Stonnington Boroondara Kids - Autumn 2024

Glen Iris teen inspires

AFLW star

Renee Garing talks

FOOTY AND FAMILY

Piping hot Dynamic duo

MISSTA MUMS

TRICK SHOT TREVOR

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You better be-leaf it’s autumn!

IT’S hard to think of autumn without immediately leaping to memories of fallen leaves, but there’s so much more to the season.

Yes, watching your kids throw armfuls of golden leaves into the air is one of life’s great joys.

And yes, the rustling sounds and squeals of delight as they plunge giddily into a pile of fallen foliage make your heart soar. And there are so many opportunities for beautiful family photos against a naturally stunning and ever-evolving backdrop.

But aside from the leaves, autumn provides a chance to step outside with relative ease compared to tackling the

CONTENTS

IT’S YOUR LIFE

Trick Shot Trevor: Son inspires mum’s new book

PAGES 4-5

Steve Biddulph: The story of Grace’s new bike

PAGE 6 6

Penny Moodie on parenting with OCD

PAGE 7

Kids in the Kitchen: Sweet pea and mint pesto pasta

PAGE 8

Mum talks mental health support

PAGE 9

Monkey see, monkey do warning

PAGE 10

Public IVF is delivering

PAGE 11

Mini Maestros: Get a head start on schooling

PAGE 11

Kew Traffic School: Ready, set, ride!

PAGE 13

HEALTH

Wholefoods Warehouse: Your local food destination

PAGE 14 14

Playroom Therapy: Thriving through play

PAGE 14 14

Vision Camberwell: More children need glasses than ever before

PAGE 15

Bill Cutler Optometrists: Eye examinations ‘crucial’

heat of summer.

You can check out those new local playgrounds without risking burns from that metal slide or black plastic swing; venture to a virtually deserted beach, river, or lake to enjoy some softer sunshine and a paddle without the jostling of summer demand; or step into the kitchen with the kids without worrying that switching on the oven will turn your house into a furnace.

And then there’s Easter! Autumn really is brimming with potential and fun.

Of course, your autumn wouldn’t be complete without reading the heartfelt, funny, and insightful stories our

interviewees and contributors have been kind enough to share.

There really is so much to take away from this edition.

We’d love to hear your thoughts, any stories you’d like to share, and what you get up to this season.

Find us on Instagram or Facebook and share your autumn adventuresincluding plenty of gorgeous photos of your little ones enjoying those ubiquitous leaves.

Stonnington Boroondara Kids magazine is a Star News Group publication.

Stonnington Boroondara Kids will be published quarterly prior to each of the school holidays.

Stonnington Boroondara Kids

Cnr Princes Hwy and Army Road, Pakenham, 3810 PO Box 9, Pakenham, Victoria 3810 Phone: 5945 0666 Fax: 5945 0777

Editorial Melissa Meehan melissa.meehan @starnewsgroup.com.au

Casey Neill casey.neill@starnewsgroup.com.au

Photography Rob Carew

Louisa Jones

Group Advertising Sales Manager Mandy Clark mandy.clark@starnewsgroup.com.au Phone: 5945 0608

Egg donation drive

PAGE 17 17

DENTAL

Wattle Park Dental: Preserving healthy

smiles

PAGE 18

Looking after little smiles

PAGE 19

Camberwell Dental Associates: Tackling teeth grinding

PAGE 19

EDUCATION

Leap Street: Take a Leap into learning

PAGE 20

Find your village at St Roch’s

PAGE 21 21

Strathcona Girls Grammar: The true value of early years education

PAGE 16

Peanut allergy hope

PAGE 17 17

Frank and Harri: Where quality meets tradition

PAGE 28

Slumber Tribe: Find comfort in Slumber

PAGE 29

Fizz Kidz: Spark curiosity and excitement

PAGE 29

BORN TO PERFORM

Stage Left: Building skills beyond the stage

PAGE 30

Dance to enhance your life skills

PAGE 31

The Jazz Centre: Tiny tots put their best foot forward

PAGE 31

REALITY BITES

PAGE 22

Closing the digital divide

PAGE 23

Sacre Cœur: Developing thinking, deepening understanding, discovering possibilities

PAGE 23

Genazzano FCJ College: Check out open mornings

PAGE 24 24

Keeping all ages safe online

PAGE 25

Embracing nature through bush kinder

PAGE 27

Help at Hand: Feel calm and confident in a medical emergency

PAGE 27

PARTY TIME

Games to get the party started

PAGE 28

Missta Mums spill the tea on motherhood and business

PAGES 32-33

‘We couldn’t cry hard enough’

PAGES 34-35

AFLW star Renee Garing talks footy and family

PAGES 36-37

BOOKS

Chris dives deep to save the sea

PAGE 38

The Trees: Speaking for our foliage

PAGE 39

Discover new book releases for all ages

PAGE 39

Published by Star News Group Pty Ltd

ACN 005 848 108.

Publisher/Managing Director, Paul Thomas. All material is copyright to Star News Group Pty Ltd. All significant errors will be corrected as soon as possible.

Picture: Louisa Jones

Author’s Trick to get kids reading

By Casey Neill

A Glen Iris teen’s YouTube clips inspired his mum’s new children’s book series.

Toby, 14, has been running trick shot channel Trick’n Nuggets since he was 11 years old. He’s taken classes to learn to film and edit his trick shots, each of which takes countless hours.

Most are filmed at home, a local park, or his school - Preshil in Kew - and feature juggling, basketball, frisbee, darts, cup flipping, card tossing, ping pong, and more.

Children’s author Amy Adeney watched her son’s journey and saw the incredible persistence and creativity involved.

“I conceived a new junior fiction series about a boy who wants to grow up and be a world-famous trick shot star,” she said.

“As a former primary school teacher, I’m well versed in the interests and abilities of children at the stage of transitioning from reading picture books to short chapter books, and particularly with how to engage reluctant readers.

“I thought trick shots would be a great hook to draw readers at this level into a new series of stories.”

Trick Shot Trevor: Frisbee Fiasco is now on bookstore shelves alongside Amy’s first junior fiction series Tilda Teaches and picture book Turning Cartwheels.

Amy took a “very long, convoluted path” to becoming an author, working in England as a fitness instructor for a year and in New York in PR for a few years before returning to Australia to study primary school teaching.

“I was always a huge reader,” she said.

“I didn’t anticipate what I’d love most about teaching was sharing books with my class.”

She started a small business running a book club for preschoolers, where participants would receive a book, a craft inspired by the text, plus cues for singing and dancing.

“I always thought it was a bit of a pipe dream that I’d write something myself,” she said.

Then Amy got an internship at Writers Victoria, attended workshops, and formed a writers’ group.

“I just threw myself at it and got quite lucky through the people I met,” she said.

“It took about three or four years to have my first book published.”

The main character in Tilda Teaches wants to grow up and be the world’s greatest teacher.

“I used to run lunchtime classes for my friends teaching cartwheels,” Amy said, explaining where the concept came from.

She’s been so exposed to Toby’s trick shot hobby it seems inevitable she’d write on the subject.

“Some of Toby’s favourite YouTubers have become my favourite YouTubers,” she said.

“I thought trick shots would make a great structure for a series.

“I know as a parent when your kids are that age, series are a godsend.”

The first one focuses on frisbee, the second on basketball, and there are plans for 12 more.

“When I was teaching full time I taught grade one,” she said.

“I saw students shift from picture books to chapter books, the pride and excitement that can happen when you read a book ‘this thick’ and feel like a grownup.

“It was about finding the right books that make that switch exciting.

“The series that are aimed at boys lean towards sports, or they’re fantasy.

“In terms of a real-life series about kids that age, things they’re going through, there wasn’t much that wasn’t sport.

“There are lots of non-sporty kids.

“Particularly in Australia there’s a lot of emphasis on team sports.

“Toby’s never really been into team sports.

“This is a great way of being active.

“You’re competing against yourself, with internal motivation rather than winning against another team.

“The persistence is just astounding.

“It’s hours and hours of sitting in a room by yourself.

“I hope that we can grow Trevor to be something that will get kids into trick shots, and the interest in the skills that come from that.

“The fast-paced and relatable stories were a good way to hook their kids into the series.

“I do try to deal with real-world situations in the books without ramming the message home too hard.

“The next one delves more into school friendships.”

It’s fair to say Toby is low-key chuffed that his mum found inspiration in his trick shots.

“I was honoured that anyone had taken the time to write a book about trick shots considering how unknown it is to the general public,” he said.

“I started watching other YouTubers doing trick shots.

“In 2018 I made one short video - it was a bottle flip video.

“In 2019 I picked up a frisbee.”

And it’s snowballed from there to dozens of videos and hundreds of followers.

“They’ve always been well-received but I didn’t get that many followers. My videos weren’t getting that many views,” he said.

“Last year I decided I needed to up the quality of my videos, and I started getting more followers.”

He doubled his subscribers in only a few months and started getting attention from other YouTubers.

“One of my Instagram videos was reposted by one of my favourite trick shooters,” he said.

Toby is always working on more videos and new skills.

“I hope to take the editing skills and expand that into becoming an editor for Hollywood or in the film industry,” he said.

Toby sends a frisbee towards a chain cage.

It’s Your Life It’s Your Life

The story of Grace’s new bike

Sometimes there’s a voice inside us that we just need to hear, writes STEVE BIDDULPH

GRACE is so excited! She has a new bike - her first ever two-wheeler - and at age six she is ready to roll.

Her mum, Josie, has a well-thoughtout plan: there is a park near their house so they wheel their bikes over there and find a nice safe bit of path.

Off Grace goes, wobbling a little but peddling flat out to stay vertical, as she’s been told.

In fact, her mum is now a bit worried about her speeding away and pedals her own bike to catch up.

There is a bend in the path coming up. She shouts, “Slow down, Grace,” but it’s too late. Grace takes a tumble onto the (fortunately) soft grass. Two older girls nearby look concerned, but Josie is there in a second, helping Grace dust herself off.

But Grace is in tears. She is inconsolable throughout the short walk back to their house and inside to sit on the couch.

There are a heap of things Josie can do now.

She can look at the grazed knee and kiss them better. (Worth a try).

She can offer some ice cream or lemonade as a distraction. (Comfort eating, hmm, not sure). She can put a bandaid on the graze. (Always helpful to do).

She can also get cross and question why this girl is making such a fuss. “Didn’t you hear me call out to slow down? You shouldn’t have gone so fast.” (Grace probably knows this already. The lesson was fairly self-evident).

We’ve all tried all of these strategies - sympathy, blame, distraction!

But Josie does an interesting thing. She sits right beside Grace. She talks softly.

Josie: “You took a really bad fall with your new bicycle. You were doing so well. You dared to go fast. And now you have a scraped knee and it hurts!”

Grace nods emphatically but continues to cry and sob.

Josie: “You also have to sob really badly. Can you feel inside where that bad feeling is?”

Grace points to her stomach.

Josie: “Can you sit with it in a friendly way and ask what it feels like there?”

Grace: “It is in my stomach here, really bad.” She becomes more quiet and attentive.

Josie: “It is in your stomach. How is it there in your stomach?”

Grace: “It’s all going around.” She moves her hands around.

Josie: “It just keeps going around inside.”

Grace: “… just like grabbing hands.

Josie: “Just like grabbing hands. If you keep feeling that, do those grabbing hands have a story to tell you?”

Grace, sobbing loudly now: “Yes! Those big girls should not have stood there looking like that…

I am sure they think I am a stupid little kid.”

Josie: “You hated that they were standing there looking. They are bigger. And then you are afraid that they think you are small and stupid.”

There is a pause.

Grace: “Yes!”

Josie: “Does that feeling have a colour inside? Maybe you can close your eyes for a minute and wait for what comes.”

Grace: “Yes. Red is coming and also something black.”

Josie: “Would you draw and colour it? Your hand will put everything on the sheet of paper. It doesn’t have to be beautiful. The feeling will know what it means.”

Hesitantly, Grace starts with dark colours, then the stripes get stronger and the sobbing stops.

She scratches with the crayon fiercely, adding more lines, and another colour.

There is a deep sigh. Then there are yellow and orange circles. She looks up at Josie and smiles.

Who knows what is going on in the mind of a child?

We have to help them figure out when feelings are just too str ong for them to handle.

Josie did such an interesting thingshe used very explorative prompts.

She echoed the meaningful things that were emerging, just staying with the moment.

She enquired for the “message” that the feelings wanted to say, and the meaning shifted like a sudden change in the wind.

This wasn’t about a hurt knee. It was about a deep sense of humiliation. Who knows where it came from, but it doesn’t matter - it’s being healed.

These are what I call Wild Creature methods. You talk to the Wild Creature part of your mind, which knows things and has memories but talks through our body.

