PakMag Townsville - Winter 2020 Issue 114

ISSUE: WINTER 2020

114

TOWNSVILLE

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Heaps of Awesome Kids Activities • Go on a World Taste Bud Tour Huge Prizes • Life Hacks • Recharge your Personal Battery

Welcome 4

STEAM to Develop and

Hello and welcome to the next edition of PakMag.

Harness Critical Thinking

7

Eliminate Anxiety

9

The PakMag Experts

11

All Things Health

We are so excited to bring this edition to you. Thanks to all who took the time to give us feedback in our recent survey. We love giving you what you need and this edition is filled with the content you asked for. Working under challenging circumstances and taking on extra work, my team have been able to pivot our business so we can continue to support you. I am so incredibly proud of the work we have been doing. I hope you love this edition, as much as we loved creating and bringing it to you.

15 The Thing Is with Bree James 17 Local Produce Recipes 18 World Taste Bud Tour 21 All Things Tweens & Teens 22 The Link Between

Nutrition and Acne

23 MiniMag: Kids Activities 30 A World View Not a Self View 33 Building Your Ideal Life 34 Life Hacks 36 Protect and Recharge

your Personal Battery

38 Craft: Jar Upcycling 41 Strategies for Successful

Transitions Between

Activities

45 A Great Love for Discovery 48 Craft: Toilet Roll Projects

PakMag Founder and Editor-in-Chief Bree James

The last few months have been an absolute rollercoaster of a ride that none of us asked to be on. I think as parents we have done an incredible job navigating this time: comforting our children who don’t quite understand why they can’t see people they love, why they can’t do many of the things they love; like sports or even going to school. Worrying about our elderly relatives and friends, finances and getting food from the shops with so many buying restrictions. Adding more hats to those we already had on has been tough - mentally, emotionally and physically for many of us.

As we get back to some normality, please take some time out to reflect on how awesome you are. Have a cuppa, take some time out and enjoy this edition of PakMag. Have a great month, and don’t forget to tell everyone, you read it in PakMag.

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

Creative Team Leader Clare Winter Graphic Designer Sara Williams

Digital Team Leader Lawrence Fox Content & Marketing Team Leader Bec Dent Marketing and Events Coordinator Alyssa Marino

Videographer & Podcast Producer Monique Saggers

Client Support Blair King

Content Creators Annamarie Booysen Jenna Galley

Marketing Assistant Emily Bremner

Accounts Trent Stievano

Our North Queensland Channels PakMag Townsville Parents of North Queensland pakmag_nq Parents and Kids of

North Queensland Our Global Parenting Channels PakMag Online pakmag_online PakMag The Give It A Go Group

For Parents The PakMag Parents Podcast PakMag TV

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

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

We have done our best to ensure all events and information was correct at the time of going to print. Please check with individual businesses and authorities during these uncertain times.

Net Distribution Per Issue 10,000. Most recent CAB Publisher Statement Conducted September 2019.

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

families www.pakmag.com.au | Winter 2020 3

STEAM

STEAM Activities to Develop and Harness Critical Thinking Want to help grow a ‘solution finder’ in your household? STEAM activities are perfect for harnessing learners' critical thinking abilities, helping them develop problem solving skills to last throughout life. Teaching critical thinking simply means that children are being taught to really think instead of memorising procedures and facts. STEAM education focuses on real-word, hands-on learning to develop and harness skills for solving problems and improving life. It teaches critical thinking by encouraging the use of different knowledge and techniques, often through the scientific process of trial and error. These skills are not only important for careers, but everyday life too.

Good critical thinking encourages a child to ask questions like "why?", "how?" and "what?". It promotes the challenge of not taking things at face value, but using curiosity to look further into all sides of an issue and investigate facts. An in-depth analysis of an issue means you can make a better judgement on

that issue and find a better alternate solution.

The more thinking that is done, particularly thinking that is outside of the box, the more connections are made and ideas created. If children can apply multiple skills and a range of knowledge to relevant and realword problems, they are more likely to test their own limits in a healthy way and use this critical thinking to enhance their creative approach.

Both critical thinking and being creative lead to useful innovation skills. Innovative thinkers are the people who challenge standards and help change the world, so it’s an important thing to include in education. Imagine how different our lives would be without all the inventions, new products and processes developed to make our lives easier. STEAM activities encourage independent thought and help your children to grow up to become an ‘Ideas-Person’ … a critical thinker!

Get 10% OFF! Use code: PakMag10 2

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1. My Creative Box - Subscribe or order a once off kids activity box - pricing varies - www.mycreativebox.com.au 2. Academy Of STEAM Solar Helicopter by Engino - $49.95 (Get 10% OFF at www.engino.com.au by using code PakMag10) www.engino.com.au 3. Galt Science Lab - $40.95 - www.edresources.com.au

4 Winter 2020 | www.pakmag.com.au

Resources to Inspire and Educate The Jame Dyson Foundation Challenge Cards www.jamesdysonfoundation.com The challenge cards are perfect for encouraging both critical and creative thinking. By using unique challenges, such as making a functional chair out of cardboard, they create a whole new way of learning by hands-on, competitive activities. Designed to get young minds excited about engineering, they help children develop a basic level of understanding around structures and how they work. You can use the cards both at home or in the classroom.

Little Bins for Little Hands www.littlebinsforlittlehands.com This website uses a combination of simple science and fun to engage children in STEM education.

It includes 100 activities, from science experiments to small building projects.

The goal is to help children gain knowledge of basic science and structures. You don’t need fancy equipment or complex activities that can cause confusion – just curiosity and basic supplies!

Wabisabi Learning 36 Resources for STEM Project-Based Learning Activities www.wabisabilearning.com Discover 36 resources for project-based learning, broken down into each STEM subject. These activities can be tailored to suit different age groups and will have kids expanding their ideas and harnessing critical thinking. They allow children to stimulate their minds in an enjoyable way while also guiding them to understand how the STEM subjects can have real-world applications.

www.pakmag.com.au | Winter 2020 5

Health

Your 8 Point Guide To Eliminating Anxiety STORY Matt Hale We are living in extremely uncertain times, and that uncertainty can be difficult to cope with. But there are a number of things we can do to learn to live with and lessen the effects of uncertainty: • Awareness is your superpower – be aware of your feelings and emotions • Notice the “worry story” you are telling yourself and try to distance yourself from it • Focus on breathing – long slow breaths • Recognise the need to rise above fight-or-flight and • Accept uncertainty – allow yourself to stop the struggle and trying to control things you can’t.

On average, one in four Australians will experience anxiety at some stage in their life. So to help you, when you may have that experience, here are 8 Points to help you keep anxiety in check: 1. Exercise for thirty minutes per day - ideally outside Exercise has such a profound effect on happiness and well-being that it’s a proven, effective strategy for overcoming stress and anxiety.

2. Accept that anxiety is a learned behaviour Remind yourself that the feelings of anxiety do not belong to you. When you feel anxious, look around yourself and reassure your brain that there are no dangers. Then say; “Thank you, but I don’t need protecting right now” 3. Meditate or Listen to Your Support Recording (free at www.matthale.com.au) Take fifteen minutes a day, just to simply relax.

