JUNE 2014
Personality types Where does your child fit?
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Parenting Styles What works for you?
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June 2014
Contents Regulars 5 Letter from the Editor 10 Ask a professional - questions from readers 11 Monthly Recipe - Mini quiches 14 Your Story - From another era 16 Mums and the City - with Alexis Galloway 26 Make a change 28 Kid’s fun 29 Business Directory 30 Community Noticeboard
Articles 7 8 12 18 24
Encouraging responsibility in children Introducing Melody Shakers Personality types in children Music and my child My 2014 money challenge
Special Features 20 More than just story time by C.L. Peck 22 What is your parenting style?
Cover image is by Louise Blake Photography 4
Letter from the Editor Dear Reader, This June issue makes it our 11th issue with Small Steps Parenting Magazine. Next month is our one year birthday which is a very exciting milestone. I want to thank all of our readers for supporting us and for your kind feedback regarding our magazine. It has been an exciting journey but one not without it’s challenges. Small Steps has a lot on the horizon and I can’t wait to share with you some of what to expect. As this issue comes out a winner has been chosen of our gorgeous little cover models. I want to say a huge thank you to all of our little finalists and to the parents for sending in the pictures, I really had no idea how many beautiful children existed in our area and I’m thankful that I didn’t have to chose a winner. Our 2014 winner will be revealed in a few months time. Thanks for joining us again this month for a new issue. We have many exciting articles to read and enjoy. Don’t forget to send in your own questions for our professionals to answer for you. We are happy to receive any feedback, questions or comments via email or our Facebook page.
Julie-Anne England info@smallstepsparenting.com www.smallstepsparenting.com www.facebook.com/smallstepsparenting
Our Contributors Lynne-McKensey Hall completed an accredited course in lactation management in Sydney where she obtained internationally-recognised certification as an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC). Prior to caring for mothers and babies, she worked as a registered nurse, registered midwife and completed a Masters in Nursing (Education), as a nurse educator. She is author of the book series Breast feeding and Baby Matters. RN, RCM, MN (Ed), IBCLC Michael Voss is a Certified Financial Planner. He has been working as a financial planner for 23 years. He is self employed and specialises in Superannuation, Insurance and Investment. His clients include individuals, families and small to medium sized businesses throughout Western Sydney. www.arrowfa.com.au Abby Fleming has been in the nutrition industry for over 10 years and is a qualified nutritionist. She spent 8 years in the weight loss industry helping a variety of clients achieve their weight goals and now currently works in the area of medical nutrition. Abby writes for Small Steps regarding issues of child nutrition and healthy eating for families. Kirsten Mitchell is a fully qualified Fitness Professional with Fitness Australia, holding Certificate IV in Fitness and additionally Pre & Post Natal Pilates and Exercise Prescription. She is passionate about sharing her knowledge and helping others to move well, feel well and look well! As a mum of two, she is also highly aware of the strains and joys her clients experience in juggling family, work and the importance of finding “me time�. Alexis Galloway is a mother of two and chocolate lover. For the last seven years Alexis has been a Journalist and Editor for magazines/newspapers around the nation. Alexis joins us by writing our new feature article Mums and the City bringing humour and reality to the life of a mother.
Ruth Bosanquet is a registered nurse, midwife and has qualification in special care nursery. She has been working with pregnant women and premature and sick infants for over 25 years. She is also a mum of three.
