ISSUE: MAY 2021
126
TOWNSVILLE
80
+
Family-Friendly
EVENTS
FREE
Magic Moments with Your Partner Your Local Childcare and Kindy Guide
CHILD 7 FOCUS
Strategies to Help Your
Harness the Power of Goal Setting
3 Powerful Tips to Mentally Unload
Spoil Mum this
MOTHER’S DAY WITH
DIY Gifts + a Delicious Meal
Welcome 5
The Thing Is with Bree James
6
Goal-Setting with Children
8
STEAM: Art and Creativity
11
Share the Mental Load
15 Couple Time The Importance of Talking, Listening and Having Fun 19 Townsville Prep Fair Get Set For Prep 21 How to Help Your Child Focus 25 All Things Health
Hello and Happy Mother’s Day! Of all the things I have done in life, being a mum has been the most challenging, but also the most rewarding. “Motherhood is messy and challenging and crazy and sleepless and giving and still unbelievably beautiful.” – Rachel Martin I wouldn’t trade it for anything. I hope you remember how incredibly amazing you are and how important you are to the little humans who call you mum. We are often so hard on ourselves, but if we could see ourselves through our kids’ eyes for just a moment, I am sure we would never doubt our value. With such an important job to do, it’s vital to show up not just for your children - but for yourself as well.
29 Understanding Asthma 31 Recipes to Treat Mum 32 Parent’s Puzzle: Sudoku 33 Mini Mag 37 Adult Colouring 38 Mother’s Day Craft 41 Baby’s First Foods 42 Bump, Bub and Beyond 45 Childcare and Kindy Guide 51 The Importance of Choosing the Right Care and Education 53 Raising Girls Who Like Themselves 54 All Things Tweens and Teens
In this edition of PakMag, we talk about the ‘Mental Load’ that women carry and tips on how you can unload for a healthier and happier you. We also have plenty of expert advice on the power of goal setting, how to help your child focus and ways to cultivate couple time with your partner. We also have some fun crafts and recipes for the kids to spoil you this Mother’s Day. Our whole team hopes you have an extra special day thank you for including us on your parenting journey. Happy parenting, happy reading and don’t forget to tell everyone, you read it in PakMag.
Bree
61 What’s On
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.paktownsville.com.au • www.pakmag.com.au • www.m2f.com.au
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families www.pakmag.com.au | May 2021 3
The Thing Is
The Thing Is with Bree James Sometimes I wonder what my life would be like if I didn’t become a parent. I often joke that I had to have kids so that I could make this magazine a success - as I wasn’t a parent when I first started PakMag. Sadly, the tax man doesn’t agree they should be deductible.
could improve; there would be lots to work on – but it’s important to remember that as parents, we are a work in progress too. We aren’t always going to get it right, but if we’re trying our best, we learn and grow as parents along with our children.
You look at the lives of non-parents with a little bit of envy for their peaceful days; being able to pee without being watched; and being able to do whatever they want, when they want - without having to think about who is going to watch the kids. No noise, no negotiating about naps, teeth cleaning or homework, and no one complaining that they suddenly don’t like the favourite food that you just cooked them, or messing up the house you just spent hours cleaning.
It is an honor to raise children, and sometimes with the relentlessness of life - it’s easy to fall into the trap of autopilot mode.
The thing is, parenting is relentless. It is constantly thinking about a zillion things all day long, whilst having a mini version of yourself or your partner challenging you to your core - because they can. It is an endless list of to dos, mental exhaustion, and living in a zombie state of brain fog from the sleepless nights, constant demands and emotional rollercoaster. How kids can go from happy to sad, angry to loving, laughing to loathing - in the space of five minutes is impressive to watch, and oh so hard not to join them at times. As an observer, I have loved analysing parenthood. I think being a parent is the most important job in the entire universe and isn’t valued enough. We are raising the next generation of people for our planet - what job is more important than that? How we raise them, will determine the type of world we end up with - as they will be our future leaders. This scares and excites me, but also reminds me that I have a very important job to do. Sometimes I do it well, but if I had a boss giving me feedback on how I
I can honestly say I am a better person because I became a parent. I am enrolled in the most challenging course I have ever taken. My teacher? - my kids. They have taught me just as much, if not more, than what I am teaching them. They have taught me to let go of control. When you have kids, you soon realise that as much as you try to be in control, you are not… and if you keep trying to be in control it will drive you crazy. Especially when it comes to having a spotless house with everything in its place. They have taught me how selfish I was before becoming a parent. Having kids, you have to be selfless and put their needs before your own. They have taught me that no matter how hard life can get, that you have to keep going - giving up is never an option. My kids remind me to have fun, to be silly, and to love more than I ever thought possible. My kids give my life meaning, and I am so grateful to be their mum.
Bree www.breejames.com www.myvisionbook.com.au
www.pakmag.com.au | May 2021 5
Feature
Goal-Setting with Children STORY Brian Caswell, Dean of Research and Programme Development, MindChamps PreSchool Limited In 1968, Dr Edwin Locke introduced the concept of goal-setting as motivation, showing a significant increase in performance when subjects pursued challenging, but clear and achievable goals accompanied by appropriate feedback. In 1990, he published, with Dr Gary Latham, A Theory of Goal Setting and Task Performance, which presented five principles for improving success. In it, they recommended goals that encompassed:
But children, especially young children, are not great planners. They live in the eternal present, have limited capacity for holding more than a couple of concepts in mind simultaneously and they have short attentionspans (which was true even before the advent of the touch-screen!).
4. Feedback and
Does this mean that we should leave goal-setting for a later age? Some think it does, but even if a child is too young to make – or stick to – a plan, as parents and teachers, we can learn a great deal from the goalsetting principles first developed by Locke and Latham. We can be the goal-setters for them, while still giving them the autonomy and agency they need to make sense of the world.
5. Task Complexity
Clarity
But Locke and Latham were working with adults in a work environment. How does this help us understand the role of goal-setting with children? The key words are ‘clear’, ‘achievable’ and ‘appropriate’.
As humans, we make sense of the world through experience. Every new learning is stored as a concept, and those concepts make it easier to process new experiences through a process of association (this is like that, therefore, what I know about this helps me work out what that means to me) we call this ‘analogous thinking’, and it is an essential building block of intelligence (which is not, as used to be believed, fixed at birth!).
1. Clarity 2. Challenge 3. Commitment
There is no doubt that children respond to challenges. Like adults, they relish the feeling of satisfaction they get from achieving something difficult, especially if it impresses the important people in their lives – their peers, their parents and their teachers.
6 May 2021 | www.pakmag.com.au
Feature
But children are inexperienced. They don’t have a deep reservoir of concepts to draw upon – which is why tasks that an adult may find fundamental, may, for a child, seem incomprehensible.
terms, describes the distance between what a child can do on their own, and what they can accomplish with the support of someone more knowledgeable about the activity.
A focus on clarity means seeing things from the perspective of the child and setting the challenge in terms of what they already know.
This is where our goal-setting for children should sit. The Challenge should excite the child, the level of Task Complexity should stimulate, but should fall within the ZPD so that we are able to subtly assist, without becoming didactic or taking over the learning experience.
Challenge Does this mean that we only give children things they can already do? Of course not – otherwise they would never progress beyond their limited comfort-zone. The goals we set for them in any activity (remember, they learn ‘hands-on’ through play) should stretch them; make demands of them that require them to solve problems and think logically and creatively to achieve the goal. And it should, above everything, engage and excite them. They must want to achieve the goal – only then will they have the Commitment they will need to follow the plan through to a productive conclusion. Psychologist Lev Vygotsky developed the concept of the ‘zone of proximal development’ (ZPD), which, in simple
This is how we measure the appropriateness of our
Feedback:
1. Are we solving the problem/supplying the answer, or are we stimulating the child’s imagination in a direction that we know, will eventually lead (with effort, on their part) to an answer which is meaningful to them – not necessarily the answer we would have come up with, or the one we planned?
2. Are we maintaining a level of fun, engagement and excitement that makes the activity ‘structured play’ rather than a boring ‘learning activity’?
Remember, it is not the destination that is the real goal, but the journey itself. Learning is an idiosyncratic process – no two children make sense of the world the same way, and none of them make sense of it the way the adults in their lives do. The important thing is not that they completely achieve the original ‘goal’ that we may set for them, but rather that they learn something – anything – that makes them more able to face whatever challenge we, or the world, may throw at them next.
Brian Caswell is the Dean of Research and Programme Development at MindChamps PreSchool Limited. He is an internationally-acclaimed, multi-award-winning author, researcher and educator who has dedicated his time to research into the psychology and neuroscience of the learning brain. Over the past 20 years, he has developed ‘brainfriendly’ learning strategies and enrichment programmes for young learners. With a particular interest in early childhood, Brian developed the MindChamps S.M.I.L.E.STM approach to early learning, which is hailed as a breakthrough in preschool curriculum design and used in all Mindchamps PreSchool and Early Learning centres worldwide. To-date, Brain has written over 300 books.
Head to www.pakmag.com.au to tune into episode 95 of the PakMag Parents Podcast, with Brian Caswell joining Bree to discuss more on how you can help your child with their goals.’
www.pakmag.com.au | May 2021 7
STEAM
STEAM: Art and Creativity Benefitting Us All Art in all its forms is enjoyed by the masses, but often not given the credit it deserves in terms of its importance. In schools, the Arts and Humanities subjects aren’t weighted as highly as the Science, English and Maths subjects. A student’s Australian Tertiary Admission Rank (ATAR) is affected by the combination of subjects chosen, depending on how they are scaled that year - regardless of the marks received in the individual subject. It would take a lot to try and unpack the ATAR system, but in general, the way subjects are scaled, not just now, but historically, has influenced how society feels about them. It engrains a belief that the• subjects that fall lower on the scale are ‘easier’ or ‘less important’. But it’s far from the truth. The truth is, ‘creatives’ see the world in a very different way and can benefit all of society by what they bring to it; music, visual art, design, poetry, comedy, a movie or a play. All of which have so much power to generate emotion and make people feel good. Think of a world without those things, or the people that create them in it? It’d be a bit boring right? It is so interwoven in our lives - everyone is a conscious or an unconscious consumer of art daily. It’s important to remind ourselves how valuable those things are to us, and be more conscious about how much it enriches our lives.
www.artbarblog.com
Giant Cardboard Cupcakes What You Need • Cardboard / cardboard box • Oil pastels • Cupcake paper templates – (or colourful paints bottom and top (design your own) or markers) • Pencil • Decorative items • Scissors (pom poms, glitter, • Glue gun (adult stickers etc) supervision required) • Craft glue
“Art makes us think, it stands for something. It illuminates culture and draws us into a conversation with ourselves and with others… Art does not merely reflect or represent the world, but it illuminates the world. It brings us into an encounter with concrete experience. It brings to the fore qualities of life otherwise overlooked, or qualities that other disciplines cannot account for. Art speaks to us in ways nothing else can. But its voice is being stifled.” – Sam McAuliffe (Daily Review, July 2020) If art was ‘easy’, there’d be a lot more artists. More credit needs to be given to these skills and to the artists that create. That doesn’t mean you should ‘leave’ art and creativity to the professionals though… art and creativity are for everyone! There’s so much to gain – just by giving it a go. By simply participating, you can experience many benefits including: • Development of fine and gross motor skills as well as hand-eye coordination, • Learning history, music, art, dance and drama are an expression of the time they were created and by exploring art (past and present), we get a snapshot into the time and place it was created.
www.artbarblog.com
Method Use an A4 sheet of paper to create a template for the base of your cupcake. Use another sheet to create the template for the top. Unfold an old cardboard box. Trace around the paper templates on your cardboard. As it is thick cardboard, you’ll need sturdy scissors and potentially some help from a parent to cut out your designs from the cardboard. Glue the top of the cupcake to the bottom of the cupcake with the glue gun. For safety: depending on the age of the child, parents can prepare the cardboard cupcakes for them to design and skip these steps.