5. Increase the Joy in your life Anytime you notice yourself feeling a particularly good feeling in your body, take a moment to acknowledge how good it feels. Next, give your mind the instruction to seek out more of this good feeling in the future or simply say out loud; “I feel good!”

6. Talk to yourself in a confident way Keep making those big, bold, positive pictures in your mind. Remember - the more we think and focus on how we want life to be, this is how it will be.

7. Anxiety Distraction Technique Distraction can be a good way to fend off any sudden symptoms of anxiety. Distraction is simply taking your focus onto something else for a few moments (around three minutes will help the symptoms dissipate). Choose any one of these distraction techniques: • Visualise being in your favourite place/favourite holiday destination, close your eyes and imagine every aspect of that place - what it looks like, sounds like and feels like to be there • Count backwards with your eyes closed from 200 in multiples of 2 - if you forget where you were, simply pick up where you think you left off, and allow your mind to wander to wherever it chooses • Engage in an “active activity” i.e. taking yourself for a walk, or "creative activity", like drawing or painting 8. Get plenty of sleep Good quality sleep is essential for a healthy mind and body. Insufficient sleep can have a detrimental effect on your mood, and sleep deprivation increases anxiety levels.

4. Eat three meals a day Choose nutritional foods, and limit your sugar, alcohol and caffeine intake (avoid stimulants).

Matt Hale is a Mind Hack Expert, Hypnotist, Author, Speaker and Radio/ TV Presenter. www.matthale.com.au

If you or someone you know is affected by anxiety, it is important to seek support. Speak with your GP. Contact Lifeline 13 11 14 (available 24/7) or Online Crisis Support Chat (available nightly at www.lifeline.org.au).

Beyond Blue www.beyondblue.org.au 1300 22 4636 (24hrs). MindSpot — www.mindspot.org.au. This Way Up www.thiswayup.org.au

www.pakmag.com.au | Winter 2020 7

Expert Advice

The PakMag Experts Cassandra Chiesa Helping Hands - Hand, Wrist & Arm Clinic Dear Cassandra, My son plays a lot of video games.

How could this affect his hands?

Yolanda Van Der Kruk Psychologist - Townsville Paediatrics Dear Yolanda, How can I help my child with autism manage big emotions?

The repetitive nature of finger and thumb movements on keyboards, joysticks and hand held controllers can lead to fatigue, pain and even inflammation of tissues.

Repetitive strain injuries (RSI) and cumulative trauma can be the end result if not picked up early, which means the pain continues after the consoles have been put away, affecting other activities and disrupting sleep. On a positive note, it is rare for children to present with RSI, but good habits and moderation will certainly ensure your son doesn't have more serious problems once he hits his teens.

Many, if not all children diagnosed with autism experience emotion regulation difficulties. With the right help, we can teach our children with autism how to better manage these. When they’re upset, remind them that this feeling will pass. Practice taking deep breaths with them and offer calming and comforting tools. Talk to them about what they can do to better manage these emotions through prevention and regulation techniques when they aren’t upset, then remind them of these techniques during a meltdown, even offering a reward for doing so.

4755 2337 www.helpinghandsclinic.com.au

4427 5817 www.townsvillepaediatrics.com.au

Matthew Calanna

Jana Gorski

Calanna Whole Health Pharmacy

Naturopath - Calanna Whole Health Pharmacy

Dear Matthew,

Dear Jana,

How can I get the most out of my medication?

I struggle with my emotions in the days leading up to my period – more than I think is normal.

But I don’t want to go on the pill.

Is there anything natural that will help?

Make sure you’re taking the right medicine and the right dose, at the right time. Our Medication Packing service is a simple and convenient way to help you stay on top of this.

Our MyDNA Medication Test reveals what medicines are better suited to your body, which medicines may have fewer side effects and the optimal dosage of a particular medicine for you. Your DNA contributes to how your body breaks down medicine, so we can liaise with your healthcare professionals to assist them with current and future prescribing decisions. Take your MyDNA test today from $99.

Premenstrual symptoms (PMS) are common for women in the days leading up to their period. Many women report bloating, breast tenderness, irritability, moodiness, cravings and fatigue. If your symptoms are concerning you, regular exercise, 5 servings of vegetables daily and stress reducing techniques are all proven relievers of PMS. For some, traditional herbal medicines are also helpful. Consult with a Naturopath or Herbalist for the best combination for you.

Calanna Whole Health Pharmacy www.calannapharmacy.com.au

Calanna Whole Health Pharmacy www.calannapharmacy.com.au

www.pakmag.com.au | Winter 2020 9

Health

All Things Health Essential Health Checks for Women Keep your body in tip-top condition by staying on top of your essential health checks. Women are recommended to have a general check-up with their GP every year, but there are other things that can be monitored at home.

A cervical screening test is important as it has the ability to pick up signs of irregularities that could lead to cervical cancer if not treated.

It is recommended you have the test every five years, but this may vary depending on the individual. You can also perform self-checks at home on your breasts, and contact your GP if you notice any changes, as well as self-checking your skin frequently and keeping an eye on any changes to moles. It is also recommended that women have an eye health check for glaucoma by the age of 40. It’s also important to have regular check-ups with your GP if you are planning a pregnancy to ensure you are in good health.

Interesting Facts About the Stomach The PH Balance and Mucus in your stomach prevents it from corroding itself.

Depending on your personal or family history, other tests may be required. Preparation is key – look after yourself, and your body will thank you for it many years down the track.

Magnesium to Support Overall Health Ethical Nutrients MEGAZORB Mega Magnesium helps support muscular aches, pains, cramps and spasms where the dietary intake of Magnesium is inadequate.

Key Features • May benefit stress.

• May provide support for muscular aches, pains, cramps and spasms.

• May support energy production.

• May reduce the frequency of migraines after 3 months of supplementation.

• May reduce PMS symptoms, menstrual pain and cramping.

• With 3 grams of amino acid taurine to help support cardiovascular function.

Ethical Nutrients MEGAZORB Mega Magnesium is available at a Calanna Wholehealth Pharmacy near you.

Stop taking this medication if you experience tingling, burning or numbness and see your healthcare practitioner as soon as possible. Always read the label. Use only as directed. If symptoms persist consult your healthcare professional. Vitamins and minerals are supplementary to and not a replacement for a balanced diet.

It’s one of your immune system’s first lines of defence. The acidity in your stomach sterilises whatever you’re eating, and kills off bacteria and food toxins.

When you swallow your food, you also swallow small amounts of air with it. The way your stomach gets rid of all this air is by burping.

When we blush, our stomach blushes too. Because the blood flow increases, our stomach lining turns reddish.

You can promote good stomach health by eating small meals, avoiding carbonated drinks and eating a diet rich in fruits and veggies.

