Yarra Ranges Kids Summer 2018

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FREE SUMMER 2018/19

TOP TIPS FROM THE

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SUMMER 2018/19 1

3+2726 :,7+ 6$17$ Sat 24 Nov - Mon 24 Dec Santa’s Workshop, near Target

Free

photo WITH SANTA*

5pm - 7pm during select Thursday & Friday nights when you spend over $30 at any retailer within the centre.* Disclaimer: Offer excludes 20 & 21 December. Further T&C’s apply. Head to the website for more details.

Saturday 24 Nov

12:30PM

5:00PM

Sunday 25 Nov

11:00AM

3:00PM

Monday 26 - Wednesday 28 Nov

9:30AM

4:00PM

Thursday 29 Nov - Friday 30 Nov

9:30AM

7:00PM

Saturday 1 Dec

9:30AM

4:00PM

Sunday 2 Dec

11:00AM

3:00PM

Monday 3 - Wednesday 5 Dec

9:30AM

4:00PM

Thursday 6 - Friday 7 Dec

9:30AM

7:00PM

Saturday 8 Dec

9:00AM

4:00PM

Sunday 9 Dec

10:00AM

4:00PM

Monday 10 - Wednesday 12 Dec

9:30AM

4:00PM

Thursday 13 - Friday 14 Dec

9:30AM

7:00PM

Saturday 15 Dec

9:00AM

5:00PM

Sunday 16 Dec

10:00AM

4:00PM

Monday 17 - Wednesday 19 Dec

9:30AM

4:30PM

Thursday 20 - Friday 21 Dec

9:00AM

8:00PM

Saturday 22 Dec - Sunday 23 Dec

9:00AM

5:00PM

Monday 24 Dec

9:00AM

4:00PM

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2 SUMMER 2018/19

www.yarrarangeskids.com.au

about us . . .

Summer - what a time to be alive

SUMMER is here.

ideas for Christmas!

And with it comes endless beach days, play dates and picnics at the park, long summer nights and throw in a visit from Santa, it’s hard not to love this time of year.

In this issue, you’ll find a great chat with Insta-famous Melbourne dads, best known as the Real Dads of Melbourne. They’re honest, hilarious and open about their parenting journey with their gorgeous son Reid. It’s a lovely read on page 4.

It’s also the silly season - most of us take holidays, celebrate the year’s end in one way or another, and catch up with friends and family we maybe haven’t seen for a while. It’s definitely the time to indulge and reflect on the year that has been, wind down and get set for 2019. And hasn’t this year flown! It’s not only the time of year to relax and let go, soon enough the time will come for the start of the school year, new beginnings and a fresh start. That’s why the team behind the scenes at Yarra Ranges Kids have worked hard to bring you a jam-packed summer edition, with something for everyone, including some great toy

Most parents at some point have encountered a troublesome sleeper, whether it’s just a phase, or a few years in, lack of sleep is a battle for parents with young kids. That’s why we’ve spoken to expert sleep coach Cheryl Fingleson on pages 12 and 13, to help parents get a feel for establishing routines. Choosing a childcare or kinder can be daunting, so once again we’ve asked an expert to help with some great tips on how to prepare for that next stage of your child’s learning journey, on page 19.

their incredible and diverse pregnancy and birth stories, in Reality Bites on pages 26 and 29. It’s amazing how different they can be. And don’t miss the fascinating story about a mini city that’s coming to Lilydale, to teach kids about life in an adult world, on page 21. The pictures show it all! From the team at Yarra Ranges Kids, we hope you enjoy this issue and happy reading! In the meantime, stay up to date with the latest parenting news, events, great local stories and plenty more at www.yarrarangeskids.com.au You can also follow us on Facebook. Oh, and we are now on Instagram too.

244 Maroondah Highway, Healesville, Vic 3777 Phone: 5957 3700 Fax: 5957 3777

Editorial Danielle Galvin danielle.galvin@starnewsgroup.com.au

Phone: 5945 0666

Advertising

Have a safe, wonderful Christmas and New Year’s!

Phone: 5957 3700

We’ve also spoken to some local Yarra Ranges mums, who share with us

kerri.shinkfield@mailnewsgroup.com.au Published by Mail News Group Pty Ltd ACN 99 006 310 498. Publisher/Managing Director, Paul Thomas. All material is copyright to Mail News Group Pty Ltd. All significant errors will be corrected as soon as possible.

Cover

EDUCATION

ENTERTAINMENT

PAGE 4 Keeping up with the Real Dads of Melbourne

PAGE 14 Easing anxiety for kids on the spectrum

PAGE 21 A mini city to educate kids

PAGES 16 and 17 Yarra Ranges Kids directory

PAGE 22 Holiday fun at Caribbean Gardens and Market

PAGE 7 Travelling with a new baby - tips and tricks

Yarra Ranges Kids

Kerri Shinkfield

IT’S YOUR LIFE

PAGE 6 Waverley Gardens Shopping Centre supporting a great Christmas cause

Yarra Ranges Kids will be published quarterly prior to each of the school holidays.

You can find us by searching yarrarangeskids

contents PAGE 5 Push for maternity options in Healesville

Yarra Ranges Kids magazine is a Mail News Group publication.

PAGE 18 The benefits of the Outdoor Classroom PAGE 19 Choosing the right childcare for your kids

HEALTH

PAGE 8 Young family’s adventure of a lifetime

PAGE 20 Smiles all round at Beaconsfield Dental

PAGE 9 Meet the team at Noah’s Ark east

Allergies on the rise in kids

PAGE 23 Animal antics at Mansfield Zoo

FASHION PAGE 24 Recycling’s the way forward at Pipsqueakz

GIFTS AND GADGETS PAGE 25 Hottest Christmas gifts for kids

FREE SUMMER 2018/19

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Sleep Coach TAKING THE STRESS OUT OF

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PAGE 10 A sustainable way at Cire The pick of the bunch at Rayner’s Orchard PAGES 12 and 13 The Sleep Coach answers all your questions

REALITY BITES PAGE 26 The journey into motherhood PAGE 27

www.yarrarangeskids.com.au

SUMMER 2018/19 1

Zara, 3, enjoys the swings at Lilydale Lake Park. Picture: Rob Carew

Dealing with anxiety PAGE 28 How to prepare for a new child PAGE 29 A new age of keeping calm in labour Technlogy offering a new way for mums

BOOKS PAGE 30 Kaz Cooke reveals sequel to Up the Duff Children’s books to look out for

CALENDAR PAGE 31 It’s festive season!

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SUMMER SUM MMER ME 20 2 2018/19 18/19 18/ 19 3

Jarrad and Michael with Reid.

By Melissa Meehan IF you haven't heard of Jarrad, Michael and Reid Duggan-Tierney you may have been living under a rock. You might also know them as the Real Dads of Melbourne - an instafamous family with more than 91,000 followers on Instagram. Jarrad and Michael are one of approximately 6,800 same sex couples with a child in Australia. And while their family dynamic is different to most, they share the same struggles navigating parenthood and finding the balance of routine, playtime, homework and a busy social life. The social media influencers are gearing up for Christmas, and like many parents of inner Melbourne kids try to find a balance when it comes to gifts for eight-year-old Reid. "Kids get a lot throughout the year," Jarrad said. "And we think Reid gets a lot during the year so he knows at Christmas time that he doesn't get that much." Unlike many, the Duggan-Tierney's are lucky enough to have brands sending them things to promote online - especially at Christmas, and it's important for them that because of it, Reid doesn't become entitled. "We take a lot of that and give to charity - whether it be someone less fortunate or we will give it to our chosen charity," Jarrad said. "We don't want him to be entitled, we weren't brought up like that." Michael says that toys these days are pretty disposable and want to raise Reid to grow up with that in mind.

h t i w p u g n i p e e K

l a e R e h t s d a D e n r u o b of Mel

JARRAD and Michael DugganTierney didn't set out to become insta-famous. What started out as a way for family members living interstate to see their son Reid grow up quickly grew into a 91,000-person following. "I think we became interesting during the time of the same sex marriage debate - some people had never seen a modern family actually functioning and people were only getting information, not the tactile image of a family who loved each other," Jarrad said. "We are just a typical family." The pair, and eight-year-old Reid, who was born via surrogacy, share photos and videos receiving thousands of likes and comments every day. The most popular? Definitely Reid. "People always say we love Reid," Jarrad said.

"It means that Reid gets presents dribble in right through January because we've got family interstate." As they prepare to put up their Christmas tree, the Duggan-Tierney's are looking forward to reminiscing about years gone past. Each year since Reid was born they've bought a special ornament. "When we put up the tree we talk about the memories of where we purchased it and how old Reid was," Jarrad says.

And even the gifts they keep - they roll them out slowly over the months following Christmas, so it's not over the top.

"We've got heaps of other decorations on the tree, including eight years of home-made decorations, but every year we buy a special glass one and put the date underneath."

"The unreliability of Australia Post actually works really well for us," Michael jokes.

Reid has been involved in every choice, too, - even as a baby Jarrad and Michael would hold him up to the

4 SUMMER 2018/19

WE TRY TO CAPTURE THE HIGHLIGHTS

decorations and get him to choose a favourite. "When we are on holidays throughout the year we will hunt for decorations to remind us of our experience and holidays," Michael said. "This year we went to Disneyland and bought an ornament of Mickey and Minnie Mouse kissing which is quite significant for us because we got engaged this year. So that will be our 2018 bauble. "Reid chose that one out of the wedding themed ornaments and we love it." While they're not sure where they will spend Christmas this year, they are still receiving tenders from loved ones, it's going to be special.

"We try to capture the highlights, but there is a lot we don't share. And now that he's eight I ask permission to post, and sometimes he says no." It's very different to the cute baby in the pram all those years ago now he's worried whether it was his best dancing. "He's always been very comfortable with himself and is very comfortable in his own skin," Michael says. "He's not just like that at home with me taking sneaky footage, he's like that at school and with friends. He's known for being an extrovert." - Melissa Meehan

Follow the Real Dads of Melbourne on Instagram. www.yarrarangeskids.com.au

There's a campaign in the community to bring back a birthing suite.

With her third child, "I was walking up the corridor and she was literally falling out".

Maternity push

"I couldn't even get out of the car," she said. "The fourth one I had with the same midwife. "It was like going home. I slept in the same bed. "They knew me, I had that rapport.

FOR HEALESVILLE

"It devastated me to know that they were getting rid of maternity services there." Two other vocal supporters of more maternity services in the area are Yarra Valley Midwives, Robyn Partington and Lisa Wraith, who started their Healesville-based services in response to the growing need in and around the area for more options for women and families."If you're low risk, you should be birthing in your community," Ms Partington said.

By Danielle Galvin and Casey Neill

"If you're in labour, you don't want to be travelling in a car," she said.

THE push is on to bring maternity services back to Healesville.

Ellen had her second child by c-section at Healesville.

The campaign has long been on the agenda since the hospital stopped offering birthing services back in 2012, and the passion in the community seems to be growing as more families move into the area.

"It was cool, calm, collected and civilised," she said.

For many, it was a disappointing loss that's left a gap of birthing services in the area.

"The support you got at Healesville in the small hospital was amazing," she said.

Ellen McCluskey, who lives in Healesville, had two of her three children at Healesville hospital and can't speak highly enough of the care she received.

Eliza Lee gave birth to four children at Healesville hospital after moving to the Yarra Valley in 1997.

"If you birth in your community, you've got people who can come and support you, visit you, bring you food," she said.

Ms Lee's first labour, in 1998, was only three hours so she said it was lucky the hospital was close to home.

She had her daughter at Healesville 18 years ago, and it worries her greatly that the options are now so limited.

"Then 15 months later I was having my second one," she said.

"She's not going to be able to birth in her community, because it's not available," she said.

Even for her third, she was able to recover in Healesville hospital while her child was being cared for at the Royal Children's.

She was due to have her third child at Healesville, which she believes was the last scheduled caesarean section at the hospital in 2005.

"It was so good being so close, because I don't think I would have made it any further from home."

She said the drive to the Angliss in Ferntree Gully can be far too long, for a woman in labour.

She said it's also difficult for women who have other kids, who have to travel such a distance for a routine appointment.But she said it's especially trying once the baby is born.