• Risk-free exploration. Children can build confidence in their abilities and learn to be innovative and problem-solvers. Skills, that are essential for success in all areas of life.
Now it’s time to get creative and decorate. Start by colouring the cupcake and base however you would like, and then add whatever decorative craft items you like to finish your artwork with your craft glue.
• As a vehicle for emotion, the arts allow the person creating to work through ideas, issues and express themselves, which in turn supports their mental health.
There really are no rules with how your cupcake is supposed to look. Simply create your own - as unique as you are.
8 May 2021 | www.pakmag.com.au
www.littlepinelearners.com
Flower Threading Boards What You Need • Flowers (from your own garden or bought) • Cardboard • Pencil
• Scissors • Something sharp to create the threading holes
www.littlepinelearners.com
Method Draw your desired threading board shape onto your cardboard. Cut out your shape with your scissors. The next step is for a parent: carefully create the threading holes in the board. The number of holes you will need to create in your threading board will depend on the size of your threading board and your flowers. The example shown used a ceramic clay needle, followed by a sharp pencil to widen the holes. You may want to try a sharp pencil or pen lid to make the holes. Once the holes have been created, it is ready to start threading. Prep your flowers, by cutting off excess stem. Aim for 3cm of stem per flower to make threading easy. Feed (thread) the stems of your flowers through the holes in your board until you fill your design and end up with a beautiful floral arrangement.
Parenting
It’s Time to Share the Mental Load STORY Dr Robyn Miller My favourite part of telling people what I do at The Mental Load Project is about 30 seconds into the explanation. That’s when the expression on (mostly) women’s faces changes from a blank stare to a look of deep comprehension and relief. So, there is an actual term for what they feel and experience every day! I can’t see your face but, if you've not yet heard of the mental load - allow me to give you some illustrations and I bet you’ll be making the same expression. Who remembers birthdays in your household? Who notices the sunscreen is running out? Who remembers that school swimming happens on Tuesdays for Harper and Wednesdays for Jack? Who remembers that this Friday is Harmony Day and finds an orange t-shirt? Who plans vacation care on school holidays? All of these tasks together are the mental load. It’s all the planning, organising, remembering and noticing that happens in addition to any actual physical task. The mental load is invisible. And it is, by and large, carried by women. Even if it is invisible, remembering all this stuff takes a lot of time and brain space! That’s why the women I talk to about the mental load get this look of visceral relief when they understand it’s not just happening to them. There’s a reason why they feel tired and exhausted (even if their toddler has granted them a few hours of uninterrupted sleep!) So, why do women carry the mental load? Over the last generation or two, there have been massive changes in gender roles at home and in the workplace. Women have become much more present in the workplace. Fathers these days are much more likely to cook a
family meal regularly. But, although the physical load of parenting may (sometimes) be more evenly shared, the mental load, by default, continues to fall to women. There’s so much to unpack to achieve mental load equality. It starts in our language. We refer to “Working Mums” but not “Working Dads”. We ask our partners to “help” us with the housework, even though it is as much their house as it is ours! It’s internalised in our expectations. Women are the first ones to be judged (and probably to judge ourselves) if our mother-in-law’s birthday is forgotten or if the house is untidy when guests come over. In fact, Australian data shows that the highest earning women end up taking on even more of the housework to avoid seeming like a “bad” mum (note: this is not a trend seen amongst high earning dads). It’s ingrained in our habits. Women do tend to notice the socks lying on the floor or that the kids’ clothes are getting too tight, more than men. But this is not biological. We’ve just been conditioned to notice these things from when we were little girls - and then the more we notice and fix them, the better we get at noticing all these things. So we’ve ended up here, where women and men may be much more equal in practical parenting and paid employment, but women continue to carry the lion’s share of the mental load. We’re using precious, and finite time, brain space and energy on the mental load while our partners are not. As such, women end up with less mental energy and time to ponder work-related matters. This may not be a bad thing all the time, but solving problems at work creates way more career
www.pakmag.com.au | May 2021 11
Parenting
opportunities than successfully organising swimming lessons for next term. In this way, inequality in the mental load at home actually contributes to the glass ceiling at work.
My Three Biggest Tips to Mentally Unload 1. Do. Do what you can - immediately, rather than waiting. How many times do you think of sending that text message before you actually do? There are lots of “mental load” tasks like that which can be done in less than 60 seconds. Doing them the first time they pop into our head saves mental energy, simply by not having to “remember” them several times before doing them.
2. Drop. Be selective with your finite mental space While it’s satisfying to name the problem, the obvious and more important question is: what can we do about it? I first became hyper aware of mental load inequality when I returned to work post maternity leave. I was heartened to come across countless articles describing my problems with the mental load. But there were so few solutions. The only options I found were to “put up with it” (getting increasingly frustrated and resentful) or “drop the ball” (stop doing stuff and get increasingly frustrated and resentful while the house falls apart).
and energy. Consider what you value most, and on the flipside, what things take up your mental load that aren’t actually important to you anymore?
3. Divide. We need to achieve division of the mental load NOT delegation. This means dividing overall activities with our partners so that one person is responsible for the whole thing rather than just delegating smaller individual bits and pieces. Think; “I will make dinners on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday and you can make dinner on Thursdays and Fridays”; rather than; “Can you cook chicken stir fry on Thursday? I’ll defrost the chicken on Wednesday, and I’ll leave the recipe on the bench.”
This led me to try to find the root cause of the problem. Why do women notice things before their partners? Why do highly capable men rely on their partners to tell them what needs to be done? I realised it was due to generations of social conditioning forming our habits and expectations. Yikes. So, how do we undo this?
These three steps sound pretty simple but following them actually requires us to break and re-form habits that we have probably held for decades. At the Mental Load Project, I run a six-week Share the Mental Load course to teach women exactly how to do this and provide all the support they and their partners need to make the new habits, and mental load equality, stick.
Having more gender equal family policies would help. Although women are likely to carry more of the mental load - even before children, studies have shown that longer paternity leave at a child’s birth increases the involvement of fathers in day-to-day childcare-related tasks during toddlerhood.
It feels pretty good to never organise the dog’s visits to the vet again. It feels even better not to blame myself for any dinner that falls slightly under nutritional standards. It feels amazing to know that my daughter is growing up forming different, more gender equal expectations and habits.
But we don’t have to wait for better parental leave policies and community expectations on mothers and fathers to change before we can redistribute the mental load within our own relationships.
And that is the ultimate goal: that in another generation, our sons and daughters will both be spending equal mental energy on getting promotions at work and remembering to wash the bath towels.
Robyn Miller is an Australian medical doctor working in Northern Australia. Upon returning to work after maternity leave, Robyn, like many women, experienced the struggles of the “mental load”. When she couldn’t find any strategies to effectively “off-load” half of this invisible labour to her partner, Robyn drew upon her own skills and experience in neuroscience and organisational management to develop her own, unique strategy. In 2019, she founded The Mental Load Project to help other women to recognise and rebalance the mental load in their relationships.
Find out more at www.mentalloadproject.com and tune into episode 95 of the PakMag Parents Podcast with Robyn joining Bree to discuss The Mental Load.
12 May 2021 | www.pakmag.com.au
Life, Love and Parenting
Couple Time – The Importance of Talking, Listening and Having Fun STORY Julia Nowland Each week my partner and I go for a walk around the harbour at lunchtime. It’s a way for us to get outside and just catch up, we debrief about work, parenting, life and so forth. This week, out of nowhere he turns to me and says:
reality - he was feeling more and more disconnected from his wife, the words to describe the quality of relationship were like “transactional”, “functional” and “boring”.
“This probably doesn’t come as a shock to you. I’m sure you see this stuff all the time… but, it dawned on me that the reason a lot of affairs start up, particularly in the workplace, is because when people are in a long-term committed relationship, their stories aren’t interesting and exciting anymore. When someone new comes along, it’s the first time they’ve heard the story not the fifth or tenth; so, you suddenly come across as someone interesting and exciting.”
Now, affairs are a rich tapestry of complexity and aren’t based on how often your partner laughs at your same jokes. However, my partner raised an important observation for all relationships.
At first, I wasn’t sure where this conversation was going - seeing as I often tease him about having only a handful of stories that he brings up time and time again. But I was aware that only a week ago one of his teammates had left his wife for a colleague and it had rattled my partner a little. This friend looked like he was living the dream, he had a good job, was married with three kids and bought a beautiful home overlooking the water. However, in
Ouch.
When it comes to relationships - intimacy, connection, fun and passion need to be cultivated; it’s not a case of set and forget. Bring in the stresses of work, kids and sometimes ailing parents and the relationship slips lower and lower on the priority list. The window of intimacy becomes small and rigid. Date nights can either be a last second thought, or routine dinner at the local restaurant. One couple complained to me the thought of having to book babysitters felt too hard. They were tired from the end of the week and felt it was easier to opt for just hanging out at home again and watching TV. No variety, no spark.
www.pakmag.com.au | May 2021 15
Life, Love and Parenting
When it comes to the excitement of new relationships, you’re more likely wanting to explore your partner and their world more. You’ll listen to the stories and respond with shock, awe, and laughter. You listen closely as they tell you tales of their favourite holiday experience in Thailand when they were twenty. You feel cranky when you hear that they were passed over for a new project or promotion. It’s these little moments of turning towards your relationship and your partner that are the breeding ground of trust, compassion, kindness, and generosity.
have a turn booking in a surprise date according to the letter of the alphabet. They’ve been kayaking on Sydney Harbour, hot air ballooning and apple picking.
3. Keep the Variety and Appreciation Going This rolls on from number two, but it is just as important. Studies have shown that what keeps the “spark” alive is variety and appreciation. You’ll be able to keep the variety going if you can keep up with the creativity of the Alphabet Dates. However, the appreciation is also crucial. This can be about the effort your partner has made to organise the date to just who they are in general. Let them know what it is about them that you like / love.
4. Tell Me More
In the beginning stages of your relationship, you found yourselves going out, being social, having shared interests or at least trying something new. Now ask yourself “how often do we as a couple spend time together talking, laughing, having fun and trying something new?” Here are four ways you can cultivate more couple time:
1. Plan Ahead Figure out how often you want to schedule in some awesome couple time. Weekly, monthly - whatever works for your schedules and access to resources like babysitters. Now block that time out in advance; make sure you both agree to prioritise the time you’ve blocked out.
2. Alphabet Dates I’ve stolen this idea from my brother and sister in-law to keep things interesting, different and fun. They each
When it comes to the art of conversation during the couple-time, be present with what your partner is saying and enquire to know more about them. Ask them questions about parts of their lives that they don’t often talk about. What was your favourite movie growing up? Were you a cat or dog family? What’s been your biggest regret and / or achievement? If you want to cultivate more of those magical moments where you truly feel it’s you and your best friend giggling in the pantry, hiding from the kids whilst eating chocolate. Then it’s about taking your relationship off autopilot, turning towards each other and having a look at ways that you can bring back that spark. The sense of joy and fun. Look at your partner again with new eyes. Balance out the transactional and functional part of the relationship with a pinch of irresponsibility - don’t go stealing cars, but maybe play hooky on Wednesday morning and have breakfast together.