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

www.pakmag.com.au | Winter 2020 11

Health

All Things Health Health Benefits of Pineapples Pineapples are a deliciously sweet tropical fruit, and luckily for us, they’re also packed with health benefits. Let’s explore a few.

Loaded with antioxidants – Antioxidants are molecules that help your body combat disease, and pineapples are full of them.

May ease digestion – Pineapples contain digestive enzymes known as bromelain which may help break down protein molecules.

May boost immunity – Because of their high vitamin, mineral and enzyme content, they may collectively help boost your immunity.

Natural Remedies for Bloating Bloating generally happens when gas builds up in the stomach or intestines, and is often caused by digestive issues, hormonal changes or diet.

It often resolves itself, but can be uncomfortable in the meantime. Here are some home remedies you can try.

May help reduce cancer risk – The progress of cancer is commonly linked to oxidative stress and chronic inflammation. Pineapples contain bromelain, which is known to minimise oxidative stress.

Several studies have shown that bromelain suppresses cancer in various areas of the body, but more research is needed.

May ease arthritis symptoms – The bromelain in pineapples has anti-inflammatory properties, and it’s commonly thought that they may provide pain relief for those with arthritis.

As you can see, there are plenty of reasons to include this fine fruit into your diet (or shall we call them fineapples?). To get your serving of goodness, try incorporating pineapple into salads, smoothies, on top of yoghurt with some muesli or on homemade pizza (come on, it’s pretty good, admit it).

Yoga – Poses such as the child’s pose, happy baby pose and squats position the abdomen in such a way that encourages the release of the excess gas, which can reduce bloating.

Peppermint – May help relax the intestinal muscles, making peppermint capsules helpful for indigestion-related gas.

Massage – Massaging the abdomen can help get the bowels moving, especially massages that follow the path of the large intestine.

Have a warm bath – Relaxing in a warm bath not only reduces stress levels, it may also provide relief for a sore abdomen or ease bloating.

12 Winter 2020 | www.pakmag.com.au

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

The Thing Is

The Thing Is with Bree James It’s nearly 10pm, and it’s the first time in weeks that I have had a moment to myself to put my thoughts onto paper. The only reason I’ve lasted ‘til this hour of the night, is because I had a 15 minute powernap in the middle of the day as I had momentarily given up on trying to be mum, chef, personal assistant, nurse, teacher’s aide, cleaner, cheerleader, animal wrangler, detective, therapist, boss, wife, daughter and mediator.

The thing is, it’s exhausting! You get to the end of the day not knowing where it went or what you did, and sometimes it’s been such a blur that you look at your children still in their PJ’s at 6pm and think to yourself “at least they’re ready for bed at a reasonable hour tonight”.

I went to do grocery shopping the other night. Because physically I’ve really let myself go, late night food shopping when it’s pretty empty is more appealing to me.

So bum bag on with my “sanny” hanging off the side, I put on my white Michael Jackson washable gloves and I am raring to go. Sexy as. I shop like a crazy lady possessed as there is only thirty minutes to get in and out before the place closes.

I rush through the aisles like a racecar driver with a busted wheel (I am never one to score a trolley that steers straight). I rush to the counter and start unloading my loot with 5 minutes to spare, what a legend I think to myself. I stack that conveyer belt like a bricklayer with hot bricks (and my butt crack is likely showing too).

Then I realise, I’ve left my bloomin’ shopping bags in the car. I tell the lady “Forgot my bags, I’ll be right back”.

Before she can answer I run for it. “Whoa exercise! How many hats can I bring into my food shopping trip…go girl, multitasking again” I think to myself as I am running like Forest Gump to my car.

Like a message from the universe, 10 steps in my trusty thong blows out. Not defeated, I start dragging one leg like I’ve been shot. I look down, and notice I am wearing two different thongs, I keep going, and I grab my trusty reusable bags like a war on waste warrior and make my way back to the checkout. I breath heavily but smile as there is still stuff on the conveyer belt. I made it-I am a legend. But ALAS. Now I have to stuff my bags too, they don’t fill bags if you BYO. So, I drag my foot down to the other end of the register so fast, I create static electricity and zap myself. I’m sweating, but my white gloves remind me not to touch my face, so I use my upper arm to wipe my forehead and wow- someone forgot deodorant. It gives me the boost I need to hurry up and get the heck out of there. I start shoving my purchases into bags like I’ve won a free 1-minute shopand-grab promo and of course now my trolley looks like I am one of those terrible hoarders.

I pay and get out of there as fast as my one dragging leg walk will allow.

As I drive home, I think to myself - WOW! Never in my wildest dreams did I ever imagine that getting the food I needed for my family would be my biggest achievement and challenge for a day. It’s truly the simplest of things that I have taken for granted for so long, that are most important. This really is a time to be grateful for so, so much.

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

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16 Winter 2020 | www.pakmag.com.au

Advertiser Feature

Local Produce Recipes

Chicken and Wild Rice Soup RECIPE Lenard's Chicken Ingredients 500g Lenard’s Skinless Chicken Breast 6 cups chicken stock 1 cup wild rice 2 large carrots, peeled and chopped 1 medium yellow onion, peeled and chopped

½ tsp rosemary ½ tsp thyme 2 garlic cloves, minced Salt and pepper to taste Parsley 2 cups milk ½ cup flour (all purpose) 5 Tbsp butter

Method Place chicken breast (whole), chicken stock, carrots, onion, wild rice, rosemary, thyme and garlic into the slow cooker. Cover and cook for 4 hours on the high setting, or 8 hours on the low setting.

When there are 30 minutes of cooking time left, remove the chicken. Shred it with two forks, then add it back into the slow cooker.

In a saucepan on medium heat, melt the butter. Add the flour and let it cook for a minute before slowly adding in the milk. Stir continuously until there are no lumps.

Add the mixture to the slow cooker, stirring to combine.

Add additional milk or water if you would prefer a thinner consistency. Season with salt and pepper.

Garnish with parsley.

Meet the Local Owners: Visit Lenard’s Chicken in Redlynch and say hello to local owner Allison, or head on down to Lenard’s Chicken in Raintrees and speak to local owner Suria.

Lenard's Redlynch, Shop T32 Redlynch Central Shopping Centre, 20 Larsen Road, Redlynch Q 4870 Lenard's Raintrees, Shop T2 Raintrees Shopping Centre, Alfred Street, Manunda Q 4870

Ham and Three Cheese Pasta Bake RECIPE Michelle Bell-Turner, Mungalli Creek Dairy Ingredients 250g penne pasta 125g ham, diced 2 cups Mungalli Creek Bio-Dynamic, Organic Milk 60g butter 40g flour (all purpose)

175g Mungalli Creek Fetta Cheese 125g Mungalli Creek Quark 125g Mungalli Creek Ricotta ½ tsp salt ¼ tsp black pepper

Method Preheat the oven to 180°C. Have a greased baking dish ready.

Bring a large pot of salted water to boil. Add the pasta and cook for 8 to 10 minutes or until done, then drain.

In another pot over medium heat, melt the butter. Stir in the flour and pepper and cook until smooth.

