PakMag Australia – November 2017 Issue 27

ISSUE: Nov 2017

27

AUSTRALIA

CHALLENGES WITH CHILDREN: WE CAN ALL HELP $1000’s WORTH OF PRIZES INSIDE

HOME: SPRING CLEANING

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OVERCOMING PERFECTIONISM www.pakmag.com.au | November 2017 1

CONTENTS 05 The Thing Is...

With Bree James 06 Feature: Overcoming Perfectionism 09 Challenges: We Can All Help 13 Education: Reading and

Writing, On and Off Devices 17 Health

Well hello and welcome to our 2nd last edition of the year!

This month we are kicking off PakMag’s Summer Of Giveaways with thousands of dollars worth of prizes to give away between now and Australia Day. We also cover perfectionism and some great educational topics, and to help you get your house ready for Christmas we have some great spring cleaning tips.

Have a great month, and don’t forget to tell everyone, you read it in PakMag.

18 Huge Giveaway for Summer 21 Babywearing Benefits 22 Bump, Bub and Beyond 24 Home with Caro & Kingi:

Spring Cleaning 27 Adult Education

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

Bree James Grand Publishing Founder and Editor-in-Chief 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

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 | November 2017 3

The Thing Is

The Thing Is...

STORY Bree James

I sometimes wonder if we have lost the ability to have a good laugh. One of my most favorite things to do is to make people laugh, but there have certainly been times in my life where there isn’t much laughter going on in my world.

The thing is, life can get pretty serious and we get on the hamster wheel of parenting, working, living and we forget to have fun along the way. Having kids has certainly taught me to have more fun, but having kids has also made me feel as repetitive and annoying as a Kylie Minogue song on repeat.

“Don’t throw your clothes on the floor next to the clothes basket. Stop picking your nose. Don’t pee in the backyard. Stop hitting each other. Close the fridge. Can I just go to the toilet in peace? Stop running. Don’t fart at the dinner table! If you hurry up and have your shower, yes, we can watch guinea pig videos on YouTube. Yes, girls have a vagina and boys have a penis.”

Sigh. Insert sad country song, start feeling sorry for myself wondering how I can go from high-level discussions as a business owner and semi-intelligent woman to talking about why you should stop sniffing your brother’s butt. WTH? You will get ‘pink eye’ is my usual finish to that sentence.

So the other day, I tried something new.

I started behaving and modelling my kid’s behavior to my kids. I threw my clothes on the floor. I picked my nose in front of them, I followed them into the toilet to ask them to get me something, I ran through the shops, I farted at the dinner table, and I peed in the backyard.

Ok, maybe some of that is an exaggeration, but you

get my point. I did everything I could to show them how they behave and then spoke to them about how they felt when I behaved that way.

It was a lot of fun for me finding my inner child, and there were a lot of laughs, and my kids’ faces were, ‘OMG! I can’t believe mum just did that’. But hey, they learnt, and it made me teach them in a way that was way more fun than I had done in the past. You see, kids don’t really learn well through logic. They learn much better through emotion, whether that be a bad emotion or a good emotion, according to researchers we learn and retain things 90 per cent better when there is emotion behind logic. For example, if a child drops a bowl of cereal on the floor, they don’t really get upset.

Why? Because they aren’t emotionally attached to the cereal - they get it every day, and they will probably drop it again tomorrow no matter how much you tell them to be careful. However, if they drop a bowl of icecream that is a rare treat, they will lose their $&%T, even if logically you still have a full tub of ice cream on the bench to refill the bowl. Why? Because emotionally, they were so excited and happy to have that bowl in their hands. Will they drop the bowl of ice-cream again next time? I highly doubt it. It will be held onto like it’s glued to their little hands because they learnt the hard way.

So my dears, try and make your parenting fun by telling your kids stories and by teaching them lessons in a fun way that engages their emotions, and makes them feel and think at the same time. Let’s get that damn Kylie Minogue song off air for good.

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Feature

Overcoming Perfectionism STORY Meg O’Donnell (B.Ed)

Self-help author, Anne Wilson Schaef states that “Perfectionism is self-abuse of the highest order”, and she isn’t too far from the truth. Perfectionism and motherhood, are two things that shouldn’t really go together, but unfortunately, they often do.

Whether it is living up to the memory of our own mothers or competing with other ‘yummy mummies’ in the school carpark, sometimes it seems everywhere we go, people are judging our every decision. Is the reality though that the person judging us the most ourselves?