Julia Nowland is the founder of Whole Heart Relationships. She specialises in helping parents of young children prioritise their relationship and strengthen their love. www.wholeheartrelationships.com
If you’d like to hear more on this topic with julia, head to www.pakmag.com.au and tune into Episode 93 of the Pakmag Parenting Podcast.
16 May 2021 | www.pakmag.com.au
Advertorial
Townsville Prep Fair Get Set 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. We will also hear from Prep teachers about the best ways to prepare children for the transition into the classroom, and from a School Psychologist about some common issues such as separation anxiety.” The Prep Fair is an inaugural event that the School hopes will grow from year to year and attract more service providers and presenters. “We are interested to hear from parents about topics and services that they would like to learn more about at an event such as this,” said Mr Kelly. The Prep Fair is open to all parents interested in finding out more about preparing for the Prep year. There is no cost to attend and the event will include entertainment and activities for the children.
Townsville Grammar School’s Prep Fair is happening Saturday, 29 May. 9.00am – 11.00am at their Annandale Campus. Find out more: www.tgs.qld.edu.au
www.pakmag.com.au | May 2021 19
Education
How to Help Your Child Focus STORY Alexandra Eidens – Founder, Big Life Journal Daydreaming, doodling, disrupting, and other distractions are common for children of all ages. Still, it’s natural for parents to worry that difficulty focusing may negatively impact a child’s learning, retention, and academic achievement. If you’re concerned about your child’s ability to focus, remember that this is a normal area of difficulty for young children. At the same time, you can help your child take steps toward improvement. Here are some great tools and strategies to help your child master the art of concentration!
Why Do Kids Struggle with Concentration? Young children have much shorter attention spans than adults. Paying attention is an executive functioning skill, part of a set of mental skills that continue developing into the mid-20s. Children and teens develop their executive functioning skills at varying rates, generally with no cause for concern. Additionally, children are naturally curious and have high energy levels. They want to explore and have fun. When this isn’t the case, children easily grow bored and shift their attention elsewhere. Adults, meanwhile, have the ability to power through a task even when it’s unenjoyable. So, difficulty paying attention is normal for children. But if your child seems to struggle more than their peers, you may want to consider underlying causes like: • Lack of quality sleep • A poor routine • Too much screen time, especially before bed • Need for a more nutritious diet • Anxiety associated with learning and/or school • Mismatched learning style or lack of challenge
Seven Tips to Help Your Child Focus In many cases, children can improve their ability to focus on a task with a few simple adjustments. Try the strategies below to enhance your child’s concentration.
1. Break Tasks into Smaller Pieces Sometimes, a task with many steps feels too overwhelming. Children may not know where to begin, or they may feel so intimidated by the task that they give up. It’s extremely helpful to break big tasks into smaller pieces. Give children only one or two steps to complete at a time. Not only does this make the task easier to tackle, but it will also build your child’s confidence as they successfully complete each piece. Of course, you can’t control how tasks are delivered in your child’s classroom. Practice breaking tasks into smaller pieces at home, and encourage your child to apply the strategy at school too. You can teach them simple tricks, like using a sheet of paper to cover every question on an assignment except the first one, then sliding the paper down as they progress through the task.
2. Make Lists Think about the tools that help you stay focused on your daily tasks. Perhaps you use a calendar, sticky notes, or a checklist. These strategies are also helpful to children who struggle with attention. Experiment with different organisational tools to determine what works for your child. Younger children can use visual checklists, with images of the tasks they need to complete.
• Worries over problems or recent changes at home
3. Organise a Dedicated Workspace
Start by trying the concentration-boosting tips below. Then, consider and address any potential underlying causes. If your child still has significant problems with a focus that impacts their learning, you may want to consult a healthcare professional to look into possible learning difficulties. If a learning difficulty is diagnosed, you’ll find there are plenty of supports to help your child succeed in the classroom.
Consistently completing schoolwork or homework in the same space creates structure, which feels predictable and safe for children. At home, help your child choose a dedicated workspace. Ensure that the space is well-lit, clean, and stocked with the materials your child needs. This prevents your child’s focus from being interrupted by getting up to search for a pencil, paper, or other supplies.
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Education
Remove clutter and minimise visual distractions. Make the space comfortable and calming with a supportive chair, cheerful colours, and even a moodboosting air freshener. Lemon, jasmine, and lavender are productivity and mood enhancers, cinnamon is said to sharpen the mind, and citrus boosts energy. Again, you can’t control your child’s environment at school. But you can encourage them to keep their desk clean and organised. And, as your child has positive and successful learning experiences at home, they’ll develop confidence and good habits that travel with them to school.
4. Create Manageable Routines Routines are another way to incorporate structure and safety, which ultimately enhances your child’s ability to accomplish tasks. Create a routine around important times of the day such as waking up and getting ready for school, eating meals, doing homework, and going to sleep. Include physical activity, time for connecting as a family, and limited interactions with screens. It’s important that you’re able to be consistent with your routine, so create something that’s manageable and practical for your family. Stabilising and healthy routines at home provide a firm foundation for optimal learning anywhere. Additionally, routines encourage other executive functioning skills like prioritisation and time management.
5. Take Brain Breaks Sometimes, children who have trouble focusing simply need more breaks. Learn and study in smaller, more productive blocks broken up by rejuvenating brain breaks. Brain breaks only need to last for a few minutes, and they should help restore your child’s energy and focus. At school, brain breaks are likely incorporated into your child’s day through lunch breaks, physical education, or activities like art class. At home, you can take brain breaks when your child’s focus wanders during homework, chores, or other tasks. Ideas for brain breaks include: • Yoga stretches • Jumping or running in place • Making silly faces • Telling jokes • Dancing to a favourite song • Drawing or colouring in • Tossing a ball • Mindfulness exercises, such as deep breathing and visualisation
Taking a brain break is like pressing a reset button. Your child will return to their task feeling re-energised and ready to focus. Just like breaks at work they actually enhance productivity. Brain breaks are a time saver and not a time-waster.
6. Play Memory Games Memory games are a fun way to work on improving your child’s concentration. Memory matching cards and games like Concentration can help. Even simple activities that require focus, like Simon Says and RedLight-Green-Light, can teach children to pay attention. Similarly, jigsaw puzzles, tongue twisters, and picture puzzles (e.g., “Spot three differences between these two images”) help children fine-tune their ability to concentrate for longer periods of time.
7. Build Your Child’s Confidence You may wonder what confidence has to do with concentration. In some cases, children don’t focus or make an effort in school because they don’t believe in their abilities. Some of the strategies above will help boost your child’s confidence by setting them up for successful, positive learning experiences. Likewise, find your child’s talents and areas of excellence, then create opportunities for success. Celebrate and encourage them for effort, perseverance, and creativity too not just successful outcomes. Other ways to increase your child’s confidence include: • Modelling and practicing positive self-talk • Joining their play and letting them lead • Asking for their advice or opinion • Giving them age-appropriate ways to contribute around the house • Offering unconditional love and acceptance • Teaching social skills, including role playing social scenarios that your child finds difficult or uncomfortable Taking steps to increase your child’s self-esteem and social skills can help them feel more comfortable at school, which in turn can motivate them to focus and learn. It’s also helpful to work with your child on managing their feelings, as unregulated emotions can also contribute to trouble concentrating in the classroom. Incorporate these simple strategies into your child’s daily life, and you’re likely to see their powers of concentration soar.
Alexandra Eidens is the founder of Big Life Journal, a growth mindset company for children and teens. Big Life Journal creates practical tools to help parents and teachers integrate growth mindset into their kids’ everyday lives. Their guided journals are approved by psychologists and top parenting experts (like Dr. Shefali Tsabari and Dr. Tina Bryson) and now used by over 500,000 children worldwide. When not creating journals, Alexandra is reading the latest research on brain science and the mind-body connection.
22 May 2021 | www.pakmag.com.au
Health
All Things Health Jana Gorski Naturopath Calanna Whole Health Pharmacy Dear Jana, My prebiotic is making me bloated. What do I do? If you get bloated from pre-biotic fibre, the most common cause is an overgrowth of otherwise beneficial bacteria in the wrong place. Our microbiome should be a symbiotic relationship – we feed our bacteria what they need to keep multiplying (i.e. fibre) and in return, they supply us with vitamins and nutrients that fuel our gut cells, the by-product being gas. Too much gas in your upper digestive tract and you’ll feel bloated. There are natural ways to correct this, under the guidance of an experienced Naturopath. Calanna Whole Health Pharmacy www.calannapharmacy.com.au
Organ and Tissue Donation Ever considered the option of donating your organs after you pass away? More and more Australians today are choosing to become a registered organ and tissue donor. It has the potential to save and completely transform someone’s life, with around 1650 people currently on a waitlist for a lifechanging transplant, and hundreds more on dialysis. Sadly, many pass away waiting for a transplant.
The simple fact is that organ and tissue donors save lives. Registering as a donor means that one day you can change the lives of 10 or more people. You can donate regardless of gender, ethnicity or age, and even people over the age of 80 or with chronic health conditions have successfully donated their organs. Over 70 percent of Australians are willing to be donors. The Australian Organ Donor Register is where you can register your donation decision for after your death, including which organs and tissue you would like to donate. Be sure to discuss this with your family, as they will give the final confirmation. You can change your mind at any time. Head on over to www.donatelife.gov.au
Supporting Your Immunity with Echinacea When it comes to Echinacea, the plant species used, part of the plant used and the quality of the preparation is really important. That’s why you want to leave it to a trained Naturopath or Herbalist to carefully select an Echinacea preparation that can support your immunity. Mario’s Range of immune tonics contain the highest quality of Echinacea with standardised alkylamides. These constituents activate macrophages and increase the number and activity of natural killer cells – the immune system’s first responders – helping your body to overcome viral infection swiftly and effectively which may shorten the severity and duration of colds and flu. Ask in store at your nearest Calanna Whole Health Pharmacy about which Mario’s Range Tonic is best for you.
Consult your local health practitioner, doctor or pharmacist for advice on these topics first to ensure the best health outcomes.
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Health
All Things Health Health Benefits of Chickpeas
Facts about The Flu
Chickpeas, part of the legume family, have a nutty texture which pairs well with other ingredients. Not only are they delicious, they’re a rich source of vitamins, inexpensive and are surprisingly easy to incorporate into your diet.
Influenza is a highly contagious infection of the nose, throat and lungs.
Appetite – Chickpeas may help keep your appetite under control because of the protein and fibre they contain. Because of their high protein content, they’re a great option for those who don’t eat animal products. May help control weight – Chickpeas have a fairly low-calorie density, and the protein and fibre in chickpeas may promote healthy weight management. May benefit digestion – Since they’re full of fibre, chickpeas may aid your digestive health. May support blood sugar control – They have a low glycemic index (GI), a marker of how rapidly your blood sugar rises after eating. Chickpeas are often sold in canned and dry varieties, and are super easy and delicious when added to salads, soups, veggie burgers, wraps or curries. They’re also the main ingredient in hummus which is delicious eaten with veggies or crackers, or you can simply roast them in the oven for a crunchy snack.
If you have it, you should keep at least one metre between yourself and others. Every year, there are 1 billion flu cases worldwide. 3 to 5 million of those result in severe illness. In Australia, 18,000 people are hospitalised each year because of it. Symptoms of the flu include a rapid onset of fever, muscle aches, running nose, sore throat and cough, headaches and sneezing. The flu vaccine and hand washing are the two best things you can do to avoid getting the flu, along with wiping over frequently touched surfaces and covering your mouth when sneezing or coughing.
