PakMag Townsville - March 2021 Issue 124

ISSUE: MAR 2021

124

TOWNSVILLE

FREE

BULLYPROOFING Your Child

14

of the Best

BABY BUSINESSES in Townsville

Communicating with Your Teen Craft Activities For Kids Take Time Out with a Parent’s Puzzle Building a Relationship with Your Child’s School STEM-Powering Women

Awesome

PRIZES

• IN • THE

Kids Activity

MINI MAG

50 EVENTS +

Family-Friendly

Welcome 5

The Thing Is with Bree James

Hello and welcome to the March edition of PakMag.

6

Cultivating Mindfulness to

Raise Children Who Thrive

8

STEM-Powering Women

11

Bully-Proofing Your Child

I can’t believe we are already three months into 2021! Time really does fly, and lately I’ve become more conscious of enjoying the little moments, so I don’t miss them in the hectic pace of our day to day lives. John Wooden famously said ‘make each day your masterpiece’ and I am trying to invest in the now, with those I love.

15 Experience the Catholic

School Difference

17

Building Trust and

Collaboration 21 Preparing for Prep 22 Craft for Kids 24 Parent’s Puzzle: Sudoku 25 Mini Mag 29 Adult Colouring 31 All Things Health 33 ADHD Explained +

Don’t forget with Easter around the corner, we’ll be gearing up for our Easter Eggstravaganza FREE community event this month! Head to Strand Park on March 21 to join in the fun! Keep your eyes on our Facebook page for more details – but we are so excited to be seeing you face to face after such a long time.

Until next time, happy parenting and don’t forget to tell everyone, you read it in PakMag.

Helpful Tips

34 Bump, Bub and Beyond 37 Fertility to First Years Guide 41 Preparing Children

Our greatest wish is that you and your family thrive, and this edition is packed with expert advice to help you do just that. It includes our Fertility to First Years Guide with local resources to help you start their life journey and your parenting journey in the best way possible. We also have great feature articles on connecting with your children and helping them become ‘bully-proof’.

for Success

42 All Things Tweens and Teens 45 Daddy Diary 46 Check it Out 49 Get Out and About

PakMag Founder and Editor-in-Chief Bree James

Bree Bree James PakMag Founder and Editor-in-Chief Contact Us: p 4053 3331 e admin@m2f.com.au a PO Box 7433 Cairns Qld 4870 www.pakmag.com.au www.m2f.com.au

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Digital Team Leader Lawrence Fox

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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 ideas expressed within PakMag are not necessarily the views of the publishers, but those of individual writers.

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We encourage recycling. Please keep this issue for future reference, pass onto your friends and family, use for craft projects or place into the recycling bin.

families www.pakmag.com.au | March 2021 3

The Thing Is

The Thing Is with Bree James I’ve always been one to challenge gender roles. As a young girl I was certainly the odd one out. I was more inclined to build a cubby house from scraps of wood from around the yard rather than play with dolls in one. I was the type of young lady that was the only female in a class of boys doing woodwork in high school, and my afternoons were spent playing cricket with the boys. Let’s just say, for most of my childhood I found it difficult to be accepted due to not conforming to the usual ‘girl’ mould.

I was raised to believe that I could do anything and that included what boys could do, which has created an interesting life journey so far.

The thing is, whether we like it or not, gender bias exists, and as the theme of International Women’s Day this year is ‘Choose to Challenge’, I thought what better way to discuss a few things that I believe we can do better. Firstly, I believe that gender equality needs to start at home.

One of the blessings of Covid, is that many men have been working from home and are getting a front row seat to the daily demands of running a home and caring for kids.

Although many men have experienced traditional role reversals for short stints, most have never worked from home for an extended period whilst also being the primary caregiver for their children. It’s a fact that in most homes, this work has fallen onto the women who are often also doing their fair share of working too.

Men taking on more domestic duties for an extended period of time has the potential to create a sea change in gendered norms — at home and at work.

‘it’s faster if I just do it myself”, “I have to do everything - I’m the mum”, “they’re too little to help, I can do it all until they’re older”, “it’s not worth the arguments, I’ll just do it”.

Let it go ladies (and the men that do this too!). Family life is a team sport and everyone needs to do their part.

So how do we choose to challenge and change it?

Well, there is no time like the present to check in with your partner and do a domestic duties audit to assess how you’re doing and where you can involve the kids, and split some of the tasks and mental load to each other. Or if you are a single parent, do a self-audit and see where you are taking on things other family members can help with.

Remember, just because you can do it - doesn’t mean you should.

Sure- some people will never do a job as well as you do (like fold linen), but you have to let some of this go if we are going to have households that break down gender stereotypes. The world has changed, and women need more equity in the workforce, but also on the home front.

Start with outsourcing the “what’s for dinner” question that 95 percent of mums get asked every night. As a family, sit down and decide the meal plan for the week together. Create a shopping list together, work out who can cook what meals that week and who can help prepare the ingredients. I think if every household did this, it’s one big change that will take some of the mental load off busy mums and that’s a win for everyone.

I see a generation of incredible women who are trying to ‘do it all’ - being ‘super women’ at home and at work, but are we creating a rod for our own backs?

Bree

I think so; it’s unsustainable and we generate more work for ourselves if we keep taking it all on - believing;

www.breejames.com www.myvisionbook.com.au

www.pakmag.com.au | March 2021 5

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davesouthwood.photography

Feature

Cultivating Mindfulness to Raise Children Who Thrive: Why Human Connection from Before Birth Matters STORY Antonella Sansone We are at the frontline of a global mental health crisis.

There is an urgent need to prepare our children for the challenging future they are facing by enhancing their health and wellbeing - building greater resilience.

But how do we protect and nourish their minds so that they can pass their mental health and human virtues onto next generations and make our planet a better place to live in?

You might be surprised to learn it starts before birth - with you, and continues during pregnancy, when the baby’s development in the womb is affected by epigenetic (environmental) influences, including a mother’s health and wellbeing, which impact on gene expression. In short, your health - including your mental health, is the foundation for your child’s health.

Why Mothers’ and Fathers’ Mental Health Matters The World Health Organisation (2018) recognises the mental health of pregnant and new mothers as key to the health, growth, and development of very young children, wellbeing of individuals, societies, economies and our planet. Therefore, supporting maternal mental health must be a research and public priority.

Pregnancy and the postpartum period can be times of joy and anticipation but also of challenge and stress for the mother and her baby, father, and family. The first 1001 days from conception can be a time of high risk for the onset or relapse of parental mental health problems, with potential consequences on the caregiving function and the development of the unborn baby and child.

Evidence has increasingly linked maternal stress, depression and anxiety during pregnancy and in the early period after birth with unborn and child

6 March 2021 | www.pakmag.com.au

neurodevelopmental outcomes, including the capacity for social engagement, self-regulation, reactivity to stress, and cognitive skills. High levels of cortisol found in women with depression, anxiety, and stress cross the placenta and may alter baby development at critical phases.

Maternal mental health problems also hinder motherbaby relationship/bonding during pregnancy and after birth, mother’s sensitivity and responsiveness to the baby’s body signals and later verbal communication.

Depressed or stressed mothers are less likely to interpret their infants’ body cues, attune and verbally engage with them, and more likely to manifest irritable behaviour with them. The negative affect and preoccupations with her own issues may hinder a mother’s ability to be present and connect with her baby, which highlights the need to mitigate postnatal mental issues and support good maternal emotional availability.

While the impact of the mother on child development has been studied widely, the role of the father’s mental health in supporting maternal mental health and facilitating the conditions for the mother-infant relationship from pregnancy has been neglected.

In this crucial period of transition, the mental state of fathers and mothers influence each other and can negatively or positively impact their child’s development and wellbeing. If one of the partners is depressed the entire family system is compromised. Therefore, acknowledging the importance of the father and his mental health during pregnancy (if not before), supporting his role, identifying his difficulties and promoting his involvement in and contribution to the journey to parenthood and child development and wellbeing is essential.

Feature

Parenting Begins from Conception With all this evidence, we know the preconception and prenatal period provides a window of opportunity to optimise the womb environment and child development.

By enhancing their health and mental wellbeing months before conception and during pregnancy, parents contribute to their child’s health.

Although the brain is sensitive to experience throughout life, experiences in the prenatal and early postnatal stages shape to a large extend our biological and psychological make up – medical conditions, immune system, reaction to stress, ability to relate to others, to love and be loved, to cooperate in society and share care, to be empathic and compassionate towards others. It follows that the earliest period of life provides a unique opportunity for the primary prevention of biological, psychological and societal disorders.

Science confirms what indigenous people worldwide have known for millennia: the deep realm of consciousness and mindfulness practices before conception, during life in the womb, birth and beyond - play a critical role in human development and health and wellbeing.

The Benefits of Cultivating Mindfulness Mindfulness is a way of being and a way of life. Perhaps the most widely quoted definition of mindfulness comes from Jon Kabat-Zinn, “The awareness that arises from paying attention on purpose, in the present moment, and nonjudgmentally, to the unfolding of experience, moment by moment” (2003, p. 145).

Most of us are more used to its opposite - times of mindlessness - when we are taken away by thoughts or worries, not really conscious of what is going on and liable to repeatedly make mistakes and unwise choices.

This prevents us from being in the present moment and connecting with what is going on within ourself, around us and within our children.