"And it's a service that's been available to the community for 60 years

or more." Professor Chris Georgiou, Director of Obstetrics at Eastern Health said at Healesville Hospital and Yarra Valley Health, mothers can access ante-natal clinics and home visits from midwives after they are discharged from any hospital. "Our community health programs including the Healesville-based Healthy Mothers, Healthy Babies for mums who may require extra higher need support," he said. "Our maternity services based out of Yarra Ranges Health in Lilydale include ante-natal clinics, obstetrician clinics and lactation consultant clinics for breastfeeding support." He said when looking at the viability of providing safe birthing services at Healesville, issues such as workforce availability, clinical service sustainability, future demand forecasting, and most importantly patient safety, all need to be considered. "Eastern Health monitors Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) data and other evidence-based information to assess demand for both in-hospital and community based services across the region. Should this data clearly reflect increasing demand, and there is sustainable access to GP obstetricians and midwives, we will review our service profile regarding birthing services," he said. "However, any decision will need to reflect patient safety. Providing safe and effective maternity care is of paramount importance for Eastern Health."

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SUMMER 2018/19 5

ADVERTISING FEATURE

WAVERLEY GARDENS SHOPPING CENTRE SUPPORTING A

great Christmas cause WAVERLEY Gardens Shopping Centre is again getting into the Christmas spirit, partnering with not-for-profit organisation Very Special Kids for the second year in a row to support families in need during this special time of year.

manager, Kate Peasley, said.

The centre has a range of festive activities that are not only family friendly but also allow visitors to get behind a truly wonderful and worthy cause.

There's a range of fun activities throughout the centre such as Santa's Workshop, daily free kids Christmas activities, free Photos with Santa plus a Wishing Tree and Gift Wrapping Station that also offer shoppers an opportunity to support the cause.

"Waverley Gardens Shopping Centre is much more than just a shopping centre, we are about creating a community for families and giving back is a huge part of it," centre marketing

Families can receive a free photo with Santa during select times/dates leading up until Christmas. The centre has also gifted free photo vouchers to Very Special Kids registered families so they can have their own Christmas moment with ease.

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The Christmas and the school holiday period can be RCTVKEWNCTN[ NQPGN[ CPF FKHƓEWNV HQT MKFU KP HQUVGT ECTG Find out how you can brighten a child’s life next Christmas D[ CVVGPFKPI C HQUVGT ECTG KPHQTOCVKQP UGUUKQP KP [QWT CTGC You’ll learn more about the different types of foster care CXCKNCDNG CPF IGV VQ CUM SWGUVKQPU HTQO QPG QH QWT EWTTGPV HQUVGT ECTGTU +V FQGUPŊV OCVVGT KH [QW CTG YQTMKPI QT CV JQOG KP C TGNCVKQPUJKR YKVJ QT YKVJQWV MKFU 'XGT[QPG ECP OCMG a difference! For details of upcoming information sessions call 1300 889 335 or visit www.anglicarevic.org.au/foster-caring

The centre will also be running plenty of free Christmas Kids Play activities, from Gingerbread cookie decorating to Santa's mailbox crafts to even Reindeer Antler making workshops, there's something on offer for everyone. For the last minute Christmas shoppers, a Gift Wrapping station will be at the centre to help from 15 December until 23 December. For just a gold coin donation per item, shoppers will not only save themselves the headaches but also be supporting a great cause as 100 per cent of donations collected will go towards Very Special Kids. For more information and trading hours, visit www.waverleygardens. com.au/

The shopping centre has a range of Christmas inspired activities this festive season.

Open your heart and your home

R E R A ER C

The best gift you can give a child at Christmas is your care.

A Very Special Kids Christmas Wishing Tree has been installed near the Customer Service Desk where shoppers can donate $5 for a wish card and write a Christmas message, which will be collected and given to the children in the hospice.

...as a family!

How can we teach our children essential life skills? Acceptance Inclusion Compassion Resilience Social Responsibility

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Being the only children's hospice in the state, it helps more than 900 families across Victoria and requires more than $8.5 million each year to operate.

You can find Santa's Workshop just near Target, the space will host Photos with Santa and Letters to Santa where kids can be entertained whilst waiting for their photos by writing a letter to Santa.

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Established in 1985, Very Special Kids cares for children with life-threatening conditions by providing a children's hospice and professional support services completely free of charge to families.

"Following the success of last year's partnership, we are excited to be working with Very Special Kids for a second Christmas to assist them with their tremendous efforts."

Contact the Interchange Outer East host coordinator on 9758 5522 or via email at host@ioe.org.au

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6 SUMMER 2018/19

www.yarrarangeskids.com.au

your life It’s

with a Travelling baby - a different holiday kind of By Melissa Meehan

ries of their One of the best memo the locals w ho s wa n trip to Japa . son interacted with their

TRAVELLING the world is a rite of passage for many Australians - but does that have to change once you have kids? Nicole and Ryan Impey recently travelled to Japan for a family wedding, but this time the seasoned travellers took their 11 week old son Mawson with them.

"As long as you've got a cover it's OK - but saying that I never saw another woman feeding in public," she said.

Breastfeeding in a different part of the world.

anything was," she said.

TIPS FOR TRAVELLING WITH A BABY:

"I had to feed him in random spots which was different."

■ Be prepared to go with the flow

While feeding was a challenge, Nicole says travelling with a baby has its benefits - including interacting with the locals more than they would have without Mawson in tow. "Everyone would stop, look at him and play with him," she said.

Armed with information, Nicole who was breastfeeding their son, bought a modesty cover as to not offend.

One of the best memories of their trip to Japan was how the locals interacted with their son.

"We have so many photos of Japanese women surrounding Mawson in the carrier with my husband because they were so smitten with him." Would they travel overseas with a baby again? Sure.

Most shopping centres and even Disney had feeding rooms - but in more remote areas it wasn't that easy to find somewhere to feed Mawson.

"You just need to be prepared that you can't do as much as you did without a baby and that you need to plan your day around naps and feeding," she said.

"Finding places to breastfeed was difficult because I didn't know the area - here (in Australia) you know you can go to a cafe or shopping centre - but over there I had no idea where

"This age is particularly good because I could put Mawson down and he wouldn't go anywhere - I think if he was mobile it would present some different challenges."

■ Don't expect to do as much as you would pre-baby ■ Have days with nothing planned so that they can recover - babies need a break too ■ Make sure you stay at baby-friendly facilities (some hotels in Japan had no room for a portacot) ■ Be prepared for baby to be out of sorts, they probably won't feed or sleep as well as they do at home ■ Take one giant suitcase instead of two smaller ones - having to push or carry one is better than two, especially if you have a baby to carry around as well ■ Buy nappies at your destination if you can. Nappies are heavy and take up a lot of space in luggage ■ Don't over pack - just because you have a baby doesn't mean you need to take their whole wardrobe. Think smart

CRYSTAL BROOK

TOURIST PARK Crystal Brook Tourist Park is a perfect combination of a city park with the atmosphere and natural attractions of a bush park and its wildlife. It’s the perfect base from which to explore some of Melbourne’s and Victoria’s great attractions and events. It is located within an easy drive of the CBD of Melbourne, the Yarra Valley and has public transport at the front gate.

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(Melway Map 34 F3)

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FEATURES AND FACILITIES INCLUDE:

SUMMER 2018/19 7

Life on the road: Emma, Cam and Flynn.

your life It’s

The family have so far visited some incredible sites.

Young family sharing the parenting load and life on the road By Danielle Galvin

"Cam always said to me that he w wanted to be a "stay at home Dad" as m much as I wanted to be a "stay at home M Mum".

EMMA Barr and her husband Cam are embarking on the adventure of a lifetime with their one-year-old son, leaving behind life in the big city to travel the country in a van, their very own tiny home on wheels.

"About three years ago we knew we w were going to start planning on having a family which is when we actively sstarted taking steps that would enable u us to equally share the parenting roles."

But the pair aren't taking it easy on the road with young Flynn, they're also committed to growing their online empire and business venture, all the while taking in the sights of outback Australia. "We have no time restrictions on how long we will be gone for," Emma explains. "I believe it will be more the fact that we have grown out of the van, however, I believe we will spend at least a year going around Australia." It's taken a lot of planning for the Sydney family, as well as a bit of nerve, to get the idea off the ground and make it a reality, as well as being picky when it comes to what to pack for life on the road. "We have actively been de-cluttering for over a year before we moved into the van and in the two months prior reduced our wardrobes to fit in a carry on suitcase each," she said. "It was all about figuring out what we really needed and what we would actually use." Before they became parents, Emma was a real estate agent and Cam was working in travel, but both had a yearning to enjoy a different lifestyle. When Flynn was born, Emma knew

a general plan to make sure the week runs smoothly and they prioritise family time. "Generally during the week I will work from 8am - 12pm either at a cafe or a co-working space," she said. "So together we will get Flynn up and have breakfast together before I head off to work. "Then we swap over at lunch and C Cam is able to go for a run and then h head to work or training in the a afternoons. "We still try to have dinner together a a family and spend quality time as t together.

The new mobile home they're travelling Australia in.

"This being said every week is d different for us and we are very flexible w with what happens just making sure we e equally get our "me time"."

she wanted to put her skills to good use.. "I always wanted to become a mother and Flynn is one of my greatestt achievements," she said. "But, when I became a mum, I needed something to challenge that entrepreneurial side of my brain. "Creating this business has made me a better mum and I want to help other women looking for a way to pursue new careers, without taking them away from their kids." Emma runs a digital marketing firm, iLEADS.com.au, all the while, they're showing Flynn a new way of life. It means they consider themselves to be completely equal parents. There's no primary caregiver when it comes to their son, which explains their 50-50 parenting approach. "This is something that we always wanted to be able to do as parents," she said.

Another important factor for the pair i ensuring they both get some time is a alone. Young Flynn has settled in to the nomadic way of life. It's this commitment to share the parenting roles 50-50 that's made all the difference for the young family.

"The biggest thing that I believe it has done is given us complete understanding for what the other person has been through, especially during a tough day," she said.

Cam, a dive instructor, has flexibility in terms of when he works.

"We know the exhaustion and need for some time along and are very respectful of that.

"His work has always been massively supportive of our family life," Emma said.

"Cam loves running so will often go for a run and a swim by himself and I love to read a book or go for a walk.

"We do make sure we plan our weeks out so that we are working around the business and his diving."

"It makes us better parents and people when we are able to recharge ourselves with some me time!"

There's no such thing as a typical day, but the family have come up with

To find out more about their adventure, visit their Instagram account @6reasonswhy_travelblog

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ADVERTISING FEATURE

Meet the team AT NOAH'S ARK EASTERN REGION

THE eastern region team at Noah's Ark have over 30 years experience supporting children with developmental delays and disability and providing their family practical, fun and easy ways to incorporate strategies to achieve their goals.Noah's Ark is a not for profit community organisation that provides therapy and education for children with a disability or additional needs (aged 0-12) and has been operating for over 45 years. The staff work with parents and carers, children and their teachers or early educators by providing Early Childhood Intervention Services. They can assist with providing extra support to educators to provide an inclusive environment for all children. "Noah's Ark supports more than 2000 children with disabilities and additional needs and their families throughout Victoria, the ACT and NSW," Suzy Green, team leader of the inner and outer eastern suburbs branch, said. "Our specialists, with professional backgrounds in speech pathology, occupational therapy, education, physiotherapy, psychology and social work, are known as key workers." The eastern team includes Wendy,

an occupational therapist who can provide strategies to address concerns with behavioural management, emotional regulation, sensory processing differences, fine motor and gross motor development, daily activities such as dressing and toileting, as well as attention and self-regulation. Heather is a speech pathologist, who is passionate about working with families to achieve the best outcomes for each child's communication development. Olivia is also a speech pathologist who strives to ensure her clients' cultural background and individual circumstances are considered and integrated into her service. While Rebecca's skills are as a provisional psychologist and early childhood educator, whose passion is to promote children's social and emotional development. Lastly, Suzy is a qualified physiotherapist who has worked in leadership roles across the Early Childhood and School age sectors and she is passionate that all children will actively participate in their home, school and community lives.

