PakMag Australia – October 2017 Issue 26

ISSUE: Oct 2017

26

AUSTRALIA

CONSEQUENTIAL DISCIPLINE THE

IMPORTANCE OF READING MAGNETISED

BY MAGNETIC ISLAND BE

DOES YOUR

FAMILY HAVE A HOBBY? SPOOKY SPREE

FREE www.pakmag.com.au | October 2017 1

CONTENTS 05 The Thing Is...

With Bree James

06 Feature: Does Your Family

Have a Hobby?

09 Parenting:

Consequential Discipline

13 Education: The Importance

of Reading

17 Health 19 The Best Daily Workout 20 Bump, Bub and Beyond

Boo! Welcome to our October Edition of PakMag. The kids are back at school. Yay, I hear you cry! Well, don’t cheer too loud as the big one is coming your way soon; summer holidays! Why not start planning now for the next school holidays? Check out our Best of Magnetic Island feature to find out why you should consider this North Queensland treasure for your next school holiday.

Ever hear your kids say, “I’m bored.” Silly question, right? Well, we have a solution. Our feature on family hobbies gives some great tips on the types of hobbies you could look at as a family. Not only do hobbies become ‘go-to’ activities for busting boredom, but they really help you bond as a family too.

We hope you have a Spooktacular month, and until next time, don’t forget to tell them you read it in PakMag!

23 Healthy Recipes 24 Celebrate: Spooky Spree 26 Magnetic Island

Bree James Grand Publishing Founder and Editor-in-Chief

28 Home with Caro & Kingi:

Contact Us: p 4053 3331 f 4053 3350 e admin@grandpublishing.com.au a Po Box 7433 Cairns Qld 4870 fb facebook.com/pakmagaustralia t #pakmag

Lovely Laundry

Grand Publishing Founder and Editor-in-Chief Bree James Operations Manager Rose Foster Graphic Designers Clare Winter Lise Mardon-Smith

Marketing to Families Experts Lisa Gillman Steph Bartram Janelle May

Accounts Trent Stievano Media Intern Monique Saggers

Sub-Editor Kate Moloney Supply & Distribution Manager Gleisy Meireles

Disclaimer: No part of this magazine, including the advertisements within it may be reproduced, in part or in whole without the expressed permission of the editor. Whilst the greatest of care is taken to ensure that the information in the magazine is correct at the time of going to press, readers are advised to check details before visiting. The publishers cannot accept responsibility for errors, inaccuracies or omissions. The expressions expressed within PakMag are not necessarily the views of the publishers, but those of individual writers.

Net Distribution Per Issue 10,000 CAB Publisher Statement Period ending 30th July 2018

www.pakmag.com.au | October 2017 3

The Thing Is...

STORY Bree James

What the heck has happened to twenty seventeen? As the year is starting to come to an end, I am looking back on the year and wondering if I achieved all the little things I wanted to achieve this year.

•• Go to my kids’ class and do reading. Fail so far.

•• Go to my kids’ after school sports to watch them play. Made it three times so far.

•• Have a weekend away with the girls. Fail so far.

•• Go to Pilates twice a week. Lucky to make it once a month.

•• Take my toenail polish off. No time, fifth coat looks ‘fabulous’ albeit a little, ok a lot, chunky in places, but who looks at feet anyway?

As every day goes by, we look at our children, and they seem older after every day at school. And we get little pangs of regret that we aren’t fitting enough quality time in with them. Kids sure do teach us about how valuable time is.

The thing is, I had to make a choice a long time ago, and that was to look at all the things I actually do do, rather than beat myself up about the things I don’t do for myself, my family, and those in my life. Because you know what? Dammit, I do a lot for them. Why the hell do we focus on what we haven’t done rather than what we actually have done, which is often more incredible than

these little things, that sure, mean a lot to us, but didn’t make the cut?

Yes, I want to be an incredible mum, partner, friend, business owner, leader, citizen of the world, daughter, sister, and many other things. But I realised that if I am not kind to myself, that if I beat myself up all the time mentally, telling myself I am a crappy person or crappy mum because I don’t make it to my child’s class every week like other mums, then I am going to die a little inside for comparing my life to others.

Comparison is the thief of joy. How can we be a good parent if we lose our sense of joy because we have beat ourselves up like egg whites till we are stiff and only good for baking? Ok, bad analogy, but you get my point.

So yes, I wish I had done all of the above list better this year. And yes, I am going to try and jam it all into the last two months of this year as much as I can and do better next year, that’s what some parents have to do.