From the moment your baby is placed in your arms, you solemnly swear that you are going to do everything possible to ensure they get the best version of you as a mother. And sometimes we get so caught up in trying to make sure that everything is going smoothly, we forget to enjoy the journey.

Perfectionism is defined as a person striving for flawlessness and is accompanied by critical selfevaluations and concerns regarding other’s evaluations.

While it can be hard not to analyse what others think of us as parents (especially when it seems every Tom, Dick and Harry have an opinion), it is important to try our best to block out those thoughts. When we focus so much on how we believe things ‘should’ be, we are also telling our children how we believe things ‘shouldn’t’ be, and that can lead to anxiety and questioning of their own self-worth.

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“Mummy is always saying she is too fat. Maybe I am too fat as well.”

As a parent, it is so important to promote self-worth to your children. It all starts with you. Children learn so much from what they see and hear from their parents, and if they see and hear a confident parent who isn’t ashamed of their body or their brains, then they feel more comfortable acknowledging the positives about themselves as well. Something I suggest parents try is to look at their children and find everything about them that they inherited from you, whether it be their laugh, their eyes, their hair or their behaviour. Find every bit of you inside them, and remember just how much you love them. Surely if you can love them for all their traits, you can love yourself for those same reasons. Learning self-love (or at the very least self-acceptance) can be one of the most challenging things to learn, but it is undoubtedly worth it when you see your own children develop and nourish that same confidence.

Aside from the perfectionism over ourselves, we also tend to try to reach that unobtainable level of perfection with everything else. Is our house spotless? Do we not only

Feature

have our dinners ready every night on time, but are they also full of healthy choices? Are our children neat, well behaved and adored by all? Trying to be that pictureperfect parent can truly be exhausting, but it is also unnecessary. Most children won’t be lining up to say their mother is perfect because she washes, dries and folds their clothes all in one day. More likely they think you are perfect simply because you hug them the best.

Here are a few things to remember when trying to overcome perfectionism: •• Celebrate every small victory and give yourself credit where credit is due.

•• Remove the ‘all or nothing’ mindset. The sun will still come up tomorrow.

•• Recognise the bigger picture and try not to get so caught up by the little things.

•• Learn from the failures, but don’t dwell on them.

Acknowledge that failures are part and parcel of success.

•• Learn to respect and love yourself.

Before having my firstborn, I thought there was a certain way to do everything. That there was a set of expectations that I needed to live up to, to be a good mother. Now I know that’s simply not true. From playing in the backyard on the trampoline well after dark, ordering takeaway at least once a week because we forgot to get something out of the freezer to defrost in time, to generally running around like a headless chook most mornings before the school run, our lives are happily imperfect!

My boys don’t need their mum to have perfect hair or to be incredibly fit or even to know the answers to everything. They just need me there.

Happy or perfect mum?

STORY Jodie Woodford, Pakmag Ambassador

Life pre-baby, I didn’t realise how stressed and overloaded I was.

Instead of being a lady of leisure, I somehow managed to fill every moment of the day with endless lists of tasks. I was a perfectionist.

I knew it, but I didn’t think it was a big deal and instead wore the label as a badge of honour.

Enter pregnancy, and my lists were now of acceptable foods, needed baby items, complete with a price spreadsheet and notes from my antenatal classes. I had everything planned to the finest detail and then … it all fell apart.

A week post labour and I’m so wound up as everything was wrong, and no matter what I tried my baby just wouldn’t latch. It had been a week of trying, failing, my baby screaming angrily in my face,

bottle feeding, expressing, cleaning bottles while the baby slept, baby awake again. Twenty-minute schedule gaps whispered the possibility of a nap, but my stress levels wouldn’t let me sleep. I was ‘failing’ at mum-hood, was convinced my baby hated me, and my domestic palace was falling apart.

My support network and local professionals swooped and confirmed that I wasn’t failing, that my bub’s latch problem was his alone and they also highlighted that a happy mum was more important than a perfect one. “Think of your childhood. Do you remember the clean dishes and laundry or do you remember your happy mother?” I was told that I needed to apply the oxygen to myself first.

