Summer 2017/18

ENINSULA KID P S LOVING FAMILY LIFE ON THE PENINSULA

SUMMER 2017/18

FREE

Things We Love at Christmas

MEGA GIVEAWAY! +

SURF SAFETY

Interview

DEADLY

60’S

STEVE BACKSHALL

KIDS FUN FARM!

Over 60 acres of adventure FUN for kids!

Petting Barn Tractor Rides Mini Golf Pony Rides Adventure Playground Tyre Maze Jumping Pillow Wildlife Park & much more.

Open Wednesday to Sunday 10am–4pm School Holidays Open Everyday 233 Mornington-Tyabb Road, Moorooduc Enter via Stumpy Gully Road www.thebiggoose.com.au

Free towel or swim bag

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Find out more at kingswim.com.au and let us find the perfect time for your FREE introductory lesson.

2 St Catherines Court, Mornington Off Mornington Tyabb Road

* T&Cs apply

Cover Photo Curtis Milk & masuki maybe later romper www.enchantedchild.com.au Summerfields Wetlands, Mornington Photography: Cameron McCullough

Editor

Melissa McCullough

ed’s letter...

How happy is the little stone

Editor and Publisher Melissa McCullough melissa@mpnews.com.au

That rambles in the road alone, And doesn't care about careers, And exigencies never fears;

Creative Director Maria Mirabella maria@mpnews.com.au

Whose coat of elemental brown A passing universe put on;

Advertising Miriam Doe 0421 085 974 miriam@mpnews.com.au

And independent as the sun, Associates or glows alone, Fulfilling absolute decree

Distribution Marilyn Saville marilyn@mpnews.com.au

Maria Mirabella

In casual simplicity.

-Emily Dickinson, Nature, Poem 33: Simplicity

General Enquiries info@peninsulakids.com.au

Welcome to summer and all that goes with it.

All material is copyright, and may not be reproduced without the express permission of Mornington Peninsula News Group, or the original copyright holder in the case of contributions. Copyright of contributed material rests with the contributor.

It’s time to let your hair down, (or tie it up if your acts the way mine does in humid conditions.), and hopefully get some rest and relaxation time with your families and friends.

Disclaimer: The authors and publisher do not assume any liability to any party for any loss, damage, or disruption caused by errors or omissions, whether such errors or omissions result from negligence, accident, or any other cause.

Enjoy the holidays and the simple things.

This publication is not intended as a substitute for the medical advice of physicians. The reader should regularly consult a physician in matters relating to health and particularly with respect to any symptoms that may require diagnosis or medical attention.

Creative Director

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year from the team at MPK!

Distribution

Marilyn Saville

Peninsula Kids is produced quarterly.

15,000 copies distributed between Mordialloc and Portsea.

Registered address: 2/1 Tyabb Road, Mornington 3931

www.facebook.com/MorningtonPeninsulaKids

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Toys

Fashion

Baby

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Contents 66

42

10 Spotlight 10 Steve Backshall

Erica from Kidtown Melbourne chats to the star of Deadly 60.

38 Peninsula Kids Summer Fashion Shoot

Showcasing summer fashion for kids.

20 How Independence-Building is the Pathway to Your Child’s Resilience 54 Mother’s Pride

Techniques from Parenting Ideas Club founder Michael Grose.

Cat and Marissa truly are mothers to each other’s babies.

26 Why you Need to Learn to Tap into Your Intuition 60 The Itch That Keeps on Itching

Accessing and using your intuition provides you with a new hope.

Treating Eczema in the holiday season.

28 The Not So Ugly Stepmother

Step parents are still trying to shed this negative connotation.

66 Surf Safety

Life Saving Victoria wants us to be safe this summer at the beach.

30 How to Deal with an Entitled Teen 72 Teaching Kids to Be Financially Savvy

Michelle Mitchell offers advice on dealing with this turbulent time.

Financial literacy and sound money management skills for kids.

32 Activity Tips for Children

Ideas and suggestions for age-appropriate activities. www.peninsulakids.com.au

7

CONTRIBUTORS Special thanks go to the gorgeous and talented group of contributors who breathe life into every issue by sharing their best with us.

JO FORD

bodybump.com.au

ERICA LOUISE

107

melbourne.kidtown.com.au

116

REBECCA BOWYER

seeingthelighterside.com

Contents

35 64

82 86

Local

Pram Walks for Summer Safety Beach Country Club

Celebrate

Go Glam Basketball Spa Party Ideas for your party

Pregnancy & Baby

Education

90 91 93 96

One in Three New Mothers Granny’s Guide to…Being a Grandparent When Did Parenting Become a Science?

Why Your Breastfed Baby Doesn’t Need Water

100 Fill Your Child’s Resilience Backpack 104 Phun with Foniks

Recipes

105 Recipes with Jodie Blight

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Peninsula Kids – Summer 2017/18

Health

LORRAINE AITKEN

112 The Importance of Hydration 114 Four Tips for a Happy Hat Wearer 116 The Importance of Sun

family-friendly adventurer

Creative

120 Accordian Fans 124 Tulle Pompoms 126 Turtle Ornaments

In Every

Issue

89 48 118 128

Party Planning Things We Love/ Xmas Ask the Experts Book Reviews

MICHAEL GROSE

parentingideas.com.au

YVETTE O’DOWD

bellybelly.com.au/author/yvette-odowd

JO & CARL VIOLETA

www.violetafinance.com.au

Where futures begin Our Early Learning Centre is a nurturing and supportive learning environment that encourages every student to find their passion.

Inspired by the Reggio Emilia philosophy we provide our students the opportunity to learn through curiosity, creative activity, movement and play.

Early Literacy and Numeracy programs Broad curriculum including specialist Art, Music, Library, Science and Movement classes Access to state-of-the-art facilities Small class sizes Extended day care

Discover Early Learning at Toorak College Visit our website or call 9788 7234 to book your tour.

www.toorakcollege.vic.edu.au

AN INTERVIEW WITH

STEVE BACKSHALL STAR OF HIT TV SERIES DEADLY 60 10

Peninsula Kids – Summer 2017/18

ATTENTION

ALL MINI WILDLIFE ENTHUSIASTS AND ADVENTURERS British TV presenter, author and all-round top bloke Steve Backshall returns to Australia in the early part of 2018, in an all new Deadly 60 Live Tour!

By Erica Louise

T

he wildlife expert and intrepid explorer has captivated audiences all over the world with his incredible antics, which not only impress but also educate children and grown-ups to respect all creatures great and small.

Since its first airing in 2009, the Deadly 60 TV series has seen Backshall swim with sharks in the crystal-clear waters off the coast of Mexico and come face-to-face with some of the most venomous snakes on the planet.

He’s been bitten by a caiman in the swamps of Argentina, been stung countless times by insects and experienced the ‘most painful bite’ of the bullet ant.

He's travelled from the Arctic to the Antarctic, reached the world's highest peaks and explored the depths of the rainforests to the bottom of the ocean.

Backshall’s Deadly 60 TV shows entertain wildlife enthusiasts, would-be explorers and global travellers of all ages.

In January 2018, Steve Backshall will bring his Deadly 60 Live tour to Melbourne. He will perform in a whopping 18 cities and towns around Australia. In Victoria’s capital city, Deadly 60 Live will perform at Bunjil Place, Narre Warren & the Arts Centre Melbourne.

In other exciting news, the Deadly 60 TV Star has announced he will feature some of Australia's deadliest animals, live on stage in his new tour!

To celebrate Steve Backshall's new Deadly 60 Live Down Under Tour, we interviewed the TV star ahead of his travels to Australia.

Would you like to know which animal Steve Backshall would like to bring back from extinction? Which animal he is most frightened of? Or maybe you’d like to hear more about his exciting interactive new show arriving in Melbourne at the end of January. Read on:

We’re exhausted just thinking about your epic tour of Australia. How will you prevent a burnout touring the length and breadth of the country, and maintain your enthusiasm performing back-to-back shows?

It’s never been an issue in the past because at every single place that we go to there’s a barrage of enthusiastic young faces who are all super excited to hear about the wildlife and hear about the animals. In the past the welcome in every single place in Australia has been so overwhelming that it gives a new lease of enthusiasm wherever we go.

I have already started composing a show that has many unpredictable elements to it. Lots of stunts, lots of ways to recreate how animals work and lots of audience participation. What happens on stage will be different for every single show.

So you will bring live animals on stage in your 2018 tour. We’re intrigued. How will this work?

Are you going to find animals when you first arrive and take them on tour with you?

We will find different animals in different places. We are going to be working with reputable institutions close to the areas that we’re in. We’re sticking to reptiles and invertebrates so there’s no chance of the animals getting stressed out on stage because that’s really important. I’m hoping to get some amazing mini cameras that see things that are quite small and make them appear very big on the huge screen behind us. The idea is to get a member of the audience up on stage to do the filming and to show the animal that we’re looking at.

Now that we know a little more about your up -and- coming Deadly 60 Live tour Down Under, we’d like to know a little more about you and how you found yourself doing what you’re doing. Can you describe your earliest memory of a wildlife encounter?

I grew up on a small farm and I was surrounded by animals from a very young age. I can remember going through a manure heap, basically where you put all the poo and the straw, and finding a whole bunch of eggs from a snake that we have in the UK. It seemed like the most exotic and exciting thing I’d found in my life. And then finding the snake itself later on, and feeling an absolute thrill of thinking I was the only person in the world who’d ever seen anything quite like it.

What age was that?

About 3 or 4. continued next page..... www.peninsulakids.com.au

11

And at what point did you know your passion for wildlife would become your career?

I always hoped that it would. From a very young age my parents said that that’s where I was going. The first time I knew for sure was when I went on a safari in Africa, around the age of 8 or 9. I saw the local guides and thought “I want to do what they do”. I thought they were the most knowledgeable people in the entire world and I wanted to have that kind of knowledge. That was when I knew.

What animal best describes you?

I would say a honey badger because I have crazy amounts of energy, I never stop running around and when I get my teeth stuck into a project I will just tear it to pieces to get it doing what I want!

What advice would you give to someone with a genuine fear of animals, for example snakes, spiders or rats. How would they overcome You’ve been around the world, many times over. those fears?

Where would you say is the most dangerous or If you’re serious about overcoming a fear of an animal, it is relatively easy if you go through aversion therapy. I used to do small scale aversion scary place in the world, in your experience? therapy for people who were particularly frightened of spiders. By Dangerous places are always related to people not animals, so a place where there is social unrest or where there is a high degree of violent crime can be quite frightening. We’ve done a lot of work in Mexico, Venezuela and Columbia. In places like that, you always need to be aware and always careful. This is another reason why we like filming in Australia because it’s a place where we’re always welcomed and we always feel safe.

It doesn’t look like you’re afraid of any living thing, but there must be one creature or one animal that you are a little bit tentative about.

What might that be?

Hippos are the most treacherous animals to work with because they are so unpredictable. Working with crocodiles, snakes, sharks and spiders, you always have a good idea of what they will do next, but with hippos you don’t and that’s the bit that makes them frightening.

If you could bring back one extinct animal from the past to appear on your Deadly 60 TV series, what would it be?

running through some simple steps, I can get someone who suffers from arachnophobia to hold a tarantula or a house spider in their hand in about an hour. If you are really frightened of one kind of animal and you would like to get over it, there are simple physiological tricks to go through that will sort out just about everyone.

What else have you got planned for the Deadly 60 TV series in the future?

Right now, I’m making a reality series about dinosaurs which has loads of stunts in it and it’s one of the most exciting Deadly 60 series I’ve ever worked on. It’s been so much fun. We’ve got CGI in there and an awful lot of big experiments. We have built-life size recreations of dinosaur parts such as dinosaur feet, dinosaur tails & dinosaur teeth and we’ve used them to destroy cars, television sets & fridges and smash down walls to show how strong and powerful dinosaurs were. This series will be coming to the ABC early next year, around about February or March.

Erica hails from the United Kingdom, and has been living in Australia for 12 years. She has two sons, 3 and 8 years. She writes, edits and runs the social media pages for KidTown Melbourne, a website showcasing all the fun things to do with kids in Melbourne.

I would go for the Thylacine (Tasmanian Tiger). A marsupial wolf that could open its jaws so wide it almost made one continuous bite line. That would be my number one.

Penin perfo sula Kids rman h ce at as 4 ticke Watc H ts h our amer Faceb Hall t to the 3pm ook p o give age f or yo away ur ch ance ! to

Don't miss Deadly 60 Live in Australia.

Here's where you can catch Steve's shows in Melbourne and when: Bunjil Place, Narre Warren - Sunday 21 January, 3pm & 6pm Hamer Hall, Arts Centre Melbourne - Thursday 25 January, 3pm & 6pm To book your tickets to Deadly 60 Live Down Under go to www.deadly60liveonstage.com 12

Peninsula Kids – Summer 2017/18

win!

Discover our 100-acre classroom Discover Cornish College

Book your place on one of our 2018 tours or register for our Open Day or Prep Discovery Morning: Twilight Tour - Thursday 22 February, 6.00pm Open Day - Tuesday 6 March, 10.00am to 1.00pm Prep Discovery Morning - Friday 23 March, 9.30am School Tours - Saturday 24 March, 9.30am Co-educational, independent school, ELC to Year 12.

Located in Bangholme, near Chelsea. www.cornishcollege.vic.edu.au

How else is it helpful?

1. It can help clear past blocks, anxieties and fears.

By using the imagination to shift neuron paths that have attachments to past stories we can go back to a problem or life tragedy and view it from a different perspective.

2. It can help create new potential realities.

Taking into account the quantum physics slit experiment, that we as an observer can shift our reality just by our expectations, the use of our imagination is a vital tool. Thus imagining and focusing on what we want in life will drives us to our next action, and create our reality as cause and effect take place.

3. It can give you more control over your thoughts.

WHY WE NEED TO TEACH OUR KIDS TO USE THEIR IMAGINATION

By Bobbie Richardson

L

ooking back at my own education, the years I learnt the most were when I liked and respected my teacher - and not because they demanded it - but because their imaginative skills in teaching and passion to try new things stimulated my mind into asking more. It was a real joy to go to school in those years. But it’s not like that now.

Our schooling system is formed on the basis that the imagination is an obstacle to the reasoning mind, but that logic is flawed as we are now learning from science that our imagination has a far greater role and should be encouraged in schools to help the reasoning logical mind to develop and shift into new possibilities.

Not only do children develop better under the use of methods that excite the imagination and stimulate them into learning and retaining more, but teachers need the freedom to use their imagination and intuition. This naturally leads to a collaboration of unity between the teachers and their students, forming a creative relationship that can command respect and enthusiasm to learn.

Imagination is unlimited in its potential to create change, and is one of the most powerful tools you can give yourself and your child.

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Peninsula Kids – Summer 2017/18

By exercising your imagination, you can stop a bad thought and replace it with a simple but affective symbol or thought. I’ve used this technique many times by catching a negative thought and replacing it with my choice of a simple thought - a sunflower. Just thinking of this now stops unwanted thoughts and has helped me take more control over my mind. But I could never have done this without my imagination.

4. It helps you remember more.

Enquiries directed to some of the brightest people in the world as to how they actually remember so much more, many will tell you they create a story by using their imagination. The sillier, the better. I have tried this out with my 11 and 13-year-old girls and we all increased our ability to recall more.

When we learn to use our imagination in combination with our logical, reasoning mind we not only learn faster but we learn to take responsibility for our thoughts, open new creative ways of living and expand our abilities. The world is our oyster and our imagination is the pearl.

Bobbie Richardson is a mum and the author and illustrator of two books, the new age children’s fiction Jonar & Kitty (A&A Publishing $15.99) and the children’s picture book, Imagine Holding Hands. For more information visit www.bobbierichardson.com.au

ADVENT U RO U S

MINDS

SCHOLARSHIPS recognise students who are passionate about their learning.

Creative thinkers, who strive for excellence and are dedicated to their community, are encouraged to apply.

JOIN OUR LE ARNING

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CAMPUS TOUR Saturday 24 February – BOOK VIA WEBSITE

www.woodleigh.school

VISIT WWW.WOODLEIGH.VIC.EDU.AU/ENROL#SCHOLARSHIPS FOR MORE INFO

EMBRACE THE

PLAYGROUND!

By Olivia Wilson

I

have done it! I have survived the first week of a new school.

Who cares about the kids? Those first few days as the ‘new mum’ have to be harder than anything the kids go through.

All summer I have been catching my breath, imagining going through the gates for the first time. All the other mums who have known each other since ‘mums and bubs’ in their little huddles, cooing over each others newest arrivals, turning to look at me, wondering who I am, where I’ve escaped from, why I have really greasy hair and vegemite all over my t-shirt. It’s never a pleasant time of the day for us; I am usually wiping snot and tears from my daughter’s face as she sobs her way into school with my son following behind shouting something offensive to her. Throughout the holidays I had moments where I could almost feel the eyes on me, even though I was at home and still had weeks until the dreaded day arrived.

I received, read and re-read all the introduction letters, the ‘preparing your child for school’ information, but had nothing to help prepare me! Not one checklist on how to prepare myself for the playground onslaught. Nothing to advise me on where to stand or how best to behave on that first day, or teach me the “best one liners for playground mums”. No one waiting by the gate to take a photo of me on my first day! How on earth are we expected to do everything we do, turn up to school and be prepared for this every morning? Entering the playground for the first time as a mum is worse than any job interview. It’s worse than giving birth, it’s worse than that dodgy tummy you get after a curry…

My god it’s worse than stubbing your big toe. There are a million things I would rather do than be the new mum. Yet everyone focusses on the children, and how they’re coping in the run up to school. Well, this selfish mum was more worried about her eyebrows being plucked to within an inch of their life, and making sure she didn’t wear those trousers that give her a serious camel toe (please don’t google that mum!).

I have done the playground thing for a few years; I have been the new mum a few times now, and trust me it doesn’t get any easier.

No matter where you are in the world, the playground is always the same. The cool mums, the sexy mums, the all-round-perfect mums. The baking mums, the super tanned mums, the working mums, the stylish mums, the immaculate mums, the loving mums, the classy mums, the sassy mums, the funky mums, the arty mums, the ‘totally in love mums’ who are always there with dad! …… Then me!

Standing out like a sore thumb, as I am nothing in particular, just a little nervous, very clammy and usually on my own hoping that my children come out of school without an escort from the principal!

"ENTERING THE PLAYGROUND FOR THE FIRST TIME AS A MUM IS WORSE THAN ANY JOB INTERVIEW. IT’S WORSE THAN GIVING BIRTH,"

On Fridays a coffee van turns up to school and the parents get some time to meet the teachers, chat, make new friends etc. Yay! Even more playground time!! I decided, as it’s the first week I should be brave, take some deep breaths and use this opportunity to meet some more people; so I left the house early, free coffee voucher clasped in my hand and headed into the school playground. To be honest with you, I dread things like this. Will anyone talk to me? Will I recognise anyone from the kids' classes? Will I just be sat on my own wishing it was a G&T in my hand instead of a long black? In typical Wilson fashion, I turned up, drank my coffee, and didn’t really manage to chat with anyone properly as my son was on at me to play cricket, and my daughter was emotional! I told the one mum I managed to chat to that I was planning on going to the P & C meeting after coffee; she looked at me as if I had said I was thinking about joining ISIS! I decided then that I would leave the parent volunteering to someone else and I went straight home. Maybe it was for the best! continued next page.....

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Peninsula Kids – Summer 2017/18

YEAR 7

LEARNING IN THE BEST OF BOTH WORLDS Coeducation and single gender learning.

The very best teachers.

Contact us to hear how your son or daughter can have the best of both worlds in one school.

Visit www.peninsulagrammar.vic.edu.au

Well go me!!! The first week of school is done, I have survived the beginning of the school year, and I will now, (fingers crossed) not be the newest mum again for a long while. (By no means does that imply that I am having any more children. I just mean that I don’t think we’ll be relocating any time soon.)

The ‘new mum’ playground thing is getting a little easier. The children have friends; I have friends (I know… Yay me! Again!) and I am absolutely loving being home alone all day! I try my hardest to look a little forlorn when I drop the children off, giving them a few blinks as if I’m a tad emotional. “Mummy’s going to miss you today”, and “Aaah I can’t wait to see you this arvo my little champ” and then boom; as soon as they are out of sight I skip out the school gates, and burst into Cream’s “I feel free” as I fly past the school crossing supervisor, racing home to dive into Hello! magazine and smother Nutella all over my face!

Oh it’s absolute bliss.