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Encouraging responsibility Doesn’t it make you cringe when you see an adult who just doesn’t seem to have any sense of responsibility? They never grew up from their childhood and expect others to carry the weight of what needs to be done. As parents we want to raise our children to become responsible adults. Our role as a parent is to teach our children how to function in society and how to become independent. So how do we do that effectively? How do we create an environment that fosters our children’s independence and teaches responsibility. I believe that a child’s learning begins at a very young age. Providing an environment that allows them to learn at their level will encourage a sense of discovery and a desire to want to learn and achieve more. Responsibility is the fact or state of being accountable for something. As adults we have many responsibilities ranging from taking care of children, planning meals and buying groceries, work responsibilities and more. Children will get a sense of satisfaction from having their own responsibilities and being in charge of something. We can begin to impart this into our children very early and it can start with decision making. Decision making is an important skill yet many people struggle with it. I have friends who can’t even make a decision of what they want on their pizza, let alone what job they would like to be employed in or where they would like to go to university. You can encourage decision making in your children by simply offering choices. For the very young children 12 months and up offer two options - would they like a cup of milk or a cup of water? At dinner would they like peas or carrots? Allow them time to make the decision and then give them what they
asked for. As they grow expand their options to three or maybe even four choices. This teaches them that they have some sort of control over their own lives. With responsibility you can tell them why it is important for them to have charge over certain things. It may be something very simple like being gentle with their toys, making their own bed or packing away their books. A simple task that you assign to them will allow them to develop a sense of responsibility and the knowledge that they can do things on their own. As they get older, teach them not only decisions and responsibilities but also consequences of their choices. They need to understand that their decisions can have consequences and the more they understand this the better they will become at analysing the situation and making better choices. Start simply and work with the child according to their age and understanding. The consequence of messing up their room for example could be that they are responsible for cleaning it up. Even though it may be quicker if you do it, it will teach them that that is their role and will encourage them to think about it in the future. Just remember to work gently with your child and not to expect too much of them. Teaching them is important but we mustn’t get carried away with trying to teach something that we lose focus on the fact that they are children and are learning as they grow. Try to have some fun with your teaching methods and always praise them for taking a positive step forward. When they struggle with something, remind them that no one gets it right first time and that it takes practice. Encourage their efforts. Written by Julie-Anne England 7
g n i c u d Intro
As parents of small children it is often hard to find ways to entertain them and provide them with educational entertainment. Small Steps has recently had the pleasure of meeting with the owner of the children’s band Melody Shakers. Join us as we chat with David Thurlow and learn a bit about the ins and outs of the music business. quickly wrote a fun little song called Chris the Crab but only ever shared it with a few close friends. I really enjoyed writing songs and continued to write them while I was working as a high school music teacher. After a few years I had written over 40 songs but still had only shared them with a few friends. Things changed when a friend from work asked me if I could play at his son’s birthday party. After a quick think I decided that this could be nice a way to start performing my songs. I performed at the party and absolutely loved it. After 4 years of writing songs I had finally delivered the songs to the audience that they had been written for.
1. Can you tell me a little bit about yourself? My name is David Thurlow. I’m one of 4 children and have spent most of my life in the Hawkesbury. I grew up in Bowen Mountain but have since moved a little further down the mountain where I now live in a little mud brick house with my wife and two children. 2. You are the founder of the children’s musical band Melody Shakers is that right? Yes, Melody Shakers is something that I created about a year ago. 3. What made you want to start this kind of business? I never really considered myself to be starting a business in the beginning. It all started about 5 years ago in my final year of university when I decided to write some children’s songs. I
4. Would you call yourself an outgoing person? I would say that I’m a relatively 8
outgoing person. I think I’m like many others in that it depends on the scenario. I’m probably most outgoing when I’m performing. I become a different person to a certain degree. More energetic and charismatic. I become Shaker Dave!
time? I’d love to keep doing what I’m doing and would also like to see some growth. I’ve been slowly chipping away at some videos but am very keen to do more. Producing a DVD or creating a TV show would be ideal. I have a few others who are involved in weekend performances and it would be fantastic to have them involved even more. Somewhere in those 5 years it would be nice to have another child too.
5. You must be a real kid person to be in this line of work. Tell us about your own children. I’ve always considered myself to be a “kid person”. I think it partly comes from having a really good childhood. I currently have two girls; the eldest is Grace who is 3 and the youngest Lily who recently turned 1.
10. Are you married David? Yes, I’m married to the lovely Lauren Thurlow. We’ve been married for 5 years now. 11. What does your wife think about this career choice of yours? She thinks it’s great and has been very supportive. She listens to my endless stream of crazy ideas and also gives me some excellent ideas on what will and won’t work.
6. What do they think about your work? Grace loves coming along to my shows and getting involved. I’d have to say that she’s my number 1 fan. She knows the songs and even laughs at my jokes, even though she’s heard them before. She does occasionally shed a tear when she can’t come along to a show. It’s very sweet and also makes it difficult to get out of the house. Lily is just beginning to dance along to my music now that she has found her feet. It’s absolutely gorgeous and is one of the reasons that I love to make music.
12. Does she join you in what you do? Lauren has a background in early childhood education so it’s been fantastic to be able to quiz her on what things will work for the preschoolers. Maybe one day she’ll dress up and dance around too. Not sure when that will be.
