PakMag Australia – April 2017 Issue 21

ISSUE: APR 2017

21

AUSTRALIA

How to

GET ALONG

Home:

VEGGIE GARDEN

ANIMAL PARTY

Unspoil your kids

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CONTENTS

HELLO

ISSUE NO. 21 APR 2017

Hello and welcome to the April edition of PakMag, our Easter Extravaganza.

05 The Thing Is... With Bree James

I love Easter. I’m not sure if it’s the chocolate, the seafood, or the possibility of camping

06 Parenting: How To Get Along

with friends and family, or the trifecta of all three. It’s a special time of the year.

We’ve got some exciting events on the horizon. Save the date for 24th and 25th June for PakMag’s 10th Birthday Weekend. Kicking off with a Parenting Conference on Saturday 24th June with some amazing speakers, let your hair down on Saturday night with the PakMag Prom and have some family fun on Sunday, 25th June at our Family Day. Plus, the PakMag Expo will run all weekend, so there really is something

09 Parenting: Unspoil Your Kids 13 Parenting: Organisational Tips:

Get Sorted And Secure

for everyone.

17 Health

So, from all of us here at PakMag, have a happy and safe Easter, and until next time,

18 Healthy Easter Recipes

don’t forget to tell everyone, you read it in PakMag.

21 Premature Babies

Bree\

22 Bump and Bub: WIN 24 Celebrate: Animal Party

BREE JAMES / PAKMAG PUBLISHER

26 Craft: Easter Hats 29 Pool Safety With Laurie Lawrence 30 Home with Caro & Kingi:

Veggie Garden

PAKMAG P 4053 3331 F 4053 3350 E admin@grandpublishing.com.au PO BOX 7433 Cairns QLD 4870 FB www.facebook.com/PakmagAustralia T #pakmag PAKMAG'S CORE VALUES

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Publish authentic content with integrity

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.

Awesome Administrator Gleisy

Daring Designer Lise

Bree's Wingwoman Rose

Sales Star Lisa

Darling Designer Clare

Talented Trent

Grand Poobah Bree

Pedantic Production Manager Janelle

Rad Sales Rep Jacqui

Word Wizard Jenna

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Savvy Sales Sandra

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The Thing Is...

STORY Bree James

It’s official, the first quarter of 2017 is gone. Can you believe it? Everyone I speak to is saying how they don’t have any time, that life is going by too fast, and that they have too much to do, with so little time to do it.

Having children only speeds up this realisation as to how precious time really is. One minute your children are rolling over for the first time, the next they are rolling out the door without even saying goodbye.

So in light of this ticking clock, which seems to be ticking faster everyday, I think we need to rethink our relationship with time.

The thing is… running around and telling each other how busy we are and how stressed out we are about a lack of time is not helping one little bit (and rest assured I’m as guilty as the next person on both counts).

I’ve decided to reinvent my relationship with time and there are a few ways I’m going to do it.

Firstly, I’m going to stop any negative words coming out of my mouth about my lack of time. Whenever I start to complain about time, I’m going to take note and stop on the spot. I’m going to get everyone in my life to pick me up the minute these negative words start to issue from my mouth.

Then I’m going to change those negative words about lack to more positive words about abundance - things like, “I have as much time as everybody else, I will spend my time wisely”. You get the drift and if you are up for this challenge, pick words to suit you and your style.

Clearly, this is the next part of my reinvention of my relationship with time. I’m going to not only change the words I use, I’m also going to look at everything I do for the next week and record whether or not it was wasted time or time well spent.

I’m determined to see where my time gets wasted and why. I’m pretty sure I’ve got a few ideas, but if you are like me, you get up, have breakfast and then it’s dinner time.

Everything in between is a blur and I want to get a better grip on how I’m actually spending my time.

OK, so I’ve made the commitment to stop the negative self talk about not having enough time, I’ve decided to really look at how I’m spending my day and identify my timewasting activities, now it’s time get rid of anything in my world that is simply taking up quality time and replace it with more meaningful things.

A big part of this for me is slowing down. I’m going to retrain myself to stop and appreciate moments - and I’m going to do it every hour, on the hour for the next week to make it a habit. I’m simply going to stop and look around, take a breath, slow the clock down for 30 seconds. What’s the worst that could happen?

My main aim is that at the end of every day I feel like I’ve achieved a lot, but I’ve also been a great mum, boss and every other role that I choose to play. If you’re running around complaining about your lack of time, I hope you will join me and reinvent your relationship with time too. I think our lives will become far less stressful, panicky and fleeting.

Bree

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How to Get Along STORY Jenna Galley

Everyone fights. It’s a part of life. Regardless of your temperament, your situation, your age or your attitude, you are bound to clash with the people you love at one stage or another.

As a mum who has been there, fought about that, and managed to come out relatively sane, here are my top tips on how to get along with everyone in your household, regardless of your situation.

New Parent Problems – Fights in the First Year Becoming a parent is undeniably the most amazing experience in the world. But it is also one of the hardest.

And with this massive change comes potentially massive arguments. So, what can you do to avoid the anger and focus on the positives that come with being a new parent?

Accept ALL the emotions that come with being a new mum.

One of the main reasons new parents argue, especially during the first few weeks, is because they are exhausted.

And with exhaustion comes a whole slew of other emotions – anger, resentment and frustration. Society (and social media) put a lot of pressure on parents to keep it together all the time which makes it even harder to admit defeat and accept the truth – being a new parent is freaking hard! Sorry society, but it is. And that’s the truth.