Slowly add in the milk, then bring to a boil. Reduce heat and let the sauce simmer.

Add all of the cheese and ham. Stir frequently until sauce reaches desired thickness.

Combine pasta and sauce into one pot, stirring well. Pour into the baking dish.

Bake in the oven for 25 minutes or until the top is slightly crispy.

Mungalli Creek Dairy www.mungallicreekdairy.com.au

www.pakmag.com.au | Winter 2020 17

Explore

World Taste Bud Tour We are all looking for meal inspiration, and it couldn’t hurt if it comes at an affordable price too. Here are some tasty family favourites from around the globe, that you may not have had a for a long time or at all. Travel around the World with your taste buds without leaving home and best of all, many of these can be made in the slow cooker or in no time at all.

Travel restrictions due to COVID-19 means that we are not able to take holidays overseas like some of us had originally planned to. That doesn’t mean that you can’t be transported there with your taste buds and enjoy the local dishes of those countries. These recipes will give you a taste of each destination, and they make great warm, filling meals during winter. Most of them are easy to prepare and you can even get the kids involved (and keep them busy) by giving you a helping hand in the kitchen, encouraging them to practice vital cooking skills that will be useful for their future. The meals are well-known and come with some interesting facts, so you could also use the experience to learn more about the history of each dish and each country as a family.

For full recipes of these tasty delights, visit www.pakmag.com.au and check out the 'Food' section of our Blog

Texas - Chilli Con Carne

Hungary - Beef Goulash

Chilli Con Carne is a very well-known spicy stew, originating in either Mexico or Texas and becoming a staple for many. The stew can easily be prepared and cooked in a slow cooker on either high or low heat.

This is another hearty, tasty meal that began with humble cowherds in Hungary and eventually become loved by many. It doesn’t require much preparation and can be left in the slow cooker for hours to get flavoursome, tender beef.

Germany - Curry Wurst (Curried Sausages)

Thailand - Thai Style Pumpkin Soup

Currywurst is an iconic German dish that was introduced around the 1950’s. It is easy to make and yet bursts with flavour. All you need are a few ingredients, then leave it to the slow cooker to do the rest of the work. Serve with mashed potato or chips.

Pumpkin soup is beloved everywhere, but this Thai recipe puts a spin on it by adding spice. It’s packed with flavour without being too hot and doesn’t take long to cook, though it’s one that you won’t be using the slow cooker for.

18 Winter 2020 | www.pakmag.com.au

Explore

China - Fried Rice

Italy - Chicken Cacciatore

Fried rice dishes are popular throughout the world but are believed to have come out of China a long time ago, as rice was a staple grain. Using a pan, it combines rice with meats and vegetables of your choice for a tasty meal.

This meal was made by Italian hunters, using whatever game they had caught or one of their own chickens. Although it requires a little bit of extra preparation time, it’s tasty, filling and easy to cook in a slow cooker.

Russia - Beef and Mushroom Stroganoff

United Kingdom Jacket Potatoes

First made in Russia in the 1800’s, stroganoff is now cooked in many countries in a variety of ways. This recipe is slightly more complicated than other stews but it’s so versatile and can be paired with almost anything eg. rice, egg noodles, braised cabbage, potatoes, salad or garlic bread.

These are simple, baked potatoes that can be stuffed with different ingredients for a delicious meal.

Often sold in the mid-19th Century on the streets of the England, they take little time to make, yet taste so good.

My First Cookbook and Other Great Resources As parents we tend to cook our children’s meals, but it’s a great idea to start encouraging them to get involved in the cooking process early on, with you teaching or simply helping them. This means that when they get older and move out, they can make themselves nutritious and delicious meals rather than relying on takeaways or quick fixes. The First Cookbook downloadable allows your child to choose the meals they want to learn to make and then collate the information in one place. You can find it at www.pakmag.com.au There is also a range of other free handy resources on the PakMag website including a printable kitchen conversion chart, a lunchbox planner and more!

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All Things Tweens and Teens

All Things Tweens & Teens Why Lie?

Life After High School

Teenagers lie – it’s just a part of adolescence. In fact, they lie more than any other age group, with up to 96 per cent of adolescents having told a lie to their parents at some point. This increase in dishonesty may be due to changes in the brain.

We all go to school for a minimum of 12 years. We then become adults and suddenly, our lives are in our own hands – which is as exciting as it is terrifying.

So, why do teenagers lie? Generally speaking, most teens will lie to get out of trouble, to protect their privacy, as a way to protect others’ feelings because they believe their parents’ rules are unfair or to establish their independence. Don’t worry parents, it’s all normal. Plus, as they enter early adulthood, emotional regulation and impulse control will improve, meaning they will lie less.

Stay Fresh with Modibodi

One of the most important tasks you’ll ever do as a parent is preparing your teen for life after high school. There are a number of options for your teen once they finish Year 12, including going into further study (university or TAFE), going straight into work (such as an apprenticeship or traineeship), or taking some time off.

Have a sit down with your teenager and chat about what they’d like to do after school. It’s okay to bring up your concerns, but ultimately, be supportive of their decisions. Answer any questions that may come up, and offer to sit with them to help them on their path – whether that means Get applying to universities or writing resumes.

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All Things Tweens and Teens

The Link Between Nutrition and Acne STORY Dr Leona Yip Acne is very common amongst younger people, particularly teenagers. There are a lot of myths regarding if and how much your diet may make your acne worse. Evidence in recent years does suggest a link between diet and acne breakouts, though this link is still debated and is still being researched. In particular, dairy products (especially cow’s milk) and high GI (glycaemic index) foods including processed foods, refined sugars and carbs such white rice, white bread, potatoes, and pasta can cause dramatic fluctuations or rapid spikes in blood sugar levels. They are considered to be involved in an increase of acne because these food groups cause a rise in insulin growth factor (IGF-1) hormone levels in the bloodstream, causing excess skin sebum (skin oil) production that aggravates acne.

Although a popular myth, it isn’t true that greasy foods such as burgers, fries, and pizza worsen acne as they aren’t connected with an increase in skin sebum production. However, working in a greasy environment such as a fast food kitchen may increase the risk of breakouts due to the grease clogging skin pores and causing skin inflammation. Another myth is that chocolate causes acne – again, not true!

A well-balanced diet with whole foods such as whole grains, legumes, nuts, fruits, and vegetables is generally good for the skin and may lead to fewer acne breakouts due to their anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects.

Some people also say that reducing dairy, processed foods and sugar intake help to reduce breakouts. There is some suggestion that whey-protein shakes may also cause breakouts as they increase certain hormone levels that cause more skin sebum production. If you think any of these foods aggravate your breakouts, avoiding or reducing their intake may help. Even if it does not seem to better your acne, it helps to reduce the number of things that could be causing your acne and therefore make it easier to treat.

It is important to note that whilst these dietary changes may prevent acne breakouts in some people, it doesn’t always work for everyone. The improvements with dietary changes also vary, and for most people their acne isn’t fixed by changing diets. This is because acne formation is multi-factorial and involves an interplay between genetics, hormones, and the C. acnes skin bacteria. For many, medical treatment is needed to properly clear acne, which can include medication.