13. Have you ever bumped into anybody 7. What parts of this work do you really famous? I’m not really mingling with the enjoy? I love writing music, performing, famous, at least not yet but I have managed and seeing the enjoyment that kids get out to meet up with Chris Murphy, the manager of music. I’ve taught high school kids for a from INXS. He gave me some advice about number of years, which has been great but setting goals, doing research and thinking you just don’t get the same response. The about where you want to be heading. little ones take very little encouragement to start singing and dancing; it’s wonderful! 14. What is your proudest moment with Melody Shakers? I’d have to say that my 8. What do find the most difficult? I proudest moment was after a show that I did would have to say that the most difficult at my daughters preschool. I’d just finished thing is time management. I’m a 27-yearand while the kids were moving off my old man with 2 kids and a wife and am daughter came up and gave me a big hug to working as a music teacher part of the week thank me. This was then followed by a few while running a small business on the side. hugs from some of her friends. It was a very That’s crazily difficult!! But I love it. proud daddy moment for me. 9. Where do you see yourself in 5 years 9
Ask a Professional... QUESTION: I have $15,000 of debt across several credit cards and a car loan. Is there a better way to pay them off quickly and get in control of my finances rather than just paying the minimum each month? You should combine your credit card debts, personal loans, hire purchase agreements and leases in to your mortgage, if you have one or provide property as security for the loan. As consumer debts, the providers charge higher interest rates because they do not have security to call on against the debt and the service charges to administer the debt (issuing cards and statements). Alternatively, as an interim measure, some Banks will give a 'free interest rate' period if you transfer your credit card to them. If you use your car for business purposes, you may be able to claim the lease payments as a tax deduction. Disclaimer: This is general advice only. This answer has been supplied by Michael Voss who is our qualified financial planner. Learn more about Michael on our "About Us" page on our website.
Combos Slides Obstacle Castles Slushie Machines Phone: (02) 4571 1240 or 0402 100 681 Email: tomcatjim1@bigpond.com Birthdays/Corporate Events/Preschools/Fetes/Christmas/New Years
Ingredients: 2 Eggs Ham or bacon, finely chopped Cheese 1 tablespoon milk 1 sheet of puff pastry
Send in your favourite recipes to share with Small Steps Parenting Magazine and you could win a mailed subscription of Small Steps for you and a friend.
Monthly Recipe
Mini Quiches
1. Cut the pastry into small circles using a cookie cutter. The circles must be 1cm larger in diameter than the cupcake tray you are using. 2. Using a mini cupcake tray. Place each of the circles inside each cup. Slightly stretching the pastry to fit to the sides. 3. Beat the eggs with a whisk until slightly frothy. Add the milk and whisk lightly until combined. 4. Place a teaspoon of the chopped ham/bacon into each pastry cup. Sprinkle with the cheese. 5. Pour the egg mixture over the top of the bacon and cheese. 6. Bake in the oven at 180 degrees for 15-20 minutes. 11
Personality Types Where does your child fit? As we watch our children grow and interact to not get overstimulated. Energizer chilwith others we notice the ways in which
dren also tend to be creative and need out-
they are different, different from their sib-
lets to create or compose.
lings, different from us. We may notice traits from our partner that come out
The Observer
strongly in one of our children or we may
Quiet, cautious and struggles with change.
see signs of one of our parents. Whatever it
If you are a parent to an observer you will
is, our children are all born with different
discover that your child needs plenty of
personalities. We have the power to influ-
time to get uses to new things and new
ence that personality to a certain degree but
situations. Change can be embraced more
we can’t ignore the fact that even from day
easily if your prepare them for what’s com-
one your child can display traits of a spe-
ing and give them as much information as
cific personality type.
you can. These children need reassurance,
Below you will find a short list of titles we
however, some gentle pushing can encour-
like to use to describe common personali-
age them to try things they might not on
ties. Read through the list and see if you can their own which they may really enjoy. pick which category your child fits into. The Explorer The Energizer
Fascinated, curious and confident. Any par-
Joyous, entertaining and very energetic, this ent of an explorer child will be able to tell child loves attention. They tend to be very
you of the times the child has run off to
strong on their wants and needs and are not
discover something new. Everything and
afraid to put their foot down to let you know everything needs to be touched, held and it. Meltdowns are common but providing a
viewed to fulfil their sense of curiosity. Be-
soothing environment can encourage them
cause of their fearlessness, children with 12
this personality type tend to need to
tions. You may find though that
be rescued from situations which
these little ones can often be hard to
may be more dangerous and they
focus and can be hard to gain their
love being treated older than they
attention as they often go into
are.
“dream land�. They tend to be thinkers and can be quite emotional.