So, rather than trying to keep it together, concede that you are tired and you need a break. And acknowledge these things to the person who can support you through this – your partner. Admitting you need support doesn’t make you a weak parent. It makes you a real one.

Just keep talking.

Often the feelings during the first year (exhaustion, confusion, isolation, to name a few) are left to fester inside rather than be discussed. When communication breaks down, fights happen simply because you are not talking about the problem. Problems hate to be ignored. And when

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problems are ignored, they often get worse (kind of like toddlers).

Make it part of your daily routine to talk to your partner about your day - the good, the bad and how you can make tomorrow better.

Stop competing and struggle as a team.

When both you and your partner are tired, it often becomes a competition about who has it harder – the person who goes to work or the person who stays home. Stop. Just stop.

Take a step back. And remember this. It’s not a competition about who has it harder – you both are tired, struggling and barely keeping it together. So, struggle as a team, support one another and communicate your frustrations before you let them get the better of you.

Staying United When You’re Separated Being a parent means you are part of a team. However, sometimes this team, for one reason or another, splits up.

As a separated mum, I can tell you that getting along with your ex-partner isn’t easy. If it was, you would probably still be together, wouldn’t you?

But it is necessary, especially for the kids. Here’s a few tips that have helped me and many other separated parents maintain the peace, even when the family unit has broken down.

PARENTING

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Focus on the kids.

Don’t get involved in your ex’s day to day choices unless they involve the children. If it doesn’t directly impact your kids, then it’s none of your business.

Bite your tongue.

There is nothing worse than badmouthing your ex in front of the kids. Just don’t do it. Your children have the right to love, to respect and to form an opinion of a person without you doing it for them. Give them this right.

If you’re going to communicate with your ex, do it away from the kids.

Because even a quick conversation can turn into an argument when there is still a lot of anger and resentment.

Don’t risk it and plan your discussions for when the kids are not listening.

Remember, a family is a family, no matter how separated.

Your ex is ALWAYS going to be a part of your children.

It was a joint effort to make them and, in many instances, it will be a joint effort to raise them.

Even if you aren’t living together, it doesn’t mean you aren’t still working together. You are. You always will be. And the quicker you realise this, accept it and find a way to make this statement work for you, the better for your children. This is what matters the most.

Keeping Calm with the Kids In addition to fighting with your partner, you are bound to butt heads with your kids every once and a while.

Fights about cleaning up, doing homework, helping out, respecting your authority and minding their manners are pretty standard.

And it’s also pretty standard to sometimes lose your cool, scream at the top of your lungs, take away every toy in the house and hide in the pantry eating all the kids’ leftover Easter chocolate as a coping mechanism.

But, for your sanity (and your waistline), it’s probably best to try these methods for getting along with your kids instead.

Understand ALL emotions that are in play.

This means both your own emotions and your kids’ emotions. Accept how you feel, then think about how they feel too. This can help you see things from their point of view and use your logic rather than your emotions, to tackle the problem.

Take time outs.

Time outs aren’t just for kids. They are also a great way for parents to regain control and allow the anger to settle before returning to the problem.

Remember who is boss.

It’s you. At the end of the day, what you say, goes. And “because I said so” is a perfectly valid reason why.

Don’t let their words get to you.

Is there anything worse than hearing, “I hate you, mummy!” from your child? It can be hard to remain in control and not burst into tears, go back on your word or turn into the mummy equivalent of the Hulk. But, take a deep breath and remember, they are just words. They don’t mean it.

When you and your little one both have calmed down, have a conversation about what was said, why it hurt and how you can solve conflicts without resorting to these angry gestures and awful words.

The Bottom Line?

No matter how much you love someone, you’re not always going to get along.

It's human nature.

How you handle these differences in opinions and resolve common conflicts will vary between households and circumstances. Sometimes you let the anger build up and get the better of you. Sometimes you learn to control your emotions and concentrate on finding a solution.

It’s not always easy to choose the latter option. But, for the sake of your family (and your sanity), we hope you try to.

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PARENTING

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Unspoil Your Kids STORY Jenna Galley

Spoiling your kids comes naturally to most parents. It’s simpler to say yes to their every command, it’s rewarding to watch their eyes light up when they get their way and it’s satisfying to be inundated with kisses and cuddles when you agree to a treat or a toy.

But parenting isn’t always about taking the easy road. It’s not about letting your children get what they want, whenever they want.

It’s not that simple.

The Spoil Factor Being a parent is about teaching your kids the lessons they need to succeed in society, to grow into confident and happy individuals and to accept the ups and downs that come with life. It’s about teaching them how to accept the good with the bad, the give with the take, the play with the work and, most importantly, the nos with the yesses.

By giving in to their every whim, we are not teaching them lessons in gratitude, acceptance, empathy and generosity.

In fact, many experts suggest that by spoiling our kids, we are actually setting them up for future failure. We are setting them up to assume that they are entitled to anything they want.

And, when you think like this, you are bound to be disappointed when life doesn’t work out this way.

So how can you ensure you are raising grateful, unspoiled children, even in a society where patience, entitlement and instant gratification seem to be the norm?

and of waiting their turn. These lessons that you can teach your toddler and pre-schooler will translate to all activities as they continue to grow.