In the last 10 years, scientists have provided solid evidence of the benefits of mindfulness

meditation in mitigating depression, anxiety, and stress symptoms – improving our capacity to regulate emotions and cope with stress. Cutting-edge research shows how the practice of mindfulness – without drugs or high expense - can cultivate qualities such as selflessness, love, empathy, compassion, receptive attention, engagement, and can also redesign our mental circuitry. Interestingly, these qualities are fundamental for parenting, fostering secure attachment in children and wellbeing.

Mindfulness practice can provide the psychological flexibility to adapt to the challenges of the perinatal period. The parent’s practice of present-moment awareness of both their child and their own thoughts and emotions without judgement and the acceptance of them for what they are - may be protective psychological strategies. Mindful parenting has also been found to have positive effects on child outcomes, such as better self-regulation and lower levels of negative affect.

A large number of pregnant mothers may be either unaware of being affected by psychological issues or have resistances against seeking support due to cultural stigmatization. Because the practice of mindfulness is considered a way of life; a self-development practice - more than a form of treatment, pregnant and new mothers may feel less stigmatized than they would if using an antidepressant or received psychotherapy, and more open to joining a mindfulness-based group.

The Prenatal Mindfulness Relationship-Based (PMRB) Program With this in mind, I developed the Prenatal and Perinatal Mindfulness Relationship (PMRB) Program supporting mental health and the mother-baby relationship during pregnancy, birth and beyond. A shift in focus from “when the baby arrives to the baby is already here and I am connected with this baby” is at the base of the PMRB Program, teaching parents’ communication abilities, mindful awareness, calming techniques and wisdom abilities that guided mothers for millennia, to create a conscious connection with bi-directional interactions far before birth.

WIN a Copy Cultivating Mindfulness to Raise Children Who Thrive: Why Connection from Before Birth Matters $50.39 - www.routledge.com Visit www.pakmag.com.au/win for your chance to win! Competition closes 31/03/2021.

Antonella Sansone is a mother, clinical psychologist, researcher, mindfulness teacher/ facilitator and author. Her work with expectant and new parents and infants in UK and Italy, empirical studies of African indigenous cultures, and inspiring motherhood have led her to write the book Cultivating Mindfulness to Raise Children Who Thrive : Why Connection from Before Birth Matters and the design of a PhD drawing on it. She has been granted the International Excellence Award from Central Queensland University.

To purchase a copy of Antonella’s book head to www.routledge.com. You can also find out more about Antonella and her research at www.antonellasansone.com

www.pakmag.com.au | March 2021 7

STEAM

STEM-Powering Women WITH Dr Juliette Tobias-Webb As one of 60 women recognised as a 2019 - 2020 Superstar of STEM, Dr Juliette Tobias-Webb is one of Australia’s most impressive behavioural scientists. She has established a career creating real-world change by the application of scientific evidence. Juliette also leads a Women in Leadership MBA stream covering topics including empowerment, motivation, resilience, wellbeing, and equality through organisational design.

As we acknowledge the achievements and strive for equality for women this International Women’s Day, we wanted to find out from Dr Tobias-Webb how she got involved in a STEM career and how we can support girls and women interested in these fields and even the field for them.

How Did You Get Involved in STEM as a Career?

I got involved in STEM almost by accident. I loved biology at school, and understanding the human body and marine biology, but when I went to university I got really interested in the psychology and neuroscience side of human behaviour. So, now I work with companies and look at how we use neuroscience and psychology to build better products and services and then we experiment, using scientific methods to be able to prove a causal impact of the solutions we designed to help change behaviour.

What Careers are Possible in STEM? There are so many careers and so many ways to get into those careers. Traditionally we often think about needing to go to university to get into a STEM career, but now companies focus on technology so much, that they offer career pathways where you can go straight from school or straight from undergraduate university to build better skills and capabilities. But even at school people can start experimenting with Science, Technology, Engineering and Math – to start their career earlier and build their skills.

The key is understanding what you find very interesting and rolling with that, as opposed to having to choose a career if you’re not sure. Start by thinking about those things that interest you and seeing where they take you.

Even my field, Behavioural Science didn’t exist five to ten years ago, but what we find now is that the career that you may end up in - might not even exist yet. But

rather, the basic skills and capabilities you need to learn are already there. You’ll be paving the way… we’ve got so much change happening.

Things to Consider for Girls Interested in STEM It’s important that girls have exposure to people within those fields. If you’re a parent, ensure you are giving equal opportunities for girls as well as boys to learn about Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics.

There are studies conducted in schools, showing that in STEM Classes - boys will get more time to answer questions than girls, they’ll get different rewards, girls are more brushed over. They also found we teach boys more about how to deal with their finances and math.

So, we really need to make an effort to give equal time to both girls and boys.

You can also buy some books for both girls and boys around the amazing women in STEM to open their ideas and minds to both genders in these fields.

Addressing Stereotypes We need to smash those stereotypes. Often when we know those stereotypes, we can succumb to what’s called ‘stereotype threat’, where we feed into those ideas mentally. Recently, there have been some studies that have shown there’s small or no difference between girls and boys in terms of their mathematical ability. It’s actually something we have socialized, and therefore put into the minds of young individuals. We need to make sure we don’t perpetuate those beliefs and become more conscious of what we say and the impact that can have on our children. E.g. ‘I’m a female, I’m no good at navigation’.

What is Something You Love That’s Happening in STEM? I love the work going on in the climate change field, like being able to understand how we take plastics and break them down by making new bacteria, being able to understand how we change electric cars and create clean energy. I really like the idea of ‘how do we reverse some of the impact we’ve had on the environment by using Science, Technology, Engineering and Math altogether?’

Dr Juliette Tobias-Webb holds a PhD in Experimental Psychology from Cambridge University, and has a passion for human behaviour and psychology. www.behaviouralscience.com.au

For more on how to inspire and support girls who love Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths, tune into Episode 89 of the PakMag Parents Podcast with Dr Tobias-Webb joining Bree.

8 March 2021 | www.pakmag.com.au

Great STEM Resources Science & Technology Australia www.scienceandtechnologyaustralia.org.au Science and Technology Australia (STA) brings together scientists, governments, industry and the community to advance ‘public good and social and community welfare,’ as well as strengthening society ‘through education, outreach and programs.’ In doing so, they aim to ‘advance the impact of science and technology to help solve some of humanity’s greatest challenges, including saving and improving lives.’

Members enjoy a range of workshops, programs, and events which provide skills, connections and opportunities in STEM.

STEM Women www.stemwomen.org.au STEM Women is a directory of Australian women working in STEM. They promote gender equity and showcase the talents of these women, raising profiles and providing opportunities to those who may experience barriers throughout their STEM Careers.

You can sign up as an expert or connect with the experts. Looking for a mentor? This is the perfect place to find one.

STEAM Careers For The 21st Century Blog post can be found at www.pakmag.com.au The World Economic Forum has estimated that 65 per cent of children entering school will work in a job that doesn’t even exist today! With technology at the forefront of these advancements, STEAM Careers are the careers of the future.

Learn about predicted future STEAM Careers including Green Power Creators, Drone Technicians and 3D Printing Engineers and how you can prepare yourself for them.

Parenting

Bully-Proofing Your Child STORY Dr Rosina McAlpine, Win Win Parenting

The Problem It is clear from world-wide statistics that bullying in schools and online is an ongoing issue. Bullying can take many forms including: • Physical bullying: restraining, hitting, punching, kicking or harming with a weapon.

• Verbal bullying: name calling ethnicity, sexual orientation, physical attributes, religion, disability, teasing, threats.

• Social bullying: ignoring, excluding from a group.

• Psychological bullying: spreading rumours, hiding or damaging property, cruel phone calls, embarrassing photos online, hurtful text messages or emails.

It is difficult to determine the rate of bullying as studies have suggested that up to 64 percent of bullied children do not report iti.

So, what can parents, carers and teachers do?

Getting Help Bullying can result in many harmful outcomes including physical harm, emotional turmoil, social isolation and mental health issues. Severe bullying can even result in death, which is why it is crucial to support children who are being bullied to ensure the bullying stops and they get the help they need to recover.

Depending on the severity of the bullying, responses include reporting the bullying to the school, seeking legal advice or reporting it to the police. Support could include providing opportunities for the child to speak with trusted friends, family or professionals like a school counsellor or other mental health professionals.

According to the authors of a bulletin for the World Health Organization, bullying is a major health problem that requires the efforts of families, communities, schools, policymakers, and health-care providers.ii

Recognise the Signs Given we know that many children do not report bullying – especially if it is non-physical – parents,

teachers and carers need to have open conversations with children and learn to read the signs.

Signs a child might be being bullied include: • A marked change in personality; • Withdrawing - not wanting to socialise; • School avoidance or refusal; • Loss of motivation; • Increased sickness – head aches and stomach aches; • Emotional outbursts; and • Poor sleep and nightmares.

While it is important to be able to recognise the signs that a child might be being bullied and to help them, perhaps there is something that can be done to help bully-proof children.

Protective Factors that Help to Prevent Bullying When we look at the research, it is clear that certain personal characteristics and skills help to protect children from bullying. Children are less likely to be bullied if they develop life skills including: • Emotional regulation: managing anxiety, depression and withdrawal • Social skills: to nurture friendships and manage conflict • Resilience and problem-solving skills: looking for solutions and having a growth mindset • Successful academic achievement Each of these characteristics, skills and processes can serve to protect children from being bullied.

This is where teachers, coaches and parents can take a pro-active approach to protecting children from being bullied by intentionally supporting children to develop these beneficial life skills. We also know from the research that certain parenting approaches can have a positive or negative impact.