Olivia is a thirty something British mum of two, living in Melbourne. Having grown up with a father in the army and being moved all over the world, she is a lifelong ‘expat’, and thoroughly enjoys the adventures that come with a fairly nomadic life overseas. Follow her adventures as a 'modern day parent, far from home', and share her family's exploration of Australia at www.thewilsonsofoz.com on Instagram @the_wilsons_of_oz and on Facebook @thewilsonsofoz

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Peninsula Kids – Summer 2017/18

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Places are filling for Mornington and Frankston classes in 2018 Don’t miss out - enrol online today

www.broadwayacademy.com.au or call 0419 322 193 www.peninsulakids.com.au

19

Independence

BUILDING IS THE PATHWAY TO YOUR CHILD’S RESILIENCE

“WHAT DOESN’T KILL YOU MAKES YOU STRONGER”

By Michael Grose

PARENTS AND TEACHERS OFTEN ASK ME HOW TO BUILD RESILIENCE IN KIDS. My response is always the same. “Start by building independence and resilience will follow.”

Children are hard-wired for independence Sometime around the age of fifteen months (give or take three months) most children will make a strong case for self-sufficiency. They demand to do things their own way. This demand is soon backed by a strong voice – “NOOOO!” - and the more articulate cries of “I can do it!” as their third birthday approaches.

This is the time to harness their push for independence and selfsufficiency. Their push for independence will see most children take incredible physical risks in the form of play, the exploration of their immediate environment and their wish to gain mastery over their environment. Concerned parents will naturally minimise risks by moving furniture around, keeping doors closed and hiding sharp implements at home, to name a few protective measures. But parents can’t eradicate all risks. They recognise that kids will fall and hurt themselves but they’ll also get up and go again. In time, they’ll learn to assess situations, stare down their fears and test themselves out in new situations. Falling down, brushing yourself off and trying again is part of the natural learning experience for most young children. Parents don’t have to do much more than assess a situation for real dangers, stand back and allow kids to explore their environments and pull them up when their play and explorations transgresses the rights and peace of others. continued next page.....

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Peninsula Kids – Summer 2017/18

SCH

OOL HO RUN LIDAY P R S JANU WEEKDAYOSGRAM A

RY 2 - 28

There will be thrills and spills under the big top at PARC Carnival these summer holidays!

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So what’s this got to do with resilience?

Well, everything really. Independence is the pursuit of mastery over one’s self and one’s environment and it rarely happens without mishaps and mistakes. It nearly always involves hurt, hardship, frustration and fear. That’s where resilience comes in. Resilience is the art of bouncing forward after experiencing aforesaid hurts, hardships, frustrations and fears. Resilience is what comes from seeking out self-sufficiency and independence.

You can never love your children too much; but you can love them helplessly. That’s what happens when we deny kids the opportunity to become truly independent and self-sufficient. Deny self-sufficiency and you block a child’s resilience. Develop real independence and you open the pathway to resilience that will last a lifetime.

Find out how to develop real independence and resilience in your child in my latest book Spoonfed Generation: How to raise independent kids.

The language of Independence The fact that there’s a whole genre of language devoted to resilience (and it’s mostly cloaked in cliché) is no accident. Terms such as “get back on the bike/horse when you fall off”; “come on, brush yourself off and get on with it”; “what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger” are built into the psyche of past generations. Many parents today will cringe at these terms as they appear a little callous and out of touch.

Conversely the current relationship with risk and adventure (both required for independence-building), that many parents have is very tenuous at best, non-existent at worst.

Therein lies the challenge. I haven’t met a parent, carer or teacher who doesn’t want the children in their care to develop resilience that will last a lifetime. Yet, many of those same adults will block the pathway to children’s resilience by over-indulging, solving their problems and not giving them real responsibility. In doing so they deny kids the sense of mastery that comes from sorting out their own problems, getting themselves out of jams and getting up after a fall.

You’ll find more great ideas to nurture a close, loving family in my book Spoonfed Generation: How to raise independent kids. Get your copy at our online shop. www.parentingideas.com.au/product/spoonfed-generation

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Peninsula Kids – Summer 2017/18

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23

The

Problem Solving

PROBLEM

By Briony Hendy

D

id you know problem solving develops critical and analytical thinking through identifying essential information and making sense of problems, that it fosters communication, interpretation, prediction, evaluation, creativity, persistence and reasoning which are not only maths skills, but more importantly life-long learning and living skills, helping children to thrive in today’s ever changing world?

Maths today is about learning how to apply numeracy concepts to reallife contexts and manipulate numbers, rather than memorising number facts, times tables and formulas. Problem solving features prominently in our National Assessments (actually two-thirds of questions in NAPLAN are word problems) and in our classrooms for some very good reasons.

Let’s consider the following word problem: Sunnydale Primary School had a total of 365 students at the beginning of the school year. Grade 1 A had 22 students, Grade 1B had 19 and Grade 1C had 23. During the year, 3 more students joined Grade 1B, 2 more joined Grade 3C and 1 student left Grade 1A to move interstate.

How many students were in Grade 1 altogether by the end of the year?

There are probably many things going through your mind right now!

What do I have to work out? What information do I need and how am I going to solve it? Where is Sunnydale Primary School and how does this help me with anything? I couldn’t do these problems when I was at school and now my child is bringing them home and asking for help!

Einstein once said that if he had an hour to solve a problem he would spend 55 minutes thinking about the problem and 5 minutes solving it and this is exactly what we need to encourage our children to do too.

Research suggests that over 50% of errors occur during this ‘thinking’ phase, before we carry out any maths processes. This involves children reading and comprehending the text, understanding the problem, identifying the critical information and forming mental or visual representation about the problem.

Briony is a teacher at Moorooduc primary school and leads teaching and learning.

24

Peninsula Kids – Summer 2017/18

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25

WHY YOU NEED TO LEARN TO TAP INTO YOUR

intuition TODAY OUR DECISIONS PROVIDE US WITH MORE OPPORTUNITIES – YET MORE POTHOLES AND CLIFFS TO FALL DOWN THAN EVER BEFORE

By Craigh Wilson

H

aving the ability to be clear of spirit, mind, heart and body can help you make better and ‘more right’ decisions – intuitive decisions that are best for you. Accessing and using your intuition provides you with a new hope.

SO, WHAT IS INTUITION? Intuition connects us to who we truly are more than anything else.

Intuition is a range of experiences including the five senses and even our sixth sense. The obvious one is the sense of feeling, and intuition can be a deep and all-knowing feeling in your gut that something is wrong. You may not know exactly why, but you know to listen and to trust that feeling of danger. Conversely, intuition also can be warm, glowing feeling in your heart, and a sense of knowing that everything is going to be okay. Intuition includes heightened touch, sight, smell, taste and feeling. Shaking someone’s hand when you meet them for the first time, you may get a feeling on whether you trust this person or not.

26

Peninsula Kids – Summer 2017/18

How can intuition help us make better personal decisions: Removing your blocks Removing your blocks requires you going where you have not been before. The unknown is where all your gifts and treasures lie. When you are having a tough moment or a tough day what do you do then? Almost all of us are blocked in some way most of the time. It is not about seeing being blocked as a problem but as an opportunity.

If your mind is stressed, why is that? Are you working too hard or just over thinking? The more you can be in the moment, accepting what is and what is not, the more you can do something about it. Life is not about what happens to you but how you react to it. Slow down, take your time and move past it.

Less Ego Holding our opinions and Judgements by truly listening to our spirit, our body and other people is a very wise skill. Ego tends to come up when we are feeling vunerable, insecure and not good enough. As you catch your ego earlier you will find yourself becoming less opinionated and judgemental about others and of yourself. Now you are less reactive and more present in making all of your decisions.

Starting small Use your intuition to make small decisions at first. That way, you have nothing to lose and only something to gain. Intuition is a journey of improvement, not perfection. Take it one step at a time.

Decide whether you are going to have a cup of coffee, or does it feel better to have green tea? Is it better to call your friend today or next week? Have fun with it. Before you know it, you will be using your intuition more to make really important decisions.

Making better decisions and keeping them Each and every day we are constantly making innumerable decisions, consciously and unconsciously. Becoming more conscious of ourselves and our decisions, we have the opportunity to make better decisions. Aligned with our heart, spirit. Having access to loving and making heart-based intuitive decisions is a game changer.

It is hard to make a wrong decision when you are coming from a loving place. For example, how long should you spend helping your child with his homework tonight? Trust yourself. That way you are doing not only what is best for your child but also best for yourself.

Living in truth Living by our values we can make more unattached decisions. If your partner asks you to go to a party and you really feel like you don’t want to go, it may be best to trust your intuition and say no.

You could go and make your partner happy, or you can honour your intuition. You end up not going to the party and finding out that the party rained out and was a disaster for everyone. It’s time to stop second-guessing yourself. Back your intuition and be able sleep with a clearer mind and heart at night.

Craigh Wilson is an experienced medical and business intuitive with 30 years’ experience. A sought-after author, intuitive, mentor and international key note speaker, he offers smart, realistic and powerful transformational solutions to every day people, business owners, entrepreneurs and leaders of Fortune 500 companies in over 44 countries around the world. Find out more about Craigh and his new book, Intuitive, at www.craighwilson.com

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27

THE NOT SO UGLY

STEP MOTHER THE WICKED STEP MOTHER HAS BEEN AROUND FOR DECADES IN CHILDREN’S STORIES. THINK OF THE STORY OF CINDERELLA. HER STEP MOTHER AND STEP SISTERS WERE SEEN AS EVIL. FAST FORWARD TO OUR CURRENT DAY AND STEP PARENTS ARE STILL TRYING TO SHED THIS NEGATIVE CONNOTATION AROUND BEING A STEP PARENT. 28

Peninsula Kids – Summer 2017/18

Relationship challenges Relationships can suffer greatly under the pressure of blending a family and a great deal of open communication and honesty was required within our household. The complexities can have a negative effect on each other and if not discussed resentment can creep in. There were ups and downs and sacrifices to make but the key was honesty and having equality within the relationship.

Making it work

By Deanne Atkinson

A

lmost seven years ago I found myself entering a world I knew nothing about. As a single mum of a five year old I was ready for love again and when it arrived my life changed forever. I started my journey as a step mother to two boys. I vowed not to be the ugly step mother but I knew I needed support to face the complexities and pressure that I found came along with blending a family. There were different behaviours and habits which were new to me, different parenting styles, different eating habits, extra laundry, triple the cooking, reduced privacy, and lack of space and personality clashes. More noise, more mess, more everything. There were days which were ugly and I knew for this family to survive we needed to be patient, learn tolerance and acceptance and a deeper understanding from everyone’s perspective.

Being a Step Child I learnt how important it is to have compassion and empathy towards my step children and an understanding how as a new partner, not to interfere with their relationship with their father. It was important I respected that they have time together with their dad without me around. I also needed to get to know them, what they had been through, who they were their traits and personality.

I knew they had to adapt to the new living arrangements and the disruption to their lives as they readjust to the changes.

As a step parent I was aware that my role in those first few years was really only building a trust and respect with each child as well as supporting my own son and any issues he was experiencing in this new arrangement. With a daughter born into the family the complexities continued and everyone needed time to adapt.

So with determination, passion and perhaps some moments of insanity I committed to my new role wholeheartedly. I turned to what I knew, a deeper more spiritual approach, looking on the inside, my inner self. With every negative emotion which raised its ugly head (resentment, frustration, intolerance and so on) I explored what was going on inside of me. I faced my ugly side. I accepted that it was a part of me but a part which I could change.

I opened my heart to these boys for they were an extension of their dad who I loved. I found compassion for the road they had travelled. I accepted them, enjoyed them and my heart started to love them. I extended myself beyond what I thought was possible.

I put myself in their shoes. I grew in tolerance, acceptance and in love. I have earned their respect, their love and trust but it has taken years of dedication and commitment. It was a proud moment the day I married their father; we had made it, blended our family and survived the ugly times. Life now is far more settled and loving relationships have been formed.

A positive approach towards step parenting So my experience around step parenting is a positive one. I recall when I was pregnant with my son over 12 years ago that I never dreamt that years later at the end of each week I would 'hand him over' for another woman to mother him with my now ex husband.

When pregnant I never dreamt that I would only look after him every seven days. I never dreamt that I would miss a milestone because it happened when he was at his dad's.

So with this in mind from a mother’s understanding of handing over her child, I am determined to be the best step mum I can be. To love, respect, grow and care for my step children with my best intentions.

With this experience I am now able to support other step parents navigate their way through blending their family and ensure they have the support they require to make sure their family survives too.

Deanne is the Founder of Parent with Passion, a service which helps break the negative cycle in parenting and supports a childhood for our children that they don’t have to recover from in years to come. As a Parent Coach and Spiritual Counsellor she is determined to increase awareness of the power of parenting.

How our actions can last a life time. She has a spiritual approach to parenting meaning she is all about feelings and emotions. Deanne looks beneath behaviour to the emotion and supports both children and parents to move through negativity by addressing what the underlying feeling is. With her experience as a step parent her service extends to supporting blended families work through the complexities with the children’s best interest as priority. For appointments or more information www.parentwithpassion.com www.peninsulakids.com.au

29

“SHE HASN’T STOPPED MAKING DEMANDS SINCE SHE WOKE UP THIS MORNING!!”

HOW TO

DEAL WITH

an entitled

30

TEEN

Peninsula Kids – Summer 2017/18

By Michelle Mitchell

G

iven that 963 million people go to bed hungry every night and 150 million children under the age of 14 years old are engaged in child labour worldwide, we can safely say that our teens lives aren’t that bad. “Try convincing my daughter of that!”one mum recently said to me. “She hasn’t stopped making demands since she woke up this morning!!”

Parents regularly speak to me about their teenager’s shocking sense of entitlement. On a bad day, they feel like they exist to meet their teenagers every desire and whim, which is not a cool job description for any parent. On a good day, they are frustrated by their teens general disregard for time, money and things.

Research tells us that the number of teenagers refusing to help around the house has almost tripled from 5.6 per cent in 1992 to 15.8 per cent in 2006. On the other hand, the amount of time 8 to 18-year-olds spend watching TV, playing video games or surfing the internet has increased dramatically to around 7.5 hours a day.

That is 53 hours a week!

Before we get up in arms about this generation, I’d like to stop and see the world through their eyes for a minute. They are a generation which aspires to the good life, as found in their ‘news feeds’ every day. But "ordinary" can never measure up to the highlight reel of happy faces and special places they see. I honestly think that our kids are asking themselves - "Why can’t my life look like theirs?" "What is wrong with my family?" "Shouldn’t my life be better than it is?"

Daughter’s Text: ummmm….

Mum’s Text: I need the washing done tonight – three loads and hung out.

Daughter’s Text: Okay I’ll do it tonight.

Mum’s Text: Deal.

Mum then drove up to the school and took the uniform to the office. Instead of feeling resentful for having to bring the uniform up or feeling guilty because her kid was the one who forgot it she proudly said to the school receptionist, “I’m getting the washing done tonight for bringing this up!” To which the receptionist replied, “Good on you. You wouldn’t believe how many mums run up here saying it is their fault that their kid forgot it!”

Let Them Say No Teens don’t like to hear the word ‘no’, so don’t say it. Put the ball in their court. Give them a set amount of money each week and expect them to manage their own purchases including entertainment and take away food. This will force them to make conscious choices and set priorities. If they want takeaway on the way home from school the answer is always, “Sure darling.

Got your money?”

Outsource Them

I believe that this ‘perceived perfection’ is coming at a cost to our kids who are becoming restless, ungrateful, disappointed, anxious and unable to handle their everyday real lives. That is why we have to work really hard at bringing young people back to basics; where hard work meets outcomes, money doesn’t grow on trees and we all live on an equal playing field. My hope is that these three strategies will help you do just that.

Part time jobs are priceless! I can’t think of a better way to guide a young person than to teach them the value of hard work. If you prefer your teenager to earn money at home, but are tired of arguing about jobs, why not outsource them? Why not get them to do jobs for neighbours or other family members?

They are more likely to work hard for someone they are less familiar with.

Make Room for Life Lessons

It’s a challenge not to jump when our teens demand their own way, but we have to remember that our responses will teach them how to treat us. I encourage parents to keep a look out for everyday opportunities to challenge entitlement and reinforce respect and connection. We will notice they are all around us if we keep an eye out for them.

Small incidental lessons like the one I am about to share with you are powerful ways of teaching teens respect. Any instances where you are in the ‘driver’s seat’ are moments you can use to your advantage. Here’s a great little example that shows how easy it is to teach your children that your time is valuable….

Daughter’s Text: I forgot my PE uniform and I really, really need it before my class this afternoon or I’ll be in big trouble please, please bring it and meet me at the office at lunchtime.

Mum’s Text: What’s in it for me? You are interrupting my afternoon.

Michelle Mitchell is the founder of Youth Excel. For more great parenting advice, check out Michelle’s new book “Parenting Teenage Girls” (Ark House $24.99), now available at all good book stores. Visit www.michellemitchell.org www.peninsulakids.com.au

31

"RESEARCH SHOWS THAT UP TO 25% OF AUSTRALIAN CHILDREN ARE OVERWEIGHT OR OBESE."

Activity tips

FOR CHILDREN By nutritionaustralia.org

H

ow do your children spend their free time on the weekends and after school? Do they play in the backyard or at the park? Do they play on swings, ride their bikes, rollerblade or skateboard with their friends? Or do they spend long hours watching television or playing computer games?

Research shows that up to 25% of Australian children are overweight or obese. Overweight children often grow into overweight adults who are then at risk of developing a number of health problems such as diabetes, hypertension, heart disease and some cancers.

Our lifestyle today has become increasingly sedentary. Both adults and children rely more on gadgets and services which reduce 32

Peninsula Kids – Summer 2017/18

the amount of activity they participate in during their day. Lifts, escalators, remote control garage doors, TV’s and videos, internet shopping, home delivery of take-away foods – all of these reduce the amount of physical activity we engage in. In fact, research shows that Australian children now watch between 20-30 hours of television every week – and they don’t even have to move to change the channel!

Physical activity plays a major role in maintaining a healthy body weight and that is why it is so important to encourage children to keep moving. Children are naturally active; they simply need encouragement, ideas and suggestions for activities.

Infants (birth to 1 year) Giving babies the chance to move around freely each day helps to keep their bodies and minds active. Moving freely allows babies to further develop their senses as well as good posture, strength and balance. Interacting with others through play gives young infants the opportunity to develop language and communication skills.

Some simple play activities and exercises for young babies include:

Silver jewellery that captures special moments in time.

•Tummy time on the floor to strengthen head, neck and trunk muscles •Placing objects out of reach to encourage babies to practice new movements •Holding and feeling a variety of objects to develop touch and recognition skills •Outdoor play to encourage learning in different environments

Toddlers and pre-schoolers

charms - pendants - cufflinks - keyrings

(1 to 5 years)

A child’s job is to move freely and be active every day! Toddlers and pre-schoolers should be physically active for at least three hours each day, and this activity should be spread throughout the day. Active play helps young children improve the health of their muscles, bones and heart, develop new movement skills, build self confidence and improve their communication and social skills.

Some examples of activities that young children may enjoy include: •Action games and songs such as ‘The Hokey Pokey’ •Free play in playgrounds or sandpits •Pedalling a bike •Riding a scooter

School aged children 5-12 years

According to the Department of Health, children aged between 5 to 12 years need at least 60 minutes and up to several hours of moderate to vigorous physical activity every day. Moreover, children should not spend more than two hours a day using electronic media for entertainment (e.g. computer games, TV, internet).

Active play, informal games and organised sports provide good opportunities for children to develop a range of skills including running, throwing, jumping, catching and kicking. Playing sport can help children build their confidence and gives them the opportunity to partake in a wide range of activities as they get older. Children should be encouraged to participate in a variety of activities that are fun and that suit their interests, skills and abilities. Examples include bike riding, football, running and swimming lap.

continued next page.....

Fabiola Curavic m: 0420 971 324 e: fabiola.curavic@smallprint.com Smallprint Mornington Peninsula

www.smallprint.com www.peninsulakids.com.au

33

12-18 years Teenagers are generally independent when it comes to making decisions about the type and amount of activity they wish to participate in. However, the Department of Health recommends that those between the ages of 12 to 18 years should be encouraged to spend at least 60 minutes engaged in moderate to vigorous physical activities each day. It is important for teens to limit the amount of time they spend watching TV, surfing the net and playing computer games to no more than two hours each day (unless, of course, it’s for educational purposes).