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See our website for all details and application criteria

Ph: 8805 3800 www.knox.vic.edu.au

CO-EDUCATIONAL | ELC TO VCE

12405545-LN50-18

www.yarrarangeskids.com.au

SUMMER 2018/19 9

ADVERTISING FEATURE

Cire's going green TEACHING the next generation about sustainability and looking after the environment we live in has become an important part of Cire Services, a not-for-profit organisation unique to the Yarra Ranges. Cire's focus is flexible education and training for people of all ages and their commitment to environmental sustainability is a continuous thread in all that they do throughout the core operations including Cire Family and Children's Services (FACS); Cire Community House; Cire Community School for disadvantaged youth; and Cire Training, the registered training organisation. Diletta Lanciana, Executive Manager Family and Children's Services at Cire, said being environmentally friendly often starts small, but it makes all the difference. The children who attend kindergarten and daycare through FACS are taught in a variety of ways about how to become more environmentally conscious. "It's about trying to really encourage families not to just throw things in the bin," she said. "Even from a young age, teaching them we've got to turn the water tap off, those sorts of things, it's about being environmental." That's why they are taught about the three Rs - reduce, reuse and recycle. "One way we recycle is by encouraging families to bring in materials from home that we can use in craft activities such as cardboard tubes from paper towel, tins, pine cones, plastic bottles, glass jars, wool scraps, material scraps bubble wrap just to name a few.

The children at FACS are being taught how to be environmentally friendly in a number of ways. "We create fantastic items from things that are normally thrown away." Where possible, staff reuse what they can to teach children about waste and being resourceful. "We minimise waste by giving food scraps to our staff members to feed their farm animals," Ms Lanciana said. "We also have a worm farm that we feed food scraps to, as well as a

compost bin for any additional scraps which keeps our waste to a bare minimum. "We have created vegetable gardens to teach the children about the importance of growing your own food and helps children have an understanding of how precious food and water are in our community." Ms Lanciana said the aim is to teach

children to nurture and appreciate the environment. "We believe environmental sustainability is vital to ensure we have healthy communities with clean air, natural resources, and a non toxic environment," she said. "Living sustainably can be a challenge but is something we need to take on with gusto."

The pick OF THE BUNCH RAYNERS Orchard offers the opportunity to learn about everyday life on an orchard, how fruit grows and the chance to pick and taste your own fruit.

fresh fruit, sauces, preserving equipment and fruit leathers. Also available is a function room and cafe which serves farm style meals.

They also run fruit tasting tours and workshops that teach people how to preserve fruit without chemicals or additives.

As owner Len Rayner explained, Rayners Orchard has a welcoming family feel and staff share their knowledge with guests from all over the world.

Located in the gorgeous Yarra Valley, Rayners offers customers over 450 varieties of fruit.

"We have one of the largest fruiting plant nurseries in Melbourne," Len said.

The farm shop features preserves,

"We want to encourage visitors to

10 SUMMER 2018/19

experience the joys of tree-ripened fruit and to educate visitors about everyday farming life, including farming methods and practices, as well as picking, storing and eating a wide variety of fruit." Rayners Orchard fruit products are free from anything artificial and staff use sustainable farming practices. "We have 40 years of farming experience and our staff include local people as well as three generations from our family. They all strive to

deliver our customers an experience to be remembered," Len said. Rayners Orchard has their first 'fruits of the Yarra Valley festival planned for February 2019. Len and his team hope to make this a regular event to showcase. Rayners Orchard is located at 60 Schoolhouse Road in Woori Yallock and is open 9am to 5pm over summer (closed Christmas day). For more information, phone 59647654.

www.yarrarangeskids.com.au

Scan here for more info

HOLIDAY PROGRAMS Fun for kids during the school holidays

k e e r C r e g d a B

Woori Yallo

Mt Evelyn

WEEK 1 7th -11th Jan

WEEK 1 7th -11th Jan

WEEK 1 7th -11th Jan

> oˆb; l-u-|_om 7-‹ > Picnic lunch day > Ninja warrior course day > Boat race day > -mˆ-v r-bmাm] -m7 া; 7‹; 7-‹

> 1; 1u;-l 1u;-াom 7-‹ > Water play day > oˆb; l-u-|_om 7-‹ > Bring your wheels day > + r_o|o 0oo|_ 7-‹

> Board games day > Water play day > Tie dye day > Games and hot chips at the

WEEK 2 14th -18th Jan

WEEK 2 14th -18th Jan

WEEK 2 14th -18th Jan

> Pizza making day > ";mvou‹ 7-‹ ĹŠ vŃ´bl;ġ ]ooġ v_-ˆbm]

> ;|v om |_; loˆ; ĹŠ _-|1_bm] o=

> Sports day > Fresh food cooking day > Water play day > Wind chimes and dream catcher

ck

chickens

Äź -‚Ѵ; +-u7Ä˝ !;v;uˆ;

> oˆb; l-u-|_om 7-‹

1u;-lġ rŃ´-‹Ŋ7o†]_ġ Cm];u r-bmাm] and much much more. > Water play day > Bring your electronics > -h; 7;1ou-াm] 7-‹

> Kids fun day! - jumping castle, face

WEEK 3 21st -25th Jan

WEEK 3 21st -25th Jan

WEEK 3 21st -25th Jan

> Sports day > 1; 1u;-l 1u;-াom 7-‹ > oˆb; 7-‹ -m7 vŃ´b1; l-hbm] 7-‹ > Water play day > †v|u-Ń´b- -‹ ĹŠ -1ŕŚžÂˆbা;v

> PJ day > u-[ 7-‹ > Water play day > -u7;mbm] -m7 rŃ´-mাm] 7-‹ > †v|u-Ń´b- -‹ ĹŠ -1ŕŚžÂˆbা;v

> u-[ 7-‹ > 1; 1u;-l 1u;-াom 7-‹ > Games at the

Badger Creek Primary School now taking bookings 0499 400 250

Woori Yallock Primary School now taking bookings 0458 278 228

Mt Evelyn Campus now taking bookings 0408 203 797

r-bmাm]ġ ]-l;v -m7 l†1_ l†1_ more! > Bring your electronics > †r 1-h; 0-hbm] 7-‹ > Sensory day

1u;-াom 7-‹ > ";mvou‹ 7-‹ ĹŠ vŃ´bl;ġ ]ooġ v_-ˆbm] 1u;-lġ rŃ´-‹Ŋ7o†]_ġ Cm];u r-bmাm] -m7 l†1_ l†1_ lou;Äş

Äź -‚Ѵ; +-u7Ä˝ !;v;uˆ;

> Science day > †v|u-Ń´b- -‹ ĹŠ -1ŕŚžÂˆbা;v

www.cire.org.au 12402302-LN50-18

www.yarrarangeskids.com.au

SUMMER 2018/19 11

The Sleep Coach ANSWERS COMMON QUESTIONS

Cheryl Fingleson is The Sleep Coach.

By Melissa Grant

know how to get their child to sleep and stay asleep.

EVERYONE needs a good night's sleep.

"The unfortunate thing is there is so little information out there," she said.

When you're a parent this can be easier said than done, but there are things you can do to ensure everyone in your family is getting enough shut-eye. Sleep consultant Cheryl Fingleson has helped hundreds of parents establish gentle and safe sleep habits for their child. As 'The Sleep Coach', Cheryl works with families to improve settling and sleep techniques, establish good sleeping routines and transition a child from cot to bed. Often, she says, parents simply don't

"You go into homes when marriages are falling apart because people can't think straight because of a lack of sleep," the grandmother said.

How do you help babies sleep?

"You see them a week or two later and you won't believe the change. It's the most beautiful, rewarding thing I could do."

Routine is the constant routine of bedtime. If a child is on solids it could be solids, bath, milk, story and then bed. The baby starts to know what is coming next. Obviously an early bedtime is better or they start getting overtired.

Here, Cheryl answers common questions parents have about children and sleep. When can I sleep train my baby? Up until 4.5 months the brain is not developed enough to sleep train.

"Mums are taught how to fall pregnant, they are taught how to push out the baby, they say they are taught a little bit about settling, they are taught how to feed. "A lot of people say 'my babies sleep', but often they don't. They think it's a reflection that they are doing something wrong. They need the knowledge that's all." A certified sleep coach, Cheryl is passionate about babies and sleep and loves seeing the results of her work.

Prior to that we like to put the baby down so they can sleep on their own. In the early stages, parents make the mistake of keeping their baby awake too long. In first few weeks all babies do is sleep and eat. When they get overtired their brain gets wired and they can't fall asleep. It's important to mimic the environment of the womb by keeping them warm and swaddled. From 4.5 months you can start to try and settle. Babies are like us - they like to know what's coming next.

The four key things I tell parents is routine, sleep window, consistency, and drowsy but awake.

The sleep window is the time the baby starts showing sleep signs. This could be yawning, pulling ears or, if they are a bit older, clumsiness. If they get overtired it's hard for them to fall asleep because cortisone is released and that acts as adrenaline - that's what we call a second wind. Consistency is simply whatever you do, do it consistently. Drowsy but awake means they are in this state when they go to bed. We don't want to feed to sleep or rock to sleep. When we put them in the cot or bed, we want them to be awake. This is because when they wake up from their sleep cycle they will want you to do whatever you did to get them back to sleep.

Fresh & Fruity Family Fun This Summer /0%. %6%29$!9 !- 0-

7E HAVE 5 0ICK &RUIT !,, 9EAR s FRUIT TASTING ADVENTURE TOURS

Ride around the farm behind the tractor a covered trailer - discover a new fruit, sample tasty fruit in season, Pick your own fruit straight from the tree. Suitable for ALL ages, eat as much as you like, taste up to 8 fruit varieties. Tour duration - 1 hour. No bookings required s */). 53 !4 0%!#( #!&% &/2 ,5.#(

Kids just want to have fun

Visit our farm cafe and check out our latest range of Jams, chutneys, preserved fruit & fruit leathers.

12394626-ACM36-18

Visit our fruit plant nursery located on the farm stocking 100’s of fruiting plants, specialising in dwarf varieties.

12 SUMMER 2018/19

5964 7654 60 Schoolhouse Rd, Woori Yallock 3139

12405698-RA50-18

s &25)4 0,!.4 .523%29

www.raynersorchard.com.au www.yarrarangeskids.com.au

Sleep regressions - are they real? What should I expect? I don't like to call them sleep regressions. I like to call them sleep progressions or growth spurts. You invariably find that a baby goes through a growth spurt or milestone, which often affects sleep because they have to practice moves in their cots. With crawling, for example, they get up and practice crawling in their cot. It's important to keep to a routine during this time, which will pass. When will my child sleep through the night? How can I help make this happen? It's a very difficult question. At 12 months, some mums are happy if their child feeds and goes back to sleep quickly. Some babies can sleep through from six months or even sooner, some take longer, there is no fixed rule. There are many issues that may affect sleep, such as snoring, colds, teething, reflux, sleep associations and many more. We always rule out medical issues before sleep training your baby. It is definitely not advisable for newborn babies to sleep through the night as their stomach is the size of a pea so they need to eat more often two to three hourly. While babies can sleep through from six months, if the child is underweight the doctor may want the baby to have the extra feed. How do I transition my child from cot to bed? I don't like to move a baby from a cot to a bed until they're 2.5 years or 3

years old. Before this, their brain is not formed enough to keep an instruction for 12 hours. However, if the child is getting out the cot you can transition them for safety. When you transition, you have to give strict instructions not to get out. The older they are, the easier it is for them to understand. Parents have to be firm in their instructions. Discipline is required to keep them in their bed. Also, a lot of parents move their child to a bed because they need the cot for their next child. This is not a good reason to transition a child to a bed. *When do children stop napping? It varies. I believe children need a daily nap or a rest up until when they start kindergarten. Even when they are in kindergarten they still need some naps . But it depends on each individual child. How much sleep does my child need? There is no hard and fast rule. Sleep varies from child to child. The amounts that follow are for a 24-hour period and include naps and the night sleep. For newborns it's about 17 hours, dropping down to 15 hours. By four months sleep can drop down to 15 hours, including three to four naps. Those aged six months need around 14 to 15 hours with two to three naps. At nine months the amount of sleep can drop between 13 to 14 hours with two naps. This reduces to about 13 or 13.5 hours for children aged 12 to 18 months. Two naps continue until around 15 to 18 months.