26 May 2021 | www.pakmag.com.au
Consult your local health practitioner, doctor or pharmacist for advice on these topics first to ensure the best health outcomes.
Advertorial
Understanding Asthma STORY Dr Ramaa Puvvadi Asthma is a common medical condition caused by narrowing of the airways (breathing passages). The narrowing of the airways occurs due to airway swelling, increased mucous production and tightening of the muscles around the airways. Patients with asthma usually have cough, wheezing and breathing difficulties and sometimes can have life threatening episodes of breathlessness and need hospital admission. These symptoms can cause exercise limitation and disrupt sleep. Asthma can run in families and is commonly associated with hayfever and / or eczema. Asthma symptoms can be triggered by number of factors such as viral infections (cold), exercise, change in weather, smoke inhalation, house dust mites, and occasionally pets. It is important to recognise that cigarette smoke from parents / carers clothes can also trigger asthma symptoms. It is important to understand your child’s asthma, their medications and recognise signs of deterioration and understand how to manage flare ups (asthma attacks). Relievers provide immediate relief from symptoms of asthma by opening the airways. The most common reliever medication is salbutamol, commonly known as Ventolin. During an episode of asthma, children will need their reliever to be taken frequently as per the asthma action plan provided. Preventers help prevent future episodes of asthma, improve exercise tolerance and reduced night-time
Illustration courtesy of Ophea Asthma Friendly Website (CA)
symptoms. However not all children need preventer medications. Commonly used preventors are inhaled steroids such as Flixotide, Seretide or Symbicort. Montelukast (Singulair) is a preventer in tablet form. The correct technique for taking preventors / relievers and regular use are the key to good control of asthma. If unclear ask your doctor, nurse or pharmacist to demonstrate the correct technique for use of puffers. Your child may also have prescription for oral prednisolone (a type of steroid). Steroids have the ability to reduce inflammation and thereby reduce airway swelling, mucous production and improve response to Ventolin. Please carry your child’s asthma action plan and their medications (relievers, preventors and prednisolone if applicable) on any holidays including camping. It is important to remember than not all cough or wheeze is asthma related, and it is important to take your child to a GP if they have trouble with coughing or wheezing or have breathing difficulties. The diagnosis of asthma can be relatively straightforward with classic symptoms, triggers, and respond well to therapy or can be challenging with less common presentations. Diagnosis of asthma is particularly challenging in toddlers as clinical manifestations can be atypical or overlap with those of other diseases such as airway, lung abnormalities, bacterial infections or foreign body inhalations. Seek specialist advice when your child’s asthma is not well controlled or you are unsure about their diagnosis.
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Food
Recipes to Treat Mum
Spaghetti Bolognese
Braided Raspberry Danish
Ingredients
Ingredients
Olive oil 1 onion (finely diced) 2 cloves of garlic (minced) 100g diced bacon 1 carrot (diced) 1 celery stalk (diced) 500g beef mince 2 beef stock cubes 1 cup of boiling water 2 cans of diced tomatoes
2 tsp white sugar 2 tsp Worcestershire sauce 1 ½ tbsp tomato paste 2 dried bay leaves and sprigs of thyme Salt and Pepper to taste Spaghetti noodles Shredded Parmesan cheese Parsley (garnish)
Method Heat 1 – 2 tbsp of olive oil in a large pot or electric frypan (medium - high heat). Place carrot, celery, onion, garlic and bacon in the pan and lightly brown for approximately 3 minutes. Add beef and turn your heat up to high. Brown your beef, stirring and breaking it up as you go. Create beef stock with stock cubes. It is usually 1 stock cube per cup of water, but use 2 stock cubes and 1 cup of water. There is a lot of moisture in this dish and we want flavour, without being too watery. Add to pan. Add all other ingredients, except the noodles, salt and pepper and parmesan cheese. Stir well, bringing Bolognese to a simmer. Turn the heat down to medium and let the mix bubble gently, stirring occasionally for 20 – 30 minutes. Add water (a little bit at a time) if the sauce starts getting too thick. Cook your spaghetti as per packet instructions. Once Bolognese is ready, serve over or toss through your pasta, add salt and pepper and Parmesan cheese to taste. Sprinkle with some parsley to finish.
1 Puff pastry sheet 50g cream cheese 2 tbsp Ricotta cheese 2 tbsp sugar ½ tsp lemon juice
¼ cup raspberry jam 1 x egg, mixed with 1 tbsp of water for egg wash ½ tbsp milk ¼ cup icing sugar
Method Place cream cheese, ricotta, sugar, and lemon juice in a bowl and blend with a handheld mixer. Place thawed puff pastry onto a sheet of baking paper you’ve sprinkled in flour. You are going to want to picture your sheet of puff pastry in thirds. You will use the two outer sections to cut into strips and braid. The middle will need to stay intact and provide the base for your filling. Cut both top corners off your pastry sheet. Cut strips at an angle down each side of the pastry. The strips should be about 1 ½ - 2 cm wide. There will be another triangle of pastry to remove at the bottom, once you have cut all of the strips. Spread out the cheese filling evenly on the middle puff pastry sheet. Then add a layer of jam on top. Braid by crossing the strips over each other – alternating the sides. Don’t forget to pinch the strip down once you have pulled it over to the other side. Before you get to the last strips, fold the bottom middle flap up, so it can be secured under them. Brush your danish with the egg wash. Bake at 200°C for 20 minutes or until it goes a nice golden brown. Once your danish is cooled, combine your milk and icing sugar to make a glaze and drizzle over the top. You can serve with fresh raspberries if you like.
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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.
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32 May 2021 | www.pakmag.com.au
Pull-out kids activity mag!
Where does each slide lead?
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Cross -word
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6 a Matching Game 1 b 2
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Which path leads this hungry pup to his bone?
Use the grid to draw the dog, then colour them in!
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Colour me in!
Connect the dots
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Colour by numbers
WIN a Set of Australian Animal Alphabet Flashcards Worth $32.95 An A-Z of unusual and vulnerable species. If our children don’t know the animals exist, why will they want to save them? They are to be used as a tool for children and the grown-ups who nurture them. The information on the reverse is for adults to use and instruct where appropriate. These cards are designed to grow with your little one – as they learn about their own world in more detail, they will learn more about the animal one. www.fabriculture.com.au Visit www.pakmag.com.au/win for your chance to win! Competition closes 31/05/2021. No need to submit answers to enter.
Relax and Unwind: Adult Colouring
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www.pakmag.com.au | May 2021 37
Craft
Mother’s Day Craft for Kids
www.kalenalangford.com
Hand-Print Flowers www.prettylifegirls.com
What You Need • Coloured paper or cardboard • Pencil • Scissors
Bean Mosaic Art What You Need
www.kalenalangford.com
• Popsicle sticks • Green paint • Paintbrush • Craft glue
• Dried beans (eg. black eyed peas, kidney beans, corn kernels) • Craft glue • Acrylic paint
• Paintbrushes • Paper plates • Pen or pencil
www.prettylifegirls.com
Method Paint your popsicle sticks using the green paint and paint brush. They will be the stems of your flowers. Set aside to dry. Place your hand on the sheet of paper or cardboard you are going to use as the flower. Spread out your fingers and trace around your hand with the pencil. Repeat this on the same sheet or different coloured sheets of paper to create your flowers for the bouquet. If there are multiple children in the family, get all the children to trace their hands and make a collective bunch from all of the kids. To create your leaves, draw a leaf template, cut it out and trace around it multiple times on the green paper. Cut all of your leaves out. Glue your flowers and leaves to the stems (popsicle sticks). Once the glue has dried you can place your flowers in a vase you have decorated (old jar) or wrap them in paper (as shown).
38 May 2021 | www.pakmag.com.au
Method Take your paper plate and using your pencil or pen, draw out a design you would like to make. The creation process will happen in stages, as the glue will dry if you put it all on there at once. Choose a section of your design to start with and fill it using the craft glue. Choose the bean or kernel you want to fill the glued section with and arrange them as you would like. Let each section dry completely, before you move onto the next. It is good to have another plate design you are working on at the same time so you can go back and forth between them. Once the glue is dry, paint the beans in the colour of your choice. Apply a second coat if you feel it needs it. Repeat all the steps above until your design is complete.
www.rhythmsofplay.com
www.simpleeverydaymom.com
Craft
Hand-Print Cactus Card What You Need
What You Need • Artist paper • Fine tip marker pen • Non-toxic ink pad • Large clear glass stones • (4 - 5 cm wide) often called ‘cabochons’
• Scissors • Clear drying glue (we like Mod Podge) • Foam brush • Ceramic magnets (2 ½ - 3 cm wide)
• Cardboard (green, pink, dark pink) • Craft glue • Fine black marker
• Pencil • Flower stickers or other flower decorations
www.simpleeverydaymom.com
Fingerprint Glass Magnets
www.rhythmsofplay.com
Method Method Using your ink pads and artists paper, help your child create a finger or thumbprint design. You can use a single fingerprint or multiple fingerprints to create an animal, heart or a flower (like you see pictured). Add the details to your design with your fine tip marker. To help keep your design to the size of your glass stone that you’ll be gluing it to, trace around your stones with pencil on the paper first. You child can use the space traced, to work in. Cut out your design. Once your design is dry, glue it to the back of the glass stone by placing a drop of Mod Podge in the middle back of the stone and then pressing the stone onto your paper design. You are aiming for the glue to go all the way to the edges. Wipe away excess glue with a damp cloth. Allow to dry overnight. The next day, paint over the back of the paper design with your foam brush and Mod Podge to seal it. Place a magnet on the back. Allow to dry overnight before use.
To make your card, simply fold your green carboard in half. Place your child’s left hand on the card, with the pinky lined up along the fold line. Trace around your child’s hand. Cut the handprint out, leaving the left side connected along the fold line. With your black marker pen, draw spines on the cactus, so it looks prickly. Create the pot for the cactus by drawing a half oval shape. It needs to be slightly wider than your cactus. Cut the shape out. Create the water tray for your pot, by cutting out a small rounded bowl- shaped sliver on the dark pink paper, as seen in the image. Glue the ‘water tray’ to the bottom of the ‘pot’, then glue the ‘pot’ to the bottom of your cactus. The ‘pot’ is glued on top of the cactus. Attach your flower stickers or other flower decorations over the cactus, like you see pictured. Once the card is dried, write a special Mother’s Day message to your Mum.
www.pakmag.com.au | May 2021 39
Bump, Bub and Beyond
Baby’s First Foods Story Sara Williams Around the age of six months your baby will start to need more nutrients than milk can provide. You may start to notice your baby reaching for food and opening and closing their mouth when you’re eating, or when you offer them a spoon – these are signs your baby is ready to discover a whole new world of solid foods. Other signs include your baby’s ability to sit upright when supported and demonstrating good head and neck control.
When your baby is relaxed, usually after their breast milk or formula, start with only a couple of spoonfuls once or twice a day. Try a single food for about three days before moving onto something new in case any allergies arise. Although the food may seem bland to you, each food is an entirely new experience to baby. It is important to expose them to a range of healthy foods with different flavours and textures to establish a good foundation for future eating.
When you start to offer new foods to your baby, things will get a little messy. From investigating new food with their fingers, to throwing it on the floor when they’re no longer interested and of course the change in their nappies. But the delighted – or disgusted, expression on their faces makes it all worth it.