Look at your kids, if they are happy, loved, and growing into little humans you are proud of, you are doing a pretty spectacular job, so be proud of yourself. This parenting thing is damn hard work.

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Feature

Does your family have a hobby?

STORY Meg O’Donnell (B. Ed) With the busy lives we all lead, it’s no surprise that come the weekend, sometimes we just want to lie on the couch and sleep. However having a hobby can not only keep you busy on the weekends, it can also keep you both physically and mentally healthy. People who participate in active hobbies get a boost essential for one’s heart, muscles and overall health. Aside from the positive effects to your body, they can also improve cognitive skills.

With time being so precious, a simple solution is to discover a hobby that you can enjoy as a family. Listed below are nine ideas that you can enjoy together as a group. Don’t be afraid to try something new.

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Feature

Get cooking Whether you enrol the family in structured cooking classes, or you simply try some new dishes on the weekends, involving your kids in the cooking process will always end with memories to keep. Not only will your children experience new dishes from other cuisines and cultures, but they will be learning lifelong skills.

Pack up and go camping Getting away from the hustle and bustle of our busy lives is exactly what every family needs from time to time. Switch off your electronic devices, and spend a few nights simply talking with your children and bonding as a family. Guaranteed, your children will remember eating marshmallows by the fire and learning to fish on the camping trip much more fondly than any gift you could buy them.

Take up bushwalking This is another simple hobby that the whole family can enjoy on a budget. Getting out there amongst nature gives the family a chance to reconnect, whilst the children (and you!) learn about our native flora and fauna. Start with some smaller trails with rest stops, and as the whole family become more experienced, you can work your way up to half day or full day hikes.

Support a sport Getting out to support your local team can be a great way to bond as a family. Whether it’s going to professional games or supporting your local league, there are so many sports to be a part of. Talk to your children and see which sports interest them. There may even be a local team for their age that they can join.

Discover your family history Exploring your family lineage can be an eye-opening experience that the whole family can appreciate.

Whether you consider an online service that will do the research for you, or you visit some older relatives, it is a valuable experience for a child to learn where they come from. Grandparents are an amazing resource of knowledge, but unfortunately, they won’t be around forever. Spending what time you can with them to learn about their lives and hear their stories will allow them to live on in your children’s memories forever.

Grow your own garden Next weekend, visit your local hardware store and head to the gardening section. No longer do you need a big backyard to grow your own vegetables, with vertical garden beds, and other space saving ideas. Start with something small and hardy like herbs, strawberries or

tomatoes, and work your way up from there. Not only does this give your children an education on how food is grown, but it also teaches them responsibility with watering and trimming. A bonus is that children who are picky eaters are more likely to try food that they have grown themselves.

Let’s go bike riding Bike riding is a healthy active hobby that the whole family can enjoy in good weather while teaching your children about road rules and safety. Bike riding is a great way for children (and adults) to get some healthy exercise outdoors and improves hand-eye coordination, as well as strengthening the larger muscles in the body.

These days, the whole family can enjoy biking, with trailers and baby seats readily available to attach to the adult’s bikes for those too little to ride their own.

Start a band You might not become the next Partridge Family, but gosh you are going to have some fun! Search your local area for someone who specialises in group lessons and learn a new instrument together, or if you have the time and money, you could choose a different instrument each and try to learn some songs together. Not only is this a fun way for your children to see you as an equal (learning the same skill from the beginning) but it nourishes their creative side and gives them a platform to access their emotional side through music.

Volunteer for an organisation Helping in the community is a great way to bond as a family. Children tend to be a little self-centred at times, as they are used to having everything done for them.

Allowing your children to see how other people live, and sometimes struggle, can open their eyes and get them thinking more about others. Sometimes we try to protect our children from the ‘less than perfect’ parts of life, but by giving them more responsibility within the community, you may be surprised by just how much your child can not only handle but also contribute.

Get the camera ready I know the article says nine hobbies, but here is a bonus one. Take a camera on your weekends while you participate with your family and take some photos.

Too many of our photos are posed these days, so try to catch some candid shots of your family enjoying not only their hobby but each other. Make sure someone else takes the camera off your hands occasionally, so that you can be in some photos too. At the end of the weekend, your family can go through the photos together, reminisce and create a scrapbook of your adventures.

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Parenting

Consequential Discipline STORY Meg O’Donnell (B. Ed)

Let’s be honest here; parenting can be a tough gig. Some days you are operating on no sleep, and unlike any other job in the world, it is almost the norm for your ‘boss’ to literally scream at you all day. Rewarding? Yes of course. But easy? No. It’s not just about keeping the kids alive, safe, clean and fed either. Once they get to that toddler stage, it is also our job to start teaching them how to become functional people in society by teaching them social skills, verbal cues, and all about the consequences of their actions.