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Parenting

Impact of Parenting Approach on Bullying A study by Lereya at al (2013)iii reviewed the research on the relationship between how parents interact with their children and the risk of those children becoming a victim of bullying or a bully. They looked at research studies between 1970 and 2012 which resulted in a sample of 208,000 children aged 4 - 25 years to explore the outcomes. The researchers found that children are more likely to bully or be bullied if parents: • are harsh; • role model anti-social behaviour; • have low levels of communication with their children; and • provide minimal supervision of their children.

In contrast, children are less likely to bully or be bullied if parents: • encourage open communication between parents and children; • nurture a warm and affectionate relationship with their children; • are interested, supportive and are involved in their children’s lives, and • supervise their children.

Strategies to Support Children who are Being Bulliediv The Youth Voice Project surveyed 11,893 students from grades 5 - 12 to uncover children’s perspectives on the most effective and least helpful strategies to support them through bullying.

Most helpful strategies included encouraging children to open up to someone: • An adult at home (parent, guardian, grandparent);

• Pretend it doesn’t bother you; • Tell the person how you feel; • Tell the person to stop; • Do nothing, walk away; • Solve the problem yourself; Stop “tattling”; • Make plans to get them back / hit or fight the bully; • Remind yourself it’s not your fault.

Self-Defence Are martial arts or self-defence classes helpful in overcome bullying? Reviews of the research on the benefits of martial arts training show the findings are mixed. Some studies report that the training can reduce aggression, anger and violence in youth and support self-control, emotional stability and self-esteem.

However, a recent review by Kooiv cautions that the outcome or impact of martial arts practice depends on the coach and his/her teaching style.

Powerful Strategies When it comes to overcoming the psychological impact of bullying, it is a child’s mental self-defence and mental wellbeing that are their most powerful strategies to becoming bully-proof. You can learn more about this in Sue Anderson’s book Unbullyable. Another resource is my Personal Power Life Skills Home Activity Book (www.drrosina.com/personal-power-ebook), which contains twelve life skills activities to help your child to develop healthy self-esteem, to be resilient and better manage their emotions, thoughts and behaviours – to support their wellbeing and help them to be bully-proof!

As parents, teachers and carers, we can’t shield children from all the challenges they may face in life – but we can help them to develop the knowledge and skills they need to overcome difficulties and succeed in life.

• A sympathetic friend; • An adult at school (teacher, counsellor, principal).

What children said they wanted was for adults to listen, offer ideas and to check in later to see if the bullying has stopped.

While every case of bullying is different (so there are no simple solutions), somewhat helpful strategies in some cases are: • Increased adult supervision for a time; • Meeting with, punishing or talking to the child(ren) who were bullying; • Talk with the whole class about bullying behaviour.

Children in this study said the least helpful and ineffective strategies included saying to a child:

Petrosino, A., Guckenburg, S., DeVoe, J., and Hanson, T. (2010). What characteristics of bullying, bullying victims, and schools are associated with increased reporting of bullying to school officials? (Issues & Answers Report, REL 2010–No. 092). ii Srabstein and Leventhal, Bulletin of the World Health Organization 2010 ;88:403-403. doi: 10.2471/BLT.10.077123 iii Lereya, Muntha and Wolke (2013) Parenting Behaviour and the risk of becoming a victim and a bully/victim: A meta-analysis study. iv Youth Voice Project: student’s perceptions about strategy effectiveness to reduce peer mistreatment. http://njbullying.org/documents/YVPMarch2010.pdf v Kooi, M. (2020) Developmental outcomes and meanings in martial arts practice among youth: a review i

Dr Rosina McAlpine is the CEO and creator of the Win Win Parenting program. Win Win Parenting practical and fun programs are delivered across a variety of organisations including early learning, school, corporate and government organisations in Australia, New Zealand and The United States. Dr Rosina is an internationally recognised awardwinning researcher and educator. www.winwinparenting.com

12 March 2021 | www.pakmag.com.au

Advertorial

Looking for a School for Your Child in 2022? Experience the Catholic School Difference Catholic schools offer more than just an education.

They are about providing students with excellent opportunities and encouraging them to be their best - every day. With 29 schools spanning north to Hinchinbrook, west to Mount Isa and south to the Whitsundays, Catholic schools offer some of the best learning experiences for students across North Queensland.

Our Catholic schools provide safe and welcoming environments for children from Prep to Year 12 with belonging at the forefront. Townsville Catholic Education’s Executive Director, Jacqui Francis, said “creating places where children can feel supported and achieve their best is at the heart of what we do.”

“At Catholic schools, tradition and values matter. We have a strong community that cares and supports everyone,” Jacqui said. “The wellbeing of our students is our number one priority and having a positive and inclusive environment allows them to be the best they can be. Catholic schools are communities in themselves and we see generations of families come to our schools and cherish being part of it.”

At Catholic schools, our experienced and dedicated teachers foster a love of learning across a range of subject areas. Students have access to the latest technology, ensuring they have the best opportunity for continued learning and improvement.

“Catholic identity, social justice, inclusion and excellence are at the core of everything we do. Respect is important to us and we encourage our students to make positive contributions to society and be their best selves every day.

“We understand that choosing a school is an important decision. In our Catholic schools, parents can feel confident their children will have access to excellent facilities and holistic education to meet individual students’ needs,” Jacqui said. “Catholic schools are educating the community leaders of tomorrow - and we provide all students the best possible opportunities.”

Experience the difference of our Catholic school community. For more information visit: www.experiencecatholicschools.com.au to find your nearest school and book a tour.

www.pakmag.com.au | March 2021 15

Education

The Formula for Building Trust and Collaboration Between Parents, Teachers and Your Child’s School: 3 + 3 + 3 + 5 + 2 STORY Andrew Oberthur When a child comes home from school and shares their recollection about something that has happened during the day, the parent has the choice of three responses from which they may choose in dealing with their child’s concern.

The first option might be to contact the school staff and “explode”. This will not build a relationship between the school and the parents. In fact, it will break down the relationship.

The second option is for the parents to say to the child; “Thanks very much, I believe your story but toughen up, and be more resilient”. This in effect is brushing the child aside. They're not giving them the support and empowerment that they need and deserve.

The third option is for the parents to listen to the child cautiously and then choose one of three responses, and then one of three questions which they should ask the school staff.

The first question is simply to ask the staff – “What happened at school?” regarding this particular matter. They would report what their child has said about the incident and they then give the school staff the opportunity to respond. At that point the parents will reflect as to the accuracy of both stories so that they can move forward supporting their child.

The second question to use is – “What is the school’s policy, protocols or procedures regarding…… (whatever)?” With that information provided, they are in a position to judge whether or not the school followed the process and protocols or whether or not the school has let them down.

The third question to use is - “What can we, as parents and teachers do in working together for my child's education?” This highlights the need for collaboration.

It highlights the importance of the parents and teachers working together and providing a common vision of education for the child.

When a parent comes and expresses some concerns to a teacher, the teacher can easily get defensive.

If we are in a position to build a culture of trust and collaboration between parents and teachers, then I believe there are only three questions that teachers need to ask parents in response to any of the concerns.

The first question is simply “What do you need?”

This means that the parents need to reflect upon the purpose as to why they are coming and having a conversation with the teacher and what they hope to achieve by having a conversation. As soon as the teacher asks the question “What do you need?” they are responding to the importance of the parents’ query.

This adds value to the parents’ question, the parent feels that they are important, that their query is validated and that it will be addressed.

The second question that teachers could ask parents is- “What do you imagine that would look like in our classroom or in our school?” So when a parent comes and asks for a request for something to be achieved or something to be done, and the teacher asks the parent “What you think that would look like?” it puts the emphasis back on the parent to try articulate the practical application for their query to be implemented in the classroom or school setting.

The third question that teachers can ask parents is “Is there anything else you'd like to ask or say or tell me before we close the meeting?” This gives the parents the chance to reflect to ensure that their needs have been met and both parties can walk away content that they have been heard. It's a simple technique which allows teachers to close off the conversation. It also allows the parents some closure.

As a parent, when you visit a school to make an enquiry, you can re-frame your questions around this model even if the teachers don’t use the questions to direct your conversation.

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Education

When a parent goes to their child’s school, they usually approach the teachers or the principal for one of five reasons. Once they are asked- “What do you need?” it helps them reflect on why they have gone to the school.

The first reason why parents go to school is to simply share information, good or bad. It might be to give information, to give praise, to simply to get something off their chest or to express their opinion.

Once they have expressed their concerns about whatever, they're happy.

The second reason parents may come to a school is to seek information, context or history. They just want to understand the history so that they get a better grasp of why the system exists and how long the system has existed. They are just seeking information, context or history.

The third reason parents may go to school may be to offer a solution. Parents may have expertise in a field that may add value to the school. The principal often calls upon parent expertise in an advisory capacity.

This model is relevant when parents have a particular

skill set that can benefit the school community.

The fourth reason may be that the parents are asking the school for a resolution or a solution to a particular issue. If the processes are reviewed and can be improved, then a solution may be possible. Solutions are not always possible or resolutions may not always give the parents their desired outcome. It is important to remember that principals and school leaders make decisions in the best interests of all (or the majority) of families and students.

Similar to the fourth reason, is the fifth reason parents may engage with schools – and that is to seek advice from staff. This model requires the parents to own the implementation of the advice. This highlights collaboration as the parents request advice from the staff, and then the parents act on it.

When teachers respond to any parent request, they should filter their response with these two criteria: is the response sustainable and realistic. If the teacher’s response meets these criteria then it may be a viable option. If the response desired by the parents from the teacher does not meet these criteria then it would be advisable to re-think the options. It may be necessary to revisit the first question from teacher to parents – what do you need? This may prompt the parents to re-think their desired outcomes.