Foods to Avoid
Once you have identified your baby’s food interest and they’re older than four months, here are a few first foods recommended to provide key nutrition;
• Sugary foods including honey
• Well-cooked and pureed meat, fish, poultry or cooked tofu and legumes • Cooked and pureed sweet potato, pumpkin and broccoli • Mashed banana, avocado, pear and apple • Plain unsweetened yoghurt and well-cooked egg
• Unpasteurised foods • Smoked and cured meats • Fish with high levels of mercury • Refined grains • Cow's milk • Fruit juice Always supervise your baby during feeding time to ensure their safety. If your baby has developed a rash, contact your GP as they may have a food allergy. Call 000 immediately if your baby is vomiting, has diarrhoea, face swelling or difficulty breathing after eating.
Tip: Purees are a Parent’s Life-Saver
You can cook a large batch, freeze it into ice-cube trays and they’re ready to prepare whenever you need. As your baby develops chewing and motor skills, they are able to manage soft pieces of fruit and finger foods. If you are spooning puree directly from the jar, this can transfer bacteria from your baby’s mouth to the food. Always serve what you need into a separate container.
www.pakmag.com.au | May 2021 41
Bump, Bub and Beyond
Bump, Bub and Beyond Featured products, reviews and prizes. Visit www.pakmag.com.au/win for your chance to win!
Cloth Nappy Trial Pack $55.00 - www.smartypantsnappies.com.au Smarty Pants are making cloth nappies easy. Made with bamboo, their modern cloth nappies are eco friendly, super absorbent, quick to wash and super soft on your baby’s skin. With button snaps, the nappies adjust to fit and one size fits all. Their trial pack includes everything you need to start saving time, money and the planet.
Smart Sock 3 $479.99 - www.owletcare.com.au The Smart Sock is the first baby monitor to track your baby’s oxygen level and heart rate - the best indication of baby’s health - while they sleep. If your baby’s readings leave preset “safe” zones, you’ll receive a notification that lets you know your baby really needs you. Now you can feel more confident, more freedom and more peace of mind knowing that Owlet is helping you to know your baby is okay.
VTech Starlight Sounds Polar Bear $49.95 - www.target.com.au Sweet dreams are ahead with the Starlight Sounds Polar Bear. This cute polar bear projects a soothing starry night sky onto the ceiling in four different colours to the sounds of peaceful tunes, nursery rhymes, nature sounds and lullabies. Colourful rhythmic light effects enhance visual awareness, while the comforting sounds and songs help soothe your baby to sleep. Sleep tight, little one!
42 May 2021 | www.pakmag.com.au
Bump, Bub and Beyond
Improving Toddler Behaviour STORY Mary MacKillop Childcare Everyone talks about the ‘terrible two’s’ and the behavioural issues and tantrums that come with it. But there are strategies to navigating this difficult time to make it easier on you and your toddler. Try to put yourself in their shoes. They are growing up and becoming more independent, but their little developing bodies still have limitations with movement and verbal expression. This can be frustrating for them.
safe. You can also help them keep the rules by child-proofing your home – it eliminates temptations and danger. When it comes to tantrums, firstly, let’s acknowledge - they are going to happen. But how bad they are, how long they last and how often they happen can be assisted by ensuring they understand what you are asking of them. Also consider if you are you asking too much of them. If they don’t understand or can’t do what you are asking, it sets them up for failure and can lead to misbehaviour. Remember children are more likely to act out when they are tired, hungry, sick or unfamiliar with their setting. Address the root cause of the behaviour problem or the ‘trigger’. There is a reason they are acting out, find it. Remember to criticise the behaviour NOT the child.
The Importance of Self-Care
Show love and praise. Ensure you point out when they are doing something good. They want your approval and love. This is a strong motivator for them to follow the rules. Be consistent and deliver. Don’t overwhelm them with too many rules at once. Start with the rules that focus on their safety and add others over time. By pointing out the ‘why’ to the rule, they’ll also understand that you are asking them to do something to keep them
Self-care is not selfish. It’s also not a luxury, it’s an essential part of being a good mother. The more we fill up our own bucket, the more we have to give to those we love. It’s important to remember that you are not only a mother you are a person with wants and needs as well. So, don’t forget to participate in activities that help you feel happy, balanced and fulfilled. You spend so much of your time making sure your children have all of those things, don’t forget you need them too. By doing them, you also show your children by example these things matter, which will in turn help them set healthy habits for their own lives.
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Childcare and Kindy Guide
Childcare and Kindy Guide The Cathedral School Early Learning Centre The Cathedral School’s Early Learning Centre fosters and supports the personal development of each child. Children are provided with a safe, inclusive, Christian environment - ideal for growing, exploring and expanding young minds. The daily program includes outdoor and indoor play, individual and group experiences, rest time, and both teacher-directed and child-initiated experiences for a well-rounded, fulfilling day of learning and wonder. The Centre is open from 7.00am to 6.00pm for babies from 6 weeks old. A 154 Ross River Rd, Mundingburra P 4722 2000 E elc@cathedral.qld.edu.au www.cathedral.qld.edu.au
Townsville Grammar Pre-Prep The Pre-Prep program is the first possible entry point to accessing a Grammar education, and the beginning of a great love for discovery and learning. Delivered at the Early Education Centres at Townsville Grammar School’s Annandale and North Shore Campuses, the Pre-Prep program provides a wonderful foundation year for children to transition into Prep. A Annandale Campus P 4412 4858 A North Shore Campus P 4412 6601 E (both) cyndi.friend@tgs.qld.edu.au www.tgs.qld.edu.au
to make sure they have the best start to their learning journey and eventual transition to school. Teachers, assistants, counsellors, literacy and numeracy advisors as well as speech pathologists all work together to meet the learning needs of each child. A Kirwan, Charter Towers, Deeragun, Shaw, Proserpine, Burdell, Mount Isa, North Ward, Palm Island. P 4726 3299 Townsville Diocesan Office E childcare@mmcnq.catholic.edu.au www.mmcnq.catholic.edu.au
St Mary MacKillop Early Learning Centres All families are welcome to apply for enrolment at the centres, where the education program is delivered in a Catholic environment that values the spirituality of each child. Children receive a quality, professional education program and a loving, safe environment is provided so that children can grow at their own pace. The kindergartens have a strong philosophy of working in partnership with parents, families and carers. They believe that all children are unique and develop at their own level. A Kirwan, Mundingburra, Rasmussen, Ingham, Palm Island, Mount Isa www.earlylearning.tsv.catholic.edu.au
Lady Gowrie Kennedy Place Child Centre
Mary MacKillop Childcare NQ
High quality and affordable early childhood services are provided from Monday to Friday 7.30am – 5.45pm. The vision of Lady Gowrie is for children to thrive in enriched and nurturing learning environments. Children learn through play and their knowledge and skills are expanded in the safe, stimulating environment.
The Catholic Kindergartens are caring learning environments where the potential of each child is met through discovery and real-life engagements. Children are given ownership of their learning, being nurtured
A 23 Kennedy Street, North Ward 4810 P 4771 3839 E kennedyplace@ladygowrie.com.au www.gowrieqld.com.au
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Childcare and Kindy Guide
My Little Feet Childcare My Little Feet offers a range of exciting features including an outdoor playground, iPad technology, and regular excursions. Children enjoy learning through playing with other kids, gardening, crafting, and many more fun activities. Educators are committed to providing an environment where children are challenged and encouraged to grow from 6.00am - 6.00pm. A 93 Bayswater Rd, Pimlico P 4721 6833 E pimlico@mylittlefeet.com.au A 2 - 4 Leopold St, Aitkenvale P 4725 5322 E aitkenvale@mylittlefeet.com.au A 7 Holyoak Avenue, Oonoonba P 4426 1804 E idalia@mylittlefeet.com.au www.mylittlefeet.com.au
Riverview Play Centre Riverview Play Centre is a not for profit centre where families, childcare, and education go hand in hand. Children aged 0 – 5 years are given the opportunity to explore the world around them and learn important life skills along the way. Half day sessions, afternoon sessions and full day sessions are available, with the opening hours being 7.30 - 5.30pm. A 225 Bamford Lane, Kirwan P 4773 5474 E riverviewplaycentre@bigpond.com www.riverviewplaycentre.wixsite.com/preschool
Little Zebra Childcare and Kindergarten The rooms of Little Zebra capture a child’s wonder and curiosity and encourages them to discover and learn through playing and exploring. Families are offered nutritious meals prepared in the kitchens, extracurricular activities, free barista coffee and a breakfast for all parents. All centres are open from 6:30am to 6:30pm on weekdays. A Mount Lousia, Condon, Early Education Jensen, Allambie Lane P 1300 001 154 Little Zebra Childcare and Kindergarten www.littlezebra.com.au
Milestones Early Learning The Lakes This centre is homely and cosy to help your child to feel comfortable in their new environment - where play-based learning is utilised to develop children’s skills. Baby day care, toddler child care, preschool and vacation care are all available. Lifelong Learning Program educators are committed to instilling a love for learning that leads to resilience and growth. The centre is open from 6.00am – 6.00pm weekdays.
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A 5 - 7 Martinez Avenue, West End P 4728 6799 E thelakes@milestones.com.au www.thelakes.milestones.com.au
World of Learning Centres World of Learning Centres put focus on educating future generations and preparing them for school and beyond with a warm, welcoming, and age-appropriate environment - ensuring children can learn and play in a fun, caring setting. Programs are delivered by fully qualified teachers and there is also a focus on socialemotional development. Children aged 6 weeks to 6 years are welcome between 6.00am – 6.00pm weekdays. A Thuringowa World of Learning, 412 – 414 Charles St, Kirwan P 4773 7155 E thuringowa@worldoflearning.com.au A Lilliput World of Learning, 61 McLean Street, Gulliver P 4775 5832 E lilliput@worldoflearning.com.au World of Learning www.worldoflearning.com.au
Miniversity Miniversity has a program based on the fact that children learn best by ‘doing’ and exploring their world by using all their senses. Play is encouraged where children learn to ask questions and work out their own answers. Children are encouraged to realise their personal best and get a sense of belonging in society. There are four separate rooms which each have a combination of educators. Children are separated into groups of infants from 6 weeks old, toddlers, kindy and pre-school up to 6 years old, and the centre is open from 7.00am – 6.00pm weekdays. A 36 Ross River Rd, Mundingburra P 4728 9299 E info@miniversity.com.au Miniversity www.miniversity.com.au
Annandale Christian College Kindergarten The Kindy is located adjacent to Annandale Christian College and is considered an integral part of the college. The program is flexible to support the needs and interests of the children, and this facilitates a smooth transition into Prep. The program runs for five days per fortnight and is planned through child interests and teaching goals. Children experiment and develop social skills, imagination, creativity and much more. A 104 - 156 Yolanda Dr, Annandale P 4725 2082 E enquiries@acc.qld.edu.au Annandale Christian College www.acc.qld.edu.au
Childcare and Kindy Guide
Community Kids Heatley
C&K Kirwan Community Kindergarten
There is so much to discover in the spacious indoor and outdoor areas at this kindergarten including playgrounds and sandpits. Children will love to explore and play, inspiring their young minds. Families lives are made easier as breakfast and snacks, nappies, sunscreen, wipes, and fun extracurricular activities are all provided. There is a fantastic dance, music and sports program for the children to learn in a variety of ways.
This is a beautiful sessional Kindergarten offering places for children aged 3.5 - 4.5 years. The amazing purpose-built kindy is on Kirwan State School grounds. Discounted fees are available for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders, Health Care Card and Veteran White Card holders. The kindy is run by university trained teachers and fully qualified educators who believe the environment is the third teacher and pride themselves on building wonderful connections.