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Parenting

Knowing that our actions have consequences is one of the most important truths to instil in our children.

While it is easy these days to shrug off a young child’s behaviour with a simple “he’s little and doesn’t know any better”, it is important that we strive to raise conscientious children who are aware that they decide their actions, and therefore they need to be willing to accept the consequences. By learning this valuable lesson, we can hope that they will then try to act with kindness and consideration as much as possible.

No matter the age, children like knowing what is expected of them and what will happen if they disobey.

They exceed in structured consistency and thrive when they feel secure in knowing that the rules have not changed from the day before. It should not be a surprise then, that children will learn quickly about cause and effect. This can, of course, be a little difficult for toddlers to understand at the beginning, but consequences (both negative and positive) are a vital part of functioning in society, and so there are certain ways that we can introduce this concept through learning experiences.

Firstly though, it is important to distinguish the differences between a consequence and a punishment.

A consequence is something that follows naturally from a person’s action or inaction, while a punishment is retribution or ‘getting back’ at someone for what they have done. As an example, Jamie sleeps in and in doing so missed the bus for school. A consequence would be having Jamie go to bed an hour earlier the next night so that he gets the sleep he needs. A punishment would be taking away his television time. One is linked and teaches Jamie a way to correct his behaviour, while the other is unrelated and doesn’t teach him anything in the long run.

As quoted by American Psychologist B.F Skinner, “A person who has been punished is not less inclined to behave in a given way; at best, he learns how to avoid punishment.”

It’s important that our children learn early on that what they do or say can have a chain reaction for not only themselves, but the world around them.

Teaching consequences in the early years begins with explaining natural consequences and then working up to personal consequences. “Look at that! Mummy spilt the milk, and so now there is a mess. What do you think happens now?” By verbally talking them through what has happened, they begin to see a direct link between

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mummy doing something, and how it will be followed up. This can go both ways, with positive consequences playing an important role as well. “Look at that! You studied really hard for that spelling test, and you got them all right!” Asking your child what they think will happen next helps them to better understand that a consequence is a flow on effect.

When it comes to using consequences in your behaviour management, it is important to make sure that you are implementing smaller consequences for minor infractions, and more serious consequences for more serious infractions. If we try to go out all ‘guns blazing’ every time our children do something wrong, they begin to lose sight of the big picture, and instead of teaching them about what choices they can make in the future, it just becomes all about trying to show them you are in charge, which can be counter-productive.

It is also important to be aware that what might not seem like a big consequence to you, might mean the world to your child. Removing phone privileges for an extended time from a teenager is a major consequence as, to many of today’s adolescents, a mobile phone is a prized possession. The same applies for a small child’s favourite toy. Again, to quote Skinner, “The consequences of an act affect the probability of it occurring again.” The trick is to apply an equal consequence to the infraction so that the child is not so overwhelmed by the consequence that they are unable to see or hear reason.

Like our children, we also need to think about the consequences of our own actions. This means dealing with our anger and disappointment from our children’s behaviour, as well as outside influences, in a productive way. We all know how tough parenting can be at times, and you can guarantee that every other parent out there has felt that same frustration; however, we need to try to be more aware of the consequences we ourselves will face if we do not handle a situation appropriately. Children learn so much more from what they see from their parents rather than what they hear.

And so ultimately, the best way that we can teach our children about consequences and taking responsibility for our actions is through how we conduct ourselves with the world around us.

Education

The importance of reading to your children STORY Rachael Di Bella, Speech Language Pathologist, Catholic Education Services Sharing books with your child is a fantastic way to build their language skills, introduce literacy skills, and build their knowledge of the world. Reading together is also great family bonding time.

Try to read with your child every day, whether it be before school, after school or before bedtime.

It’s important that this time is not made to be a chore, rather a time that both yourself and your child look forward to. Book sharing is all about engaging and involving your child in the book reading process and allowing them to play an active role throughout in an enriching and safe environment.

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Education

A great deal of research has been done on the benefits of sharing books with children, and it’s no surprise that by reading regularly to your child, you are actually: •• Boosting their vocabulary and overall development of nouns, verbs and adjectives.

•• Developing their knowledge of concepts relating to location, position, number, quantity, sequence, attributes, dimension, size and similarities and differences.

•• Providing them with opportunities to support their inferential questioning skills.

•• Sparking their imagination.

•• Giving them an opportunity to explore their emotions and what different emotions may mean in different contexts.