A good lesson but for me, my most profound lesson, came when I was rushing, Tokyo-drifting my trolley through the shopping centre carpark when my son started screaming and pointing. “What, whaaaat, for freak’s sake?!”, I asked, sweating over my mile-long to-do list. I look up, and it’s a little nest of baby birdies, hidden high up in the rafters, cheep-cheeping away. And he is enraptured, his eyes and mouth wide open, staring serenely at the beauty of nature. Suddenly, I was standing there mentally unticking the boxes on my internal to-do list.

I still try to accomplish a lot, I’m still a hard worker, but I have lowered my expectations, scheduling downtime and only working within work hours. Please, I implore you, “Stop and watch the birdies too!”

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Challenges

Challenges with Children: We Can All Help STORY Rose Foster

Raising children is no mean feat, we all know that. Juxtaposed between happy moments and intense laughter, are days of despair and frustration. And bringing up children with a disability is no different; there are still joyous times and difficult times, it’s just sometimes, the difficult times can be a little more challenging to deal with physically, mentally and emotionally.

A quick internet search will show you that there are a plethora of websites, organisations and articles which provide helpful information, advice and services to families with children who have disabilities. But when it comes to gathering information for these families’ social support network (their friends and wider family), knowing where to look for tips on how to help can be a little difficult.

There are a growing number of ways that parents can seek information on how to help their own children who are struggling with disabilities, and some of these also focus on support for the parents as well as the child, too. Sometimes though, there’s nothing like the support of your loved ones, the ones who you’d just love to see for a coffee, the ones you can cry with, and the ones you can just talk nonsense to.

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Challenges

How Family and Friends Can Help Asking for help is often not in our nature, so when it comes to supporting parents of disabled children, there is an element of guess work, a dash of kindness and a whole lot of compassion.

1. R U OK? You will have undoubtedly heard the slogan, and know the message behind this important movement of suicide prevention. Depression is an issue that is thankfully getting more widely understood, and it’s an issue that many parents of children with disabilities face, often in silence. By simply asking, “Are you ok?”, and talking through how your friend is feeling (no matter how big or small the issue), can go a long way to making a huge difference in their ability to deal with the challenges in their and their family’s lives.

2. Help Vouchers

important to know that their lives aren’t miserable (well, no more than the rest of us!). Don’t assume that families are having a hard time, and certainly don’t pity them – it’s just not necessary, and doesn’t make them feel better about their situation. But how will you know if they fall into the ‘happy’ category? Well, if you’ve followed the first four steps here, you won’t have to wonder!

How Strangers Can Help Obviously, not all of us know of someone close to us that we can support in the ways outlined above.

However, even if that is the case, there are still things we can do when we come into contact with families with children with disabilities.

We spoke to parents who have children with disabilities and they gave us some advice on what makes them and their child feel good when they are out in public.

Even after we’ve been offered help, actually accepting it does not always come naturally. Sometimes we don’t feel comfortable putting out our friends and family, and take on everything ourselves. So, to combat this, and to show your friend you are serious about offering your help, why not create a voucher booklet that they can redeem at any time? Think about what they might need your help with and what you can offer them, and print up the vouchers to suit their needs. They’ll appreciate it more than you know.

1. Don’t treat them differently

3. Communication

Also remember that not all disabilities are visible, so there’s a lesson in itself; just treat everyone you meet with a kind heart and a friendly smile!

Communication is King! You’ve probably heard it before, but it has never been truer than when it comes to supporting a friend or family member with children with a disability. Communicate often, selflessly and thoughtfully. This can simply be checking in to see how they are, asking them to meet for coffee or just saying hello.

4. Listen This might seem straightforward, but sometimes all that is needed is your ear. That means really listening and being engaged in the conversation. You don’t have to offer advice or a solution, you don’t have to contribute your opinion and you don’t have to pretend to understand. Sometimes trying to relate your problems to your friend’s, or giving a piece of advice that they’ve heard a thousand times is not as helpful as you may think!

5. Remember it’s not Always a Struggle Yes, their lives are different, and yes sometimes there are hard times, but when supporting carers, it’s

Don’t stare. Don’t avoid eye-contact, or smiling. Don’t treat children or families with disabilities any differently than you’d treat a child or family without. Being made to feel different can be very isolating for these families, so if you see these families out and about, smile, say hello, comment on the child’s pretty dress, ask them if they’re enjoying the park, and just generally make them feel that you don’t see them as unlike you and your family!

