientifically proven ways to boost immunity, but a nutritious diet makes sure that the immune system functions well. Inculcating the habit of having a filling breakfast in the younger years will help your child in adulthood as well. Healthy breakfast habits boost the functioning of the brain and also prevent childhood obesity.

Providing the kids with meals at regular times and cutting down on unhealthy snacking also goes a long way in improving their health. Always take care to include leafy greens and whole grains in your child’s diet. Remember that vitamins and minerals obtained from a varied diet are far better than the ones that come in bottles. Rather than restricting their consumption of sweets and processed foods, provide children with these pleasures occasionally so that they never feel deprived.

Maintain Good Hygiene Personal hygiene is a habit worth cultivating.

Teaching the children to keep themselves clean at all times will only boost their health. Oral and physical hygiene habits should be made into kids’ MAY 2021 | My Child Magazine Issue #116

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routine as early as possible. Showering properly and personal grooming can prevent situations like lice infestations and most skin conditions.

Make sure that family members do not share towels or loofahs because they can become breeding grounds for germs. Promote the use of antibacterial soaps in the household. Keeping the pandemic in mind, remind your child to wash their hands thoroughly for at least 20 seconds after going out or touching delivered packages.

Need For Mental Health A healthy mind and a healthy body are related to each other in more ways than you think. And while your junior’s immune system is developing, it is important to make sure that their mental health is at its best. Urging children to forget what is bothering them or dismissing their issues without listening to them harms their overall health.

Studies have shown that distressed children tend to get sick more. Especially with virtual schooling, children might feel more stressed or disconnected from their friends so make sure that you are there to support them when they need it.

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Encourage Exercise All work and no play give way to a dull child.

While imaginative plays and other games stimulate your child’s mind as well as their social skills, it also ensures that your child gets the much-needed exercise. Perhaps you can make it into a family bonding session of simple yoga or take a brisk walk in the park with your little one.

Observe Healthy Sleep Schedules The importance of sleep hygiene cannot be emphasized enough. While your child is sleeping, their body restores itself and rejuvenates for the coming day. Apart from consolidating the cognitive functions, the body also uses the downtime to repair and strengthen the weakening cells. Research has indicated that sleep-deprived children have weaker and slower developing immune systems. Thus, your child must get at least eight hours of restful uninterrupted sleep.

Final Thoughts It is only normal for a parent to want to shield their child from illness but a common cold or flu during childhood is a sign of your child’s developing immune system. Maintaining your child’s best mental, physical, and emotional health can be easy with some attention and a desire to help.

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CREATIVE AND FUN WAYS TO ANNOUNCE YOUR PREGNANCY TO THE WHOLE FAMILY Written by Feba Maryann

You have found out about your pregnancy and want to shout it out from rooftops.

No wonder. Perhaps you are looking for something more creative and tasteful than that. Worry not, we have your back in the fun pregnancy announcements department.

Most expecting parents wait for 12-14 weeks before sharing the news while some also wait for 20 weeks. This is usually because there is a higher risk of miscarriage in the first trimester. But if you want support from your family in case of a miscarriage, letting them know as soon as possible is ideal.

Before someone questions the lack of wine in your hands at the next party, get all your family together to announce that you are expanding the family. Whenever you choose to announce the happy news to the world, here are some novel ways to do it in style.

Food FTW Invite the family over and spend some quality time with them while sharing a meal. Bring out a cake or another favourite dessert holding your good news for everyone. Share your joy and some sweetness before weird pregnancy 40

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cravings and nausea set in.

You can also send a bottle of wine or cider with the news of your pregnancy to family members who were not physically present for your reveal.

Customized Keepsakes You can never go wrong with this classic way of spreading the word about your pregnancy. Present the soon-to-be grandparents, aunts, and uncles with mugs or key chains that tell them about their new position. This way they can have a happy reminder of this day forever.

Why restrict yourself with mugs and keychains, go wild with items that you can customize. Announce that you are with child using an engraved spoon, a locket, or even a cross-stitching.

Scrabble!

This might be the perfect way to let your close circle know about your pregnancy.

Invite them all for a fun night-in and bring out Scrabble. Rig the game so that you and your partner can spell out your message.

Make good use of this opportunity to score some points because this might be the only time you can get away with cheating.

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Baby Apparel Expecting a baby means you need to watch your finances better. Instead of going all out for a creative pregnancy announcement, get your hands on a pair of cute baby shoes, a pacifier, or even a diaper and attach a heartfelt note to it about the new family member. You can also get printed onesies declaring the arrival of your bundle of joy.

Wrap it up as a gift or leave it on the dining table subtly for someone to find. Be assured that happy tears will be on their way when your family sees this cuteness.

Who said being ingenious on a budget is difficult?

Chinese Fortune Cookies What a way to announce your incredible luck than with fortune cookies. More than just being creative, this task can distract you from the morning sickness and tiredness of the pregnancy. Get your fortune cookies from the store and pull out the message using tweezers.

Now insert your announcement with a fortune message twist to it, serve it to your family, and watch realization dawn on their faces.