2. To Understand the Value of a Dollar As your children get older, chores and allowances can help them to understand that it is through hard work that we are rewarded. However, it is also important to instil that helping out shouldn’t be something children do just to be compensated – it should be part of the regular family routine. Everyone contributes to the household, regardless of what’s in it for them.

3. To Appreciate the Little Things Life doesn’t have to be grand to be enjoyed. Explore the little things that make life wonderful and choose activities, holidays and entertainment where there is no sense of ‘want’. Explore playgrounds and parks, go camping in the bush, make blanket forts in the backyard and learn to appreciate the non-commercialised activities that involve spending time together rather than spending money.

Stopping the Spoiling – Five Lessons to Teach Your Kids 1. To Pitch In, Be Patience and Play Fair Play is a child’s work. And through play you can teach them the importance of sharing and being part of a team, of taking responsibility and cleaning up after their messes,

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pakmag PARENTING

4. To Have a Sense of Gratitude and Generosity There is no greater feeling than that of giving but young children don’t realise this just yet. Teaching them to be grateful for what they have often comes down to showing them as well as talking to them about it. Giving to charity is a great way to start but allow your child to choose what he gives away and don’t force him to do it – help him understand the ‘why’.

struggling with a spoilt child, it’s time to take back your place as the master of the household and own it. Here’s how to bring your spoiled child back to the realm of reality.

1. Set Expectations By telling your child ahead of time what can be expected in the next hour, day or even week, you allow them to subconsciously prepare which, in turn, gives them realistic expectations about how you will respond to their requests, or their behaviour. It also sets you up for a less dramatic response on their end when you say no. For example, let them know, “We’re going to the shops to buy some food, we will not be buying any toys or treats, do you understand?” They may still ask but being able to refer back to your earlier conversation can mean the difference between a tantrum and a reasonable reaction.

2. Be Consistent

5. To Live Within Limits and Learn to Wait Patience shouldn’t just be a virtue. It should be expected.

Rather than jumping at your child’s every command, let him wait until you are finished what you are doing.

It’s important for parents to step up and set the limits.

It’s also critical that, no matter how tired you are or how much your child begs, you stay within these limits. Your kids are going to push you but you’re the boss. You’re stronger.

And by sticking to your boundaries and teaching your children to live within these limits, you are teaching them an incredibly important lesson in life.

Dethroning Your Child Sometimes it’s too late to simply say, "I’ll do XYZ to make sure my child isn’t spoilt.” If that’s the case and you’re

There’s nothing worse than inconsistency when trying to improve behaviour in children. If your child knows that they can get their own way on some occasions, they are more likely to exhibit inappropriate behaviour in every situation until they get what they want. Consistency doesn’t just come in the form of saying no though, it can be used for rewards too. For example, “When you finish your dinner, you’ll get dessert.” If you’re consistent, your child will soon learn that they will get what they want, a treat, once they’ve completed the necessary task and they’ll be more likely to do what is required of them, with less arguing too.

3. Don’t Tolerate Unacceptable Behaviour Knowing that there will be consequences for certain actions, and making sure you as a parent follow through with punishment every time, will help to repair a spoilt child’s sense of entitlement. Punishment comes in many forms, and whether it be using a naughty step or taking away your child’s tech, your chosen method will, inevitably, be initially met with resistance. But don’t fold, see the punishment through and you will soon see your child’s overall behaviour change.

Resources to Help Check out these great books on helping with this common parenting concern:

Escape the Parent Trap: Unspoil Your Kids by Cheryl Critchley Raising Grateful Kids in An Entitled World by Kristen Welch Your Kid’s a Brat and It’s All Your Fault by Elaine Rose Glickman The Opposite of Spoiled by Ron Lieber Peaceful Parent, Happy Kids: How to Stop Yelling and Start Connecting by Dr. Laura Markham All books are available at www.booktopia.com.au

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PARENTING

pakmag

Organisational Tips: Get So rt ed a nd Secu r e STORY Rose Foster

Whether you’re a single parent of one or a family with six kids, getting your family organised is one of the best ways for you to balance your life, get more out of it and be more productive as an individual and a family.

We’ve heard those words before though: get organised. It sounds so simple! But sometimes, getting organised can seem like an overwhelming task, as we know we should do it, but don’t necessarily know how.

Well, it starts with a single step. Choose one aspect of your life to organise, and organise it well. Here’s some practical ideas you can use to get started.

Your Home DECLUTTER Ever been late because you were looking for something at home - keys, phone, purse? Or spent an extra ten minutes getting you or the kids dressed because you were rifling through masses of clothes for that perfect outfit? Then it’s time to declutter!

Clutter comes in many shapes and sizes and doesn’t necessarily mean your house is untidy. It means you’ve got a lot of stuff…and it’s completely unorganised!

Despite the obvious impacts clutter can have on your life - making you late and creating hazards around your home - having excess ‘stuff’ around your home can actually contribute to stress, make you tired and impair your decision-making skills.

The Japanese method of KonMari is a great place to start.

It’s a simple concept that helps you make decisions on what to keep and what to throw away.

• When sorting through your ‘stuff’, pick up an item and ask yourself, “does it spark joy?”. If the answer is no, it has to go.

• Instead of sorting by room, your decluttering should be sorted by category; clothes, personal documents, home furnishings/ornaments, and so on.

• Don’t re-clutter. It’s really important that once you’ve removed your clutter, that you don’t relapse!