•• Improving their picture recognition and visual attention.

Here are a few key points on how to make the most of that special reading time together: Read with excitement in your voice.

Use interesting voices and alter your expression whilst reading. Don’t forget to make animal sounds such as, ‘moo’, ‘quack’ and ‘woof’, to engage your child and attain their interest. Better still, encourage your child to copy these sounds and add in others where they see fit.

When you enjoy sharing books together, your child will enjoy this time too. They will also get the message that reading is important.

Have a conversation while reading.

Talk about the pictures together and ask your child open-ended questions. “What do you think will happen next?” “Why did that happen?” Relate what you are reading about to your child’s own experiences. “Look, that pig’s house is made of straw, but ours is made of bricks, isn’t it?” You can extend them further by asking, “Which house do you think would be stronger?”

By asking a range of questions, your child’s reading comprehension skills will also bloom.

Read it again!

Reading favourite books over and over is important and helps your child get ready to read. Pause and give your child the chance to ‘fill in the blanks’ when they know the story or line. “Little pig, little pig, let me…”

When children anticipate what’s coming next, they have a sense of mastery over books. It’s also a great way to practice specific concepts your child may have difficulty with in a safe environment.

If you’re reading an old favourite, try different ways of sharing the story; close the book and ‘remember’ the story together, draw the best part of the story with some chalk on the cement and talk about why you love it, or act out the story using simple props, such as puppets or toy animals. Get creative, let their imagination run wild!

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Talk about interesting words.

As you read through the story, stop every now and then to talk about an interesting word. Act it out, describe it another way, or relate it to something your child already knows. Give your child the opportunity to practice saying the word with you. “Is it a long word or a short word?”

Clap out the syllables together. Try to use those interesting words again later in the day or in the coming week. This will help to consolidate their learning of new words or concepts. It can also help to build their understanding of words and their meanings in various contexts.

Talk about the print.

Don’t forget to talk about print concepts with your child.

Show them the front cover and the back cover. Show them how to hold the book and explain that we read left to right. Point out the author’s name and distinguish the difference between an author and an illustrator. Point to individual words and letters to show them they are different and show them that several words together make a sentence. Give your child the job of ‘turning the page’ and don’t be afraid to repeat this phrase each time they turn the page.

Read words everywhere.

Read words on street signs, in the shops or on the side of a bus. Organise a pen pal or leave little notes for your children at home. Reading words from all your surroundings demonstrates to your child that words are important and fun to read. It also shows that words are everywhere!

Make reading fun!

•• Use props and puppets to act out parts of the book.

E.g. use plastic food when reading The Very Hungry Caterpillar.

•• Let your child lift the flaps and turn the pages to help maintain their attention and engagement throughout the story.

•• Talk about the pictures in the story, make up parts or change the ending. Let your child’s imagination go wild! You’ll be surprised with their responses.

•• Be animated! Use ‘silly’ voices to distinguish between the different story characters. Alter your facial expression and body language to make the story more engaging.

•• Find a comfortable place to sit. E.g. Make a fort using the couch or cushions and a sheet. It’s not only fun to make it with your child, but also is a great learning opportunity to talk about how we build a fort.

It’s never too early or too late to start sharing books with your child. If you haven’t already, make a time to go and check out the library together. Whilst there, why not join and pick out some books together? This can be such a fun experience for your child.

Your local library can provide you with instant access to a huge range of books and toys for you and your child’s enjoyment. Library staff have a keen interest in helping families develop an interest in reading. And best of all, it’s free.

Health

HEALTH Is your brain’s diet balanced?

Shoctober

STORY – Kate Moloney

October is the month that is nationally dedicated to cardiac arrest survival and is about raising awareness of the toll that sudden cardiac arrest is taking on our communities, and the importance of defibrillator awareness.

We all lead busy lives, and while we are constantly reminded to be vigilant about our physical health, how often do we think about the ‘mental nutrients’ that our brains need to function at their best?

David Rock and Dr Daniel J. Siegal designed The Healthy Mind Platter, which is comprised of seven daily essential mental activities to aid you to make sure you are bringing the right ingredients into your mental diet.

•• Sleep Time. Our brain needs rest too, and sleep allows it time to recover from the experiences of the day and consolidate learning.

•• Focus Time. This is when we make deep connections in the brain through challenges and by closely focusing on tasks in a goal oriented way.

•• Play Time. The time for making new connections in the brain through being spontaneous and creative, enjoying playful novel experiences.

•• Physical Time. Moving our body aerobically is an essential aspect that strengthens our brain in many ways.

