Chart-topping podcaster’s
SILLY STORIES
Sunrise weather man shares
MILESTONE YEAR
Moonee Ponds mum FINDING FOCUS
Take time to take stock About Us
IF the return of some sunshine after a long, cold winter doesn’t put a spring in your step, I don’t know what will!
Watching the trees burst back to life and fill with blossoms and new growth feels symbolic - spring is a time of much-needed fresh energy and enthusiasm as the end of the year appears on the horizon.
But as well as looking ahead to the Christmas/New Year rush, spring is a great time to reflect on the year that’s been - a spring clean for your mind, if you will.
We can often wish time away and get caught up focusing on simply putting one foot in front of the other, meeting the next challenge thrown our way.
CONTENTS
IT’S YOUR LIFE
Suddenly One: Sam Mac celebrates his first year as a parent
PAGE 5
Steve Biddulph: Make friends with your ‘wild creature mind’
PAGE 6
Moonee Ponds author Amanda Lecaude on helping kids to get things done PAGE 7
Kids in the Kitchen: Easy tangy probiotic carrots
PAGE 8
The Y: Active opportunities for all PAGE 9
It’s valuable to pause for a moment and take stock of what you’ve accomplished not only as a parent, but in your career, friendships, and hobbies.
Did you manage to have dinner with your girlfriends? Or finally finish that garden project? Maybe you aced a work project, or let your hair down at a family celebration.
It’s easy to skim over these little wins when your eyes are always on what’s ahead, or what you haven’t been able to achieve.
Take time, too, to consider how far your little one has come this year - the new skills they’ve mastered, the friendships they’ve made, the adventures you’ve taken together, the times they’ve made you laugh, the times they’ve made you beam with pride.
The Baby Food Bible: Mums make starting solids easy to digest PAGE 10
Independent retirement with Centennial Living PAGE 11
DENTAL
Caring for your baby’s oral health
PAGE 6
EDUCATION
The Y Whittlesea: Support to thrive
PAGE 12
Lalor North Secondary College: ‘To make a difference, we need to be different’
PAGE 14
Copperfield College: Empowering every student to aspire and achieve PAGE 15
Paul Sadler Swimland: Make a splash safely PAGE 16
Burnside teen Neerja’s on the teenage dream team PAGE 17
Education precinct boosted with new Footscray High campus PAGE 17
Fill your cup with these memories and the spring sunshine, take a deep breath, and gear up for the final weeks of the year.
Find us on Instagram or Facebook and let us know what you’ve achieved so far this year.
If you have a story to share or feedback on this edition, hit us up on socials or send us an email. We love to hear from our readers!
REALITY BITES
Podcaster Sam is far from silly PAGES 18-19
Support centre for new mums feels like Homb
PAGE 20
BOOKS
A Wish for Baby is Caz Goodwin’s wish come true
PAGE 21
Turning symptoms into super skills PAGE 22
Discover new book releases for all ages PAGE 22
Kids West Today magazine is a Star News Group publication. Kids West Today will be published quarterly prior to each of the school holidays.
Kids West Today Unit 6/1-9 Thomsons Road, Keilor Park
Phone: (03) 8318 5777
Sales Manager Gayle Williams gayle.williams@starweekly.com.au
Editorial Melissa Meehan melissa.meehan @starnewsgroup.com.au Casey Neill casey.neill@starnewsgroup.com.au
Group Advertising Sales Manager Mandy Clark mandy.clark @starnewsgroup.com.au
Published by Star News Group publication ACN 99 006 310 498.
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.
Moonee Ponds mum FINDING FOCUS Sunrise weather man shares MILESTONE YEAR
Chart-topping podcaster’s SILLY STORIES Cover Dre gets amongst the spring blooms.
Picture: Rob Carew
Sam’s suddenly smitten
By Casey Neill
SAM McMillan never thought a poem to celebrate his daughter’s first birthday would land him millions of views and a book deal.
The Sunrise weather man, better known as Sam Mac, shared the “love letter” to Margot in a video on Instagram.
“I needed her to know the magic she’d brought to our lives. Even if it would be a few years before she could fully understand it,” he wrote.
Much to his surprise, the video - born from musings on the back of an Uber Eats bag - took on a life of its own and has since been viewed more than 1.5 million times.
“I think it resonated because the unparalleled joy of new life fascinates us all,” he told Kids.
“It’s a wild ride, with the highest of highs and lowest of lows, but it’s so incredibly precious – a gift.
“My words and video connected with millions of people all over the world and it’s something I’m extremely proud of.
“I had countless messages from new parents thanking me for articulating what they were feeling.
“Milestones like first steps or first words are so universal, they transcend nationality or socio-economic status, and therein lies the beauty and power.
“They deserve to be celebrated and remembered.”
When Penguin approached him about turning his poem into a book, Sam felt excited and grateful.
“I keep envisioning reading the book with Margot for many, many years to come and showing her what her arrival meant to her mum and I,” he said.
“I love that the book will open up connection and conversations for so many other parents to do the same with their little ones.
“But not just parents - grandparents, uncles, aunties, friends and more.”
l open up ions for so he same witth randparents, d more. ” his words as a ecious life is, ge itis to have
He hopes readers take his words as a gentle reminder of how precious life is, and how much of a privilege it is to have a newborn baby in your orbit.
“And I hope that it opens up conversations and leads to beautiful moments of nostalgia between families,” he said.
Becoming a parent “instantly” changed the way Sam saw his life.
“Everything I do, every decision I make, now has to be the right one for Margot (and Bec), both consciously and subconsciously,” he said.
“It’s a purpose like no other and it’s crystal clear. I love it.”
It also changed the way he saw his partner.
“I saw how strong Bec really was, and is, throughout the pregnancy and particularly in that birthing suite,” he said.
“The pain she went through to safely welcome our baby girl is something I’m forever grateful for.
“A warrior.
“Further to that, I’ve watched her transform into the most caring, reliable, fun mother.
“Bec is still all of the things I fell in love with when we started dating, but I now see a completely different version of her as a mother, and it’s even better than anything I could’ve ever imagined. “Except when she leaves her hair all over the bathroom. I hate that.”
Sam also has a newfound appreciation for his parents.
“I think as children, we just take our parents for granted,” he said.
“We don’t really consider how hard it might be for them to juggle work, a partner, finances, kids etc.
“Becoming a parent myself has been a wonderful reminder to do more for my parents.
“Spoil them. Make sure they know how loved and appreciated they are.
“I find myself learning more about them through conversations about what parenting was like for them and one of my great joys is seeing Margot laughing and playing with Nanny and Grandad. The best!”
How about those parenting moments that aren’t quite so joyful?
“In the challenging moments (and of course, there’s many), I try my absolute best to stop for a quick moment, take a breath, and remind myself not to apply adult logic to the struggles of a one-yearold,” he said.
“I know I need to get Margot home from the park because it’s time to start dinner.