LIVE LIFE ON GLOBBER

From 18 months to 4 years of age, they will go from having 13 hours to 11.5 hours a day. Around the age of 3, toddlers often stop their nap during the day. Kids aged 5 to 9 years need about 10 or 11 hours a day. From the ages of 10 to 15 years, kids need about 9 to 9.5 hours and most definitely don't get that. How do I know if my child is getting enough sleep? If they aren't sleeping enough, they start to have tantrums. You will also see a change in their moods. It's important to remember that very active children hide their tired signs very well. They are the ones that need the most sleep. The very active children you've got to watch because they need more sleep than the others. Get them to bed at 6.30pm. What is the best time to send a child to bed? The best time for kids aged 5 years and under is 6.30pm, or half an hour either side, because of their biological clock. The majority of kids are ready for bed between 7pm and 8pm. Even a 10 year-old should be getting into bed and reading and relaxing at this time. How can I make my child go to bed earlier? Just routine. The thing that is difficult is a lot of parents work and they don't pick their kids up until 6pm, so it's difficult to get the kids to bed at 6.30pm or 7pm. A lot of parents don't get their kids to bed until 8.30pm or 9pm. It's too hard for the children and they get used to it. Make sure you plan and get them to sleep earlier. This means preprepared dinners or giving them your leftovers from the night before.

What is the best way to deal with my child's bedtime at daylight savings? For some children, especially older children, it will make no difference. You'll just go forward or back an hour. For sensitive children and those who are highly strung, a week or 10 days before daylight saving start moving their bedtime by 10 minutes for a couple of days, then 10 minutes for another couple of days. This means when the clocks change you are on the right time. For those children who aren't so sensitive, you can move it 15 minutes and 15 minutes. It's not difficult. It's good to move it slowly. My child keeps having nightmares. What should I do? There are nightmares and night terrors. Night terrors are horrible things to go through. It's best to leave them alone, but be there so they don't hurt themselves. Just don't touch them and don't wake them. With a nightmare, you can wake the child and bring them out of it. It's important not to put the TV on an hour before bedtime. For kids who have nightmares, read them a nice book before bedtime and talk about nice things they've done in the day.

www.globber.com.au 12379395-HM12-18

www.yarrarangeskids.com.au

SUMMER 2018/19 13

your life It’s

SOCIAL STORIES FOR

children on the spectrum

Melissa Weatherley (left) and Jo-anne Danes.

By Melissa Meehan

situation," she said.

can often cause meltdowns for children.

FOR some children, everyday tasks like brushing their teeth or going to get a haircut can be filled with anxiety and stress.

A social story is used to provide an outline of an experience a child needs to do - it could be brushing their teeth or an experience like an excursion to the zoo.

"I know myself it takes time to make up a social story - if this can help families to lower their children's anxiety and stress it's great," Melissa said.

That's where Red Sparrow Books come in - providing an interactive library of social stories for children on the autism spectrum. Melissa and Jo-anne started putting the stories together about a year ago, after Jo-anne (a photographer) asked Melissa to work with her on sessions for special needs kids. "I have a child on the spectrum and I thought it was a much needed reference for parents in the same

It runs through what to expect while being instructional and informative. "These kids have high anxiety for things they don't know - so these social stories allow them to know what to expect," Melissa said. "So we thought we'll make one up for the photography to run them through a basic session of what they do, who we are, what a photographer looks like, what a camera does. She said changes in environments

Jo took the images and Melissa wrote the story and with a little help from family - they were able to make it all interactive. They shared it with other professionals and Red Sparrow Books was born. They are now making stories for a range of different subject in the hope it will help parents of children on the spectrum, too. One of the most important stories, according to Melissa and Jo-anne is the

one that shows police are nothing to be afraid of. "Absconding is an issue for many of these kids," Melissa said. "And most kids are taught that police are scary by their parents who often use them as a way to discipline them. "But this particular story gets across that police are safe, who they are and what is the process if you come across them." Another popular story is getting a haircut. "Average children can use these stories too - not just kids on the spectrum." Two memberships are available, one free and the other paid. Check it out redsparrowbooks.com.au.

Learn to swim this summer

Enrol now and receive a FREE Kingswim towel or swim bag*

Chirnside Park Íť Wantirna * T&Cs apply

12402300-LN50-18

14 SUMMER 2018/19

www.yarrarangeskids.com.au

K O O B R U O A T AY TOD

LILYDALE LAKESIDE CHILDREN’S CENTRE A New Approach to Quality Care :H UH H[FLWHG DERXW RXU QHZ SXUSRVH EXLOW &KLOGUHQ V &HQWUH RIIHULQJ IDPLOLHV D ZDUP VDIH OHDUQLQJ DQG FDULQJ HQYLURQPHQW IRU FKLOGUHQ DJHG EHWZHHQ VL[ ZHHNV DQG VL[ \HDUV We offer: › › › ›

ORQJ GD\ FDUH RFFDVLRQDO FDUH DQG NLQGHUJDUWHQ ZHHNGD\ H[WHQGHG KRXUV DP WR SP TXDOL„HG DQG SDVVLRQDWH HDUO\ FKLOGKRRG DQG FDUH HGXFDWRUV 67(0 VFLHQFH WHFKQRORJ\ HQJLQHHULQJ DQG PDWKV EDVHG SOD\ DQG DFWLYLW\ SURJUDPV › RXWGRRU VSDFHV LQFOXGLQJ VDQGSLW FXEE\ DQG WULF\FOH WUDFN &KLOG FDUH VXEVLGLHV DUH DYDLODEOH &RQWDFW XV WRGD\ WR ERRN D WRXU RI RXU QHZ IDFLOLWLHV

Call (03) 8892 2561 or email enquiries@lilydalechildrenscentre.com.au JARLO DRIVE, LILYDALE lilydalechildrenscentre.com.au 12402304-LN50-18

www.yarrarangeskids.com.au

SUMMER 2018/19 15

directory CRYSTAL BROOK

TOURIST PARK 1. LITTLE YARRA STEINER SCHOOL

205 Little Yarra Road Yarra Junction Ph. 5967 1953 www. lyss.vic.edu.au

20. CRYSTAL BROOK TOURIST PARK

19. WAVERLEY GARDENS SHOPPING CENTRE

18. RAYNERS ORCHARD

182 Heidelberg-Warrandyte Road Doncaster East

Jacksons Rd & Police Rd

60 Schoolhouse Road

Mulgrave

Woori Yallock

Ph. 9844 3637

Ph. 9547 6088

Ph. 5964 7654

9

17. GLOBBER -THE WORLD ON WHEELS

www.globber.com.au

12

4

2.CIRE SERVICES -YARRA JUNCTION & MT EVELYN

16.BOX HILL INSTITUTE/ LILYDALE LAKESIDE CHILDRENS CENTRE

2463 Warburton Hwy, Yarra Junction Ph: 1300 835 235

Jarlo Drive

20 Old Hereford Rd, Mt Evelyn Ph: 9736 1457

Lilydale

www.cire.org.au

Ph: 8892 2561

3. PAINTBALL SKIRMISH

15. PIP SQUEAKZ RECYCLE

Three locations: Ballan, Cockatoo, Coldstream

8/10 York Rd, Mount Evelyn

Ph: 9777 0613

Ph: 9736 2211

13

Book online at: www.paintballgames.com.au

www.pipsqueakz.com

4. MANSFIELD ZOO

14. CARRIBEAN GARDENS & MARKET

1064 Mansfield-Woods Point Road Mansfield

1280 Ferntree Gully Road

3

Ph: 5777 3576

Ph. 9756 5000

16

20 19

Scoresby

8

5 6

15

2 2

5. GLENMAC

13. YARRA VALLEY MIDWIVES

1 1 McGrettons Road Healesville

Three locations: Knoxfield, Lilydale, Pakenham

0410 692 292 / 0448 866 655

www.glenmac.com.au

www.yarravalleymidwives.com.au

MAP PROVIDED COURTESY OF

6. YARRA RANGES ANGLICARE Regional Tourism websites

41-57 Catella Street Lilydale Ph: 9735 4188

14 18 17

• visitdandenongranges.com.au • visityarravalley.com.au • visitwarburton.com.au

11

7

10

12. LAKE MOUNTAIN RESORT

IllustrativeTrail maps

1071 Lake Mountain Rd, Marysville

• visityarravalley.com.au/places-to-go/top-trails

5957 7222 | lakemountainresort.com.au

• visitdandenongranges.com.au/places-to-go/top-trails

8. KINGSWIM WANTIRNA & CHIRNSIDE 7. HERITAGE COLLEGE

141 Mountain Highway, Wantirna, Ph: 9800 2555

9. NOAH’S ARK INC.

16 Clevedon Road

www.kingswim.com.au/wantirna

3 Coleman Drive

The Basin

286-288 Maroondah Highway, Chrinside Park

Wantirna

PH. 9739 8126

Ph: 9727 5800 | www.kingswim.com.au/chirnside-park

P: 1800 819 140

16 SUMMER 2018/19

www.yarrarangeskids.com.au

10. BEACONSFIELD DENTAL

1-3 Cardinia Street Berwick Ph. 9707 3508 www.yarrarangeskids.com.au

11. INTERCHANGE OUTER EAST

5-7 Yose Street Ferntree Gully Ph: 97585522 SUMMER 2018/19 17

Education

THE

Outdoor Classroom EDUCATION is ever evolving. As society grows and changes, so too does our understanding of what children need and how they learn. How do we help children grow and develop into happy, resilient adults? Healthy relationships with other people and a strong connection to our natural world are two of the most important gifts that we can give our children. It is in developing these qualities that the outdoor classroom thrives and the children along with it. At Little Yarra Steiner School Class 3 children (9 year olds) enjoy the experience of making a loaf of bread, meaning they prepare the ground, grow and harvest the wheat, grind it into flour, before making and kneading the dough to cook and eat their own loaf of bread. This year's Class 3 have also built their own adobe (mud brick) pizza ovens, using clay materials found on the school property. In experiencing this process in its entirety, the children

gain an appreciation of what actually goes into the making of things we use every day. Where children are given the opportunity to have the time and attention to complete a task at their own pace, they will acquire confidence and problem-solving abilities that will help them in the real world. Through this experience of working together in nature, children are able to connect with each other, as well as their natural environment. This can be a very healing process for many children who, at this age can sometimes feel a sense of disconnectedness. In this way children not only learn about the process or the maths behind the subject being taught, but also what it is to work with one another, while enjoying all the proven benefits that being in nature gives us. To find out more, visit lyss.vic.edu.au.

12402296-LN50-18

To ďŹ nd out more about our rich curriculum, please book in for a tour online at: lyss.vic.edu.au

205 Little Yarra Rd Yarra Junction, VIC 18 SUMMER 2018/19

phone: 5967 1953 oďŹƒce@lyss.vic.edu.au

www.lyss.vic.edu.

School bus service to: Warburton, Mt Evelyn, Healesville & Dandenong Ranges www.yarrarangeskids.com.au

Education

Taking the stress out of

early learning There are some incredible benefits to childcare or kinder, but choosing the right one can be daunting.

There are also benefits for families, communities and the nation including: ■ More parents enter the workforce, increasing Australia's productivity. ■ Improvement to Australia's declining school performance in international benchmark testing. ■ The national costs of education, justice and health are reduced resulting in overall savings. ■ Increased net GDP for Australia of up to $30 billion cumulative to 2050 (Price Waterhouse Coopers, 2014).

WHEN the time approaches, it can be stressful for parents returning to work and looking for childcare options for their young child. For some of us, childcare is a necessity. While for others, there's no deadline. Either way, making the right choice and handing over your child to an educator or choosing the right preschool isn't easy. That's why Danielle Galvin spoke to David Worland, CEO of the Early Learning Association of Australia, to get some practical tips for parents to make the transition as smooth as possible and how to choose the right place to nurture your child's development and learning. What are some of the signs parents should look out for which could indicate their child might be ready for more, i.e. being bored or acting up at home? As a parent, there a number of signs that will tell you that your child is ready for kindergarten. They may show signs of boredom at home or start to develop specific interests in different areas. Observe if your child can sit and remain engaged with an activity for reasonable periods of time. If your child is showing signs of wanting to socialise with others, such as your child readily approaches or talks to other children or adults during visits to the park, then that is a sign they are ready for preschool. Early signs of resilience such as the ability to independently get up from a fall and continue playing also indicate readiness for kindergarten along with the ability to share with siblings, and take turns. What are some of the known benefits to early learning? There is overwhelming evidence of the positive outcomes of two years of preschool. For children, two years of quality early learning can assist those who are behind in their learning to catch up to their peers and start school ready together. Also, children who have attended regular, quality early learning are more likely to go on to further education, to be employed, to earn more and have improved health outcomes. www.yarrarangeskids.com.au

Is there an age at which a child should be attending childcare or kindergarten? Is there research that shows a specific age is beneficial or does it differ from child to child? The science behind brain development shows that 90% of a child's brain is developed before the age of 5. Research highlights that the two years before school are optimal for learning essential skills for life. In their 2016 report entitled Preschool - Two Years are Better Than One: Developing a universal preschool program for Australian 3 year-olds - evidence, policy and implementation, the Mitchell Institute's Stacey Fox and Myra Geddes noted that between the ages of three and five years, foundation skills critical for learning are established. Ages three to five years are considered the sweet spot for reducing disadvantage and enhancing readiness for school, setting a child up for life.