2. Teach your children empathy Talking with your children about disabilities and how they should interact with children with disabilities can also go a long way to making these families and children feel like they are a member of their community. Imagine how a child with disabilities would feel if your child ran up to them pointing and asking what was wrong with him. Now imagine the difference it would make to the same child when they are approached and asked if they’d like to play.

3. Random act of kindness Here at PakMag, we’re big advocates of random acts of kindness for the whole community, but these acts can make a huge difference in the lives of families who live with challenges. Pay for a coffee, offer to carry those heavy bags to the car or leave a gift basket on a neighbour’s doorstep, it will brighten the cloudiest of days.

If you have any tips you’d like to share about your experience and how you’ve been the supporter or the supportee, head over to our Facebook Page and send us a message. We love to hear from people like you and will be highlighting local families in 2018 and beyond.

10 November 2017 | www.pakmag.com.au

Education

Why our children need to be reading and writing, on and off, their devices STORY Rachael Di Bella, Speech Language Pathologist, Catholic Education Services

We are constantly surrounded by evolving technology. Whether it be in our workplaces, on aircrafts, in the lunchroom or at our schools, we, including our children, are surrounded by technology and have an array of devices at our fingertips throughout the day.

It is safe to say screen time plays a large role in all of our lives, especially for many young children.

Many devices are used at school to access apps to typically support reading, literacy and numeracy development for our younger children and websites and video clips for our older children for the purposes of research and assessment. It is important for our children to be able to read and write, on and off, their devices to ensure they develop skills using both mediums.

The good things about digital and the not so good things about digital.

Screen time for young children is about choosing quality programs and apps to support their development while also aiming to develop healthy screen habits that will follow with them into childhood, adolescence and eventually adulthood.

Story continues on P.14

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Education

There are many benefits to using digital mediums, including getting them singing songs, copying dance moves, listening and moving along to nursery rhymes and sparking their imagination.

Good-quality apps or games for young children can: •• Encourage creativity – get children to draw pictures, make up stories or choose characters of their interest.

How to help with reading at home?

Depending on the age of a child, where and when they may want to read, what they want to read and how they want to read it, may differ. It’s important to be very flexible and find what suits your child best. By taking the time to explore how your child likes to read, this gives not only you but your child an opportunity to experience a range of ways to read and enjoy reading.

•• Develop communication skills – expose children to other languages.

Ideas include:

•• Encourage problem-solving skills – by asking children to match objects by shape or colour.

•• Pointing out words on signs whilst you are driving.

On the flip side, too much screen time can also be detrimental to our children’s development. Screen time can be used as a reward for completing a task or good behaviour, however, should be given with specific time limits. Whether this be a daily limit or limited to one day a week for a certain amount of time, it is important your child is aware that screen time is a reward and not something they use all day every day. It’s important that screen time is well balanced with face-to-face creative play and physical active time.

•• Reading pamphlets when visiting new places and talking about the attractions.

The good things about print and the written word.

Learning about print and the written word is important, on and off devices. Concepts of print involve understanding the difference between letters, words, punctuation and directionality. Using a hardcopy book to teach book and print concepts can assist with the understanding of these concepts.

•• Reading during bath time.

•• Listening to audiobooks on long car trips.

•• Attend Story Time at your local library.

•• Engaging in bedtime stories.

Other ways to engage your child are to read to them and involve them in the book by pointing to the pictures, have them turn the pages, ask them questions about the characters or what they may think will happen next. Let them explore the book without the pressure of having to read the words. Make reading fun and engaging. As your child experiences many positive reading experiences, they will soon see the fun in reading themselves.

How to help with writing at home?

Book concepts include:

As well as reading, your child’s writing skills are also important for when they enter school and beyond into their adult life. It takes time to develop strong writing skills, and for some children, it can be a tough task.

•• That a book is for reading.

Things you can do at home are:

•• The function and location of a book’s front, back, top and bottom.

•• Play games and activities that encourage writing.

•• How to turn pages one at a time.

•• That we read left to right.

•• The difference between print and pictures.

•• The location of author, illustrator and title.

Print concepts include: •• What a letter, word and sentence are.

•• That sentences start with capitals.

•• Oral language can be written and then read.

•• That print provides the reader with a message or information.

Ways to help your child master these concepts are by taking the time to point out these book and print concepts during shared book reading. An idea to make this process more engaging is to go on a scavenger hunt whilst reading. This can be done by asking your child to find the letters, words, sentences, punctuation and capitals in storybooks, pamphlets, newspapers and road signs.