“But in her mind, I’m prematurely ending the best part of her day, playing at the park.
“Her meltdown is not happening to make my life difficult … it’s happening because playing at the park is making her incredibly happy – as it should be for a one-year-old.
“Just briefly pausing and trying to view things through that lens really helps me understand why she might be behaving in that manner.
“I’m certainly no parenting expert, and I fail multiple times daily, but I find this approach very useful.”
Margot took 21 flights during her first 12 months, following her dad to work around Australia and overseas.
“I’m so lucky to have the support of Seven. They’ve gone above and beyond to enable me to continue in this role AND be a present parent,” he said.
“My advice to others would be if you don’t ask, you don’t receive.
“You need to speak up.
“If your child has a sporting carnival you desperately want to be at, have the conversation with them.
“Pitch your solution on how you can shuffle your work schedule.
“It’s more than likely your boss is juggling work/life balance with their own kids, and you might be surprised how accommodating they are.
“If that fails, use some of your leave.
“The special moments with our little ones should unashamedly be our priority.”
Most parents feel blindsided by the realities of parenthood, but there’s nothing Sam wishes he knew beforehand.
“I feel like it happened exactly the way it was supposed to, and if I knew too much going into it, it may not have been quite as magical,” he said.
Baby number two is now on the way. What will he do differently the second time around?
“Everything!” he said.
“Because it’ll be a totally different person and from all reports, everything we thought we mastered with Margot is now out the window.
“Please send help.”
Suddenly One is available from 17 September.
It’s Your Life
Befriend your wild mind
Do you know the single biggest enemy of families every single day?
It’s not just a mailbox full of bills, or climate change, though it is certainly tangled up with those. STEVE BIDDULPH
IT is anxiety.
The horrible feeling that grips your insides, keeps you awake at night, and steals your happiness if you aren’t careful.
And who among us hasn’t had a kiddie anxious about going to school, or having unexplained tummy aches, waking with nightmares, or unable to fall asleep in the first place?
Anxiety is what makes some people (often men) fly off the handle, or be controlling. It makes us shout at our children when we don’t want to.
It is public enemy number one.
I was so concerned at the amount of anxiety in kids around the world that I have just spent three years searching for a powerful answer - and I think I have found it.
Some of the best neuroscientists in the world have discovered something quite amazing, and I have been working to put it in simple language.
DENTAL
So here it goes…
We have two minds!
Yes, you read that right.
We have our regular mind, which prattles on, gets defensive, goes in circles. This mind is still really great - for planning your shopping list, doing your tax, building bridges and hospitals. But it gets out of control so easily, and it keeps you awake at night or too distracted to enjoy or love your children.
But we also have - in the right side of our heads - a silent wild animal mind, which is super perceptive, amazing at reading faces and knowing who to trust, and holds all our memories, even the ones we can’t consciously remember.
This side of your mind knows where you left your keys! It knows what all animals know - leave tomorrow to tomorrow, enjoy the moment, love your life. And usually a growl is all it takes to get the cubs in line!
But this side has no words, so it talks to you in the way that all animals from the dawn of time have, with signals to your body!
You can test this - think of one of your children and notice what happens inside you when you do. Down in your torso, little stirrings or tightenings or softenings or swirls happen. If you think of another of your children (or your parents, or anyone really) then a different set of sensations happen. These are fresh and changing.
This is your ‘wild creature mind’ giving you an update. If you listen to those signals, they always have something to
tell you. Often, it is just ‘let your shoulders drop from around your ears, breathe deeply, and know that you are loved’ (even just by an old psychologist writing for you from down in Tasmania).
So, how does it work?
If you are feeling anxious (or you want to help one of your children), then try this. Instead of saying ‘I am anxious’ (or angry, or any unpleasant feeling) say instead, ‘Something in me is anxious’. Notice that this has a different feeling! It kind of gives you some spaciousness and room to move. It’s not ALL of you, it’s just something going on down there, which you can look at kindly.
Then go down in your body and see where that feeling lives. What are the exact sensations, and how would you describe them if you were telling a friend?
As you do this, notice that the sensations begin to change. They either melt away and you don’t feel as bad, or they begin to alter or even move somewhere else. Perhaps you might feel a tear in your eye, or a little shudder. This is the feeling moving out of you. Perhaps you might feel strong and stirred up to do something.
Your ‘wild creature mind’ is like a panther walking alongside you, fierce and strong; or like a soft little kitten needing to be soothed and settled. You will know which it is.
Children can be helped by sitting
with them and asking ‘Where is it in your body?’, ‘What is it like?’, ‘Does it have a colour?’ or the best question, ‘What is it wanting to say to you?’.
When you are listening to your body signals, you shift to the right hemisphere of your brain - the one that does not prattle or rush, but connects deeply with those around you. And if your child listens to their body, they feel loved and safe when they are with you at these times. It is the job of us parents to be less anxious than our children, so they can reregulate their nervous system. They just feel better and calmer around us and then, gradually, out into the world.
There are sometimes real things to be stirred up about, and our wild animal side knows which they are and gives us the warning signs plus the energy to act on them.
With both sides of our brain working as a team we can be both sensible and wise; fierce when we need to be, and calm when we don’t.
It is a fantastic thing to be able to transform anxiety using these simple skills.
WILD CREATURE MIND is in bookshops from 27 August.
You can follow Steve’s posts and videos on some of these methods on his Raising Boys and Raising Girls Facebook pages, or at www.wildcreaturemind.com.
Caring for your baby’s oral health
THE focus with new babies is often on breastfeeding, developmental milestones, and sleep, with new parents left in the dark about dental care for their bub.
So the Australian Dental Association (ADA) is reminding Australian parents of the oral hygiene basics for children: brush twice a day, floss daily, eat a diet low in sugar, and see your dentist regularly.
This might seem obvious, but the stats surrounding children’s oral health are alarming: 34 percent of kids aged 5 to 6 years have had decay in their baby teeth; 70 percent of kids aged 9 to 13 consume too much sugar; and 27 percent of children aged 5 to 10 have untreated tooth decay.
The ADA says a lack of infant oral healthcare information might contribute to these stats, so what are the oral healthcare basics for babies and toddlers?
Before babies get their teeth, parents can wipe their baby’s gums with a clean, damp muslin cloth.
Once the first tooth arrives, they can use a soft-bristled toothbrush and water to brush.
“Toothpaste doesn’t need to be introduced until 18 months unless otherwise advised by your dentist,” ADA oral health promoter and dentist Dr Mikaela Chinotti said.
“At this age, start using a children’s toothpaste that includes fluoride, an important ingredient that helps to strengthen and protect the teeth from tooth decay.
“After brushing, your child should spit out the toothpaste foam, but they don’t need to rinse their mouth with water.
“Children are likely to swallow more toothpaste by rinsing than by just spitting.
“This also leaves a layer of fluoride toothpaste on the teeth, exposing them to the benefits of fluoride for longer.”