What are some basic tips for easing your child into a childcare environment? Try to regularly talk to your child about going to kindergarten or

childcare and use a positive tone - talk about making new friends, the great play equipment and how exciting it will be. Ask your child how they are feeling about it and when the day arrives, be organised by having your child's bag ready with lunch packed (if required as some services provide meals), sunhat etc. It's also important to support your child with conversations about their learning and friendship experiences. Any other tips for parents? As well as preparing your child, prepare yourself for a time of change by focusing on the positives for your child and family. Kindergarten and childcare is a major first step toward independence for your child and also opens up opportunities for parents such as returning to work, study, or taking on other interests.

What are some basic tips for parents, to know how to choose the right childcare centre? It can be a difficult, overwhelming decision! Start with some research about centres in your local area. Jump online and check out centre websites, look for statements about their learning philosophy or approach. Go to the Australian Children's Education and Care Quality Authority website www. acecqa.gov.au and click on the link (from the home page) to the National Registers where you can search on a centre to find some key details about its service offerings and National Quality Standard Ratings. Then organise to visit the centre, talk to the staff and during your visit take note of how staff interact with the children. Does it matter how many days a child attends? Any time spent in quality early learning is beneficial but research generally points to 15 hours a week as being the minimum recommended period. Are there any questions that a parent should definitely ask, when doing a tour of a pre-school, childcare, kindergarten? Make sure you ask about fees and request services to explain to you how

What happened in November? Our school fair in Nov 2018 was a fantastic event. We had visits from Basin Fire Service, Heidi Victoria (our local MP) and the police helicopter! See you next year :)

What our school offers... We offer individualised creative learning in a forest school setting, combined with solid academic performance and a strong sense of community. Call us to receive a free enrolment pack by mail or email, or to arrange a working day visit.

Principal details Ross Melles M: 0401048651 E: ross.melles@heritage.vic.edu.au

16 Clevedon Road, The Basin, 3154 P: 03 97398126 E: reception@heritage.vic.edu.au W: www.heritage.vic.edu.au

12405946-RA50-18

David Worland, CEO Early Learning Association Australia.

the Child Care Subsidy works. Ask the service about how they communicate with parents i.e. some might have a book where they note the day's activities and messages while others might use an online portal platform like Storypark. Ask about place availability, wait lists and commencement dates. If your child has any additional physical or intellectual needs then be sure to ask the service how they will cater for those needs. It's really important too to understand the services education and care philosophy. Ask them about their performance against the National Quality Standards.

SUMMER 2018/19 19

all round for

Smiles

Beaconsfield Dental

GOOD dental hygiene starts young. That's why it's so important to teach children about the proper ways to brush and care for their teeth every day. Beaconsfield Dental is committed to teaching children about the importance of maintaining good oral health from a young age. The family owned and run dental clinic was established in 1988 by Dr Robert Panjkov and has recently moved to to the new state-of-the-art premises in Berwick opposite Akoonah Park, just look for the Big Smile. The clinic, with four male and three female dentists, offers all aspects of general, family and cosmetic dentistry in a calm, relaxed and friendly environment with iPads and a car racing simulator to entertain the young and old. Some children under the age of 18 may be eligible for free dental treatment at the clinic, under the federal government's Child Dental Benefits Scheme. The dental benefits program is for eligible children aged 2-17 years and provides up to $1,000 in benefits to the child for dental services.

The team at Beaconsfield Dental, just look for the big smile. eligibility and the available balance of Medicare benefits.

2018 Premier's Sustainability Award in the Health Category.

Beaconsfield Dental is a preferred provider clinic for Medibank Private, BUPA, CBHS and HCF as well as accepting all private health insurance.

Everyone at the clinic supports the environmental policy and are committed to sustainability and have engaged a number of environmentally friendly practices.

Services that receive a benefit under the program include examinations, x-rays, cleaning, fissure sealing, fillings, extractions and even root canal treatment.

As well as offering a range of services, the clinic has a unique and unwavering commitment to be environmentally friendly and sustainable.

The receptionists at Beaconsfield Dental are able to check your child's

It's been a big year for the multiple award winning clinic, taking out the

Dr Panjkov and his wife Lisa, who is the practice manager at the clinic, have installed 126 solar panels, as well as water tanks for toilet flush and the indigenous garden. Patients are encouraged to bring in

their old toothbrushes toothbrushes, as well as empty toothpaste and floss containers to be recycled. The clinic certainly believes that providing a top service goes hand in hand with being environmentally conscious. Contact the clinic on 9707 3508 to enquire about the Medicare Dental Benefits Scheme or to make an appointment. Bookings can also be made online via the website www. beaconsfielddental.com.au or visit the clinic at 1-3 Cardinia Street, Berwick.

AllergiesON THE RISE

Wishing All Our Patients A

Very Merry Christmas And Happy New Year

ONE in 10 infants have a food allergy and food induced anaphylaxis has doubled over the past 10 years, but Australian children are being forced to wait up to two years to see a specialist. Allergy rates in children are increasing, and despite this parents are struggling to get their children's allergies assessed in the public system. At least a 12-month wait is not uncommon for a food challenge test at Melbourne's Royal Children's Hospital, leaving many parents to visit expensive private practitioners. To address this problem, the Australasian Society of Clinical Immunology and Allergy & Anaphylaxis Australia, the leading medical and patient organisations for allergy in Australia, developed a National Allergy Strategy in collaboration with other key stakeholder organisations. The federal government recently announced five years of funding for the implementation of the strategy.

BeaconsďŹ eld Dental Caring for the Community and the Environment Dr Robert Panjkov 1-3 Cardinia St, Berwick www.beaconsďŹ elddental.com.au 20 SUMMER 2018/19

9707 3508

12404593-CG50-18

and Associates

Allergy rates in children are increasing, and despite this parents are struggling to get their children’s allergies assessed in the public system. "Just recently a young girl lost her life due to an allergic reaction to dairy. We need to learn from these tragic events and implement processes to prevent them from occurring again." Allergies affect about 20 percent of the Australian population.

Projects include development of standardised food allergy content to be included in all accredited food hygiene courses, and the development of online resources for teens and young adults with allergies to share their experiences.

About 4.5 million Australians are affected by hay fever and allergic rhinitis, while one in 20 Australian children and one in 50 adults has a food allergy.

Another project will determine how to improve access to care for people with allergic conditions, particularly those in rural and remote areas.

Allergy & Anaphylaxis Australia CEO Maria Said wants people with food allergies to have an improved quality of life and do the things most people take for granted, with reduced risk.

"Sadly, there have been many near misses and preventable deaths related to food and drug allergy," immunologist and Associate Professor Richard Loh said.

"Teens and young adults are at the highest risk of fatal, food-triggered anaphylactic reactions out of any age group," Ms Said commented. www.yarrarangeskids.com.au

Entertainment What the KidzMondo centre at Lilydale will look like.

MINI CITY TO

educate kids

ABOUT THE

ADULT WORLD

By Melissa Grant

Parents can watch through glass windows, but are encouraged to drop their child off or wait in the parents lounge.

IMAGINE a mini city where kids can learn what it's like to be a doctor, firefighter or weather presenter and use the money they earn to purchase products and services.

Each child will be fitted with a security bracelet that tracks them in the centre, which will have more than 400 security cameras that are constantly monitored.

It sounds fanciful, but the concept will soon become a reality in Melbourne.

Also, children won't be able to leave the facility without an alarm going off.

KidzMondo is opening a miniature city for kids in 2020 at Box Hill Institute's Lilydale campus.

"They are secure there ... (and) the building is all designed as kids safe. They can do their own thing," Mr Gray said.

It will boast replicas of airports, banks, factories, theatres, shops, police stations, media outlets and supermarkets in a 7000sqm building. Children will be able to take care of patients as a doctor or nurse, save lives as a fireman and get behind the wheel as a race car driver. They will even be able to trade in their own currency, enjoy beauty treatments and learn how to make pizza. It will be the first miniature replica city in Australia to be established by KidzMondo, which has centres in Beirut, Istanbul and Doha. The 'edutainment' centres' aim to inspire kids aged 4-14 years through educational and engaging activities to prepare them for the world of adulthood.

Children can work as a pilot at the KidzMondo mini city.

KidzMondo Australia CEO Norman Gray said the facility would help better prepare children for life after school. "There is a limit to what you can do in a formal classroom setting," he explained. "Kids learn best through doing things, and when you're in a school setting and there is a whole bunch of theory to be passed off." Mr Gray, the former CEO of Box Hill Institute, said KidzMondo provided a setting where children could

Kids can pretend to be a firefighter.

www.yarrarangeskids.com.au

Each child will typically spend between four and five hours exploring the centre.

experiment through play and real hands-on activities.

More than 250,000 students expected to visit KidzMondo Melbourne in its first year of operation, with the centre to be popular for school excursions.

"They will work together and learn from each other and because they are having fun they will retain what they are doing," he said.

Mr Gray said the centre would provide worksheets for teachers to use before and after the visit to maximise the facility's educational value.

The KidzMondo centre will feature 80 different activities. Each area will have a facilitator to supervise and provide children with theoretical background about the activity being undertaken.

Entry to the centre is expected to cost $37, with discounted prices for school excursions. KidzMondo also plans to rollout another centres in Sydney, Brisbane and Perth in the next five years.

The KidzMondo city will feature real-world facilities, including banks.

SUMMER 2018/19 21

Entertainment

Fun day out at Caribbean Gardens and Market CARIBBEAN G Gardens d and dM Market k t iis a great day out for the entire family, with the Babes to Kids and Maternity Market on the first Wednesday of each month as well as some great rides, plenty of attractions and three playgrounds. It's been an iconic destination for many across the south-east and east in Melbourne, and as the community grows, so does the market and gardens.

Babes to Kids and Maternity Market is held on the first Wednesday of every month (excluding January 2019, when it will be held on January 9) and it's a place where you can pick up or sell some new or pre-loved clothing, toys, maternity wear, cots, prams, change tables, bibs, blankets and more. It's a great day out with free train rides between 9am and 11am (excluding school holidays) plus free face painting in the pavilion. Caribbean Gardens and Market is also a great destination for families

llooking ki ffor an affordable, ff d bl ffun d day outt over the school holidays, boasting three playgrounds and plenty of rides and attractions. There's attractions such as a nine hole mini golf set in the beautifully landscaped Japanese gardens, a fun train ride around the Caribbean Gardens, a jungle cruise where you'll have to look out for wildlife and interesting exhibits along the way, or the scenic chair lift. As for rides, there's a jumping castle, beach jeeps and the bungee trampoline.

C ibb M k t llocated t d att Caribbean Market Caribbean Park is famous for its variety a fresh produce and variety market with street food and cafes that attract over 10,000 visitors each week. Every market day, there is a cafe and street food section with some of Melbourne's best street food vendors. For more information on rides, being a stall holder, and market days, visit https://caribbeangardens.com.au/ Caribbean Gardens and Market is located at 1280 Ferntree Gully Road, Scoresby. 12403307-RA50-18

In 2016, Caribbean Market located at Caribbean Park celebrated its 50th anniversary, and it continues to evolve as one of Melbourne's favourite and best-loved community markets, open

d d d SSunday. d every W Wednesday and

ENJOY YOUR DAY AT CARIBBEAN MARKET

BABES TO KIDS MARKET ONCE A MONTH SEE WEBSITE FOR MORE INFORMATION

1280 FERNTREE GULLY ROAD, SCORESBY, VIC 3179 22 SUMMER 2018/19

www.yarrarangeskids.com.au

Entertainment

at the

Animal antics Mansfield Zoo

THERE'S plenty to see and do at Mansfield Zoo, including meeting all of the animals or you can even camp overnight if you're game.