If a child can make friends with their Wild Creature Mind, by listening to the place inside that hurts, their fears come to the surface and are then easier to deal with.

Very often we parents don’t know what is going on inside our kids, but if we are willing to breathe deep and listen, then together you - and they - and their Wild Creature Mind, can team up and figure it out.

Steve Biddulph is the author of Raising Girls, Raising Boys, and Manhood. His new book Make Friends With Your Wild Creature Mind will be out from Pan MacMillan in September.

Grace’s story is from the new book and is used courtesy of Dutch authors Marta Stapert and Erik Verliefte.

‘He’s the reason I sought that help’

By Casey Neill

BECOMING a mum was the push Penny Moodie needed to take a step forward in controlling her OCD.

In her book The Joy Thief, the Melbourne author said she’d always wanted kids and thought her husband, The Resilience Project’s Hugh van Cuylenburg, would make “an incredible dad”.

During her first pregnancy, Penny’s obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) simmered down to what she described as a ceasefire.

But when Benji, now age 7, arrived the battle recommenced.

Penny told Kids that a desire to be more present for her son made her seek help from a therapist with experience in OCD and exposure and response prevention (ERP) therapy.

“That was all driven by my desire to be a better parent,” she said.

“He’s the reason I sought that help.”

Penny gave birth to daughter Elsie about six weeks before the Covid pandemic hit, and third child Patrick while writing The Joy Thief.

“In some ways it was cathartic,” she said of writing the book.

“It was therapy in a way, and therapy doesn’t always feel good.

“I was nervous putting it out there.

“There’s plenty of information out there about OCD but not so much lived experience.”

Penny said we can often look too hard for silver linings when it comes to mental illness, but her OCD does help her to be a more empathetic parent.

On the flipside, she’s very aware of exposing her children to her illness.

“I fail at it all the time,” she said.

“I’m sure I’m constantly anxious in front of my kids.”

Penny’s also “a little too vigilant” with her children’s mental wellbeing, as is Hugh.

“We can be hyperaware,” she said.“I think it’s probably better than being completely oblivious to it.

“I do worry if my child’s displaying signs of OCD and I start feeling guilty.

There is a genetic component to it.

“If my kids do end up having OCD I feel like I’ll be in a good position to help them.”

Penny and Hugh speak very openly about mental health with their kids.

“My husband and I both talk a lot about seeing our worry doctor, which is our psychologist, and try to normalise talking to someone about your feelings,” she said.

“I think that can be really helpful. It’s just that general awareness.

“My son was really angry at something a few months ago and said something like ‘I’m going to think of every swear word I can’.

“I told him ‘You can think whatever you want to think. No thoughts are bad. Saying it would be different, that would be another thing, but you can actually think whatever you want to think’.

“It takes a lot of time and a lot of patience from both sides, and a lot of willingness to revisit it and reevaluate.

“We had that conversation.

“From such a young age, whether you have OCD or not, you can worry that certain thoughts can be bad or make you a bad person.

“To have that conversation with him was really important and made me more aware for my daughter and my younger son as well.

“Maybe if I hadn’t gone through all this I wouldn’t have been aware of these conversations.”

Speaking of conversations - Penny and Hugh spoke openly on his podcast The Imperfects about their efforts to better balance the mental load in their household.

Penny said it was an ongoing convesrtation.

“I think often we think if we bring something up and we talk about how important it is and we make a plan then it’s going to improve straight away,” she said.

“I was so motivated to do it because I really didn’t want my daughter and two sons to absorb this - live in a household where it’s normal for Mum to be doing all the household tasks while Dad goes off to work.

“I really wanted them all to be seeing us trying to divide it up where we can.”

Alongside the weight of the mental load, Penny was also unprepared for how fun parenthood would be.

“Everyone tells you it’s going to be the biggest slog of your life - and it is - but from the get-go, the fun side of it, seeing these little people develop this personality from such a young age and seeing how that changes and evolves - that’s just so much fun,” she said.

“Kids kind of ground you so much and remind you of little things that are so important.”

Benji recently commented that the world was magic following a discussion about dinosaurs and evolution.

“As adults, we forget how fascinating the world is,” Penny said.

“Every now and then being reminded of that’s really beautiful.”

Parents can find OCD resources at soocd.com.au.

Your Life It’s Your Life

Sweet pea and mint pesto pasta

in the kitchen

with Lucy Stewart

WHEN it comes to kids and green vegies, I find peas are often the most favoured thanks to their small size, vibrant colour, and natural sweetness.

They’re a good source of plant-based protein and fibre and contain essential vitamins and minerals like vitamin K, C, manganese, and folate.

I’ve paired them in this pesto with refreshing mint to bring out their sweetness even more, and pumpkin seeds as they’re a great source of zinc, magnesium, and nourishing fats that growing little bodies need.

While I’m all for increasing our kids’ vegetable intake by adding them into meals, sneaking or hiding them in foods without them knowing might actually hinder their ability to develop a taste for and accept them.

Remember, it’s about building up exposures, because kids know what they like and they like what they know

and it can take 20 or more exposures before a child will try a new food.

Looking at, playing with, smelling, and describing a new food without ever putting it in their mouth all count as exposures.

So why not leave a few peas out on the bench for the kids to play with while you make this together, and scatter a few whole peas through your finished pasta, too?

Well Fed Kitchen is a range of healthy snacks for kids that you can make at home.

Created by Nutritionist and mum, Lucy Stewart, they’re made with only real wholefood and plant-based ingredients – no additives, nothing artificial, and without nuts, dairy, soy and wheat.

Well Fed Kitchen provides an easy snack alternative to the sugar-laden, healthy pro- cessed options, guaranteed to fill kids tummies, satisfy their hunger, provide a steady release of energy and some essential growing nutrients too.

Ingredients:

■ 400g pasta of choice

■ 1 ½ cups frozen peas, thawed

■ 1 cup fresh mint and basil leaves

■ ½ cup extra virgin olive oil

■ 1/3 cup grated parmesan

■ ¼ pumpkin seeds

■ 1 garlic clove

■ 3 tbsp lemon juice

■ 1 tbsp lemon zest

■ ½ tsp sea salt

Instructions:

1. Cook your pasta according to the packet instructions and drain, reserving ¼ cup of the cooking liquid.

2. Add all your pesto ingredients to a blender and process until smooth and creamy.

3. Mix your pesto through the pasta, adding a little of the reserved cooking liquid to help the pesto coat the pasta nicely. Top with grated parmesan and peas.

■ Optional: Parmesan and peas to garnish

■ Serves: 4

■ Prep time: 10 minutes

■ Cook time: 15 minutes

www.wellfedkitchen.com.au @wellfedkitchen_snacks 12562706-MS36-22

‘It’s such an emotional toll’

By Casey Neill

PIETA Shakes is using her personal experience to support women who receive a prenatal diagnosis.

The Melbourne mum was anxious early in her pregnancy but had started to relax by 31 weeks.

“I had some extra pain and I had a scan,” she said.

“I thought ‘this is great, I have an extra chance to see my baby’.

“I was reassured at the scan that everything was fine.”

But at the bottom of the scan results was a note about the way her baby’s brain was developing. She plugged the words into Google and saw ‘severe intellectual disability’ and ‘death’ among the results.

Pieta got an urgent appointment with a specialist.

“I couldn’t work, I couldn’t sleep. I was obsessed with trying to read things,” she said.

“I was crying lots, distressed.”

A further scan at 32 weeks confirmed the initial scan and Pieta was advised to terminate.

She had further tests and spoke to multiple specialists, who all gave her “pretty hard odds” and again offered termination.

A fetal MRI at 34 weeks changed the diagnosis a little and her baby’s odds improved.

“It was such a whirlwind not knowing if I was going to have a baby, not knowing what her life would be,” she said.

“Not knowing if it was selfish for me to consider terminating, or selfish for me to consider having her.

“I had a whole nursery set up, I thought ‘what am I going to do with that?’.

“Then I thought I was a horrible person for thinking about material things.”

Guilt consumed Pieta. She told herself she hadn’t grown her baby properly, she must have done something wrong.

“It’s such an emotional toll,” she said.

“I had to make the decision based on what I’d hate myself less for.”

Pieta’s mental health declined further after a complicated birth.

“Her anomaly is quite rare so I was obsessed with reading what I could,” she said.

“The doctors didn’t know about it so I had to be the one with the knowledge.

“Every time I put her to sleep I’d worry if she’d live.

“I had all these intrusive thoughts, like all the cupboards were going to fall on her in the middle of the night.

“I tried to keep it all to myself. I chose this. I didn’t feel like I could tell people that it was hard or I wasn’t coping.”

But as a mental health nurse, she knew she wasn’t coping.

She had an unsuccessful appointment with a psychologist, then referred herself to a residential mother-baby clinic because her daughter wasn’t feeding or settling. She was knocked back due to her baby’s condition, so sought help from her mental health nurse supervisor.

Fitzroy House experienced a 30 percent client increase and the increase was 123 percent at Frances Perry House.

“I was so desperate and I didn’t know who else to call,” she said.

“I had phone sessions with her and went back to work and was able to pull myself out of a desperate situation.

“We design things to support new parents and connect them.

“But when everything’s about parenting a typical baby who’s expecting typical milestones, it’s alienating.

“There’s a lot of people out there who just try and cope.

“It’s potentially impacting them long-term and impacting their family long-term.”

New data from Gidget Foundation Australia shows perinatal depression and anxiety (PNDA) in a parent can impact the cognitive, behavioural, and emotional development of their child.

Gidget said early intervention dramatically improved an individual’s prognosis.

Gidget has experienced substantial growth in people accessing its free psychological counselling services over the past 12 months.

Gidget House Point Cook offers a vital lifeline to struggling parents, with no wait time to access free psychological counselling sessions.

Pieta has shared her story as a Gidget Angel and spoken with some of its clinical leaders.

“There’s a bit of a division between perinatal care and mental health,” she said.

“Each thinks the other is taking care of it.”

Eight years after her experience, Pieta was looking for a PhD topic and landed on the experience of mothers who receive a prenatal diagnosis.

“There’s 20 years of literature showing a third to 50 percent of mothers received a PTSD diagnosis after a prenatal diagnosis,” she said.

She founded charity Through the Unexpected, a small volunteer-run organisation developing training for health professionals.

“We’re working to fill the gap. There’s a huge gap in that training space,” she said.

Sideline behaviour warning

PARENTS are essential to kids’ sports, filling roles from chauffeur to caterer to cheer squad.

But when they behave badly on the sidelines, it’s often a case of ‘monkey see, monkey do’.

In a new study from the University of South Australia, researchers found a link between parents’ sideline conduct and athletes’ behaviours.

When parents behaved well –applauding good play, encouraging players, and enjoying the game – their child was more likely to project positive behaviour.

But the more a parent behaved poorly – being overly critical, secondguessing the referee, or yelling abuse –the more antisocial behaviours seen in their child.

“Most parents are role models for their children, with children looking to their parents to learn about acceptable behaviour,” UniSA’s Dr Alyson Crozier said.

“So, it’s natural for them to copy the behaviours they observe.

“In our research, we found that when a player perceives positive support from a parent, the player also reported having positive sports attitudes and behaviours.

“Yet, when a parent engages in antisocial behaviours, their child will more likely behave similarly, potentially as frustration and aggression to their teammates and opponents.

“Encouragingly, most players in this study reported frequent positive parent behaviours, and negative parent behaviours as rare.”

In Australia, about 13 million adults and 3 million children take part in sport each year.

The study assessed the perceptions of 67 Australian youth athletes (aged 12-17 years) participating in teambased sports.

Almost a third reported never seeing any negative behaviours from their parents.

But 69 percent reported some form of negative behaviour from their parents, even if rarely.

About one in five (18 percent) said their parents sometimes or often said bad things about the way they played or their parents sometimes to very often yelled at the referee during the game after a bad call was made (17 percent).

Dr Crozier said good sportsmanship was the cornerstone of a positive sports experience.

“Children get far more enjoyment from playing sport when a parent is present, encouraging, and supportive,” she said.

“Such behaviours also help build a child’s self-esteem, and improve their life skills and wellbeing.

“Yet poor parent behaviours can reduce a player’s confidence and damage their emotional and physiological wellbeing.

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“In some cases, they can even lead to a child withdrawing from a sport altogether.

“Sport is an important part of life in Australia.

“If we can encourage respect, sportsmanship, and fun, we can ensure that sport continues to be a positive experience for everyone.”

Top tips for positive parent behaviour:

1. Be a positive role model for your child: Be courteous and respectful to coaches, referees, players, and spectators.

2. Avoid shouting instructions: Unless you are an official coach, focus on words of encouragement. Don’t ‘coach the coach’.