For parents finding the whole brushing routine fraught, there are
numerous phone apps with songs to help engage your little one and to help them brush for the recommended two minutes.
Alternatively, play a song your child likes for a two-minute period.
Two minutes of brushing is not yet needed for babies with only a few teeth.
In addition to brushing, flossing is recommended from when your baby has two teeth that touch side by side, which is often around age 2.
Your dentist can show you how to floss your child’s mouth and what to use. Flossettes are great options for little mouths.
The ADA says night-time drinks are an area of confusion for some parents.
The body makes less saliva during sleep, so a bedtime bottle of formula or milk may be left on the teeth longer.
If this occurs repeatedly, it can cause tooth decay.
So if you give your baby - aged over 6 months - or toddler a bottle in bed, only put water in the bottle. Never give juice or soda.
Your baby’s first dental visit should ideally be when their first tooth arrives in the mouth.
It’s best that their first visit is not due to tooth pain, as this may cause anxiety around future dental visits.
For the first few dental appointments, some parents find putting their little one on their lap the most comfortable and calming solution for everyone.
At these early dental appointments, the dentist will look in your child’s mouth to examine the teeth and give you advice on oral hygiene techniques, tooth eruption, habits, and diet.
For more information on this and other oral health topics, visit teeth.org.au. There are pro-tip videos on caring for your infant’s oral health and teething babies.
IT’S YOUR LIFE
Tools to tame time, tasks
By Casey Neill
A Moonee Ponds mum is on a mission to teach kids to manage their time and tasks.
Amanda Lecaude is an academic life and executive function coach. Put simply, she’s an organisation and time management whizz who gives others the tools to tame their sloppy ways.
She started a business offering general organising in homes and businesses, but 10 years ago pivoted to helping students from Year 6 to university and hasn’t looked back.
Her top tools for parents who want their children to be more organised?
Analogue clocks.
“In order to manage time, you’ve got to see time passing,” she said.
“If you can’t see time passing you’ve got no awareness.
“You have to see that time has a beginning and a middle and an end to manage it.”
Amanda also recommended family planners and said timers had an important part to play, especially around device use.
“I put a timer in place for my children so they could see that time passing,” she said.
Her sons, now aged 18 and 21, exposed her to bullying, school refusal, and alternative learning pathways.
“My experiences help me to help others,” she said.
“I don’t want to have to have gone through them, but it’s been really useful.”
Amanda has just released her book Life Skills Handbook: Conquering Time Management and Organisation.
It’s aimed at secondary school students but the concepts are applicable across all age groups.
Parents can start helping their children to better manage their time from any age.
“One of the things I also talk a lot about is executive functions,” Amanda said.
“We all have executive functions. We’re not born with them. They develop.
“They’re things that control our planning, our prioritisation, our memory, our time management.
“That part of the brain doesn’t finish forming until the age of 25.
“That doesn’t mean you can’t learn and teach these things along the way.
“It’s trying to educate this younger generation coming up so we can move away from some of the negativity we grew up with - that you were just dumb or just lazy.
“Kids don’t set out to not do well, they don’t set out to fail.
“They don’t set out to be difficult.
“They might not have the right tools or know what it is they need to do.”
So how can parents equip their children with the right tools?
“One of the things we do is we’re
always very busy issuing directions,” Amanda said.
“All the kids are learning is to take directions.
“One of the things I say to parents is to take a step back and change the way you approach it.
“Ask ‘where do we need to be, what time do we need to be there, what do you need to have with you?’.
“This sets a really solid foundation.”
Amanda has identified 15 steps between a teacher issuing homework to a child handing it in.
“For most kids, you get it, you do it, you hand it in. You don’t even think about it,” she said.
“But kids can get stuck in any one of the 15 steps.
“I have kids that will do the homework but not hand it in.
“We need to identify where they struggle so we can provide the tools and strategies to manage it.”
Amanda and her team assess each child they assist and adapt their program to their needs.
“We look at everything from desk setup to eating habits, sleeping habits,” she said.
“What we’re trying to do is make a difference to these kids’ lives.
“You’ll hear parents and teachers say they’re just lazy.
“They’re generally not lazy, it’s just that they don’t have the right tools or
strategies to do what it is they need to do.”
Parents often don’t know how to help because they never learned the necessary skills.
“I don’t think we teach this stuff well enough in schools,” she said.
“We have career people in high schools. I think there should be someone who does what I do, to support students.
“We’re seeing a lot more anxiety, stress, mental health issues, and overwhelm.
“If they can break it down and make things more manageable and easier, it makes a massive difference on that front.
“What I’m seeing more of is perfectionism.
“That is really impacting kids’ ability to function.
“If a child does their best, you can’t ask for more.”
Amanda said the transition from Year 6 to Year 7 was the most pivotal to support kids through.
“Not only is there so much change but kids are going through puberty at the same time so there’s a lot going on,” she said.
“My advice to parents at that stage is just let your kids be engaged and happy and want to go to school.
“Don’t worry about the academics, that will come later.”
Visit www.organisingstudents.com.au for more information.
Easy tangy probioticcarrots
THESE easy tangy probiotic carrots are a simple way to get fermented or cultured foods into our kids.
Fermented foods are rich in probiotics that encourage beneficial bacteria to flourish in their guts, improving digestive health, immune function, and mood.
They’re also a fun way to get the kids in the kitchen, learn a little bit of science, and explore their senses.
Using just two ingredients, they’re made by immersing carrots in a brine (salt and water solution).
The salt kills the bad bacteria, leaving the good bacteria to convert sugars into lactic acid, which creates a safe environment and preserves the carrots.
Unlike pickling, which kills bacteria, ferments have a more distinct tangy flavour.
My son used to call these ‘fizzy carrots’ when he was little because the carbon dioxide generated during the
fermentation process can produce a tickling sensation on your tongue – now we’re making vegetables fun too!
Chop them up and add to salads, use them to scoop up hummus or guacamole, or just eat them raw.
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. www.wellfedkitchen.com.au @wellfedkitchen_snacks
Ingredients:
■ 1 tsp sea salt
■ 500g carrots
■ Filtered water
Instructions:
1. Trim the carrots, rinse and peel if not organic. Slice into thin sticks about the same size and thickness.
2. Add salt to your jar along with carrots - it’s easier to stack your carrot sticks with the jar laying on its side - and cover with filtered water.
3. Cover the jar loosely with a lid and place on a small plate to catch the overflow that may happen during fermentation.
4. Leave the jar at room temperature for 24 to 48 hours – slightly longer in the cooler months. Once you start to smell the sourness and see bubbles forming, they’re ready to eat!
5. Transfer to the fridge and store for up to one month.
12562706-MS36-22
Everyone, get active!
GIVING everyone the opportunity to travel and experience active recreation in a group setting is a key priority for the Y (formally YMCA), which operates children’s disability inclusion camps across Victoria.