If you love animals and a fun family day out, Mansfield Zoo is the place to go, and the meerkats have recently arrived too. The zoo features a large menagerie of native and animals from around the world including two rare white lions, two tawny lions, monkeys (capuchins, marmosets, rhesus and bonnet), deer, camels, bison, alligator, wombats and plenty more.

the opportunity to pat one of the friendly dingoes who walk around with a keeper while the lions are being fed.

For the more adventurous, there's nothing like trying to sleep to the sound of the lion's roar.

You can celebrate a memorable New Years Eve with lion feeding at 7.30pm and the Zoo open until 10pm, great for families looking for something different.

Overnight campers are welcome from September 1 to May 31 each season, but you do need to book a spot.

You can also feed most the animals by hand every day while you wander the expansive grounds.

Bring your own gear and set yourself up for a camping trip with a difference and take the opportunity to

roam the zoo after hours.

The Mansfield Zoo is open every day from 10am to 6pm (10pm on N.Y.E.)and is closed on Christmas Day only. More information is available on the website www.mansfieldzoo.com.au, Facebook page, facebook.com/ mansfieldzoo, or calling the office on (03) 5777 3576.

A small spade is provided to feed the more gregarious animals, like the camels, who will run off with the spade if they can.

The Zoo Keeper feeding tour is a great time to be at Mansfield Zoo.

There are sambar, fallow deer and kangaroos roaming the grounds with you, along with guinea fowl and peacocks.

The four lions are fed at 1.30pm each weekend and Victorian school and public holidays, followed by feeding of the Meerkat Mob. Take

Bring a picnic lunch or use the free BBQs, just watch that the deer don't steal your food from you.

The KidzMondo city will feature real-world facilities, including banks.

LOW IMPACT PAINTBALL SUITABLE FOR KIDS 8 YEARS AND OVER IS AVAILABLE

$29.50

Includes s PAINTBALLS s ,OW IMPACT PUMP ACTION s PAINTBALL MARKER s 0AINTBALL GOGGLES s /VERALLS 6EST Bookings essential

Paintball Games

MANSFIELD ZOO: White Lions

12404922-ACM50-18

1800 813 395 Book online at www.paintballgames.com.au

12396033-CG37-18

3 Locations -Ballan, Cockatoo, Coldstream

Open Daily From 10am Lion feeding at 1.30pm every weekend and every Vic public/ school holiday, followed by feeding of the Meerkats! Enquire for an unforgettable overnight camping experience.

www.mansfieldzoo.com.au 1064 Mansfield Woods Point Road, Mansfield Phone 03 5777 3576 www.yarrarangeskids.com.au

SUMMER 2018/19 23

Pre-loved goods at Pipsqueakz Recycle

YOU can find anything thing and everything to do with kids at Pipsqueakz Recycle in Mount Evelyn.

oh that's done three kids and it still looks fantastic, even though it's been washed over and over," Rachel said.

Owner Rachel Shepherd has been running the store for just over five years, but it's been a well-known and loved store in the area for 18 years.

Rachel says it's quality, but on a budget.

The store sells high quality pre-loved items such as cots, highchairs, prams, clothing, toys, books, puzzles and endless amounts of toys for kids. Parents and families across the outer-east frequent the store, eager to source some good quality toys or clothing. In a time when disposable, cheap clothing abounds, it's important to remember that a lot of cheap clothing is often poorly made and ends up in landfill after only a few washes and wears. That's why Pipsqueakz Recycle offers up a different alternative for parents, rather than buying some of the cheaper brands that don't last. They only sell excellent quality brand names.

12404291-RA50-18

"People will bring things in and say

24 SUMMER 2018/19

You can also find activity centres, walkers, carriers, nappy bags, cloth nappies and more. The idea is to sell items of very high quality, so they are sure to only put the very best on the shelves. The items for sale are sourced from the over 1000 consigners and there is a high turnover, particularly when it comes to the bigger items that don't last long in the store. Another big seller at Pipsqueakz Recycle is shoes. Children tend to grow out of shoes quickly, before they have really had a chance to wear them, and they can be expensive to buy brand new. That's why Pipsqueakz Recycle sells the top, big-name brands at very reasonable prices. With new stock arriving all the time, it's well worth a visit.

There's always plenty in store at Pipsqueakz.

Closed 22nd December - 17th January for Christmas Break

www.yarrarangeskids.com.au

Games and gadgets Hot Wheels Race Crate

Hottest Apollo Neo 3 Bike

CHRISTMAS GIFTS

Wobbel Board

for kids Polly Pocket

Hot Wheels Diecast

THERE are so many new toys and games coming out just in time for Christmas.

Yoga Spinner Game Thinkfun

Limited edition Scrabble

YOGA SPINNER GAME THINKFUN A fun family game that combines a bit of luck and the physical exertion of completing a yoga pose. Suitable for 5 years +

Hipkids Classic Steel Bike

It's impossible to feature them all, but here we explore some of hottest gifts for kids this festive season.

Available for $29.95 at Windmill Toys, www.windmill.net.au

POLLY POCKET FIRE ENGINE WITH LIGHTS & SOUND BRUDER

Remember the Polly Pocket? Well, the popular toy of the 1990s is making a comeback!

This unique fire engine has a water tank with real water pump and an extendable ladder with a fire fighter's tilting hose basket. It's just like the real thing! Suitable for kids aged 4yrs + . Available for $128.95 at Windmill Toys

The compact micro-scale collectable is back on the shelves - 30 years after its original launch. The new-look Polly has also had an upgrade - she now comes with new accessories and there are additional pocket worlds to be explored and collected. Four Polly Pocket products are being released in Australia ahead of Christmas. The range includes Tiny Pocket Place Assortment, Hidden Hideouts Assortment, Pocket World Assortment and Hidden Places Assortment. Mattel will also release an animated series of Polly and friends content in early 2019. Polly Pocket products range from $8.99 through to $39.99 LIL' GLEEMERZ Short for 'little gleaming lemur', Lil' Gleemerz is a interactive toy that talks, plays games and even answers questions. Aimed at kids aged 5+, the toy has more than 100 reactions and is able to tell knock-knock jokes, answer yes or no questions, light up to the beat of music and sounds and play games.

The toy has been hugely popular in the US and is expected to sell quickly in Australia.

WOBBEL BOARD

The Track Builder Race Crate features three raceways - the Gravity Drop, Mega Jump and Drag Race.

RRP: $2.99 each

All the way from Europe, the Wobbel Board gets kids moving. Is it a bridge, a slide or an elephant's back? Wobbel board helps kids find balance. It can be used as a step or seat in the home, and is an awesome addition to open-ended play.

New from Hot Wheels, the crate has been described as the "ultimate party in a box" that combines play and clever storage.

APOLLO NEO 3 BIKE

Available for $240 at Honeybee Toys Malvern, www.honeybeetoys.com.au

RRP $39.95. HOT WHEELS RACE CRATE

Kids aged 4+ will love the pop-out raceway and array of challenges they can experience using the fair start gate, two-lane loop, finish gate and two double slam launchers. When they're done playing, the product can be transformed back into a crate for easy pack up and storage. The race crate features pieces compatible with all Hot Wheels Track Builder lines.

To set one of its three modes of play, children pat or tap the toy on the back or front of its head, press its nose or squeeze the end of its tail.

HOT WHEELS DIE-CAST

The Lil' Gleemerz is 15cm high and comes in a range of colours including teal, pink and purple.

Hot Wheels die-cast cars have been igniting kids' imaginations, creativity and fun since 1968. With 400 new

www.yarrarangeskids.com.au

designs released each year, the die-cast cars are insanely popular. The cars are segmented into 30 different mini collections, with each collection including themed vehicles ranging from muscle cars, sports cars, race cars, trucks, and trending roadsters.

RRP $74.99

The Apollo NEO 3 Speed internal geared 24 inch Bike is the lightest kids bike in Australia. With only three gears it introduces your child to bike with gears without confusing them. Available for $550 at Ashburton Cycles, www.ashburtoncycles.com

TOY GIVEAWAY WE'VE teamed up with Mattel to giveaway some great toys ahead of Christmas. We're giving a way:

HIPKIDS CLASSIC STEEL BIKE This adorable classic 12 inch bike comes with a wicker basket and training wheels to make learning to ride a pedal bike even easier. Your little one will love carting around their favourite toy or drink bottle in the wicker basket. This bicycle also features a comfortable leather-like tan padded seat and stylish leather-like tan handles. Available at HipKids for $139.95, www.hipkids.com.au

2 X Polly Pocket packs (each featuring Tiny Pocket Places & Beach Vibes Hidden Places) 4 X Lil' Gleemerz 4 X packs of Hot Wheels Diecast For your chance to win, visit www.starcommunity.com.au/ competitions and search for Kids Toy Giveaway Hurry - entries close December 12!

SUMMER 2018/19 25

reality bites

THE JOURNEY INTO

Motherhood

Tamara Bluhm with baby Indi Rose Bluhm.

By Danielle Galvin

"We went home and were booked for an induction for the following morning if contractions did not start on their own."

WHEN it comes to pregnancy and labour, it's something of a genetic lottery.

Indi was born on July 14, at exactly 3.31am.

For most couples, it can be a waiting game to fall pregnant, tracking ovulation, signing up to elaborate apps, and plenty of trust that one day, that precious pink line will appear.

The transition into parenthood for Tamara and Tyson, like all parents, has taken some adjusting.

When new Mount Evelyn mum Tamara Bluhm and her husband Tyson decided it was time for grow their family, it didn't take long.

"The biggest change in my life has been 100% putting someone else's needs before my own," she said.

It's true that it is the greatest gift, but it certainly changes things.

"There have been times when I have woken up busting to go to the toilet but as Indi has slept through I want to check on her and make sure she is okay before I can relieve myself!

"We had been trying for about 6 whole weeks, which felt like a lifetime," she said. "I was doing pregnancy tests way before we could have even had a positive show up.

"I've been tired to the point of feeling like I could sleep all day but that baby alarm clock goes 'waa waa waa' and up I get!

"So it was actually the day before my husband's birthday, and we were having a wine and cheese night, so I thought I better to just check just in case. And it was positive!

"In those early days, especially when they can't get anywhere on their own crawling, they rely on you for so much." Breastfeeding Indi has not been without challenge too, like most new mums find, although Tamara was hopeful she could make it work, and eventually she's had a lovely experience.

"That was so exciting. I didn't really believe it was real!" At that stage, Tamara estimates she would have been just two weeks along or less. The early detection pregnancy tests really are incredible in this day in age.

She had issues with her milk supply initially as a result of some complications in the labour and Indi's birth.

She wrapped up the pregnancy test and gave it to her husband on his birthday, the best present he could have asked for. But soon enough, still as excited as ever, the morning sickness set in. "At around week five, I started getting really bad morning sickness," she said. "I had this guilt around not wanting to take any medication. so I wanted to try all the natural things they tell you about like fruit tingles, vitamins, nothing worked. "I got indigestion and really bad reflux, which wasn't fun. "The morning sickness got so bad I lost about 8 kilos in the first two months, and it was so hard because you don't want people to know you're pregnant so early on, and I think everybody would have known." Like most pregnant women, Tam went to some amusing lengths to hide her pregnancy, like secretly tipping out some cider at her brother's birthday so as not to rouse suspicion. But then came the fun part, sharing the news. "We told my family and Tyson's family when we were six weeks pregnant, I just couldn't keep it in," she said.

h d tto hoped be the "barefoot, glowing pregnant woman" we all imagine, but the reality was different. Sickness plagued her for 22 weeks, before it returned again. Around the same time, Tamara was told she had placenta previa, the condition where the placenta covers part or all of the cervix, which can make for a riskier pregnancy. "We'd been told that I had a perforated uterus, so it was likely that I was going to need to have a c section," she said. "When we were told I had placenta previa it ended up being quite risky, so we ended up being transferred to a different hospital that was more equipped to deal with it. "That was pretty frightening, because I went to Dr Google, and had a look at all the things to expect with placenta previa and how difficult labour can be, and we had kind of resigned ourselves that we were definitely having a c section.