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•• Trace letters and words.

•• Practise writing with chalk and paint.

•• Finger painting or salt writing in a tray.

As we live in a world of evolving technology and have an array of devices at our convenience, it’s essential children are still given many opportunities to practice and improve their ability to write.

If you’re looking for more ideas and some resources to start you and your child on a fulfilling reading and writing journey using either medium, why not visit your local library and inquire about their First 5 Forever program or visit www.first5forever.org.au. With lots of wonderful ideas, you are sure to find some inspiration.

It is so important to ensure your children are able to read and write, on and off, their devices. Assisting them with both of these skills and teaching them healthy screen habits when they are young, will ensure that as they progress through adolescence and into adulthood, they will find themselves well equipped with a great range of both digital and non-digital skills.

Healthy Recipes

HEALTHY RECIPES

Raw Lemon Caramel Cheesecake with Buckini Base Serves 10. Recipe by Ashley Alexander @gatherandfeast Base 1 ½ cups caramelised buckinis ½ cup coconut flakes 1 ¼ cups dates 1 tsp vanilla powder 2 tbs coconut oil pinch sea salt flakes Filling 2 ½ cups raw cashews (soaked and drained) 150ml coconut cream ½ cup coconut oil ¾ cup pure maple syrup 2 tsp vanilla powder Zest of 3 lemons Juice of 1 lemon Pinch of sea salt 80g salted caramel chocolate

Quinoa & Chia Spicy Pumpkin ‘Risotto’ Serves 4. Recipe by Melissa Wallace @ wholesomedaily Ingredients 1 cup cooked quinoa 2 tbs chia seeds 600g kent pumpkin cut in large chunks ½ tsp turmeric powder ½ tsp dried chilli flakes 1 pinch cayenne pepper 1 pinch Australian salt ½ cup cooked peas 1 cup goji berries 2 cups sautéed kale Method Preheat oven to 200 degrees C.

Method Line a 20cm spring form pan with baking paper and set aside. In a food processor add the coconut flakes, dates, vanilla, coconut oil, sea salt and half the buckinis and blend until combined. Place the mixture into a mixing bowl and add the rest of the buckinis, mixing together well with your hands. Press the base mixture firmly into the pre lined pan and set aside.

Now add the filling ingredients to the food processor and blend until very smooth. Pour the creamy cashew mixture onto the base.

Then cover and place in the freezer overnight to set. When you are ready to serve, place on a serving plate. Gently melt the salted caramel chocolate over low heat, then drizzle it over the cake.

Add pumpkin with a little olive oil and season with turmeric powder, chilli powder and cayenne pepper. Add salt and pepper to taste.

Roast for approx. 30-40 minutes or until pumpkin is tender.

Add the quinoa, chia seeds, roast pumpkin, kale and peas.

Sprinkle with goji berries to serve.

NOTE: Remove the cake from the freezer 15- 20 minutes before slicing and serving. Keep any leftover cake in an airtight container in the freezer.

Recipes bought to you by The Source Bulk Foods.

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MEGA SUMMER GIVEAWAY! Visit www.pakmag.com.au for your chance to win!

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18 November 2017 | www.pakmag.com.au

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www.pakmag.com.au www.pakmag.com.au | | November 2017 19

Bump, Bub and Beyond

Babywearing benefits STORY Jennifer Taylor, www.momtricks.com Babywearing has provided many parents with happy memories of keeping their newest member of the family snuggled cosily against their chest.

And, either by using a fabric sling or other type of carrier, babywearing as a practice, has a long history throughout the world for many good reasons.

and baby immensely during the early weeks by letting the baby sleep peacefully, while snuggled safe and close to the parents’ chest. There are important safety measures to keep in mind including continually checking that your baby’s head and neck are straight and that their face is uncovered.

1. Promotes attachment and bonding.

5. Promotes healthy physical and emotional development.

Babywearing enables the continuation of your baby feeling snuggled warm, safe, and secure in constant closeness with you. These are important feelings for a newborn and is recommended by experts as a way to promote parent-child attachment, which is especially important during the early months for an infant.

2. Improves a mother’s ability to breastfeed.

Babywearing keeps your little one snuggled as close as possible, which can help provide your baby with skinto-skin contact. Studies, documented in the American Academy of Pediatrics, have shown that babies who receive skin-to-skin contact breastfeed better and longer and it also helps a mother improve and maintain her breastmilk supply.