WIN a Copy of Are You Ready for Primary School This Year?

by Andrew Oberthur $20.00 - www.creativecollaborativesolutions.net This book is about building a culture of Trust, Collaboration and Enquiry between parents and Primary school teachers. It is a MUST read for parents and teachers alike.

Visit www.pakmag.com.au/win for your chance to win!

Competition closes 31/03/2021.

Andrew Oberthur is the married father of two teenagers and a primary school principal, with over 30 years experience. Through his vast experience and own study, Andrew has developed three main areas of interest and expertise: School readiness for families / staff of children getting ready for school, building a culture of trust, collaboration and enquiry between parents and teachers, communication skills for teachers and parents working together for the benefit of their common interest - their children. In 2018 he published his first book “Are You Ready for Primary School This Year?” which is about building a culture of trust, collaboration and enquiry between parents and teachers.

His book is available from his website www.creativecollaborativesolutions.net

Tune into Episode 22 of the PakMag Parents Podcast with Andrew Oberthur for more on why it’s important to establish a positive relationship with your child’s teacher.

18 March 2021 | www.pakmag.com.au

Advertorial

Preparing for Prep Townsville Grammar School is staging a Prep Fair an information-based morning for parents and families to learn more about preparing for the start of school.

“The Prep year is considered the formal start of a child’s learning journey,” said Townsville Grammar School Principal, Mr Timothy Kelly. “Children come together at the beginning of the year with a mix of experiences, abilities, talents and interests, and it can be both an exciting and a challenging time for families transitioning to the formal schooling environment.

“We know that children learn best when they feel comfortable and happy, and therefore, the Prep Fair is

designed to give families an opportunity to talk to a range of service providers who specialise in support services from healthy lunchboxes to home organisation tips. It will be a great way for families to start to prepare for the Prep year.”

Townsville Grammar School offers Prep at two Junior School Campuses in Annandale and North Shore, with purpose-designed Prep precincts and teachers who are focused on the development of genuine relationships with parents and families.

Open Morning – 13 March “We are also holding an Open Morning at our two Junior School Campuses on Saturday, 13 March, which is a great opportunity for parents to visit our Prep Precincts, meet our teachers and find out more about a Grammar education,” said Mr Kelly.

www.pakmag.com.au | March 2021 21

Craft

www.agirlandagluegun.com

www.mommymadethat.com

Craft for Kids

Colourful Caterpillars

Handheld Fruit Fans

What You Need

What You Need Scissors Craft glue Hole Punch

Coloured Popsicle Sticks Drill with small drill bit A4 Paper Pencil

www.mommymadethat.com

Green craft paper (various shades) Green felt pen Pom poms (large) Googly eyes

Watercolour paint Paintbrush and water Craft glue or glue gun Split pin paper fasteners

www.agirlandagluegun.com

Method Method Draw a leaf shape onto your green craft paper. Draw on leaf details, using a green felt pen.

You will then cut out the leaves. For younger children, they may need adult assistance during this step.

Use the hole punch to create little chew marks from your hungry caterpillar. To give the leaf more shape, you can fold the leaf along the middle.

To create your caterpillar, grab however many pom poms you’d like and glue them together in a line. Please note: your caterpillar can be as long or short as you want, and any colour combination you like. Allow time for the glue to dry.

To finish your caterpillar, glue two googly eyes to one end. One complete, place your caterpillar on their leaf.

22 March 2021 | www.pakmag.com.au

Draw out your fan shape onto your A4 paper. Using your watercolours, decorate the fan area in any fruity design you like. Dry and cut out.

Ask an adult to drill the holes into one end of each popsicle stick. You will need five sticks with a hole large enough to poke through the ends of the stick pin paper fastener. The head of the fastener needs to be bigger than the hole. Fix the Popsicle sticks together with the fastener, by bending the ends of the fastener back.

Evenly spread the popsicle sticks apart and glue one end (the open end) to the back of your fan. Allow to dry.

Once dry, fold each popsicle stick in on each other, creating the folds of the fan as you go.

Please note: The fans pictured here have a fruity theme, but your fan can be any design you like.

www.ikatbag.com

www.onelittleproject.com

Craft

Fire-breathing Dragons

Musketeer Swords

What You Need

What You Need Red, orange and yellow tissue paper Glue stick Glue gun or glue dots

Empty wrapping paper rolls Aluminium foil Scissors Craft knife

www.onelittleproject.com

Paper towel roll (cut in half) Craft paper Large and small pom poms Googly eyes Scissors

Glue and/or sticky tape Glue gun Decorative stick-on ‘jewels’ Scrap cardboard

www.ikatbag.com

Method

Method

Cut your coloured craft paper to the size of your paper roll. You want it long enough to wrap all the way around.

Glue to the paper roll using your glue stick.

Flatten one end of your wrapping paper roll, then join the sides with a glue gun or sticky tape. Cut this end to a blunt point.

Attach the googly eyes to the large pop poms using the glue gun or glue dots. For younger children, we recommend using glue dots until they are confident using a glue gun to avoid any burns. Once you have dried your dragon’s eyes, glue them to one end of the paper roll as you see in the picture. Then attach the smaller pom poms to the other end to create the dragon’s nostrils.

To make the handle (hilt) of your sword; cut a piece of cardboard into a long rectangular strip, at least 30 cm long and slightly wider than your wrapping paper roll.

Round the ends of the cardboard strip.

To create the dragon’s fiery breath, cut the tissue paper into pointy 20 – 25 cm strips. Using your glue stick, glue the non-pointy ends of the tissue paper to the inside of the ‘nostril’ end of the paper roll.

Trace the round end of the wrapping paper roll near one end of your cardboard strip. Ask a parent to cut this circle out with a craft knife. Slide the cardboard strip over the end of the wrapping paper roll, leaving about a toilet roll’s distance from the end. Secure in place with a glue gun, so you are left with the semi-circle sword handle as pictured.

Once the glue is all dry, you can blow on the open end of your dragon’s head and watch as the dragon ‘breathes fire’!

Cover the ‘blade’ end of your sword with glue, and then aluminium foil. Lastly, decorate your sword’s handle with stick on jewels.

www.pakmag.com.au | March 2021 23

Parent's Puzzle: Sudoku Each of the nine blocks must contain all the numbers 1-9 within its squares. Each number can only appear once in a row, column or box.

WIN a $50.00 Deluca Apparel Voucher!

The Deluca Apparel clothing range is designed to empower women and children with positive messaging.

All designs feature positive phrases such as “Be Kind”, “Grateful” and “You Got This”.

All clothing is 100% cotton and designed and printed in Brisbane. $1 from every sale is donated to the charity PANDA to help women and families suffering with PND. Founder Kat Deluca started the brand after being hospitalised with postnatal anxiety in late 2019. www.delucaapparel.com.au Visit www.pakmag.com.au/win for your chance to win! Competition closes 31/03/2021. No need to submit answers to enter.

Sudoku answers can be found at www.pakmag.com.au/answers

24 March 2021 | www.pakmag.com.au

Pull-out kids activity mag!

Spot the 5 differences in the images below

WIN a Blue Yeti USB Microphone Worth $198.00 Create unparalleled recordings with your computer using Blue's best-selling Yeti USB microphone. Thanks to their proprietary tri-capsule technology, Yeti condenser microphones produce pristine, studio-quality recordings with legendary ease. A professional multi-pattern USB mic for recording and streaming. From live streams and YouTube videos to podcasts and music recordings, Blue can help you achieve your ultimate goal - to be heard. www.bluepowered.com.au Visit www.pakmag.com.au/win for your chance to win!

Competition closes 31/03/2021. No need to submit answers to enter.

Use the colour code below to reveal the loopy robot in the grid!

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Help me find which socket my charger plug goes in!

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Use the grid w ab ove to dra e the rest of th , re tu ic rob ot p r u then colo them in!

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WIN a Roybi Robot Worth $199.00 Named by TIME Magazine as one of The Best Inventions in Education, Roybi Robot is an AIpowered educational smart toy robot for children 3+ in language learning & basic STEM. It comes with over 500 lessons, 70 categories & topics as well as over 70,000 vocabularies. Topics range from math, science, space, tech, habitats, geography, and many more. Chinese (Mandarin) is available now. www.roybirobot.com Visit www.pakmag.com.au/win for your chance to win!

Competition closes 31/03/2021. No need to submit answers to enter.

Help Mr Worm get to the core of the pear, then colour it in

Connect the dots and colour in

Colour by numbers

WIN an Environmental Challenges Deck and Stand Worth $50.00 This deck is filled with twenty environmental challenges for tweens and teens.

From working on food waste, to watching insects and reporting on birds, dealing with fashion waste, growing food and a whole lot in between. This deck is paired with our handcrafted stand made from salvaged local wood. 50% of the profits are donated to impact projects. www.skwoodle.com Visit www.pakmag.com.au/win for your chance to win! Competition closes 31/03/2021.

No need to submit answers to enter.

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Relax and Unwind: Adult Colouring

WIN a Set of The Karma Class Cards Worth $79.00!

Designed to help parents support their children’s social, emotional and physical wellbeing within a calm, compassionate and caring home.