"So once I finished working I ended up just trying to keep my feet up and watch Netflix, didn't get to do a whole lot, because I was probably 30 kilos heavier with fluid." Things started to look up again, when Tamara started believing there was a possibility she could have the natural birth she wanted, when her placenta started showing signs of moving. But unfortunately the obstetrician had other concerns. It was a rollercoaster of emotions for the next few weeks, as her due date loomed. "At 36 weeks I had a scan and was told that my placenta had moved 1.6cm out of the way against all odds," she said. "If my placenta moved 2cm away by 38 weeks I would be able to attempt a natural birth." She had been hoping for a natural birth, even though it seemed unlikely, because of a previous bad experience in surgery.

"As a first time mum I was limited in my understanding of expressing and wasn't told to start until after we realised Indi was dropping too much weight, she was 4 days old," she said. "I'd been exclusively breastfeeding Indi but she wasn't getting nearly enough milk. "I'm now on tablets to increase my supply and I've seen lactation consultants to help with Indi latching on. We finally had it sorted out and now she's started getting fussy again. "Breastfeeding for me at least seems to be an ongoing learning journey with many challenges but also with immense rewards." Tamara wants expectant mums to know it's understandable to want to plan your birth, but often it's beyond your control. "My advice for expectant mums is to know enough so that you can be proactive in the way your baby comes into the world, know what choices you have and what you would like to happen in an ideal situation, but also prepare yourself that things don't always go as planned, it's okay to be disappointed if this happens, but it's important to remember that whatever happened, happened to make sure you and baby are safe!" she said.

"Especially because we had known so early. I couldn't have waited until we were 12 weeks.

"But there were all these other things we had to worry about, like not being able to exercise, because there's a risk it could perforate my placenta. So I had to take it really easy."

"I told all of my friends at our Christmas catch-up, with little Ferrero Rochers."

Luckily, Tamara managed to get through to the third trimester and finally start feeling better.

"I was booked for a c-section on Tuesday 17th July. The following morning my waters broke sporadically,

"I was 'definitely' having a C-section up until 37 weeks and two of my friends were having a natural birth right up until the time we delivered and they both ended up with c-sections and me with the natural birth.

It's fair to say Tamara's pregnancy wasn't smooth sailing or particularly carefree.

"But by the time it was time to go on maternity leave, I'd blown up because of all of the fluid," she said.

"My husband and I went to hospital and it was confirmed that my waters had broken and that our baby was engaged and ready to come naturally.

"You just don't know and either way you are all strong mamas bringing your babies into the world in the safest way possible."

Tam is the first to admit she had 26 SUMMER 2018/19

"No one really knew why.

"At 37 weeks my placenta had moved 2.3cm our of the way but the obstetrician still felt my babies head was high.

www.yarrarangeskids.com.au

reality bites Jade Zahra with husband Kain, daughter Trew and son Balin. Picture: Belmen Photography

What I wish I knew before having a baby

By Melissa Grant

Perinatal anxiety and depression is c common, affecting one in five new or e expecting mums and one in 10 new or e expecting dads. Signs and symptoms of perinatal depression and anxiety vary but may d include the following: Feeling sad, low, i or o crying for no obvious reason; persistent worry often focused on fears p for f the health or wellbeing of the baby; being nervous, 'on edge', or panicky; b being easily annoyed or irritated; b withdrawing from friends and family; w

IN the months after having her first child, Jade Zahra would go to the effort of putting on a full face of makeup even if she didn't plan to leave the house. Looking back, the Montrose mum realises applying foundation and lipstick was her putting on a facade to give the impression she was coping. The truth was that Jade cried everyday for six months following the birth of her daughter in January 2014 and had developed a strong fear of dying.

abrupt mood swings; and thoughts of death, suicide or harming the baby. For more information, visit www. panda.org.au If you need help, call the PANDA hotline (Mon to Fri, 9am - 7.30pm AEST) on 1300 726 306. Other contacts: Lifeline 13 11 14 www.lifeline.org.au beyondblue support service line 1300 22 46 36

She had a sense of hyper-vigilance and never wanted to let her newborn out of her sight - even to have a shower or go to the toilet. "I knew I was experiencing something, but didn't identify it was beyond the normal new parent emotions," Jade explained. "At about about six months it was like a cloud lifted - I started having more good days than bad. The real obvious change in me made me realise something was definitely wrong." A story about a baby in the media was actually what prompted Jade to get help. The story made her become emotional and extremely anxious, so she phoned the national hotline for Perinatal Anxiety and Depression Australia (PANDA), an organisation which supports parents suffering from antenatal and postnatal anxiety, depression or psychosis. "When I finally did pick up the phone and call them it was a very personalised approached," Jade said. "They were amazing. They talked to me for an hour. They talked to me about safety, confidence and gave me strategies on calming myself in that particular moment. "They also followed up my call by sending me an email listing resources in my local area." Not long after that phone call, Jade signed up to be a community champion for PANDA to help spread the word about perinatal anxiety. "It's not talked about enough," she said. "I didn't recognise the symptoms and I'm actually a midwife. "At the time when I was experiencing

Jade Zahra and daughter Trew. what I was experiencing I wasn't the clinical case of depression and was caring for the baby well." When Jade had her son in 2015, it became even more obvious she had experienced perinatal anxiety as she didn't suffer any of the symptoms she did after having her first.

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And, having spoken to a counsellor at PANDA, she was more aware of what symptoms to look out for and how to address them. It's vital information she wish she'd known before becoming a mum - and that's why she's passionate about spreading the word about PANDA. "There were people at the time who said to me 'do you have postnatal depression?' and I looked at them stupid like 'no, I'm not depressed'," she said. "I wish I had known that there was a difference between perinatal anxiety and perinatal depression - you can have one or you can have both." The theme of this year's PANDA Week, held in November, was 'I Wish I Knew' - a theme which resonates deeply with Jade as she went undiagnosed because there was so much she didn't know about perinatal anxiety. Raising awareness about perinatal anxiety and depression is a major part of PANDA's work - they want parents to recognise the signs so they can get support.

www.yarravalleymidwives.com.au Enquiries welcome www.midwife@yarravalleymidwives.com.au

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SUMMER 2018/19 27

reality bites

NESTING 2.0:

Prepping older siblings FOR A NEW BABY Mum of three and author Lauren Gardiner with her new book baby + me. Picture: Rob Carew

LAUREN Gardiner, a Melbourne mum of three and author of a new story book for soon to-be-big brothers and sisters called 'baby + me', believes that sharing the pregnancy and nesting experience with your children can help prepare them for the significant changes a new baby can bring. Pregnant again? Congratulations! Hospital bag packed - tick. Car seat installed - tick. Netflix shows selected for late night breastfeeding sessions - tick. You've got this, right? But hang on ... what about your older child or children? Introducing a new baby into a family is possibly the biggest thing to have ever happened to your older child.

because it played to their interest in poo and wee!" Here are Lauren's top ideas for sharing the pregnancy and nesting with your children: 1. The talk! Even if you're not showing it can be hard to hide a pregnancy. People will soon notice that you're opting for orange juice and avoiding the cheese platter.

Debbie Isaac, a Melbourne-based occupational therapist with many years' experience and three grown-up kids of her own, says that children can experience a range of feelings. Jealousy, surprise, frustration and bewilderment are common emotions in the early days of a new arrival.

Tell your older children first - the news will affect them the most.

Some children feel "absolute shock", Ms Isaac says. "Children have seen the big tummy but have difficult reconciling that with the end product (the newborn baby)." Preparing children for a new baby can help them cope. Ms Isaac suggests providing information and sticking with routines. Equally important is letting the child know that they are loved and special. But preparations need not be expensive or elaborate. Nicole Avery, a mum of five, the author of the book "Planning with Kids" and also a popular blog of the same name, suggests involving kids in planning for the baby's arrival. "In my own experience, some activities are more engaging than others, depending on the child's personality, interest level and age," she said. "Sharing picture books and pretend play with a doll were helpful in my second pregnancy. "In my third pregnancy, both boys (then four and five) loved making a shopping list of baby items. Nappies were a real curiosity ... probably 28 SUMMER 2018/19

As well as being a fun and intimate experience for adult and child, sharing a book can prompt further discussion. 3. Let your body be a guide! Your body is simultaneously growing a baby and preparing for labour and readying the milk supply - WOW! Your body can also help prepare your older children for a new baby - so try to embrace it and let them embrace it too (literally).

For the talk, pick a place free of interruptions and distractions.

By letting your older child touch your belly and feel a kick, you're nurturing the beginnings of a very special relationship.

Make the message relatable (for example, refer to another child with a new baby they know).

4. All in for nesting! Your older children can help with preparations for the new arrival.

Alternatively, use an ultrasound picture.

In Nicole's book, "Planning with Kids", she suggests older siblings can help with setting up the baby's bassinet, making meals in advance, washing baby clothes and looking at baby photos.

And if all else fails - point to your tummy! Parents should also sensitively manage other people's messages about the baby as they may upset your older children. With three boys and one girl, in her fifth pregnancy Nicole's response to comments about a preferred gender was "we are just happy with a healthy baby". All the hype about the new baby can also be overwhelming for your older children. Some people might talk about the baby like there's absolutely no one else in your life (such as that toddler clinging to your leg). Here, change the conversation to include the other children. 2. Books, books, books! There are some fantastic picture books about new babies. The author will have spent countless hours thinking from the child's perspective and crafted the story to help children with the adjustment (trust me - I know because it's what I've spent the last 16 months doing).

to play (rather than simply telling them). 5. Baby projects! If your kids are into art, they could complete an art project for the new baby - such as a drawing for the nursery wall or a handmade card. Grandparents can get in on the act here too. My mum helped my boys create a beautiful welcome home banner for our third child, which now has a place amongst our most treasured keepsakes. 6. Sharing memories! We love to look back on photos of our children when they were little, including ultrasound photos and tell stories about those times. Share these with your children and discuss how the baby is just like they were and how they are different now. And does it get easier? "Yes," says Nicole.

These activities provide an opportunity to talk about the baby - its size, its routine, its capabilities and some of the demands and disruptions for the family (eg night waking).

"When you do have a few, once you put in the work for the first one or two it flows on to the others. The older ones lead the process with the younger ones."

Having your children help with these tasks also shows them they can have a role

So there's good news for those planning an entire basketball team like Nicole!

REVIEW: Preparing your child for a new baby REVIEW: baby + me, Lauren Gardiner Are you pregnant with older children in tow? You spend the nights wondering how to prepare your child for the new baby or how to kick-start a sibling bond. The brand new baby + me book, written by Mont Albert mum Lauren Gardiner, can help. In baby + me, the child's special place in the family is reinforced and

the child learns positive and helpful behaviours that make them a S-U-PE-R big brother or big sister. But it is a book with a difference - it allows your child to create their very own story, adding their own words and drawings in space provided. Ms Gardiner, a mother of three, developed the book while pregnant with her third child. This book is beautifully illustrated and thoughtfully written for soon-to-be brothers and sisters. www.yarrarangeskids.com.au

reality bites

keeping calm in labour A NEW AGE OF

By Danielle Galvin

minimal intervention."

In mid-October, Penny, husband Tom and big sister Elke welcomed baby Otto into the world.

But Penny is quick to add, her first birthing experience was beautiful, amazing and of course unforgettable. She credits the techniques she learned in hypnobirthing with aiding her both times. "In both, we used hypnobirthing. It's amazing," she said. "Even though with her the labour was longer, and we ended up having to have the vacuum at the end, I used hypnosis the whole time." They were hopeful with Elke for a water birth, but in the end that wasn't possible. But they understood why. This time around, with baby Otto's quick entrance, Penny did get to birth in the water at Monash Health at Casey.

It was a quick delivery, a nearly lightning fast labour, and it was as close to perfect as they could have asked.

"If the birth had turned our the same way, we were over the moon but just (keen to) minimise intervention," she said.

They laugh now at the memory of getting stuck behind the "slowest driver ever".

Penny and Tom engaged the services of the Yarra Valley Midwives, Robyn Partington and Lisa Wraith, to help bring their second bub into the world.

And of course like most second time mums, Otto's entrance was a lot quicker than his big sister's.

"I used the hypnosis the whole way there. we had really nice music playing in the car, I just closed my eyes and then we got to the hospital about 9am," she said.