3. Babies cry less often.

A study in 1986 by Urs A. Hunziker and Ronald G. Barr found that infants cry 43 per cent less throughout the day when carried more often. Babywearing keeps an infant in the closest contact with their parent, which helps the baby stay happy and comforted, and provides the parent with the ability to quickly respond to their baby’s needs.

4. Bub sleeps better.

The practice of babywearing can help both the parent

Babywearing can help with an infant’s physical and emotional development by providing the feeling of being safe, secure, and loved as the close contact allows the parent to be very responsive to the baby’s needs.

Babywearing also puts your little one at a different eye level, and they’ll learn so much by seeing all that is going on around them.

6. Provides parents with freedom.

Life with a newborn can feel very hectic, but babywearing can provide freedom by leaving your hands free to do what needs to get done. This can be especially helpful for parents with other children, as it allows them the freedom to spend time and attention on their other little ones while keeping baby happily close by.

7. Provides the ability to go places with ease.

A parent can take their child pretty much anywhere when babywearing. Slings and carriers are much easier to stow than a stroller is, and carrying your baby secure against your chest allows you to walk around with ease.

Are you ready to give babywearing a try? Learning the art of wrapping a sling or positioning a carrier correctly may feel difficult at first, but the many benefits of babywearing make it worth the effort you’ll invest.

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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!

Petit Bamboo Comforter – Pink Floral RRP $39.95, www.petitbamboo.com.au These Petit Bamboo comforters will soothe your child and provide comfort whenever it is needed. Accompany it with their matching tops and pants to make the perfect baby shower gift! Made with ultra-soft bamboo, their baby clothing and accessories will keep your baby warm in Winter and cool in Summer.

Petit Bamboo is an Australian-owned baby fashion label that produces classic pieces for modern babies, with an eco-friendly focus.

Their vision is to deliver fashionable yet sustainable baby wear, without leaving a footprint.

Rashoodz Lulla Doll

RRP $59.99, www.rashoodz.com.au

RRP $99.00, www.sleeptightbabies.com.au Nothing can replace loving human contact however, the Lulla Doll aims to be a close second best!

Three mums from Iceland have created the Lulla Doll. Lulla is a sleep companion for preemies, babies, toddlers and beyond!

Lulla has velcro straps to attach safely to a cot, until your little one is old enough to cuddle Lulla.

Rashoodz Rashie Swimsuit & Attachable Hat Pineapple Party UPF50+. Chlorine Resistant.

Attachable hat with clips!

Easy nappy change clips!

Long sleeves to give extra protection. Beautiful Quality.

Lulla imitates closeness to a caregiver at rest, with its soft feel of natural cotton and soothing sounds of real-life breathing and heartbeat. Lulla plays for 8 hours to provide comfort all night long. Lulla’s unique design is based on scientific research that shows how closeness, and especially the sounds of heartbeat and breathing can improve safety, sleep and well-being. With Lulla, babies fall asleep sooner and sleep longer, their heartbeat and breathing stabilize, neurological development increases and there is increased well-being, lowered stress and less crying. Keep an eye on our Facebook page to see how you can win a Lulla Doll.

22 October November 2017 2017| www.pakmag.com.au | www.pakmag.com.au

Bump, Bub and Beyond

No time to exercise?

THE science of Lulla Doll

STORY Lizzy Williamson, Author of Two Minute Moves

STORY Michelle Green, Sleep Right Babies

The Australian Bureau of Statistics found that the most common reason people give for not exercising is, a lack of time.

The Lulla Doll’s unique design is based on multiple scientific research showing how the closeness of a caregiver, and in particular, the sounds of heartbeat and breathing, can improve sleep, wellbeing and safety.

Before I began grabbing moments in my day to move, I was one of those people. How could I possibly fit exercise into my already overloaded schedule or get to the gym when I had a baby and toddler who wouldn’t even let me go to the toilet by myself? I couldn’t see the point in doing anything unless I could go for a certain amount of time or at a certain intensity, and that was the problem.

You need to break your exercise rules! So, you don’t have 90 minutes to do a boot camp class or sixty minutes for a jog? Do 20 pushups at your kitchen bench or jog up and down some steps ten times. Our all-or-nothing mindset holds us back from doing anything at all.