They deliver a holistic body, breath and mind experience for every age and stage, based on the science of Yoga, Breath and Mindfulness and offer a multitude of ideas and activities to support overall social, emotional and physical wellbeing. www.thekarmaclass.com Visit www.pakmag.com.au/win for your chance to win! Competition closes 31/03/2021. No need to submit colouring in to enter.

www.pakmag.com.au | March 2021 29

Health

All Things Health Natural Remedies for Cold Sores

Matthew Calanna

Holding an ice pack to the cold sore can reduce the redness and inflammation – though it won’t reduce the duration of the sore. You can also apply an ice cube to affected area, wrapping it in a towel or a similar item if it’s too cold.

Calanna Whole Health Pharmacy Dear Matthew,

Apply Vitamin E, an antioxidant, onto the cold sore. It can soothe it; help repair any damaged skin cells and grow new ones – speeding up the healing process of the sore.

Raw or medical grade honey, particularly Kanuka and Manuka honey, have been found to be just as effective as pharmacy medications for reducing the pain of a cold sore and healing it.

This is due to the antibacterial and antifungal properties that natural honey has.

Apply lemon balm cream to the cold sore throughout the day.

It is a herb that also aids in the healing of cold sores and reduce symptoms.

I’m struggling to manage all my medications. Is there a better way?

Managing multiple medications is hard and can take a toll on anyone, but luckily there are some great services you can take advantage of to make it easier! At Calanna Pharmacy, we offer free medication checks which includes a one-on-one with our Pharmacists to discuss how you can better manage your medications and get the most out of them.

We also offer free medication packing where we pack your medicines into simple daily doses that are easy to use and dated - so you know what medicine to take, when and they are easy to carry so you can take them with you wherever you go. You’ll never ask “did I take my medication today?” again!

Calanna Whole Health Pharmacy www.calannapharmacy.com.au

The Body’s ‘Spark Plug’ - Ubiquinol Ubiquinol, the active form of coq10, is a fat-soluble anti-oxidant found naturally in every cell in the body. It displays increased bioavailability compared with other forms of coq10. Ubiquinol can be likened to the body’s ‘spark plug’ and helps support the body’s cellular energy production. It helps support cardiovascular health, helps support sperm motility and morphology, and helps support overall health and wellbeing.

Ubiquinol may also help protect the body’s cells from the effects of oxidative stress.

You can find several products at Calanna Pharmacy, containing Ubiquinol. Ask their friendly team to recommend one today.

Speak to your healthcare practitioner before supplementing with Ubiquinol to determine if it is suitable for you.

Consult your local health practitioner, doctor or pharmacist for advice on these topics first to ensure the best health outcomes.

www.pakmag.com.au | March 2021 31

Advertorial

ADHD Explained + Helpful Tips STORY Dr Betty Wamola ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder) is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by inattention, distractibility, hyperactivity and impulsivity. It starts in childhood and symptoms may persist into adulthood. Many children have trouble with some of these things. But in children with ADHD, this behaviour is extreme and has a big impact on their daily lives.

With ADHD, the different parts of the brain don’t ‘talk’ to each other in a typical way. Because of this, children might have trouble thinking, learning, expressing their feelings or controlling their behaviour as well as other children of the same age.

How Can I Help My Child Control Their Behaviour?

1. Keep your child on a daily schedule. Try to keep the time that your child wakes up, eats, bathes, leaves for school, and goes to sleep the same each day.

2. Cut down on distractions. Loud music, computer games, and TV can be overstimulating to your child.

Make it a rule to keep the TV or music off during mealtime and while your child is doing homework.

Don't place a TV in your child's bedroom.

manner or good behaviour. Praise and reward your child's efforts to pay attention.

5. Set small, reachable goals. Aim for slow progress rather than instant results. Be sure that your child understands that they can take small steps toward learning to control themself.

6. Help your child stay "on task." Use charts and checklists to track progress with homework or chores.

Keep instructions brief. Offer frequent, friendly reminders.

7. Limit choices. Help your child learn to make good decisions by giving only two or three options at a time.

8. Find activities at which your child can succeed.

All children need to experience success to feel good about themselves.

9. Use calm discipline. Use consequences such as timeout, removing the child from the situation or distraction.

Sometimes it is best to simply ignore the behaviour.

Physical punishment, such as spanking or slapping, is not helpful. Discuss your child's behaviour with them when both of you are calm.

10. Develop a good communication system with your child's teacher so that you can coordinate your efforts and monitor your child's progress.

3. Organize your house. If your child has specific and logical places to keep their schoolwork, toys, and clothes, they are less likely to lose them. Save a spot near the front door for their school backpack so they can grab it on the way out the door.

Source Understanding ADHD: Information for Parents About Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (Copyright © 2007 American Academy of Pediatrics, Updated 6/2016)

4. Reward positive behavior. Offer kind words, hugs, or small prizes for reaching goals in a timely

Additional Resources: www.adhdaustralia.org.au, www.raisingchildren.net.au and www.healthychildren.org

www.pakmag.com.au | March 2021 33

Bump, Bub and Beyond

Bump, Bub and Beyond Featured products, reviews and prizes. Visit www.pakmag.com.au/win for your chance to win!

Ultrasound Keepsake $239.00 - www.wallsofstories.com.au Ultrasounds are one of the most precious possessions you’ll own - it’s the first time you physically see your baby and marks a special milestone. Have your ultrasound printed on leather grain fabric, in your choice of birthstone colour. Framed in a hand woven hoop, surrounded by luxe, ethically sourced feathers and embellished with genuine moonstone gemstones.

Baby Moses Basket $234.95 - www.adinkradesigns.com.au Baby Moses Baskets not only look great in the baby nursery but also serve a practical purpose.

Baby Moses Baskets are ideal for a newborn baby as they are cosy and the lightweight portability of the basket makes it easy to keep the baby close to you wherever you are in your house. Made from sustainable materials, it is a natural bedding choice for your new baby. Comes with a fitted mattress made in Australia.

Brandt Convertible Rocking Armchair $304.00 - www.luxoliving.com.au The Brandt Convertible Rocking Chair combines ultimate comfort with impeccable grace. Featuring a wingback design, solid wood frame wrapped high-quality fabric, and deep foam padding gives this seat unbeatable comfort and support. It’s stylish pine wood legs can be adjusted to transform this chair into a rocker, lounge chair, or bench.

The arms are also at the perfect height to provide support for nursing mothers. Available in a range of colours.

34 March 2021 | www.pakmag.com.au

Bump, Bub and Beyond

All About Gross Motor Skills STORY Mary MacKillop Childcare Gross motor skills involve the use of the larger muscles in the body to run, kick and throw. They also help us sit upright, stand up and walk. These skills are vital to carry out everyday tasks such as getting dressed (standing on one leg to put your leg into a pant leg), getting in and out of the car and in and out of bed. Great gross motor skills also improve balance,

strength, coordination, endurance and body awareness.

The development of gross motor skills starts when your child is just a few months old and learning to roll over and sit up unsupported. By the age of one, most children will be crawling, pulling themselves up to stand and taking a few steps unsupported. Before you know it, they’ll be picking up toys off the floor, walking up and down stairs, kicking and throwing balls and of course, running all over the place.

If your child is struggling with gross motor skills, they may show disinterest in physical tasks, rush physical tasks to mask their difficulty or act bossy towards others in regards to how the task is performed.

Where to Find Support Postnatal depression is very common, affecting both mums and dads - and you are not alone. It’s normal to experience both good and bad days, but if you believe you may have postnatal depression or anxiety or are struggling in another way after the birth of your baby, don’t hesitate and reach out for help. You can contact the PANDA (Perinatal Anxiety and Depression Australia) hotline on 1300 726 306, Parentline on 1300 301 300 or Relationships Australia on 1300 364 277 for help. You can also look into local support groups in your area.

You can help your child develop their gross motor skills development by encouraging them to play ball games, jump on the trampoline, playing tug of war, walking on a balance beam or doing obstacle courses.

If you have any concerns about your child’s gross motor skills development, take them to your GP.

Postnatal Depression Fact While anywhere from 50 to 85 per cent of women experience ‘baby blues’ postpartum, postpartum depression is more serious and affects around one in seven women (and one in 20 men) after birth. Having postpartum depression certainly doesn’t make you a bad parent, and that’s a fact.

www.pakmag.com.au | March 2021 35

Fertility to First Years

Fertility to First Years Guide Discovering you’re pregnant is an exciting time for any couple. Whether it’s the first time or the fifth time, knowing you’ve created a little human is pretty incredible. To help you prepare for their impending arrival and throughout their first years, we’ve collated a list of the best local businesses to help you on your parenting journey.

Townsville Paediatrics Townsville Paediatrics is a medical practice providing specialist care to newborns, infants, children and adolescents. Dr Siva, Dr Wamola, Dr Heyer, Dr Gautam, Dr Puvvadi and Dr Vanderkruk have global experience working as paediatricians and they are committed to providing holistic care to patients and families in Townsville and surrounds. If your GP would like you to see a paediatrician, ask them to refer you to Townsville Paediatrics where you’ll be in good hands.

A 4/18 Oxford Street, Hyde Park P 4427 5817 www.townsvillepaediatrics.com.au

Calanna Wholehealth Pharmacy Staff at Calanna Wholehealth Pharmacy are more than happy to help you stay healthy and happy during your pregnancy. They can provide recommendations for vitamins, pain relief, how to improve your fertility and more. Once your baby has arrived, they can also provide help on breastfeeding, baby products and supplies for common illnesses that mum or bub may encounter.

A Aitkenvale, Currajong, Kirwan and Deeragun www.calannapharmacy.com.au

CityLibraries City Libraries have amazing programs to stimulate your little one’s brain development and early literacy skills.