The Relaxer
Because they are so easy, it is im-
Calm, relaxed, and easily pacified,
portant to not overlook them and
this child is one of the easiest to
make sure to provide them with lots
deal with. They tend to go with the
of love and attention.
flow and adapt well to new situa-
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Your Story Jenna’s Story - From another era... This is the story of my first pregnancy. It happened a long time ago, back in the days when a child conceived out of marriage was viewed as totally improper at best and an event which brought shame and embarrassment to the pregnant girl’s family . I was one of those girls. By the time I was aware that I was pregnant, it had become very evident that the father of the baby had absolutely no intention of offering any support, either financial or emotional. There was very little in the way of government funding assistance for women in this situation and many women, including myself were judged, criticised and shunned by those who felt they had greater moral standing. There were people who had been friends who crossed to the other side of the street rather than face me in my “condition”. I can remember feeling ashamed, lonely and isolated, almost as if I had a contagious illness. I can also remember lying awake at night agonising over how I was going to tell my parents. My parents belonged to a religious organisation and had very definite views as to what was right and wrong and I was totally convinced that to confide in them would be worse than useless. I told no-one about my pregnancy but the time was fast approaching when it would start to become obvious so I needed to make plans to leave and go somewhere where I was not known. My father had a sister who lived in a country town, quite some distance from where I was living and I told my parents that I was going to stay with her as I had heard that she had not been well.
Both my parents were surprised as I had not been particularly close to my auntie, but they seemed pleased that I was willing to go and give her assistance. My aunt was a quiet woman and, even though I was gaining weight and changing shape, she never questioned me, possibly she felt inadequate to deal with my situation so she chose not to talk about what to me was becoming very obvious. Looking back now, I really don’t know what I thought was going to happen- I had had no antenatal care, I had no clue about child birth and what to expect and I had nothing prepared for the baby. Weeks passed and my aunt and I lived companionably despite our restricted communication. I longed to confide in her, to share my fears and concerns but my aunt was a person who kept to herself and I never felt comfortable enough to do this. I think that she was probably in denial as far as I was concerned, to be honest, I would have liked to have been in denial myself, it at least would have made living in the present easier if not the future. The baby was moving quite a bit now and I actually found it reassuring to feel the little life inside me. Sometimes, I allowed myself the luxury of daydreaming that I was married to a handsome, kind man and that we were looking forward to our baby’s birth together. In my mind I envisaged a beautiful nursery all set up awaiting the new arrival and then reality hit and my heart ached as I contemplated the future of this unplanned but not unwanted child. One night I was lying in bed when I felt my whole abdomen tighten along with 14
pain which was so strong that it made me gasp. I wanted to cry out but I was afraid that my aunt might hear me so I breathed hard into a pillow. The pain went on and on becoming so severe that I thought I was going to pass out, in fact to pass out would have been a blessing. Just when I thought that I could take no more, I felt a rush of warm fluid and tremendous pressure. My whole body was pushing uncontrollably for what seemed like hours but in reality may have been only about fifteen minutes. I was so terrified that i could hardly breathe. Finally, I felt something between my legs. I looked down trembling and there was a baby, wet and covered in blood attached to a cord which was still pulsating. I must have passed out after this because the next thing I remember was waking up in hospital with medical staff around me. Apparently I had had a big bleed following the birth.
My aunt notified my parents and my baby was put up for adoption. I remember thinking that I just wanted to die but life went on and I finally married and had two more children. There is never a day that doesn’t go by that I don’t think of my first born baby. I asked but was never told whether it was a boy or a girl but the love that a mother has for her child never ceases and I will love and long for my baby as long as I live. This author is being kept anonymous for their privacy. If you have a story that you would like to share please send us an email info@smallstepsparenting.com and we might feature it in an upcoming magazine.