3. Keep comments about your child and others positive: Whether you’re at the sporting field, on the car ride home, or at home, don’t bad-mouth other players, parents, coaches, or game officials.

4. Prioritise having fun: Remember, children want to play sport to have fun and socialise. Winning isn’t everything. Have fun yourself, and help your child enjoy sport by creating positive memories.

Public IVF delivering dreams

VICTORIA’S public fertility care program produced 21 pregnancies in its first year.

The Royal Women’s Hospital (RWH) and Monash Health accepted almost 2000 referrals to the program in its first 12 months.

About 1100 patients started treatment, including in vitro fertilisation (IVF), intrauterine insemination (IUI) or Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection (ICSI).

The first baby conceived under the program - Felix - was born to Erin and Anthony in October last year, thanks to Monash Health’s fertility service.

Minister for Health Mary-Anne Thomas visited RWH to mark one year of the program on 12 November.

The program will enable up to 5000 Victorians to access these services every year – delivering up to 3375 treatment cycles - helping them save up to $10,000.

“For too long and for too many, treatments like IVF have been financially out of reach – it’s why we’ve invested in this Australian-first program to ensure more affordable and more accessible fertility care for all Victorians,” Ms Thomas said.

Get a head start on schooling

HAVE you noticed how musical your local community is? And how many of the capable and successful people you know had a musical education when they were children?

Babies and young children who participate in a quality preschool music education program get a head start on schooling and develop musical skills and a lifelong love of music.

Mini Maestros has provided pre-school music classes in Stonnington and Boroondara for more than 30 years.

The age-specific classes for babies to 5-year-olds are carefully designed to boost confidence, cultivate essential skills, and unleash creativity.

Making music engages multiple brain functions and stimulates holistic growth.

It’s the ‘superfood’ for your child’s developing brain!

By harnessing the peak neural activity that occurs before the age of 6, babies, toddlers, and preschoolers who actively learn music are set to effortlessly achieve crucial developmental milestones.

Mini Maestros classes nurture the whole child, accelerating language and listening skills and boosting physical, social, and emotional development.

The vital social interactions and dynamic classroom setting of Mini Maestros lessons pave the way for kindergarten and school readiness and are equally beneficial for the attending adults too.

The learning and fun doesn’t stop at the classroom door; Mini Maestros also offers engaging online courses to enjoy at home with their carers.

The musical fun and learning can continue in the comfort of your home.

With more than 1000 glowing reviews from satisfied parents and carers, Mini Maestros is a firm local favourite.

Don’t miss out on giving your child or grandchild a quality musical education.

Enrol in Mini Maestros’ music and movement classes. Visit minimaestros.com.au or call 9850 5566.

Support your child to thrive.

Other services available through the program include fertility preservation, such as egg freezing for people undergoing medical treatment for illnesses that might compromise their fertility, such as cancer.

RWH’s reproductive services head, Associate Professor Kate Stern, was proud of her highly specialised team providing the world-class service so more Victorians could become parents.

“I think it’s so brave for people to take the first step and have the conversation about their fertility and find out what can be done to help,” she said.

Monash Health deputy chief operating officer Andrea Rindt said the team at Monash Health and Monash Women’s were thrilled for Erin and Anthony, and for the opportunity to assist them conceive Felix.

“As the largest maternity service in Victoria, delivering over 11,000 babies per year, it’s been wonderful to expand our service through the public program, supporting couples like Erin and Anthony welcome a new addition to their family,” he said.

KEW Traffic School is a fun and engaging space for children aged 2 to 10 years.

Kew Traffic School is open for public play and ride sessions on Wednesday and Friday during term one and over the school holidays to help children develop important cycling and road safety skills while having fun.

Children can gain confidence and practice riding their bikes or scooters

around a mini road track complete with road signs, roundabouts, railway crossings, and traffic lights.

Children need to bring their own bicycle or scooter and helmet to join in the fun.

Parents and carers must stay and supervise their children.

The facility is also available for limited private bookings and parties throughout the year, featuring a large

Ready, set, ride!

party room with kitchen facilities.

Be quick - weekends get booked out quickly.

Party and private bookings open six months in advance.

During school term, kindergartens and school groups can book to attend Kew Traffic School’s safety education program.

The evidence-based program aims to empower children to stay safe both at

home and on the roads.

Themes covered by safety educators include pedestrian safety, bike safety, and identifying hazards on the road.

The traffic school is a well-known and much-loved icon in the City of Boroondara.

Public ride and play sessions are available to book now.

For more information and to book, visit www.boroondara.vic.gov.au/kts.

Health

Your local food destination

WELCOME to Wholefoods Warehouse, a family business with a hospitality background spanning more than 42 years.

The team understands what it takes to make mealtimes special so has carefully curated a selection of more than 5000 of your favourite products and the list keeps growing.

Wholefoods Warehouse is your ultimate local food destination.

The business is all about quality, fresh ingredients that families can trust.

Wholefoods Warehouse has just opened a specialty food store that stocks: fresh and organic fruit and veg, ready-made meals, gourmet food, artisan bread, quality meat, poultry and seafood, organic pantry lines, vegan and gluten-free products, organic baby and toddler food, kosher-friendly products, epicurean confectionery and nuts, small-batch pet food, protein and wellness products, as well as fresh flowers daily, and much more.

The team sources produce from local growers and suppliers to provide you with the finest of ingredients, organic, free range, and small batch products that are not easily accessible, all at the best prices.

Additionally, Wholefoods Warehouse provides a range of specialty pantry lines from all around the world.

The business makes entertaining and dining-in easy with ready-made meals, condiments, and gourmet lines.

Plus, Wholefoods Warehouse’s friendly in-house chef is readily available to share his expertise to help you whip up something special, recommend ingredients, or answer any cooking questions you might have.

Visit the store and shop the freshest produce and finest ingredients all at the best prices and experience personalised, friendly service.

The team at Wholefoods Warehouse looks forward to welcoming you and as a bonus, just by mentioning this editorial you’ll receive 10 percent off your next shop.

Wholefoods Warehouse - your local food destination, is at 72 Glenferrie Road, Malvern.

Ample rear parking and additional store entry is via the Wattletree Rd 2 and 4-hour car park.

Follow @wholefoodswarehouse on Instagram and Wholefoods Warehouse on Facebook.

oking you have.

War ehouse

Wholefoods Warehouse is dedicated to providing you with quality ingredients so you can create culinary delights and enjoy entertaining in your home with friends, family, and loved ones.

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And here’s the best part: the team believes that great food shouldn’t break the bank.

And here’s the best the m food ouldn’t br eak bank

That’s why Wholefoods Warehouse offers competitive prices on all its products, so you can enjoy gourmet meals without blowing the budget.

arehouse competitive ces on all its pr oducts, you n meals hout the

We have everything you need to make mealtime special, every day of the week.

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Helping kids to thrive through play

AMIDST the wild ride of parenting and the unique challenges that face children today are the therapists at Playroom Therapy.

Play therapy harnesses the inherent powers of play and draws on tried and true therapeutic approaches to offer a gentle yet effective approach to mental health and wellbeing for children.

At Playroom Therapy, children are provided with a sanctuary where they can use play to make sense of their worlds, navigate emotions, and learn how to thrive.

Embedded within the philosophy of Play Therapy is the profound recognition that children possess an innate capacity to communicate and process their innermost thoughts and feelings through play.

It’s a therapeutic modality that acknowledges the uniqueness of childhood experiences, offering a safe haven where children aged 3 to 12 years can use play to explore, express, and make sense of their worlds.

Play therapy has the unique capacity to foster emotional wellness, promote

communication and expression, enhance relationships, and harness personal strengths.

Within the therapeutic environment of the playroom walls, children have the opportunity to make sense of difficult life experiences, to grow in confidence, and to cultivate a deeper understanding of themselves, their relationships, and the world around them.

With such power, play therapy has the capacity to address a range of social, emotional and behavioural difficultiesbig and small.

While holding the child in the centre, Playroom Therapy extends its healing embrace to the system around the child, offering therapeutic support, coaching, and consultancy to parents, carers, educators, and teachers.

With such an approach, Playroom Therapy works to create a holistic ecosystem of support where children and families can thrive.

From anxiety and sadness to struggles with friendships or traumatic events, Play Therapy offers a beacon of hope and healing for children navigating life’s tumultuous waters.

As Playroom Therapy expands its reach with new locations in Malvern East and Balwyn North, the mission remains steadfast: to empower children and families to connect, heal and grow the best way they know how - through play!

Call 0478 389 793 or email admin@ playroomtherapy.com.au, or visit 91 Waverley Road, Malvern East, or 101 Doncaster Road, Balwyn North.

HEAL, GROW AND LEARN

At Playroom Therapy, we help children to heal, grow and learn the best way they know how - through play. We are a team of friendly and experienced registered child play therapists who offer a range of child and family playbased therapies for children aged 3-12 years. We offer one on-one, group and family support.

Play therapy is effective in addressing a range of social, emotional and behavioural issues.

is effective in a rangge of social, , emotional and behavioural

Play therapy is known to:

• Promote school readiness

• Increase confidence and self-esteem

• Enhance emotional regulation skills

• Strengthen social skills

• Reduce fears, worries and anxiety

• Process difficult experiences, memories and traumas

• Improve family relationships

• Increase parenting confidence and skills

• Extend play skills and language skills

• Address challenges that coincide with developmental delays, neurodiversity and other diagnoses

• NDIS funding accepted

0478 389 793 WWW.PLAYROOMTHERAPY.COM.AU

More children than ever need glasses

DIGITAL devices, increased screen time, and reduced outdoor play are key contributing factors to a worldwide myopia (short-sightedness) epidemic, according to Shonit Jagmohan and Jue Wang, of Vision Camberwell Optometrists.

As leading practitioners in myopia management, Shonit and Jue report growing numbers of children complaining of blurred vision in the classroom and playground, and too often hear from parents that their optometrist has not discussed the long-term risks associated with childhood myopia.

Childhood myopia significantly increases the risk of retinal detachment, macular degeneration, and glaucoma, eye diseases that can result in vision loss later in life.

Shonit and Jue are leading the way in slowing and stopping myopia progression using the latest imaging technology to measure eyeball growth to objectively monitor the various myopia treatments they offer.

With more than 24 percent of children aged between 5 and 17 years diagnosed with myopia in Australia, they take a collegial approach when managing children’s vision through their most critical developing years, and offer a minimum of 30 minutes at every appointment to educate parents in ways that help slow their child’s myopia progression.

Growing up short-sighted, Jue Wang has firsthand knowledge of the limitations of short-sightedness in active children.

According to Jue, many children don’t want to wear glasses and oftentimes won’t wear them when prescribed.

Being active himself, he knows how important it is to tailor his solutions to children’s lifestyles and preferences.

As the fellowship chair of the International Academy of Orthokeratology and Myopia Control (IAOMC) for the Oceania Region, Shonit Jagmohan finds many parents bring their children to Vision Camberwell because they want the best possible outcomes when dealing with their children’s vision.

According to Shonit, being only recommended stronger glasses by an optometrist is not best practice when considering the long-terms risks of shortsightedness.

At Vision Camberwell, it is rarely offered as a solution to treating myopia.

Being a fellow of the IAOMC means Shonit is ‘a leading practitioner in myopia management treatment’.

Shonit finds it disappointing how often parents are ill-advised about the condition.

To make an appointment, call the practice on 9882 5666 or visit visioncamberwell.com.au.

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Health

Eye examinations are ‘crucial’

ROUTINE eye examinations are crucial for maintaining overall health and wellbeing, yet they are often overlooked.

While many adults understand the importance of regular check-ups, especially for issues like glaucoma and macular degeneration, which might not exhibit symptoms until they are in advanced stages, the significance of eye exams for children is less widely recognised.

Children, unlike adults, might not realise they have vision issues because they assume everyone sees the world as they do.

This can lead to problems in school, as poor eyesight can affect learning and concentration.

As such, it is essential for children to have their eyes examined regularly to detect any issues early on.

Bill Cutler Optometrists, a locally owned independent practice in Kew East, has been servicing the community since 1979.

Bill Cutler, a local to the area, has been practicing in Kew East since 1985.

He understands the importance of routine eye exams for both children and adults.

Bill takes pride in seeing his patients grow over the years, from their first visit as children to returning as adults.

Melissa Ung joined the practice in June 2023.

She has spent most of her career working in regional Victoria.

She has a passion for helping children with vision issues and has seen the impact a simple pair of glasses can have on a child’s learning and development, especially when undiagnosed focusing difficulties are detected early.

Both Bill and Melissa are passionate about patient education and take the time to explain any issues detected during examinations.

They believe that seeing an optometrist is more than just getting glasses – it is crucial for ocular health as well.