The profit-for-purpose organisation, which is also a registered National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) provider, has worked in the disability sector for more than 30 years, specialising in person-centred,
supported camping experiences that maximise fun.
The Y’s camps provide a unique opportunity for children aged 7 to 17 to engage in activities that cater to their specific needs and abilities.
These activities are designed to build physical, emotional, social and cognitive skills while accommodating individual differences.
“Y camps are just so much fun,” explains Toni Thatcher, Y camp director.
“Nearly every weekend we head off on camp to wonderful locations across Victoria.
“Each camp location provides different experiences and activities for the participants to enjoy and try something new, whether that be snow camp, city camps, locations near the beach, or out in beautiful country Victoria.”
What sets Y camps apart is the personalised approach the organisation takes.
Its dedicated team understands that every child is different and works closely with families to ensure that each camp experience is both enjoyable and beneficial for all.
From adventure-filled activities like high ropes, archery, canoeing and giant swings to engaging activities such as boardgames, sports, disco, cooking, dance, and art, each camp provides a balanced mix of fun and growth.
All meals, snacks, and drinks are included, along with accommodation in shared cabins and return bus transportation from specific departure points.
To enquire about inclusion services by the Y’s camp programs, call 1300 699 622 or visit inclusion.ymca.org.au.
Mums serve up easy weaning
By Casey Neill
TWO busy mums have cooked up an easy and nutrition-packed guide to feeding not only your baby but your whole family.
Nutritionist Julia Tellidis and baby nutrition consultant Lauren Skora designed Baby Food Bible for modern, time-poor parents.
“We’ve streamlined the information to make it easy to digest,” the duo said.
“Our mission is to turn what can be daunting into a fun experience, offering parents clear, reliable guidance from the get-go.
“Our philosophy of ‘food is medicine’ is considered in every recipe.”
Lauren studied baby nutrition when the time came to start daughter Frankie on solids, while clinical nutritionist Jules found her knowledge bank overwhelming when introducing food to her son, George.
“We had countless conversations about the conflicting advice around starting solids and did lots of research between us, determined to get it right from the beginning,” they said.
“We quickly realised we were not alone and that lots of other parents also found the journey tricky.
“Together we developed our own recipes, which were not only balanced and nutrient-dense, but also designed to please even the pickiest of eaters, as well as cater to the whole family.”
They started sharing their recipes online and the response was overwhelming.
“We had found our purpose,” they said.
Baby Food Bible covers how to introduce solids, food safety tips, allergen advice, and recipes for breakfast, lunch, dinner, snacks, sweet treats, and condiments.
“Advice we often come across is that your baby needs to start solids at four months old,” they told Kids.
“Four months is really premature to start solids.
“When babies are ready for solids, they will show readiness signs like sitting up well with minimal support, good head, and neck control, and they should start showing an interest in food, usually closer to six months.”
As for starting the feeding journey with rice cereal…
“It’s certainly not our approach,” Lauren and Jules said.
“Rice cereal is commonly recommended as a first food as it’s fortified with iron, but synthetic iron is not absorbed in the body the way naturally occurring iron is.
“Secondly, rice cereal is really bland. We don’t want our babies’ first foods to be bland.
od ut bed ally t our nd
“We want to set them up to become adventurous eaters from the get-go.
“We have a small pocket of time from when they’re about six to nine months of age to offer a variety of flavours and textures to positively influence longterm eating habits.
“The first five years of a child’s life are absolutely crucial.
“We want to ensure we’re offering foods rich in the nutrients their growing bodies need.
“Good nutrition supports rapid brain development, helps establish a healthy gut and immune system, and, importantly, sets the stage for lifelong healthy eating habits and behaviours.”
This focus on nutrition can have a positive flow-on effect on the whole family.
“It’s like laying a solid foundation for everyone,” they said.
“Whether you’re feeding your baby or yourself, understanding the nutrients our bodies need, crafting balanced meals, and understanding the importance of food quality is key.
“Many parents prioritise their children’s nutrition and sometimes forget to take care of themselves - it’s understandable!
“Yet, being a role model for healthy eating habits sets the tone for the whole family.”
Shopping, dining and lifestyle!
The Baby Food Bible authors Lauren Skora and Julia Tellidis.
It’s Your Life
Stay connected in retirement
CENTENNIAL Living is a company that prides itself on generating a relaxed, friendly atmosphere in its villages, where residents feel welcome and have a sense of belonging to a community.
The benefits of social connection and friendship, stimulating activities in a range of amenities, a safe environment, and the feeling of support being there when needed, has made Centennial’s villages happy places in which to live.
Centennial Living Keilor offers two levels of accommodation – independent living and serviced apartments.
While maintenance and gardening is provided in the village, people who choose independent living reside in their own home and have the freedom to take care of meals, cleaning, laundry, and other household tasks how they wish.
When people need more help, serviced apartments can be a good choice. Daily meals are served in the dining room or delivered to the apartment and weekly cleaning and heavy laundry is provided for serviced apartment residents. Other in-home care
services can also be arranged to suit individual requirements.
Both styles of accommodation are fitted with emergency call systems.
While the seven Centennial villages in Victoria vary in some aspects, recreational facilities include indoor heated swimming pools, barbecue areas, a community centre and lounge, hobby garden, games room, arts and crafts, gym, bowling green, indoor bowls, men’s shed, aqua aerobics, and a hair and beauty salon. Pets are also welcome.
The resort-style living is ideal for people who want to downsize from the family home and have a lifestyle that offers social connection and absolute independence.
Inez, who asked to have her surname omitted from publication, has been living in the Keilor village for eight years. She really enjoys village life, and said the activities were very popular at Keilor but with no pressure to participate.
“You’ve always got support. You’ve always got someone here,” Inez said.
“You can do as much or as little as you want. There’s so much offering at the village, you’ve just got to tap into it and most people do.”
Like all
Centennial Living villages, the Keilor village is close to shops, amenities, and recreation in the wider community. It is particularly close to health care – there’s a medical consultation suite near the entrance of the village.
For more information, visit www. centennialliving. com.au.
Helping children to thrive EDUCATION
PROVIDING inclusive, educational and supportive programs for all children is a key priority for the Y, which operates several early learning centres and kindergartens within the City of Whittlesea.
At each of its centres, the Y provides an early years engagement support (EYES) program to assist children who may be eligible to receive early intervention or support into the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS).
“Early intervention for young children provides numerous benefits that can have a lasting impact on their overall development and learning outcomes,” Y Whittlesea CEO Michele Rowse said.
“By identifying and addressing potential challenges early on, children are given the necessary support to thrive and reach their full potential.”
Early intervention is a proactive approach aimed at identifying and addressing these challenges as early as possible, typically during the early childhood years.
It helps to improve the child’s learning outcomes, enhance social skills, identify learning gaps, assist with better emotional regulation, and in turn provide a smooth transition into a primary school environment.