MANY HANDS You’ve probably felt the pain of being the only one in the household who cares that the floors are mopped and the

dishes are clean. Well, it’s time to get some help and divide up chore time.

• Make a chore chart. There’s nothing like everybody knowing who’s doing what and a chore chart outlines who does which household jobs on, which days. There’s no squabbling, unfairness or confusion – you can’t argue with the chart!

• Have a reward system. Just as important as outlining the chores, is outlining rewards for getting them done. Check out our Monkey Dollar System at www.pakmag.com.au.

Your Time SCHEDULE YOUR WEEK Knowing what you’ve got to do and what the kids have to do, and figuring out how to fit around everyone’s schedules is a balancing act that can sometime leave us unstuck. Ever missed that ballet lesson or soccer practice because you didn’t have time, or just forgot?

• Plan! Planning is the most important aspect of scheduling your week. Know who’s doing what, when.

• Use a family planner. Whether it’s a wall chart or an online calendar, make sure you have something, and use it as your family scheduling bible!

• Don’t overcommit. It’s really important that you don’t commit to things you simply can’t do. AFL game and netball practice in the same night? Then don’t add a birthday party to the mix too!

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pakmag PARENTING

MEAL PREP

meals during the week.

Proper meal prep is the key to saving time and money.

Your Safety

• Plan your weekly menu. Planning a weekly list of meals means you don’t have to think about what to cook when you’ve come home from a busy day. You know what you’re cooking and you know you have the ingredients.

Easy!

• Write a shopping list. It might seem like a simple concept but writing a list will help you nip around the shops quickly, ensure you don’t forget anything and mean you don’t have to spend time running back when you miss that all important ingredient.

PREPARE AND PLAN Managing your home and time are the most obvious ways of making sure your family is organised. But being organised in terms of our family’s safety and home security is a necessary step we should be considering too.

It’s something we often take for granted but what happens when the unexpected occurs? Would your kids know what

• Organise your Fridge. Making sure your fridge is tidy will mean you actually use the food you buy, saving you money in the long run.

Extra Tip: Why not try preparing all your meals for the week on a Sunday? Take a few hours on Sunday afternoon to cook, chop and box-up your meals for simple and quick

GETTING ORGANISED QUICK TIPS • Check out Pinterest for some great ‘life hacks’ to make getting organised easy and fun.

• Visit the council’s website for more tips on planning your emergency kits.

• Invest the time in getting organised and you’ll reap the benefits in the long run.

• Get the whole family involved.

• Don’t relapse!

• Get some great books. One Year to an Organized Life with Baby by Regina Leeds and Meagan Francis helps new parents get themselves and their home organised. And Home Organization Tear Outs for the Whole Family by Kristi Dominguez gives your family step-by-step guides on one page sheets that you can literally tear out! Both available at www.booktopia.com.au

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to do in an emergency? Is your home prepared for any eventuality?

HERE’S OUR TIPS FOR GETTING PREPARED: • Prepare your emergency kit. With the beautiful weather most of the year in our region, ensuring we have an emergency kit is often far from our minds. Well, we urge you to think about it now. Is it well stocked? And do your children know where it is?

• Know your emergency plans. It’s important that you and your children know what you would do in the event of a fire, a medical emergency or being separated away from home. Take some time to plan it now – it’s too late when it happens for real and having a plan could save lives.

• Make your home safe. Recent statistics showed that many people who reported break ins had left a door unlocked. Don’t take home safety for granted, make sure doors are locked, car keys aren’t left by doors and that you have adequate safety measures on windows.

Thieves are increasingly opportunistic, so don’t give them a chance!

• Check your smoke alarm. 1st April is National Smoke Alarm Day, a day which highlights the importance of having a working smoke alarm. So, if your battery hasn’t been changed in a while, now’s the time to do it!

• Get Insured. Home insurance, life insurance, travel insurance; the list of insurances that we can take out can seem endless but it’s really important that you think about which cover you need for your family. Check out your options and take out a policy that will give you peace of mind that your family will be ok should the worst happen.

HEALTH

pakmag

+ HEALTH Spending time with Mum and Dad might save thEIr lives!

STORY Rose Foster A long and happy life is something we all wish for ourselves, our children and our families and according to a new study, it may be more simple than you think.

According to researchers from the University of California, San Francisco, inviting your parents over for dinner, visiting them frequently and allocating time to spend time with them might actually mean they live longer!

The “Loneliness in Older Persons” study, which followed

Combat your own Loneliness

that loneliness was a huge factor in rate of deterioration,

Loneliness is not limited to the elderly. Children and adults can both feel lonely at certain stages in their life and sometimes it’s hard to understand or explain why. Here are our top tips for combatting loneliness

1,600 participants with an average age of 71, showed

and subsequent death of participants. Within six years of the study, 23 per cent of lonely participants died,

in comparison with only 14 per cent of those who were not lonely.

John Cacioppo, a neuroscientist at the University of

Chicago and co-author of Loneliness: Human Nature

and the Need for Social Connection says, “Feelings of

social connection, as well as feelings of disconnection, have enormous influence on our bodies as well as our behaviours. We all decline physically sooner or later,

but loneliness can increase the angle of the downward slope. Conversely, healthy connection can help slow that decline.”

As we get older, the number of social connections we

have decreases. Children have friends at school, many adults have working relationships yet the regular social

interactions elderly people have can be limited, and they often look to younger family for company.