Routine eye examinations are essential for everyone, regardless of age.

Bill Cutler Optometrists

Bill Cutler Optometrists provides comprehensive eye care for the whole family, ensuring that everyone in the community can enjoy optimal vision and eye health.

Bill Cutler Optometrists is at 678 High Street, Kew East.

Call 9859 3962, email info@ cutleroptometrists.com.au, or visit www.cutleroptometrists.com.au.

Health

Peanut allergy hope

NEW parents dread finding out their little one has an allergy - particularly a life-threatening response to peanuts.

But the fear of keeping a child safe from an anaphylactic reaction to peanuts could become a thing of the past.

A novel peanut allergy treatment is a step closer thanks to a research funding boost.

In January, the State Government announced a $12 million investment through Breakthrough Victoria to bring local biotechnology firm Aravax one step closer to an innovative new treatment that could save lives.

Aravax is a clinical stage biotechnology company focused on revolutionising food allergy treatment through its product, PVX108.

The immunotherapy uses synthetic peptides to mimic key parts of peanut proteins with the potential to retrain the immune system to tolerate peanuts without causing allergic reactions.

Early research at Alfred Health and Monash University has developed this unique treatment, requiring a monthly dose rather than the daily dose required by current treatments.

These trials are a step forward in bringing cutting-edge healthcare to the more than five million Australians living with food allergies.

Breakthrough Victoria CEO Grant Dooley said: “This therapy, developed right here in Victoria, has the potential to change the lives of peanut allergy sufferers across the world.”

Aravax has received approval from the US Food and Drug Administration

(FDA) and Australia’s Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) for Phase 2 trials in both countries.

“Victoria is home to world-class scientific research institutions. It’s exciting to receive the local support, global recognition and this investment Aravax needs to expand clinical trials in Victoria and the United States,” Aravax CEO Pascal Hickey said.

Phase 1 clinical trials were successfully completed for adults in

Victoria in 2018.

Phase 2 trials, which will evaluate the treatment’s effect in children aged 4 to 17 years, will take place in clinics in Australia and the United States.

“This investment is an important step forward in advancing healthcare for millions of Australians with food allergies and introducing life-changing health technology to the world,” Economic Growth Minister Tim Pallas said.

Egg donations needed in Australia

BEFORE they were born, sisters Olivia and Zara Masucci travelled halfway around the world together.

The pair was among a special delivery of donated eggs from the United States that Melissa and Alfie Masucci hoped would help them create their much-wanted family.

The Epping couple started trying for a family in 2018, before turning to fertility treatment two years later.

Melissa’s fertility specialist advised her to seek donated eggs.

She received seven from an overseas donor and created two embryos - “two perfect babies”.

Olivia was born in September 2021 and Zara in 2023.

“We were never turned off by the fact they were donor eggs, we just wanted a family,” Melissa said.

“We were both in our forties and thought if this is our best option, then we’re willing to give it a go.”

Melissa is grateful to her overseas donor, but she and Alfie would like to see

Melissa and Alfie Masucci with daughter Olivia and Zara.

Picture: Monash IVF

more Victorian women become donors to give people like her greater options.

Monash IVF fertility specialist Dr Virochana Kaul, who guided the couple through their journey, echoed their wish.

Dr Kaul said last year marked the 40th anniversary of the first birth from a donor egg, which happened in Melbourne.

“Egg donation is a truly, amazing gift and I would urge anyone who can donate their eggs to consider helping others unable to use their own eggs,” she said.

According to the Victorian Assisted Reproductive Treatment Authority, 288 Victoria received egg donations in 2022-23, a drop of 27 percent on the previous financial year.

More information on how to become a Monash IVF egg donor is available at monashivf.com.

Australia’s first public sperm and egg bank is also accepting donations, at Victoria’s Royal Women’s Hospital. Visit thewomens.org.au/egg-and-sperm-donate

Preserving healthy smiles:

The role of restorative dentistry

A child’s radiant smile is a precious asset, and ensuring the longevity of those pearly whites involves understanding the intricacies of restorative dentistry designed specifically for the younger generation.

Understanding dental fillings for kids

Dental fillings for children aren’t mere replicas of adult treatments; they’re customised to meet the unique needs of developing teeth.

When cavities form on baby teeth, this can cause a ripple of effects such as unwanted space closure and adult teeth not erupting into the right position.

Dental fillings come into play as a restorative solution, mending these cavities and preserving the health of primary teeth. These fillings are essential for maintaining the integrity of these temporary teeth, ensuring proper speech development, nutrition, and the alignment of permanent teeth.

Fillings for children encompass various options. Tooth-coloured composite fillings blend seamlessly with natural teeth, providing discreet and aesthetically pleasing repairs.

Stainless steel crowns, renowned for durability, are often recommended for

back teeth subjected to greater chewing forces.

Understanding these choices empowers parents to collaborate with their child’s dentist for the best smile outcome. Restorative dentistry for children: Early intervention and preventive care The journey to a healthy smile begins with early intervention and preventive care.

Children are susceptible to dental issues, and identifying and addressing these concerns early can prevent more significant problems down the road.

Regular dental check-ups become a crucial aspect of restorative dentistry for children, providing opportunities to detect cavities, enamel defects, and other issues before they escalate. Dental fillings play a pivotal role in early

intervention, restoring the functionality of the teeth and preventing further decay.

However, it’s not just about fixing problems; it’s about preventing them in the first place. This is where preventive care, such as dental sealants, becomes vital.

Dental sealants are thin coatings applied to the chewing surfaces of molars, creating a protective barrier against decay-causing bacteria and acids. This additional layer of defence complements early intervention, setting the stage for a lifetime of healthy smiles.

By emphasising the importance of both early intervention and preventive care, parents and dental professionals work together to create a comprehensive strategy for preserving a child’s oral health. Preserving healthy smiles in children demands a comprehensive approach to restorative dentistry.

Understanding dental fillings, emphasizing early intervention and preventive care, and mastering advanced techniques and materials collectively ensure every child can confidently display their radiant smile.

Looking after little smiles

ONE in six teenagers consumes more than 5kg of sugar throughout the year from sugary drinks alone - about the same weight as a family cat.

According to the Australian Dental Association (ADA), 42 percent of Australian children aged 5 to 10 years have experienced tooth decay in their primary teeth.

In the 6 to 14 age bracket, 24 percent have experienced tooth decay in their adult teeth, and 27 percent of kids aged 5 to 10 years have untreated dental decay.

So how can parents help to protect their kids’ teeth?

Consider tooth-friendly snacks, such as savoury popcorn.

The ADA’s Tooth-friendly Treats Cookbook includes 20 dentistrecommended sweet treat recipes.

Profits from the sales go to the Australian Dental Health Foundation, which helps disadvantaged Australians access dental care.

Parents should steer clear of hard lollies for their kids.

They’re made of 100 percent sugar and are often responsible for accidents involving broken teeth or fillings. They also take longer to dissolve in the mouth,

meaning the teeth are exposed to sugar for longer, increasing the risk of tooth decay.

When it comes to sugary drinks, there are typically 26 teaspoons of sugar in an average one-litre cola bottle.

So the ADA says parents should encourage their kids to drink tap water or milk instead of sugary drinks to help prevent decay.

Wait at least an hour between your last fizzy drink and teeth brushing.

Brushing too soon can damage tooth

Dr Bob tackles teeth grinding

ESTABLISHED in Camberwell, Dr Bob Cvetkovic is a family dentist delivering a comprehensive range of dental and oral health care services.

This starts with routine check-ups and includes emergency care, plus cosmetic, preventive, and restorative dental treatments.

He and his team are caring and dedicated to nurturing your oral health through dietary, oral hygiene, and lifestyle counselling.

Listening to your needs and concerns, Dr Bob supports and works with you to help you take care of your oral health.

Good oral hygiene and healthy lifestyle choices are key to maintaining a healthy mouth and smile.

However, other factors can impact your oral health and general wellbeing.

Bruxism, more commonly referred to as teeth grinding or clenching, can damage your teeth and negatively impact your general health and well-being.

Bruxism involves clenching of the jaw and the grinding or gnawing of teeth.

It can happen during sleep and/or when awake.

If left unmanaged, bruxism can lead to more serious temporomandibular joint disorders generally referred to as TMJD.

Common signs and symptoms

include achy teeth and gums, sore or clicky jaw joint, painful and tight facial muscles, tension headaches, sore ears, neck pain, cracked or chipped teeth, broken crowns, fillings or bridges, sensitive teeth, and even trauma to the tongue and cheeks.

Bruxism is most commonly caused by a mixture of physical and psychological risk factors - alcohol, smoking, caffeine, pharmaceutical and other recreational drugs, stress, and other mental health disorders, also including sleep disturbances such as sleep apnoea.

Children will often grind their teeth due to stress, misaligned teeth, loosening of deciduous (baby) teeth, the eruption of adult teeth, perhaps even enlarged tonsils, and at times of head colds and flu.

Quite commonly they will grind because it feels good and relieves the aches of the major changes their jaws experience as they mature.

Luckily most children will grow out of this, but it is important to remain mindful of the causes, especially if it continues into their teens.

It might be necessary to seek a health professional’s advice on treating psychological risk factors.

Dr Bob Cvetkovic is at Camberwell Dental Associates, 681 Burke Road, Camberwell.

To book an appointment or make an inquiry, call 9882 3366 or email admin@camberwelldentalassociates. com.au.

enamel, softened by the acidity in the drinks.

Don’t forget to floss daily. It only takes a few minutes and helps to remove all the food debris sitting between your teeth.

Brushing removes only 60 percent of food debris, leaving particles of food rotting between your teeth.

Aside from food and flossing, mouthguards play an important role in looking after little smiles.

Australian Dental Association

President Dr Scott Davis, a prosthodontist, said dentists often saw kids with traumatic dental injuries that could have been prevented - or damage reduced - had they been wearing a protective mouthguard.

“The best mouthguards are from your dentist as they’re customised to fit the size and shape of the patient’s mouth,” Dr Davis said.

If a tooth is knocked out and has been found, dentists advise putting it in a glass of milk and heading straight to your dentist, as they might be able to re-insert it.

Dr Davis also urged parents to access their free dental entitlement, as only 38 percent of eligible families used their Child Dental Benefits Schedule entitlement.

Qualifying families with children up to age 18 who receive Family Tax Benefit Part A or other Australian government payments are entitled to dental work up to the value of $1052 in every two-year period.

Families can check their child’s eligibility through their Medicare online account at MyGov.

Visit www.teeth.org.au/teeth/Shop for the Tooth Friendly Treats Cookbook.

Education

Take a Leap into learning

JOIN the Leap Street team for its open day on Saturday 16 March at Toorak Uniting Church from 9.30am to 11aman event not to be missed!

Limited spots are available, so sign up now to secure your place and explore the exciting world of Leap Street.

At the open day you’ll have the chance to meet and chat with Leap Street educators, gaining valuable insights into the program’s unique approach to education.

Discover how its science-led curriculum can give your child a head start academically while boosting their confidence in the classroom.

Experience firsthand the dynamic and engaging learning environment that Leap Street offers.

Through semi-private groups and personalised tutoring, see how Leap Street tailors its programs to meet the specific needs of each child, ensuring they receive the support they need to excel.

Leap Street is dedicated to making education enjoyable for all ages.

Its interactive and fun-filled activities ensure that learning is not only educational but also exciting and engaging.

Through Leap Street, children are not just learning - they’re gaining the confidence to succeed.

The centre’s program prepares kids to confidently tackle the challenges of the classroom and beyond.

Whether your child is in kindergarten or Grade 6, Leap Street has a program to suit their needs.

Call Emma on 0419 531 735 or Caroline on 0409 215 958, or email hello@leapstreet.au to discuss your child’s individual needs.

Visit www.leapstreet.au, find @leap__street on Instagram, or email hello@leapstreet.au.

Use code SBKIDS for 15 percent off Leap Street group classes for term two only.

We are a collective of educators and child learning experts, who take a science-based approach to what we do – leading the way in early learning.

We offer small group classes for kindergarten

Year 2 with a maximum of 8 students in the class, fostering an ideal learning environment. We also provide one on one tutoring for students in kindergarten to Year 6 in the comfort of your home for those who require a more advanced or tailored teaching approach.

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Leap Street paves the way for a love of learning, teaching the foundations of literacy and numeracy, to create a confident and motivated learner.

Contact us to discuss your child’s individual needs.

Emma: 0419 531 735

Caroline: 0409 215 958

hello@leapstreet.au

Class Location

Wettenhall

Leap Street’s Emma and Caroline.

Finding your village Education

SELECTING your child’s school is a huge life decision.

They say it takes a village to raise a child. The St Roch’s community - its village - supports your child’s academic, social, and creative needs.