“It was really important for us, as experts in the early learning and disability sectors, to utilise the knowledge and skills we have to assist our families and help develop and support children by providing them with the best opportunities possible,” family inclusion support coordinator Funda explained. In partnership with families and educators, the Y’s inclusion support staff provide a holistic approach to education and care for each child.
They guide educators and families with strategies for the best interest of the child’s individual needs and help create environments that foster inclusion, creativity and learning for all.
The Y provides education and care for children from six weeks to 5 years of age with long day-care and 3 and 4 year-old long day-care kindergarten programs.
To find your closest Y early learning centre, visit childrensprograms. whittlesea.ymca.org.au.
Different to make a difference
“I often share with families my desire to be certain that educational environments ‘graduate’ from the school I attended over 40 years ago. I’ve got great memories of my high school, but the education challenge is so different these days,” says Timothy Cottrell, principal at Lalor North Secondary College.
After two years as principal, Tim says that high-impact learning calls for quality relationships and a strong sense of partnership between students, families, and educators.
“This is how we build community trust and belief. Families must know that we inquire into and invest in the individuality of every child – and, most importantly, that we walk our talk every day,” he said.
“If a meteoric rise in demand for places at the college, and data that analyses student views and feelings about belonging, safety, opportunity, and quality of teaching, is any indication. the vision of the college is bearing fruit.
“It’s this simple: to make a difference, we need to be different.”
In terms of innovation, Tim cited the Elite Sports Program, which has up to 120 boys and girls training at 7.30am twice per week and three days per week after school.
“You get better at what you practice,” he said.
Then there’s the inclusive and wide-ranging leadership programs based upon doing good for others - particularly those less fortunate - comprising more than 35 percent student enrolment.
Students contribute to the community through local primary schools, nursing
homes, and elsewhere.
The inquiry-based Dynamic Learning Program at Year 9 prepares students for their senior years, and the Global Learning Domain language program has seen students study up to 15 languages over the past 18 months.
“The thought that in such a culturally diverse community that is Melbourne’s northern suburbs we might offer two or three language studies is incomprehensible to me,” Tim said.
“I want to ask the student what language they wish to study, not tell them what they may study.”
Creativity and artistic pursuits remain a steadfast pillar of the learning program.
“Our Big Night Out has become a fully-fledged music festival in the north, involving 15 primary schools and attracting 1500 people over two nights to the college,” Tim said.
“We have a responsibility to be a pillar of learning and higher things.
“With rapidly increasing demand for places, our grounds looking especially beautiful, and the great endeavour of our students everywhere evident, we can’t help but feel excited for the future of our college and its ‘family’ of young people.
“Our dedicated staff continue to work hard every day to bring every possible opportunity to our students to enjoy success.
“We thank them, and we celebrate the continuous learning of our students.”
Tim encourages anybody interested in learning more about the college to take a personal tour with him, which can be arranged by calling reception on 9401 3888.
Lalor North Secondary College principal Timothy Cottrell has a passion for education.
Empowering students to aspire, achieve EDUCATION
WITH great pride and excitement, I welcome you to Copperfield College, a multi-campus college dedicated to achieving the best possible outcomes in learning and teaching , as well as ensuring the wellbeing of all our students.
One college. Three sites. One family.
■ Kings Park Junior Campus, Years 7 to 10
■ Sydenham Junior Campus, Years 7 to 10
■ Delahey Senior Campus, Years 11 to 12
Our large, multi-campus structure offers the advantages of a big school while still providing the close-knit, supportive environment of smaller campuses.
This unique setup allows our students to benefit from personalised attention and robust wellbeing structures.
Our commitment to individual growth, success, and student wellbeing fosters a safe, respectful environment where students are encouraged to take ownership of their learning and future pathways.
We nurture their aspirations in a supportive atmosphere, helping them to achieve their full potential.
I invite you to contact the college to arrange a tour of one or all three of our campuses.
This will give you the opportunity to experience firsthand our impressive facilities and discover what makes Copperfield College an innovative and outstanding choice for your child’s education.
Nick Adamou, College principal
Education Make a splash safely
AS summer approaches, it’s crucial to ensure that your children are prepared to enjoy the water safely.
Paul Sadler Swimland emphasises the importance of starting swimming lessons early, rather than waiting for the warm weather to arrive.
Enrolling your child in swim classes now provides time for them to build or rebuild essential water safety skills and confidence.
The progressive nature of swimming lessons means that mastering different skills takes time, practice, and consistency.
By starting now, children have the opportunity to become more comfortable in the water, learn vital survival techniques, and develop stronger swimming abilities so you can enjoy a safer, more enjoyable summer.
Don’t wait until the last minute; secure your child’s spot in the Paul Sadler program today and give them the gift of a fun, safer summer in the water.
Learn to swim with the survival specialists at Paul Sadler Swimland in Altona, Braybrook, Essendon, Laverton, or Parkwood Green (Hillside). Book now at www. paulsadlerswimland.com.
Teenage dream team EDUCATION
By Casey Neill
A BURNSIDE teen is making her mark on State Government policy.
Neerja Singh, 18, is one of the newest Victorian Youth Congress members, inducted by Youth Minister Natalie Suleyman in April.
The advisory body is made up of Victorians aged 12 to 25 who want to share their views and experiences to create meaningful change.
“Young people are the future of this state, and it’s essential that they have a voice in policies and programs that will continue to impact their lives into the future,” she said.
Neerja is in her first year of a neuroscience major at the University of Melbourne.
“I found out about the Youth Congress through my involvement in the Melton City Council’s Youth Advisory Group,” she told Kids.
“The prospect of making a meaningful difference immediately captured my interest, and I was eager to participate.
“It offered a unique opportunity to channel my passion for advocacy into meaningful action.”
She was excited about working and learning alongside a diverse group of passionate young people.
“The collaborative environment was particularly motivating, allowing me to learn from my peers and work together to make a difference,” she said.
“I also wanted to develop my leadership skills and gain insights into the complexities of policy development, which aligned with my commitment to advocacy and my future goals in health policy.”
Neerja participates in discussions and meetings to provide feedback and recommendations on policies and programs for young people.
“I aim to create an environment where youth perspectives are integral to decision-making and drive significant change in areas that affect their lives,” she said.
“I hope to join the healthcare and medicine field one day and contribute to Australia’s health policy, focusing on initiatives that enhance healthcare accessibility and quality for all populations, including young people.
“I am particularly interested in developing policies and programs that address the unique health needs of youth, promote mental health, and ensure that young people have the support and resources they need to thrive.”
It’s hard to believe, but Neerja said she was quite shy throughout her schooling, even though she had ideas and passions to share.
“My parents have always supported me, making me feel that my ideas are valued and encouraging me to try new things without worrying about the outcome,” she said.