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Time for “Time-out”
Now, I know I am probably not the first person to come up with this idea, but it’s a good one, so I would like to share it with you in the hope that someone will take it with two hands and make it happen somewhere (preferably in the Hills District). So, think back to all your trips and experiences to the shops and not just in the Hills District, it could be anywhere, Pitt St Mall in the city, or David Jones in Brisbane anywhere. How many times have you either said, or almost said to one of your children (who could possibly be experiencing the terrible two’s), “please stop doing that”, “time out now”, “ok, that’s enough now” or something to that effect, surely it has been at least once? Well I’ve been in that situation, in fact, I was even in that situation at the shops last weekend and what I would have done for there to be a designated “Time Out Corner” just for children, wouldn’t that be brilliant!? A little space with possibly a few books or two featuring something along the lines of “10 good behaviour tips when shopping with mummy and/or 16
daddy”, “what to do when you are cross” or even a giant red mat, that says “Time Out Corner” with an egg timer for 2 minutes ticking away. Because we seem to have plays areas for when children are happy go lucky at the shops, but what about when there needs to be that little bit of subtle, quiet time out? How common is it to see someone tyring to console a tired or frustrated child at the shops? After chatting with a few of you It’s really common. What did you think about the idea of a designated “time out” corner:
Time out This way
“I have 4 children and when my husband can’t watch the kids I have to take them to do our weekly food shop with me. Sometimes it is ok, but usually one of them will want something and when I say no, they get upset for ages, even outside of the shops. If there was somewhere, where I could take them for time out it would help so everyone stops looking!
“ My children are older now, but I remember being really embarrassed when my children would throw a tantrum while I was having lunch with friends. If the time out corner was an enclosed space so the children didn’t run off while they are meant to sit for a few minutes it would be a good idea.
Emily K – Castle Hill
Gill M – Beaumont Rouse Hill
So I guess the questions is - how childfriendly are shopping centres willing to go? If they are looking at the next best thing for kids, please choose the “Time
out corner” over the 7th Bob the Builder mechanical coin slot machine and think about the peace and quiet one of these corners could bring! Just a thought..
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Music and my child When should my child start music lessons? Mozart started when he was three. Elton John started when he was three. Michael Jackson started when he was three and Beethoven started before he had even left the womb. At least that’s how the stories go but stories aren’t always helpful.
similar company. Another option is formal music lessons. These can be in the form of one-on-one or small group lessons. These are most suitable for children aged 5 and over and can cost anywhere from $20 to $50 a half hour lesson depending on the tutor. It is possible for children to participate in formal music lessons from the age of 3 but this is quite rare and is not advised in most cases.
These stories about famous musicians composing symphonies for royalty at an age where most other kids are refining their potty humour can often lead us to think that music is something you’re either born with or you’re not. Genetics certainly influence our natural musical What’s the reason? ability but the presence or absence of music lessons can also play a significant role There are many different reasons why you in the musical development of a child. So might be considering music lessons. Here when should we get started? are some scenarios and some suggestions Here are three things to consider... to go with. What are the options? There are hundreds of music programs designed for children aged 5 and under. These programs can provide an excellent opportunity to develop a love of music through singing, playing, moving, exploring and experimenting with instruments. There will be differences from program to program but the most important thing at this age is that the child is having fun and is engaged in positive musical experiences.
Scenario #1 – “Mum, I want to play the drums” Suggestion – In my experience, most kids express the desire to play the drums or guitar at some stage. I recommend waiting until around the age of 8 before commencing lessons on these instruments. Kids can start younger but they often learn at a slower pace and are more likely to become discouraged once the novelty has worn off.
In general, if your child expresses an interest in learning an instrument, ask them why. Use your judgement but also give If you’re concerned about the price then them a chance. Some kids start learning have a look around. There are some com- for the most trivial reasons but then demunity groups and churches that offer velop a love for the instrument over time. these programs for a few dollars or even If you are unsure about their motives then free. Expect to pay anywhere from $10 to try to borrow an instrument first, watch $20 per half hour lesson when going some videos, ask for a free lesson from a through a trained educator, franchise or 18