•• Connecting Time. Appreciating the natural world around us and connecting with people, especially in person, activates our brain’s relational circuitry.

STORY Kate Moloney

Sudden cardiac arrest, also known as a ‘massive heart attack’ involves an interruption to the heart’s electrical system, causing unconsciousness and a lack of breathing and pulse. According to the Cardiac Arrest Survival Foundation, sudden cardiac arrest kills between 23,000 to 33,000 Australians each year.

That is more deaths than we lose to breast cancer and road crashes combined. It is known as the ‘silent killer’ as it can happen to anyone, anywhere of any age and at any time.

The reason raising awareness is so important is because cardiac arrest is treatable if defibrillation is done in time. Every minute counts. Automated External Defibrillators (AED) are located in train stations, airports, shopping centres and other busy public places, and the Cardiac Arrest Survival Foundation are working hard to improve people’s knowledge of these defibrillators so that lives can be saved.

•• Down Time. The brain’s chance to recharge, with non-focused, non-goal oriented time, where we let our mind wander and simply relax.

If you are thinking what can I do? You can help, by taking the time to read the information on their website www.shoctober.org.au and by watching their Survive in Five video. Spread the word and help share their message with your friends through Facebook www.facebook.com/CardiacArrestSurvival or Twitter - www.twitter.com/shoctober.

Make sure you fill your ‘mind’s plate’ with what it needs to be a healthy mind.

You just never know when this information could save the life of someone you love.

•• Time In. Our ‘me-time’, where we reflect internally, focusing on our thoughts and feelings to better integrate the brain.

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Bump, Bub and Beyond

The best daily workout STORY Kate Moloney It’s not really talked about, yet according to the Continence Foundation of Australia, it affects one in three women who have had a baby. So, what are we all keeping quiet about? Incontinence.

Pregnant women are offered so much advice by seemingly everyone they meet, yet rarely is this advice in relation to bladder and bowel control problems post birth.

It is important to protect your pelvic floor muscles post birth, and there are a number things that you can do to assist them: •• Before you sneeze, cough, blow your nose or lift anything try to squeeze, lift and hold your pelvic floor muscles or cross your legs and squeeze them tightly together.

•• Don’t lift heavy loads on your own.

•• Don’t do exercises that involve bouncing.

•• Do pelvic floor muscle exercises.

Your pelvic floor tissues, muscles and nerves should mend in the first six months after giving birth. The key is regular pelvic floor muscle training. While these are very important post birth, they ideally should be done every day of your life.

The Continence Foundation of Australia recommends that you do the following exercises each day:

Of course, like a lot of things, this is all sometimes easier said than done. Especially when you throw into the mix the demands of a newborn baby and sleep deprivation.

To make it easier to remember to do these, the Continence Foundation of Australia suggests linking the exercises to your daily activities. For example, you could do them every time you change the baby or when you have your shower. Or you could put signs up to remind you until you have created the habit of doing them.

For further details on these exercises visit www.continence.org.au If things are not getting better for you after six months, or if you notice leaking of urine at any time, experience the urge to rush to the toilet, feel a burning or stinging sensation when you pass urine or if you find you have to strain to pass urine, you should speak to your doctor.

You can also contact the National Continence Helpline on free call 1800 330 066, and they can put you in contact with professionals and support groups that can help.

Considering how this affects woman of all ages and in significant numbers, why are we letting everyone feel so alone? Incontinence is a major problem that has such a significant effect on a women’s quality of life, and it is sad that there is such silence that surrounds this issue.

If you’re one of the thousands of women affected by this, we urge you, don’t suffer in silence.

•• Squeeze and lift your pelvic floor three times quickly with no rests.

•• Squeeze, lift and hold the pelvic floor for three seconds, three times.

These two exercises combined are one set, and you should do three sets of these each day.

•• You should also practice three times a day, what is known as ‘the knack’. This is when you squeeze hard, hold and cough.

With time and practice, you will gradually be able to hold your squeeze for longer.

WATCH SKIN ALERT’S VIDEO ON HOW THEIR INTIMALASE PROCEDURE WORKS IN OUR ONLINE MAG. *CONTENT WARNING VIEWER DISCRETION ADVISED

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Bump, Bub and Beyond

BUMP, BUB AND BEYOND Featured products, reviews and prizes. Visit www.pakmag.com.au for your chance to win!

Little Belle Nightlight RRP $149.99, www.little-belle.com Little Belle night lights have been designed to bring smiles, hope, laughter and encouragement to children travelling through life’s little adventures. Founded by New Zealand Based, Laura Burbery, Little Belle creates quality children’s lighting for little hearts and homes.