“Their belief in me gave me the courage to take on advocacy roles at school and in the local council, eventually leading me to join Raise Our Voice Australia as the Deputy Head of School Engagement, CMY, and the Victorian Youth Congress.
“Their support has been a huge motivator, helping me stay committed to making a positive impact through advocacy.”
Education precinct boost
FOOTSCRAY High School’s senior students are now enjoying their own campus, complete with state-of-the-art learning facilities.
Premier Jacinta Allan, Education Minister Ben Carroll and Footscray MP Katie Hall officially opened the Kinnear Street campus for Year 10 to 12 students in July.
It’s the fourth and final stage of the $75 million redevelopment of Footscray High School.
“We have completely transformed Footscray High School’s three campuses to give students in the inner west the world-class learning spaces they deserve, close to home,” Ms Allan said.
The four-stage project delivered the new Kinnear campus on the site that formerly housed Footscray City College; the new Pilgrim campus; and a multimillion-dollar overhaul of the Barkly campus.
Both the Pilgrim and Barkly campuses are for junior-level students.
The $25 million Kinnear campus upgrade was completed earlier this year.
It offers flexible learning spaces, a revitalised library, and reconfigured classrooms tailored for learning for senior year levels.
In addition to its new learning spaces, the Kinnear campus also offers a unique farm setting, where students can build a connection with nature and learn how to grow their own vegetables for the school canteen.
“Footscray High is a creative and innovative local school for the families of the inner west,” Ms Hall said.
“From horticulture to music, community STEAM or rowing at Footscray Park - students can discover their passion for learning in a beautiful environment.”
The tri-campus Footscray High School is part of the Footscray Learning Precinct, including Footscray Primary School, Footscray City Primary School, and the Billy Button integrated early learning centre.
Picture: Damjan Janevski
Silly Sam wins fans worldwide REALITY BITES
By Casey Neill
NOW, do you know what will happen to Sam Ramsden on his Silly Stories podcast adventure?
Neither does Sam. There’s only one way to find out…
The Kilsyth electrician and father of four girls - Zahli, 9 months, Brinley, 3, Aubree, 5, and Holly, 7 - entered the podcast scene late last year.
By May, Silly Stories for Kids was topping the worldwide charts.
“It wasn’t my idea. I didn’t even conceptualise it or anything,” he told Kids, clearly still bewildered by his sudden success.
“When Holly, our oldest, was 2 and transitioning from a cot to her own bed, I used to just lay on the floor and started making up stories.”
Fast forward four years, and his father-in-law, Russell Dixon, pitched Sam an idea.
“He said ‘I’ve listened to you tell these stories for a long time now, I think you should turn it into a podcast’,” Sam said.
Russell said he’d been researching the medium for months and wanted to back the project.
“I literally just thought ‘I’ll make a little catalog of stories for my kids to show their kids one day, maybe a few friends will listen to it’,” Sam said.
He and Russell held weekly meetings and learned the ropes of podcasting. They settled on a name - searchable, catchy - and a logo, and Sam selected a release date…which fell two and a half weeks after his fourth child was born.
“I was just too excited, I didn’t want to keep waiting,” he laughed.
“The first place I started recording was literally a supply cupboard at church.
“I taped blankets up, put up LED lighting.”
He upgraded to a recording studio he built in his back yard using a photo booth he’d bought on Facebook Marketplace.
Then an electrical job for missionary organisation Reach Beyond led to an offer to use its professional broadcast setup.
Each Silly Stories episode begins with, ‘Do you know what’s going to happen in today’s adventure? Me either.’
“That’s genuine,” Sam said.
Listeners send their names to Sam, who embeds them in a wacky story he makes up on the spot.
“I write their name on the tablet in front of me. I might start with a word or a place or the tiniest piece of an idea, and then I’ll press record,” he said.
“I love being creative. I love thinking outside the box.
“Telling stories and being silly is the most authentic version of me there is.
“My brain is exciting, to put it politely.
“When we go on a drive, me and the girls, they’ll often request a character.
“I’ll be driving as (Silly Stories favourite) Pim Pim, making jokes about seeing people on the side of the road.
“We’ll take wrong turns and things.
“To still try and be the fun and the joy in your own family, that’s what my dad did for us.
“I wanted to do that too.”
Sam explained that he has ADHD.
“So much of what I do day-to-day is trying to keep my brain on task,” he said.
“Telling stories is just sitting down, pressing record, and enjoying where my brain goes and really just having fun with it.”
Fans can rest assured that Sam’s story supply is endless.
“I’ve been doing it for five years,” he said.
“There’s never been a time I’ve sat down to tell a story and something hasn’t come out.
“I can’t actually explain how this works.
“If I tell a story, it’s almost like I’m experiencing it like the kids are.
“It flows that quickly.
“When I’m editing it, it’s like listening to it for the first time.”
His life experiences often bleed into the stories, like a story about a girl entering Food Land through an oven that emerged after Sam installed a large oven at work.
“I’m learning that the way I tell stories is fun and I think so many things are dark at the moment and so many things are so complicated,” he said.
“I think there’s a real desire amongst parents to just really help their kids have fun.”
Parents tell him they put on a Silly Stories episode when “everything is really hard”. It gives their kids a few minutes of fun and gives them a chance to reset.
Parents of children on the autism spectrum regularly tell Sam that his stories help their kids to regulate.
“My real hope is that this podcast can strengthen family relationships,” he said.
Sam’s also a church youth group leader.
“I’ve been doing that since I was 17,” he said.
“So much of what I get to do there is just be silly, be fun.”
But doesn’t he ever feel self-conscious about being silly as a grown-up? Nope.
“I think I’ve just had so much opportunity in my life to be that silly, and to be that silly in front of lots of people,” he said.
“My dad was in a band when we were little. They did fun, silly, stupid things.
“I saw people in front of large groups being silly, and people loving it.”
And doing youth ministry reinforced this.
“I’m used to being the dad in a group of dads who is mucking around and doing stupid stuff,” he said.
“I think those kinds of nerves come from putting what other people see of you higher than what should be higher - the joy and the fun and bringing some good to people’s lives is the most important thing.
“If someone thinks I’m weird or strange, I’m OK with that.
“I don’t find self-worth in what other people think.
“I’m created by God, this is what he’s created me to be.
“I love that I’m different.
“We actually need different people to be able to meet the needs of different people.
“You need diversity, you need different people with different ways of thinking.”
Sam never planned to start an electrical business.
“I literally said through my apprenticeship that you’d never find me running my own business,” he laughed.
But the company he was working for liquidated just before he was due to marry wife Olivia, who was then studying full time.
Sam had to find more work, and was soon eating his words and working for himself.
“My business journey has been terrible,” he said with his trademark broad smile, which reaches his eyes and never seems to leave his face.
“I wouldn’t be half the person that I am now if not for all the trials and troubles.”
Olivia is now on maternity leave from her role as a physiotherapist in the Austin Hospital ICU.