So, why not invite grandma to dinner this week? It may

1. Identify It. Often feeling lonely is just that, a feeling.

So, identifying why you’re feeling lonely is the first step in being able to figure out what you need to do to feel content.

2. Reach Out. Loneliness can go unnoticed by others in your life, so let them know if you need company, even if it’s just someone to watch a movie with.

3. Find Others. Sometimes the problem is that you are actually alone, so get out there, join a club, meet people.

There are plenty of people in the same boat as you, so find them!

4. Show Up. When you’re lonely, it’s easy to get into a cycle of not wanting to interact. But if you’re feeling this way it is important that you keep the plans you’ve made and show up, even if you don’t want to.

5. Nurture Others. Teach your children, adopt a pet, volunteer. Focussing on looking after others can really help alleviate loneliness.

just extend her life!

World Health Day World Health Day is 7th April. This day highlights the importance of global health and the World Health Organisation organises international, regional and local events to focus on a particular theme. This year’s theme is Depression: Let’s Talk and seeks to improve understanding of this debilitating disease to reduce associated stigma and encourage more people to seek treatment.

If you or someone you know is living with ‘the black dog’ visit the www.who.int for resources and information about how you can get involved in this important day. Closer to home, the Black Dog Institute can be a valuable lifeline, providing help, support and connection for those struggling with depression. Visit www.blackdoginstitute.org.au for more information.

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pakmag RECIPES

HEALTHY EASTER RECIPES

RAW CHOCOLATE TRUFFLES

DAIRY FREE RAW CHOCOLATE

INGREDIENTS

INGREDIENTS

150g almond flour 250g cacao nibs 1 vanilla bean, cut into thirds 170g raw dates, chopped (or regular dates) 50g pure maple syrup or yacon syrup Pinch Himalayan salt 1 ripe banana, peeled (not over-ripe, as the flavour will be too strong) Extra dried fruit or cacao nibs (optional): 1 cup dried, unsweetened cranberries, or chopped dried apricots and ginger; 1/2 cup cacao nibs

200g raw cacao butter (I use Loving Earth Cacao Butter) 50-60g raw cacao powder (or to taste) 100g raw honey or pure maple syrup or rice malt syrup (sweetener) 1 tsp vanilla bean paste or natural extract 1/8 tsp fine sea salt

HOW TO MAKE Process cacao nibs, vanilla bean and dates in a blender.

Add syrup, salt, almond flour, banana and blend until everything is well mixed and clumped together.

If you like, mix in extra dried fruit at this stage.

Either roll mixture into small balls for truffles, or press into a square dish for fudge. Place in the fridge to harden.

RECIPES BROUGHT TO YOU BY:

HOW TO MAKE Chop cacao butter roughly with a knife on a chopping board, to approx. 1-2cm cubes.

In a double boiler gently melt your cacao butter, add in the sweetener and whisk to combine.

When completely combined, remove from heat and add your cacao powder and sea salt, whisk until all lumps are removed and you have a velvety chocolate mixture.

Pour into your chocolate moulds and add any toppings you like, fruits, nuts, seed or Buckinis!

Store in the fridge until ready to serve or gift!

Note: You can use other sweeteners, whatever you prefer, to your own taste. Just be aware that if you use a 'sugar' like Rapadura or coconut sugar, you may find that it separates. If this happens, whisk quickly till blended and quickly pour into moulds or onto trays immediately, as it will separate a little if it sit at room temperature.

RECIPES CREATED BY:

www.quirkycooking.com.au

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Premature STORY Melinda Cruz, Founder & CEO, Miracle Babies Foundation

Prematurity is the term used when a baby is born early. For most women, pregnancy lasts around 40 weeks.

Babies born between 37 and 42 weeks are considered full-term and babies born before 37 weeks are considered premature.

In Australia, one in ten babies are born prematurely and approximately 15 per cent of all babies need admittance into a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit or Special Care Nursery.

According to Australia's Mothers and Babies report, of all premature babies born in Australia, approximately 81 per cent were born between 32 and 36 weeks of gestation.

• Presence of congenital abnormalities

and later GPs, help support parents

• Antenatal steroids

premature babies need, but

• Severe medical complications such as infections

sometimes parents need more

DIFFICULTIES FACED BY PREMATURE BABIES

• Delivery at a hospital that offers specialist neonatal care

difficult time.

Sadly, premature birth complications are the leading causes of death in children under five years of age. In addition, babies born too early are at risk of many health implications including cerebral palsy, chronic lung disease, vision and hearing loss, feeding and speech issues, delay of gross motor and fine motor skill development, low weight gain, and learning and behavioural difficulties.

THERE ARE MANY FACTORS THAT HELP DETERMINE A BABY’S CHANCE OF SURVIVAL INCLUDING: • Birth weight • Gestational age • Maturity of organs (especially the lungs) and presence of breathing problems • Multiple pregnancy • Maternal health

through providing the healthcare

than just healthcare during this

Miracle Babies is an organisation

THE IMPACT OF PREMATURE BIRTH ON PARENTS AND FAMILIES

dedicated to offering a range of

Having a critically ill baby affects the long-term emotional stability of the entire family and can cause depression, anxiety and marital instability. Parents of premature babies are at five to ten per cent higher risk of suffering post-natal depression and a further five per cent higher risk for post-traumatic stress disorder than parents of fullterm babies. The impact can also be financial, due to increased time away from work and higher long-term medical costs.

organisation works to connect families

WHAT SUPPORT IS AVAILABLE FOR PARENTS OF PREMMIES?

support through pregnancy, time in

There are many channels through which parents of premmies can get support. Hospital paediatricians,

support options for families with

premature babies. This fantastic

with similar experiences, either by

gestation, hospital, state, condition, surgery and ongoing issues.