A dermatologist can help you figure out what products you should be using for your skin and give you advice as to how to reduce or get rid of your breakouts.

Dr Leona Yip is an experienced Consultant Dermatologist based in Brisbane, and has treated numerous individuals with acne across a wide range of age groups over the years. You can visit her website www.drleonayip.com for more information.

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Find the answers at www.pakmag.com.au/answers

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MAKE AN ORIGAMI CRAB All you need is a square sheet of paper!

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Once you have the crab body done, carefully cut out the eyes and glue them on!

Share your creation with us by using the hashtag #PakMag

DRAW A LION 2

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COLOUR BY NUMBERS

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Feature

A World View, Not a Self-View STORY Bree James Ask anyone over the age of 50 what they think about the younger generations, and it’s likely to be something along the lines of “all they care about is themselves”.

companies spend a lot of time working out how to get you hooked). Real life isn’t like this. Teach your child to work hard even though the reward may not be for many days, weeks, months or years later.

In a world obsessed with selfies, it’s understandable why many of us Generation X & Y parents are trying to navigate this new world of parenting. Our childhood was similar to that of our own parents, but so different to that of the children we are raising. We are flying blind with so many parenting issues that our parents never had to deal with, and it’s quite challenging.

Respect for Self, Others, and the Environment

We all want to raise the best kids we can, and we want to encourage our children to be confident. However, we are increasingly aware that this egotistical and selfcentered way of life of the 21st century has the potential to raise a whole generation of little narcissists that only care about themselves. So how can we combat this?

Well, here are three things we’ve found to teach your children that will hopefully help.

No one wants to raise a child that turns into an adolescent or adult that has zero respect for others, the world or for themselves.

To teach children about respect, we need to respect them. Speak to your children like you would to another adult. “I told you to fold the towels properly, now go to your room” wouldn’t work on a house cleaner, so why do we speak like that to our children?

We need to model being respectful at all times, and this is not easy to do. So, take some time to think about respect and what that means to you and how you want to teach and model manners and respect for yourself, others and the world. Work out how you will teach this to your children.

Contribution and a Focus on Giving One of the best ways to move on from being self-focused is to foster ways of how you can serve others. Contribution can be defined as a sense of service and focus on helping, giving to and supporting others. Many people who have everything they want in life who feel like they are ‘missing something’ are searching for something where they can make a difference and contribute to others.

Self-Discipline Many children have very little self-discipline. They are used to getting what they want straight away, and rarely go without. If children aren’t taught the skill of delaying gratification, how to have self-discipline and be responsible as a child, they will likely turn into adults that overeat, overspend, and overuse technology.

They are likely to live an unhappy life addicted to things they can’t control like eating, spending, and gaming – or worse, drugs, alcohol, and porn.

Gaming, the internet and social media has increased our addiction to getting little rewards all the time for our efforts. Every “like” or “notification” gives us a little dopamine hit that is very addictive (and all tech

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Teaching children to do acts of service for others is a great way for them to learn about doing what they can to make the world a better place. Whether it be picking up rubbish, volunteering at a sports or charity event, donating money to a homeless person or selling raffle tickets to fundraise for their school, everything helps.

This focus on helping others and making a difference fosters a love of giving and making a difference in the lives of others. Every little act makes the world a better place and it makes them feel good too.

In the end, there are obviously so many things we can teach our children so that they care about others, the world and themselves. We’re sure many of us could also do with re-learning a few of these tips too!

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Feature

Breaking Habits and Building Your Ideal Life STORY Bree James Achievement isn’t about luck, it’s about lots of small considered actions. Your decisions shape your destiny.

Every day we make thousands of decisions, many of them subconscious, that will either take you to the life you desire or one that you detest.

It’s the little decisions that shape our lives, from what you eat, how you spend your time and who you spend it with, what you spend your money on and how you start your day that determines the life you end up with.

Smart Spending Every dollar you spend today is costing you nearly $5 in 20 years, and just over $10 in 30 years. How? Well, if you had a dollar and invested it at 8%, in 20 years it would be valued at $4.66.

Here are a few ways small decisions daily can add up to be something amazing you didn’t expect.

So think about that five dollar a day coffee habit you have. This could add up to $1825 a year, which if invested and compounded at 8% would give you $92,021.83 in 20 years. So, now when you buy something for $5, remember it’s a value of $25 in 20 years and it may just make you reconsider that unnecessary purchase.

Healthy Eating

Learn, Learn, Learn

According to researchers at Cornell University, everyone makes roughly 226 decisions each day on food alone.

It’s your choice whether you invest in learning for 30 minutes a day, or invest in watching TV for thirty minutes a day (or more). That investment of 30 minutes a day adds up to 182 hours of learning something new.

If you went to the gym every day and ate a perfect diet for 30 days straight, you wouldn’t notice a difference on day one. You wouldn’t notice a difference after a week.

You would probably start to notice a difference after two weeks, but no one else would, and maybe others would notice after a month.

It’s the same with our kids. If they practice their time tables or musical instrument every day, there is no doubt they will improve. If we read to our child every night for 15 minutes, that will add up to nearly 100 hours of teaching them how to read in one year.

Do you want to master a skill? One researcher said it takes 10,000 hours to master a skill, which translates to about nine years (five days a week, spending four hours a day).

Same goes if you ate a chocolate cookie every day.

Maybe you started out at 60 kilos, but if you ate a cookie every day for 30 days, you’d likely put on a couple of kilos. Do that for a few years and it will be quite a few more. Small committed changes with our health can make a massive impact, but like the Pantene Ad tells us, “it won’t happen overnight, but it will happen”. Think about the small improvements you can make to your health that over time will have a massive impact.

They say it can take six months to develop a new skill, or 20 hours to learn a skill “to perform well enough for your own purposes” such as playing guitar.

So, think about your time, and how much you invest in learning. You could be playing guitar for the family or on stage in no time, or still watching old episodes of Friends that you’ve seen before. The decision is yours.

That’s the power of small decisions, and if you aren’t careful, one sneaky bad habit can take you miles off course from where you want to go. Don’t sleep walk through your choices. You’ve learned every habit you have, so you can unlearn them too. Good luck.

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Feature

Life Hacks to Save Time and Your Sanity STORY Annamarie Booysen Being a parent can be hard enough as it is without the added stress of keeping on top of daily tasks. The more there is to do, the more it can take away from quality time with the family, which is one of the best parts of being a parent. And, we know how hard it is to remember things in the craziness of regular family life.

To make things a little easier, we have put together some time saving hacks that can help you get everything done and still have time for fun.

For the Kitchen Create a ‘menu plan’ so that shopping and organising your week is 100 times easier. Plan everything out on the day, or even start a couple of days before you go shopping, saving you the pain of having to come up with dinner ideas on the day. We have a handy Meal plan and shopping list downloadable available at www.pakmag.com.au/downloadables.