“She’s gifted in that kind of stuff,” Sam said, his pride obvious.
“In crazy situations, she’s comfortable and logical.
“I am incredibly blessed with the wife that I have.
“She is so supportive and encouraging of me.
“She’s my biggest supporter.
“We manage the chaos of life together.
“I wouldn’t be able to do any of this on my own.”
Sam and his family were invited onto the field with the Melbourne Football Club cheer squad a few weeks before our chat, after Sam mentioned the club in one of his stories.
“That’s mind-blowing, to think that some idiot sitting in a cupboard talking to himself could lead to these kinds of experiences,” he said.
It was the girls’ first AFL match so the bar was set high - Aubree asked if they’d get to go onto the court if they went to a netball match.
“I was trying to communicate to our kids how abnormal that experience was,” he laughed, shaking his head in disbelief.
Sam’s made connections with other podcasters, who’ve been generous with advice, and now has a manager - “which sounds ridiculous to say” - after performing an electrical safety check at his home.
He is also now working with children’s audio player company Yoto.
“We’re the kids’ podcast they’re partnering with in Australia,” he said.
Silly Stories is mentioned in the company’s press release alongside the likes of Roald Dahl, Sir Paul McCartney, Zoe Foster Blake, and Emma Memma.
“I never would have imagined this stuff in a million years,” Sam said.
“I’m just excited to see where it does go.
“I’m quite the pessimist when it comes to myself.
“There was no glimmer of a thought in my head that it would progress past my family and friends.
“I would love to be known in houses around the world and have a really positive effect, and generate income for my family.
“I’ve got no idea where it could go.”
REALITY BITES
By Casey Neill
There’s no place like Homb
HOMB nurtures and empowers new mothers, striving to prevent postnatal depression and anxiety.
Founder Larissa Leone is also working to change the ubiquitous baby-first narrative and make mums the priority.
Speaking to Kids, Larissa pointed to baby expos as an example.
“There’s no postpartum stands,” she said.
“Everything is for the baby. Everything is still for the baby.
“All they want is your love and your attention. Spend your money on yourself being able to provide that wholeheartedly.
“It’s really difficult to convey that knowledge and information because (pregnant) women don’t want to know. They are focused on the fluffy stuff.
“The system or society doesn’t value that. What it now seems is indulgent.
“Homb has been referred to as a postpartum hotel.
“For the most part, sure, that’s what it is. But it sounds so transactional.
“There’s so much more depth to what we offer and what we provide.
“This is a solution.
“The healthcare system has to get on board.
“The spend on the recovery and the response to postnatal depression is huge compared to the spend on preventative care.
“We’ve got stats staring us in the face, on postnatal depression and anxiety. One in five.
“We seemingly have all of this help but the stats are still increasing.
“Is it that we’re talking about it more and women are coming forward more, or is it that the money raised isn’t going to the right areas?”
Homb was born from Larissa’s experience after welcoming her first child.
“I had a very successful business, I had all my ducks in a row, I was very in control of everything in my life,” she said.
“I had a great pregnancy, no complications. Even my birth was great, there was nothing overly stressful or traumatic about that.
“But from that first moment, I just felt very out of control and very ‘this person now is relying on me and I don’t know if I can do this, am I going to do this well enough?’.
“There was already a lot of selfjudgement.
“I was reading every book that I could possibly get my hands on to tell me how it was all going to work out.
“When it didn’t, it really catapulted me into a world of anxiety and really deep worry.
“It just continued to spiral, the more I tried to cover all those feelings up and tried to integrate into society.”
She reached out to her husband for help when her daughter was about six months old.
“I was having very dark thoughts. I was thinking about self-harm,” she said.
“I thought ‘if I hurt myself enough but not too much then I can go to hospital and have a couple of nights where I’m not with the baby and I can have some sleep and some rest’.
“I knew somewhere in me that that wasn’t normal.”
They contacted a mothercraft nurse - who cares for newborns and provides advice and training to parents - and waited four weeks to see her.
“At that point it was still not help for me, it was help for the situation,” Larissa said.
“With the benefit of hindsight, I should have been straight to a psychologist.
“It’s interesting that the go-to was still not caring for me as the mother.
“I said to my husband, ‘why is there nowhere that I can go that I can be helped through this without it being a hospital?’.
“I was just astounded that there was nowhere I could go that was a more homely environment.”
Larissa was retrospectively diagnosed with postpartum depression after having her son two years later, and her desire to affect change intensified.
“I just didn’t want any other woman to experience what I had experienced,” she said.
“The health care system has pulled us away from our innate knowing of how to birth.
“Largely I think we’ve overmedicalised something that is innately natural.
“It’s just become a huge marketing thing and women don’t trust themselves anymore.
“The essence of Homb is really trying to bring back that confidence and trust within a woman to have the confidence to make those decisions for herself, with the guidance and support of people who are intrinsically involved in maternal health.”
Homb’s team includes registered nurses, midwives, lactation consultants, naturopaths, nutritionists, doulas, birth trauma practitioners, gentle sleep consultants, and more.
“We are mother-led,” Larissa said.
“If a mother has a way she wants to do things we follow that.”
Women who need support have the opportunity to access the service at low or no cost.
“Starting the charity arm was a huge part of it for me, because I understood the costs - having midwives and incredible staff doesn’t come cheaply,” Larissa said.
“I knew it was not accessible for the majority of women.”
The feedback has surpassed her expectations.
“It’s been quite extraordinary and certainly the most fulfilling thing I will ever do in my lifetime,” she said.
“Just to know we’re affecting change and helping women is certainly enough for me.
“Consistently, they feel like they can breathe again.”
BOOKS
Author’s wish come true
By Casey Neill
THE timing of Caz Goodwin’s tenth book was beautifully serendipitous.
The award-winning Hawthorn author had just penned A Wish for Baby when her son, Tom, revealed Caz was about to become a grandmother.
“It’s like a love letter to a baby,” she said.
“I didn’t write this with a particular baby in mind.
“I channelled my memories of my own children and how when they were born, I’d just stare down and look at them and imagine ‘what are the adventures you’re going to have?’ and ‘I hope you have wonderful friends that support you’ and ‘I hope you enjoy nature’ and ‘I hope you are healthy’ and ‘I hope you’re happy’ - all those natural feelings that come when you’re a new parent.
“All those feelings are coming up again as a grandmother.”
The illustrations by Sara Acton show a child and their father having fun with dress-ups, baking, reading, and giggling with friends.
Tom was thrilled with the book’s timing.
“I remember when I first showed him the manuscript,” Caz said.
“He might have wiped away a tear.
“As a parent there’s nothing quite like your first baby.
“The joy that this little baby has brought has been wonderful.”
Tom confirmed he was very emotional when he first read the book. Little Isla was four weeks old when we met. He felt like Caz was writing to her before even knowing she existed.
“It was very special,” he said.