Save The Date Cards Surprise your family with Save The Date cards that announce your due date. Make it even better by attaching your latest sonogram to it. Or you can attach the image of your pregnancy test, but this only works well for the digital kind.

If you are already parents, get the soonto-be siblings to hold the sonogram or a message about their arriving sibling. If you are a pet parent, rope them in too.

Final Thoughts On a related note, announcing your pregnancy is undoubtedly a big deal but there is a certain hierarchy or etiquette to follow as you proceed. Your partner needs to be told the good news as soon as you get to know. The news of a baby on the way is a life-changing one and your partner will want to know immediately.

Soon-to-be grandparents and your siblings need to be let in on the news in person or at least through a phone call. Letting them know through your giant social media post might make them feel left out. Also remember to let your boss as well as your other kids, if any, about the baby as soon as you feel comfortable.

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INTERIORS

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Circu Fantasy Air Balloon Bed $37,620 salbini.com.au

Adairs Kids Twinkle Denim Blue Cushion $19.99 adairs.com.au

Plush Princess Clouds Pillow $50.95 nestednurseries.com.au

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Miruna Fabric Armchair $399 templeandwebster.com.au

Alden Velvet Cushion $34.95 templeandwebster.com.au

Adairs Kids Heirloom Blue Storage Trunk $299.98 adairs.com.au

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k i d s Photo: pugpupprints.co.uk

MALM $297 ikea.com/au

Atrium Polo Round Jute Rug $275 livingstyles.com.au

3 Piece Cylinder Sunshine Seagrass Basket Set $34.95 templeandwebster.com.au

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Personalised Space Print from $49.95 pugpupprints.co.uk

Moulin Roty Le Voyage D’olga Chaussette The Large Fox $94.95 elves-in-the-wardrobe.com.au

Elvis Quilted Grey Quilt Cover Set $139.99 adairs.com.au

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DEBUNKING COMMON LABOR MYTHS

Written by Liza John

Your bundle of joy is on the way, and you are now trying to figure out what to expect during labor.

You heard somebody say that giving birth naturally is always painful or you watch a movie where a character has a water break and is rushed to the ER. Stories and myths about labor are often circulated amongst family members or friends and normalized through movies or TV shows. In the rest of this article, we attempt to debunk some common myths associated with labor and pregnancy.

Myth #1 The Dramatic Water Break With Television shows and Rom-coms depicting a theatrical gush of amniotic fluids to mark the beginning of labour, you can wonder why this is one of the most common labor myths.

Facts: Water breaking during pregnancy is part of the normal labor routine, but only about 20 to 30 percent of women tend to experience water breaks before going into labor.

Some women only have a constant trickle of water while others may have a large whoosh, it really varies from person to person. Even if your water breaks labor may not start right away, in some cases labor may not occur even 3-4 days after the 56

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water breaks. So yes, you can go to the grocery store without having to worry about being rushed into the ER. Myth #2 Exercise Causes Preterm Labor Your friends or relatives might discourage you from taking the stairs or working out during pregnancy.

Facts: Doctors and trained medical experts recommend pregnant women to do light exercises and stay active through the day. Antenatal exercises and walking improve stamina, thus better equip you for Labor and also aids better postpartum recovery.

Experts recommend about 150 minutes of physical activity each week for healthy pregnant women.

There are numerous activities you can take up from walking to swimming and even strength training but try not to lift heavy weights. However, if you are suffering from any other conditions like preeclampsia, cervical insufficiency, anaemia or if you have a multiple pregnancy, it may be unsafe to exercise during pregnancy.

Myth #3 The Second and Subsequent Labors Will Be Less Painful MAY 2021 | My Child Magazine Issue #116

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Facts: It is true that the second and subsequent will be shorter as your pelvic floor muscles, cervix and the birth canal have been stretched by the first Labor.

After the first labor your body is familiar with the process of giving birth, so from the point contraction starts to full dilation takes a shorter amount of time. Every labor is different, unpredictable and complications can arise any time.

In cases of women who have had a traumatic first birth, the second (and subsequent) can be more intense and painful albeit shorter. So, the point is, labor hurts, even if it’s your first one or your fourth one.

Myth #4 Taking Epidurals Increase the Chances of Having a C-section Facts: According to the American Society of Anaesthesiologists, there is no credible scientific proof to support this myth. On the other hand, taking an epidural will help your chances of having a normal delivery by easing your muscles.

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Myth #5 Home Births Are Not Safe Even uttering the words “Home birth” will fetch you a wide range of replies from the preposterous to the unnerving urban myths.

Facts: A well thought out home birth in the presence of a certified and experienced midwife would be as safe as delivering your bundle of joy at a hospital.

Midwives come stocked with emergency care equipment, antibiotics and other medications.

Pain relief is often cited as a reason to opt out of home births, however experienced midwives have numerous tricks at their disposal to help you cope with the pain. Heating pads, massages, even baths can soothe the pain. In the worst case you’ll be taken to a hospital to get an epidural. On top of being less expensive, home births tend to cause lesser infections than hospital births.