Most importantly, your child’s faith will be nurtured with a strong connection to St Roch’s Parish.

The St Roch’s team knows each child by their name and believes that every face has a place - whether you are a student, a parent, a member of the family, or staff member.

The school’s focus on each and everyone’s wellbeing ensures that everyone belongs and feels connected to its community.

St Roch’s staff provide an engaging curriculum and have high expectations for all learners committed to laying the foundations in literacy and numeracy.

We want each student to be the best they can be and live out the Gospel values through their kindness, respect, and compassion.

Teaching is designed around students’ needs and interests and assessment information is used to monitor each student’s growth and progress.

Teachers at St Roch’s create

g that invite udents to be e skills and ucceed as

communities of learning that invite questions and support students to be curious and develop the skills and resilience they need to succeed as lifelong learners.

Come and experience St Roch’s Parish Primary School for yourself.

The care, safety, and wellbeing of children and young people is a fundamental responsibility of all within the school.

St Roch’s is committed to developing students who think critically and creatively and are empowered to be collaborative problem solvers.

To accomplish this, the school aims to expose students to opportunities that allow them to create innovative digital solutions to meet and redefine current and future problems.

St Roch’s Parish Primary School is committed to child safety and providing a safe environment for all students and young people.

The team wants children to feel safe, happy, and empowered.

All students attending St Roch’s Parish Primary School have the right to feel safe.

d ally and owered to m solvers he e d g St hool e.

Early education’s true value

IN a child’s first seven years, their growing brain begins to build the foundations for how they communicate and interact with the world.

It is during this time that children develop the skills, knowledge, and character traits that will shape their future learning journey.

At Strathcona Girls Grammar, we consider how children interact with the environment, not only in a physical sense, but with an approach that considers the development of social skills, leadership abilities, and emotional resilience - the whole being of a child.

By incorporating playful learning and joy into the curriculum, children develop essential life skills and enhance their overall wellbeing.

A quality early years education strives to develop children in a holistic way and integral to the success are the following characteristics:

Building literacy and numeracy skills: At Strathcona, we place emphasis on inquiry-based learning to involve children in the learning process and engage critical thinking.

Rather than just passively receiving information, students engage in exploration, investigation, and problemsolving to construct their understanding of concepts and ideas.

Children are also involved in a systematic, skills-based program that lays a sound foundation for children to learn to read - focusing on phonological awareness and oral language development through structured storybook reading.

Developing social and emotional intelligence: Children flourish in environments that nurture, stimulate, and support their physical, cognitive, social, and emotional growth.

Strathcona fosters positive social interactions and encourages empathy and kindness.

Immersed in investigations, children express and develop imagination and creativity which are skills critical skills for the technology-driven and innovative world we live in.

This year Strathcona will unveil a new purpose-built early years precinct for children in ELC 3 to Year 1, which has been meticulously designed to provide the best possible start for curious young minds.

We teach children skills for the real world to help them to find their place and purpose.

Social and emotional learning provides children with the foundational skills required to regulate emotions, communicate, and build positive relationships.

Fostering curiosity and a growth mindset: Curiosity is sparked with an emphasis on science, technology, engineering, arts, music, language, mathematics, and literacy, which drives children to explore and understand the world and their place in it.

To find out more about the program at Strathcona Girls Grammar, visit strathcona.vic.edu.au.

For enrolment information, email registrar@strathcona.vic.edu.au or call 8779 7606.

- Lisa Miller, Head of Junior School Strathcona Girls Grammar

Students discover possibilities

SACRÉ Cœur’s learning and teaching is based on a rich tradition of intellectual values, of learning, and of excellence.

It is based on five key values:

■ Purpose - The essence of all learning and living.

It gives us agency and voice, and it develops our discernment, wisdom, and capacity for reflective thought.

■ Excellence - Realising one’s potential and becoming the best version of one’s self.

It is a lifelong journey of learning and striving to be the best one can be, both for ourselves and for others.

■ Care - Necessary for ourselves, for each other, for our community, and for our world, especially for those who struggle to care for themselves or advocate for their own needs.

We all have a responsibility to love, nurture, and care for one another, and we must actively seek courageous solutions to the problems we face.

■ Hope - Essential for our well-being, the future of our world, sustainability, social justice, and the role we play in our communities and as global citizens.

Living a hopeful life means working to create a better world for ourselves and others.

■ Connection - The interrelatedness between learning, relationships, and communities.

It is how we grow and thrive.

Sacré Cœur connects its learning to its actions, to others, to its community, to its Sacred Heart schools, and to the world around it.

The school contributes to creating welcoming and inclusive communities for all.

Sacré Cœur’s future fit framework recognises the drivers of the changing nature of education:

■ Digital and technological transformation - Innovative technologies such as AI, quantum

computing, The Internet of Things, and robotics have resulted in the fourth industrial revolution where unparalleled technological developments have and will continue to transform the way in which we live, work, and learn.

■ New models of education and workplace - Covid-19 transformed how education can be delivered and how workplaces can operate. Sacré Cœur prioritises equipping students to self-manage and self-direct their work.

Societal changes also point to a need to personalise education by providing student choice and authentic experiences.

■ Focus on skills building - Research findings of the Foundation for Young Australians note that in 2030, workers will spend almost 100 percent more time solving problems; 26 percent more time engaging in self-directed work; and 30 percent more time learning on the job.

The development of skills is needed to develop an education that better prepares our young people for their future, and central to these skills is metacognition; teaching students to be aware and understand their thinking.

■ Self-actualisation - This relates to a person achieving their highest potential and being the best they can be.

The OECD 2030 learning framework (2018) sets wellbeing as the key purpose of education. Wellbeing centres on equipping students with the resilience, tenacity, and mindset to overcome challenges and adversity.

Therefore, Sacré Cœur aims to develop young people who know and understand how to think, who possess the ability to deepen their understanding, and who seek solutions to the problems they and their world face.

Digital divide hurts struggling students

INADEQUATE computer access is further hampering struggling students.

Eight in 10 students in lower socioeconomic schools surveyed for a new report had trouble finishing class work and assignments because they didn’t have a computer.

KPMG prepared the report pro-bono for WorkVentures, a not-for-profit supporting Australian communities through technology, skills and meaningful career pathways.

It also found two in five (44 percent) Year 6 students and a quarter of Year 10 students did not have access to a computer outside of school.

One in two (51.6 percent) lower income families reported their children could miss out on the digital devices needed for schoolwork because they couldn’t afford them.

So WorkVentures is calling for a National Device Bank for students who can’t otherwise afford to access vital educational technology.

The organisation said digital learning increasingly dominated classrooms and online resources were an essential part of learning.

Access issues put children at risk of falling behind academically and grappling with the social impacts and limitations of future employment opportunities.

WorkVentures IT solutions and social impact director Jacob Muller said not everyone was afforded the same opportunities when it came to digital technologies.

“Australia is undergoing a rapid digital transformation but despite increased connectivity, socially and financially disadvantaged families have found themselves on the wrong side of the digital divide due to affordability and confidence barriers,”

Mr Muller said.

“Our report found that students, who are from schools in areas that identified as having greater relative socioeconomic disadvantage, experienced reduced or no access to a computer after school.

“This reduced access outside of school is likely to have a negative impact on the educational outcomes for students from lower socio-economic backgrounds.”

The report found schools commonly provided laptops for Year 6 students (57 percent), but only a third (32 percent) of Year 10 students received a device from their school.

“We have been addressing digital exclusion by refurbishing end of life corporate laptops and PCs and distributing these to individuals who

otherwise couldn’t afford them, including school students,” Mr Muller said.

“Unfortunately, there have been various hurdles to scaling this up including a lack of device donations and lack of consistent funding to support the ongoing costs.”

The WorkVentures report highlighted the benefits to students of access to a laptop out of school, with 83 percent of surveyed students experiencing improvement in their grades, and 97 percent indicating that their new laptop supported them in completing their homework and assignments.

WorkVentures CEO Caroline McDaid said a key component to closing the digital divide was a national strategy.

“WorkVentures is urging the introduction of a National Device Bank

to aid digitally excluded Australians by providing free digital devices,” she said.

“We want to ensure all children have access to digital learning essentials so they can make the most of their education and not miss out due to their individual circumstances.”

Over a five-year period, the Australian public and corporate sector will refresh 10 million laptops, PCs, and tablets.

Most of these devices are currently diverted into international markets for profit, recycled, or sent to landfill.

“While we have had some Australian companies and government agencies donating devices for social good for a number of years, there is substantial scope to amplify this across the corporate and public sector landscape,” Ms McDaid said.

“We want to see a system where these devices are kept in Australia and redistributed for free to people who are digitally excluded.

“We are calling upon these organisations to get involved and for the public to advocate for a National Device Bank to help students get connected for the good of their education and their future.”

A National Device Bank aims to secure one million pledged devices to support digital inclusion programs within five years while providing more than 100,000 Australians with devices, connectivity, and digital coachving.

It also looks to divert 2500 tonnes of potential ewaste, promoting a circular economy while also combating its environmental impact.

Visit workventures.com.au/nationaldevice-bank to find out more.

Education College opens its doors

ESTABLISHED in Kew in 1889, Genazzano FCJ College is a progressive, vibrant community where your daughters’ early formative learning years will offer an unparalleled foundation to a lifelong love of education.

Contemporary Catholic and FCJ values underpin the way things are done at Genazzano – this means the school team believes in living with purpose and serving with passion.

“We welcome you and your daughter to our very special open mornings,” principal Loretta Wholley said.

The open days will be held on 21 March, 18 April, and 17 May.

Genazzano FCJ College’s early learning centre provides a secure foundation for your child’s future learning.

Its priorities ensure Genazzano’s highly experienced and caring teachers introduce fun and play to educational activities, to help your child develop a lifelong love of learning.

The school’s unique approach will nurture your child from their very first day, to grow their confidence, educationally and socially.

Junior school at Genazzano offers an innovative, diverse curriculum from Prep to Year 6.

The student is at the centre of all learning. The Genazzano team wants its students to become confident and open-minded learners who are ready to take on the world.

Genazzano’s approach to inquiry learning is about presenting the students with relevant and engaging learning experiences that go beyond their homeroom and connect with specialist classes to explore central ideas and develop positive learner attributes.

The college is an International Baccalaureate Primary Years Program Candidate school, which offers global teachings around history, geography, health, civics, citizenship, and religion.

Genazzano offers stimulating cocurricular programs including STEM, the arts, social justice, languages, and an inventors club for budding entrepreneurs at appropriate year levels.

Genazzano also tailors support to meet the unique needs of its students.

Junior school students are introduced to a wide range of sporting facilities.

The generous grounds provide a large oval, indoor heated 25-metre pool, indoor basketball court, seven tennis courts, three netball courts, and an elite physical performance centre.

Genazzano’s commitment to parents is to ensure every aspect of your child’s education, their personal wellbeing, and academic potential is realised, so they are ready to take on tomorrow.

Selected places at the early learning centre and junior school are available for 2024 and 2025.

Genazzano welcome you to experience the unique qualities of Genazzano FCJ College.

For college open morning tour dates, visit www.genazzano.vic.edu.au/ enrolments or contact the registrar on 8862 1207 or registrar@genazzano.vic. edu.au.

Genazzano acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of the lands where we live and work, and pay respect to Elders past, present, and emerging.

Keep all ages safe online

PARENTS must have age-appropriate chats about online safety with their kids from toddlerhood, according to the Australian Federal Police.

The AFP said just over half of parents and carers regularly discussed online safety at home, but almost all children regularly used technology for educational purposes or entertainment.

Research by the AFP-led Australian Centre to Counter Child Exploitation (ACCCE) revealed 87 percent of children aged between four and seven years old were using the internet, and 16 percent were unsupervised.

Only three percent of research participants listed online grooming as a concern.

The AFP-led ThinkUKnow program released a range of age-based tips and content to help parents and carers keep children and young people safe online across all stages of development.

AFP Commander Helen Schneider said parents and carers needed to have regular conversations with their children about online safety from early childhood to help them understand the challenges they might face online and how to get help and support.

“The AFP is urging everyone to continue the chat throughout their child’s development and stages of life to ensure they are protected every step of the way,” she said.

Commander Schneider said the ACCCE received reports involving young children accessing social networking, live streaming, and instant messaging.

“ThinkUKnow is about providing Australians with the tools they need and empowering them to keep our community’s most vulnerable – our children – safe online,” she said.

ThinkUKnow provides factsheets, videos, presentations, guides, children’s picture book Jack Changes the Game, home learning, and family activities.

Under five years old

Introduce and talk about what the internet is and how it allows us to connect with other people, eg “My phone is connected to the internet and I can send a photo from my phone to Grandpa’s phone.”