Tips for choosing the right physical activities for your child

Physical activity should be a fun and positive experience for children so that they stay motivated and do not become discouraged. It is important to choose activities that complement your child’s ability, though participating in an activity that is slightly more difficult will give your child the opportunity to develop new skills. For example, if your child lacks the coordination skills required to catch a ball, it might be a good idea to encourage them to keep on practising, but in a non-threatening and non-competitive environment.

Activity doesn’t have to be in the form of structured sport, but it is important that children are encouraged to become involved in group activities and be given the opportunity to participate. In addition to preventing weight problems, involving your child in a sporting team and/or club will help them learn valuable life skills. From team sports, children learn discipline, coordination, communication skills and team work and may develop a passion for their chosen sport that will continue into adult life. Exercise also helps to reduce feelings of stress which are common during adolescence.

Finding the right sport for your child may take a little time, patience and commitment but will be worth it in the long run. To find out about sport opportunities that are available in your area, contact your local library or community centre or check your child’s school for information.

34

Peninsula Kids – Summer 2017/18

Moderate activities include brisk walking, bike riding with friends, skateboarding and dancing. Vigorous activities include football, netball, soccer, running, swimming or training for sport.

For an additional health benefit, teens should be encouraged to participate in 20 minutes or more of vigorous activity on three to four days each week. Participating in a variety of activities allows teens to experience a range of fun activities and challenges and provides the opportunity to learn new skills.

Family activities There are so many non-structured ways to encourage children to be active, and many of these can involve the whole family. If you’re looking for ways to get active with your family, why not try the following: •Walk to school together •Visit the beach with a cricket bat/ball and frisbee •Take the dog for a walk •Do some backyard gardening or build a veggie patch •Visit the local swimming pool •Go to the park with a footy and play equipment •Ride your bikes to a favourite local picnic spot •Organise a bush walk in the hills or outer city •Find outings that involve walking - visit the zoo or a museum •Do a community walk (e.g. a ‘city to surf’ fun run/walk) •Choose presents for children that encourage activity, for example, kites, outdoor equipment or gift vouchers to outdoor activity parks, canoe hire and roller rinks

Nutrition Australia’s next workshop on promoting healthy eating through learning and play is November 9 at Cranbourne’s Arbourlea Family and Community Centre. For more information visit www.nutritionaustralia.org

Frankston Foreshore.

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35

Why Work-life Balance

IS A MYTH, AND HOW TO CREATE A FULFILLING LIFESTYLE!

By John Drury

T

he most talked-about and well-publicised strategy recommended to manage our very busy lives is ‘work–life balance’. This term originated sometime during the early 20th century with regard to improved working conditions and shorter working hours for factory workers. It was meant to describe the idea that there should be reasonable balance between work and the rest of our lives. It implies that like a seesaw, there is an optimum point of balance that will work for each of us.

So, what would you think if I told you this is all a myth? That work– life balance doesn’t actually exist? And that in trying to chase this dream we are actually making ourselves sick?

Passion destroys balance Most high achievers are passionate about their business, their careers, and their success. Yet passion and drive are the enemies of balance. By definition, if you are passionate you are going to always be out of balance. Passion means you are likely to find it difficult to turn off your brain when you leave your workplace.

Passion means your mind will often be solving business problems in the night or when you are driving the car. High achievers can be made to feel guilty by the concept of ‘work–life balance’. They might even be viewed as workaholics by the majority of people for whom work is a job, just a means to income.

The concept of ‘work–life balance’ may have been well intended, but it is unhelpful in the 21st century. It puts work against life, 36

Peninsula Kids – Summer 2017/18

creating an unnecessary conflict. Work is part of life, not against life. There is no seesaw that needs to be in balance. Rather, each of us has a whole life, every segment of which needs to be integrated in such a way that we can prosper and flourish.

‘Integrate’ is a much better idea For high achievers, work is connected to purpose, not just a means of making money. When passion is involved it is easy to spend time and energy working, or thinking about and planning some aspect of work. It is easy to become engrossed and lose all sense of time.

The challenge becomes how to ensure that our work does not consume us in a way that hurts our health or the people we love.

There are seasons when work dominates everything, like when you start a new business, or work on a major project. There are also times when an important family issue will require more attention.

Most of the time, in order to create a fulfilling life, we need to find a way to ensure there is progress in every important relationship and area of our lives.

The truth is that issues that undermine or sabotage business success are more likely to come from neglected areas of your personal life than they ever are from your competitors, the economy or any external source. Like every other important area of your life, your work needs to be integrated in such a way that it does not overwhelm and hurt all the other parts of your life.

TIPS TO INTEGRATE WORK AS PART OF YOUR LIFE Map your world – Draw 10 circles on a page. Write down each of the key responsibilities you have in life; one per circle. Add circles if needed. Potential categories include: personal growth & learning, wealth creation, health & fitness, life partner, fun/leisure, friends, wider family, children, work/business, etc. You may need more than one circle for different parts of your work roles.

Decide what is important – Just as ‘homicide’ mean ‘kill a person’, so ‘decide’ means ‘to kill off options’. We really must deal with the fear of missing out. Choose what you want in life. Set boundaries around all that is important. Without healthy self-respect, this step is very challenging for some people. (For more, read my book) Set ‘whole of life’ goals – Once you have determined the important areas of your life, you need to proactively set goals for how you want that area to look in a year. You move towards what you focus on. Goals sharpen focus.

Make plans – A goal without a plan is a wish. Most wishes do not happen. Make a simple plan that will help you achieve your goals for each area of your life. You are best to set annual goals and make 90-day plans. So much happens in our busy lives that plans need constant revision to ensure they happen.

Take consistent action – Plans are useless without action. Get your plans into your calendar. The first thing my wife and I put on our year planner is our holidays. That way they always happen.

Example:

Health goal - lose 5Kg, or fit into those skinny pants, by Christmas.

Plan- no dessert or* alcohol on week days.

Gym twice a week. Tennis weekly.

Walk dog 20 mins daily.

* (Mon & Fri 6:00pm; Schedule - gym sessions walk dog 6:30am daily, tennis with friends on Sat am.

Measure - weigh in*each month, try those skinny pants on each quarter.

‘Normal’ has been redefined over the past 20 years by the internet, smart phones and a global marketplace. You cannot work hard and hope that everything else just falls into place anymore. More and more people are dropping the important balls in the crazy juggle of life. The tips outlined above are a great starting place to integrate work with the rest of your life and creating a fulfilling lifestyle.

John Drury is a Business Mentor who works with busy high achievers to assist them achieve sustainable business success AND create a great lifestyle for themselves and their family. John is also in demand as a keynote speaker, and is author of ‘INTEGRATE – why work-life balance is a myth and what you really need to create a fulfilling lifestyle’. To connect with John go to www.johndrury.biz and follow him on Twitter @JDBizMentor and Instagram @JDBizMentor www.peninsulakids.com.au

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Uniqlo Toddler Crew Neck s/s t-shirt $9.90 Toddler Cropped Leggings Zebra $9.90 Model Curtis www.uniqlo.com/au

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1.

Uniqlo 1. Girls Disney Minnie Loves Dots Graphic T-shirt $14.90 Girls Cut and Sewn Jogger Ankle Pants $29.90 Kids Light Pocketable Parka $39.90 Model Matilda 2. Boys s/s Polo Shirt $19.90 Boys Easy Shorts $14.90 Model Jake Kids Dry EX Crew Neck s/s T-shirt $14.90 Girls Leggings $9.90 Model Chelsea Girls Striped Boat Neck l/s T-shirt $19.90 Boys Easy Shorts $14.90 Model Olivia www.uniqlo.com/au

www.peninsulakids.com.au

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The enchanted child 1. Little horn wolf pack tee $34.95 Rock your baby the anthem shorts $49. 95 Model Jake 2. Alphabet soup good vibes tee $44.95 Rock your baby the anthem shorts $49.95 Rock your kid blue birds waisted dress $49.95 Model Olivia 3. Milk & masuki maybe later romper $39.95 Model Curtis www.enchantedchild.com.au

1.

3.

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Peninsula Kids – Summer 2017/18

2.

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The enchanted child 1. Milk & masuki s/s cockatoo tee $34.95 Milk & masuki twombly leggings $34.95 2. Milk & masuki cat nap singlet dress $49.95 Model Matilda Minti woodlands dress $59.95 Model Chelsea 3. (from left to right) Rock your kid striped roses waisted dress $55.00 Rock your baby parasol girls waisted dress $49.95 Rock your kid striped roses waisted dress $49.95 www.enchantedchild.com.au

2.

Capezio (from left to right) Bra top $43.95 Short $37.95 Bra top $46.95.

Mesh insert short $39.95 Boatneck leotard $49.95 www.capezio.com

1.

Capezio (from left to right) Cap sleeve leotard $54.95 Asymetrical pull on skirt $29.95 Cap sleeve leotard $54.95 Bra top $46.95.

Mesh insert short $39.95 www.capezio.com

www.peninsulakids.com.au

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Credits Uniqlo uniqlo.com/au

The Enchanted Child 18/3050 FrankstonFlinders Rd, Balnarring Ph: 5983 5503 enchantedchild.com.au

Capezio Dancewear 12-14 Milgate Drive, Mornington Ph: 5975 0266 capezio.com

Location Summerfields Wetlands, Mornington

Photography Cameron McCullough

Photo: Damian Tierney

FO OT W E A R A N D A PPA R EL FO R A L L S T Y L E S O F DA N C E

03 5975 0266 44

|

1 2 -1 4 M I L G A T E D R I V E | M O R N I N G T O N MORNINGTON@C APEZIO.COM | C APEZIOAUSTR ALIA .COM

Peninsula Kids – Summer 2017/18

Summer Fun!

From swim lessons to the beach, we have your kids swimwear covered!

F STO REW IDE Sho w this ad in store to rec eiv e 10% OF the che cko ut. or use the cod e SU MM ERF UN onl ine at Your local stores: Mornington 901 Nepean Hwy | Sorrento 131 Ocean Beach Rd Victorian store locations: Fitzroy | Malvern | Geelong | Mentone or shop online at www.swimweargalore.com.au One coupon per person. Cannot be used with any other offer or gift card purchase. Valid until 01-02-18.

Feeling Disconnected?

5

WAYS TO STOP FEELING ALONE AND CONNECT TO YOUR TRUE SELF

By Rebecca Jackson

D

o you feel disconnected? Well if so, you are not alone!

Many of us are experiencing a profound sense of disconnection from our true essence, our core desires, our higher self. In fact, according to a recent study conducted by Lifeline, 60% of Australians feel lonely. What’s really interesting is a large proportion of these respondents (over 80%) lived with other people. You might feel like thousands of others who are going through their daily routines, while something deep inside longs for more; living with the sense that there is something more, that you were made for a purpose but having no idea what it is.

The good news is, no matter how far you’ve strayed from your true self you can always return to your authentic core. Here are five easy and effective ways to regain your connection to your true self – no matter how busy, stressed or disconnected you feel.

1. Take a Look Inside In order to reconnect to your true essence you must look inside.

Becoming aware of your inner world will quickly help you to get present within your body and your true self. In the moment you feel 46

Peninsula Kids – Summer 2017/18

angry, sad, guilty, embarrassed, allow yourself to feel these emotions for just a few moments. Resist the urge to change them, simply notice how you feel in your body and allow yourself to sit with whatever shows up for you. This may be challenging and uncomfortable at first, but stick with it. Journal about what shows up for you. Giving your emotions permission to exist will help you to reconnect with your true hearts desires.

2. Create Space For The New Sometimes our lives are so full, that we actually don’t have any space for a new perspective, insight or growth. Give yourself time off all your devices. Put your phone away, close your laptop, turn off the TV and give yourself some space to reconnect with things that give you joy.

You know that thing you’ve been telling yourself you want to do and haven’t got around to doing? Go do it! If you have always wanted to be a painter, go buy yourself some paint and a canvas or sign up for a local art class. Maybe you’ve always wanted to learn to play a musical instrument. You are worthy of having what you desire. Don’t wait one more second to live the life you want. Be brave, and do what it takes to fulfill your desires -right now!

"DISCONNECTION OCCURS WHEN WE DON’T ALLOW OURSELVES TO BE TRUE TO WHO WE ARE IN EACH MOMENT"

3. Focus on Self Love

5. Engage in Mindful Moments

Your assignment right now is to have compassion for yourself. To be kind to you. To love you. This is your birthright, your job, your purpose.

Every time you choose to be compassionate, kind, and loving toward yourself, you are building trust in yourself and strengthening your connection to your true self.

Taking moments throughout your week to be present in your body will support you in feeling calmer, more balanced, grounded, and in the present. Physical activity is a great way to bring your attention back to your body. Try yoga, running, dance, swimming, boxing, whatever appeals to you. It’s extremely hard to feel disconnected to yourself when your muscles are screaming at you! If you’d prefer a more sedentary approach, try meditation, massage or read a book.

4. Let Happiness In When you give yourself permission to let happiness in, magic happens!

Things begin to shift. Your energy instantly upgrades, and you start to notice the little things that make life so special. You hear the birds singing a beautiful melody and know that it’s a special gift just for you.

You appreciate how good it feels to have the warm winter sun on your back. You feel the love and kindness of your lover again as he or she passes you a morning cup of coffee. Disconnection occurs when we don’t allow ourselves to be true to who we are in each moment. Give yourself permission to be the real you, and to see all the good and happiness that exists in your life. Happiness is not a destination. It is an inherent part of a rich, fulfilling, and authentic life.

Rebecca Jackson is an empowerment coach and founder of Higher Love Today.

Over the years, she has guided thousands of people, to connect with their true self and unique gifts, as a foundation for living a life of purpose, passion, and prosperity.

She is the author of You’re Not Alone: A Practical Guide for The Awakening Soul. To find out more visit rebeccajackson.info

www.peninsulakids.com.au

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love things we

FOR CHRISTMAS

Lullaby Skin Care SUNSCREEN FOR DELICATE SKIN Lullaby’s high protection sunscreen nurtures and moisturises while protecting against harsh environmental aggressors making it the perfect broad spectrum lotion for all the family.

www.lullabyskincare.com RRP: $35.00

Our Christmas MPKid has these gifts to give away!

Go to peninsulakids.com.au/giveaways for your chance to grab a pressie!

Competition runs from December 1st - 15th

Bedhead Hats All Bedhead Hats have a UPF 50+ Excellent Protection rating, are made with a resilient stretch cotton that grows with the child, brims stay firm out of the child’s eyeline and made suit the hot Australian climate. From the 15th September 2017, for each order placed online at www.bedheadhats.com.au, a newborn hat will be gifted or donated. Customers have the choice to gift the hat to someone they know in need or donate to charity aiding disadvantaged mothers and babies.

RRP $26.95 - $34.95

Stretch Justice League Minis More of your favourite super heroes have had a miniStretch makeover too! Stretch them, pull them, tie them in knots. When you release your figure, he uses his amazing strength to slowly return to his normal shape.

RRP $29.99

Bush Baby World Bush Baby with Sleep Pod With eyes that can wiggle and ears that can waggle, Nenia, Sasu, Abi and Adero are the Dreamstar Bush Babies that come with their own Sleepy Pods. At night they snuggle into their Sleepy Pods and close the leaf door to stay cosy amongst the branches.

RRP: $34.95

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ONTRAY Trolley Snack Tray Make your shopping experience more enjoyable, by placing some healthy snacks or a toy to keep your little one busy in the OnTray. OnTray is a BPA Free, plastic container that easily attaches to your shopping trolley handle, facing the child in the seat and to some prams. www.thanksmum.com.au RRP: $12.00

Smiggle Smiggle is launching jewellery! The crew that transformed the world of stationery is set to transform your jewellery, your hair and everything you can wear! This season Smile with Smiggle is championing the Unicorn, Rainbows, Friendship and Love. www.smiggle.com Pompom Headband $6.95, Pompom Hairties 4 Pk $12.95, Hippy Choker 3 Pk $9.95, Bubbles Ring 3 Pk $14.95, Mermaid Braclet 6 Pk $9.95 Mayka Toy Block Tape The ORGINAL Mayka Toy Block Tape is bendable, reusable, building block tape that’s compatible with LEGO Available from all good toy stores including Kmart, Big W, Target, Toys “R” Us RRP: $9.99 (2 stud, 1m), $14.99\ (2 stud, 2m), $19.99 (4 stud, 2m)

Super Sand All new, 100% natural alternative to traditional dough, designed to create the ultimate sand moulds!

Available exclusively at Toys R Us. RRP: $39.99

The Nutcracker – A Colouring Book Based on E. T. A. Hoffmann's original short story The Nutcracker and the Mouse King, With beautiful and detailed black line illustrations, plus captions that tell the story. www.panmacmillan.com.au RRP: $24.99

Cars 3 Tablet Help Lightning McQueen win the big race with the Race & Learn Tablet™. Interact with your favourite Cars 3 characters as they come to life in fun and engaging activities on the LCD screen. Seven exciting games introduce letters, objects, spelling, number order, counting, logic and more.

RRP: $29.95

Pokémon Trainer Guess All new amazing electronic guessing game! Just think of a Pokémon and answer the questions, and Trainer Guess will figure out what Pokémon you are thinking of. This awesome game features voice recognition so you can talk to it too Available exclusively at Big W. RRP $29.00 www.peninsulakids.com.au

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lo ve

Tonka Car Crush Escape

Take your Tonka Tinys on an epic adventure through the Car Crush Escape Playset! Featuring a working crane, car crusher and catapult, you can crush it and launch it to your heart’s content!

Available at Big W, Toys R Us, Toyworld & other toy stores.

RRP: $18.00

Luna Petunia Talking Doll This 35cm Luna doll is articulated for play and features her signature, brightly coloured outfit and even has hair you can brush and style.

Available from Toys R Us and other specialty stores.

Chef Cookie Monster Themed - Talking Plush

RRP: $44.99

This adorable talking plush, complete with chef’s hat and apron, says phrases like ‘Ohh! Me So Hungry!’, and ‘Me love cookies, you know that!’

Available now from all leading toy retailers.

RRP: $29.99

Twinkle Wings Abby With over 20 sounds and phrases including ‘Let’s make some magic’. This adorable cuddly plush toy will bring a sparkle to any child’s Christmas.

Available now from all leading toy retailers.

RRP: $54.99 Space Elmo Themed Talking Plush

Mölkky is Europe’s #1 Best-selling Outdoor Game!

This addictive outdoor throwing game can be played on grass, gravel, beach, dirt or any outdoor surface. All you need is an outdoor space, a few friends, and a Mölkky set.

RRP $59.95 50 Peninsula Kids – Summer 2017/18

Get ready for an adventure as Space Elmo, wearing his intergalactic space suit, says ‘Hello martians!’, and ‘5,4,3,2,1, Blast off!"

Available now from all leading toy retailers.

RRP: $ 29.99

Pass the Pen World’s fastest drawing game! With the pen tip disappearing as you play, you only have 10 seconds to draw while all the other players guess. With over 500 objects to draw, it’s fast, fun and guaranteed to draw plenty of laughter from the whole family.

RRP $39.95

Beat Bugs Musical Toy Jays Skateboard Keyboard

Gazillion Giant Bubble Mill Create massive bubbles at the push of a button with the Gazillion Bubbles Giant Bubble Mill!

Be the star of the Beat Bugs Band! Use the easy-to-follow music guide to learn music made famous by the Beatles. Great inspiration for future musicians.

Available from Toys R Us and Big W RRP: $39.95

Test Match The classic Aussie table-top cricket experience where you can play all forms of the game, including test match, one day, and 20/20.

Available from Toys R Us and other specialty stores.

RRP $59.95

RRP: $29.99

Covitol

Beat Bugs In Motion™ ToysHoop it up Kumi Beautifully detailed action toys. Wind up or pull back and watch them go!

A versatile cream that treats a broad range of common skin irritations. Offering a thick, smooth barrier for long-lasting protection, Covitol helps to relieve eczema, sunburn, cuts, scrapes and skin infections.

Go to covitol.com.au for all stockists.

RRP: 75g $7.95, 150g $12.50 each

Available from Toys R Us and Big W RRP: $19.95

Jonar & Kitty: The Timekeeper’s Void In the new age children’s fiction book, Jonar & Kitty: The Timekeepers Void author and illustrator Bobbie Richardson has crafted an enchanting tale that draws the reader into the true beginnings of a new world full of magic.

www.bobbierichardson.com.au RRP: $15.99

www.peninsulakids.com.au

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Trolls Hair Raising Assortment This fuzzy figure is approximately 7.5 inches tall, including her extra-long, extended Troll hair. Bend and twist Poppy's soft and fluffy plush hair to style it in wacky ways.