This connection helps families

acknowledge their experience and emotions, and move toward the

vision of the Foundation - "Better, healthier outcomes for newborns and their families challenged by

prematurity or sickness." Miracle

Babies offers the NurtureProgram

which provides complete peer to peer hospital, the transition to home and

beyond. Miracle Babies also operates Australia’s largest online neonatal community.

“With more families than ever before needing our help, we need your help! With your generous support, we don’t need to let miracle families go through the experience alone. Please donate today at www.miraclebabies.org.au”

BabyLove Premmie Nappy WEB www.babylovenappies.com.au RRP $18.95 An ultra-soft and comfortable fit for your premature baby. The BabyLove Premmie nappy range has been specially designed to meet the delicate needs of your premature baby. With a unique 3D design, soft stretchy gathers and silky light material, you can feel safe knowing you’re providing your baby with the very best in comfort and care.

Visit www.pakmag.com.au to enter.

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Baby Swim Pack WEB www.rashoodz.com.au RRP $94.99

BumBp

WIN

l have With Rashoodz Baby Swim Pack you'l the pool. everything you need for the beach or famous This special offer pack comes with our y clips, napp and hat hable attac with suit Rash matching award winning Reusable Swim ory Nappy, matching Swim Cap and categ sun 3 Sunglasses. Made from the highest and safe materials your bub will be protected . prints ent differ four in es Com styling.

AND BU

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VISIT

JJ Cole Satchel Black Aztek AVAILABLE Toys R Us & Baby Bunting RRP $129.95 The spacious interior includes multiple organisational components while the exterior offer easily-accessible open and zippered pockets. Featuring: • 7 exterior, 4 interior pockets • Bottle pockets • Removable, padded shoulder strap • Includes grips, stroller attachments • Coordinating changing pad included

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MARCH 2016 www.pakmag.com.au

Little Rae Prints WEB www.littleraeprints.com RRP $30.00ea Win your choice of three A3 Little Rae Prints. Whimsical watercolour creations for little ones by Summer Daniels.

Created with love, Little Rae Prints channel a world of magic and make-believe where each design tells a story. Inspired by her two daughters, Summer’s muted pastel palette allow her prints to fill the space between children’s dreams and reality and bring a touch of magic to their rooms.

Why a rest is just as beneficial as sleep

Take it Easy, Toddler!

STORY Kylie Dawson, Early Learning Capability consultant with Goodstart Early Learning.

Sometimes having a new baby brother or sister is just too much for a toddler to handle. With the arrival of a baby in your household, older children, usually under five years of age, can become overwhelmed, over-excited or over-sensitive. Toddler reactions to their new sibling can range from ‘I must touch her at all times’ to ‘set it on fire’, both of which can be exhausting for parents, especially when they’re dealing with the exhaustion that comes with having a newborn in the first place.

Early learning experts say a rest can be just as beneficial for a child as sleep and should be factored into a child’s everyday routine.

Rest, in addition to sleep, supports a child’s learning, development and wellbeing – it plays a role in memory function and is essential for revitalising the body and mind, and regulating mood.

Rest periods throughout the day are especially important for those children, including kindergarten-aged children, who no longer have a sleep during the day.

In the early years, with the help of their parents, it is important children learn how to rest and how to calm their body.

As they grow, a child’s sleep and rest needs constantly change. So, while there is no set amount of rest a child should have each day (every child is different), incorporating rest into your child’s daily routine is a good place to start.

What Rest Looks Like Not all rest has to be taken lying or sitting down. Rest can be defined as quiet time; a period of inactivity or relaxed activity, calmness or tranquillity and can include a child being in a state of sleep.

Effective ways for children to rest • Reading a book in their room or on the couch • Sitting at a table drawing • Playing with playdough • Quietly threading beads onto string It’s important that resting activities do not include screen time, such as TVs and tablets, or other technology.

Setting the mood Dim lighting, low noise levels, and using comfortable furniture including cushions are good ways to create a restful environment.

Talk to your child about what sorts of things make them feel calm to help identify activities as part of their rest routine.

Make sure you take time as well – it is amazing what you can achieve with a calm and rested mind!

STORY Rose Foster

When Toddler Loves Baby Touching and stroking of your baby by your toddler can be a lovely sight to behold. But when heavy-handedness and clumsiness get into the mix, which they so often do with toddlers, an upset baby can lead to an upset household.

The last thing you want to do is to let your toddler think it’s not ok for them to love their sibling, but subtle changes to toddler’s access to baby can really help combat the problem. One idea is to use a travel cot with mesh sides so your baby can happily sleep or play without being irritated, and your toddler can still see and talk to their brother or sister.

When Toddler Hates Baby When a toddler hates their new sibling, it’s usually not because they hate their sibling! It’s because they don’t like, and are having difficulty accepting, that they have to share your attention. Whether their ‘hate’ is expressed through violence towards baby or through tantrums, the solution is the same; help your toddler transition from only or youngest child to part or a larger family unit. Try to give your toddler some dedicated one on one time, give him space away from baby and acknowledge and praise him whilst around baby.

Take it Easy, mum!