Sessions are scheduled weekly during term time.

First5Forever Baby Rhyme Time - Sing songs and rhymes, clap, move, and explore books together during

the school terms. Sessions run for 50 minutes each and are designed for children from birth to 2 years.

First5Forever Toddler Time - Develop your toddler’s early literacy skills and concentration with fun songs, dance, and a story for children aged from 2 years old.

Cost: FREE. All sessions require booking at whatson. townsville.qld.gov.au Messy Play Take Home Packs are also available. www.townsville.qld.gov.au

NExT Osteo & Rehab During pregnancy, your body undergoes many changes to help care for your baby and prepare for birth. These changes give rise to new aches and pains that slow you down. NExT Osteo & Rehab, provide care to help keep you moving with the greatest possible comfort during your pregnancy. From osteopathic techniques, pregnancy massage, physical therapy and designing an exercise program uniquely for you - they can help you to remain fit and active in the safest way possible throughout your pregnancy. If you are interested in pregnancy care at NExT Osteo & Rehab, feel free to contact their friendly team to discuss things further.

A 129 Thuringowa Dr, Kirwan P 0450 062 223 www.nextosteorehab.com.au

Paul Sadler Swimland The Parent Child swimming program is a fun way to introduce your baby to the world of swimming. Classes are centred around fun activities focusing on water awareness, mobility, safety and survival. As a parent (or carer), you get to join your little one in the water.

A 20-22 Freshwater Dr, RIverside Gardens P 4779 4647 www.paulsadlerswimland.com.au

www.pakmag.com.au | March 2021 37

Fertility to First Years

Inflatable Kingdom Inflatable Kingdom is a massive indoor inflatable playground, providing hours of fun for all ages. There is a designated tiny tots’ area for children under five. Don’t forget your socks!

A 72-88 Hervey Range Road, Condon P 4755 4422 www.inflatablekingdom.com.au

Coastal Kids Speech Pathology Coastal Kids Speech Pathology supports children from birth to 18 years and their families to maximise their communication skills. Coastal Kids tailors each speech therapy session to the individual needs of the child.

They aid with language delay, swallowing issues, speech delay, stuttering, phonological awareness, literacy and Autism. Coastal Kids Speech Pathology is also an approved provider with the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) and has multiple rebates available for those eligible.

A Suite 1 / 5-7 Matinez Avenue, West End P 0427 922 378 www.coastalkidsspeech.com.au

Cairns Early Parenting Centre Providing services to all of North Queensland, the Early Parenting Centre at Cairns Private Hospital has a multi-disciplinary team of experts to support parents with infants aged from six weeks to two years during a four night residential stay. The program includes 24 hour, one-to-one support and daily group education sessions, addressing concerns such as infant feeding, settling, maternal exhaustion/anxiety and adjustment to parenting.

Mindfulness, yoga and infant massage sessions are also available. Ask your doctor for a referral.

A 1 Upward St, Cairns (Cairns Private Hospital) P 4052 5200 www.cairnsprivate.com.au

Cairns Private Hospital Maternity Private Maternity Care your way at Cairns Private Hospital provides services to all of North Queensland.

Quality time and expert support before, during and after birth – with choice of obstetrician and their Know my Midwife Program.

Maternity Care Navigator offers a personal, convenient one-point-of-contact through your journey. Enjoy a delicious menu including complimentary ‘snacks as you please’ room service and even a luxury hotel stay option – where you can spend two nights at Riley Crystalbrook with midwife visits. They also have a Postnatal Drop In Clinic for up to 12 months post-birth and Lactation Clinic.

A 1 Upward St, Cairns (Cairns Private Hospital) P 4052 5200 www.cairnsprivate.com.au/Maternity

Mary MacKillop Childcare Mary MacKillop Childcare offers quality care and education to the youngest members of our community.

38 March 2021 | www.pakmag.com.au

They provide a warm, safe nurturing environment that will allow children to grow and develop at their own pace. They respect the individuality of all children and their families and recognize that every child is unique.

Children and families of all faiths and backgrounds are welcomed.

A Kirwan, Mundingburra, Rasmussen, Ingham, Mount Isa and Palm Island www.earlylearning.tsv.catholic.edu.au

The Cathedral School Children from 6 weeks to Kindergarten are able to participate in age-appropriate programs under the watchful eye of professional and caring staff. The daily program is structured to include both indoor and outdoor play, group and individual activities, teacherdirected and child-initiated activities, plus supervised meal times and rest time for all children, according to their age and requirements.

A 154 Ross River Rd, Mundingburra P 4722 2000 www.cathedral.qld.edu.au

The Nappy Bucket Interested in using cloth nappies for your baby?

The Nappy Bucket stocks a range of Australia’s best brands of nappies as well as swimmer nappies, breast pads, reusable wipes, baby creams and more.

Not only are they environmentally friendly, they’ll save you a ton of money and they come in a range of adorable designs.

P 0417 314 554 www.nappybucket.com.au

Elle J There’s a great selection of maternity wear at Elle J located in Domain Central. Offering a range of beautiful maternity wear as well as clothes and hats for babies and kids. You can look stylish all through your pregnancy – and feel super comfy too.

P 4779 8198 www.ellej.com.au

1300Smiles Just like the rest of your body, your mouth will undergo changes throughout pregnancy. These can include bleeding gums, damage to the enamel of your teeth, a dry mouth or sugar cravings which can contribute to tooth decay. Research has also shown that active gum disease before or during pregnancy may lead to premature or underweight births. A visit to your local 1300Smiles before, during and after pregnancy will help protect your teeth, gums and overall oral health.

A Thuringowa Village Shopping Centre, Kirwan A 50 North Shore Boulevard, Burdell A 361 Flinders Street, Townsville City P 1300 764 537 www.1300smiles.com.au

Advertorial

Preparing Children for Success At Mary MacKillop Childcare North Queensland, our focus is the education and care of the special members of the family, our children. At our Kindergartens, we have a focus on enabling each child to become active, lifelong learners and through our inquiry-based learning environments support the transition to school and beyond.

MMCNQ Executive Director, Carolyn Cousins said, “our kindergartens are in a very unique position being able to offer additional support to our families through our speech, literacy and numeracy early intervention program, provided in collaboration with specialists from Townsville Catholic Education”.

All kindergarten-aged children at MMCNQ are offered the opportunity to participate in two specialised kindergarten screenings using speech language pathologist Harriet Naylor. “She visits all MMCNQ Kindergartens and meets with each kindergarten-aged child individually to engage them in conversational screening of their speech and language development” Carolyn said.

Harriet said “We know, through research, that early identification and intervention can ensure children have the best opportunity to develop lifelong communication skills.”

The screening involves naming pictures and conversation sampling to allow Harriet Naylor to collect data on each child’s speech (i.e., the ability to produce/articulate sounds in words) and language development (i.e., their understanding of spoken instructions and vocabulary,

social skills and using developmentally appropriate grammatical markers and sentence structures).

From this screening, each family is provided with an overview that details the child’s progress towards outcomes and any recommendations.

In addition, the Kindergarten children are also given the opportunity to have their literacy and numeracy skills investigated by their kindergarten teacher during an individualised play based story book screener.

During this time, kindergarten children will be asked to share a story book with their teacher and be asked a series of oral language, early literacy and numeracy questions (i.e., the foundation skills for academic success).

Carolyn said “the information gathered from the screening further supports the development of our kindergarten curriculums as well as each child’s learning.This information allows each child’s kindergarten teacher to identify their strengths and determine where further support is required in communication, literacy and numeracy.”

The outcomes and recommendations will be collated

by Townsville Catholic Education Office, Early Years Coordinator, Mrs. Kate Sargent, and are used to support and enhance all children’s learning in the kindergarten including professional development and capacity building to the Kindergarten Teachers and Assistants.

To find out more about Mary MacKillop Childcare NQ Kindergarten programs, visit www.mmcnq.catholic.edu.au or call 4726 3299 for an information pack.

www.pakmag.com.au | March 2021 41

All Things Tweens and Teens

All Things Tweens & Teens Keeping the Lines of Communication Open The tween and teen years can be difficult to navigate, not just for our children, but as parents of those children. It’s important to remember that as your child grows into an independent adult, you keep showing them your unconditional love, how much you value them and their uniqueness and keep the lines of communication open.

Inspiration Corner Coach John Wooden is considered the greatest NCAA basketball head coach of all time. This quote is one of his most well-known and comes from his ‘Seven Point Creed’, originally given to him as a list of ‘Seven Things to Do’ by his father. www.thewoodeneffect.com states that ‘making each day your masterpiece means focusing on what you are doing right now to the best of your ability. It is about recognizing that nothing can be done about what happened yesterday, and that you can only affect what will happen tomorrow by what you do today.’

So, let go of the past and don’t worry about the future – focus on where you are right now and all the positive things that surround you. Make this moment and this day count.

If you are feeling ‘shut out’ of their life, with their once free-flowing conversation ‘drying up’, here’s a few suggestions from www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au to help keep the lines open:

1. Listen more than you speak 2. Make time to spend together 3. Give them privacy 4. Keep up with their interests 5. Be a loving parent 6. Have fun

WIN a Copy of Raising Girls Who Like Themselves!

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42 March 2021 | www.pakmag.com.au

Daddy Diary

Daddy Diary Food, glorious food. A commodity so valuable Oliver Twist belted out a song about it. How great is food?

We owe a lot to food. Not only does it keep us kicking and screaming, but without it - network television wouldn’t have survived the last 10 years. I’m looking at you MKR and MasterChef.