Made with hand-painted brush strokes + shimmers of gold and splashes of bright, each of the night lights are inspired by the imagination of young children, and help to to soothe little ones into a magical night’s sleep.

Breastvest Nursing Singlet RRP $30.00, www.apikali.com.au Momsense Smart Breastfeeding Meter RRP $69.00, www.momsense.com.au Momsense is the world’s first smart breastfeeding meter. For the first time, Australian mums can know how much breast milk their baby has consumed in millilitres, without having to express. Momsense eliminates all of the uncertainties around breastfeeding.

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The idea behind Breastvest is that it is worn over your nursing bra and covers your postnatal tummy so you can breastfeed your baby without having to worry about your post-baby midriff.

Breastvest is shaped to sit comfortably under your well-fitted nursing bra and is held in place by shoulder straps that are specifically designed not to interfere with the nursing bra’s straps.

Breastvest covers the postnatal tummy generously and discreetly, and allows breastfeeding mums to wear normal tops, which can then just be lifted up to breastfeed... without exposing any postnatal tummy. It really couldn’t be easier to use.

Dads can struggle too STORY Kate Moloney Becoming a dad for the first time is an extremely exciting, sometimes scary and always exhausting new stage of a man’s life.

Studies have revealed that working fathers of newborns are extremely fatigued due to their long working hours and getting less than six hours of sleep a night. Both new parents may get roughly the same amount of sleep during the night, but whilst stay at home mums may catch up on sleep during the day, fathers generally don’t. Recent studies show this sleep loss of up to two hours per night can continue up until a baby is five months old.

Juggling this new hectic schedule while also dealing with sleep deprivation can be tough on both new mums and new dads. Approximately one third of fathers, according to studies, struggle with the mental pressures during this time and, like women, can be affected by postnatal depression and perinatal mentalhealth issues.

New dads need to ensure they are taking care of both their physical health and mental health during this exciting new time. A healthy diet, supplements if required, and making sleep a priority is important.

As it is for new mums too.

Most important of all though, is that new dads need to ensure they do not shy away from seeking advice or professional help if they find they need it.

Becoming a parent is an extreme life changing event, and whilst hugely rewarding, it can also be exceptionally challenging.

Hope for fussy eaters STORY Melissa Kent, Author of Broccoli Trees?

Yes Please!

Are you one of the eight out of ten Australian parents who are concerned about their child’s eating habits and nutrition?

Mealtime stress is far more common than you might think, with approximately half of all toddlers being described as fussy eaters. Helping a fussy eater to explore healthy new foods can seem like a futile task, but there are some simple things that you can do to increase your chances of success.

•• Get growing. This could be as simple as planting some herbs in small pots and asking your child to water them.

•• Ask for their help. Often children will be excited if they are given a specific task. Eg. “Could you please choose a rainbow of fruits and vegetables for us to take home and try? We need something of each colour!”.

•• Praise every win. But try not to criticise the ‘failures’.

Children thrive on positive reinforcement, so make sure you celebrate every victory, no matter how small.

•• Try to have fun. Children learn through play. If they are having fun, they will be more likely to try new foods.

•• Persevere. Research suggests that you will need to show your child a food 15-20 times before they may be interested in trying it. So, don’t give up!

Fussy eating can affect the whole family, but by adopting a fun and relaxed attitude at mealtimes, you’ll be one step closer to saying ‘goodbye’ to those stressful stand-offs, and ‘hello’ to a whole new world of healthy food exploration.

For your chance to win a copy of Broccoli Trees?

Yes Please! visit www.pakmag.com.au

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Healthy Recipes

HEALTHY RECIPES

Sweet Potato & Maple Glazed Pears with Crunchy Moroccan Chickpea Salad - Serves 4

Banana and Coconut Teff Muffins - Serves 12 Recipe by Sally O’Neil @thefitfoodieblog

Recipe by Melissa Wallace @wholesomedaily

Ingredients 1 ½ cups almond meal 3 large bananas, mashed ¾ cup teff flour 2 tsp baking powder 1 tsp vanilla powder 1 cup almond milk 2 tbsp rice malt syrup (or other liquid sweetner) 1 tsp ground cinnamon ½ cup granulated stevia 2 tbsp coconut flakes

Salad Ingredients 200g soaked and rinsed chickpeas ¼ cup olive oil 2 tbs Moroccan spice blend (1 tsp ground cumin, 1 tsp ground ginger, 1 tsp salt, ¾ tsp black pepper, ½ tsp ground cinnamon, ½ tsp ground coriander, ½ tsp cayenne, ½ tsp ground allspice) 500g sweet potato, unpeeled and cut into wedges 2 medium pears, unpeeled and cut into 8 wedges ¼ cup pomegranate arils

Method

Dressing Ingredients

Preheat oven to 160°c.