In reality, adjusting to their new role in the family takes time, so being overwhelmed is normal. No matter which end of the spectrum your toddler’s reaction to your newborn is, cut him some slack and remember it’s hard for him to comprehend the change. And, before you know it, he won’t remember a time before he was the only or the youngest child.

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pakmag CELEBRATE

Does your home sometimes feel like a zoo? Full of animals (or children, as some people call them!) running around wild? Why not celebrate their wild side and throw an animal themed birthday party? Invite your guests to join in on the craziness and dress as their favourite animal, whether it be a roaring lion or a cute little lady bug, the kids will have fun being their chosen creature for the day.

ANIMAL TREATS:

DECORATIONS:

Create cute turtle rolls by using tiger crust buns from your local supermarket, then by using thin slices of cucumber, create the neck and legs of the turtle. Simply add raisins for eyes and your favourite sandwich fillings for a delicious, unique treat.

Use animal figures for delightful party table decorations.

Add mini party hats made from paper scraps and pompoms for an extra birthday touch.

Purchase some stuffed animals and create an animal adoption centre. Add a name tag and certificate so your party guests can leave with a memento, as well as a new friend.

For a simple and healthy party snack, fill a bowl up with grapes and label it with ‘snake eggs’. This can be done as well with carrots as ‘crab claws’ and sultanas as ‘dried ants’.

Place animal masks on the back of the chairs for a unique table setting display. This can be helpful for the little ones to remember their seat at the table as well as adding a personalised touch to the decorations.

Pop-Out & Play - Woodlands www.earthtoys.net (RRP $16.00ea)

Tegu Magnetic Wooden Blocks Blues 24 Pieces www.earthtoys.net (RRP $139.95ea)

www.bestfriendsforfrosting.com

www.projectnursery.com

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MARCH 2016 www.pakmag.com.au

www.karaspartyideas.com

www.100layercakelet.com

Petilou OwlyWoo Puzzle www.playmackay.com.au (RRP $15.95ea)

Crocodile Birthday Cake Cakes Upon A Time Smithfield, Cairns 0488 176 024

Icingbits Edible Cake Toppers www.icingbits.com

Homely Creatures Sleeping Bear Cushion www.korufurnitureand homewares.com.au (RRP $58.00ea)

www.karaspartyideas.com

www.willowday.net

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FLORAL BUNNY EARS

DINO EASTER BONNET

Is there anything cuter than Easter bonnets?

If you have little ones then you probably have plenty of bunny ears stashed away from previous Easters, so why not give them a revamp and turn them into a cute floral pair instead?

Bring a twist to the classic bunny and chicken theme this Easter with a Dino-tastic surprise that your child will love. This simple accessory using an old straw hat is sure to be a conversation starter this Easter.

W H AT Y O U ’ L L N E E D : • An old pair of bunny ears, or you can easily make some out of pipe cleaners and a wire headband • • Floral wire • • Floral tape • • Hot glue gun or craft glue • • Variety of flowers. You can either purchase some from your local florist, pick your favourites from your garden, or make them from tissue paper • • Ribbon (for extra decoration) •

HOW TO MAKE:

• A wide brim hat • • Hot glue gun or craft glue • • Plant clippings or plastic foliage • • Toy dinosaurs • • Easter eggs, plastic eggs or paint your own wooden eggs from Earth Toys (be mindful of the heat if you do decide to use chocolate ones) • • Floral wire • • Ribbon (if you want) •

HOW TO MAKE:

1. Shape two pipe cleaners into a bunny ear structure.

1. Arrange the foliage, dinosaurs and eggs into the position of your liking, making sure to leave two large leaves for bunny ears.

2. Attach the ears to the wire headband using a hot glue gun.

2. Once you’re happy with the design, simply attach each element onto the hat with glue.

3. Arrange the flowers into the style you would like, before trimming them.

3. Remove any excess stems or leaves by trimming them down to your desired length.

4. When happy with the design trim the stems of the flowers.

4. If need be, tie down foliage or dinosaurs with floral wire for extra support. Make sure that no wire is sticking out, for the safety of your little ones.

5. Using the floral wire, attach your flower design onto the headband.

6. To make your design look fuller, simply add more flowers to the top of the headband.

7. If there are any stems poking out, cut them for a smooth finish.

8. Using the floral tape, simply secure the flowers firmly to the headband, 9. For a unique touch try tying little bows on-top of each ear.

Image and inspiration thanks to www.lavinlabel.com

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W H AT Y O U ’ L L N E E D :

MARCH 2016 www.pakmag.com.au

Felt Flower www.earthtoys.net (RRP $7.50ea)

Schleich - Brachiosaurus www.earthtoys.net (RRP $39.95ea)

Piccolo Oodle Doodle Crayon Set www.earthtoys.net (RRP $22.50ea) Paint Your Own Easter Eggs! www.earthtoys.net (RRP $27.00ea)

Flower Head Band www.earthtoys.net (RRP $22.00ea) Seedling Pom Pom Bunny Kit www.playmackay.com.au (RRP $24.95ea)

Rogue Artificial Stems & Bouquet www.korufurnitureandhomewares.com.au (Eucalyptus Stem RRP $18.00ea, Rose/Peony Bouquet RRP $30.00, Wattle Stem RRP $14.00, Bracken Fern Bunch RRP $10.00)

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POOL SAFETY

pakmag

Pool Safety with Laurie Lawrence STORY Rose Foster With the Easter Holidays upon us, thinking about staying safe in the pool or in our local waterways should be at the forefront of our minds. This month, PakMag sat down with pool safety legend, Laurie Lawrence for his tips on how we can all incorporate staying safe around the pool into our lives.