My only problem with food is… I eat too much of it.

I adore food. Both my wife and I consider ourselves “foodies”. Food is life. At least that’s what I believe.

So, I ask you this Townsville - why, oh, why do I (and pretty much every parent at one stage or another) have such a problem getting my kids to eat it?

Back in the day the great Kings and Queens of England would employ food testers to ensure their tucker

Head to Parents and Kids of North Queensland YouTube Channel to see Bree’s up close interview with Cliffo.

wasn’t poisoned. I’m pretty sure if said profession still existed my two cherubs, Matilda (nearly seven) and Charlie (nearly two), would be first in line to employ one. I don’t know what secret plan these two think I’ve hatched with the food I offer them - but the answer is “no”. Despite the untrusting looks I receive across the dinner table - I’m not trying to poison them. Your pasta bake remains pure.

Things have gotten pretty bad in the last few months.

In the last week alone - I’ve seen noses turn away from sausages and mash, ham and cheese toasties, my mum’s famous savoury mince and even chicken nuggets and chips. CHICKEN NUGGETS AND CHIPS! I’m sorry, but if you don’t absolutely devour nuggets and chippies out of the air fryer - there is literally NOTHING you like.

There is one meal that gets us across the line though.

It’s become somewhat of a dinnertime ‘Holy Grail’ at the Clifton residence. Thank the sweet Lord for Tacos.

Without the delicious combo of mince, cheese, lettuce, tomato, sour cream and the shells (pretty much big corn chips) - I’m afraid my two sprogletts would have withered away to nothing.

So, for now it’s tacos that keep us kicking. Yes, my wife and I are a little over them but at least the kids are happy (and fed). So, I guess it’s tacos again tonight.

Otherwise, we could open our doors to Oliver Twist.

At least we know he’ll leave a clean plate at the end of the night.

Cliffo Hit 103.1

www.pakmag.com.au | March 2021 45

Entertainment

Check it Out International Women’s Day Breakfast When: Monday 8 March, 6.30am - 8.30am Where: The Ville Casino More info: whatson.townsville.qld.gov.au This International Women’s Day, come be Inspired by guest speakers Karrie Webb AO (professional golfer) and Suzy Batkovic (Olympian professional basketballer) share their experiences in leadership through their time in women’s sport.

Hot breakfast is included.

Tickets $50.00 / G

Townsville Nth Qld Babies & Kids Expo When: Saturday 6 March, 8.00am - 1.00pm Where: Emmaus Hall, Ryan Catholic College, Kirwan More info: www.nthqldbabiesandkidsmarket.com This is the first specialised market of the year and is sure to be amazing with wonderfully handcrafted clothing and other boutiques with goods for little ones like décor, toys, designer labels, linen and much more. There will also be stalls representing services within the community such as child/baby health, party planners and mum-to-be resources.

G - Entry $2.00

Inspiration Board Workshop When: Saturday 20 March, 10.00am - 12.00pm Where: The HUB Creative Space More info: www.eventbrite.com.au Create a beautiful and inspiring art board to display in your room at this all inclusive workshop. You will create a collage of what makes you feel healthy, happy, safe and cared for.

Use all kinds of materials that are either provided, or from home to craft your perfect Inspiration Board. For girls 11 - 15 years. Cost $26.09 Ocean Film Festival World Tour 2021 When: Wednesday 31 March, 7.00pm Where: Townsville Civic Theatre More info: www.whatson.townsville.qld.gov.au and www.oceanfilmfestivalaustralia.com.au The Ocean Film Festival World Tour showcases more than two hours of sublime footage taken above and below the water’s surface. Each of the festival’s short films conveys a deep respect and appreciation for the world’s oceans and the creatures that call them home.

Tickets $22.50 - $32.00 / G

46 March 2021 | www.pakmag.com.au

North Queensland Cowboys Home Games North Queensland Cowboys v St George Dragons When: Saturday 20 March, Kick-off 6.35pm Where: Queensland Country Bank Stadium More info: www.ticketmaster.com.au and www. queenslandcountrybankstadium.com.au Catch all the action of the Cowboys first home game of the season as they go head to head with the St George Dragons.

With a very competitive history, you don’t want to miss these two teams battling it out on the field. Give your team the home ground advantage by heading along and cheering loudly to get them over the try line and securing their first win at home for the 2021 season. G - Tickets available through ticketmaster North Queensland Cowboys v Gold Coast Titans When: Sunday 28 March, Kick-off 5.15pm Where: Queensland Country Bank Stadium More info: www.ticketmaster.com.au and www. queenslandcountrybankstadium.com.au In the third round of the 2021 season, the NQ Cowboys will host the Titans at Queensland Country Bank Stadium. From 25 games played against one another the Cowboys have dominated with an impressive 16 wins. Help cheer them onto another victory on the 28th. G - Tickets available through ticketmaster

Australian Ninja Games State Qualifier (Kids) When: Friday 26 March, 4.00pm - 6.00pm Where: Ninja Parc Townsville More info: www.eventbrite.com.au Are you a fan of Australian Ninja Warrior?

Love to take on a Ninja obstacle course yourself? The Australian Ninja Games are coming to Townsville! Challenge yourself with exciting obstacles and claim points to earn your place on the state qualifier ladder. With age categories from under 7 all the way up to under 15, there is no excuse to miss out on your time to shine. To find out more about the Australian Ninja Games head to their website www.australianinjagames.com Register at www.eventbrite.com.au cost $29.96

PakMag Easter Eggstravaganza When: Sunday 21 March, 2.00pm - 3.00pm Where: Strand Park Townsville More info: PakMag Townsville www.paktownsville.com.au

Bluey’s Big Play - The Stage Show When: Wednesday 7 April and Thursday 8 April, multiple showtimes Where: Townsville Civic Theatre More info: www.blueylive.com.au

Celebrate Easter with PakMag! There will be an Easter bonnet parade, Mega Easter egg hunt, a visit from the Easter bunny, prizes for the best dressed and much more.

This is a FREE event and there are thousands of Easter eggs to go around, so make sure you don’t miss it!

The Emmy® award-winning children’s television series, Bluey is coming to life and to Townsville!

When Dad feels like a little bit of Sunday arvo time out, Bluey and Bingo have other plans! Join them as they pull out all of the games and ingenuity at their disposal to get Dad off that bean bag. This is Bluey’s first live theatre show, featuring brilliantly created puppets and all the things you love about Bluey! Suitable for all ages, recommended 2 years +.

Babies in arms permitted up to 18 months. 18 months and over must purchase a ticket. Children under 15 years must be accompanied by an adult. Tickets available from www.ticketshop.townsville.qld.gov.au.

Tickets $41.90 - $45.90 + Booking Fee / G

FREE EVENT!

www.pakmag.com.au | March 2021 47

Get Out and About Townsville MONDAY 1 MARCH Junior Blaster Cricket Townsville Runs daily until 27 March Riveryway Oval www.playcricket.com.au 5.00pm / $80.00 / Kids Exhibition: Roland Nancarrow / Maldives Artwork Runs until 28 March Perc Tucker Regional Gallery www.townsville.qld.gov.au/ptrg 10.00am / FREE / G Mental Health Services Art Exhibition - Townsville Hospital and Health Services Runs until 5 March Community Information Centre whatson.townsville.qld.gov.au 9.00am - 4.00pm / FREE / G TUESDAY 2 MARCH Toddler Time with CityLibraries Runs Tuesdays until 30 March Townsville Stadium whatson.townsville.qld.gov.au 9.00am - 9.50am / FREE (bookings required) / G - for carers and their toddlers aged from 24 months Baby Rhyme Time with CityLibraries Runs Tuesdays until 30 March Townsville Stadium whatson.townsville.qld.gov.au 10.30am - 11.20am / FREE (bookings required) / G - for parents and their babies aged 0 to 24 months

9.00am - 9.50am / FREE (bookings required) / G - for parents and their babies aged 0 to 24 months Kidzfit at Genesis Health + Fitness Runs every Wednesday Genesis Health & Fitness, Thuringowa P 4723 1490 3.45pm / $3.00 per child or $25.00 for a 10-class pass / 5 10 years (fully-supervised) THURSDAY 4 MARCH Storytime with CityLibraries Runs Thursdays until 25 March CityLibraries Thuringowa Central whatson.townsville.qld.gov.au 9.00am - 11.30am / FREE (bookings required) / G - for carers and children aged 3 years and over.

Playtime at the Library Every Thursday Hinchinbrook Shire Library www.hinchinbrookway.com.au 10.30am/ FREE (bookings required)/ G (0-5) Mainly Music Runs each Thursday during the School Term St. Peter’s Anglican Church, West End Contact Jennifer 0414 807 179 9.30am / $3.00 (per child) $5.00 (Family) / 0 - Pre-Prep FRIDAY 5 MARCH

Townsville Toy Library Runs Tuesdays and Saturdays until 30 March Townsville Grammar School www.townsvilletoylibrary.org.au 9.30am - 11.00am / FREE / G

Cricket Master Blasters Runs on Fridays until 26 March Riverway Stadium www.playcricket.com.au 6.00pm / $80.00 / Kids aged 7 - 10 years

WEDNESDAY 3 MARCH

SATURDAY 6 MARCH

Toddler Time with CityLibraries Runs Wednesdays until 31 March Townsville Stadium whatson.townsville.qld.gov.au 10.30am - 11.20am / FREE (bookings required) / G - for carers and their toddlers aged from 24 months

Townsville Nth Qld Babies and Kids Expo Emmaus Hall, Ryan Catholic College, Kirwan www.nthqldbabiesand kidsmarket.com 8.00am - 1.00pm / $2.00 Adult entry / G

Baby Rhyme Time with CityLibraries Runs Wednesdays until 31 March Townsville Stadium whatson.townsville.qld.gov.au

The Black Sorrows - Lover I Surrender Tour Dalrymple Hotel, Garbutt www.oztix.com.au 8.00pm / $34.70 / 18 +

Please check with individual businesses before visiting during these uncertain times.