Supervision online is always recommended for young children. This looks different for every family, but it is important to be aware of what your child is doing online in case they need your help.

Implement strong privacy settings and consider parental controls on the devices your child uses. This can give you more control over what they do online and limit the possibility of interaction with others.

Encourage your child to come to you if they see anything online that makes them scared or uncomfortable.

Between five and 12 years old

Research what apps, websites, and games your child is using. Be aware of any that have a chat function.

If you need to know more about an online game, search for videos of gameplay to see what it looks like and how it works.

Supervision is always recommended and looks different for different families.

Have open conversations with your child about what they do online, who they talk to, and how they can come to you for help if something goes wrong.

Implement privacy settings and parental controls, but balance this with regular check-ins and encourage critical thinking while online.

13 years and over

Learn about the features of the apps, games, and sites your child uses and the safety challenges so you can talk to them about implementing safety measures to keep them safe online.

Encourage ‘friends only’ or ‘private’ security settings.

If your child has public social media accounts, be aware of the privacy challenges and encourage your child to think critically about information sharing.

Your level of supervision or oversight may vary across this age group, but you should always stay in touch with what your child is doing online and encourage them to come to you for help and support.

Encourage your child to recognise safe or unsafe situations and inappropriate contact. This can empower them to make informed decisions, including when they are in unsupervised environments.

For all ages

Ensure your child knows that they can come to you for help and support if something goes wrong online.

If a child or young person might not seek help if they’re scared they will be blamed for what happened or have their device taken away, making them more vulnerable to exploitation.

Anyone with information about people involved in child abuse should contact the ACCCE.

If you know abuse is happening right now or a child is at risk, call police immediately on triple-zero.

Online safety advice and support for parents and carers can be found at www.thinkuknow.org.au.

Education

Embracing nature through bush kinder

THOUSANDS of Victorian children will have the chance to learn and play in the great outdoors, thanks to a bush kinder expansion.

Minister for Children Lizzie Blandthorn announced in February that 150 kindergartens across the state would receive $6000 grants to offer a bush kinder program in 2024.

Bush kinder is delivered outdoors at places including parks, bushland, and beaches.

Children can learn through play with natural materials in the outdoors.

The programs are educational and exciting, with a significant positive impact on a child’s development, as well as on their physical and mental health and wellbeing.

The $6000 grants will help kindergartens buy the equipment they need to run programs that focus on getting outside, playing with natural materials, and learning through activities such as climbing trees and watching wildlife.

Kindergartens without access to a suitable off-site location can use their grant funding to enhance the biodiversity of their existing outdoor environment.

Applications for the 2025 round of another 150 bush kinder grants will open in the second half of this year. Visit vic.gov.au/bush-kinder-grantsprogram for more information.

Feel confident in an emergency

WELCOME to Help at Hand, life-saving baby first aid and health education for children.

I created Help at Hand after I noticed a gap in the market for simple, effective, and quality (also fun!) baby first aid education for little people.

I’m a mum to two amazing children and an emergency clinical nurse educator at one of Melbourne’s metropolitan hospitals, where I have worked for more than 10 years.

During this time, I have educated many people in many different settings, and I want to share my knowledge and skills with you so that you too can feel confident, calm, and empowered to take on any emergency situation involving your little humans.

WEL bab child I a ga and edu I’ and edu met wor D man and skill con take invo

No more confusion, no more worry, means more time to spend enjoying your little humans (stress-free).

Help at Hand delivers practical, informative, simple, and fun baby first aid, infant and child CPR, and health education for your children.

Our trained educators will develop your skills and knowledge empowering you to feel confident and calm in any emergency while encouraging you to trust your gut instincts.

After all, you and your loved ones know your little humans better than anyone.

We know that with Doctor Google, social media, and the world wide web, there’s a lot of confusing, conflicting advice out there.

As a parent, I understand all too well the stress, anxiety, and sleepless nights associated with illness, injury, and medical emergencies in babies and children.

Just as you think you are finding your groove, your little human develops a bad cough, cold, rash, or injures themself, developing bumps, bruises, cuts, or a black eye - sound familiar?

It can feel disempowering not having the confidence or emergency skills to care for our babies and children in scary situations like these.

H info edu O you you eme trust A kno any W soci ther adv H ove W info and

Health advice doesn’t need to be overwhelming, and it shouldn’t be.

That’s why I developed Help at Hand.

We’ve created a place to educate, inform, and help direct you to resources and the right professionals when and if the need arises.

Visit www.helpathandeducation.com. au for more information.

Megan, Founder, mum, and emergency clinical nurse educator

Party Time Time

Party games to delight

OLD-FASHIONED party games still bring squeals of delight to excited children at a birthday party.

So here are a few old-school suggestions for your next party.

Pass the parcel

Kids of all ages get excited about this classic game.

If you play by Lucky’s Dad’s rules (shout-out, Bluey fans) preparation is as simple as buying one toy and covering it with several layers of newspaper.

If you want to contribute to raising “a generation of squibs” (according to Pat Labrador) you’ll also need a few inexpensive toys and a multipack of mini chocolate bars. Wrap the main prize first then add layers of newspaper, placing a toy or chocolate between

each wrapping.

To play, the kids sit in a circle and you put on some music. When the music stops, the child holding the parcel gets to unwrap it and reveal their prize.

Musical chairs

This is another easy game involving music! Set up chairs in a circle - one chair fewer than the number of kids playing.

When the music stops, the kids scramble for a seat and the child left standing is out.

Take a chair away and repeat the process until only one child is left standing.

Musical statues

Sticking with the music theme, this game requires almost no preparation.

Simply put on a song and tell the kids to dance along until you press pause.

When the music stops, they need to freeze. Eliminate anyone who moves until one child remains.

Pin the tail on the donkey

This is a super simple one for all ages. You can buy kits for this game, or grab any poster of an animal, a pack of stickers or tails, and a blindfold.

To play, each child is blindfolded and spun around before being directed towards the donkey (or whichever animal you’ve chosen) with a tail in their hand.

The child who sticks the tail closest to the spot where the tail should be wins.

Egg and spoon race

This one is pretty self-explanatory - put

each child on a starting line, hand them a spoon, and balance an egg in its bowl.

The first to the finish line with the egg still on their spoon wins the race.

Pro tip: make sure you boil your eggs first to avoid a messy clean-up.

Treasure hunt

Kids love hunting for treasure!

You could buy some inexpensive prizes or confectionary and hide them around your yard.

Alternatively, you could hide tokens and award a prize to the child who collects the most.

You could dial this game up a notch with riddle clues or even a map with an x marking the spot for a pirate touch. Argh!

Quality meets tradition

FRANK and Harri is a cherished pâtisserie located in the vibrant heart of Kew at 259 High Street.

It specialises in creating handcrafted, real food from scratch, offering a wide range of baked goods, pastries, traditional and celebration cakes, cupcakes, and select pantry items.

The establishment is a testament to the art of baking, where each item is carefully crafted with attention to detail, ensuring a unique and delightful experience for all customers.

Frank and Harri emphasises quality ingredients and traditional baking methods, which are evident in every flaky pastry and moist cake its team creates.

Dedicated to serving its community, the pâtisserie offers exceptional treats filled with love and care.

More than a bakery, Frank and Harri is a community hub where locals and visitors alike can enjoy life’s simple pleasures.

The Frank and Harri team invites everyone to experience its pâtisserie’s warmth and charm.

If you need any catering for your next party or event, or simply want to indulge in sweet offerings, head to www.frankandharri.com.au or get in touch for more information.

Follow Frank and Harri on Instagram to explore its culinary adventures, seasonal offerings, and the magic of its everyday creations via @ frankandharripatisserie.

Party Time Time

Find comfort in Slumber

IN the realm of children’s parties, where creativity and imagination reign supreme, Slumber Tribe stands out as a unique and enchanting experience for young guests.

What sets Slumber Tribe apart is its unwavering commitment to consistency and client satisfaction.

One of the most striking features of Slumber Tribe is its cohesive and carefully curated themes, ensuring that each party is a well-coordinated and visually stunning affair.

Unlike traditional party setups that might feel disjointed with a mishmash of accessories, Slumber Tribe’s themes are designed to create a harmonious and magical atmosphere in every home.

Central to Slumber Tribe’s ethos is the idea of comfort and joy.

Details in styling and setup are meticulously considered to provide both comfort and a sense of wonder, with fairy lights adding a whimsical touch.

However, the setup is not overly fussy, leaving ample space for snacks, drinks, and craft activities.

Comfort is a top priority for Slumber Tribe.

Every guest at a Slumber Tribe party is treated to a personalised experience, with eye masks and name plates tailored to the theme or the young host’s choice.

This thoughtful attention to detail extends to the setup itself, with teepees arranged close together to promote inclusivity and ensure that all guests can interact and enjoy the festivities together.

The goal is to make every guest feel at home and ready for a fun time.

Slumber Tribe’s dedication to consistency, client satisfaction, and creating magical, inclusive experiences sets it apart as a truly unique and delightful option for children’s parties.

Book your slumber party today! Email info@slumbertribe.com.au or call 0491 916 533.

Fiona Millar, Founder and director

Spark curiosity and excitement

DISCOVER the enchanting world of Fizz Kidz – Melbourne’s leading party specialists dedicated to crafting handson, unforgettable experiences for children.

Its vibrant array of interactive activities and themed parties captivate kids all over Melbourne, creating moments of pure joy and lasting birthday memories.

Fizz Kidz is known for redefining the party experience with engaging activities that spark curiosity and excitement.

Fizz Kidz offers science parties, glamour parties, slime parties, and tie dye parties, and has just released an exclusive Taylor Swift-themed party package.

Fizz Kidz party packages are allinclusive, consisting of kids’ creation-

making, dancing games, exclusive studio use, fantastic party hosts, party food, and invitations.

It’s your easy one-stop shop!

Fizz Kidz studios are located in Balwyn, Malvern, Essendon, and Cheltenham.

Devoted to personalised touches, Fizz Kidz is your trusted partner in kids’ entertainment.

Whether it’s a birthday celebration, a corporate or council event, a holiday program, or an engaging school workshop, Fizz Kidz is eager to bring your event to life.

To book a magical party or explore more about their offerings, visit fizzkidz. com.au.

Let the celebration begin with Fizz Kidz!

BORN TO PERFORM BORN TO

Building skills beyond the stage

FOR more than 17 years Stage Left has been leading the field in performing arts education for young people in Melbourne.

With a focus on musical theatre, Stage Left caters for 4- to 16-year-olds with holiday workshops, private singing tuition, and weekly `act, sing dance` classes.

Stage Left prides itself on creating an environment that is welcoming, supportive, and about building confidence as well as technical skills.

A few Stage Left students told us what they enjoyed about the classes and gave some insight into their Stage Left experience.

Marlo Stephenson started at Stage Left at age 10 and has just completed her VCE.

Did your time at Stage Left help with your school subjects and performances? They inspired and fuelled my passion in the performing arts, which I carried into my VCE subject selection.

I chose to study theatre and music repertoire performance and using the skills that were fostered at Stage Left I was able to pass with flying colours.

Beyond just the stage, it helped me with my public speaking skills, creating and maintaining friendships, and being dedicated to our passions.

What is the most important thing you have learnt during your time at Stage Left?

We are all uniquely capable of achieving amazing things.

My favourite message taught at Stage Left is that everyone is important and worthy of being on stage.

At only 17, Lachlan Young has a CV that would be the envy of many an adult actor - Charlie in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, School of Rock, Dream Lover, and Kinky Boots.

What have been your most memorable experiences as a performer so far?

I have been very lucky to meet and work with many incredible performers such as Marina Prior, David Campbell, and Lucy Maunder and meet so many others who have the same passion for music theatre that I do.

What are your future goals?

I would like to have a career in musical theatre and perform in musicals all over the world.

What is the most important thing you have learnt so far as a young performer?

Preparation is key. The better your preparation, the more likely you will be able to execute something when the pressure is on.

At 8 years old, Freya Robinson has already been at Stage Left for almost four years.

Do you have a favourite class at Stage Left?

Singing, because I like projecting my voice.

What are you most looking forward to this year at Stage Left?

I’m looking forward to the end-of-year show because we will be combining singing, dancing and drama.

New families are welcome to book in for a free trial class at Stage Left.

Venues are located across Melbourne’s south-east including Glen Iris, Camberwell, Hampton, Rowville, and Malvern East.

Visit www.stageleft.com.au or email info@stageleft.com.au for more information.

Freya Robinson in Stage Left’s production of Aladdin.

Marlo Stephenson as Ursula in Stage Left’s production of The Little Mermaid.

Dance to enhance your life skills

DANCE can be challenging, but there are many rewards.