RRP: $14.99 littleBits Droid Inventor Kit The Droid Inventor Kit enables kids to create a Droid – including R2-D2- and customize it in unique ways. Together with the free Droid Inventor app, kids can send their creations on 17 awesome missions! www. littlebits.cc RRP: $159.95

Trolls Paint with Water Activity Book Bring lots of colourful Trolls scenes to life with nothing more than water and a paintbrush!

RRP: $5.99

Shark Bite is the awesome new game with real bite!

Snag the fish and be the winner!

RRP: $39.95

Bunch O Balloons Fill and Tie 100 Water Balloons in less than 60 Seconds with these sensational self-tying water balloons! Check out the new Despicable Me 3 bunch packs.

From RRP: $12.99

Shnooks

Zoom Ball Hydro Be ready to send the Zoom Ball back- you never know when the balloons will pop, and soak you in water!

RRP: $19.95

Get ready for the opening surprise with Shnooks as they magically grow in size! Style their luscious hair with the included comb and clip accessories.

RRP: $10.00

Rubik’s Race is a fun new puzzle game that combines the strategy of the Rubik's Cube with face-to-face play.

RRP: $29.95

The Chocolate Grove Googly Eyes Perfect formula for family fun! A twist on the classic game where a team member draws an object and the others guess what it is!

RRP: $39.95.

52 Peninsula Kids – Summer 2017/18

Amazing full size champagne bottles in smooth milk and rich dark chocolate.

Gift wrapped in a myriad range of foil colours. www.chocolategrove.com RRP $15 per bottle.

Linkee

Smiggle

The world’s first super-simple, crowdsourced, shouty-outy family quiz game with anti-genius! Written by the people, for the people, it’s is a fun trivia party game played by individual players or teams.

Universe Scented Erasers A combo of erasers and pencil toppers that erase, these sets come in a bunch of cute shapes – butterflies, aliens and magical creatures. www.smiggle.com RRP: $4.95

Available now from all leading retailers.

RRP: $44.95

Scented Pencil Pack x12 Yum!! 12 coloured pencils, each with a different scent. All your favourites are there: cola, chocolate, kiwi, apple, blueberry, vanilla, bubblegum, fairy floss, cherry, orange, banana and cookie! Scented pencils this fun make a whole lot of sense! www.smiggle.com RRP: $16.95 Universal Slap Bands Everyone loves a scented Smiggle slapband. Slap them on your wrist & smell the yummy scent. Featuring slide on character badges from our new Smiggle Universe range. www.smiggle.com RRP: $7.95

ZURU Tangle Twist, shape and fidget Tangles re-connectable links into endless possibilities - a puzzle, a movable sculpture, an anti-stress desktop toy, or even an accessory.

RRP: $4.00

SCHOOL HOLIDAYS 26th Dec - 29th Jan STORYTIME Daily at 11am and 3pm join the animals for a story telling.

Enjoy a favourite animal story and watch as the kids act in the story with the animals. LOTS OF CUDDLY ANIMALS. Rustic Farm Setting Pony and Horse Rides Free Cuppas & Gas BBQs Special School Holiday Activities Many Animals for “Hands on” Experiences Playground, Picnic Areas (BYO Food) (see website rhsfarm.com.au)

490 Stumpy Gully Rd Balnarring Phone 5983 1691 Open 10am - 5pm www.peninsulakids.com.au

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By Jo Ford

REPRODUCTIVE MEDICINE HAS COME LEAPS AND BOUNDS. NOT LONG AGO, THE OPTIONS AVAILABLE TO SAME SEX COUPLES WERE LIMITED TO SAY THE LEAST. FAST FORWARD TO PRESENT DAY WHERE AMAZING BIOLOGICAL FEATS ARE NOW ACCOMPLISHED IN LABORATORIES ALL OVER THE WORLD. Jo Ford talks to Balnarring couple Cat Martin and Marissa Egan about their unique story and how they truly are mothers to each other’s babies!

At what stage in your relationship did you first start talking about having children?

(Marissa) From memory, I think we used to throw the idea around quite early on, but we didn’t really start talking about it seriously until a couple of years ago. We knew we both wanted kids but we just never felt that we were financially ready. It was a big step in our relationship, so we wanted to be prepared.

Can you explain what the first steps in the process were?

(Marissa) We started attending a group called PLP (Prospective Lesbian Parents) to find out about our different options. These meetings were fantastic, and we were able to gather so much information about the huge number of ways in which to go about falling pregnant. I know that sounds rather shifty, but there are a lot of options out there, all with their pros and cons. It was at one of these meetings that we found out about City Fertility in Melbourne and decided to go to a free information session. We intended to go to many other fertility clinic information sessions but once we met Dr David Wilkinson at City Fertility, we were sold! He has been fantastic for us; incredibly knowledgeable but also happy to have a laugh.

Mother’s

PRIDE 54

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The next order of business was looking for a donor. We initially looked at the option of getting a friend to donate through the fertility clinic, but it became apparent that this option wasn’t going to work for us when we started having to send legal contracts back and forth. There are a lot of horror stories out there about donors claiming parental rights and where recipients take legal action against donors for finances to do with the child. We wanted everyone to be protected, but it just made the friendship messy. We decided to use an anonymous donor and were given a list of potentials! City Fertility had about 30 donors, which was a huge number compared to the 1 or 2 donors at most other clinics at the time. (Once legislation came in that donor identity could be revealed once the child reached 18-years-old, most donors chose to back out, so we were very thankful for the large number that chose not to.) continued next page.....

C E L E B R AT I N G 10 Y E A R S “Locally owned, natural & unplugged play based education�

TAKING ENROLMENTS 2019 & 2020

Mornington 03 59 761022 | www.paduakindergarten.com.au | info@paduakindergarten.com.au

www.peninsulakids.com.au

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" THE MOST BEAUTIFUL AND EXCITING JOURNEY EITHER OF US HAVE EVER BEEN ON"

After looking at many profiles, which included things like height, weight, hair colour, eye colour, ethnicity, parent’s ethnicity, skin tone, full health history (including parents), any qualifications, current job, hobbies and interests, reasons for donating, and a few other bits of information, we ended up choosing a diving instructor as our donor. He had a great health history, has blue eyes and blonde hair like Cat and ticked many other boxes for us – so he’s perfect. Unfortunately, we couldn’t get the same donor the second time around, even after appealing to him with a letter, so we chose another donor for our second child.

Once deciding on the donor, we went through the process of injecting ourselves with hormones to increase the number of eggs we produced in a cycle. Normally a woman will produce one or sometimes two eggs in a cycle but with hormones this can be increased significantly. These injections had to be timed to perfection. I remember a time when Cat and I were heading to a 90’s dress-up party in the city - dressed as Bananas in Pyjamas - and we had to ‘shoot up’ in the underground carpark before heading in. I can only imagine what this would have looked like on the security cameras, but it had to be done!

We then had our eggs harvested. I had my eggs harvested for Cat to carry, and Cat had her eggs harvested for me to carry. It’s been a beautiful way for us to both feel connected and involved in the process.

The eggs that were mature enough were fertilised with our chosen donor’s sperm. The eggs that were successfully fertilised were given time to mature to blastocysts before being frozen. When we reached the right time in our natural cycles, the embryo was then defrosted and transplanted into the uterus. We then had to painfully wait for two weeks to find out if the embryo had taken or not. We repeated this process a few times with our first pregnancy which was sad but not unexpected. We were lucky enough to be successful on the first go when trying for bub number two.

After a couple of check-ups at the fertility clinic after becoming pregnant it was time to head back out into the world and continue the pregnancy as any other person would.

How does it feel to be a parent?

(Cat) Fantastic! Daunting! Exhausting! Mind-blowing. Amazing. The most beautiful and exciting journey either of us have ever been on. Little Evie is growing and changing every day and we feel very lucky to have her in our lives.

(Marissa) Incredible!! We are having the best fun with our beautiful Evie.

Of course, it’s exhausting, and there is no such thing as a day off anymore, but it’s so worth it. I’m particularly tired now, being pregnant, working full time, and coming home to our little munchkin. Cat is the most wonderfully supportive partner a person could have. It also helps that she has been through pregnancy herself, so she knows exactly how I’m feeling.

Are you planning on having any other children?

(Cat) I carried Marissa’s egg and Evie is a little Marissa. We’ve now swapped that around and Marissa is carrying my egg. Exciting.

(Marissa) It was disappointing that we were unable to use the same donor for my pregnancy, but no real biggy. We will be our own little family regardless. We’re still unsure what will happen once our second child arrives. Maybe that will be enough for us, or maybe we’ll want more. We’re not sure. We’ll go through City Fertility again without a doubt as they’ve been fantastic.

Have you always experienced positive reactions when people learn you are in a same sex relationship?

(Marissa) Most people are pretty good and may just have a few questions to ask. Then there are those people who just have no idea what to say! Others try to convince you that you just haven’t met the right man yet. And then there are the close-minded strangers that yell abuse out of their car windows if they see you holding hands with your partner. My continued next page.....

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With over 20 years experience, we are committed to continuous quality care and improvement to ensure a full balanced development for each child in our expansive natural learning environment.

Now taking

2018

enrolments for our Registered Kindergarten

www.mtelizahouse.com.au

info@mtelizahouse.com.au

03 97870788

parents needed a bit of time to get their heads around the idea but now they are fantastic. They see Cat as an important part of the family now.

(Cat) Mostly but not always. It took some key members of our lives a while to come around but we are now lucky to have everyone on board. Phew.

What advice would you give other same sex couples thinking about having children?

(Cat) Although you can never be 100% ready for children, try to identify and eliminate, or at least reduce the stresses in your life as best you can before beginning the journey, as this will improve your chances of getting pregnant and improve the relationship you have with your partner and your growing babe.

Here are a few tips: • If you’re planning on having the same donor for all your children, reserve extra sperm so you know you have some tucked away for down the track. We certainly wish we did.

• Find out as much as you can about the process before embarking on the journey.

• Be kind to your body during the process, try and be flexible and keep an open mind.

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• Listen to positive advice from others and ignore the negative. This is your unique journey.

(Marissa) Start your research early, join some groups, ask lots of questions. Most importantly, even though you can never really be ready for kids, make sure you and your partner are rock solid and make sure you discuss your different parenting styles and where you would compromise.

When your bub comes along, make sure you don’t take things too seriously, learn to look at the funny side of things, support each other and take time to stop and enjoy your bubba. Be prepared for the most exhausting but joyful adventure of your life!

Marissa and Cat have since had their bub, Archer. The family is happy and well.

Jo Ford runs Bodybump (pregnancy and post-natal aqua and fitness classes) and is bringing up two gorgeous girls, Lily and Rose. In her (limited) spare time, you'll find her at the gym practicing what she preaches. www.bodybump.com.au. If you have an interesting pregnancy or birth story, contact Jo at bodybumpfitness@gmail.com

FEB 2018

The Waterfront Festival

December to March

Saturday 10 to Sunday 11 February Saturday 11am–10pm and Sunday 11am–8pm Frankston Waterfront

Sand Sculpting Australia Exhibition

Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games Queen’s Baton Relay

Saturday 16 December to Wednesday 25 April Frankston Waterfront Tickets: visitfrankston.com

DEC 2017

Lyrebird Community Christmas Festival and Carols Sunday 17 December 5–10pm Belvedere Reserve

JAN

Little Beauty Christmas Market Saturday 23 December 10am–3pm Beauty Park

Blessing of the Waters

2018

Saturday 6 January 9.30am–5pm Frankston Waterfront

Sunday 11 February From 4.30pm Various locations

MAR 2018

Stellar Short Film Festival Saturday 3 March 6–11.30pm McClelland Sculpture Park + Gallery

Ventana Street Fiesta Saturday 10 March 12-8pm Wells Street, Frankston

Australian Beach Games Friday 26 to Sunday 28 January 10am–10pm Frankston Waterfront

1300 322 322 visitfrankston.com frankstonevents

Feast at Frankston Waterfront Friday 16 to Sunday 18 March Friday and Saturday 4–10pm Sunday 12–6pm Frankston Waterfront

itch

THE THAT KEEPS ON ITCHING: Treating Eczema in the holiday season

By Stephanie Calapa

S

ummer – highly anticipated for many but anxiously dreaded for eczema sufferers. Air-conditioning, sweating, dry heat, humidity, chlorine in pools and pollen are all known triggers for eczema. What is meant to be an enjoyable time of the year for kids can often be uncomfortable and painful for the children who suffer from eczema and their families.

For those of you unfamiliar with this dreaded condition, eczema is a skin irritation that appears as patches of dry, red, scaly skin.

Often referred to as the “itch that rashes,” eczema can be a very frustrating and painful condition, resulting in raw, sensitive and swollen skin from scratching. The most common type of eczema is called Atopic Eczema. Atopic Eczema affects people of all ages, but is far more prolific in childhood. About 1 out of every 10 kids will develop Atopic Eczema, and almost always before the age of five. For parents, it’s important to be aware of how it is caused and what can trigger it so that they can be prepared to treat those pesky flare ups.

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Peninsula Kids – Summer 2017/18

It is commonly accepted that Atopic Eczema is inherited. While environmental factors do come into play, these factors are more than likely simply triggers and are almost never the root of the problem. If one parent has eczema, asthma or hay fever, then there is a 1 in 4 chance that your child could get eczema. If both parents have eczema, asthma or hay fever, the likelihood of your child developing eczema increases to a 1 in 2 chance. We recommend being aware of your family eczema history and to be on the lookout for the signs and symptoms.

While Atopic Eczema is more often than not a consequence of genetics, it can sometimes be associated with allergy conditions such as food allergies, hay fever, and asthma. These conditions are traditionally more prevalent in the warmer months, which makes the hotter weather particularly difficult for children who experience eczema. Although eczema is not purely allergic, there is a clear connection between the two. Eczema often lies dormant, however allergic reactions can cause it to flare up. Coincidentally, eczema can also trigger other allergies. Up to 80% of kids with eczema develop hay fever or asthma later in childhood. It’s crucial to be aware of the likelihood of your child developing eczema and the associated triggers. That way you can identify and treat eczema efficiently and effectively.

While there is no cure for eczema, it can be managed successfully.

There are many remedies parents can adopt to soothe their child’s skin. Like anything, not everything will work for everyone. As a parent, it can be incredibly disheartening when you can’t find

something to relieve your child’s suffering. For many parents, this is the harsh reality of Atopic Eczema.

There is good news - there are countless creams, serums and medications to treat eczema. It’s just a matter of finding the right one for your child, which can often be a time-consuming task.

In topical creams, parents should look out for products that contain skin-soothing ingredients that create a protective barrier on the skin to prevent further irritation and infection. Products with high Zinc Oxide content work to protect and soothe irritated skin. Paraffin is a low allergy ingredient that eczema sufferers should also keep an eye out for, as well as Lanolin, which softens dry and cracked skin. Creams that contain Omega 3 can also speed up the healing process.

With summer fast approaching, it’s essential to be prepared to tackle eczema head on. After establishing the likelihood of your child experiencing eczema, be on the lookout for symptoms and know what to look for on labels so you can be equipped to treat your child’s eczema quickly and they can go back to just being healthy, happy kids.

Covitol® provides a thick, smooth barrier for long lasting protection. It helps relieve eczema, sunburn, cuts, scrapes, skin infections & nappy rash. Specially formulated with high levels of Cod Liver Oil, Zinc Oxide, Paraffin & Lanolin. Together they seal out wetness & germs to help skin irritations disappear quickly. www.covitol.com.au

Summer Reading Club: Game On 4 Dec 2017 – 31 Jan 2018 Get set for action and get reading! Open to all reading heroes aged 0 –18.

Our library holiday events program is also available on our website.

Join the Summer Reading Club at any library or download a reading log from our website. Read 10 books, return your log, collect a reward and enter the prize draw.

EXPERTISE IN COUNSELLING AND ASSESSMENT RELATED TO:

The Summer Reading Club encourages a love of reading during the holidays so that children are more prepared for learning upon returning to school.

Get your reading log here

PROVIDING

ourlibrary.mornpen.vic.gov.au

Autism Spectrum Disorder I Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder I Anxiety & Depression Social Skills I Behavioural Challenges I School Avoidance Parenting Stress I Cognitive & Educational Assessments Obsessive Compulsive Disorder

1396 Peninsula Clinic, 1396 Nepean Hwy, Mt. Eliza, 3930 ph. 03 9787 4550 f. 03 9787 9557 daniela@flourishingminds.com.au www.flourishingminds.com.au

www.peninsulakids.com.au

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MPK Chats to

MURRAY

COOK

MURRAY COOK TAKES TIME TO ANSWER A FEW QUESTIONS FOR MORNINGTON PENINSULA KIDS. READ ON TO FIND OUT WHAT HE'S BEEN UP TO SINCE RETIRING FROM THE WIGGLES NEARLY FIVE YEARS AGO.

Obviously, performing and making music runs Is the guitar, the only instrument you contribute through your veins. How long after The Wiggles to their new album, "Testify"!? did you relax before deciding that you had strap I primarily played guitar on the recording, with some percussion and backing vocals. I also co-produced the album with Lizzie and a guitar back on?

Alex Keller (Hot Potato Studio and Wiggles sound engineer).

I never really stopped playing. Even while I was still in The Wiggles I was playing in a cover band with friends when I was in town. Then after I stopped performing with The Wiggles, I played with a number of different bands. But it wasn’t really till I started playing with members of The Soul Movers that I really felt I’d found my new musical soul mates.

We began really working on new music in 2015 and began recording.

I feel a real ownership of this band mainly as I’m involved in the songwriting. So, this has become my primary musical outlet.

Do any of The Wiggles' tunes influence the sound or specific tracks from the album?

Some of the music that influences me in creating music for The Soul Movers is the same as some of The Wiggles’ influences: '50s, '60s and '70s rock, pop and soul. Also, Jeff Wiggle played some fabulous soul inflected Hammond organ on several tracks.

How/when did you decide that The Soul Movers What sort of sound can we expect to hear on were the right fit for you?

The Soul Movers new album?

I’d known Lizzie Mack (Soul Movers’ singer and songwriter) for a few years but didn’t realise what an amazing singer she was. She gave me a copy of the first Soul Movers’ album (that also featured founder and guitarist, Deniz Tek of Radio Birdman fame).

I was blown away by the music and her singing and approached Lizzie to do some playing together. We began writing and playing together and I realised immediately that this was the band for me.

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There is quite a lot of diversity on the album. It’s soul-influenced rather than strictly a soul record. There are elements of soul, rock, pop, funk and folk music with Lizzie’s passionate vocals soaring over the top.

Something for everyone really.

As tour manager for The Wiggles today, how do you make it all fit into your own upcoming busy tour schedule?

I’m still involved behind the scenes with The Wiggles but I’m not tour managing these days. That was somewhat short lived.

I’m happy to have more time to concentrate on The Soul Movers.

Can you ever be found back stage during The Wiggles tours?

I love to drop in and see The Wiggles perform and see the continuing amazing impact they have on their audience. I love catching up with the guys and girl. And, of course, the original line up still makes occasional appearances for their now-grown audience.

How often do you see the original members of the Wiggles? There must be lots of great times and memories to talk about?

I see Anthony and Jeff quite regularly for Wiggles’ business meetings.

I play with Jeff in a Paul Field’s (Anthony’s brother and Wiggles’ manager) rockabilly band, The Sacred Hearts.

I don’t get to see Greg as much as I’d like but we remain great friends who shared an amazing adventure. It’s always a joy when we get together and, like most enduring friendships, when we meet it’s like we were never apart.

Which was your favourite Wiggles tune to perform and which are you happy to be without? (Our house "fave" is Hot Potato!)

I loved Hot Potato too but I really enjoyed playing Play Your Guitar with Murray because I got to be a guitar hero, haha.

There are no songs I really disliked playing. There were some, like Hoop De Doo which had strenuous dance routines that I don’t miss but I could probably do with the extra exercise.

Which track on The Soul Movers new album "Testify!" do you identify with most? Or, which is the most fun to perform?

It’s been so wonderful playing these songs it’s hard to single one out.

There is a fun spirit in the second song on The Soul Movers new album Testify! ‘Fool I Am’. It connects most strongly with the pop vibe we enjoyed in The Wiggles. It sure gets young an old up and hopping!

(It makes a great Christmas present for young and old too so download your copy at Itunes or from the ABC online here or grab it at your nearest Sanity or JB Hifi – plug plug haha).