Bottom line Even before you finish saying that you are pregnant, people start coming at you with a ton of unsolicited advice. The number of myths associated with labor and pregnancy do not end here, in fact there are tons more. So, before you start believing whatever your dad’s uncle’s neighbour’s sister says, do some research yourself.

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HOW TO TEACH YOUR BABY TO SELF-SOOTHE BACK TO SLEEP Written by Feba Maryann

The initial days of parenthood are marked by disrupted sleeping patterns and night-time feedings. But it has been three or four months since you started, and it is time to discuss sleep training.

Believe it or not, sleep training your baby is a critical step in ensuring that they develop healthy sleeping habits. At the same time, it enables the rest of the family to get their beauty sleep uninterrupted by a fussy baby.

There are innumerable texts available for new parents on how to teach their babies to go back to sleep. Some may seem contradictory while others might not be practical for you and your little one. An important point to remember during your research is that no single technique will be a foolproof way that will lull your baby to sleep.

With that being said, there are three major steps to be included in your plan to teach your baby to self-soothe back to sleep.

Establish a Night-time Routine Having a newborn around must have taught you that routines make your life easier. The 62

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same goes for your baby as well. Going through a bedtime routine will tell your baby’s body that it is time to fall asleep. Depending on the little one’s needs and development, you can start establishing a bedtime routine anytime between 2-3 and 6 months.

The routine can be simple like feeding followed by a warm bath or a lullaby and some cuddling.

Around eight weeks into their lives, babies have an increase in their melatonin levels when it is time to sleep. Incorporating this change, make sure to carry out the night-time routine in dim light because melatonin production is a lightsensitive process.

Rely on Self-Soothing The urge to rush to your baby’s side when they are fussing in the middle of the night can be uncontrollable. Try to hold yourself back from giving in to this urge if you are trying to teach them to fall asleep on their own. Wait for a few minutes and see if they settle on their own, they might only be lightly awake in between sleep cycles, before charging in.

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If your child is truly distressed, go in but try not to do something disruptive like picking them up. Trying patting or shushing them to assure that you are around. Keep this up for five minutes or so to see if they calm down.

If they are still unsettled, pick them up and comfort them. Feeding them to get them to fall back asleep should only be done if the baby is hungry otherwise the child will need the bottle or the breast to fall asleep every time.

Consistency While you are finding a trick to make sure that the baby sleeps through the night through trial-and-error, maintaining some form of consistency will aid you. Most importantly, putting your baby down for a nap during the day at a fixed time can determine how they sleep the rest of the day. Overtired babies find it difficult to fall asleep since the stress hormones released by their bodies interrupt sleep.

Also, make sure that your baby sleeps in the same place most of the time. For instance, if 64

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the baby falls asleep in your arms and wakes in the middle of the night in their crib, they will feel distressed and become unsettled. To ensure that they are well-acquainted with the bedroom, put them down for naps in their crib instead of other spots.

Bottom Line Teaching your child to soothe themselves back to sleep is a subtle art. Forcing it on them may produce little to no results. If you fail to see the results of the training, give it a break, and try a few weeks or months later.

Some parents believe that allowing the child to cry themselves to sleep is the best way to train them. Do not feel pressured to try this if it takes a toll on your and your baby’s emotional health. Try getting a pacifier, soft toy, or a blanket for your child to go to sleep with but make sure that they pose no risks.

At the end of the day, cherish time with your baby because the days of sleepy snuggles will fly past before you know it.

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T O Y r e v i e w s

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Sui t a b l e fo r : fro m bi rth Cuddl e u p to t h e t h r ee-in -o n e s o ft f awn, lovey blanket and pacifier hol d e r wi t h M y F r ie nd F a w n . W i t h s o o t h in g n a t u r e sounds and music, this snuggly fawn bri ngs c om f or t to yo u r b a b y . U n fo ld t h e fawn t o create a little lovey blanket with an att ac hm e nt f or the in c l u d e d l ea f t eet h in g t o y o r a dummy (not included). As babies reac h f or t he te e t her to y a n d b r in g it t o t h eir mouths, they practice fine motor skills and hand -e y e co o r d i n a t i on . I nc lu d es 35+ s o n g s , sounds, phrases and melodies. Machine washab l e w it h r e m ov a b l e elec t r o n ic m o d u le.

O ur V e r d i ct – I f your bub is s e ek ing a b it of c omf ort or ju st somet h in g t o p l a y wi th , th i s i s pe rf e ct f o r t he job. Mos t babie s form c lose a t t a c h men t s t o t h eir f irst sof t c u d d l y to y a nd m a n y p a r e n ts ofte n s tock up in c a se of t h e d isa p p ea rin g a c t , so wh y n ot g et th e b a l l r o lling w i th th i s little cutie. Not on ly is it sof t t o t ou c h b u t a lso c omes with th e a d d ed b o n us o f p l a y i n g s oothing mus ical sou n d s, p lu s t h e f a c e ligh t s u p a s well, f o r s o m e ex tr a n ig ht t i m e co m fort. It’ s e as y for you r b a b y t o h old a n d sma ll en ou gh f or y o u to ta k e ev e ry w h e r e y o u go, it’ s a win-w in all rou n d . It ’s a lso su p er ea sy t o c lea n , ju st p o p i t i n th e w a sh, b u t m a k e s ure you re move the elec t ron ic c omp on en t f irst !