friend or book in a few lessons to see how strument in these circumstances but from my experience, most children under the things go. age of 13 will struggle with music lessons Scenario #2 – You want your child to when there are no other family members reap the benefits of learning a musical who are also actively learning or playing instrument. an instrument. Suggestion – We often want the best for If there is a strong music culture in the our child and music definitely has many fantastic benefits. If the motivating factor family then it is possible that children as primarily stems from the parent then it is young as 5 could commence formal music lessons and do relatively well. important that you make learning an instrument a positive and enjoyable experience. Your child will need support and Overall Recommendations encouragement so try and get in there and practice with them. Make practice fun by As a musician, private tutor and school giving them goals and rewards, get them music teacher I have seen the most sucto give you a few lessons or have them cess in music students who have started learning an instrument between the ages perform a mini-concert for the family. It’s important that parents don’t push kids of 8 and 15, have expressed a desire to learn and have had a love of music from too hard. They may display some excellent results but it’s also possible for them an early age. In addition to that, students to develop a hate for music through nega- who are also involved in a music ensemble such as a concert band are much more tive and unwanted experiences. likely to persevere with learning an inIf you want your child to learn an instru- strument. ment then I would suggest trying piano lessons between the ages of 5 and 10. The The most important thing to remember is earlier you start them the more important that music is a social activity. Whether it is to have an experienced teacher. Look it’s music lessons for a 2 year old or a 20 year old, the most important thing to do is for someone who is used to teaching to learn with others and have fun. young children and who is gentle with a good rapport. Written by David Thurlow, owner of the children’s band Melody Shakers and faDoes the Family have a love for ther of two. Music? Having at least one other member of the family playing or learning an instrument can make an enormous difference in the success of a child learning an instrument. If no one in the family is learning an instrument and there is no real interest in music then formal music lessons may not benefit your child at an early age. It is possible for children to learn an in19
More than just story time... When I created my story several years ago for my daughter, Alissa, and my son, Casey, I had the intention of sharing my views with my children in the hopes that the story would help shape and influence the way they viewed the world and its inhabitants. A few years later, after I became a prekindergarten teacher, I learned that my desire to read to my children held far more significance than I had previously realized. I discovered in my Early Childhood Education courses that I had been laying the groundwork for my children's reading development. Let's face it, reading is a fundamental necessity in today's day and age, and what I learned was that as a parent I was the key to my children developing their pre-reading skills. I have to admit that this excited me and set me on a mission. I was determined to enlighten the parents of my students to just how important reading to their children really was. The best part is it can be accomplished in a minimum of 15 minutes or so a night. Of course, if you have even more time throughout the day to cuddle up with your child and read to them, even better, but let's face it, not all of us have that luxury. But I challenge you that all of us have at least 15 to 20 minutes somewhere in our day to invest in the future of our children. Not to mention the incredible bonding moments it provides, which also is an investment in your child's future because the more we connect and bond with our children, the 20
more self-confident and assured they will be when they are out there in the big bad world. Even if your children are old enough to read for themselves, I encourage you to pick up a book and read to them. By reading a book to your child that is above their reading level, you are building knowledge through exposure. “A Midnight Song” was designed with this idea in mind. When I was a child, my mother provided me with plenty of books that I could read on my own, but what I cherished the most were the nights that she would read me stories from the “Little House on the Prairie” series. My mother would read a little section of the book to me every night until we finished the entire story. She did this with several of the books in the series. I remember how thrilled I was when I could finally read these stories for myself. I re-read the stories my mother had already read to me and then I picked up on the series and kept going. I loved this! And every time that I would read one of these books, it brought back such fond memories for me. My desire is to share this family tradition that piqued my love for reading. It started with my mother and continued as I carried on this tradition with my own children, and with my students. I would read
“Charlotte's Web” and “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory” to my students during nap time. When we finished the story, we would have a class party and watch the movie that correlated with the story we had just read. This is a fun way for families to enjoy the book at home as well. I have heard from other adults who shared this experience with their mothers when they were young just how much this tradition resonated with them, and my goal is to bring back this cherished experience with our current generation of parents. If your child is too young to read “A Midnight Song” to themselves, great. Pick up the book and start reading. Pay attention to your child's signals. They will let you know when their attention span is spent. Stop reading and bookmark the page. The next day, pick the book up again, but before you start to read, ask your child if they can remember some key elements of the book from the previous day. For example, you could ask, “Do you remember what Sam and his mother were collecting along the sea shore?” or “Do
you remember what Sam tucked into his pocket before he and his parents left for the whale festival?” or “Do you remember what kind of musical instrument Kiki showed Sam when they snuck away from the festival into her hut?” This is a tool to build your child's memory development. Do not be worried if they don't remember. You are in the process of building their memory retention. As your child's memory abilities advance, try to make the questions more difficult and more challenging for them. This simple technique will help your child learn to focus and pay attention to what you are reading – a skill that they will need as they get older and teachers create tests off of what is in their textbooks and teacher handouts. Written by C.L.Peck, author of award winning “A Midnight Song”. We have a signed copy of this gorgeous book to giveaway. For your chance to win stay posted on our Facebook page in the coming weeks.