We’d love to hear what Wiggles fans think of it so please let us know and stay in touch on our Facebook! www.facebook.com/soulmovers/ or web: www.soulmoversband.com to come along to a show near you next year when we will be back to Victoria in Summer!

Soul Movers album is available to purchase from: abcmusic.lnk.to/ TheSoulMoversTestify www.peninsulakids.com.au

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Safety Beach

COUNTRY CLUB MINI GOLF

By Adams

W

hen I think ‘Mini Golf’, I think of hitting golf balls through windmills, and hitting barriers on just the right angle for a hole in one.

I certainly don’t usually worry about my ball going out of bounds.

This is where the Safety Beach country club Mini Golf differs from the usual carnival-style mini golf, it’s actually Mini-Golf.

It has no barriers to stop your ball going into the pristine surrounding gardens, it has multiple difficulty level flags on each hole and there is no windmill! It is very much like playing a short round of golf where you only need your putter. It even has 18 holes.

Our 5 and 8 year-olds completed the round on the easier red flags without cheating, much. Our 10 year old was much happier on the harder yellow flags. He even snuck in another round on the hardest black flags afterwards.

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“OPEN

The Country Club itself feels and looks like a country club should, with lots of palms and gravel tracks leading to the golf course that surrounds the pro shop and car park. The Atrium restaurant is at the front when you arrive, so be aware that you have to walk around to the left to get to the Pro shop. From there the staff will get you kitted up with putters and balls, and send you on your way The last hole has a tube running from the flag, where your ball will be returned to the pro shop. The kids were fascinated on where this magic tube went. It was the only hole where I managed to score a hole in one.

The Safety Beach Country Club is easy to find, and not far from the Mornington Peninsula freeway.

10 Country Club Drive, Safety Beach Adults $14, Children (under 16) $9, Concession $10, or a family $40 Call Shane for a booking 03 5981 0100

AMBROSE�

Sunday 11th March 2018 Four person combination $60 per person | $240 per team includes BBQ on completion Entries close 1st March 2018

(Golf Pro) Shane Johnson Ph: 5981 0100 or (Office manager) Debbie Hedges Ph: 5981 0120 www.peninsulakids.com.au

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By Beachsafe.org.au and lsv.com.au

W

e all love a day at the beach. However, the surf can be unpredictable. That's why lifeguards put up the red and yellow flags to show you the supervised area.

Staying safe and making the most of the coast requires knowledge and skills. It's all about helping you to enjoy our beautiful coast.

Although Australian beaches may look amazing, they can be unpredictable and hide some dangers that every visitor should be aware of. Here you will find some very helpful info and advice from lifeguards on beach safety, to ensure you enjoy your visit to the beach and stay safe!

Always swim between the red and yellow flags When you see red and yellow flags on a beach, it indicates that there is currently a lifesaving service operating on that beach. The lifeguards have chosen a section of the beach that is best for swimming and they will closely supervise this area. Lifeguards pay more attention to the area between the red and yellow flags than any other part of the beach.

Read the safety signs Before you go on to the beach be sure to read the safety signs. This will ensure you are aware of any warnings or dangers on the beach.

You can also find other helpful information to make your day at the beach more enjoyable. You might also find single signs placed on the beach to highlight specific warnings.

Ask a lifeguard for safety advice Lifeguards are highly trained and very knowledgeable about beach safety and conditions. When you arrive at the beach look for and identify the lifeguards. Feel free to ask them about the day’s conditions, as well any additional beach safety advice they might have for that specific beach – because every beach is different.

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SWIM WITH A FRIEND Not only is swimming with a friend (or family member) a fun way to enjoy the beach, it is also very sensible. While you are swimming together you can keep an eye out for each other, and if further assistance is required, one person could call or go for help. If everyone swimming together knows their own limits it is a good idea to share this with those around you so you can all stay within everyone’s comfortable limits.

IF YOU NEED HELP, STAY CALM AND ATTRACT ATTENTION

Even the most careful people can find themselves out of their limits in the water. If you are not feeling comfortable in the water and you require a lifeguard’s assistance to get back to shore, stay calm, raise your arm in the air and wave it from side to side. This will attract the attention of a lifeguard who will be able to come to your assistance.

You should conserve your energy by floating on your back and staying calm. This will ensure you have the energy to remain afloat until further aid arrives.

Beachsafe.org.au is brought to you by Surf Life Saving Australia, sls. com.au, as part of our ongoing commitment to education and safety in the aquatic environment.

Life Saving Victoria’s mission is to prevent aquatic related death and injury. Our vision is that all communities will learn water safety, swimming and resuscitation, and be provided with safe beaches, water environments and aquatic venues. lsv.com.au

continued next page.....

e want you and your children to enjoy good quality toys.

Toys that bring back happy childhood memories. Toys like, W Spinning Tops, Jack in The Boxes, Kaleidoscopes, Pop Guns, or just a bag of Wooden Blocks.

We want your toys to last and to give you smiles and happiness every time you play with them. We hope that some of our toys will encourage Mum and Dad and Nan and Pop to play and laugh together and most of all we hope that you remember where you got your toys and keep coming back for more.

Toys are more than simple amusement, they and the ways that they are used, profoundly influence many aspects of life. Like play itself, toys serve multiple purposes in humans. They provide entertainment while fulfilling an educational role.

Toys enhance cognitive behavior and stimulate creativity. They aid in the development of physical and mental skills which are necessary in later life. Toys positively impact the physical development, cognitive development, emotional development, and social development of children.

Come and visit us at the Toy Workshop in Sorrento and see our wonderful toys. If you’re a visitor to the Mornington Peninsula, we freight Australia-wide with amazing courier fees. We can also arrange to get any products to our other stores at Hawthorn, Hampton or Berwick for free pick up as well.

Come and visit us there and enjoy a truly wonderful shopping experience.

4 great locations or online www.thetoyworkshop.com.au 66 High St, Berwick ph 9796 1281

747 Glenferrie Rd, Hawthorn ph 9973 2146

1 George St, Sorrento ph 5984 4227

438 Hampton St, Hampton ph 9521 6998

THE FACTS ABOUT RIP CURRENTS

RIP CURRENTS

RIP CURRENTS ARE STRONG CURRENTS OF WATER FLOWING AWAY FROM SHORE THROUGH THE SURF ZONE. THEY ARE A STRONG FORCE AND ON ANY GIVE DAY, THERE ARE ABOUT 17,000 RIPS AT BEACHES AROUND AUSTRALIA.

There are many myths about the ocean. Many people think it’s just tourists and poor swimmers who get caught in rips currents. In fact, it’s young men aged 15-39 years who are most likely to die in rips.

Rips are the number one hazard on Australian beaches. The best way to avoid a rip is to swim at a patrolled beach between the red and yellow flags.

HOW TO SPOT A RIP CURRENT Rips are complex, can quickly change shape and location, and at times, are difficult to see. The things to look for are deeper, dark-coloured water; fewer breaking waves; a rippled surface surrounded by smooth waters; and anything floating out to sea or foamy, discoloured, sandy, water flowing out beyond the waves. Rips don’t always show all of these signs at once.

HOW TO SURVIVE A RIP CURRENT Stay calm and consider your options. Raise an arm to seek help. Try floating with the current, it may bring you back to shore. Swim parallel to the shore or towards breaking waves and use them to help you in. Reassess your situation. If what you’re doing isn’t working, try one of the other options until you’re rescued or return to shore.

Beachsafe is brought to you by Surf Life Saving Australia as part of our ongoing commitment to education and safety in the aquatic environment.

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www.peninsulakids.com.au

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MEET THE TELETUBBIES  •  

•  •    ••    ••   •   •   •    •   •      •  •        ••      •    ••        ••       •   •       ••   ••        •  •       •    ••         •       •   ••      ••       ••     ••        •     ••      •   •    •     •   •     •   •      •   •      ••          ••         ••         ••         ••         ••         •     ••70       Peninsula Kids – Summer 2017/18   •   

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                     

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www.peninsulakids.com.au

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TEACHING KIDS TO BE

FINANCIALLY SAVVY

By Jo and Carl Violeta

A

s parents, we want to do everything we can to guide our children towards becoming happy and fulfilled adults.

Financial literacy and sound money management skills are two of the greatest gifts we can give our kids.

Worryingly, recent research shows that over 40% of Australians report their financial knowledge as being low to very low. Almost 1 in 3 Australians report having no savings at all. Collectively, as a nation, we owe over $30 billion in credit card debt.

Focusing on financial literacy at home can help kids learn how to save money, make smart financial decisions and grow into financially savvy adults. By following a few simple, practical strategies teaching kids about money can actually be fun and easy (we promise).

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Peninsula Kids – Summer 2017/18

Talk about money at home To build kids financial literacy, make money and finances a regular topic of conversation in your home.

Conversations about money can become more detailed and sophisticated as children get older.

The way you talk about money to and in front of your kids should be realistic and positive to help them develop a healthy money mindset.

Peninsula based Psychologist Rebecca Underwood advises that it’s also important to role-model healthy money habits. “By modelling constructive behaviours and healthy spending habits, we create a solid foundation from which our children can learn through simple observation. From here, we are able to help our children learn to guide their own behaviours. The old adage ‘Monkey see Monkey do!’ comes to mind” said Ms. Underwood.

It’s one thing to tell kids to save, plan and spend wisely, but these messages will be meaningless if they are not supported by action.

If parents are racking up huge credit card debts when doing the Christmas shopping or have no savings, their kids are likely to follow a similar pattern of behaviour.

When kids see their parents living within their means and consistently saving they are likely to follow their parent’s lead and build healthy money habits.

Use pocket money as an educational tool Pocket money can be an effective tool to teach kids about managing money.

When we started giving our daughter pocket money, we sat down at our kitchen table and created a plan to ensure that it provided her with valuable money lessons.

value of money and the relative price of things.

We recommend parents approach pocket money with a focus on education and finding teachable moments.

Get kids involved As well as talking to kids about money, give them opportunities to make money decisions with you: • Ask them to help you compare health insurance policies, utility providers, and banking products.

• Let older kids plan the family’s meals for one week. Set a budget, get them to write the shopping list and purchase the groceries.

• Involve them in planning the next family holiday, including how much will need to be saved and creating a savings plan

Encouraging kids to save their pocket money for special purchases, teaches them how to wait for what they want.

“In a world where almost everything appears to be about immediate gratification with most things available at our fingertips (think social media, internet, online or extended hours shopping), having the ability to sit with the discomfort that comes with delaying that gratification (not getting what you want when you want it) is a critical yet overlooked skill that all children can benefit from, “said Ms Underwood.

It’s also a great idea to allow kids to decide whether they save or spend their pocket money. This provides them with safe opportunities to learn how to make financial decisions.

Saving and spending their own money helps kids to appreciate the

Teaching kids how to be smart with their money doesn’t need to be complicated, it just requires consistency and some conscious planning.

Talk to your children about money, role-model healthy money behaviour, give them plenty of opportunities to practice their money management skills, and they will be well on their way to becoming financially savvy adults.

Jo and Carl Violeta are self-confessed numbers nerds, parents of an energetic toddler and a super switched-on teenager, and co-founders of the award-winning business, Violeta Finance. They are a husband and wife team who are passionate about empowering their community with financial education, love the odd glass of wine, and get a kick out of helping families achieve their homeownership and financial dreams.

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77

ARE YOU

Too Busy

TO ENJOY YOUR LIFE?

By Janelle Ryan

I

t’s mid-week and the alarm goes off. You are still tired so you hit snooze and fall back onto the pillows. 20 minutes later you leap out of bed, dismayed that you are now 20 minutes behind in your day – and your day hasn’t even started yet!

As soon as we arise in the morning the external pressures of our lives starts to bombard us and that one hit of the snooze button has the ability to mess up our entire day. Does this scenario sound familiar?

"Argh! I shouldn't have hit snooze - no time for my walk now!"

“What will I wear to work today – oh no, that shirt isn’t ironed.

Where’s the iron??”

“Why didn’t the kids tell me it was “fresh fruit” day at school today? Do we even have any fruit?”

Run for the train.

“Oops, forgot to eat breakfast.”

“I wonder what kind of mood my boss will be in today?”

Or if YOU are the boss – “I need to call that client. I hope all the team show up today.”

And on and on it goes.

Single, married, stay at home parent or carer, children or no children, employee or employer – it doesn’t matter what your situation is.

Most of us in the Western World live a hectic lifestyle, running from one thing to another Most of my clients tell me they don’t have time to live a “balanced lifestyle” and sometimes that’s okay. Life can be a bit of a dance and sometimes that project at work needs our focus or our son’s soccer grand final is the priority.

We aren’t superheros and we can’t be everywhere at once

REMEMBER ALL THAT STUFF YOU USED TO DO

JUST FOR YOU? Whilst it’s commendable to be a valuable employee and a responsible, loving parent, we need to ensure that we are also looking after ourselves.

• Feeling fit and healthy gives us more energy to do everything we’d like to do, helps us sleep better, decreases stress and has long health term benefits.

• Socialisation, or hanging out with friends, gives us the opportunity to laugh, support others, share stories and feel connected to our community.

• Hobbies and recreational pursuits help us tap into our spirit and often brings forth joy, contentment and a feeling of peace.

• Quality time with our partners allows us to nurture our relationship, giving it depth and strength.

• Focusing on new creative projects and entrepreneurial pursuits promotes personal growth, satisfaction and purpose.

• Being still and giving our mind time to rest brings forth vision, creativity, clarity and ideas.

The happier you are in yourself, the more loving and caring and committed you can be to others.

I learn a lot from my very inspiring clients and today I’d like to share some actions that some have put in place to practice self love, regardless of their other commitments.

A lot of clients come to coaching for assistance with time management.

They tell me they struggle to find the time to do everything they would like. When we get to work and break down each area of their lives, I find it’s very common that the first area pushed to the bottom of the • A young mum and her husband have allocated one night per week list is their own self care and desires. We often ignore our own health to open a bottle of wine and talk after their small children have been and fitness, hobbies, recreational activities, entrepreneurial pursuits, put to bed. This time is blocked out in their calendar, phones and spending time with friends and quality time with partners over the TV are turned off and they allocate this time to themselves only pressures of career and/or family demands.

– no discussion about the children’s activities or schedules is allowed.

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Peninsula Kids – Summer 2017/18

• A mum takes her teenage daughter to soccer training and walks laps around the oval her daughter is training on, twice a week.

• Many clients are cutting down on the booze – having multiple “alcohol free” days per week.

• A client who has recently been made redundant after many years with a large organisation is focusing on getting out of bed at 6am every morning and hitting the gym to stay feeling motivated and positive.

• An executive has started taking herself away from her desk and outside for a walk three lunchtimes per week.

• A family with young children has organised lunch with friends on the first Saturday of every month. They catch up whilst all the children play together.

• Many clients are blending commuting and exercise by walking, biking or running to and/or from work.

• Strict “diets” and deprivation are no longer tempting to those wishing to be healthy or lose a few kilos. Mindful eating and focusing on whole and fresh foods is becoming more widely practised.

• One client has partnered socialisation with her hobby by taking photos at events, editing them and sending them on to her friends and family.

• A single man in a new city has joined community groups and a boxing class to meet new like-minded people.

• A global director, who is expected to be “online” 24 hours day, is practising self care by blocking out 2 hours in her calendar every Thursday night to attend her singing class.

• A CEO with a demanding career and young family arises at 5am to go for his run. When he returns at 6am, his wife goes for her run.

• Some clients are starting to listen to their bodies for “sleep signals” and going to bed at that moment – rather than pushing through for another hour or so.

These are just some examples of how clients are appreciating the importance of their own needs and desires and making change in their life to honour them.

Happiness comes from within and only you can take the steps necessary to do what brings you joy and a feeling of wellbeing.

I hope you have some self care strategies in your own life. If not, feel free to take some inspiration from those who are already doing it. Go on, make the change.

Janelle Ryan is a Change Catalyst who helps high achievers get out of their own way, align their actions with their goals and create a life they desire and truly deserve. www.skyhighcoaching.com.au www.facebook.com/skyhighcoaching.com.au www.peninsulakids.com.au

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MO NT E S S O RI The world renowned teaching methods of Maria Montessori – Montessori Cycle 1

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Piccolos

During the most precious years when your child learns easily

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By an environment that is stimulating and nurturing

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24-26 Malcolm Road, 118 Overport Road, Langwarrin Frankston South Phone 03 9787 9494 Phone 03 9787 6730 to visit our school to visit our school altochildren@bigpond.com piccoloschildren@bigpond.com www.altochildren.com.au www.piccoloschildren.com.au

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Celebrate

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Peninsula Kids – Summer 2017/18

GO GLAM BASKETBALL

SPAParty www.peninsulakids.com.au

83

Credits Organised By:

Go Glam Bell Tent and Day Spa mydreamyteepee.com.au facebook.com/mydreamyteepee Flowers facebook.com/Nikodinas-Flowers-Pty-Ltd

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Peninsula Kids – Summer 2017/18

GO GLAM BASKETBALL

SPAParty

www.peninsulakids.com.au

85

Planning your Go Glam Basketball Spa Party 1. Be sure to book your Go Glam bell tent well in advance to avoid missing out. Figure out your theme, (if you’re having one!), and chat to the team at My Dreamy Teepee about colour schemes. Basketball calls for lots of orange and black.

2. Use an edible pen purchased from your local cake-making shop to add accents to food. We used ours to make basketball bun sandwiches, basketball mandarins, and basketball bikkies!

3. Let your imagination go - pick other foods that meet the brief. Vanilla wafers made us think of basketball nets. Jaffas, nacho cheese chips, cheese balls all fall into the colour palette.

4. Make a basketball court out of hummus and sliced olives. Veggie sticks, pretzels and saladas make great spectators.

5. To make basketball pedi’s paint the nails with shiny orange polish and used a fine nail brush to draw on black lines to make the grooves of the ball.

6. Pass the parcel is a great basketball party game. Use orange tissue paper for all of the layers trying to make the parcel as round as possible. Open the circle of friends wide enough to have to toss the basketball parcel.

7. Plain orange goody bags can be spruced up by drawing or printing out basketball shapes or player silhouettes.

8. Basketball cakes can be achieved easily at home with lots of orange icing and a few strips of licorice.

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PJ Masks © Frog Box / Entertainment One UK Limited / Walt Disney EMEA Productions Limited 2014

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Pregnancy & Baby

GRANNY’S GUIDE TO…

BEING A GRANDPARENT

By Yvette O'Dowd

THE ANNOUNCEMENT HAS BEEN MADE YOU ARE ABOUT TO BE UPGRADED FROM PARENT TO GRANDPARENT! Now what?

Y

our journey as a grandparent is very different from that as a parent. This time, you are armed with knowledge and experience … but someone else is in charge of the ship! Your beliefs around raising children might not match those of your son or daughter and their partner. The 20-40 years which have passed since your first child was born have seen some surprising changes in parenting. So let’s look at some things you might like to know.

Breastfeeding Recommendations around breastfeeding have changed greatly, since research has revealed a lot more about how lactation works. Set feeding times and intervals are now recognised as being suited to bottle feeding but not appropriate for breastfeeding. What you might have known as “demand feeding” is better described as baby-led or cue-based feeding.

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breastmilk changes from feed to feed and it is actually feedback from the baby to the breast which controls milk production. You can expect your grandchild to go to the breast frequently from birth, with a minimum of 8-12 feeds in 24 hours considered typical. Topping up with formula, stretching out feeds and feeding routines or schedules are all known to decrease milk supply.

The old ways of nipple preparation are thankfully gone: no more rubbing nipples with metho or scrubbing with nail brushes! Your grandchild’s mother will spend her pregnancy learning about how babies attach to the breast - or “latch on” - and will be encouraged by midwives to get her newborn to take the breast in a way which doesn’t cause pain or damage.Feed times are no longer limited to avoid sore or cracked nipples, as it is poor attachment which leads to these, not how long a baby feeds. Feeds in the early days might take up to an hour!

Introducing Solids Solids are no longer recommended as early as in the past, with guidelines recommending breastmilk alone until around six months. There is no need for rice cereal, juices, formula, water or even rusks until this age. Many parents choose to avoid purees and spoon-feeding altogether, going straight to finger foods, using an approach known as “Baby-Led Weaning’. You might be disappointed that you can’t spoonfeed your grandchild or puree fruits and vegies, but the whole family will enjoy meals you can share with the baby, as they learn to feed themself. It is important to avoid honey under 12 months, as it can

Bed-sharing safety - guidelines around safely having baby sleep in the parents bed include having a smoke-free home, breastfeeding and not using drugs or alcohol. It is very important not to fall asleep holding a baby on an armchair or couch.