A va i l a bl e fro m: vtech . com . a u , K mar t, g ood toy stor es and online r etai l e r s 68

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VTECH SAFARI SOUNDS GUITAR $29.95

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Sui t abl e fo r : a ge 2+ R o ck & R ol l w i th t h e S afar i S o u n ds Guitar. Play along to 3 0 melodies wi t h d i f f e r e nt g uit a r s o u n d s as well a s 10 s o n g s that introduce animals through playful gui t ar j am s.

P lus h e a r f u n so u n d s b y s elec t in g which sound the guitar makes. Choos e b e t we e n 3 g uit a r s o u n d s o r 4 a n ima l s o u n d s .

Our v e r d i ct – Do you have a little rock st a r in t h e ma kin g? Lookin g f or t h e p erfe c t i n s tr u men t t o g e t t h e m r o ck ing and rolling? W hile it ’s n o fu ll-b lown elec t ric gu it a r, ev ery r o c k er n eed s t o st ar t s o m e w h ere! The y can tak e the lea d wit h t h eir own lit t le b a n d or ju st j a m o n th ei r o wn a s t h e y l i s te n to the me lodies a n d t u n es on of f er. I h a v e 2 v ery mu sic a l l y i n c l i n ed lit t le g i r l s w h o are alw ays w illing to get t h eir h a n d s on some n ew in st ru men ts a n d s ee wha t t u n e s t h e y can s trum out. It’ s a lwa y s en t ert a in in g wh en t h ey wa n t t o s i n g , d a n c e and p l a y s o m e mus ic for a “ s how ” , there’s c ert a in ly n ev er a d u ll momen t in ou r h o u s e! F o r t ho se w i th l i t tl e one s s how ing an in t erest in mu sic , t h is gu it a r is a good wa y to g et th em st a rt ed a n d s p ark the ir inte res t in t h e d ifferen t c h ord s a n d t u n es t h ey c a n p l a y . E n j o y yo u r n e w cr e a ti v e little s upers tar!

Ava i l abl e fro m: vtech . co m . a u , K mar t, g ood toy stor es and online r eta i l e r s 70

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WHAT ARE THE MOST EFFECTIVE WAYS TO DEAL WITH YOUR CHILD’S WHINING? Written by Feba Maryann

You said “No” to a toy, an additional slice of pizza, or literally anything and as if you turned on a switch, the whining begins. Whining is an attempt to get your attention, and it certainly gets the job done like nails on a chalkboard. An annoying amalgam of screams, crying and talking- whining is an effective and powerful weapon in your child’s arsenal that forces you into submission. Whining is a fairly common behavioural issue seen in children, but without proper intervention the whining can get worse and even impact your child’s adulthood.

To deal with your child’s exigent whining, it is paramount that you understand why your child is whining.

Why Do Kids Whine?

Kids may whine for numerous reasons but at the centre of this lies a need to be heard and understood. They do not whine intentionally to irritate you and get what they want, but rather because they do not know any other means to get your attention.

Being a parent is not easy, you have to juggle between a million things from daybreak to bed every single day. In this busy schedule your child may sometimes feel neglected or wanting attention and this may be a reason for their tantrums.

Whining may also be due to an underlying health issue that needs to be addressed.

Tips To Deal with Your Child’s Whining Do Not Give In Be a resolute parent and do not give in to whining. Children will continue whining only if it works for them, the more you give in to 74

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their needs, the more they’ll use whining as a way to get whatever they want.

Do the things that soothe you, like listening to music, taking deep breaths or leaving the room. But whatever you do, do not let your frustration and anger get the better of you. Whining children can be extremely irritating and annoying, but you have to stay strong ese.!

Do Not Pay Attention Refusing to give attention goes a long way when it comes to handling whining. For setting up a set of ground rules are necessary. Let your child know in advance that you will not entertain whining. Telling them “Ask nicely or I will not respond” will serve this purpose.

Ensure you follow through. After setting the rules you must not hold back. As soon as your child starts whining, ignore them. This works best in cases where you supply your child with enough positive attention. If they turn to their normal voices respond immediately and pleasantly.

Be Proactive Figuring out patterns in your child’s behaviour will help you be prepared for what is to come. Make a plan, and work on it in an effort to not scramble at the last moment.

For example, say your child starts whining whenever you ask them to pick up their toys after playtime. So, the next day you can plan ahead for this scenario and follow the best course of action.

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Spend Quality Time with Your Child Your child may be using whining as a means to get your attention. So, when you proactively give positive attention to your child, your child will tend not to resort to whining as a way to get your attention.

Studies show that children tend to be more whiny when they grow up in a negative family environment. When parents display negative behaviours, effects are quite often seen in the children.

Try to spend at least 10 to 15 minutes of quality time with your child every day. When your child displays positive behaviour, praise them and encourage them to do the same in the future.