1 cup coconut yoghurt 1 tbs tahini Juice of ½ lemon 200g rocket to serve.

Mash the bananas, then add milk and liquid sweetner and mix until smooth.

In a separate bowl, add all the dry ingredients (excluding the coconut flakes) and mix.

Add the wet ingredientsto the dry mix and whisk until a smooth batter forms.

Spoon into a 12 hole muffin tray.

Top each muffin with some coconut flakes and bake for approximatly 30 minutes until a skewer comes out clean.

Cool on a wire rack and store in an airtight container for up to 4 days.

Method Bake sweet potato and drizzle pear in the maple syrup then bake in oven until cooked.

Rinse and pat dry chickpeas, add olive oil and spice blend and cook in oven until crisp.

For the dressing, blend coconut yoghurt, lemon and tahini until combined and set aside.

To serve: arrange rocket, sweet potato and pears on plate. Top with chickpeas and pomegranate arils and drizzle with dressing.

Recipes bought to you by The Source Bulk Foods. You can pick up quality, fresh ingredients for these recipes from The Source Bulk Foods. For more gorgeous recipes pick up The Source Bulk Foods free Winter Recipes cook book in store. Check them out on Facebook: /TheSourceBulkFoodsCairns

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Celebrate

SPOOKY SPREE From plastic spiders to toilet paper mummies, Halloween is just around the corner. So why not throw your little one a spooktacular monster bash with plenty of tricks and treats for all?

Pizza Monsters Make your very own spooky faces with these cheesy monster pizzas.

Ingredients:

Pineapple Jack O’Lantern

•• Pre-made or home-made pizza bases

Bring a tropical twist to the classic pumpkin Jack o’Lantern with this sweet but spooky surprise.

•• Pizza sauce and your favourite pizza toppings

What you’ll need:

Creating your pizza monster:

•• A whole pineapple

1. Taking a pizza base, cover with your desired pizza sauce.

•• Knife and Spoon

2. Let your imagination run wild as you dice and slice your favourite pizza toppings to make your very own unique pizza monster.

•• Tea light candle How to:

3. Place in a hot oven for 10 mins and watch your monster come to life!

1. Carefully cut the top off the pineapple and scoop out the centre with a spoon (Make sure to keep the pineapple top as you’ll need this later).

4. Once cooked remove your spooky creation from the oven and enjoy.

2. Using a sharp knife cut out a spooky face.

3. Place a tea candle inside and place the top of the pineapple back on top of your spooky pineapple face.

Boo-Nana Pops Simply cut a banana in half and insert a popsicle stick into the bottom. Dip the banana into melted white chocolate and add two chocolate chips for eyes. Place in freezer until frozen. Then enjoy!

Please note that pineapples are more perishable than pumpkins, so we suggest making this spooky creation only a day before your event.

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1. Pizza Monster 2. Dracula’s Dentures - www.the-girl-who-ateeverything.com 3. Cracker Spiders - www.onelittleproject.com 4. Fruit Pumpkins and Ghosts - www.floandgrace.com 5. Carved Pineapple - www.completely-coastal.com 6. Eyeball Brownies www.bigbearswife.com 7. Monster Crochet Toy - RRP $39.95 $24.95 www.ellej.com.au 8. Gingerbread Skeletons - www.donnahay.com.au 9. Reversible Pirate Bucket Hat - RRP $26.00 - www.hellomisspoppyseed.com 10. Miann & Co Hand Made Dylan Dragon - RRP $86.00 www.korufurnitureandhomewares.com.au 11. Friendly Ghosts Set RRP $20.00 - www.gardensparkle.com.au 12. Monster Cookie Bar www.babble.com

Be Magnetised by Magnetic Island STORY Kate Moloney

If you are looking for a tropical break away from the hustle and bustle, then look no further than Magnetic Island.

With “Maggie” lying just 8 kilometres off Townsville, and only a quick ferry trip away, the island is the perfect retreat. With 23 beautiful bays and beaches, you are sure to find your own little piece of heaven. Magnetic Island is known for its laid-back vibe, and you will experience the welcoming community from the moment you step off the boat. With so many activities on offer, you will struggle to decide what to do first. Getting around is easy, you can choose to either hire a vehicle on the island or take advantage of the Sunbus regular bus service.