THERE'S a growing interest for Australian mums-to-be to explore the wonders of hypnosis and hypnobirthing. The idea is to empower women to feel less anxious about labour and birth, through positive affirmations, breathing techniques and it's a form of pain management to help take the fear out of labour. It's said to be a transformative, incredible experience and gives women the tools to deal with and hopefully take away some of the anxiety around labour. And Healesville mum Penny is just one mum who's singing its praises.

With Elke, they had a doula present in what was a long labour. "In our heart of hearts, we would love a home birth, but with Elke, we had a natural delivery with her but it took quite a long time for her to be born and we ended up having to have the vacuum.

Penny had niggles for a couple of weeks. Elke had been born at 39 weeks, and Otto was one day short of his due date when he made his surprise, quick entrance. At about 5.30am on the day he was born, Penny and her husband crossed paths as they started their days.

"In the back of my mind, I would feel calmer in a hospital setting, because if anything was to go wrong, at least I'm there.

Tom, an endurance runner, was getting ready to head out the door and they were up with Elke early.

"But at the same time, we wanted

Just an hour later, Penny knew it

was the real deal.

in a hospital setting.

"I was trying to message Tom but he wasn't getting my messages," she laughs.

"I would have the confidence now to have a home birth if we were to have a third child.

By about 7am, Tom had raced home, and by 8am they were on the way to the hospital.

"Robbie had got the bath going already and he was born by 10am." All up, Penny estimates she would have pushed for about 45 minutes. "Everything was perfect," she said. "The great thing about it was there was no interruption, we go to set up the room the way we wanted it we had the lighting the way we wanted it, we had music going. "It was like having a home birth, but

"I feel so lucky." Penny hopes by sharing her story, other mums can see how beautiful it can be. Regardless of how it happens, whether there's a need for medical intervention or not. "There's a lot of hype around birthing thats only one sided," she said. "It can be a calm natural thing. "No matter how the both turns out, whether you need intervention or not, you can use hypnosis be as calm as you can through it." They have also established a really beautiful relationship with Robbie and Lisa. "Both are gorgeous and their knowledge is unbelievable," she said. "They go beyond, way beyond what you expect, and they are amazing."

TECHNOLOGY OPENS UP

opportunities for working mums By Melissa Meehan BALANCING corporate life and a growing family isn't an easy task. So when Sam McFarlane felt her new boss wasn't that supportive of her part-time position, she decided to take the jump and make it on her own. "My new boss was not very understanding and that made me highly anxious and stressed," she said. So she swapped an office in the city for a desk at home five years ago and hasn't looked back. With a background in marketing, Sam did some training in social media and realised there were businesses who needed help with managing their different sites. "It was frightening. My husband kept saying 'you have to work' and I had that pressure where I had to find a way to make an income," she said.

www.yarrarangeskids.com.au

"But the main thing was that I wasn't stressed, I was happy and at home with the kids. "And soon enough he realised it was going to work." But working from home still has it stigmas, with people often asking Sam whether she is going to get a 'real job' once the kids are older. "I have to say to them, this is a real job - I don't just sit at home and play house." With everything online and in the cloud, Sam says technology has opened up a new workforce, which is particularly promising for new mums. "It allows you to work from home, at any hour and work around your children," she said. "Now that my kids are eight and 10 it makes things much easier, but as they get older I'll be able to work more and I think my business can grow."

Mum Sam with 8-year-old Charli and Tom, 10.

SUMMER 2018/19 29

books

The sequel to Up the Duff released AUTHOR Kaz Cooke is back with a new sequel to her bestselling guide to pregnancy, Up the Duff.

Try to think of yourself as a coach, not a punisher. It's impossible for a child to have the mental capacity to put themselves in your shoes.

Stonnington Boroondara Kids readers are lucky to have access to an extract of her new book Babies & Toddlers.

But you can try to imagine you're a child attempting to work out the right way to behave - or what you can get away with.

There are around 1.4 million babies and toddlers in Australia with more than 310,000 babies expected to be born next year. Although we've been parenting forever, there has never been a more complex, contradictory and confusing time in which to do so. As a former journalist, Kaz has done all the hard work to find what parents need to know. She's sorted through the conflicting advice, consulted hundreds of parents, grandparents and carers, spoken with more than 30 medical experts and other top specialists, kept on top of the latest government health recommendations and safety guidelines, and waded through all the internet blather to identify the waybonkers stuff to avoid. Topics included in Babies & Toddlers: ■ Busting the myths bombarding new parents ■ How to decide on what you do and don't share of your parenting on social media ■ Getting through tough times ■ Helping toddlers identify their emotions

The sequel to Up the Duff is out now. ■ Choosing a parenting style ■ Planning a birthday party for your toddler ■ Advice on how to be a real partner to a new mum What is discipline? When people talk about discipline they often just think it means punishment. The point of discipline is not to punish a child but to teach them to behave with kindness and consideration, and to understand the rules. 'Discipline' sounds a little bit like what English politicians get up to in expensive London dungeons with bored ladies called Mistress Nannypants.

It's your kid's job to test the boundaries so they know where they are, and your job to keep the boundaries clear. Set some reasonable goals early on - these can start when your child is 1 or 2 and build through their preschool years. Here are some approaches you might find useful: ■ Think of your child as your ally or apprentice, not the enemy ■ Show your child the right way to behave ■ Help your child learn when a behaviour is wrong and why ■ Recognise that your child may not understand or care why they're supposed to behave in a certain way. Explain when you can, but 'That's the rule' is a shorthand response. Toddlers are learning to be logical, but they're not there yet.

Kaz Cooke ■ Give your child choices of things that don't matter. 'Apple or pear?' but not 'Sit still or hit your sister' ■ Establish a small core of simple ground rules that are consistently observed, such as bedtime is 7 o'clock, no hitting, and you don't get what you ask for if you use a whingey voice - so the child isn't overwhelmed by trying to remember 56 rules ■ Be clear that the aim is for your child to understand what are the right things to do, not to humiliate them or make them feel inadequate or guilty when they do something wrong.

Children's books..

Dinosaurs Rock - Beau Young & Shelley Craft, Illustrated by Susy Boyer

Ella and Olivia: Sisters' Day Out Stories - Yvette Poshogilan & Danielle McDonald

If you're a young child, then dinosaurs certainly do rock!

Ella and Olivia are back! The popular sisters return with six colourful new adventures that young girls will love.

Given the popularity of the prehistoric creatures, kids will love this beautifully illustrated book and accompanying CD. Little dino fans will learn all about the Diplodocus, Triceratops, Parasaur and almighty t-rex during an adventure led by singer songwriter Beau Young and television presenter Shelley Craft. There are five prehistoric songs plus a sixth bonus track performed by Beau (whose sound is described as Jack Johnson meets The Wiggles) and Shelley. Dinosaurs Rock is definitely one for the (preschool) ages! Scholastic, RRP $17.99

The brightly illustrated book gets off to a cute start with a kitten called Socks who, in the end, gives Ella and Olivia a greater appreciation for their own pet, a dog named Bob. In Sisters' Day Out Stories, Ella and Olivia share their excitement at being flower girls for their Aunty Merryl's wedding and get to go on a fishing trip. The sisters also visit an animal farm, are put in charge of their very own stall at the school fete and go to the circus. This colourful and cleverly illustrated book is perfect for girls aged 5+. It's the latest installment in a popular series which has already sold more than half a million copies.

Weirdo 11 Splashy Weird - Anh Do, Illustrated by Jules Faber

It's Not Scribble To Me - Kate Ritchie

The Luna Moonies - Edward Zammit

Weir Do just doesn't want to go to the school swimming carnival. In fact, he's been trying his hardest to get out of it. He even draws spots on his skin so it looks like he has a rash. He fails to fool his parents and ends up agreeing to go. The weird thing is the carnival is nowhere near as bad he thought it would be. Weir even ends up surprising himself. Oh wait, he's made it to the regional carnival - how is he going to get out of that one? An entertaining story that shows winning isn't everything.

If you have young kids, you'll be familiar with surprising artworks.

The Luna Moonies are colourful celestial characters who live on a mystical moon. This book follows Silver Moon, Mystic Moon, Blue Moon, Full Moon, Harvest Moon and Strawberry Moon who spend their days harvesting the mystical dust that falls from the stars, while fighting against the evil Moon Shadow who tries to poison the Moon's surface.

Scholastic, RRP $15.99

The scribbles that come from little people's fingers is the theme of this new book by author and radio personality Kate Ritchie. Bear has so many wonderful, wild and beautiful ideas that paper isn't enough to hold them all. In fact, the entire house is covered in Bear's colourful art. But can Bear convince everyone that they're creating more than just 'scribbles'? Families will relate to this funny story of toddler cheekiness and charm. Beautifully illustrated by Jedda Robaard, the book is a celebration of joyous creativity and imagination.

You may have already heard of The Luna Moonies they are also a children's band! The characters are the creation of Edward Zammit, an author and toy inventor of 25 years. This is a fun book that helps young children learn about space and the moon. New Holland Publishers, RRP $16.99

Puffin, RRP $19.99

Scholastic, RRP $16.99 30 SUMMER 2018/19

www.yarrarangeskids.com.au

IT’S HOLIDAY

time! DECEMBER Carols at Lillydale Lake: Saturday 8 December, activities start from 5.30pm. Carols commence at 7pm. BYO picnic rug or chairs. Hosted by The Salvation Army Moorolbark. Belgrave Big Dreams Market: Sunday, 9 December 9am-2pm. Come join the fun at the Belgrave Big Dreams Market, Reynolds Lane Belgrave. Enjoy the attractions including crafts, design, produce, fresh coffee, sourdough bread, a ouncy castle, playground, live music and performers, activities for kids and more. Dog friendly. Christmas wreath weaving at Woori Community House: Sunday 9 December 1 - 3pm, shop 5/1385 Healesville-Koo Wee Rup Rd, Woori Yallock. Get into the holiday spirit and learn different weaving techniques to make a unique Christmas wreath from materials sourced from nature. www.yarrarangeskids.com.au

$50 per wreath (This activity is suitable for individuals and families with children aged six and over.) Bookings are essential, call 5964 6857. Music Together: Music Together offers 45 minute sessions that include singing, dancing, instrument playing and relaxation, Tuesday, 11 December 11:15am to 12:00pm.

Saturday, December 22 at 6:30pm9:30pm at Queens Park, Healesville. A low cost event for young children, youth and families in the community of Healesville consisting of music and other entertainment, food, coffee, face-painting and of course Christmas Carols.

Cost is $15 per child per week ($20 per family) however fee subsidies may apply. Contact Seville Community House for more, 5964 3987.

JANUARY

Carols at Kallista Christmas Market: Saturday, December 15 10:30-11am.

This is a free event and an opportunity for the Maroondah community to come together and celebrate our great nation. This is a dog-free event.

Kallista Community Market, 2 Church Street. Yarra Glen Carols by Candlelight: Sunday, December 16 at 7:30pm 9:30pm 45 Bell street, Mckenzie Reserve Yarra Glen.

Australia Day at Ringwood Lake: 26 January at Ringwood Lake Park, from 9:30am to 2:30pm.

Mythical Markets at Ferny Creek: Saturday, January 26 at 2pm-8pm at Ferny Creek Recreation Reserve, Sherbrooke Rd, Sassafras.

Free community outdoor carols by candlelight in park. There will be food vans and singers.

Melbourne’s best makers, creators, designers and artisans come together for one day only to showcase unique, one-of-a-kind crafts.

Healesville Community Carols 2018:

Babes to Kids and Maternity Market:

Wednesday January 9, Caribbean Market 1280 Ferntree Gully Road Scoresby. Pick up or sell some new and pre loved clothing for all ages. You can sell or buy anything from baby to kids clothing and maternity wear, toys, cots, prams, change tables, bibs, blankets and all types of accessories.

FEBRUARY Babes to Kids and Maternity Market: Wednesday 6 February, Caribbean Market 1280 Ferntree Gully Road Scoresby. Pick up or sell some new and pre loved clothing for all ages. You can sell or buy anything from baby to kids clothing and maternity wear, toys, cots, prams, change tables, bibs, blankets and all types of accessories. Upwey Billycart Race 2019: Sunday, 24 February 9am-4pm. Once a year the Upwey Township Group organises the Yearly Billycart Race in Upwey, in the Main Street. Events SUMMER 2018/19 31

12389718-SN25-18

32 SUMMER 2018/19

www.yarrarangeskids.com.au

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