Seeking Professional Help If your child’s whining becomes too frequent that it hampers his ability to perform any task, you should seek professional help. Your paediatrician will help assess the problem and figure out any underlying problems.

Final Thoughts Your child may be whining without realising the difference between whining and a normal voice, ensure that you teach them the difference. Do not try to intimidate them in order to make them stop whining. Rather try to figure out the underlying healthy needs like positivity, attention or power that may cause your child to whine.

By refusing to give in, ignoring whining altogether and being proactive you should be able to reduce your child’s whining to a minimum. Teaching your child to cope with their emotions and handling rejection will also prove to be fruitful.

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TOP TIPS TO HELP YOUR CHILD ADJUST TO SCHOOL Written by Feba Maryann

The global pandemic had caused schools and colleges to rely on online platforms to impart education. However, now schools are slowly starting to reopen; your child may experience anxiety and difficulty in going back to school amidst the pandemic. Wearing masks, maintaining social distancing and changes in their daily routines could be stressful for your child.

Your child may find it more demanding if they are going to attend school for the first time or attending a new school. The anxiety of being away from home, the sudden change in the pattern they are accustomed to, while additionally maintaining COVID safety protocols may be overwhelming for your child.

In the rest of this article we are covering some important tips to help your child adjust to school.

Show Them The Bright Side Of Things Going to school for the first time can be emotionally stressful and overwhelming for your child. By highlighting the opportunities such as sports, debate club, music club and other extracurricular activities, they may develop a positive outlook towards school.

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Kids who are moving to a new school may miss a lot about their previous schools including friends, teachers, coaches or clubs. Getting the school handbook and or visiting the school with your child may help them ease in. Some schools even assign buddies who will help your child during their first few days at school.

Promote Bonding With The Teacher Being connected with an adult can help your child feel safe, since you can’t be around all the time, you need to ensure that your child shifts this emotional attachment to their teacher. Kids may otherwise feel too anxious to settle down and focus on learning.

If your child still does not enjoy going to school or tend to dislike it contact the teacher immediately.

You both can work together to take additional steps to make your child more comfortable in class.

Experienced teachers will understand the situation at hand and put in more effort to help your child ease in.

Promoting Friendships Your child may miss their friends from their old school or kindergarten, here is when you step in to tell them that there are potential friends MAY 2021 | My Child Magazine Issue #116

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everywhere. Enrolling them in summer camps or playing in the public playground or the local gaming arcade may create avenues for your child to meet new friends.

Get in touch with their teacher to find out who they are close with in class or ask your child about it. Invite their friends from class for a playdate or pizza.

Communicate Frankly Children may be anxious about things that adults can just blow off as silly or irrational, such as your death or something tragic happening to you. The pandemic will only create more such irrational thoughts in your child’s mind. So it is important that you address your child’s feelings and emotions and have open conversations about the same.

Use logic and reasoning to deal with their anxieties, by asking them sensible questions about their fears you train them to deal with such irrational thoughts themselves. And if they are worrying about something that worries you too, like maybe their grandparents’ health or a missing pet, be frank in expressing your thoughts.

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The First Day of School Prepare for this day well in advance, you don’t want to wait until the first day to figure everything out.

There are numerous things that could go wrong on the first day, your child may be anxious as they don’t know what to expect. Going on a trial run could be a great way to reduce this anxiety. You could maybe drive them to the school or walk them till the bus stop, if your child is going to school with friends, try to get them on the trial run as well.

Attending any induction events the school organises will also be a great way for you to meet your child’s teachers and get a general idea about the school.

Stock up on the appropriate supplies your child will need for school. Do not leave out the arrangement for lunch from your to-do list for the day.

Finally on the first day, accompany your child to school and help them ease their way in. Help them locate their classrooms and teachers.

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FUN ACTIVITIES FOR LONGDISTANCE DADS TO DO WITH THEIR KIDS Written by Lance Green

Every dad wants to be there when their kid speaks for the first time or walks for the first time. Dads do not want to miss out on any other part of their growth but not all dads are lucky enough to be with their kids. Some dads only get to see their kids a few times a year during holidays or vacations.

Staying connected with your kid within the constraints caused by the distance may be very challenging at times. Your child misses you and will want to talk to you about anything that is bugging them, like a bully in class, after all dads are any child’s first superhero.

So here are some fun activities to help you strengthen your connection with your child despite the distance.

Watch Movies Together With various OTT platforms offering features ‘watch party’ you can now watch your child’s favourite movies together. For some other OTTs like Netflix, there are Chrome extensions that allow you to synchronise the movies or series you watch.

Watching a movie with your child may be a good way to unwind while at the same time bonding with them. Furthermore, by doing this you get to see what 86

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kind of content they like and helps keep a check on their internet safety.

Play Online Games with Your Child There are millions of online multiplayer games available today from Minecraft to Among Us that you can play with your child. These games will help strengthen your bond with your child and additionally lets you teach them how to play responsibly and teach a healthy gaming habit in your child.

Surprise Deliveries Have some gifts dropped for your child on their birthdays or other special days. The gifts need not be expensive, even simple flowers or balloons on the day of their ballet or play will do. Or you can have some burgers and fries home delivered. Maybe add a note telling them how much they mean to you and how proud you are of them.