No matter who you are, you will undoubtedly know about Laurie’s ‘Kids Alive – Do The Five’ program, and I’m willing to bet that many of you are singing the jingle in your head as you read this. And, that’s exactly what Laurie is looking for.

In 1988, Laurie developed a program to educate Australians about pool safety and nearly 30 years on, the fundamentals of his program have not changed.

“For me it’s more relevant than ever,” Laurie says. “When I first started, Queensland led the world in pre-school drownings. We had 27 children drown in Queensland alone and the government wanted to bring in pool fencing legislation…so they brought me in to go around the state and educate people on water safety.

It was called Operation Waterwise.”

Over three years, Laurie and his team visited schools and communities to educate children and parents on water safety. The campaign was a success; drowning deaths decreased from 27 to 13, with only one backyard

pool death. Deeming their work done, the government ended the campaign. Unfortunately, three years after Operation Waterwise ended, drowning deaths had risen from 13 to 26.

So, Laurie went back to work.

“I looked and I said, yes, there’s pool fencing legislation now, but there’s no parallel education campaign running with it. So, I went back to the government and I said, let me try again.”

Laurie pinpointed the five things he thought were essential for pool safety and with the help of family and friends they created the “Kids Alive – Do the Five” program and well-known jingle. He toured Queensland again, spreading his pool safety message and, once again, drowning deaths fell from 26 to 10!

every parent and every child in Australia. And that’s exactly what he did.

The program is now so much more than a jingle. With DVDs, books and videos, Laurie’s has now educated millions of Australians. What’s more, last year, national drowning stats for under 5s stood at 21; the lowest recorded number on record.

“That’s no reason to celebrate, because 21 is a bus load of kids,” Laurie says. “But we are on the right track. I believe in pool fencing but more importantly, I believe in keeping the message front of mind for parents and children.”

Laurie says, “It’s not Kids Alive Do the One, it’s Kids Alive Do the Five, you need to do it all to be safe in and around water.”

The Queensland campaign was successful but it was Laurie’s daughter who encouraged him to campaign to the federal government for funding to get his message to

So, make sure you fence the pool, shut the gate, teach your kids to swim, watch your mate and learn how to resuscitate to be safe this Easter Holiday and beyond.

Visit www.kidsalive.com.au for more information, resources and tips for you and your family.

Laurie Lawrence with daughter Emma and Granddaughter Evie

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pakmag HOME

eggie Garden With The Block's Caro and Kingi Children love almost anything to do with the outdoors. Whether it be digging holes in the backyard or making mud pies, a child’s curiosity for nature never ends. So why not expand their love of nature and create a sense of responsibility with them by building their very own veggie garden? With the excitement of watching it grow and change over time and getting to eat the end product, they’ll be involved from start to finish, while creating a great opportunity to spend quality bonding time together.

What you’ll need: A nice sunny spot for your veggies. Whether it be a traditional rectangular plant box or a round pizza veggie garden, let the kids be creative and use their imagination of where to grow their new veggie garden.

Gardening tools. If you don’t already have gardening tools, you can pick up a kit from Earth Toys which includes a spade, a mini garden rake, a pair of cute gardening gloves to protect little hands and miniature veggie signs to help navigate each vegetable.

Seed packets or seedlings. Try fast growing vegetables like, carrots, tomatoes, potatoes and peas. If you wanted to be creative try growing herbs like rosemary, mint and dill for a sensory filled garden.

Watering can. Since your veggies will need plenty of water

www.sunset.com

in order to grow, make sure you have a good watering can that isn’t too big - your little one will want to help out!

Veggie signs. By placing little signs in front of each different vegetable throughout the garden, it’ll help make harvesting them much easier while creating a sense of organisation within the garden. You can easily make these signs out of paddle pop sticks, forks, spoons or you can purchase unique display signs from a variety of stores.

Helpful Tips: Try growing fruits and veggies that the kids can pick straight from the plant and pop into their mouth. A good beginner fruit is strawberries as they grow quite fast and make a healthy snack for the kids.

Create a fun area where the kids can come sit and spend time with their veggie garden. Add a swing or outdoor chair near the area to create a friendlier and inviting environment.

Green Toys Jump Rope www.playmackay.com.au (RRP $25.00ea)

Ever Earth Kids Garden Wheel Barrow www.earthtoys.net (RRP $59.99ea)

www.countryliving.com

Ever Earth Metal Kids Garden Spade www.earthtoys.net (RRP $14.95ea) Child Swing Forest Green - Solvej www.playmackay.com.au (RRP $25.00ea)

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MARCH 2016 www.pakmag.com.au

Children's Cotton Garden Gloves www.earthtoys.net (RRP $9.95ea)

ww w. c h i ots

ru n.

c

om

Natures Day Out & About www.earthtoys.net (RRP $24.00ea)

The Junior Gardening Kit www.earthtoys.net (RRP $27.50ea)

Handmade Fairy Wings www.earthtoys.net (RRP $62.00ea)

3 Custom Upcycled Herb Signs Etsy store: NewViewCreations (RRP $21.00ea)

Red & Dotty Wicker Basket www.earthtoys.net (RRP $22.00ea)

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