Also, cooking in bulk once a week for multiple meals throughout the week. You can also pre- chop things that you can (like carrots) to have them ready to grab and cook to reduce cooking preparation time each day.

Another tip: cook extra so it can be an easy grab frozen meal, or lunch the next day.

Preparing a list of foods you can cook and from what country or downloading “Travelling Taste Buds” from www.pakmag.com.au/downloadables - a list of great recipes from around the World you can try and have on hand to help planning meals easier and include variety.

Make a DIY recipe book with your favourite recipes. Print them off and collate them in a clear folder or a binder, so you don’t have to look up each recipe every time. A lot of us have recipe books with bookmarks because we don’t use every recipe, so why not look up the same recipe and print it, or rip the pages of the recipes out that you want and put them together! You can find a template for creating your own family cookbook or a cookbook for your child to take with them when they leave home on our website at www.pakmag.com.au/downloadables To help kids make healthy food choices and reduce the amount of time spent on discussions with them about what they can/ can’t cook/ eat- try introducing the ‘‘I’m Hungry” Menu Ideas List’ that you can fill out and print.

Your child can then select food from the list of snacks and lunch options to make healthy choices for themselves.

Pack simple sandwiches in advance and put them in the freezer ready to go - pop them in the lunch box and they are defrosted by lunch time (works for cakes and muffins too) Start shopping online. This is a great way to avoid forgetting things you need or impulse buying. When you go out grocery shopping, especially with kids, it is more rushed and stressful. Shopping online lets you take as much time as you need, plus you can get up however many times you want to double check the pantry.

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For the Laundry Have a basket for each family member when you take the washing off the line and sort it as you go. Saves double handling.

Fold clothes vertically so you can see every item in a draw. Turn coat hangers one way, then when you wear it put the hanger back the other way. At the end of a few months get rid of the clothes that you aren’t wearing Fold your sheet sets into one of the pillow cases so they are all together to grab and go when you need to change the beds.

For the Family Double sheet your kid’s beds so that if they wet the bed in the middle of the night, you have another mattress protector and sheet set underneath, ready to go.

Use an old fitted sheet when the kids are playing with LEGO, put four boxes in the corners so the sheet faces up, and sit them in the middle. When they’ve finished, remove the boxes, scoop up the sheet holding the LEGO - and voila no more LEGO (empty into a container or store in the sheet).

Visit www.pakmag.com.au/downloadables for a printable template of the My Daily Task Board or as we like to call it in our house ‘The Nag Board’. It’s a magnetic white board that you create your own magnets for with your family’s daily tasks. You can put everything on there that you usually ask (or nag) your family about day and night. Everything from “put your shoes on”, to “clean your teeth” and “feed your pets”.

Simply create a magnet (chop up old magnets and relabel them with the tasks), then divvy your whiteboard into two columns WHAT and DONE, then halve the board so it has morning and afternoon. The family member simply moves the task over to “done” when they have completed the board for the day. Then you only have to nag them to “do the board” and you can see at a glance who has done what, and less things get forgotten! Simply reset the board once they go to bed for the next day.

For You Teach everyone in your house to write down (or tell you to write down) when you are running out of something so that you don’t spend time doing an audit of your house to do a shopping list.

Have bags ready. Eg. nappy bags, repack when you get home so it’s always ready to go. Picnic sets, activity bags (like going to the beach) always repack these as soon as possible so they are always ready to go with sunscreen, activities and more.

We will have more helpful Time Saving Life Hacks in the next edition of Pakmag. If you have a life hack that you’d like to share email editorial@pakmag.com.au and it could feature!

Feature

Protect and Recharge Your Personal Battery STORY Bec Dent Take a moment to check in with yourself right now.

How are you feeling? There’s a good chance you haven’t stopped to think about how you are doing, whilst trying to take care of everyone else around you.

Not feeling like ‘you’?

Could your energy do with a little boost?

There’s a lot of things going on right now that can quite easily drain your personal battery; stress, anxiety, juggling work, being a parent and keeping everyone else together, even when you feel yourself falling apart.

It can be exhausting… So how can you do it all and still protect, conserve and recharge your own battery?

Choosing who and what to give your energy to is a large part.

Try asking yourself these simple questions: • What/who gives me energy?

• What/who drains my energy?

It’s important to value the energy you have and not give it away to situations and people that are simply not worth it. Being aware of how you feel in certain situations and with certain people, and whether your battery is being drained or replenished, will help you start choosing people and activities that fill you up.

With that in mind: be aware of "energy vampires" – like some situations, there are certain people who will literally suck the energy out of you to replenish their own stores, usually without them even knowing.

You may have even done it yourself at times, and that’s okay. You can turn those negative vibes around, starting with learning to recognise the signs when you feel it happening and taking action asap to neutralise the negativity. Remember: we all have low points, it’s not healthy to stay there. If you are having trouble shifting the low mood or energy, you can seek help from a medical professional, contact Lifeline

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www.lifeline.org.au - 13 11 14 or Beyond Blue www.beyondblue.org.au - 1300 22 4636.

How do you know if someone has a negative energy or not? Think of a person you love being around. Now think of how you feel when you are with them. Are you light? Happy? Energetic? Those positive people can help recharge you. Sharing positive energy multiplies the energy, so, nothing is lost in the exchange. Negative people and situations do the opposite; they drain you.

We’ve all heard the term ’good vibes only’ – but there’s more to that than a catchy phrase.

When you are ‘vibing’ either on your own, with someone or a situation- it simply means your energy frequencies are matching and synching up and when they do, they can get even larger- increasing the energy. Hence why some people energise you. If you aren’t ‘vibing’, your vibrations, or frequencies are out of synch and the vibrations get cancelled out. Just like the principle of sound cancellation where sound waves are one-half of a wavelength out of synch. This means they cancel each other out and there would be no sound.

We’ve all been there, in a ‘no vibe zone.’ And that is the place you need to avoid the most. Surround yourself with people you ‘vibe with.’

Being aware of how you feel in certain situations and with certain people, tapping into those feelings (tuning into yourself) and noticing your battery being drained or replenished will help you start choosing people and activities that fill you up. This does mean you’ll need to make some tough decisions and cut the toxic from your life. But remember, by removing things and people that don’t serve you, and by that, I mean they don’t play a positive role or provide value to your life, you make room for things that will.

Think of your life as a cup and you only have so much room, and if you fill it with the negative stuff- that’s what your life will be.

Time to Recharge If you are feeling flat - the good news is: your battery is rechargeable, you just need to invest in things to ‘charge you back up,’ like: • Steering clear of those "energy vampires" and don’t fall into the trap yourself.

• Setting healthy boundaries. Remember: your needs are just as important as everyone else’s. Know your limitations and draw a line beyond which you can’t extend yourself to keep the draining influence of other people’s demands at a distance. Reclaim your time and protect your energy like a mama bear would her cub.

• Listen to yourself, look for the signs when your energy may be under attack and take action. What’s going on in your mind, what’s your self-talk like?