Crying Many parents choose not to leave their baby to cry. It is now proven picking babies up when they cry does not spoil them and it is natural for a parent to help the baby settle by feeding, holding, rocking or soothing them.

Leaving a baby to cry itself to sleep - sometimes called Controlled Crying or Cry It Out - is not appropriate for young babies. Waking and feeding in the night is normal even in the second year of life. Sleeping through the night should not be expected in the first 6-12 months. Giving babies solids or topping up with formula has not been proven to make babies sleep longer and formula feeding will not make a baby sleep through the night.

The decision to use or not use a dummy varies from family to family. If a dummy is used, it should never be dipped in honey or other sweeteners.

Dummies can interfere with learning to breastfeed, so use might be delayed until feeding is going well.

Car Seats

be a cause of botulism in babies, but healthy, nutritious family foods are perfect, right from the start. Many parents choose not to give their children sweets, lollies or sugary foods. Even fruit juice is no longer recommended for children under two years. It can cause conflict in families when grandparents try to override the rules parents put in place around food: your special treat may cause issues. So always check before offering and find ways other than food to show your grandchild how special they are to you. Their teeth will thank you for it too.

Sleeping Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) used to be called cot death.

In the 1980s, 1 in 500 babies died from this cause. Research funded by campaigns like Red Nose Day have led to very different recommendations about how and where babies sleep and numbers have dropped to 1 in 100 babies. It is important to learn about these new guidelines. www.rednose.com.au has information sheets you can get online.

Here are a few of the most important things to know: Back To Sleep - sleeping on their tummies is now known to increase the risk of SIDS. Your grandchild should always lie on their back to sleep, not their side or tummy.

Shared Room - sleeping in the same room as their parents is now recommended for 6-12 months.

Bedding - minimal bedding, no bumpers, lambskins, soft toys or pillows are the safety recommendations for bassinets and cots.

Using a correctly-fitted infant car restraint is law in all States in Australia.

Changes in regulations, based on safety, mean that car seats older than ten years must not be used, even occasionally. Restraints you might have kept from your own children will not meet current regulations and should be discarded.

Babies are no longer automatically turned to forward-facing at six months.

Indeed, rear-facing is now recommended for as long as possibly, up to four years of age and many seats are designed for this purpose. It is important to always use the seat as instructed and never modify it in any way.

In Conclusion Becoming a grandparent is life-changing: it can be the most joyful time of your life. Always keep in mind though, times change and so does our knowledge. Your grandparents did things differently to your parents, and you did it differently again. Now it is your children’s time. You might not always agree with how they go about things but your support will always make a big difference.

Yvette O’Dowd probably isn’t your typical grandmother.

This purple-haired mother of three and granny of one has been a breastfeeding counsellor for more than 20 years, runs breastfeeding education classes for parents expecting twins and more, facilitates local babywearing and natural parenting groups and writes for a popular parenting website.

Yvette lives in her Frankston home with her husband and son. Her daughters and their families live nearby.

In her spare time, Yvette is a keen photographer and scrapbooker and is keeper of a fairy garden. You can follow Yvette at www.bellybelly.com.au/author/yvette-odowd www.facebook.com/groups/SouthernNaturalParentingNetwork www.facebook.com/groups/SouthEasternBabywearing Yvette O’Dowd probably isn’t your typical grandmother.

Photo credits: Susan D'Arcy Photography www.peninsulakids.com.au

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ONE IN THREE NEW

Mothers..

By Continence.org.au

O

ne in three women who have had a baby will experience incontinence, but there is help available, according to the national peak body for bladder and bowel health awareness.

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Continence Foundation CEO, Rowan Cockerell, said incontinence is a surprisingly common condition but most cases can be better managed, and even cured.

“Thirty percent of women experience incontinence and more than half the women living with incontinence are under 50 years of age. Yet for all the Australians experiencing incontinence, 70 percent of sufferers do not discuss the problem and its crippling impact on their lives with anyone,” she said.

“Incontinence can be a socially and emotionally debilitating condition – which can get worse with ageing if left untreated. And the more babies you have, the greater your risk of experiencing incontinence,” said Mrs Cockerell.

“For many mums, exercising, sneezing or laughing can trigger leakage, which can in turn cause anxiety, stress and embarrassment. Yet, many choose to simply avoid it. Those who ignore the issue are often unaware of the impact incontinence has on their lifestyle, whether it be avoiding exercise or limiting social engagements for fear of an embarrassing accident,” she said.

“While this condition is frighteningly common, it is not a normal part of ageing or having a baby and women should not have to live with it.

Effective treatment is available to better manage, and in many cases cure incontinence in post-partum women. The ‘One in Three Women’ booklet is a handy support reference to help mums do just that,” she said.

Mrs Cockerell said stress incontinence, most commonly experienced by new mums, is often the result of poor pelvic floor strength, which can be comprehensively addressed.

“With so many things on their plates, mums often feel they have no time to address their incontinence, but the new booklet, along with our National Helpline, can offer mums help and assistance to quickly and confidently manage the issue and get them back into the swing of life,” she said.

“Treatment usually involves simple lifestyle changes and pelvic floor muscle exercises, which everyone should be doing anyway to prevent incontinence.”

Things Mums can do if they are worried about stress incontinence: Get a copy of the One in Three Women brochure by calling the Foundation’s free National Continence Helpline 1800 33 00 66 Go to www.continence.org.au or www.pelvicfloorfirst.org.au

SUN 11thSUN 11th MARCH 2018 MARCH 2018 SUN 11th

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When did

PARENTING

BECOME A SCIENCE? 94

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By Rebecca Bowyer

I

don’t remember much about my first few mothers’ group meetings. I juggled a baby who fed every two hours, protested loudly when tired but refused to sleep, the painful healing wounds of a 24-hour labour and emergency caesarean and an overwhelming anxiety that I was doing it all wrong. The main message I remember from the maternal and child health nurse who attended those sessions was: “Don’t listen to your mothers.

They did it all wrong.”

She then proceeded to regale us with evidence-based ‘tips’ and studies which taught us the best way to ensure optimum development in our babies. She also told us horror stories about why our mothers had been doing it all wrong – but it wasn’t their fault, they weren’t to know.

Here are just a few discoveries about parenting that research has given us in the last decade or so: • by using positive bedtime routines, controlled crying or controlled comforting children’s sleep improved and mothers’ depression symptoms reduced.

• he way parents and others talk to young children about the past is crucial for their memory development.

• a mum’s diet during pregnancy may influence her baby’s taste.

• reading children books with pictures of vegetables can increase the likelihood that they will eat their vegetables.

• children are more likely to have an above-average vocabulary if they read digital and print books, than if they read printed books only.

• some anger management issues in children could be genetic.

Ann Sanson and Sarah Wise, from the Australian Institute of Family Studies, point to ‘an increasing level of social intervention aimed at supporting parents to rear productive, well-adjusted citizens.’

How did we get here? When did parenting transition from ‘Mother knows best’ to a scientific endeavour?

Nature vs Nurture Nurture: Blank slate babies Wouldn’t it be nice if John Locke was right when around 300 years ago he philosophised that children were tabula rasa or, a blank slate, meaning that you could mould that squishy little bubba into anything you liked.

Forget about genetic selection. I’ll just bed the nearest bloke and then bombard our progeny with flashcards, language apps and piano lessons and they’ll turn out to be the next prime minister.

This theory that children could be moulded into anything with the right environment continued into the 20th century. It was given fancy names like ‘classical conditioning‘ and ‘reinforcement theory’. But at the end of the day, it also meant that if your child turned out to be a delinquent, it was your fault.

Unfortunately, this sort of thinking lead to the whole ‘bad breeding’ theory and simply reinforced prejudices – how can a child of criminals ever expect to be anything but a degenerate law breaker?

Nature and Nurture: a revolutionary marriage of ideas From around the early 20th century, thanks to big thinkers like Freud, Piaget, Bowlby (you can thank him for attachment theory) and, more recently, Bell (1968), we’ve figured out that kids are affected by both their genetics and environment (nature) and the way they’re brought up (nurture).

The rise of evidence-based parenting advice Nature and nurture is a pretty handy philosophy because it means that, with enough research, we can boil parenting down to a fine-tuned science with a set of rules to follow.

Hooray! Babies now come with a Parenting Manual! If you follow all the rules you’re guaranteed to raise a superstar child!

The fine print: You’ll also need to keep up with the new parenting research results which are released daily and change the rules constantly.

No one said it would be easy to raise the next prime minister.

Today: It’s still the parent’s fault The good news You can now find an evidence-based answer to every tiny developmental question you ever had about children (in fact, you may find several, all with conflicting advice).

The bad news If something goes wrong with your child it’s your fault because you chose the wrong partner (genetics), your fault because you ate the wrong food, were too stressed or took the wrong medication during pregnancy (epigenetics), or your fault because you failed to get degrees in psychology, sociology, occupational therapy, early childhood education, nutrition and medicine before you took on the massively complex and scientific job of raising children.

It’s unclear whether all this research and theorising has resulted in a world where we’re raising healthier, happier children who are better able to contribute society in a meaningful way. It is clear, however, that we’ve become astonishingly adept at beating each other about the head with whichever parenting study results happen to be handy at the time.

Perhaps we need more parenting studies like the one reported in the New Yorker by Sarah Miller: A recent study has shown that if American parents read one more longform think piece about parenting they will go crazy!

Nature: Pre-fab babies In the 18th century, Rousseau, a French philosopher, concluded that children were born with a sense of reason (clearly, he’d never met a toddler at dinner time). Parents could encourage and guide their children, but essentially it was the child’s innate nature that they were born with which would dictate the person they would become.

Rebecca Bowyer lives in the outer eastern suburbs of Melbourne with her long-suffering husband and two young sons, who are both quite delightful, especially when they are smiling or sleeping. For more funny little stories about raising the little people in your life, visit: www.seeingthelighterside.com F: Seeing the Lighter Side

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WHY YOUR BREASTFED BABY DOES'T NEED WATER

WARNING: It could be unsafe

By Pinky McKay

I

t’s stinking hot. You are sweaty and so is your baby. He keeps grizzling and signalling that he wants more ‘boobie’.

He’s obviously thirsty so you wonder. "Should I give him a drink of water?"

ILK M T S A E R B OF D E S O P IS COM

9W0AT% ER

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Not only do you not need to offer your baby water in hot weather but it can be unsafe. Giving water to newborns can affect your milk supply and your baby's weight gains and, for all babies under six months, giving water can dilute the sodium in the baby's bloodstream to the point where a potentially life threatening condition known as "oral water intoxication" develops. This can lead to symptoms like low body temperature, bloating, and seizures.

If you have a newborn, giving water not only fills your baby’s tummy, which means he will drink less milk and this can affect his weight gains or he may even lose weight. It can also have a negative impact on establishing your milk supply. In the early weeks after giving birth, you need to feed your baby often to calibrate your milk making potential – if you can get your supply up now, while your post birth hormones are influencing milk production (along with emptying your breasts), you will have a better long term supply and an easier time when these hormones are no longer supporting your milk production to the same extent.

According to physicians at Johns Hopkins Children's Center in Baltimore babies younger than six months old should never be given water to drink.

"Even when they're very tiny, babies have an intact thirst reflex or a drive to drink," Dr. Jennifer Anders, a pediatric emergency physician at the center, told Reuters Health. "When they have that thirst and they want to drink, the fluid they need to drink more of is their breast milk or formula."

Because babies' kidneys aren't yet mature, giving them too much water causes their bodies to release sodium along with excess water, Anders said. Losing sodium can affect brain activity, so early symptoms of water intoxication can include irritability, drowsiness and other mental changes.

Other symptoms include low body temperature (generally 97 degrees or less), puffiness or swelling in the face, and seizures.

"It's a sneaky kind of a condition," Anders said. Early symptoms are subtle, so seizures may be the first symptom a parent notices. But if a child gets prompt medical attention, the seizures will probably not have lasting consequences, she added.

Beyond the newborn stage, your baby still needs the calories and nutrition in milk for his growth and development. Water has none of these and again, will fill his tummy, possibly reducing his food intake and may affect your milk supply. Or, your baby has been drinking lots of water during the day, he may wake more at night to catch up on milk feeds because he is hungry.

Water as a beverage should be completely off limits to babies six months old and younger, Anders and her colleagues say. Parents should also avoid using over-diluted formula, teas or pediatric drinks containing electrolytes. So, what can you do to keep your baby hydrated in hot weather?

Most importantly, respond to your baby's feeding cues (smacking or licking his lips, opening and closing his mouth, sucking on his lips, tongue, hands or fingers and ‘rooting’ at your chest) and allow him to breastfeed as much as he needs to quench his thirst.

Breastmilk is composed of 90% water, and that provides all that your breastfed baby needs, even in hot weather. If your baby is thirsty, he will regulate the amount and consistency of your breastmilk by feeding more often and taking in enough of the watery foremilk to satisfy his thirst, but not so much of the creamier hind milk if he is thirsty but not hungry – you can’t ‘over feed’ your breastfed baby. This means that your baby may seem to ‘snack’ as he feeds frequently but for just a short time on hot days.

When your baby is around six months and ready to try other foods, he may enjoy a few sips of water from a sippy cup. As he eats more family foods, a little water may help if he seems constipated. If your older baby doesn’t want to try water yet though, don’t worry; an extra breastfeed or several will give him all the water he needs. You can also offer breast milk icypoles if he seems too hot to snuggle close and breastfeed.

Meanwhile, make sure you maintain your milk supply by drinking plenty of fluids yourself – respect your own hunger and thirst signals and consider that tiredness can be an early sign of dehydration. So, watch your baby, not the clock, and make sure YOU drink water so your baby gets plenty to drink on these hot days.

Pinky McKay is an internationally certified lactation consultant (IBCLC) and bestselling author of Sleeping Like a Baby, Parenting By Heart and 100 Ways to Calm the Crying (Penguin Random House). She is also the creator of Boobie bikkies all natural and organic health food cookies for breastfeeding mums. www.pinkymckay.com

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your actions affect others, what actions you need to take to be a good friend, and it helps you understand more about the people and the world around you.

Education

We know each child develops in a uniquely different way and research shows that when you follow these practices, you are developing empathy in children: • Be responsive, not disciplinary or controlling.

Talk to your child about the difference between right and wrong so they can make good choices.

FILL YOUR CHILD’S RESILIENCE BACKPACK

•

By Mandy Whitworth

• Model caring and thoughtful behaviour.

I

t is widely accepted that childhood experiences provide the foundation for emotional wellbeing. The skills we learn early in life, and accumulate over time, can help us to cope with tomorrow. This coping mechanism is known as resilience - our survivability and ‘bounce-back-ability’ to life experiences.

Consider that children have an imaginary backpack that they carry with them everywhere, with space for life’s essentials. A simple metaphor to remember in building resilience in children is, the more essentials they have stored in their backpack, the more resilient they will be. It is the primary responsibility of families, teachers and caregivers to be constantly filling a child’s resilience backpack.

The three key components in anyone’s backpack should be: Empathy, Gratitude and Mindfulness. In this article I will focus on empathy.

Empathy is consideration of others; it is about shared emotion and seeing someone else's point of view. Empathy is one of the most important of these life essentials and is at the root of all healthy relationships. It helps you know how

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Reason with your child about the effects of their behaviour on others.

When reading or watching a movie together, ask your child to imagine how the character might be feeling. This will focus their attention on the emotions that other people might be experiencing.

Children learn by example. You can teach kindness, respect and understanding by modelling this behaviour towards other people in your child's presence.

• Encourage your child to discuss their feelings and problems.

Show an interest in the things that matter most to them, and respond to their emotions in a positive and caring way.

Memories from childhood build patterns of expectation in the brain for life. The earlier we develop empathy in our children, the more resilient they become.

The challenge for all of us is to create the conditions for empathy and resilience to grow. To harness magic moments that will fill every child’s resilience backpack, ultimately helping them to live meaningful lives and enjoy rewarding relationships.

Mandy has been the Head of Wardle House, the Junior School at Toorak College, since 2013. Prior to that, she was the Deputy and Curriculum leader. Mandy has over 30 years’ experience in various Primary schools, with particular expertise in the early years of schooling.

2018 Twilight Open Days Rosebud 7-10 Campus Wednesday 7 March 2018 from 4-7pm Inglewood Crescent T: 5982 9500 Tyabb 7-10 Campus Wednesday 7 March 2018 from 4-7pm 1585 Frankston-Flinders Road T: 5978 2700 Mornington 7-12 Campus Wednesday 14 March 2018 from 4-7pm Oakbank Road T: 5976 0100

Year 7 2020 Enrolments Enrolments open on 7 March 2018 and close Friday 11 May 2018 For enquiries, please contact the Registrar, Christine Mose on 5978 2701 or email enquiry@padua.vic.edu.au

Visit our website to register your interest in a tour or for more enrolment information.

Bookings via www.padua.vic.edu.au

www.padua.vic.edu.au www.peninsulakids.com.au

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Cornish College Nature-based learning Learning in nature is remarkably powerful and Cornish College harnesses that power through outdoor education in its 100 Acre classroom.

Children in the Early Learning Centre, throughout primary and into secondary years, regularly access the grounds and wetlands during weekly walks and other outdoor learning opportunities. Their natural sense of inquiry and fascination with their environment leads to endless questions about how their world works and many learning possibilities.

Our passionate and skilled teachers guide the children through these opportunities, helping them to learn more through hands-on experiences.

This outdoor learning extends beyond a deeper understanding of the natural world and into mathematics, language, humanities, arts and sciences.

It is supported by learning in the classroom with a curriculum that develops inquiring, knowledgable and caring young people. This is part of the International Baccalaureate Primary Years Programme (IB PYP), which ensures academic rigour

and emphasises students’ personal development. The College focuses on international mindedness and developing children as global learners.

The Programme embeds the characteristics of the ‘Learner Profile’ into all aspects of the school day. Students are encouraged to be open-minded, principled and knowledgeable. They develop the confidence to become risk-takers in their learning. They become thinkers and inquirers who communicate effectively. They learn the importance of living a balanced life, caring and learning to be reflective.

As students develop the PYP attitudes they also develop the motivation and purpose to take action. The PYP attitudes help students to learn and make a difference to others and the environment.

Ask the Admissions Team about Prep places by calling 9781 9000 or emailing admissions@cornishcollege.vic.edu.au.

Register for a 2018 tour or our open morning.

Twilight tour: Thursday 22 February, 6.00pm Open morning: Tuesday 6 March, 10.00am to 1.00pm

Find out more about outdoor learning, the International Baccalaureate and programs such as Buddy programs, EcoKids, Kitchen Garden and Make a Difference Week at cornishcollege.vic.edu.au.

65 Riverend Road Bangholme VIC 3175 Phone: 03 9781 9000 Web: www.cornishcollege.vic.edu.au

John Paul College Creating a Community of Curious Minds‌ John Paul College is a co-educational Catholic Secondary School in Frankston.

The College aims to be a centre of excellence and inspiration within the community; students encouraged to be motivated and passionate about both their learning and their community involvement.

array of sports and can take part in debating, public speaking, community service, youth ministry, social justice, theatre sports, chess club and performing arts activities.

Our first class facilities include a modern and well-appointed Resource Centre and our Food Technology Centre and Science laboratories are state of the art.

Principal, Mr John Visentin, says “John Paul College is a vibrant learning community where each student is supported and challenged to achieve excellence. We offer an education that promotes resilience and faith in action.

We are committed to maintaining high positive expectations and are attentive to the needs, goals and abilities of every student.�

The Ngargee Centre for Performing and Visual Arts is a beautifully appointed space; comprising modern facilities for music, drama, dance, media and fine arts. John Paul College students thrive with the opportunities presented to them within the performing arts. Here they form new friendships, they grow significantly in confidence and they achieve a strong sense of identity and pride.

John Paul College is special because students feel that they are part of a bigger family. Students are encouraged to help and support each other and a sense of belonging and community are integral to the culture of the school.

Social justice initiatives are flourishing through our fundraising efforts and immersion programs to the Philippines and East Timor. Students willingly volunteer on a number of social justice initiatives and we are very proud of our young people who, in their service to others, enrich both their own lives and those around them.

We aim to challenge students; to inspire them to achieve, to be all that they can be and to take advantage of the many opportunities that are available to them.

Students can be involved in a whole

We welcome enrolments from students with both Catholic and Non-Catholic backgrounds.

Applications for Year 7, 2019 are now being accepted. Limited vacancies still exist for Year 7 2018.