A 121 Charles St, Heatley P 4725 5992 E heatley@communitykids.com.au Community Kids www.communitykids.com.au
A 21 Burnda Street Kirwan P 4723 4853 E kirwan@candk.asn.au C&K - The Creche & Kindergarten Association Limited www.candk.asn.au/kirwan
Amazing Grace Early Learning Centre Amazing Grace is a family owned centre providing high quality care and education for children aged 0 to 6 years. Each child’s individual strengths and interests are assessed to enhance their learning through the daily routines and “Holistic Excellence” program. Flexible routines are provided so that each child can transition into care, with the centre open 7.00am to 6.00pm weekdays. All meals, nappies and sunscreen are included in the daily fee. A 39 Ninth Ave, Railway Estate P 4420 3074 E info@amazinggraceelc.com.au Amazing Grace Early Learning Centre Railway Estate www.amazinggraceelc.com.au
Green Leaves Early Learning Green Leaves Early Learning centres are warm, large learning hubs that are designed to inspire curiosity and wonder in children. In addition to plenty of exploratory play, the centres provide age appropriate technology that helps prepare children for the digital world. Plus, parents can grab a coffee and get to know each other - building a support network with other families. A 15 Elphinstone Drive, Kirwan P 4766 9398 A 2 Rockingham Drive, Burdell P 4766 9399
Goodstart Early Learning Centre At Goodstart, they’re all about laying the foundation for a lifelong love of learning through exciting early learning experiences. They focus on the importance of early language and communication and they encourage children to take risks in a safe environment to build confidence and self-belief. Additionally, they help your child develop coordination, creative expression, communication skills and social awareness through dance, creative play and intentional and inspiring learning experiences. A 15 various locations in the Townsville region P 1800 222 543 E enrolments@goodstart.org.au Goodstart Early Learning www.goodstart.org.au
C&K Western Suburbs Kindergarten With one of the largest outdoor natural play spaces in Townsville, Western Suburbs Kindergarten is a well-recognised and respected Kindergarten that has a tradition of providing high quality education since 1966. Under shade from established trees, Western Suburbs Kindergarten is quiet, safe and convenient - yet right in the heart of Townsville. Western Suburbs Kindergarten provides the best possible start for your children from 3.5 to 4.5 years old. A 130 Wellington St, Aitkenvale P 4779 3434 E affiliatewesternsuburbs@candk.asn.au www.candk.asn.au/westernsuburbs
Green Leaves Early Learning www.greenleaveselc.com.au
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Advertorial
The Importance of Choosing the Right Care and Education It is so important to make the right decision about your little one’s childcare and education. At Mary MacKillop Childcare North Queensland, we believe these key areas are vital considerations, which may help guide you in selecting the best care for your child:
1. Brain Development in Children The ages of one to three offer amazing opportunities for learning and growth, as young brains rapidly expand, absorb and adapt to the world they are discovering around them. Your toddler, while in care, will love getting to know their teacher, who is trained to encourage child-led play. This developmental stage plays a vital role for healthy brain development and our centres aim to create a wonderland of play-based early learning environments and experiences. Research shows quality early education is extremely valuable in the first five years of a child’s life, as it lays a foundation for a lifetime of learning.
2. Building a Love of Lifelong Learning MMCNQ Early Learning Centres and Kindergartens provide a warm and loving environment for fun playbased learning. Research has shown that emotional strength and well-being, and a love of learning can be developed well before children are able to fully express themselves verbally. Our educators believe they are building futures from the very first day of education and care they provide.
3. Developing School Readiness MMCNQ Kindergartens are located on Catholic School sites which allows for a clear pathway for your child. Ensuring your child feels comfortable in a classroom environment and has a desire to engage in learning and with their educators and peers is crucial at this point in their lives. Limited spaces are available in selected MMCNQ Kindergarten programs for 2021. For more information email enrolment@mmcnq.catholic.edu.au or call 4726 3299
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All Things Tweens and Teens
Raising Girls Who Like Themselves STORY Kasey Edwards and Dr Christopher Scanlon Australian girls have more opportunities than their mothers and aunties. They’re smashing it in the classroom and stepping up to leadership, fighting for social justice and environmental protection.
2. Body Confidence
On the flipside, many struggle with confidence, resilience, emotional wellbeing and self-worth.
3. Body Ownership
More than 55 percent of Australian girls between eight and nine say they are dissatisfied with their body. A quarter of 14 – 15 year-old girls say have had thoughts about self-harming in the previous 12 months. And fifty-one percent of girls say that girls often feel pressured to take ‘sexy’ photos of themselves and share them. Rates of anxiety, depression and eating disorders in girls are enough to send a shiver down any parent’s spine. If we are going to raise our girls to thrive in a world that is crushing so many of their peers - then we need to do something different. Our starting point is getting clear on our goal. Our goal as parents of daughters is to raise girls who like themselves. Why? Because absolutely everything that we hope and dream for our girls starts with raising them to like themselves. We distilled seven qualities that every girl must have in order to like herself:
1. A Power Perspective This is about having the internal strength and resources to be able to cope with whatever life throws at you, rather than being tossed around by external events. It’s about knowing your own mind, rather than being prey to the views of others.
By this, we don’t mean taking fearless, no-filter selfies. It’s about focusing girls on what their body can do, rather than obsessing about appearance.
If it’s not harmful and not permanent, she gets to decide. That’s the foundation of body ownership that we focus on when our girls are young so it will help them to navigate the more complex – and potentially threatening situations they will face as teenagers and women.
4. Calm Girls need space and time to play and be by themselves and get to know who they really are, rather than being ferried from one over-scheduled and structured activity to the next.
5. Mastery and Independence Self-esteem doesn’t grow from being showered with praise and word presents. Real self-esteem grows from mastery, which is earned through struggle. It’s about teaching girls the difference between ‘failing well’ and ‘being a failure’.
6. Strong Relationships We sometimes assume that social skills just develop naturally so they don’t need to be taught. But developing authentic and meaningful relationships is a skill — something that we can nurture. And given the importance of these skills to a meaningful life, we shouldn’t leave it to chance.
7. Authenticity A girl who likes herself is herself. Allow girls to grow into the best version of the person they were born to be rather than trying to sculpt them into our, or anyone else’s, pre-conceived vision of success. If we establish these foundational pillars in our daughters then everything gets easier.
Kasey Edwards and Dr Christopher Scanlon are researchers, writers and parents. Since the birth of their first daughter, Violet, in 2009 - they have been dedicated to finding out the best way to raise girls. They have read countless parenting books, trawled through credible academic studies, attended parenting seminars and workshops and interviewed experts the world over.
Tune into Episode 90 of the PakMag Parents Podcast at www.pakmag.com.au to hear more from Kasey and Christopher as they join Bree to dive deeper into how to raise girls who like themselves.
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All Things Tweens and Teens
All Things Tweens & Teens Inspiration Corner It’s true, we are generally a lot harder on ourselves than we are on others. But, why? If you wouldn’t say those things about someone else, or to someone else – why on earth would we say them to ourselves? Be a friend to yourself. You have so much love to give others, don’t forget to share it with yourself too. Offer yourself the same love, kindness, compassion, support and respect you would your closest friends and family. Try to eliminate your negative self-talk and become your greatest supporter and cheerleader. Remember you
Tips for THAT Conversation: The Birds and the Bees STORY Row Murray Every parent and every child in their relationship is different, so it’s always best when parents use their own common sense as they know their kids best. But I definitely recommend having lots of small, non-invasive, nonconfrontational conversations that flow naturally, rather than some great big ‘now, now let’s have a sit down and talk about the birds and the bees.’ There’s so much to cover with sex and sexuality, from puberty and body changes, to sexual health, STI’s and safer sex and how it all works - including conception. But it’s not just about biology, it’s also a bunch of conversations about relationships, how you communicate with people and consent.
Tips • Have lots and lots of little conversations and research reputable advice to share, even before the conversations start – so you are ready. • Create a safe space: don’t be judgemental no matter how confronting or scary questions can be. The best thing for them to be able to do, is to be able to come to their parents and feel safe in having those conversations with you. • Regardless of how great a parent / child relationship might be, there is always going to be stuff that a teenager wants to keep to themselves. Find your teen a ‘sex fairy godmother’- a trusted relative that they are really comfortable with, and reassuring your child it’s okay to talk to them, if they feel they can’t come to you.
are awesome! Remind yourself of all the good qualities you have, all the things you do well, and the things others love about you and you love about yourself. This kind and compassionate self-talk reduces anxiety and depression and helps you feel calm, empowered and resilient.
For more on the topic tune into Episode 31 of the PakMag Parent’s Podcast with special guest Row Murray. You can also buy a copy of Row’s book - For Foxes Sake for help with ‘those conversations’ with your child. www.forfoxessake.com.au
Girls Luxe Printed Top Worth $49.95 With feature print back panel detailing, and created using super soft cotton jersey, this girls luxe printed top will quickly become your new go-to and is guaranteed to be on high rotation! They use premium cotton jersey in all their girls tops and tanks that last wash after wash. Pair it with some denim shorts or skinny jeans and white sneakers for casual cool styling. www.lovehaidee.com.au Visit www.pakmag.com.au/win for your chance to win!
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Daddy Diary
Daddy Diary Nothing makes me feel like a man quite like a pair of tongs. The simple act of giving them a few test clicks before burning a dozen snags is a feeling I live for. Throw a Great Northern into my left hand (the right is my primary snag turning hand) and a couple of kids at my feet and I am in fatherhood heaven. I come from a long line of backyard-barbecuers. And like the many snag burners before me - it’s a tradition I lovingly continue. I have great memories of my father sizzling away under our back patio in the late 80’s. Again, beer in hand, Cold Chisel blaring out of the family stereo and slabs of red meat sizzling so fiercely the dogs three doors down are having conniptions. This folks, is the Aussie barbie in all its glory. What I do in the backyard these days - is quite the opposite to what seems to be taking off all over the
Head to Parents and Kids of North Queensland YouTube Channel to see Bree’s up close interview with Cliffo.
country right now. Of course, I’m referring to low ‘n’ slow, American-style BBQ. The cooking trend they make Netflix specials about every other day. Taking ribs, briskets and pork butts (that’s seriously what they call them) and seasoning them inch-thick with some guy named Bubba’s secret blend. You then cook your chosen cut over coals from June till about mid-October. The results are always incredible. It’s the kind of food I like to devour wearing a bib with a bowl of lemon-water close by. But do I have the patience to cook it myself? Hell no. So, for me it’s the Aussie method all the way. Like I said - the “Aussie method” is pretty much the exact opposite to low ‘n’ slow. It’s more - hot ‘n’ fast. Example below: Step 1 - Turn on gas and turn all burners to max temp. Step 2 - Once hotplate reaches similar temperature to that of the Sun’s surface - add snags. Step 3 - Drink beer and get lost in thought or conversation. Step 4 - Forget about said snags until wife reminds you. Turn snags. Step 5 - Once sufficiently charred, remove snags from barbeque, add diagonally to bread and drown in enough tomato sauce (tomato only) to re-float the Titanic. Whilst this method of barbequing is not going to win me any awards (or friends with the neighbour’s dog) it is my way of doing it. And my family seems to love it. I haven’t had any complaints yet. Now to find those tongs and give ‘em a few test clicks. Happy Barbequing! Cliffo Hit 103.1
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Entertainment
Check it Out Sweet Days, Hot Nights Festival When: Thursday 27 May - Saturday 29 May. Times vary. Where: Home Hill Showgrounds and MacMillan Street, Ayr. More info: www.sweetdayshotnights.com.au Join in the fun and celebrate the Burdekin’s rich agricultural region over three days with the Sweet Days, Hot Nights Festival. With country hospitality and beautiful autumn weather, the whole family is sure to enjoy the experience. First Fire Event - Thursday 27 May, 5.30pm - 8.30pm at Home Hill Showgrounds. Kick off the festival by relaxing and listening to live music and trying the delicious options from the food stalls before the first cane fire of the season lights up the sky. Burdekin Cultural Fair - Friday 28 May, 5.30pm - 9.30pm at MacMillan Street, Ayr. Celebrate the diversity of the area with a range of cultures coming together with their food, entertainment and activities for all ages to enjoy. Australian Hand Cane Cutting Championships - Saturday 29 May, 11.00am - 4.00pm at Home Hill Showgrounds. Watch men and women step up to the challenge of The Australian Hand Cane Cutting Championship in order to win the prizes and be crowned the champion - swinging and chopping in a test of skill and endurance. Additionally, children can enjoy free craft activities, the animal farm, jumping castle, facepainting and much more.