You can incorporate exercise into your day. You don’t have to leave the house or work to work on your fitness and strength? Walk on the spot when you’re talking on the phone. Cycle your legs in front of you when you’re binge-watching Netflix. Do a vigorous scrub of your floor.

Remember that something is always better than nothing because it usually leads to doing more. Do you want to learn how to love your body, keep your sanity and live with vitality in just two minutes at a time?

For your chance to win a copy of Two Minute Moves visit www.pakmag.com.au

Lulla was developed over three years with the help of doctors, nurses, midwives, psychologists, engineers and parents. Infants depend on proximity and contact with their caregivers. The stabilising and calming effect of closeness and the sounds of heartbeat and breathing have been studied for decades. Closeness promotes the efficient functioning of immature organs and the central nervous system. The positive effects of Kangaroo care, skin to skin method, on premature babies helps them thrive in terms of regulating temperature and breathing. The closeness to the caregiver’s chest being a key component.

Significant, long-standing clinical studies on the effect of simulated breathing sounds on infants, shows less wakefulness, more quiet sleep, fewer startles and less crying. It has given hope for those infants unable to be close to a caregiver. Lulla plays eight hours of real-life breathing and the heartbeat of a mother at rest. Her name is Gudrun, an Icelandic mother of four and a Kundalini Yoga teacher.

Parents feedback shows that by using a Lulla Doll, your baby is more likely to sleep through the night at an early age. Babies with comforters are more secure in times of change, stress or separation.

Keep Lulla close to your skin for a few hours to ensure Lulla smells of you.

Lulla was designed to be a secondbest option when co-sleeping is not possible.

www.pakmag.com.au www.pakmag.com.au| | November | October 2017 23 www.pakmag.com.au

Home

SPRING CLEANING With the Block’s Caro and Kingi

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Spring cleaning may seem almost impossible with your busy lifestyle. But by simply organising your jobs throughout the week and following our top tips for a cleaner, happier house, you too can have a successful spring cleaning season.

Tip 1 – Make a list. This helps you visualise what needs to be done. From washing the windows to decluttering the fridge, by simply writing everything down you can easily manage your time and prioritise those bigger jobs.

Tip 2 – Inside and out. It’s important to clean both the inside and outside of appliances. From the oven and vacuum to the dishwasher and washing machine, these appliances should be cleaned every one to two months for optimum performance.

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Click through in our online mag to download our printable linen labels

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Tip 3 – Organise with labels. Labelling shelves in a cupboard, like the linen cupboard, will save both time and stress when searching for items in the future.

By glancing at each label, you can quickly grab what you need without rummaging through piles of linen.

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24 November 2017 | www.pakmag.com.au

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NATURAL CHEMICAL-FREE CLEANING RECIPES Say goodbye to everyday grime with these chemical-free cleaning recipes: Heavy duty natural toilet scrub.

For a fresh smelling and clean looking toilet simply put ten drops of tea tree essential oil and half a cup of baking soda into the toilet. Add a quarter of a cup of vinegar and scrub away while the mixture froths in the toilet bowl.

Microwave Magic.

Remove those unwanted splatter marks in your microwave for good. Fill a small microwavable cup with half vinegar and half lemon juice. Place in the microwave for two minutes and let it stand for several more after, without opening the door.

Using a warm sponge, simply wipe down the inside of the microwave, no scrubbing necessary!

1. www.laminex.com.au 2. Vintage Linen Throw in Glacier RRP $189.00 - www.harveynorman.com.au 3. Indoor Children’s Horse Hair Broom - RRP $29.95 - www.earthtoys.net 4. Bondi Wash Bench Spray Aniseed Myrtle & Vanilla - RRP $25.00 $12.50 www.korufurnitureandhomewares.com.au 5. Saison Vegetable Brush RRP $10.00 - www.korufurnitureandhomewares.com.au 6. Saison Copper Cloth x 2 - RRP $15.00 - www.korufurnitureandhomewares.com.au 7. Seaspray Toilet Brush Holder - RRP $49.00 - www.harveynorman.com.au 8. Olli Ella Basket - RRP $35.00 - www.korufurnitureandhomewares.com.au 9. Alchemy Produx Candle - RRP $57 - www.korufurnitureandhomewares.com.au 10. Urban Rituelle Natural Soy Wax Canlde - RRP $39.95 www.prettylittlesomething.com.au 11. Reed Diffuser in Marine Salt RRP $34.95 - www.prettylittlesomething.com.au

Adult Education

Invest a little in you STORY Kate Moloney Taking time off work to start and raise a family can leave mums in a position where to re-enter the workforce, they need to reskill due to the constant, rapid technological advances that occur during this time. Others find that the time off has given them breathing space to re-evaluate their career resulting in a desire to ‘birth’ a new career.