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What is your parenting style? You are at the park with a bunch of other mum’s who are watching their kids. Some are playing with them, some are busy chatting with other mums and there are a few who are on their smart phones checking emails and doing social networking. It makes you think about what kind of parent
“intuition”. This style of parenting is a very personalised style of parenting which is usually influenced by their own upbringing. Parents in this category tend to teach what they know according to how they were parented. They also go with what feels right in a given situation.
you are. There are five parenting definitions that are being applied to parents in this generation. They encompass a wide range of styles, none of them right or wrong, just different ways of parenting. Some people will find themselves displaying similar traits to that of
Care free Parenting
their own parents or they may go the exact opposite. We have renamed these styles to clearly show their meaning.
make very few demands on them. Discipline
Bonding Parenting Attachment parenting has a focus of bonding with the child. They respond promptly to the needs of their child and are sensitive and emotionally available. They believe that a
fer to take the easy road when it comes to it.
strong parental bond will foster a more secure and empathetic child and they will become more peaceful adults. Fans of this approach tend to prefer natural childbirth, skin to skin contact after birth, co-sleeping and homeschooling. They also tend to steer away from corporal punishment.
For permissive parents child are the focus and so is their needs at all times. Parents who parent this way are sometimes also known as non-traditional. They have little expectations of their children and tend to is not a focus. Parents who take this approach tend to avoid confrontation and preFirm Parenting Parents who follow this style of parenting tend to be rule setters and have high expectations of their children’s behaviour. Parents like to set guidelines and boundaries for the children in the belief that they create a secure child as they know where these boundaries lie. Just because a parent uses this style does not mean that they are harsh and de-
manding. Parents often enforce boundaries Natural Parenting This method of parenting might be known as through nurturing and responding and tend the “go with your gut” style or parenting or to be quite forgiving. They use discipline as 22
a teaching tool not a punishment tool necessarily. Hover parenting These parents tend to have much interaction with their children’s lives and often interfere. They are continually observing and interfering in what the child is doing. While this tends to be the norm of parenting with babies and toddlers because they need the safety of this constant supervision it doesn’t seem to go as well with older children. Children of parents in this category tend to feel smothered and may actually have the reverse effect in the long term causing them to withdraw in an effort to live their own life.
KING EQUESTRIAN ACADEMY
Riding School
King Equestrian Academy is a unique riding school run by Specialist coaches. Students are shown the value of good horsemanship and given correct schooling from the beginning of their horse careers. King Equestrian Academy is the only riding School of its kind. We provide retired champion show horses as mounts for our pupils and trainers that are competing at top level to mentor the students . Come and have fun at King Equestrian Academy!
www.kingequestrianacademy.com.au 79 Sargents Road, Ebenezer NSW 2756
info@keahorsetraining.com Phone: 0425 807 792
23
01 My 2
4
Money Challenge
As I sit down to look once again at my finances, my savings and my budget, I realise that even though I feel like I am spending quite a bit of money at the moment with the move and getting resettled, I have actually become very good at finding specials and making the best of bargains. The place we moved into was selected for the large beautiful block of land it came on - a whole acre! Sadly the home that came with it was badly in need of some TLC. My family and I decided that it would be worth our time and money to give it a makeover while still maintaining a budget and not overcapitalising on what we put into this place. Working on one room at a time I am slowly transforming this house into a home. My goal is to make it a place that I am happy to invite friends to yet keep the costs down so we can continue to save for the house we will one day build. I have discovered in my home renovation season that there are many ways that you can keep the costs down while still achieving your renovation dreams. So here are my tips to transforming your home, caravan or even office within any budget. #1 Enlist the help of your friends and family to take advantage of their sills or talents. This could save you hundreds or even thousands of dollars for even some simple tasks. Trades people tend to be expensive and usually charge by the hour and sometimes also a call out fee. One night we were
shocked to find a burst water pipe in our bathroom, flooding the whole room. I called an emergency plumber (it was 9.30pm) only to find out that it would cost $450 call out fee because it was out of hours plus the cost of the job. Instead I turned off the water main and my husband bought a pipe from Bunnings (for about $20) and replaced it the next day. That one incident could have had a dramatic impact on our savings. #2 Learn some simple skills that you can then apply yourself when you need it. There are DIY classes at Bunnings, plenty of You Tube videas and even friends or family who would be happy to share some knowledge with you. Don’t be afraid to give it a try - you can only get good at something with practice. (And as a side note - and a little disclaimer - I am not suggesting you do jobs that could be dangerous such as electrical work. Please always leave these to a professional.) DIY skills such as painting, grouting tiles, simple carpentry and plastering a wall are all easy skills to pick up. #3 If you are in need of something new don’t just go straight to the nearest store. There are many ways you can pick up what you are looking for without spending large amounts of money. Do your research and find out where you could pick up the same item for a better price. You may choose to go second hand by using sites such a Gumtree or eBay or stick with brand new and buy from stores such as IKEA, POCO, and 24
Costco. Buying furniture that comes flat packed will often save you money as it usually less expensive to buy, easier to transport home and will help you work on your DIY skills as you put it together. If you are a girl you can usually flutter your eyelashes at a guy who will very quickly do the job for you :) #4 Accessorizing does not have to be expensive. Most people would not have a clue if a piece of art hanging in your lounge room costs $20 or $2000. As long as it looks good and ties in with the rest of the décor it is not important how much you spent. I was busy looking for a new mirror for our bathroom. I wanted one that looked expensive and maybe a bit fancy, but didn’t cost much at all. I found a gorgeous one that was perfect for only $19 in Kmart. It pays to shop around.