Townsville Mother’s Day Colour Frenzy When: Sunday 9 May, 8.30am Where: Riverway Stadium Parklands More info: www.colourfrenzy.com.au An exciting and colourful day for everyone! What better way to have fun with the family (including your dogs) than adding lots of colour and laughter. The goal is to raise money for Animal Rescues across Australia. There will be pre and post event entertainment with giveaways, music, face painting and a small select marketplace. Food and drinks will be available to purchase. You can walk, jog, run or even crawl. It’s completely self-paced and untimed. With a 1.65km track, you can also choose to do one lap or all three laps.
Tasman's Parkfest When: Saturday 22 May, 7.00am - 6.00pm + Where: TYTO Parklands, Ingham More info: www.hinchinbrookway.com.au The TYTO Parkland will be buzzing this May with entertainment, live music, children’s activities, food and drinks, and more! The whole family can come and enjoy a day out together. 7.00am - 8.30am - Parkrun 9.00am - 4.00pm - Tasman Turtle’s Picnic Day and opening of the TYTO Adventure Playground. 5.00pm - 10.00pm - Tasman’s Parkfest 6.00pm - The $25,000 Monster Raffle will be drawn.
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The Owl and the Pussycat When: Tuesday 25 May, 10.00am, 1.00pm and 6.30pm Where: Townsville Civic Theatre - C2 More info: www.littlematchproductions.com, whatson.townsville.qld.gov.au Based on the much-loved poem, children and families as a whole will love to watch this production of The Owl and the Pussycat in their little pea green boat. They sail across the seas for years as adventure calls, encounters await them and love conquers all in this brilliant, romantic and nonsensical musical performance. Overall the show explores themes of harmony, love and acceptance. Suitable for ages 4 + (created for ages 4 - 10 years).
Entertainment
Popstars! the 90s Musical When: Thursday 27 May - Saturday 29 May, 7.30pm - 9.50pm Where: Townsville Civic Theatre More info: whatson.townsville.qld.gov.au
2021 Townsville Expo When: Friday 14 May - Sunday 16 May, 8.30am - 4.00pm (5.00pm on Saturday). Where: Reid Park More info: www.townsvilleexpo.com.au
Presented by Kirwan State School, this hilarious new musical is sure to take you back in time with its style and range of 90s hit songs. With boyband vs girlband for the grand title, it’s all on in this unique performance, brought to you by the same team that wrote the much-loved ‘Back To The 80s’ musical.
Townsville families can enjoy and explore a huge range of over 100 companies at show in the 2021 Townsville Expo - the region’s largest outdoor adventure, home and lifestyle event. Check out the latest boats, caravans, campers, vehicles, fishing gear as well as home and lifestyle companies - including sustainable living ideas, all in one place. Cost: $12.00 - $18.00. Children under 16 FREE. Book online.
Upcoming Cowboys Games When: Thursday 20 May at 7.50pm and Friday 28 May at 6.00pm Where: Queensland Country Bank Stadium More info: www.queenslandcountrybankstadium.com.au Get ready for two epic home games this May, with the North Queensland Cowboys v Newcastle Knights on May 20, followed by the New Zealand Warriors - May 28. Our boys will go head to head with some fierce competition - making these two games something you won’t want to miss! Make sure to also keep an eye out for ticket sales and get in on the action for another big game on Friday 18 June; the North Queensland Cowboys vs Cronulla Sharks.
Cancer Council - Australia’s Biggest Morning Tea May 27th When: Official date Thursday 27 May - but you can host any time in May or June. More info: www.biggestmorningtea.com.au Cancer Council Queensland is encouraging the community to host an Australia’s Biggest Morning Tea in support of those affected by cancer. By hosting or attending an Australia’s Biggest Morning Tea, in person or virtually, you’re helping Cancer Council Queensland continue their life-saving cancer research, prevention, advocacy and support programs. This year the event hopes to attract over 20,000 hosts and every dollar raised helps support those impacted by cancer. The community can register to host or donate online.
A Taste of Ireland 2021 - Townsville When: Friday 21 May, Sunday 23 May, Tuesday 25 May Where: Townsville Entertainment Centre, Burdekin Theatre and The World Theatre More info: www.atasteofirelandshow.com After over 120 shows in 2019 across Australia and New Zealand, as well as its premier in New York City in 2020, you can watch The Irish Music & Dance Sensation dance their hearts out once again to classics like ‘Danny Boy’, ‘Tell Me Ma’ and more, bringing you an energetic and sensational performance like no other at three different locations this May. Make sure to visit the website for more information. Cost: $61.10 - $76.40. VIP tickets are also available for some locations. Visit the website for more information.
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What’s On SATURDAY 1 MAY Time Warp Runs every Saturday and every second Friday Stage Door Theatre Restaurant Magnetic Island www.stagedoortheatre.com.au Doors open 5.00pm, show 7.15pm / $79.00 - $89.00 / MA Parentmedic North Queensland Baby First Aid Let’s Talk Birth, 72 Mooney St www.parentmedic.co 10.00am / $80.00 / G Human Nature -The AAA Australian Regional Tour Townsville Civic Theatre www.humannaturelive.com 7.30pm / $89.90 / G Graphic Tendencies: Works from the City of Townsville Art Collection Runs daily until Sunday 8 August Pinnacles Gallery whatson.townsville.qld.gov.au 10.00am (closed Sunday Monday) / FREE / G Cloudstreet Runs until Sunday 2 May Full Throttle Theatre Company www.fullthrottletheatre.com 5.00pm / $20.00 - $40.00 (meal optional) / MA Home Hill Sugar Bowl Runs until Monday 3 May Home Hill Tennis Club www.tennisnorth.com.au Varies / FREE / G MONDAY 3 MAY Burdekin Neighbourhood Centre Crochet Group Runs every Monday until Monday 20 December Burdekin Neighbourhood Centre www.burdekin.qld.gov.au 1.00pm / $2.00 - $11.00 / G TUESDAY 4 MAY
With HIT 103.1’s Cliffo & Gabi
CityLibraries Baby Rhyme Time Runs every Tuesday until Tuesday 22 June Townsville Stadium whatson.townsville.qld.gov.au 10:30am / FREE - Bookings required / 0 - 5 years Triple P for Toddlers: Positive Parenting Program Session CityLibraries Aitkenvale whatson.townsville.qld.gov.au 9.30am / FREE - Bookings required / G - Parents WEDNESDAY 5 MAY Danceformation - Kids Just Dance Fitness Class Runs every Wednesday Saunders Beach Community Centre whatson.townsville.qld.gov.au 3.30pm, 4.45pm / $10.00 / G (4 years + ) First 5 Forever Storytime Runs every Wednesday until Wednesday 23 June Home Hill Library, Burdekin Library www.burdekin.qld.gov.au 10.00am, 10.30am / FREE / G (0 - 5 years) CityLibraries Toddler Time Runs every Wednesday until Wednesday 23 June CityLibraries Thuringowa Central whatson.townsville.qld.gov.au 10.30am / FREE - Bookings required / 0 - 5 years CityLibraries Baby Rhyme Time Runs every Wednesday until Wednesday 23 June CityLibraries Thuringowa Central whatson.townsville.qld.gov.au 9.00am / FREE - Bookings required / 0 - 5 years THURSDAY 6 MAY
Doing Business with Council Runs every Tuesday and Thursday Townsville City Council or virtual whatson.townsville.qld.gov.au 2.00pm / FREE - Bookings required / G
Monthly Comedy Open Mic at Molly’s Runs on the first Thursday of each month Molly Malone’s Irish Pub whatson.townsville.qld.gov.au Doors open 6.30pm, show 7.00pm / $10.00 / MA - 15 +
CityLibraries Toddler Time Runs every Tuesday until Tuesday 22 June Townsville Stadium whatson.townsville.qld.gov.au 9.00am / FREE - Bookings required / 0 - 5 years
Tasty Time Nutrition Workshops Runs every Thursday until Thursday 17 June The Women’s Centre whatson.townsville.qld.gov.au 10.00am / FREE / G
Townsville Cinema Group Screening BCC Cinema Townsville Central www.cinemagroup.org.au 7.00pm, 8.50 pm (two films) / $15.00 - $110.00 / MA
First 5 Forever Storytime Runs every Friday until Friday 25 June Burdekin Library www.burdekin.qld.gov.au 10.30am / FREE / G (0 - 5 years)
Banff Mountain Film Festival 2021 Townsville Civic Theatre www.banffaustralia.com.au 7.00pm / $22.50 - $32.00 / G
Opera Queensland presents Are You Lonesome Tonight Bowen Soundshell www.oq.com.au FREE / G
First 5 Forever - Burdekin Library Baby Rhyme Time Runs every Thursday until Thursday 24 June Burdekin Library www.burdekin.qld.gov.au 10.30am / FREE / G (0 - 2 years)
SATURDAY 8 MAY
First 5 Forever - Messy Play Runs every last Thursday of the month until Thursday 30 December Burdekin Library www.burdekin.qld.gov.au 10.30am / FREE / G (Children) First 5 Forever Playtime at the Library Runs every Thursday Hinchinbrook Shire Library www.hinchinbrookway.com.au 10.30am / FREE - Bookings required / G (0 - 5 years) CityLibraries Storytime Runs Every Thursday until Thursday 27 May CityLibraries Thuringowa Central whatson.townsville.qld.gov.au 9.00am, 10.30am / FREE Bookings required / 0 - 5 years FRIDAY 7 MAY Battle of the Brains Trivia Fundraiser for The Pyjama Foundation Brothers Leagues Club Townsville thepyjamafoundation.com/ trivia-night/ Doors open 6.00pm, trivia 7.00pm / $20.00 / G After Dark: A Lighter Side of Science Trivia and Variety Show Museum of Tropical Queensland www.worldsciencefestival.com.au 7.00pm / $10.00 / G Jimeoin - Ramble On Townsville Civic Theatre www.jimeoin.com 8.00pm / $54.90 - $59.90 / MA