What are the attitudes of those around you? Are they getting negative? Turn it around: visualise your happy place. Know your stress triggers and find ways to avoid them. Trust your gut. If it doesn’t feel right, don’t do it.

• Neutralise the negativity- create a ‘Mood Movers’ toolbox of things that help turn around your negative

energy (you will identify these over time). You could try visualising the negative energy being washed away when bathing or showering or going for a nature walk.

• Practice self-care - whether that be going for a walk, taking a bath, doing something you love. Find out how with our great blog at www.pakmag.com.au • Make your home a sanctuary- fill it with colours, textures and scents you love. Have spaces dedicated to things you love doing eg. art, music, meditation, yoga etc. You can go to these places when needed to centre yourself and recharge.

• Clean your physical and mental spaces.

• Don’t spend energy on things you can’t control, release yourself from that responsibility.

• Surround yourself with good vibes - with good people, places and doing things that feel good!

Don’t feel guilty for feeling good - that should be your ‘normal’.

Further Reading and Resources At www.pakmag.com.au, if you head to the 'downloadables' section (under 'freebies'), you will find a whole range of free helpful goodies, including: My Gratitude Guide - print off this resource, write a list of all the things you are grateful for and place it on your mirror to be reminded of all the good in your life.

My Mood Movers - another great printable resource to write all the things in your toolbox that can turn your negative energy around.

Both of these great resources have been inspired by My Vision Book – a great tool (which includes these activities and more) for creating the life you want.

Head to www.myvisionbook.com.au for more information.

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Craft

www. thecraftingchicks.com

www.firefliesandmudpies.com

Jar Upcycling Projects for Kids

Apple Glitter Jars

Jungle in a Jar

What You Need

What You Need

Medium sized jar (including lid) Green paint Red Glitter Hot glue gun and glue sticks Glitter Glue or clear glue

Large jar (with lid) Moss, soil and leaves Small pebbles Thin, small sticks

Green felt A stick Warm water Scissors Pruners

Styrofoam block / Styrofoam balls Hot glue gun Small, artificial or real plants Small rainforest animal figurines

Method

www. thecraftingchicks.com

Pour ¼ cup glue into the jar. Once settled, add 1 ½ tablespoons of red glitter and stir gently.

Pour warm water into the jar until it is filled up.

Screw the lid onto the jar – you can also glue it down with the hot glue gun.

www.firefliesandmudpies.com

Method

Use scissors to cut out a small green leaf from the felt.

Cut your stick down to 5cm using the pruners. This will be the apple’s stem. Use the glue gun to stick the leaf onto the stem, towards the bottom of it. Glue the stem to the lid of the mason jar.

Shake the jar and watch the glitter spread!

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Cut a circle of Styrofoam, 1-2cm thick, (it doesn’t need to be perfect size or shape) and glue it to the underside of the jar’s lid. Make sure to not cover the sides of the lid where the jar will be screwed in. If you have Styrofoam balls, use as many as you need and glue them down next to each other.

Cover the Styrofoam with some glue. Stick the soil and moss, or soil and thin artificial leaves onto it.

Place plants and sticks wherever you want. Put glue on the bottom of the plant stems and sticks, then poke them into the Styrofoam.

Glue down the pebbles and animals. If you have frog figurines you can even glue them onto the plants above ground. Slowly and gently place the jar over the lid.

Twist until secure.

www.madincrafts.com

www.creativegreenliving.com

Craft

Unicorn Planter

Adorable Narwhal Jar

What You Need

What You Need

Medium or large sized jar Black, pink and white paint Paintbrush 4 felt sheets in green, pink, purple, blue

Mod Podge Foam sheet (10cm x 10cm) Scissors Hot glue gun and glue sticks Real or artificial succulents

Small – medium sized jar White modelling clay Grey, white, blue and black acrylic plaint Paintbrush Hot glue gun and glue sticks

Method

Method

Paint the jar white. You may need to use a couple of coats. Make sure you let the coat dry before placing another coat over it.

Warm modelling clay up in your hands. Roll the clay into four separate balls.

Once dry, paint over the jar with Mod Podge, or you can get a spray version. This will protect the paint from water. Use black paint for closed eyes and eyelashes.

Pink paint is perfect to create the rosy cheeks.

Shape one ball into the horn and two balls into the flippers – these should be shaped like a tear drop.

Lastly, take the biggest ball of clay and shape it into the tale, which should look roughly like a love heart.

Cut the foam sheet into the horn. Hot glue the horn and ears to the mason jar. Glue leaves to the bottom of the flowers, then glue them onto the jar as pictured.

www.madincrafts.com

www.creativegreenliving.com

Cut the felt as pictured for the flowers, leaves and ears.

For flowers, take the outer end of the spiral and begin rolling it until you reach the centre. Place glue on the bottom of the flower and place a little circle of felt over it.

Bake the clay according to the directions on the package. While it is baking, paint the mason jar blue.

Paint the ring of the jar lid a light grey colour and place it onto the jar. Use that same colour to paint half a circle onto the bottom of the jar where it meets the ring (under where the narwhale’s face will be). Paint the flippers and tale the same blue colour you used for the jar. Paint the horn grey. Use the hot glue gun to stick these onto the jar.

Use the black paint to create a smiley face.

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Parenting

Strategies for Successful Transitions Between Activities STORY Dr Rosina McAlpine, CEO Win Win Parenting Do you find it challenging to get the kids to stop what they’re doing to start on a new activity, like leaving for pre-school so you’re not late for work, coming to the dinner table so it doesn’t get cold, or starting their bedtime routine so they get a good night’s sleep? Do you have to ask multiple times and end up raising your voice, especially if it’s to stop your child’s screen time?

If you answered yes to some or all of those questions, you’re not alone. Your child may just be struggling to transition between activities.

Finding Empathy and Understanding Transitions are not easy for any of us - child or adult alike. When you’re writing an email or report and you’re suddenly interrupted and required to do something less fun like attend a meeting, manage a work problem or take out the garbage at home, you probably wouldn’t like that transition.

When we put it like that and stand in our children’s shoes, it helps parents and carers to be a little more

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Parenting

compassionate and mindful when asking children to take their full attention off what they’re happily doing and transition to something they may not enjoy as much.

Having said all of this, there are still ways to make those transitions more successful.

Simple Steps for Successful Transitions Before your child starts an activity – Explain the schedule and get them to “agree” to the schedule.

For example, you can say something such as “you can watch 30 minutes of your favourite show before dinner, but then we need to turn it off to sit at the table and have dinner together, OK?” Have a visual timer nearby – For instance, an hourglass where sand flows with the passage of time or a countdown time so the child can start to be aware of time passing.

Observe them quietly - Eight to ten minutes before your child needs to transition from one activity to the next, go to where your child is and stand beside or behind and observe them quietly for a minute or so. This will give you the opportunity to gather “intel” and see what they’re up to. Eventually they may notice you – this is great as you have already moved them from being completely immersed in their own world to coming back to the world where you are!