He was eagerly awaiting a copy, fresh from the printer, so he could read it to Isla.
“We read to her every night,” he said.
“It will be really special when she knows it’s written by Caz Ma.”
Caz started her writing career when her husband’s job took the family to Singapore.
“I was told I wouldn’t be able to work there. I thought I’d do what I’d always wanted to - writing books,” she said.
“I set a goal of writing one within the first year.
“I’d always written and I loved rhyming books in particular.
“I was brought up on AA Milne and Dr Seuss.
“When I was a bit older I loved Jane Eyre’s rhyming poems.
“I would write rhyming invitations to family but never really thought about going about it more seriously and having it published.”
She joined a writer’s group, put pen to paper, and her first book was published soon after.
“That was a book called Dragon’s Egg, which is still in print in Singapore,” Caz said.
“It was a children’s picture book about
a child who finds an egg and a dragon hatches out.
“It won a competition so that was a good way to get into the industry.
“When I came back to Melbourne I kept writing and haven’t stopped.”
Caz’s books generally start with a character, and then she asks questions about them.
“I’m not a plotter; I just start writing and the story seems to evolve organically,” she said.
“I don’t set out with a particular theme in mind or a particular moral I want to tell.
“What if it was a little girl and she was best friend’s with the old man next door, and what if their favourite goat died?
“And what if he was depressed and didn’t want to come out of the house and she had to help him out?
“That’s how my last book developed.
“I do a lot of re-writing, which most writers do.
“I keep exploring until I find a way to make a story work and the characters work.
“The narrative arc has to be appropriate and the conclusion has to have some hope.”
Caz is also a literacy advocate. She runs the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI) in Victoria and is on the Young Australian Best Book Awards (YABBA) council.
“I really encourage all parents and grandparents to start reading from the
moment they’re born,” she said.
“The research shows that reading to babies is really important and that you can’t start too early.
“There’s nothing you can do to really give your child the best educational outcome before they start formal school other than reading.
“It’s just vitamins for the brain.
“It’s so good for them in so many ways.
“It also helps you feel closer to them when you’re reading to a baby.
“There was some research done that showed reading to babies in utero, their heart rate slowed reading one story versus another story.
“I thought that was some really amazing research.”
Caz recommended rhyming books in particular.
“The children relate to them and do really engage,” she said.
“As they get older they can anticipate the words because they rhyme with the line before.
“There’s something about the rhythm that is calming and almost meditative.”
A Wish for Baby fits the bill.
“This is the sort of book that I think would be a lovely gift to give to a newborn or the parents of a newborn,” Caz said.
“It really contains those universal feelings of joy but also wonder and hope and the dreams for a new little one.”
‘Symptoms’ are super skills Books
By Casey Neill
AN Aussie mum is encouraging kids to see ADHD as a superpower rather than a hindrance, following her own diagnosis with the disorder.
Elly Both uses A Kids Book about ADHD! to celebrate the unique skills that come with attention-deficit/ hyperactivity disorder.
Growing up, Elly often thought there was something wrong with her.
“I was diagnosed with ADHD a few years ago now at the ripe old age of 44,” she told Kids.
“I started to look back at my childhood and how I would have loved to have a handbook of how my mind worked at that time.”
It was only once she received her diagnosis that her ‘character flaws’ became symptoms and her world started to make sense.
“I was a pretty anxious kid,” Elly said.
“I spent a lot of my time daydreaming.”
Her school reports said she was smart but could do a little less talking, stop bothering her classmates, and be a little more conscientious.
“So I just wanted to make kids feel OK,” she said.
“They’ve got this brain, it’s not always easy to cope with.
“Even as an adult I’m still dealing with the challenges of ADHD every day.”
Eleanor Jones Can’t Keep a Secret
Amy Doak
Things have settled down in Cooinda and Eleanor Jones is getting used to her new normal – spending time with her friends, going to school, and working on a project at the local old age home.
But just as things start to feel calm, a series of events once again rock Eleanor’s world: Troy’s ex-girlfriend is back in town and, during a visit to the old age home, Eleanor’s buddy Nance admits to witnessing a murder, swearing Eleanor to secrecy. Eleanor throws herself into solving the mystery of the murder with help from new friend, genealogy expert Jem, and finds digging into old secrets can be incredibly dangerous.
Penguin
$19.99
Elly said it could knock your self esteem and confidence.
“There are challenges, I’m never going to sugarcoat it,” she said.
“But how do we discover what our superpower is, and how do we harness it?”
ADHD comes with an immense sense of energy, creativity, and a hyperfocus state, she explained.
“I think that’s how I do a lot of my written work,” she said.
“How do we foster that in our kids or help them harness that?
“I’ve had so many parents message me in tears saying they saw themselves on the pages or that it helped them understand their own kid.
“It’s designed to be co-read with a grownup.
“I’ve also included in the book a number of questions that I think adults can speak to their kids about as well.”
Elly said the book could help kids to better understand and empathise with their peers.
“Everyone has a unique brain, we are all unique,” she said.
“We can’t understand unless we talk to people about those differences.”
Elly’s book is part of the A Kids Co series ‘A Kids Book About…’.
“I’ve always wanted to write something. I had this inspiration one day to ask them ‘can I write a book in your series?’,” she said.
The Space Between
Jess McGeachin
The Space Between celebrates those special friendships that last, no matter what.
Max and Milo do everything together, every day, and in their rocket ship, even the stars and planets don’t seem too far to reach.
But when Milo has to move away, the space between them seems too great, and Max must find another way to navigate the galaxy.
Penguin
$24.99
She’s a sustainability consultant by trade.
“A lot of what I do is the written side of things, so the communications side,” she said.
“It’s my happy place.”
Elly has other children’s books in the pipeline.
“I’ve got a few on the go. I’m not sure which one will eventuate,” she said.
Find A Kids Book about ADHD! on Amazon or at ellyboth.com.
How Do I Know If I’m Upside Down?
Idan Ben-Barak and Zahra Zainal
This is me. My body can see, hear, smell, taste, and touch. But it also knows if it is hot or cold, if I am sideways or upside down.
Explore the human (and other) senses!
Scholastic $19.99
You Are Brave: A Book about Trying New Things
Margaret O’Hair and Sofia Sanchez
Nobody is born brave. There is no magic wand to make you brave, either. You have to learn to be brave – just like you have to learn how to do everything else.
This book helps readers learn their self-worth and encourages kids to overcome obstacles by sticking up for themselves and others, trying new things, and showing the world how brave they are!
Scholastic $26.99
Newspaper Hats
Phil Cummings
Grandpa has a world of memories he likes to share, from tadpoles to summer rain, and his mum making warm, crusty bread.
But he has trouble remembering his granddaughter, Georgie. Georgie’s efforts to trigger Grandpa’s memory of her lead them to the remembered joy of making newspaper hats.
Newspaper Hats will have you thinking about how we make, record and recall memories
Scholastic $24.99