NQ Cowboys vs Brisbane Broncos Queensland Country Bank Stadium queenslandcountry bankstadium.com.au Gates open 5.00pm, game 7.35pm / $14.00 - $95.00 / G Burdekin Junior Eisteddfod Runs until Monday 17 May Burdekin Theatre www.burdekinjunior eisteddfod.com.au Visit the website for more information How to Care for a Townsville Garden Carville Villas www.evaerhardt.com 9.00am / $70.00 / G City of Science: Townsville Museum of Tropical Queensland www.worldsciencefestival.com.au 9.30am - 4.00pm / FREE Bookings essential / G Two of us - The Songs of Lennon and McCartney Townsville Civic Theatre whatson.townsville.qld.gov.au 8.00pm / $55.00 / PG Opera Queensland presents Are You Lonesome Tonight World Theatre, Charters Towers www.oq.com.au 7.30pm / $12.00 - $25.00 / G Mother’s Day Extravaganza All profits will be donated to the Cancer Council Victoria Park Hotel kirstytibbits@hotmail.com 6.00pm - 8.00pm / $30.00 / M 15+ SUNDAY 9 MAY Townsville Mother’s Day Colour Frenzy Riverway Stadium Parklands www.colourfrenzy.com.au 8:30am / $15.00 - $35.00 / G www.pakmag.com.au | May 2021 61
What’s On Mother’s Day Jazz Buffet The Fish Inn at Rockpool, The Strand townsvilletickets.com.au 5.00pm - 8.00pm / $15.00 $45.00 (children under 2 years - FREE) / G Women in Super Mother’s Day Classic - Annual National Fun Run/Walk for Breast Cancer Research Magnetic Island www.mothersdayclassic.com.au From 8:00am (30 minute arrival intervals) / $15.00 - $170.90 / G Disaster Preparedness Workshop - Conserving Your Home Collections Also runs Friday 21 May CityLibraries Flinders Street whatson.townsville.qld.gov.au 10.00am - 1.00pm / FREE Bookings required / 18 + WEDNESDAY 12 MAY Opera Queensland presents Are You Lonesome Tonight Innisfail Shire Hall www.oq.com.au 7.30pm / $12.00 - $25.00 / G Art in the Library Block Printing Tote Bags CityLibraries Flinders Street whatson.townsville.qld.gov.au 10.00am - 12.00pm / FREE Bookings required / G THURSDAY 13 MAY Opera Queensland Presents Are You Lonesome Tonight TYTO Wetlands www.oq.com.au See website for details / G FRIDAY 14 MAY 2021 Townsville Expo Runs until Sunday 16 May Reid Park www.townsvilleexpo.com.au 8.30am / FREE - $18.00 / G
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RDE - Regional Disability Expo Townsville Stadium www.disabilityexposc.com.au 9.30am / FREE - Book online / G Pimlico Presents Runs until Saturday 15 May Townsville Civic Theatre www.pimlicoshs.eq.edu.au, whatson.townsville.qld.gov.au 7.30pm / $25.00 - $90.00 / G Opera Queensland presents Are You Lonesome Tonight Queensland Country Bank Stadium www.oq.com.au 7.00pm / from $39.59 (children under 5 FREE provided they do not occupy a seat / G SATURDAY 15 MAY Create Your Own Edible Garden Workshop CityLibraries Thurigowa Central whatson.townsville.qld.gov.au 10.00am - 11.30am / FREE Bookings required / 18 + The Cathedral School Open Day The Cathedral School www.cathedral.qld.edu.au 9.00am / FREE - Register online / G TUESDAY 18 MAY Leadership Peak Performance Talk Queensland Country Bank Stadium www.tbwc.com.auu 12.00pm / $50.00 / PG WEDNESDAY 19 MAY Free Microchipping Day Animal Care and Adoption Centre www.townsville.qld.gov.au/ animals 9.00am / FREE to registered dogs and approved cats / G
Migi Yarn Women’s Circle Runs on the third Wednesday of each month until October 20 CityLibraries Aitkenvale whatson.townsville.qld.gov.au 12.30pm - 2.00pm / FREE THURSDAY 20 MAY NQ Cowboys v Newcastle Knights Queensland Country Bank Stadium queenslandcountrybank stadium.com.au Gates open 6.20pm, game 7.50pm / $11.00 - $86.00 / G FRIDAY 21 MAY A Taste of Ireland Townsville Entertainment Centre www.atasteofirelandshow.com 7.30pm / $61.10 - $76.40 / G SATURDAY 22 MAY Burdekin Growers Race Day Burdekin Race Club www.burdekin.qld.gov.au 10.00am / TBA / G Tasman’s Parkfest TYTO Parklands www.hinchinbrookway.com.au 7.00am / FREE Entry / G Bromeliads - the Perfect Minimal Care Plant Carville Villas www.evaerhardt.com, whatson. townsville.qld.gov.au 9.00am / $70.00 / G The Two Bays Trail Run From Nelly Bay to Arcadia Bay, Magnetic Island outerlimitsadventure.com.au 2.00pm - 6.00pm / $14.00 $55.00 / 8 years + SUNDAY 23 MAY 2021 Norm Perry Memorial Duck Race Plantation Park
www.burdekin.qld.gov.au 9.30am / FREE / G A Taste of Ireland Burdekin Theatre www.burdekintheatre.com.au 7.30pm / from $59.90 / G MONDAY 24 MAY Walk to the Reef Runs daily until Thursday 27 May Kurrimine Beach www.kurrimine.com.au All day / FREE / PG Sensational Girl Power Workshops Runs weekly The Hub Creative Space 4.00pm / / 7 - 13 year old girls TUESDAY 25 MAY The Owl and the Pussycat Townsville Civic Theatre - C2 www.littlematchproductions.com 10.00am, 1.00pm, 6.30pm / $15.00 $20.00 / G - 4 years + A Taste of Ireland The World Theatre www.atasteofirelandshow.com 7.30pm / from $69.50 / G WEDNESDAY 26 MAY Art in the Library Fabric Brooch, Wearable Art CityLibraries Thuringowa Central whatson.townsville.qld.gov.au 12.30pm - 2.30pm / FREE Bookings required / G THURSDAY 27 MAY Sweet Days, Hot Nights Festival - First Fire Home Hill Showgrounds www.sweetdayshotnights.com.au 5.30pm - 8.30pm / G
Please check with individual businesses before visiting during these uncertain times.
What’s On
With Triple M’s Pricey
THURSDAY 27 MAY
SATURDAY 29 MAY
Australia’s Biggest Morning Tea Supporting those affected by cancer Register to host or donate www.biggestmorningtea.com.au Official date Thursday 27 May, but you can host anytime in May or June / G
Save Time: Easier Gardening Carlville Villas www.evaerhardt.com 9.00am / $70.00 / G
Popstars! the 90s Musical - Presented by Kirwan State School Runs until Saturday 29 May Townsville Civic Theatre www.kirwanshs.eq.edu.au 7.30pm / $30.00 - $40.00 / G FRIDAY 28 MAY NQ Cowboys vs New Zealand Warriors Queensland Country Bank Stadium queenslandcountrybank stadium.com.au Gates open 4.00pm, game 6.00pm / $11.00 - $86.00 / G Sweet Days, Hot Nights Festival - Burdekin Cultural Fair MacMillian Street, Ayr www.sweetdayshotnights.com.au 5.30pm - 9.30pm / FREE entry - food and beverages will be available to purchase / G Australian Italian Festival Runs until Sunday 6 June TYTO Wetlands www.hinchinbrookway.com.au 10.00am / Visit the website / G
Townsville Grammar School Prep Fair Annandale Campus www.tgs.qld.edu.au 9.00 - 11.00am / FREE / G
Date: 2nd Saturday of the month Time: 4.00pm - 8.00pm Location: Bluewater Community Centre
Bushland Beach Markets Date: 1st and 3rd Sunday of the month, March to December 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 - 12 noon Location: Marian School Hall
Balgal Beach Markets Date: 1st Saturday of the month
SUNDAY 6 JUNE Our Townsville Anderson Gardens whatson.townsville.qld.gov.au 9.00am - 3.00pm / FREE / G THURSDAY 10 JUNE
Sweet Days, Hot Nights Festival - Australian Hand Cane Cutting Championship Home Hill Showgrounds www.sweetdayshotnights.com.au 11.00am - 4.00pm / G
Back to the 80s Runs until Saturday 12 June Townsville Civic Theatre whatson.townsville.qld.gov.au 6.00pm, 7.30pm / $25.00 - $110.00 /G
SUNDAY 30 MAY
Jekyll & Hyde Townsville Civic Theatre - C2 whatson.townsville.qld.gov.au 2.00pm, 8.00pm / $27.00 - $35.00 / M 15 +
Sensational Girl Power Workshops The Hub Creative Space Runs monthly Sundays 2.00pm - 4.00pm Sensational Girls Network WEDNESDAY 2 JUNE Beauty and the Beast Jr Presented by Kirwan State School Runs until Thursday 3 June Townsville Civic Theatre www.kirwanshs.eq.edu.au 6.30pm / $10.00 - $65.00 / G SATURDAY 5 JUNE Queen: Bohemian Rhapsody Tribute Show
Regular Markets Bluewater Twilight Markets
Townsville Entertainment Centre www.tecc.net.au Arena opens 7.00pm, show starts 8.00pm / $49.00 / PG
Time: 8.00am - 1.00pm Location: The Esplanade, 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
Mundingburra Markets Date: 3rd Sunday of the month Time: 7.30am - 12.00 noon Location: Mundingburra State School
Willows Rotary Markets Date: Every Sunday Time: 7.30am - 11.30am Location: Willows Shopping Centre Car Park
Please check with individual businesses before visiting during these uncertain times.
SUNDAY 13 JUNE Townsville All British Day 2021 Jezzine Barracks whatson.townsville.qld.gov.au 10.00am / FREE Entry / G FRIDAY 18 JUNE NQ Cowboys vs Cronulla Sharks Queensland Country Bank Stadium queenslandcountry bankstadium.com.au Gates open 4.30pm, game 6.00pm / $11.00 - $86.00 / G
Strand Park www.tsvbbqbattle.com 9.00am / FREE Entry / G Margaret Fulton - the Musical Townsville Civic Theatre whatson.townsville.qld.gov.au 7.30pm / $25.00 - $40.00 / G SATURDAY 19 JUNE Shimano MTB Grand Prix - Race 2 Douglas MTB Reserve www.rockytrailentertainment.com 7.30am / $50.00 - $165.00 / U18 + THURSDAY 24 JUNE Ulysses Gasp Runs until Saturday 26 June Townsville Civic Theatre www.annroberts.com.au 7.30pm / $22.50 - $35.00 / G Ingham Show 2021 Runs until Friday 25 June Ingham Showgrounds www.hinchinbrookway.com.au TBA - More information coming soon FRIDAY 25 JUNE North Qld Schools Mountain Bike Comp Douglas MTB Reserve www.rockytrailentertainment.com 8.00am / $50.00 per rider / Open to all Secondary school students SATURDAY 26 JUNE
Mike Carney Toyota Townsville Barbecue Battle Runs until Saturday 19 June
Fox Superflow - Race 3 Mount Douglas Reserve www.rockytrailentertainment.com 8.00am / $65.00 - $89.00 / U13 - 60 +
Cotters Markets
Wulguru Markets
Date: Every Sunday Time: 8.30am - 1.00pm Location: Flinders St
Date: Every Sunday Time: 7.00am – 12.00 noon Location: Wulguru Soccer Grounds 14 Edison Street, Wulguru
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: Lannercost St, Ingham
New Look Conroy Markets Date: 2nd Saturday of the month Time: From 8.00am – 12.00 noon Location: Conroy Hall, Ingham
Ingham Raintree Community Markets Date: 1st and 3rd Sunday of the month Time: from 7.00am - 12.00 noon Location: Rotary Park, Ingham
Forrest Beach Markets Date: 4th Sunday of every Month Time: 8.00am – 12.00 noon Location: 9 - 11 Palm St, Forrest Beach www.pakmag.com.au | May 2021 65