Start a discussion by encouraging your child(ren) to tell you what they’re doing. They’re usually happy to share and engage with you. If not, it might require more direct questions to begin with to start the conversation.

Let your child(ren) know how long they have left to do the activity. For instance, offer them five minutes and outline the next activity as “enticingly” as you can.

For example, you might say “It’s nearly dinner time and I’ve cooked your favourite tonight”, or “Let’s go and have a bath so you can choose a book to read before bed”.

Sing or dance in the transition. Make it a fun song in a funny voice. If your child seems excited, simply explain you’ll stay and wait here with them until time’s up and you’ll go to the next activity together. It’s best not to leave them and then have to shout multiple times from afar – this doesn’t tend to work and may even make things worse.

Ask them how you can help - If your children don’t agree to willingly stop what they’re doing to go to the next activity - which is often the case, ask how you can help them to end this activity so they can move to the next smoothly. For example, with a Minecraft or LEGO build, write down the next steps so they don’t forget. Reassure them when they can come back to it later or tomorrow or on the weekend – whatever the case may be.

Remind them of the agreement – If they still disagree and there’s shouting, complaining or the tears start to flow, come back at a later time when things are calm and remind them of their “agreement” about smooth transitions, the importance of self-regulation, respecting time limits and being responsible.

Be patient. It may not happen quickly, but over time your child(ren) will learn the skills they need to self-regulate and be able to peacefully transition from one activity to the next. Self-regulation is one of the key life skills for a happy, healthy and successful life for your child.

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

42 Winter 2020 | www.pakmag.com.au

Advertorial

A Great Love for Discovery The Pre-Prep Program at Townsville Grammar School is the first possible entry point to accessing a Grammar education, and the beginning of a great love for discovery.

As one of eight Grammar schools in Queensland, Townsville Grammar School’s Principal, Mr Timothy Kelly, said a Grammar education is an experience designed to open young minds to discovery and learning, as well as providing a rich environment for personal development.

“We are proud to have supported generations of families in our 132-year history through our commitment to delivering exceptional education,” said Mr Kelly.

“Delivered at the early education centres of the Junior School Campuses in Annandale and North Shore, Mr Kelly says the pre-prep program is a popular starting point for families wishing to access a Grammar education. “It is the earliest entry point and a fantastic foundation years for the children as they move into prep,” said Mr Kelly.

The program is led by Director of Early Education, Ms Cyndi Friend, and delivered by her team of university qualified teachers and diploma-level educators who are passionate about educating children within this age group.

“Year after year we bid fond farewells to our pre-preps as they very confidently and excitedly leave us to move into prep,” said Ms Friend. “Our structure ensures that the children are very carefully introduced to learning through play-based programs with a ‘progress without pressure’ ethos. Towards the end of the year, our pre-preps start to visit our prep classrooms and join in with some of the specialist lessons such as music, drama, sport, library and languages.

“We do this so that the children get to know the teachers and become familiar with the layout of the campus and the routines of school life. Over the course of the year, our pre-preps also join in with some of the major school events such as sports carnivals, art shows and concerts. It’s a very effective way of transitioning our youngest Grammarians to life in “the big school,” ensuring that their entry to the prep year is a smooth process.”

“This is where it begins,” said Mr Kelly. “This is where children enter our school system and begin to become familiar with our community, our culture and our Grammar learning ethos. This is where we must capture their imagination and instil a great sense of wonder for discovery and learning.”

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Advertiser Feature

Toilet Roll Craft Projects the Kids will Love

Cute Bumble Bee What You Need

Rocket ships

Cardboard toilet roll Yellow paint Paintbrush Black, white and yellow paper Black and pink pencils Hot glue gun and glue sticks

What You Need

Method Paint the cardboard roll with the yellow paint and set it aside to dry.

To make the wings, cut four tear drop shapes out of the white paper, making sure two of the drops are larger than the other two (for top and bottom wings). Cut the antennae and two thin strips out of the black paper.

These strips should be long enough to wrap around the roll of cardboard.

To make the bee’s face, take the yellow paper and cut a circle from it. Use a black pencil to draw the eyes and smiley face on the circle and the pink pencil to draw the heart cheeks. You could also cut out two small hearts from pink paper and glue them on, should you wish.

Once the paint on the cardboard is dry, take the two strips of black paper and run a glue stick along one side.

Then, wrap the freshly glued strips around the lower half of the roll, roughly 2cm apart. Use the hot glue gun to stick the wings, face and antennae onto the roll as pictured and then you’ve got a cute bumble bee!

Tip: Cutting the shapes out of the paper is easier if you draw them with a pencil first. When gluing the wings, place all the points together in the centre.

48 Winter 2020 | www.pakmag.com.au

Blue and white paint Dark blue and white paper Paintbrush Red, yellow and black colouring pencils Scissors Method Paint a couple of toilet rolls blue and white, then set aside to dry.

Cut all of the shapes that you need out of the different coloured paper, using the picture for reference. This includes the fins, the white wings and nose of the rocket, any windows and doors that you don’t want to draw on, plus the flames. To make the pointy ‘hat’ for the rockets, cut a circle out of the paper then cut a triangle wedge out of it (like a slice of pie). Bring each side of the disk together to make the cone shape and glue them together.

Using your colouring in pencils, colour the shapes according to the pictures (or however you feel- it’s your rocket after all). Feel free to mix and match what colours you use for the different parts of the rocket (leaving the coloured paper as it is).

Stick each part of the rocket onto the cardboard roll using the hot glue gun.

Tip: Cut two thin lines into the bottom of the toilet roll and insert the fins into them. This is easier than trying to glue them on.

Set Your Child Up for Success with High-Quality Early Education Mary MacKillop North Queensland Kindergartens are leading the way in contemporary early learning across North and Western Queensland.

Designed with the child’s experience in mind, their facilities offer a stimulating and nurturing environment tailored to foster play and sensory-based learning.

Interim Executive Director Alana Crouch said “MMCNQ Kindergarten programs strive to offer the highest standard of early education and care. It is a process of continuous improvement; every day our teachers continue to reshape their planning and program to reflect the interests, joys and motivations of the children in their care and cater for the individual learning journeys of each child”.

“Experts agree that children who attend a high-quality early childhood program like the ones we offer have better skills in a variety of areas including literacy, numeracy and problem solving, just to name a few.”

MMCNQ Kindergartens take the whole child into account.

Children learn at different paces and in different ways. It is our job to provide the best environment for naturally developing their social skills through making friends, sharing and playing. A lot of learning happens through play and through immersion in natural environments. Being allowed to express themselves through art, science, dance and dramatic play every day is just another example of ways their kindergarten children are exposed to many different learning platforms.

Led by registered teachers and early childhood professionals, MMCNQ Kindergarten programs provide the foundation for your child to develop a love of learning and become confident, competent and successful learners, well on their way to positively transitioning to school.

To enquire about enrolment for 2021 at any of the nine Kindergartens across North and Western Queensland, email enrolment@mmcnq.catholic.edu.au

www.pakmag.com.au | Winter 2020 49