With HIT 103.1’s Cliffo & Gabi

Establishing the Basics - (Yoga) 5 Week Program Runs every Saturday Townsville South State School www.yogaaspirations.com.au 8.00am/ $100.00 (5 weeks) / 15 + Laugh ‘til you Leak Herbert Hotel www.trybooking.com 7.00pm - 10.00pm/ $15.00 / 18 + SUNDAY 7 MARCH Pickleball Townsville Social Plays Runs every Sunday Tennis Townsville, Burke Street Pickleball Townsville 3.00pm / First Time FREE $7.00 / Family Sensational Girls Network Mother Daughter Connection Experience Mercure Townsville Sensational Girls Network 9.00am - 4.00pm / $110.00 $330.00 / 10 + Camera Photography Workshop Jezzine Barracks www.eventbrite.com.au 3.30pm-7.00pm / $96.04 / G MONDAY 8 MARCH International Womens Day Breakfast The Ville Casino whatson.townsville.qld.gov.au 6.30am / $50.00 / G Murky Waters: Responding to Sexual Abuse and Sexual Behaviours in Children Runs until 9 March North Ward Health Campus www.eventbrite.com.au 8.45am, 8 March - 4.30pm, 9 March / FREE / 18+ Easter Take Home Messy Play Pack Dan Gleeson Memorial Gardens www.townsville.qld.gov.au/ libraries 8.30am / FREE / G Move with Joy and Ease Again Mondays and Wednesdays until 31 March Townsville Turf Club www.hulahoopingforhealth. com.au 5.45pm / $10.00 - $25.00 / 18 +

TUESDAY 9 MARCH Viral Runs 9 and 10 March Townsville Civic Theatre whatson.townsville.qld.gov.au 7.00pm (time varies)/ $25.00 $30.00 / PG 13 + WEDNESDAY 10 MARCH Townsville Grammar School North Ward Campus Open Night Townsville Grammar School, North Ward Campus www.tgs.qld.edu.au 3.30pm - 6.00pm / FREE / G THURSDAY 11 MARCH Mentally Healthly Workplaces Workshop Townsville Stadium www. mentallyhealthycitytownsville. com.au 9.00am / FREE (reservations required) / G Inclusive Education: Working Effectively with Your Child’s School Rydges Southbank www.cru.org.au 8.45am - 2.30pm / FREE (Bookings Essential) / Parents Ignatius Park College Open Day Ignatius Park College, Ross River Road, Cranbrook www.ipc.qld.edu.au 3.30pm - 6.00pm / FREE / G FRIDAY 12 MARCH Resilient Mothers Birth Trauma Circle The Healing Home Holistic Therapies www.thehealinghome.com.au 7.00pm / $20.00 / 18 + SATURDAY 13 MARCH Growing Vegetables in the Tropics Carville Villas, Pimlico www.evaerhardt.com 9.00am / $75.00 / G Sensational Girls Network Mother Daughter Retreat Runs until Sunday 14 March Mercure Townsville Sensational Girls Network 9.00am

www.pakmag.com.au | March 2021 49

Get Out and About Townsville SATURDAY 13 MARCH

THURSDAY 18 MARCH

Townsville Grammar Pre-Prep and Prep Open Day Townsville Grammar School, Annandale and North Shore Campuses www.tgs.qld.edu.au 9.00am - 11.00am / FREE / G

Women’s Retreat Evening The Drill Hall Studio www.eventbrite.com.au 6.00pm - 9.30pm / $85.49 – $148.79 / 18 +

SUNDAY 14 MARCH 33 1/3 Celtic Band Pimlico State High School Performing Arts Centre www.townsvillemusic.org.au 2.00pm / $15.00 - $25.00, children 12 years and under FREE with paying adult / G Landscape Photography Workshop Jezzine Barracks www.eventbrite.com.au 3.30pm - 7.00pm / $127.69 / G Obstacle Hell Tamaroo Scout Camp, Bluewater www.obstaclehell.com 6.30am - 3.00pm / $49 .00 $79.00 / 12 + WEDNESDAY 17 MARCH Jersey Boys Runs Wednesday to Saturday 27 March Townsville Civic Theatre www.nqomt.com.au or whatson.townsville.qld.gov.au 7.30pm / $40.00 - $50.00 / 15 +

International Baccalaureate Diploma Info Night Townsville Grammar School, North Ward Campus www.tgs.qld.edu.au 6.00pm / FREE / Years 11 and 12 SATURDAY 20 MARCH Cent Sale Townsville Showgrounds whatson.townsville.qld.gov.au 11.30am - 4.00pm / FREE Entry /G Time Warp Every Saturday and every second Friday until 28 August Stage Door Theatre Resturant, Magnetic Island www.stagedoortheatre.com.au 5.00pm / $89.00 / 15 + NQ Cowboys vs St George Dragons Queensland Country Bank Stadium www.queensland countrybankstadium.com.au 6.35pm / Prices Vary / G Fast Track Talent Showcase Burdekin Theatre www.burdekintheatre.com.au 11.00am and 7.00pm / $10.00 $25.00 / G

Regular Markets

With Triple M’s Pricey

Inspiration Board Workshop The HUB Creative Space www.eventbrite.com.au 10.00am - 12.00pm / $26.09 / 11 + SUNDAY 21 MARCH PakMag Easter Eggstravaganza Strand Park, Townsville PakMag Townsville 2.00pm - 3.00pm / FREE/ Family WEDNESDAY 24 MARCH Free Microchipping Day Animal Care and Adoption Centre, Tompkins Road, Shaw phone 13 48 10 9.00am - 12.00pm / FREE / G Spotty Bear’s Rainbow Show Townsville Stadium www.townsville.qld.gov.au 9.15am / FREE (bookings required) /G FRIDAY 26 MARCH Ninja Parc - State Qualifier Ninja Parc Townsville www.eventbrite.com.au 4.00pm - 6.00pm / $29.96 / G Safety Net Runs until Saturday 27 March Dancenorth www.dancenorth.com.au 2.00pm (Sat Only) and 7.00pm (both dates) / $20.00 - 25.00 / 12 + SUNDAY 28 MARCH NQ Cowboys vs Gold Coast Titans Queensland Country Bank Stadium www.queenslandcountry

Bluewater Twilight Markets

Horseshoe Bay Markets

Mundingburra Markets

Date: 2nd Saturday of the month Time: 4.00pm - 8.00pm Location: Bluewater Community Centre

Date: Every 2nd and last Sunday of the month Time: 9.00am - 2.00pm Location: Horseshoe Bay Foreshore

Date: 3rd Sunday of the month February Markets Cancelled Time: 7.30am - 12.00pm Location: Mundingburra State School

Bushland Beach Markets Date: 1st & 3rd Sunday of the month Time: 8.00am – 12.00pm Location: On the foreshore, end of Mount Low Parkway

Renegade Handmade Markets Date: 2nd Sunday of the month Time: 8.00am - 1.00pm Location: Marian School Hall

50 March 2021 | www.pakmag.com.au

Balgal Beach Markets Date: 1st Saturday of the month Time: 8.00am - 1.00pm Location: Fisherman’s Landing Balgal Beach

Strand Night Markets Date: 1st Friday of the month (runs from Feb to Dec) Time: 5.00pm - 9.30pm Location: Strand Park, North Ward

Willows Rotary Markets Date: Every Sunday Time: 7.30am - 11.30am Location: Willows Shopping Centre Car Park

Cotters Markets Date: Every Sunday Time: 8.00am - 1.00pm Location: Flinders St

bankstadium.com.au 5.15pm / Prices Vary / G Great Aussie Pooch Party Strand Park Ray White Townsville 8.00am - 11.00am / FREE / G WEDNESDAY 31 MARCH Ocean Film Festival World Tour 2021 Townsville Civic Theatre www.whatson.townsville. qld.gov.au and www. oceanfilmfestivalaustralia.com.au 7.00pm / $22.50 - $32.00 / G THURSDAY 1 APRIL Life Festival 2021 Runs until 4 April Townsville Christian College www.lifefestival.net 1 - 4 April / FREE / G WEDNESDAY 7 APRIL Recovery of the Great Barrier Reef Runs until 11 April Magnetic Island www.earthwatch.org.au 4 - 11 April / $795.00 / 18+ School Holiday Camp Runs until 9 April Outer Limits Adventure Centre www.outerlimitsadventure.com.au 9.00am / $299.00 / 10 - 15 years Bluey’s Big Play Runs until 8 April Townsville Civic Theatre www.blueylive.com.au Various Times / $41.90 - $45.90 + Booking Fee / G

Magnetic Island Markets (Horseshoe Bay) Date: Every week on Sunday Time: 9.00am – 2.00pm Location: Foreshore in Horseshoe Bay

Mercer Lane Markets Date: 1st Saturday of the month Time: From 8.30am – 12.00pm Location: Mercer Lane

Conroy Hall Markets Date: 2nd Saturday of the month Time: From 7.30am – 9.30am Location: Conroy Hall

Please check with individual businesses before visiting during these uncertain times.