Committing to study is a big decision, but one that has hugely rewarding results. Depending on what career you wish to pursue, your study options may range from a short course through to a University degree. Many courses these days are offered online or externally and can be completed part-time, and some are even selfpaced. There really is a myriad of options available. Just by taking the time to have a look at what is available may lead you to a fulfilling role that you may not have previously considered.

There are government initiatives in place too, such as the Mothers Returning to Work Grant, that can provide financial assistance for training courses and programs to assist you financially.

Commencing study is a change that the whole family will need to adjust to, so here are a few tips that will help you with this next exciting stage of your life: •• Be realistic. When choosing your course, ensure you thoroughly consider your situation, your family and take on a study load that is practical.

•• Good planning is essential. Prioritise and set yourself achievable mini goals. Weekly mini goals and lists can keep you on track. Use free calendar apps to

schedule the whole family’s activities that you can all access.

•• Schedule in fun. Plan fun activities with the kids and your partner on weekends or afternoons. When you get busy, it is easy for this to slip, so schedule it in.

•• Learn to let go a little. It is okay to accept help, it is okay that the family is not eating a gourmet meal every night, it is okay that the house is not absolutely ‘white glove’ spotless. Give yourself a break from the unnecessary chores and focus on what is really important.

•• A healthy you, is a productive you. Eat healthy food and ensure you get enough sleep; if you are physically exhausted you will not be able to perform to your best.

•• Create a support network. Make connections with other mums studying, these social relationships can be invaluable for your mental well-being. Find your courses Facebook group.

•• Study when you can. Make the most of every opportunity, even if it is only a 30-minute block, use it. Find what works for you.

Studying while parenting is a challenge but with good planning, dedication and support you can realise your dream.

As mums, we give so much of ourselves to ensuring that our partners and kids dreams are realised so why do we not put as much into realising our own! Take that step and find out what your future could hold.

www.pakmag.com.au www.pakmag.com.au | | November 2017 27

Adult Education

STUDY Tips from PakMag’s Ambassadors When writing on this subject, we thought who better to turn to for practical, tried and tested tips than our trusted PakMag Ambassadors.

Alyce Haack “As an accountability coach, I know how important it is to grab a friend or study partner to keep you accountable and remind you of your goals!”

and do something creative or nature-based to break the monotony.

•• Treat the time like you would work - either full or part-time, but don't let other chores and housework dip into study time.

•• The average degree can go for a few years, make sure you celebrate your milestone achievements with your family.

•• Know your limits, and ask for help and extensions before it is too late and you end up in a meltdown!

•• Plan and schedule everything.

Daily, weekly, monthly and yearly.

•• Take time out for you. Learning is fun, but don't forget to step away regularly

•• Write your goals big and bold so you stay on track.

My top tips are:

Anonymous Ambassador “My top tip that I used as a ‘study mum’ was doing the one hour of power and then having a break. And, never giving up.”

WHO ARE THE PakMag Ambassadors?

The PakMag Ambassadors are a team of mums, dads, aunties, uncles and people who love the children in their lives. They are our eyes and ears on the ground and help us deliver local content, helpful tips and exciting ideas to you every month.

We created the PakMag Ambassadors as a way to connect with our valued readers, as a sounding board for our magazine. We meet up with our Ambassadors at gatherings to discuss what we are doing well, what we could improve on and also what other things they would like to see included in PakMag. They are also our valued ‘highly experienced, critical testers’. At PakMag, we often receive new products related to babies and children to trial. We feel the best way for these to be given the real-world test is to have our Ambassadors take these products through their paces and then report back to us regarding them. These products can be anything from a new nappy to a new movie.

Thank you, PakMag Ambassadors! Your contributions are appreciated, and we hope you love helping us out us as much as we enjoy having you as part of our team.

If you’d like to be a PakMag Ambassador, email us at admin@grandpublishing.com.au to find out more.

28 November 2017 | www.pakmag.com.au