Buying them gifts makes them feel loved and show that you care for them. But remember that you can’t win over their hearts through gifts alone. You can’t neglect your other duties towards them and try to make it up by getting them expensive gifts.

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Create Traditions Make some new traditions and introduce your children to some old favourites. When you are with your child, ask them what they’d like to do like going to some specific place or attending some event or maybe working together on a DIY project. If you used to go to some specific spot with your dad, like a family fishing spot or a picnic spot, take your child there.

Themed Video Calls Amp up your video calls with themes; you could dress up as characters from your child’s favourite Disney cartoon or make it a family game night with Dumb Charades. You can even get DIY kits and assemble it together over the video call and exchange whatever you created.

You can pretend to share snacks over the video chat and even have dinners together. Some museums, zoos or companies such as NASA allow you to take virtual field trips, make sure to utilize them to their fullest potential.

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Send Cards, Letters or Notes With all of today’s technology available at your disposal, no one would want to spend time writing letters or postcards. But it is definitely worth it!

Children love receiving personalised cards or anything addressed to them by post. You could also post them pictures of unique picturesque places you go to.

You can also get your children to send letters to you.

You could keep these letters to serve as the memoirs of some beautiful days.

You could spend maybe an hour a day or in a week to write notes about your child. If you write 4 good things an hour and spend maybe a few hours each week you have 20 ways to appreciate your child.

You could send them these notes via mail.

Final Thoughts The activities listed above will help you stay connected with your child even from afar. But nothing comes close to being with your loved ones, so visit them whenever you can, provided your partner is open to it.

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5 SIGNS OF AN EFFECTIVE CO-PARENTING RELATIONSHIP

Written by Feba Maryann

Parenting is never an easy task, dealing with the incessant whining, cries, and the fuss that children display. Co-parenting makes this increasingly onerous with the battles for custody, legal arrangements and splitting time with both parents. Co-parenting requires tremendous amounts of patience, flexibility, empathy and communication.

Identifying the signs of an effective co-parenting relationship is necessary to figure out what you or your co-parent must imbibe in your relationship.

Understanding these signs will also further help improve your efforts and focus to set up a healthy growing set up for your child. So, what are the signs of an effective co-parenting relationship?

Mistakes Do Not Impact Your Children or Efforts By mistakes we mean fights, disagreements or miscommunications between you and your co parent should not affect your co-parenting efforts. In a co-parenting system things get heated up in the blink of an eye and people start pointing fingers, after that point it is only about finding the mistakes, your ex made rather than making an effort to solve the issue at hand.

In a healthy co-parenting system, you and your

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co-parent are both empathetic and treat mistakes as mistakes and not an opportunity to show who is better. You both understand that the goal here is to raise healthy and happy children rather than competing with your ex to prove that you are the best parent in the universe.

You Communicate Effectively You have set up a good healthy system for communicating with your co parent. This means children are never used to facilitate communication between you and your coparent. You keep the responsibilities split evenly between adults.

The disagreements or fights you have with your co-parent are kept away from your children.

You and your co-parent are the pillars of your children’s lives, and they look up to you both.

Your children may be curious to listen to the conversations you have with your co-parent, so be sure to not fight or create a fuss when the children are around.

You Know Your Priorities The divorce or separation might have been hard on you, and you may feel torn down on the

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inside. It is natural for people in these positions to switch their attention to themselves and do things that soothe their pain. But in a healthy coparent relationship you both focus your attention on your children and constantly work towards keeping them happy, healthy and raising them to be good humans.

No doubt, co-parenting can feel like a pain in the ass but knowing what motivates you and putting your children first, along with sound decisions will be helpful in the long run. Yes, sometimes you may need a break, update your co-parent about the same and get help from your support system.

Respect Is Absolute Respect is the founding stone of any healthy relationship and parenting after separation is no exception. Respect in a co-parenting relationship lets both co-parents breathe easy and benefits their mental health while creating a healthy environment for the children.

You and your co-parent will have to interact and take numerous responsibilities. Respecting each other’s time, privacy, life and opinion will go a long way. Communicating your plans or thoughts effectively or avoiding any last minute changes are some ways in which you can show 94

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that you respect your co-parent. No matter how angry you get, do not bad-mouth your co-parent and absolutely DO NOT swear in front of your children.

You Are a Team In a healthy co-parenting relationship, you no longer see your co-parent as your former spouse or ex but rather emphasize their role as the parent of your child. Both of you put your egos aside and work as a team for your children.

You both are consistent with what you do and ensure your children follow the same rules at both households. For example, lights out at both households should be around the same time.

Your child must think of both households as safe spaces and be comfortable with both coparents.

Final Thoughts Co-parenting is a lifetime appointment whether you like it or not. It can be very stressful at times, however, working on healthy communication with your co-parent will reduce the amount of tension you feel.