Come and see for yourself the opportunities on offer at John Paul College. Please ring 9784 0200 to make a tour booking.

The College grounds are large and beautifully landscaped, providing plenty of space for students to learn and play.

161 McMahons Road, Frankston VIC 3199 Phone: 9784 0200 Web: www.jpc.vic.edu.au

PHUN WITH FONIKS!

What we love about....

By Kathryn Maxwell

A

QUALITY EARLY EDUCATION IN A RELAXED, SAFE AND NATURAL ENVIRONMENT > Family owned and operated

>Stunning natural, landscaped gardens

>A team of nurturing and caring educators

>Free incursions with specialised teachers introducing science, language, sports, drama and music to all children >Educational programs inspiring young minds

>Building resilience, empathy and confidence in your precious little one >Strong communication with families

ABOUT CHILDREN BEING CHILDREN!

new grade of excited prep children enter the classroom on their first day of school, eager to learn to read and write, and they want to be able to do it today! Unfortunately for them, English has one of the most confusing spelling systems of any language, thanks to the way it has developed! At the end of the first day they are so excited to go home and tell their parents they can read… ‘ I go to school’. And they can. This is purely by relying on their visual memory, we have practised this over and over during the day. But are they really reading?

!

There are two main schools of thought about how to teach children to read and write, one focused on meaning (whole language) and one focused on word structure (phonics). I believe you need a combination of both approaches. In 2005, Australia’s National Inquiry into Teaching Reading recommended that young children should be provided with systematic, explicit and direct phonics instruction. Many confused children learn to guess and memorise words rather than sounding them out. This seems to work at first, but by their third year of schooling, lack of visual memory means they start to fail.

Phonics is the relationship between letters and sounds as well as the understanding of how those sounds connect to form words. It is knowing the relation between a grapheme (letter or letters) and specific, spoken BEINcan GC sounds (phonemes). If childrenIunderstand be divided into LDRENthat words HIL they H individual phonemes andC that phonemes can be blended into words, DR T U knowledge to read and build words, rather are able to use letter-sound EN O than relying on B their visual memory.

A Young children learn in various ways, including hands on exploration and movement. All children need time, constant repetition and opportunities to consolidate and apply their learning. Research suggests that systematic instruction which includes word play, writing words, and using manipulatives such as magnetic letters to create words are all effective strategies for teaching phonics. Children will enjoy learning letter sounds (phonemes) through playful activities, as this is what they will need to know in order to decode the word.

OLLIE

SCOUT

“I like everything at FiRST early learning. I like outside.”

“I like playing tea parties with my friends and colouring.”

CHLOE

“I like science with Sean and having tea parties.”

RUBY

LUKAS

“I love my friends and my teachers.”

“I like playing with my friends, like building blocks and playing with kevin.”

BEN

ATHVITHAN

KEVIN

KIYARA

“ Because I learn everything”

“Because I’ve got friends to play with and because there’s lots of toys to play with and crafts and drawing and colouring!”

“Because I like to read books. I like playing with Lukas.”

“I love doing artworks and colouring”

Towerhill Road, FRANKSTON SOUTH Ph - 9783 3390

Fun phonics activities for you to play with your child…

• Sound Hunt: write letters of the alphabet on post it notes. Your child has to hunt for items around your home that begin with that sound.

They can then stick the post it note on the item.

• Magnetic Letters: There are so many different ways you can use magnetic letters, they are just the best! Create family member’s names on the fridge or match the letters to flash cards of animals and items. As your child gets older use them to create and manipulate words on your fridge or to introduce new vocabulary, such as a word of the week.

• Memory/snap: Print pictures of animals, food, toys that begin with the initial sound of the letters you are focusing on. Eg. m - mouse, c – cat.

Play memory and snap.

A capability in phonics doesn’t necessarily mean competence in reading. It’s quite possible to read with all the correct phonics in place and yet not to be reading at all. This is why it is so important to not only have fun and teach phonics, but to read to and with your child every day to encourage a love of literature.

Crn Heywood Grove & Clifton Way, ENDEAVOUR HILLS Ph - 9700 1922 info@firstearlylearning.com.au | www.firstearlylearning.com.au

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Kathryn is a Moorooduc Primary School teacher and junior school leader.

Recipes

Jodie BLIGHT We’re all busy and want quick, healthy and delicious meals but sometimes just don’t have the time.

Summer TABLE will inspire you to put variety and zest back into your mealtimes and with a free APP to create a shopping list on your phone, dinner will be ready in no time! And – you learn how to use leftovers in innovative new ways.

After years working as a company director in the finance industry, starting a family and moving half way around the world, Jodie Blight discovered her passion – creating healthy, easy and delicious family meals. “A fist pump from the kids is as good as a Michelin star in my books.”

To find out more about this revolutionary cookbook, please visit www.hellotable.com.au or find us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/hellotable

www.peninsulakids.com.au

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Lamb and Mango Salad with Yoghurt Dressing WHAT’S NOT TO LOVE ABOUT THIS QUICK, FRESH SALAD WITH A LIGHT CREAMY DRESSING? A FLAVOUR COMBINATION WHICH IS SURE TO BECOME A FAVOURITE.

Prep time: 10 minutes Cook time: 0 minutes Total time: 10 minutes Serves: 4 Ingredients

1 600 g cooked lamb, warm 4 handfuls baby spinach leaves 2 mangoes, cubed 2 avocados, cubed ½ red onion, finely sliced 1 long red chilli, chopped (optional)

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Yoghurt dressing

4 tablespoons Greek yoghurt 2 tablespoons mint sauce 1 handful mint leaves, chopped

Method

1.Shred lamb and gently toss with salad ingredients in a large bowl or platter. Be careful not to squash the avocado.

2. In a separate bowl, mix dressing ingredients. Taste and adjust to your liking. Drizzle over salad and serve.

Prawn Noodle Salad

A REALLY FRESH AND TASTY SALAD, WHICH IS READY IN NO TIME. ASK YOUR FISHMONGER TO PEEL THE PRAWNS FOR YOU WHILE YOU SHOP FOR THE OTHER INGREDIENTS. IF HE IS AS WONDERFUL AS OUR PHIL, HE WILL BE MORE THAN HAPPY TO.

Prep time: 10 minutes Cook time: 0 minute Total time: 10 minutes Serves: 4 Ingredients

125 g vermicelli rice noodles 400 g cooked prawns, peeled and deveined 1 cucumber, julienned 1 carrot, julienned or grated 1 red capsicum, sliced 2 handfuls bean shoots 4 spring onions, thinly sliced 1 handful mint leaves, chopped 1 handful coriander, chopped 1 long red chilli, deseeded, finely chopped (optional)

Dressing

6 tablespoons lime juice 2 tablespoons soy sauce 2 tablespoons fish sauce 2 tablespoons sesame oil 2 garlic cloves crushed 1 long red chilli, deseeded, finely chopped (optional) ½ tablespoon honey (optional)

Method

1. Place noodles in a bowl and cover with boiling water.

Allow to soften for 3–5 minutes, then drain and rinse with cold water. Drain again thoroughly.

2. Combine prawns, cucumber, carrot, capsicum, bean shoots, spring onion, mint and coriander leaves with noodles in a large salad bowl and gently toss to combine.

3. To make dressing, shake ingredients in a jar. Taste and adjust to your liking. Pour over salad and toss together.

4. Sprinkle with chilli and serve. www.peninsulakids.com.au

107

Vietnamese Chicken Noodles

THIS IS A FAVOURITE WITH OUR WHOLE FAMILY. YOU MAY NEED TO MAKE DOUBLE, AS EVERYONE ALWAYS ASKS FOR SECONDS! YOU CAN STILL MAKE THIS DISH IF YOU DON’T HAVE ANY LEFTOVER ROAST, JUST BUY A COOKED CHICKEN FROM THE SHOP. TOO EASY!

Prep time: 10 minutes Cook time: 0 minute Total time: 10 minutes Serves: 4 Ingredients

100 g vermicelli rice noodles 400 g cooked chicken, shredded 1 Lebanese cucumber, julienned 1 carrot, julienned or grated 1 red capsicum, sliced 2 handfuls bean shoots 4 spring onions, thinly sliced 1 handful mint leaves, chopped 1 handful coriander leaves, chopped 1 long red chilli, deseeded, and chopped (optional) 1 handful peanuts, roasted and chopped

Dressing

6 tablespoons lime juice 2 tablespoons soy sauce 2 tablespoons fish sauce 2 tablespoons sesame oil 2 garlic cloves, crushed 1 long red chilli, deseeded, finely chopped (optional) ½ tablespoon honey (optional)

Method

1. Place noodles in a bowl of boiling water. Allow to soften for 3–5 minutes, then drain and rinse with cold water. Drain thoroughly.

2. To make dressing, shake ingredients in a jar until combined. Taste and adjust to your liking.

3. In a large salad bowl, mix chicken, cucumber, carrot, capsicum, bean shoots, spring onion, mint and coriander leaves. Add dressing and toss to coat. Then add softened noodles and gently 4. Toss to combine.

5. Sprinkle with chilli and chopped peanuts.

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Summer Beef Salad

THE ROAST YOU HAVE WHEN YOU ARE NOT HAVING A ROAST. A REFRESHING SALAD USING THE EXTRA GREEN BEANS, ROAST CHERRY TOMATOES AND BEEF COOKED FOR THE SUNDAY ROAST. IF YOU DON’T HAVE LEFTOVER GREEN BEANS, COOK SOME UP. THEY DON’T TAKE LONG.

Prep time: 10 minutes Cook time: 0 minute Total time: 10 minutes Serves: 4 Ingredients

4 handfuls rocket leaves ½ red onion, finely sliced 100 g steamed green beans, cut into 2 cm lengths 250 g roasted or fresh cherry tomatoes or fresh 1 whole roasted red pepper, cut into strips 400 g roast beef, thinly sliced 1 handful basil leaves, chopped 1 handful sunflower kernels, toasted (optional)

Dressing

6 tablespoons olive oil 2 tablespoons red wine vinegar 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard

Method

1. Arrange rocket, onion, green beans, tomatoes, red pepper on a salad platter or individual plates and top with the beef.

2. To make dressing, shake olive oil, vinegar and mustard in a jar until combined. 3. Taste and adjust to your liking. Pour over salad and gently toss together.

4. Sprinkle with basil and sunflower kernels.

Instead of using raw red onion, why not try using Pickled Red Onions they add a great tang. www.peninsulakids.com.au

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Chicken And Mango Salad I GET EXCITED WHEN I SEE THE FIRST MANGOES OF THE SEASON APPEAR IN THE MARKETS. THIS RECIPE IS ONE OF THE FIRST MEALS I MAKE IN SUMMER. IT IS SO QUICK, EASY AND FRESH. EVERYONE WILL LOVE IT. IF YOU DON’T HAVE ANY LEFTOVER CHICKEN, BUY A COOKED CHOOK FROM THE SHOP.

Prep time: 10 minutes Cook time: 0 minute Total time: 10 minutes Serves: 4 Ingredients

4 handfuls mixed lettuce leaves 2 mangoes, sliced 600 g cooked chicken, chopped ½ red onion, finely sliced 1 handful coriander, chopped

Dressing

2 tablespoons white condiment (white balsamic vinegar) 6 tablespoons olive oil 110

Peninsula Kids – Summer 2017/18

1 tablespoon honey ½ tablespoon wholegrain mustard Pinch of salt

Method

1. Arrange lettuce, mango, chicken, and red onion on a large salad platter or individual plates.

2. To make dressing, shake ingredients in a jar until combined.

Taste and adjust to your liking.

3. Pour over salad, and sprinkle with coriander leaves.

eat n’ mess

THIS IS A DESSERT THE KIDS CAN MAKE COMPLETELY

BY THEMSELVES. IT IS OUR TAKE ON THE TRADITIONAL ENGLISH DESSERT ETON MESS, AND IS VERY SWEET SO YOU DON’T NEED MUCH. KIDS WILL ENJOY MAKING A MESS HERE.

Prep time: 3 minutes Cook time: 0 minutes Total time: 3 minutes Serves: 4 Ingredients

1 packet mini meringues 300 ml cream Topping ideas strawberries mixed berries passionfruit

Method

1. In individual glasses or bowls, divide the meringues evenly.

2. With a fork, slightly crush the meringues.

3. Pour over cream and add your desired toppings. www.peninsulakids.com.au

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Health

THE IMPORTANCE OF

HYDRATION:

By Julie Cox

W

ith the summer sun approaching, now couldn’t be a more appropriate time to look at the importance of keeping hydrated. The human body is 60 to 70% water and human beings wilt in much the same way as plants if the level of hydration is not maintained. The consequences for not drinking enough water can be profound with a much increased risk of: Pressure ulcers Constipation Headaches Urinary infections Kidney and gallstones Heart disease Low blood pressure Diabetes Confusion Falls Hospitalisation Skin damage

Your body depends on water to survive. Every cell, tissue, and organ in your body needs water to work properly. For example, your body uses water to maintain its temperature, remove waste, and lubricate your joints. When you feel thirsty thats a sign you are already 112

Peninsula Kids – Summer 2017/18

dehydrated so you should never get yourself to this stage.

Dehydration has a lot to do with muscle fatiguing. A perfect example is when you drink alcohol and wake with a hang over and you feel sluggish and tired, thats because your muscles are dehydrated.

Water is best for staying hydrated. Other drinks and foods can help you stay hydrated. However, some may add extra calories from sugar to your diet. Fruit and vegetable juices, milk, and herbal teas add to the amount of water you get each day but be very careful as some of these are loaded with nasties, sugar and salts. Even caffeinated drinks (coffee, teas etc) can contribute to your daily water intake. A moderate amount of caffeine (200 to 300 milligrams) is not harmful for most people, anything more than this can actually make you dehydrated. It is always best to limit caffeinated drinks. Caffeine may cause some people to urinate more frequently therefore it’s a loss of fluids from your body. Water can also be found in fruits and vegetables (for example, watermelon, tomatoes, and lettuce), and in soup broths.

Julie is mum to a sassy 2 and a half-year-old girl who keeps her moving. Her passion for mums/women's fitness has catapulted a career in a range of fields from exercise to eating healthy, supplements, and serving up great lunchbox treats. You can find more about Julie at www.facebook.com/MumsInMotion

DEHYDRATION HAS A LOT TO DO WITH MUSCLE FATIGUING

• Providing Specialist Orthodontic Services to the Mornington Peninsula with three locations in Rosebud, Mount Eliza and Hastings.

• The very best in Orthodontic care and technology - clear braces, Invisalign, lingual (hidden) braces.

• Treatment provided in a relaxed environment.

• Highest quality care provided by our Orthodontist.

Tips To Keep Hydrated:

1. Always carry a water bottle with you.

2. Set a reminder on your phone every 2 hours to drink glass of water .

NO REFERRAL NEEDED. CONTACT US TO FIND OUT HOW WE CAN HELP YOU ACHIEVE THE SMILE YOU ALWAYS WANTED.

CALL US ON

9787 3849

“Becaus smile, y e of your ou more be make life autiful” -Thic h Nhat

Hanh

3. Put a note on your fridge or in your bathroom to drink water.

4. If you are really bad with water intake , I suggest having a hydration supplement in your hand bag to add to the water you do drink.

5. If you don’t like the taste of plain water, try adding a slice of lemon or lime to your drink.

6. Drink water before, during, and after a workout.

CALL NOW FOR MT ELIZA, ROSEBUD & HASTINGS BOOKINGS

7. When you’re feeling hungry, drink water.

Thirst is often confused wi th hunger.

122 Mt Eliza Way, Mt Eliza & 1533 Point Nepean Rd, Rosebud West 140 Salmon St, Hastings

8. Drinking water may also contribute to a healthy weight-loss plan.

mteliza@hanksorthodontics.com.au www.peninsulakids.com.au

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FOUR

TIPS FOR A HAPPY HAT WEARER

DID YOU KNOW THAT AUSTRALIA HAS ONE OF THE HIGHEST RATES OF SKIN CANCER IN THE WORLD? NOT EVERYONE REALISES THAT SUN EXPOSURE IN THE FIRST 10 YEARS OF LIFE PLAYS A LARGE PART IN DETERMINING YOUR LIFETIME POTENTIAL FOR SKIN CANCER.

By Richelle Ellis

W

hile the onset of warm summer months brings excitement to many of our little ones, it also strikes fear into the hearts of many parents. It’s the dreaded ‘H’ word and all the tantrums and arguments that can go with it. “No hat, no play. Well you’ll just have to stay inside then. I’ve told you, you have to wear your hat”. These well repeated mantras become more tiresome frustrations for us parents, than actual behaviour changing enlightenments for our children.

Start Early!

Changing a child’s behaviour isn’t an overnight process. Wearing a hat is a learned skill, much like learning to walk or toilet training.

However, the child can often see no benefit in wearing a hat, so it can make the exercise a little more challenging.

Be careful with the ‘H’ word. At some point, we have all been guilty of screaming “put your hat back on!” Children pick up on this and can start to think of ‘hat’ with a negative connotation. Try using descriptive words like “Let’s wear your red bucket hat today”. A positive spin can work wonders.

Don’t be dismayed though. There are plenty of practical techniques and crafty tricks that you can use for children of all ages to entice them into the world of sun safety. These are tried and tested, by many happy parents that can now breathe a huge sigh of relief!

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The best time to teach a child to wear a hat is before they start developing fine motor skills. Familiarising baby with the sensation of wearing a hat is the key to raising a child that searches for their hat to wear before going outdoors. Once they can control those little hands; anything new is most certainly getting ripped off! And really – who wants to argue with a toddler?

Keep It Happy

You're So Vain Play on vanity! Children love admiring themselves in mirrors and hearing how fabulous they are. Use it to your advantage! Take the time to show them their outfit in the mirror and explain how the hat would “just

LUCAS

SPEC IAL I ST

DENTAL CARE

complete their look!” Add an accessory or trim to the hat so it a personal item to your child.

Master Of Distraction If you have a defiant toddler, you really need to figure out what it is they LOVE. Food is a great place to start. They can wear their hat at dinner time and will forget that it’s even there. Fussy eater? Try treat food that can only be consumed whilst wearing their hat. It may take a little convincing, but they will eventually come round if you take the treat offer away! Also try their favourite toys or maybe even a movie.

Richelle is the head behind the sun-hat company, Bedhead Hats. To be a part of the ‘Protect the Potential’ community drive visit bedheadhats.com.au, purchase any product and select ‘GIFT’ or ‘DONATE’ at the cart screen to pass one on to a child in need.

TRIC DENTISTS A I ED A P

134 TANTI AVENUE, MORNINGTON 3931

597 5 9334 Dr James Lucas Dr Caroline Howarth Dr Narisha Chawla Dr Daniel Cocker

lucas dental care proudly sponsors polyglot theatre

www.peninsulakids.com.au

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THE IMPORTANCE OF SUN

By Sherrie Miller

OH GLORIOUS, WARM, BRIGHT AND CHEERY SUN. HOW WE LOVE YOU!

O

ur light in the day. Our energy. Our life force. Our vitamin maker! The sun plays an important part in our daily lives. It's essential we try and get sun daily. In this day and age of office working, computer games and couch potato living - we are simply not getting enough sun - and it's affecting our health.

The sun plays a significant role in our health. Globally we have become very Vitamin D deficient and our health is suffering because of this. The sun's many fabulous contributions to our health include: Vitamin D production. When the UV sunlight hits our skin, the synthesis of Vitamin D begins. Vitamin D is a fat soluble hormone which is important in controlling the absorption of calcium and phosphorous in our body. Vitamin D is also crucial for bone and muscle development and the prevention of bone diseases such as osteoporosis. It also plays a significant role in immunity, mental health and disease prevention.

Vitamin D is available in some food sources such as fish oils, eggs and butter but you cannot get enough Vitamin D through diet alone. A 116

Peninsula Kids – Summer 2017/18

good quality supplement of Vitamin D3 with Vitamin K2, is useful when deficiency is apparent and sun exposure is limited.

Sunlight kills microbes which aids in preventing infections.

Sunlight assists liver function and is often used in treating jaundice.

The sun alters our mood. The rays of the sun helps with the synthesis of endorphins (the feel good hormone), thus making us more cheery!

The condition SAD - Seasonal Affective Disorder - is a condition that occurs when dreary weather means that people do not see the sun for weeks or months, creating various forms of depression. The Sun helps lift depressive moods.

Sunlight can assist with insomnia. Daily exposure to the Sun increases melatonin production at night. Melatonin helps regulate sleep.