#5 Lastly, for those jobs around the house where you must rely on a professional, speak to people you know for their referrals. Some of the nicest trades people I have met have come from friend’s and family that referred them. Word of mouth is the most powerful advertising tool and if they were good for your neighbour or friend, chances are they will be good for you too. Also find out which people and businesses to avoid, I have heard some horror stories about jobs that were paid for and never completed, leaving the homeowner in serious debt trying to get the work finished. I hope that these tips help you if you are looking into renovating your own home. Next month I will show you how I transformed our bathroom from dirty and drab to bright and inviting with less than $1500.
25
Make a
Change My name is Yael Maree, and I am the founder of Kili Tingatinga Art, a small business which imports, features and sells Tingatinga Art in an effort to help create a tangible income for the impoverished artists which create this art. My small business has been in operation for a year, during this time I have gotten to know many of the artists which we help and have learned that just like many of us they work to be able to put their children through school as it is a privilege many of them didn't have. They want to give their children the best possible head start in life, and this led me to wonder how can I help further? With over 774 million illiterate people in the world, (250 million are children), I have decided to create 'Twiga's Friends'. Twiga's Friends is going to be a unique and beautiful 10 page children's board book. Using original Tingatinga Art from the amazing artists we already support, we will create a vivid, striking and colourful book to engage and educate young children. The book will teach basic language skills such as colour, numbers and animals and will be distinctly different. But here is where we will make the most difference, not only will you be able to teach your own children basic language skills, proceeds of sales will go to an established Charity called Room To Read, a global and established company that brings education, literacy and gender education equality across impoverished regions in Asia and Africa. Many of the children will get an opportunity to reach their full potential and in future contribute to their communities and the world. The Impact If this first project is successful it will be the first of a series of books we hope to publish, allowing us to impact not only for the Tingatinga community which will have a continuous income for their families, but also for the millions of children that are helped through Room to Read. How you can help We have now launched our crowd funding campaign and with your help I hope to raise enough funds to publish the book and create a website for sales and marketing purposes. If you cannot contribute financially, a share or a tweet goes a long way also. IF YOU THINK YOU’RE TOO SMALL TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE, TRY SLEEPING IN A CLOSED ROOM WITH A MOSQUITO’. AFRICAN PROVERB. Our campaign link. https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/twiga-s-friends/x/6969920 26
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Spanish Basics It’s fun to learn another language, so today we have listed a few basic Spanish words to get you started with a fun new language.
Hello - hola Good day - Buenos dias Como estas - how are you?
Goodbye - Adios
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Six - seis Seven - siete Eight - ocho Nine - nueve Ten - diez 28
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PRE-SCHOOL STORYTIME Central Library Windsor every Tuesday 11am-12noon Richmond Branch every Thursday 11am-12noon (except during school holidays) Themed stories, rhymes & craft for 3 - 5 years Siblings welcome FREE - All welcome
Our playgroup is open to all mums, dads and carers. Join us during the school term from 10am-12pm Tuesday, Thursday and Friday. Lots of variety for parents and kids with some fun day trips now and then. Call us on 0414 377 266
Hawkesbury Regional Museum 8 Baker Street WINDSOR NSW 2756 Wednesday-Monday 10am-4pm Closed Tuesday (except by appointment for guided groups) Public holidays: Closed Christmas Day, Boxing Day and Good Friday. Open 10am-4pm other public holidays FREE ENTRY (02) 4560 4655 www.hawkesbury.nsw.gov.au/museum www.facebook.com/
Scribbles Playgroup is held at the Church Vineyard in the Sunbeams Room. Cnr Windsor and Brenan Dams Road, Vineyard. Check out our webpage: www.scribblesplaygroup.com
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