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all that is mum WRITTEN BY: Sheree Hoddinett

My girls are my world. They are the reason I scored the label of Mum/Mummy/Mumma/Mumma Bear, the list goes on really. I will forever be grateful (on a good day of course!) that they both chose me to be their mum. Although everyday should be a celebration of being a mum (haha, we wish), I do look forward to Mother’s Day every year. I love seeing what my girls have created for me at school, the little treasures they have purchased at the stall and how they go out of their way to make me feel super special.

It’s so cute! It’s only one day, but it’s an amazing day and one that truly captures the sacrifices anyone who fulfils the role of “mum” takes on. It’s not always an easy or rewarding role, but it is one I’ve learnt to become proud of as I watch my babies grow up.

As I approach my 8th Mother’s Day, I’ve been doing a bit of, shall we say, reflection, on how I see myself as a mum as well as the outcomes and events we (my girls and I) take on regularly. I’m sure you can pretty much picture yourself in the same scenario or situation. If I gave my fully honest opinion, it would likely go above a PG rating, so I’ll do my best to keep it in line, haha!

• My children have taught me what it means to love someone unconditionally and wholeheartedly, even when they are driving you up the wall.

• I’m constantly learning about the world, in so many unusual ways. I hear multiple stories every day, quite often at bedtime! I think I say go to sleep about 50 times every night!

So you could I’ve also learnt a lot about keeping my cool, or at least trying to.

• Hunger is all day, every day, no matter how much food they seem to consume! I can’t keep up and yes they always eat more than me! I wish I was as skinny as they are! I look at food and that’s it, game over.

• Someone will always need to go to the toilet, even after you have asked everyone at least 5 times BEFORE leaving the house. And it’s once you’re in the car, that the offender always NEEDS to go right now! Yep I’ve stopped on the side of a highway before, I’m that parent, haha!

•

• No one can ever agree on watching the same show or reading the same book together.

Sigh.

• Yo u c a n ’ t k e e p everyone happy all of the time, no matter how hard you try. Especially as they start to get older and their personalities become more defined.

• I do argue with my kids too much. I also swear at them way too much as well. I call it resilience and character building, haha! Sadly, they now know these words well and are under strict instructions not to use them anywhere, especially school! I don’t think I’ll win Mother of the Year on that one!

• I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve said no but given in anyway, just to keep the peace. Total face palm moment.

• They know more than they let on or you realise. Kids are crafty and manipulative when they need to be. So pretty much all the time!

• Lastly, but certainly not least by any means, my kids are honest. Brutally

honest when they need to be. Apparently it’s a character trait they picked up from their mumma. I’ve been told many times over the years it’s both a good and bad quality to possess. I figure at least you’ll always know where you stand with me and now my kids too it would seem!

On that final note, I’d like to take this opportunity to salute all mums, step mums, step-in mums, dads who take on the dual role, grandparents and everyone else who makes sure kids have someone in their lives who is a mum role model of some kind, you are all amazing. Of course, I must pay homage to my own mum, who has been there for me more times than I can count and who I will always have the utmost respect for, even if I don’t show it. Happy Mother’s Day! Here’s hoping the thoughtful gifts are well worth the wait, haha!

To see more of my tips, hints and well, failures at parenting and possibly life in general, visit my blog www.shereekim. com. Until next time…

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fashion MAY 2021 | My Child Magazine Issue #116

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girls FASHION

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UNDER $60 davidjones.com BABY David Jones Organics 2 Pieve Overall Bodysuit Set $59.95 Old Soles Gabrielle Snow $54.95

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UNDER $60 davidjones.com BABY David Jones Organics 2 Pieve Overall Bodysuit Set $59.95 Old Soles Vintage Baby $54.95

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BOYS David Jones Pines Knitted Jumper $49.95 David Jones Blazer Pull On Pants $49.95 Vans Old Skool Elastic Lace Golden Nugget/True White Boys Sneaker $59.95

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MAY 2021 | My Child Magazine Issue #116

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marquise.com.au

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recipes sourced from: healthywa.wa.gov.au

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Delicious

Banana Berry Pikelets INSTRUCTIONS 1

mash the bananas with a fork in a large bowl. sift flour over bananas, adding the remaining husk in the sieve to the bowl. add sugar and stir to combine. add milk, vinegar and eggs to the bowl. mix until combined.

2

spray a large non-stick frypan with oil and place over medium heat. place 2 tablespoons of batter evenly spaced around the pan. cook for 2–3 minutes or until small bubbles appear on surface. top each pikelet with 6 blueberries then carefully turn over. brown on reverse side for 1 minute or until cooked through. transfer to a plate and repeat with remaining batter.

3

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divide pikelets between 4 serving plates. to serve, layer with spoonfuls of yoghurt and top with fresh fruit.

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prep & cook time: 30 mins serves: 4 INGREDIENTS 2 ripe bananas, peeled wholemeal self-raising 1 1/2 cups flour 1 tbsp sugar 1 1/4 cups low-fat milk 1 tsp white vinegar 2 lightly beaten Olive or canola oil spray blueberries, fresh or frozen low-fat berry or vanilla 1 1/2 cups yoghurt, to serve quartered strawberries, 2 cups banana or blueberries, extra, to serve 150g

Quick & Easy

Fruity Wraps INSTRUCTIONS 1

lay the wrap bread slices on a flat working surface. spread 1 tablespoon cream cheese on each wrap, leaving a 1 cm border.