The rays of the sun help increase metabolic rate by stimulating the thyroid gland.

Sunlight produces carbohydrates in plants - our energy source. This is done by the process of the chlorophyll (the green pigment of the plant) absorbing sunlight and transferring the energy from the sunlight to other molecules of the plant - including the fruit/vegetable it produces.

This process is called 'photosynthesis'. Plant food is what I fondly call sun food! All plants require sunlight to produce carbohydrates that we eat for our energy source each day. Meat also requires sunlight. The

Dr Peter A. Scott is a specialist orthodontist offering orthodontic care for children, teens and adults alike in both the Mornington Peninsula and inner Melbourne areas. He is also a consultant orthodontist at the Royal Childrens Hospital.

Specialist Orthodontist Creating Beautiful Smiles On The Peninsula For 30 Years Expertise In Child And Adult Orthodontics

animals eat the carbohydrates from the plants to grow themselves. The sunlight also helps with the bone and muscle growth of the animals - our protein source. Sunlight is required for healthy growth of animals and plants, that we consume for energy and nourishment.

During photosynthesis, the plants release oxygen into the air. We breathe that air. Without sun there would be very minimal healthy plants. Without the oxygen from plants, we would struggle for fresh air!

Can you see how much we need the sun? The sun is one very important aspect for good health and growing strong, healthy children. So get your kids outside to catch some rays and eat sun foods daily. Their little bodies need it! Just don’t forget the sunscreen!

Sherrie Miller is a holistic nutritionist from The Wellness Seed, with a passion for children’s health, particularly the relationship between their gut and behavioural issues. She passionately educates parents and children through clinic consultations, workshops and presentations, on the necessity of eating quality wholefoods and maintaining good gut health. Sherrie, a mother herself, is determined to plant the seed of good health into our current generation of kids, nourish them with optimum nutrition, and watch them grow into thriving, healthy adults. www.thewellnessseed.com.au

Early Assessment Of Dental Development And Facial Growth Ideal Age Of Initial Assessment 7-9 Years Early Intervention Where Appropriate For Best Outcome No Referral Necessary

13 Beach St Frankston

Ph: 9783 4511

www.drpeterscottorthodontist.com.au www.facebook.com/drpeterscottorthodontist www.peninsulakids.com.au

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Ask The Experts!

Our 4 - year old daughter has just been diagnosed with Autism.

We feel immense sadness because of it and don’t know how to connect with our daughter as she often appears to be in her own world.

Most parents express sadness and fear of what life has in store for their child following the diagnosis. It is only natural to have so many questions and worries regarding your child’s future. You may find it useful to remember that your child’s diagnosis is just a label and that your child has not changed because of it. Your daughter’s early diagnosis is of critical importance as it allows access to therapies such as speech therapy, occupational therapy and psychology. Talk to your child’s paediatrician or psychologist prior to commencing therapy and remember that progress will happen over time just as it does for any child. If your daughter has any special interests, embrace them as they provide a great opportunity to connect with her. Try to engage in one on one play with your

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daughter on a daily basis, no matter how brief, and by following your child’s lead wholeheartedly, you will start noticing improvements in social awareness, emotional connection, as well as communication.

Daniela Jensen BSc (Psychology & Early Childhood Studies), MSc (Health Psych), Assoc. MAPS Psychologist Flourishing Minds My 10 year old daughter has been referred to see an Orthodontist. She suffers from anxiety, particularly with new things. Do you have any strategies for managing this?

We understand that this journey into the unknown world of orthodontics can be daunting for some patients and parents. Our friendly team aims to alleviate any anxiety with a personal and friendly approach. A clear and simple explanation of what is going to happen and what to expect is often enough.

Many of our treatment options require multiple set

up appointments which allows the patient to become familiar and comfortable in our practice surroundings and with our team before undergoing treatment. Our regular appointments during treatment allow us to develop wonderful rapport between our doctors, staff and your family.

Parents can help. A great deal of dental anxiety in children is directly associated with the anxiety that the parent may have. Try not to project your own anxiety onto your children. Dentistry has come a long way. For most patients, the best way to minimise anxiety is not discussing the appointment too much and allowing us to explain all procedures at the appointment itself.

If you have any particular concerns, please talk to a member of our team and we can work with you to make the experience as stress free as possible.

I hope this helps!

Tara Burrows Dip AppSci (Melb) Dental Therapist Peninsula Orthodontics 134 Tanti Ave Mornington

What should you do if your child’s tooth gets knocked out?

One of the most severe dental injuries is to knock out a tooth.

It’s important to know if it’s a baby tooth or adult tooth.

For baby teeth we don’t put them back in because it risks damaging the developing adult tooth. Find the tooth if possible so your dentist can check it’s all there, otherwise radiographs may be recommended to find the rest of the tooth.

Knocking out an adult tooth has poor outcomes and what you do in the first few minutes can improve the result. The best first aid is to put the tooth back in the socket it came from straight away! To keep the tooth in get your child to hold it with their tongue or gently bite on gauze or a tissue. If you can’t do this then get the tooth into milk, saline or salvia and see your dentist straight away. If in doubt call your dentist at the scene of the accident and ask for advice.

Have a fun and safe summer.

Dr Daniel Cocker Specialist Paediatric Dentist Lucas Dental Care 134 Tanti Ave Mornington

www.peninsulakids.com.au

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Creative

s n a F ACCORDIAN 1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

8.

YOU’LL NEED 3 A5 pieces of paper, popsicle sticks, loom band, glue

WHAT TO DO

1. Stylise your pieces of paper, if you wish, by drawing, stencilling or stamping a design.

2. Mark 1cm spaces on back of paper for kids to use as a guide when folding.

3. Accordion fold each piece of paper.

4. Fold each accordion in half.

5. Using a glue stick, hot glue, or PVA, adhere each fan piece together until you have one seam left.

6. Glue a popsicle stick to each side. (We used PVA and allowed to dry for a few minutes with loom band around to hold in place.)

7. Use a loom band to keep your fan closed when not in use, and to keep the stick together when the fan is open.

8. Coolness!

*WE BOUGHT BIGGER POPSICLE STICKS TO TRY, BUT REGULAR ONES WOULD ALSO WORK PERFECTLY AND MAKE THE FAN A BIT MORE COMPACT FOR TINIER HANDS. 120

Peninsula Kids – Summer 2017/18

In Australia, the recent Sydney Myopia Study found 31% of 17-year-old children were myopic, double the prevalence reported just 18 years ago.

-MYOPIA-

THE GROWING EPIDEMIC “Evidence is mounting that myopia (short sightedness) is growing around the world, with a recent study estimating that on average, 30% of the world is currently myopic and by 2050, based on current trends, almost 50% will be myopic, that’s a staggering 5 billion people”1 Just prescribing basic glasses for children is now thought to worsen the rate of deterioration.

At 20/20 Sight’n’Style, our aim is to use all scientifically validated methods to slow the rate of myopia progression. One effective option is Orthokeratology (ortho-k): The process of wearing a custom designed contact lens only while sleeping. The lens is removed each morning and the result is good vision all day with no contacts or glasses. As a side benefit the procedure also slows down the progression of myopia in most studies, by approximately 50%.

Contact our clinic to organise an assessment to see if your child is a candidate for Orthokeratology, or one of our other available techniques for myopia control.

Myopia, also known as ‘shortsightedness’ or ‘near-sightedness’, causes people to have difficulty seeing distant objects clearly.

Growing levels of high myopia also significantly increase the risk of serious eye conditions, including macular disease.

ORTHOKERATOLOGY: A revolutionary non-surgical procedure that can eliminate the need to wear glasses for short sightedness during the day.

GEORGE & SUZANNE SAHELY - BEHAVIOURAL OPTOMETRISTS

161 Main St Mornington Ph 5973 5520 www.sightandstyle.com.au www.peninsulakids.com.au

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1.

Milky Toddler Anchor Short Sleeve Rashie $32.95

3.

Bajo Camper with Surfboard $29.95

2.

Jetpack Backpack $69.95

CHECK this OUT

4.

Rhicreative Baby Book $19.95 RRP: $29.99

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Gymnastics is FUN!

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Limite d place sDont miss o ut!

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Peninsula Kids – Summer 2017/18

Creations School of Dance - based in Mt Eliza - runs dance classes for all ages in a fun, non-competitive environment.

AT CREATIONS, EVERYONE HAS THE CHANCE TO BE A SUPERSTAR! Classes available in Tinies, Jazz, Tap, Ballet, Contemporary, Hip-Hop, Glee, Adults and Boys Hip-Hop. Spaces are limited - Enquire today!

CONTACT TAHLIA • 0422 552 364 CREATIONSSCHOOLOFDANCE@HOTMAIL.COM OR FIND US ON FACEBOOK!

1.

3 Bow headbands $10.00

CHECK this OUT

2.

Headband summer collection $7.00 ea

3.

Summer My Size Potty $49.95 RRP: $59.99

1 & 2: www.Bbeasaccessories.com 3: www.babygoodswarehouse.com.au

HANDS ON I PLAY BASED I BRAIN CHANGING

PARENT-CHILD MUSIC MAKING What do peninsula parents have to say?

"It's a wonderful music class that I can highly recommend!!" - Siobhan Moon "We've been taking our daughter to classes before she could crawl, let alone walk or talk! Watching her development has been amazing! She absolutely loves classes, they're certainly the highlight of our week! The tools I've learnt and use constantly at home have been exceptional! " - Jaynaya Pharaoh "What a fantastic program for children. My son went today for his first session and loved it - as did I. Thank you! We cannot wait for his next class!" - Megan Pearce

www.soundslikethis.net www.peninsulakids.com.au

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POM POMS 1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

8.

YOU’LL NEED Tulle (we used about 3 metres for a 30cm diameter ball), cardboard, ribbon, scissors

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WHAT TO DO

1. Trace two circles doughnut shapes on cardboard and cut out. (We used a child’s melamine bowl to trace around.) Don’t worry about being perfect!

4. Using fairly sharp scissors, cut the outside of the tulle around the entire circle. Take care not to cut your middle string if it’s sticking out somewhere!!

2.

Take a ribbon, or whatever you want to use to tie the middle with and make a loop as if you are tying it a bow and lay it between your

two doughnut pieces. (Think about making this ribbon long enough to hang the pom pom if that is you plan, otherwise, keep it nice and short if you don’t plan to hang.)

5.

3.

Put your piece of tulle through the middle hole and then wrap around through the hole and back out again, round and round until your doughnut is filled and no cardboard is exposed.

Peninsula Kids – Summer 2017/18

Once the tulle is cut, you will have two distinct sides. Separate the tulle a bit and you should see your ribbon in the middle. Pull it tight and make a knot.

6. Pull, (or tear off), the cardboard doughnut sides and you will be left with a puffy ball.

7. Trim your tulle ball if needed, so the tulle is even, and give it a squish and fluff to make sure you inside ribbon is covered.

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Mount Eliza • Mornington • Mount Martha • Frankston • Somerville www.peninsulakids.com.au

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CHRISTMAS ORNAMENTS

1.

2.

4.

5.

YOU’LL NEED Baubles, Green Paint, Coloured Card, Googly Eyes, Glue, Paint brush, Newspaper, Egg cartons

WHAT TO DO

1. Prepare the area by laying down newspaper, pouring out paint, giving each child an egg carton.

2. Paint the bauble with the green paint and then let dry.

3. Once the paint has dried, cut a strip of coloured card and glue around the bauble.

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Peninsula Kids – Summer 2017/18

3.

4. Glue on the eyes.

5. Leave to dry a little longer and gain turtle power!

Friday 12 January

DESPICABLE ME 3 5pm - 9pm ES D I SR KID ND A TIES I V I ACT

(movie starts at 7pm) Adults $15 Kids $10

GO U FOO RMET D DRI AND NKS

Visit mrc.racing.com for more information and to book your tickets.

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www.peninsulakids.com.au

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Book Reviews

ZOG AND THE FLYING DOCTORS

BY JULIA DONALDSON, 2-6yrs, h/b, $24.99 Who's that calling for help?

A sunburned mermaid? A sneezy lion? A unicorn in distress? Quick! Send for the Flying Doctors! They'll swoop to the rescue on Zog, their trusty dragonambulance. But when the king himself falls ill, can even the Flying Doctors save him?

THE GREAT RABBIT CHASE

BY FREYA BLACKWOOD, 3+yrs, h/b $24.99 Gumboots is a beautiful pet rabbit, but he likes to escape. A story that celebrates what it means to live in a community and a reminder that life is full of surprises.

RODNEY LOSES IT

BY MICHAEL GERARD BAUER 4+yrs, h/b, $24.99 Rodney was a rabbit who loved nothing more than drawing. He never found it tiresome, tedious or boring. But then one day, disaster struck, the one thing Rodney feared, while working at his drawing desk his pen just...

DISAPPEARED!

ANIMALS ROCK

BY BEAU YOUNG & SHELLEY CRAFT 3+yrs, p/b, $16.99 Beau Young and Shelley Craft team up with the Animals Rock band to bring you a heap of catchy songs all about animals– straight from the jungle!

Includes audio CD with all the tracks from the book.

LULLABY AND GOODNIGHT + CD

BY P. CRUMBLE 3+yrs, h/b, $19.99 As the sun sets over the Australian bush, the baby animals are getting ready for sleep. Join the kookaburras, koalas, emus, wombats, and many more Australian animals, as they drift off to their favourite lullaby.

PERFECTLY POSH PINK AFTERNOON TEA

BY GABRIEL EVANS, 3+yrs, p/b, $15.99 Annabelle Mae and her friends are set to have the most delightfully posh afternoon tea. But when the no-good Darcy and Dean get up to mischief, Annabelle doesn't let them spoil the fun!.

FEATHERS

BY PHIL CUMMINGS, 4+yrs, h/b, $24.99 The sandpiper stretched its wings in the chilling breeze. It knew it was time to leave...so it took flight.

Follow the feathers as they fall along this exquisite journey of heartache, hope and home.

The story reveals the resilience of the human spirit and the universal importance of home and finding safe shelter.

STUBBORN STANLEY

BY NATHANIEL ECKSTROM 3+yrs, h/b, $16.99 Stanley loves inventing fun things to play with.

But Stanley is so stubborn he won’t let anyone else join in–no matter what!

Can Stanley work out how to make things fun all by himself? Or will he have to come up with another plan...?

FUNNIEST DAD IN THE WORLD

BY ED ALLEN 3+yrs, h/b, $16.99 The animals are trying to work out who has the funniest dad. Is it the dad who can juggle pizzas?

Or the dad who burps the alphabet? Or the dad who tells jokes while playing the trombone? Find out whose dad is so funny, he’s out of this world!

A THOUSAND HUGS FROM DADDY

BY ANNA PIGNATARO 3+yrs, h/b, $16.99 In your arms it’s safe and snug, you always give a thousand hugs.

And I’m as happy as can be– one hug is not enough for me!

A Thousand Hugs from Daddy is a beautiful book filled with cuddles!

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Peninsula Kids – Summer 2017/18

WIN

ONE LUCKY PRESCHOOLER & ONE LUCKY SCHOOL AGED READER WILL

WIN A PRIZE PACK OF THE REVIEWED BOOKS TO ENTER: www.peninsulakids.com.au/giveaways

FIGGY TAKES THE CITY

BY TAMSIN JANU 8+yrs, p/b, $16.99 Both Nana and Figgy receive scholarships to attend the Hope College in Ghana’s big city, Accra.

Figgy and Nana will have to leave behind the village and family they love, meet lots of new people and learn new things. Figgy does not want to go, but Grandma Ama says she must.

THE FIFTH ROOM

BY ALLISON RUSHBY 12+yrs, p/b $16.99 When a brilliant highschool student is invited to join an international secret society, she leaves everything behind in pursuit of the high-stakes rewards it offers. When Miri discovers her boyfriend is also in the society, they must pretend they don’t know each other.

TINY TIMMY 6: BIG BREAK

BY TIM CAHILL 7+yrs, p/b, $12.99 It’s crunch time for Tiny Timmy–and not just on the field! There are huge games coming up, and big tests at school! It’s all happening!

And then another kind of crunch puts him out of action. Timmy will need to work harder than ever to get back on the field, and get top marks, too!

SEVEN SIGNS: #6 TERRORTIDE

BY MICHAEL ADAMS 10+yrs, p/b, $14.99 Trapped in a cargo plane.

High over the jungle.

The DARE winners have no choice. They must jump!

If they can get off the plane alive, and survive an attack by the remnants of Marco Bravo’s army, the DARE winners will have to confront Felix Scott with all the evidence they have.

THE MYSTERIOUS WORLD OF COSENTINO #1: THE MISSING ACE

BY COSENTINO 7+yrs, p/b, $9.99 Cosentino's performances at his run-down old theatre attract the wrong kind of attention when the Ace of Spades dashes through the door begging to be saved from the clutches of the evil two-headed King!

DOG MAN #3 – A TALE OF TWO KITTIES

BY DAV PILKEY 7+yrs, h/b, $15.99 Dog Man, the newest hero from the creator of Captain Underpants, hasn't always been a paws-itive addition to the police force. While he can muzzle miscreants, he tends to leave a slick of slobber in his wake!

Dog Man will have to work twice as hard to bust these furballs and remain top dog!

THE GOLDFISH BOY

BY LISA THOMPSON 9-12yrs, p/b, $15.99 Matthew Corbin suffers from severe obsessivecompulsive disorder. He hasn't been to school in weeks. He refuses to leave his bedroom.

To pass the time, he observes his neighbors from his bedroom window.

Suddenly, Matthew finds himself at the centre of a high-stakes mystery, and every one of his neighbors is a suspect.

DIARY OF A MINECRAFT ZOMBIE BOOK #10: ONE BAD APPLE

BY ZACK ZOMBIE 8+yrs, p/b, $9.99 Here's a new kid at Zombie's middle school and everyone thinks he is so cool. But the more Zombie hangs out with him, the more trouble he gets into. Not only that, but Zombie's friends are noticing that Zombie is changing...a lot!

THE ADVENTURES OF HEROBRINE BOOK #1: GOES TO SCHOOL

BY ZACK ZOMBIE 8+yrs, p/b, $9.99 The mysterious Herobrine somehow enters our Human world. Well, he really had no choice but to come to our world. But maybe Herobrine isn’t that much different to you and me? Being a twelve-yearold kid, Herobrine enrolled into a Human school…and he is nervous.

48 HOURS #1 – THE VANISHING

BY GABRIELLE LORD 10+yrs, p/b, $14.99 One kidnapping. One cold case. Two amateur investigators. Only 48 hours to solve the crime.. .

Jazz's best friend Anika has been kidnapped! She can't call the cops, so Jazz forges a shaky truce with her brilliant nemesis, Phoenix, to help her investigate.

www.peninsulakids.com.au

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Meet & feed friendly kangaroos and wallabies.

Wombats, Tasmanian Devils, colourful birds, snakes and lizards and many more animals!

Pat & cuddle up to a koala (3 sessions daily), hold a python or play with a dingo in one of our Interactive animal encounters.

Enjoy our wildlife show with owls, dingoes and other animals on stage daily!

Bushfood garden, wetlands and more.

Learn about our critically endangered animals and their conservation.

Enjoy a coffee or light meal in our CafĂŠ or on our new Deck.

Children under 4 free of charge.

Moonlit Sanctuary also comes alive at night with world-famous lantern-lit evening tours.

Bookings essential.

MOONLIT SANCTUARY WILDLIFE CONSERVATION PARK 550 Tyabb-Tooradin Rd, Pearcedale, Victoria, 3912, Australia. Ph 5978 7935

WWW.MOONLITSANCTUARY.COM.AU

N ES” PE OR O LST W O O CO N THE

“ AT

With 25 years of experience in childcare and kindergarten on the Mornington Peninsula we’re excited to open our BRAND-NEW facility at THE COOLSTORES in Moorooduc.

New Location•Celebrating 25 Years•Innovative Design •Bush Kinder Program•Animals and Activities An innovative inspired design and layout will have children interacting and engaging like never before.

We strive to educate and involve our children as much as possible in all aspects of early learning.

Our BUSH KINDER program will give our children the opportunity to explore the surrounding forests and learn more about their natural environment. We hope to really raise the bar and encourage our children to participate in more activities” Kaye Ellis - Licensee & Owner

For enrolment enquiries please call (03) 5978 0808 The Coolstores 1/475 Mooroduc Hwy MOOROODUC

Main Street 309 Main Street MORNINGTON

Parwan 15 Parwan Crescent MORNINGTON

Eramosa 70 Eramosa Rd West SOMERVILLE