Magnetic Island is two-thirds protected National Park, offering you plenty of opportunities to unwind and explore its rugged nature and abundant wildlife. There are a number of walks of differing lengths and difficulty, from the shorter Butterfly Walk and Horseshoe Bay Lagoon Walk, to the famous Forts Walk (approximately 4km) which takes about 90 minutes return. It is an easy to moderate walk that offers 360-degree views of the coast and the Coral Sea, as well as providing the opportunity to see Australia’s largest population of koalas in the wild.

Being situated in the World Heritage listed Great Barrier Reef Marine Park, you have the opportunity to explore the reef, whether it is snorkelling off a bay, or taking in a fishing or dive tour. Add to that the exhilarating water

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sports options available at Horseshoe Bay such as kayaking, kneeboarding, wakeboarding, waterskiing and jetskiing, and your day is sure to be filled with fun.

If your interests are more cultural, then Magnetic Island still has you covered with the Magnetic Island History and Craft Centre and the Magnetic Museum both offering the opportunity to explore the island’s colourful past. The art scene on Magnetic Island won’t leave you wanting either, with numerous galleries and opportunities to see artists at work in their studios.

After all this exploring, you are sure to have worked up an appetite and satisfying your hunger will not be a problem. You can choose to enjoy the free shore side BBQ facilities, get your supplies from one of the two supermarkets, or sit back and indulge at one of the many restaurant options available across the island.

Getting to Magnetic Island couldn’t be easier with SeaLink operating up to 18 daily high-speed catamaran services, crossing the sheltered waters of Cleveland Bay in only 20 minutes.

Tickets are available at the terminal or on-board the boats, so there is no need to pre-book (though if you prefer to you book ahead, you can book online). The terminal is located within the Breakwater Terminal on Sir Leslie Thiess Drive in Townsville. You can contact SeaLink on 1300 MAGGIE (1300 624 443) or to book online visit www.sealinkqld.com.au

Home

LOVELY LAUNDRY With the Block’s Caro and Kingi Is your laundry in need of an urgent make over?

There are many ways to revamp your laundry, as well as creating a system that gets the job done in an organised way. We have the top tips and tricks to transform your laundry from mayhem to spick and span.

Lighting Lighting is important to master in the laundry as this room is known to become dull and quite dark. Not enough light in a room can impact your mood and motivation, making it hard to do daily chores. We suggest aiming for warm-toned lighting, or even better, welcome the natural light within this space to provide a fresh and appealing environment.

Spacing Take a look at the space you are working with. Can you save space by simply re-arranging items in the room? If you are in need of new laundry appliances, try looking into a slim structured machine to save space.

Nobody wants to see dirty laundry on the ground or piled in a basket taking up precious bench space. So why not add a dirty clothes “bin” into your laundry.

These drawers act as a storage unit to keep track of your washing, while also freeing up bench space providing a clean clutter free work environment.

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The Battle of Clutter No matter what room it is, clutter will always find its way in. From stain removers to a variety of soap sprays, your laundry shelf is starting to look like a supermarket.

Although these products are a necessity for removing mysterious stains that kids create, the collection can create an unsightly view. Why not display these products in good-looking jars to create an organised shelf that is both practical and aesthetically pleasing?

This way, you can buy products in bulk to save money and never run out of your important products.

Smart Ironing From school uniforms to work attire, ironing boards are essential to any laundry. However, this vital element can take up valuable space when not in use. Install a wall mounted iron to save space as well as creating a more organised flow in your workspace. We suggest upgrading to a larger ironing board as this will make your ironing duties more enjoyable and easier.

Colour Scheme A coat of paint can go a long way, especially in a room known to be dull and dark. By using a bright colour scheme from pastel pinks and blues to a variety of white tones, the environment of your laundry room will change drastically. By staying away from dark tones and heavy textures, you begin to open this room up into an inviting and brighter work space.

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1. www.brepurposed.porch.com 2. www.vintagerevivals.com 3. Interior by Piet Jan van den Kommer 4. Ladder Stand - RRP $100.00 www.vastinterior.com.au 5. Bondi Wash Laundry Wash Tasmanian Pepper & Lavender - RRP $22.00 $11.00 - www.korufurnitureandhomewares.com.au 6. UE MEGABOOM Wireless Speaker - RRP $348.00 - www.harveynorman.com.au 7. Natural Cotton Rope Basket - RRP $19.95 - www.ellej.com.au 8. HOLA Timber Wall Plaque - RRP $29.95 $15.00 - www.ellej.com.au 9. Verve 7 Drawer Chest - RRP $1,499.00 - www.vastinterior.com.au