2

layer each colour of fruit in a row to make a ‘rainbow’.

3

roll up the wrap, cut in half and serve immediately.

prep time: 5 mins serves: 2 INGREDIENTS 2 1 cup 1 cup 1 cup 1 cup 2 tbsp

slices wholegrain wrap bread (20 cm) strawberries, sliced oranges, sliced kiwifruit, sliced blueberries reduced-fat cream cheese or ricotta cheese

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Vegie Lentil Soup prep & cook time: 45 mins serves: 4 INSTRUCTIONS 1

saute onion and garlic in a large pot with a little water until onion is translucent.

2

add carrot, potato, parsnip and celery and cook for a further 5 minutes.

3

4

3. Stir in lentils, stock and tomato paste. Bring to the boil, cover and simmer for 30-35 minutes, stirring occasionally.

When lentils and vegetables are just cooked, add parsley.

INGREDIENTS 1 1 1 1 1 1 125g 6 cups

onion, chopped clove garlic, crushed carrot, diced potato, diced parsnip, peeled and diced stick celery, diced red lentils chicken stock or water

1 tbsp tomato paste 2-3 sprigs parsley, chopped chopped continental parsley

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Creamy Cauliflower Soup prep & cook time: 35 mins serves: 6 INSTRUCTIONS

1

2

3

roughly chop cauliflower, including stalk to no larger than 1 cm cubes. add to a large pot with potato, onion, garlic, stock and water. place over high heat, bring to the boil then simmer over medium heat, covered, for 20 minutes until cauliflower stalk is tender. remove from heat, add 400 ml milk and puree with a stick blender or in batches in a food processor. if desired, stir though more milk for a thinner consistency. ladle soup into bowls, season with pepper, sprinkle with chives and serve with a dinner roll.

INGREDIENTS 1 3 1 2 1 ltr 500 ml

head (1.4 kg) cauliflower medium potatoes, peeled and diced large onion, peeled and diced cloves garlic, crushed salt-reduced chicken stock water

400-600 ml low-fat milk freshly ground black pepper, to taste chopped chives, to serve wholegrain dinner 6 rolls, to serve

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Lamb & Mushroom Kebabs INSTRUCTIONS 1

thread lamb and vegetables onto skewers.

2

mix marinade ingredients together and microwave for 40 seconds to combine.

3

with a pastry brush, coat meat and vegetables with marinade. preheat barbecue or grill to moderately hot.

4

cook kebabs for 5 to 10 minutes, turning frequently and brushing regularly with marinade.

prep & cook time: 30 mins serves: 4 INGREDIENTS 500g lean lamb round, cut into cubes 8 button mushrooms, halved green capsicum, seeded and 1 diced 8 cherry tomatoes medium red onion, cut into 1 wedges MARINADE 2 tsp wholegrain mustard 2 tsp mint jelly 2 tsp reduced-salt soy sauce

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Oven Baked Fish With Sweet Potato Wedges INSTRUCTIONS 1

Preheat oven to 230 °C (210 °C fan-forced) and line 2 baking trays with non-stick baking paper.

3

Spread potatoes in a single layer on a tray, spray liberally with oil and bake for 15 minutes on top shelf of the oven.

3

Meanwhile, combine breadcrumbs, cheese and basil in a shallow dish.

4

Fill a separate shallow bowl with beaten egg.

5

Dip fish in egg wash, shake off excess so it is damp but not wet.

6

Add fish to breadcrumb mixture, turning to make sure it is well coated and gently press on crumbs. Spray liberally with oil.

7

Arrange on the second baking tray and place in oven underneath wedges.

8

Turn wedges over and bake both for 10 minutes until fish is golden and cooked through and wedges are crisp.

9

Divide between plates and serve with salad and lemon on the side.

prep & cook time: 30 mins serves: 4 INGREDIENTS 1kg 3/4 cup 1 tbsp 1/4 cup 1 4

sweet potato, peeled, sliced into wedges olive or canola oil spray dried breadcrumbs finely grated parmesan cheese chopped basil egg, beaten 120 g firm white fish fillets garden salad and lemon wedges, to serve

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Nectarine & Berry Salads prep & cook time: 10 mins serves: 6

INSTRUCTIONS 1

toss fruit and mint together.

2

combine dressing ingredients in a small saucepan and stir over low heat until sugar has dissolved. increase temperature and simmer for 5 minutes.

3

remove from heat and cool.

4

pour dressing over fruit and chill serve cold.

INGREDIENTS nectarines, sliced and stones removed strawberries, washed 250g and hulled fresh mint, washed 1/4 cup and stalks removed 4

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Pawpaw Wedges With Lime prep time : 5 mins serves: 4

INSTRUCTIONS 1

remove skin of pawpaw and lift out any black seeds. cut into wedges lengthways. serve with lime wedges.

INGREDIENTS 1 small ripe pawpaw 1 lime, cut into wedges

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MAY 2021 | My Child Magazine Issue #116