For all the sore muscles and hours of practice and focus, there’s the conditioning it returns, not to mention the surge of endorphins that also help students think and feel better.

From ballet to hip-hop, dance can impart tools that have the potential to serve a student for life.

Time management

From dealing with homework and exams to meeting deadlines, managing time is something every person has to navigate at some point.

Developing an awareness of what that means – including learning how to prioritise certain activities over others, and balance wants and needs – is something that dance styles like ballet and jazz in particular can help refine.

Ballet, for instance, is all about organisation, coordination, and discipline.

Lessons are highly structured and schedules are strict, so a sense of managing time can start from the moment students begin and then aim to prepare, say, for their first end of year concert.

Social skills

The ability to cooperate with others is an important strength, and a 2017 Greek study found recreational dancers tended to outshine both athletes and non-athletes in that respect.

This could be because dancers regularly have to interact with others, especially in group or partner situations, which goes a long way towards promoting respect and encouraging cooperation skills.

Another perspective about how dance enhances social adaptability is that participating in dance genres closely linked to other culturesincluding Bollywood dancing and

African styles - exposes students to other traditions and expressions, potentially encouraging strong bonds and deeper understanding.

Creativity

Dance is communication in movement.

While dancers bring their own flair to particular movements, some genres actively encourage individual expression.

In hip-hop dance, for example, many practitioners come up with their own blend of freestyle twists and turns.

Of course, this requires strong problem-solving and imaginative approaches to initiating change.

As a Swedish hip-hop community outreach program found, such creative activity can equip individuals with the fortitude to make positive changes to their own lives as well as the world.

- Jenan Taylor

Tiny tots put their best foot forward

It provides and nurtures a healthy atmosphere for students to develop and instill a lifelong passion for dance.

Over the past 40 years, The Jazz Centre teachers have developed a delightful and unique tiny tots program for preschoolers aged between 2 and a half and 5 years of age.

It includes an introduction to ballet, jazz, and tumbling.

Creative dances are also developed with the use of props.

The class can also be taken as a combination with tiny tappers, which helps develop coordination and awareness of rhythm.

These classes are designed to help develop motor skills, creativity, musical awareness, and to develop confidence as well as being lots of fun.

As the child develops, The Jazz Centre continues their journey into a more diverse stream of select classes, such as ballet, jazz, contemporary, lyrical, tap, theatrical, hip hop, and acrobatics.

Visit www.thejazzcentre.com.au for more information.

Missta Mums are heating up

By Casey Neill

A dynamic mum duo is spilling the tea on parenthood in a new podcast.

Geelong business partners-turned-best mates Demi Duncan and Melinda Baxter are better known as the Missta Mums.

They launched the Missta Bottle in October 2019 after Mel slid into Demi’s

“When I get something in my head, it’s really hard to get out of it,” Mel said.

“I knew I needed a business partner. I didn’t want to do it alone.”

Demi said: “We weren’t friends. We were just both from Geelong. We had our first-borns two weeks apart.”

They’d had some interaction on social media during night feeds.

When Mel pitched a chat over coffee,

Leaving the meeting, she thought she’d gained a hobby.

But Mel’s idea - a baby thermos designed specifically for safe formula feeding - evolved.

“It grew in increments. If we knew the figure it would have cost to start it now, we would have run for the hills,” Demi laughed.

“I’m actually the most excited for my hospital stay of five nights,” Demi laughed.

“The kids will just adapt. It’ll be crazy but I’m actually not worried.”

Demi was 27 when she became a mum.

“It was always something I knew I was going to be one day,” she said.

“We actually knew we were solving an issue. It was harder not to go ahead.

“But I didn’t think I’d have four kids!”

“People don’t really understand the product until they have a crying baby in front of them they have to formula

Mel was “never the one to gravitate towards people’s babies or people’s kids” - Aaron was more enthused about starting a family than she was.

“I just always assumed being a mum was what you do as part of life,” she said.

Establishing a business while caring for young babies was a big task, but the mums were on the same page.

“It obviously came naturally as the time came.”

“We always had this basic understanding towards each other that if something came up with your kid, your kid comes first,” Demi said.

“We didn’t even need to have that conversation.

Mel said: “The business could have been a lot bigger perhaps if we didn’t have children, but we both naturally agreed that our families came first.”

Mel and husband Aaron are parents to Penelope, Leo, and Valerie while Demi and husband Mitch Duncan, a Geelong Cats footballer, have Scarlet, Ollie and Archie, plus another baby due in April.

Aaron quit his full-time job as a bricklayer to run the Missta warehouse and be a stay-at-home dad - a topic they cover in one of their first podcast episodes. They launched the candid Missta Mums in June to talk all things parenting, sharing stories from guests and their own experiences.

“It was another way to communicate to our customers,” Mel said.

“It was another level to us. It adds to our story as well.”

Demi said they’d grown a social media following from sharing their lives on their business pages.

“We weren’t just trying to sell a product,” she said.

Valerie, Penelope, Leo, Ollie, Scarlet and Archie.

Instagram

with a business idea she’d come up with while on a

“We created a community that wanted to know more and more.

“The podcast was a way we could give that to our community.

“Hopefully our business is then in front of them.”

Mel said: “It adds another layer of trust as well.”

“We’re not this big corporation. We’re just trying to do the best for the customer.

“People don’t trust the big corporations as much and really like to know where they’re spending their hard-earned money.”

Demi’s favourite episode so far was a chat with a Geelong mum whose daughter was diagnosed with type one diabetes - followed by the episode where she and Mitch announced they were pregnant with baby number four.

She was nervous about going public with the news.

“For so long we’ve been saying ‘we’re done, we’re done’,” she said.

“Telling people in person I wasn’t worried - friends and family.

“Going public…”

Mel’s favourite conversation was with Aaron and Mitch, their biggest supporters.

“That was just fun,” she said.

“They’ve all been such eye-openers.

“It’s pretty cool to speak to people directly about these stories.

“It’s good for our learning, too.

“The best feedback we get about our podcast is that they feel like they’re in the room with us just chatting.”

Demi said: “I speak in the podcast the way I would speak in person.”

“It’s another way for Mel and I to talk s***.

“It’s been received so much better than I thought it would be.”

Who’s coming up?

“We have a constant list that we keep adding names to,” she said.

“Everyone has a story, I believe.

“The hardest thing with a podcast is you get the listens if the person has a profile.

“But sometimes someone without a following has a better story.”

Now the podcast is out in the world, Mel and Demi are turning to expanding their product range, and looking into offering social media guidance to other small businesses.

“Compared to a beginner on social media, we have that bank of knowledge to help someone now,” Demi said.

Demi with children Ollie, Scarlet and Archie.

Mel with children Penelope, Leo, and Valerie.

It’s Your Life It’s Your Life

‘There’s no silver lining’

By Casey Neill

JACKI O’FARRELL

had a cardiac arrest during her first birth and was unable to sit up for her first two weeks of motherhood. Her second baby was stillborn.

The Sunshine mum of three says there’s no silver lining to what she’s been through, but she’s determined to use her experience to support others.

Jacki fell pregnant with her daughter Charlie in 2020.

After finally being admitted to hospital after three days in labour, monitors meant to be clocking Charlie’s heart rate kept slipping off her tight tummy.

Medical staff broke her waters, placed a monitoring clip on Charlie’s head, and told her Charlie’s heart rate had dropped.

An anaesthetist performed an epidural and Jacki settled in to get some rest, armed with a button to press every 15 minutes for drug delivery.

The second time she pressed the button, her body felt drunk, but not her mind.

“I said to Luke, ‘I hate the way it’s making me feel, I feel really yuck when I press it’,” she said.

Jacki had suffered a dural puncture and was being inundated with drugs.

“My hand started going a bit numb. My mouth and tongue started to feel a bit similar,” she said.

“The last thing I remember hearing was ‘she’s turning blue’.”

Medical staff performed CPR on Jacki for 12 minutes.

“Luke witnessed a lot of the CPR, then someone took him out of the room,” she said.

“While that was happening I had an episiotomy and Charlie was forcepped out.“Luke watched them do CPR for

about a minute on her. Then he heard her crying, so his attention focused back on me.

“He was picturing a life without me. He was playing his life out, doing it by himself.”

Jacki woke up with “the worst headache”.

“It felt like someone was crushing my skull,” she said.

“My optic nerve was impacted. Everything was really blurry. I thought I was blind.”

Jacki was in ICU while a healthy Charlie was in NICU for monitoring.

“A midwife had the forethought to take a photo of Charlie. She held the phone up really close to my face,” she said.

Jacki was moved to high care and was finally able to hold Charlie - for about 10 minutes, laying horizontally.

“I was leaking spinal fluid from the epidural needle hole every time I sat up,” she said.

“At the end of the third day we finally got her and she didn’t leave my side.

“The first two weeks of motherhood were spent laying flat on my back.

“I’m quite maternal. Not being able to care for your baby was a massive hurdle.”

About six months later she was diagnosed with PTSD and medicated.

“I was trying to do everything in my power to process it so I could be a better mum to Charlie,” she said.

Jacki fell pregnant with Oakley when Charlie was about 10 months old.

“I was excited but then also terrified at the exact same time,” she said.

“I couldn’t have anything catastrophic happen again. I wouldn’t have been able to mentally deal with it.”

But at 31 weeks, she noticed a change in Oakley’s movements.

“We called him the hurricane baby,” she said.

“It was really easy for me to identify when the movements had reduced.”

Doctors confirmed there was no heartbeat.

“We just sat in the room wailing,” Jacki said.

“We couldn’t cry hard enough.

“It hit me like a shovel to the face, ‘I have to give birth, I still have to have the baby’.

“I was just screaming ‘I don’t want to do it’.

“How am I meant to get into the zone for labour when I’m dealing with the loss of my child?

“I never thought that would happen to us, especially after what happened with Charlie.

“You focus on one problem and then another one surprises you.”

They had a night at home and returned for induction the following day, with wonderful support from the hospital.

“He was breech so his little bum came out first,” Jacki said.

“I was able to stand in the shower. Luke caught him.

“I could bring him up onto my chest, which I missed out on with Charlie.

“We were able to have a positive birth experience, in how the labour went.

“I took a lot from it and found it really empowering.

“We sat in the shower. I put him down and we could have a look at him.

“He was completely perfect.”

A postmortem was inconclusive.

“He moved around so much, the cord was around his neck when he was born, and there was a knot in the cord,” she said.

“It’s nothing that anyone could have prevented or changed.”

Their families met and held Charlie, and then they went home.

“That was one of the most challenging things to experience. Saying goodbye,” she said.

“You never want to leave your child anywhere alone.

“I left my baby by himself.”

Having to show up for 18-month-old Charlie every day helped Jacki through her grief.

“We have no idea what we’re doing in terms of how to talk about grief with a toddler,” she said.

“I have no idea what the answer is there, but we just do what we feel comfortable with.”

An urn containing Oakley’s ashes and a photo of their lost son are on display at home. They bought a baby oak tree to mark the first anniversary of his birth.

“When we have our forever home we can plant that and let it grow really big and sit underneath it,” Jacki said.

Four months after losing Oakley, she fell pregnant again.

“His due date was four days after Oakley’s first anniversary,” she said.

“I just didn’t want to be pregnant on or after Oakley’s anniversary. I wanted them separate.”

She was booked for an induction the week before and was in active labour for three hours before welcoming Conor.

“I could not believe the difference in recovery from Charlie,” she said.

“I kept saying ‘I feel like I could run a marathon’.

“You felt like you could mother a child the way you wanted to and should be able to.”

Jacki now dedicates her spare time to raising awareness and money for Stillbirth Foundation Australia and Still Aware through her small business BHOOMI Babe.

She sells breastfeeding blankets and burp cloths and donates $5 from each purchase to the charities.

“You look for the silver lining and there is no silver lining, so what’s the next best thing I can do?” she said.

“It’s not going to change anything for us, but it might help someone else.”

To others who’ve lost a baby, Jacki says “it’s more common than people realise” and “it’s OK to feel what you’re feeling”.

To their friends and family, Jacki says to avoid minimising their experience.

“We did have friends who just came and sat on our kitchen floor and said ‘what happened, how are you doing?’ and just being comfortable sitting there watching us cry,” she said.

“Just asking ‘are you happy to talk about it?’ is a good place to start.”

When footy meets family

By Angie Hilton

RENEE GARING simply oozes loveliness.

The 35-year-old has a sweet, angelic face with a matching spirit on the inside.

But Angie Hilton learned that for all her sweetness, she’s equally tough, driven, and a super-talented athlete.

Mother of Parker, 19 months, Renee loves children so much that she dedicated her life to becoming a teacher and, rumour has it, she is an absolute favourite with the students.

Renee’s genuine care and passion for the growth of young people is evident and she is a big believer in using her own life experiences to help others.

So lovely to catch up. So where do we begin? How about can you give us a snapshot of life before babies?

Childhood, school life, ambitions?

I grew up in Geelong, and went through Christian College from kindergarten. I enjoyed school.

I liked to do well and always strived to achieve the best I could. I got involved in all sporting opportunities that came up and AFL was one that I loved, even though we only got to play it one day a year in secondary school.

I played netball from a young age and did athletics and basketball too.

I am the middle child. I have a sister two years older and a brother two years younger.

Growing up, I always dreamt of playing sport at the highest level.

I thought I wanted to be a physio until my final year of school when I realised I actually wanted to be a teacher.

After spending some time in the USA working at a summer camp, I realised I would like specifically to teach PE to kids and decided to do a P-12 health and PE teaching degree.

I had the opportunity to travel to Europe and do an exchange in Missouri in the USA in my third year of uni. I did some other overseas travels with friends.

Tony and I met in 2010, were engaged in 2012 and married in 2013. We really enjoyed travelling together to various countries and got some great trips in together before having Parker.

We also have moved houses a few times. My husband has an interest in real estate so we have had a few projects over the years and we have some investments that we look after together.

How did you meet your Tony? Tell us how the romance unfolded and any funny/interesting moments.

While I was overseas on my exchange, Tony started to attend the church that I went to.

It started as a friendship and I didn’t realise at first he was interested, but you could say Tony ‘courted’ me with some very kind and romantic acts, including some group dinners which he cooked up a storm, ice-cream nights where he made ice cream - again for multiple people, hoping I would come along - then asking me out for a dinner by putting roses on my car windscreen with a note.

Oh, how lovely. Tony sounds like quite the romantic! Let’s fast forward to becoming parents… How was your experience of bringing Parker into the world?

Well, he was born 41 plus 6. I began some early labour on a Monday but was very slow to progress. I went in for balloon catheter on the Thursday night to find that I was 3cm dilated so didn’t need it. I went back in on the Friday morning to get induced and after a long day with little progress (got to 5cm by around 7pm) and Parker’s heart rate dropping, we had to have an emergency caesarean.

So your career path was headed for teaching and then you also had a great added surprise to your career. How did it all unfold?

I studied a Bachelor of Education (Physical Education) at University of Ballarat (now known as Federation University) after having a gap year working at summer camp in the USA and working some part time jobs to save for travel.

I was lucky enough to get a position at Christian College for my first year out and have been there since (other than having some time out on maternity leave).

When I was 28, the AFLW started. Geelong Cats did not have a team in the competition in the first year but they created a VFLW team.

They held a trial at Deakin university. I decided to go along as I had enjoyed footy at school and gone for Geelong my whole life. I was very surprised when I made the squad. I then was lucky enough to make the team and played VFLW in 2017 and 2018.

In 2018, I only got to play a few games as I got a fracture in my sacrum (a bone in the lower back).

Thankfully, the club still decided to sign me and I was signed for our inaugural AFLW side to commence in 2019.

I played 33 games throughout the six seasons I was in the AFLW program. I missed out on playing in the two seasons in 2022 while being pregnant and then returning to playing after having Parker.

I worked hard that season to get my body right to play again and was able to get involved in some scrimmage matches and got named as an emergency, but it was wonderful to get back into the team for round one of the 2022 season.

Renee Garing with husband Tony and son Parker. Picture: Louisa Jones

I retired at the end of the 2023 season in our Preliminary Final against Brisbane.

How amazing! What was it like to experience the AFLW world? Was it hard to juggle parenting duties?

To play and train in an elite facility with wonderful coaches and having the support of our great fans was very special.

I have learnt so much and met incredible people. I have loved the opportunities I have also had in the community to serve others and be a role model to younger kids wanting to play the game.

It was a challenge to juggle with parenting but I was very well supported by family and the club.

Prior to having Parker, I was managing a different kind of challenge when I was managing full-time work and playing AFLW.

In some ways, it was easier and less of a rush and the mental load was a lot less. In other ways, working around a baby that you can’t control their needs or schedule was more challenging, and the physical challenges of gaining back fitness, strength, skill and ensuring adequate fuelling for training but also breastfeeding a baby.

The club allowed me to return as soon as I was comfortable.

I was pregnant for the first season in 2022 and gave birth to Parker a week before pre-season began for the second season that year.

I attended a little bit at first and slowly increased the time.

As our routine with Parker allowed me, I would stay longer, and eventually he was able to stay at home while I trained.

This only worked once he was able to take a bottle and I would make time to pump during sessions.

In the early days, when I took him in, I stopped when he woke to feed or play with him and I remember many moments rocking the pram while doing workouts.

I was also allowed to come in during the day to do some of my sessions in the gym while the men’s program was in, and all of them were really accepting of Parker being around.

As Parker got older it got easier and the club got a nanny to support me on some nights before Tony finished work, which was really helpful.

As we got to time for travel in our season in 2023, Parker was old enough to stay home while I went interstate.

If I didn’t have footy, I definitely don’t think I would have left him overnight that early, but it was all fine and Tony has been incredibly supportive.

I also think the time they have had together with me being out at footy from when he was so little has helped them build a wonderful bond.

So how do you manage work life and parenting?

I have only had AFLW and commitments associated with that up to this point, but the hours required to play AFLW are equivalent to a part-time job in terms of how often we are physically at the club, but there are also things to do outside of that in our own time to ensure we are best prepared to train and play.

I have balanced it by being very organised and trying to make things as easy as I can for whoever is caring for Parker when I have to go to training.

We have been really lucky to have local support of both sets of grandparents and I am so thankful to have had a husband who is fully supportive and able to take the time from his own workplace to have Parker one day a week.

How would you describe your parenting style?

I would like to think I am a supportive and caring parent.

I try to put things in place to create a safe and positive environment for Parker and reinforce clear boundaries where needed.

What did you learn from your own parents that you do (or don’t) want to pass on?

My parents demonstrated unwavering love for us and I hope we can show that to Parker.

Like all kids, we did things to push the boundaries but they always acknowledged at the time that they may not like certain things or a particular action or behaviour but they still loved us.

That is so important.

They also are so selfless and always put our needs first. I would love to do the same and do what I can to make it possible for Parker to follow his passions.

What advice would you have for new parents?

To enjoy each stage as time really does fly.

I would say that it is so important to reach out for help when you need it and that it is OK if you don’t feel like you know everything.

I would also say self-care is key, so prioritising some time for each of you to do something you need for yourself. Doing things to fill your own tank can help to ensure you are giving your child your best.

I was really lucky that my job (AFLW) provided me with that. Being active is something that I really enjoy and makes me feel good. I was thankful to have the time to do this. How do you picture your ultimate future work/family/life?

We would love to extend our family if possible when the time is right.

We have just moved into a new house which has great space for Parker to run around and play which we love.

Over the next few years, we hope to have a good balance between parttime work and spending time with Parker.

What do you hope for your children’s futures?

Like all parents, I am sure, I hope for good health and for a child that is kind to others.

I hope that he has the opportunity to explore, learn, and have fun with us and family and friends by his side.

Beyond that, I hope that he can dream big and try different things.

We hope he enjoys keeping active and getting outdoors as we know how important that is for our mind and body.

Chris is diving deep to save the sea

AN Aussie zoologist is diving headfirst into the underwater realms of Australia’s shorelines, continuing his mission to educate and inspire the nation’s young minds.

From his earliest memory of spotting a seal at Phillip Island to his present life living, sleeping, and dining alongside more than 2000 native creatures, nobody understands Australian wildlife quite like Chris Humfrey.

In his third book, Incredible Coastal Critters, Chris invites readers to get up close and personal with our most fascinating sea creatures, including the deadly southern blue-ringed octopus, purple sea urchins, pot-bellied seahorse, little penguins, and more.

It’s written for children aged five to seven years. They’ll love the exciting and funny photos, along with QR videos

that enhance their understanding of detail.

The interactive digital vision plunges readers from the page into the intricacies of each animal’s classification, adaptations, habitat, environment, and ecological role - all intertwined with fascinating and quirky fun facts from Chris.

“Our seas are essential to our very existence,” he said.

“Did you know at least half the planet’s oxygen which we breathe is derived from oceans?

“It makes me so sad that people treat the ocean just like one big toilet.”

Chris believes kids are the key to saving Australia’s precious wildlife and, through his books, he aims to empower a young army of animal allies to

change the future.

“Remember, education is the key to conservation,” he said.

“Let’s all do something small in order to make a big positive impact on the natural world in which we live.

“If we study, learn, and develop an understanding and empathy for all creatures, we are more likely to want to protect and conserve all species.”

The book is intended as a companion, guiding children through an ongoing wildlife adventure.

Chris’s greatest hope is that by conveying the magic and wonder of ocean critters, he can ignite in others a profound appreciation for Australia’s precious native sea life.

A lifelong conservationist and animal welfare crusader, Chris runs animal

sanctuary Wild Action Zoo in Victoria’s Macedon Ranges.

Drop by his home and you’ll find an elderly python in the bathtub, kangaroos in the lounge room, or even Derek the penguin, who’s known for singing on cue.

He started his television career reporting alongside Dr Chris Brown on the show Talk to the Animals and has since produced and directed two television series documenting his animal-centric world: Chris Humfrey’s Wild Life and Chris Humfrey’s Animal Instinct.

Incredible Coastal Critters by Chris Humfrey, published by New Holland Publishers, is available in bookstores or from www.au.newhollandpublishers. com for $24.99.

Chris Humfrey dives deep into the world of sea creatures in his new book.

Books

Speaking for our foliage

By Casey Neill

AUTHOR Victor Steffensen is giving a voice to the trees.

He wrote picture book The Trees to help future generations manage our landscapes and ensure that they thrive.

“It’s really important to connect with the young ones,” he said.

“It’s also a really fun way to share knowledge and to give different perspectives of knowledge.

“I wanted it to be appealing for all age groups and something everyone could sit down together and read and enjoy.

“It’s a good way for adults to learn with the kids and discuss things like climate change.”

The picture book is about more than just trees.

“It’s really important that we’re taking care of the country and important we’re listening to First Nations knowledge systems in how we care for the land,” Victor said.

“Writing The Trees was actually giving a voice to the trees.”

The book explains how First Nations

People have cared for trees for thousands of years, and how the trees cared for them in return through seeds, flowers, wood, and more.

There’s a balance between giving and taking from the land.

In the book are lyrics and a QR code for a video of Victor’s song We Are the Trees.

“It gives me a chance to write music,” Victor said.

“It’s a really fun way to share knowledge.”

His sister, Sandra Steffensen, illustrated the book.

“I’ve always watched her painting,” he said.

“She’s good at what she does.

“It turned out to be perfect. She knows my work, knows what I do, knows what I’m passionate about.

“It’s nice to share the work with my family and friends.”

This book is the follow-up to Victor’s Looking after Country with Fire, which explains Aboriginal burning practices.

The Trees is published by Hardie Grant Explore and available in stores nationally.

Children’s books...

Kevin the Sheep

Jacqueline Harvey

A laugh-out-loud picture book perfect for children who love Pig the Pug and Macca the Alpaca.

Why can’t Kevin be more like the flock?!

Kevin the Sheep is unusual, he does things his own way.

But will being different help him save the day?

Puffin $17.99

Bad Bunny the Pirate

Jonathan Bentley

Bad Bunny, the meanest pirate to sail the seas, is on the hunt for treasure!

But when his crew comes up against a nasty enemy, will Bad Bunny prove that he’s not the meanest pirate after all?

Scholastic Australia $18.99

Shower Land 1: Break the Curse

Nat Amoore, James Hart Felix hates Mondays. Dad’s yelling at him to get up. His little brother, Olly, is being super annoying.

So when Felix shuts the bathroom door, he wishes he could get away. He turns on the shower and…Felix finds himself standing in the middle of a field…naked…with an army of soldiers charging at him.

Puffin $14.99

Raising the Stakes

Rich Moyer

Ham Helsing and his pals are snowed in at the old Helsing Manor…and they aren’t the only ones haunting its dusty halls.

All Ham wanted to do was visit his family home but he finds nothing but trouble!

Between the world’s oldest vampire and his monsterhunting dad, Ham will have his hands full just trying to keep his friends safe.

Scholastic Australia $17.99

I Hope This Doesn’t Find You

Ann Liang

Sadie Wen is perfect on paper: school captain, valedictorian, and a “pleasure to have in class.” It’s not easy, but she has a trick to keep her modelstudent smile plastered on her face at all times: she channels all her frustrations into her email drafts.

Sadie doesn’t hold back because nobody will ever read them…until they’re accidentally sent out.

Overnight, Sadie’s carefully crafted, conflict-free life is turned upside down.

Penguin $19.99