TPC August/September 2015 by Taieri Parents Centre

August/September 2015 Newsletter

Inside this issue: Winter Car Seat Tips

Spring into Family Fitness Celebrating Dads PO Box 129, 17 Green Street, Mosgiel

parentscentretaieri@gmail.com www.taieriparentscentre.co.nz Aug/Sept 2015

Letter from the Editor—Meet Kate Hello all,

Inside this issue: Winter Car Seat Safety

Pg. 5

Upcoming Events

Pg. 8

Hot Topics

Pg. 9

Spring into Family Fitness

Pg. 15

Celebrating Dads

Pg. 21

Photo Competition

Pg. 23

Homemade Finger paints

Pg. 27

I’m your new TPC newsletter editor Katherine Jones, or better known as Kate. I’m still pretty new around here and I’m still getting to know many of you, but I’m hoping that this role will help me become more involved as my family is shifting at the moment from Dunedin to the Taieri. As in literally right now, I’m surrounded by moving boxes as I’m typing. This newsletter has a bit of a different look than its predecessors, and while I’m hoping that I didn’t accidentally cut-andpaste the mover’s contact details randomly in here somewhere, you can definitely expect some big changes. So watch this space! Have a flip through and enjoy, Kate

Congratulations to Hannah O’Kane and Rowan for their winning photo featured on the cover! For other entries and next month’s photo contest theme, see Page 23. Disclaimer: Opinions and articles in this newsletter do not necessarily reflect policies of Parents Centres NZ Inc. Content featured in this newsletter has been credited to its source material, contributors maintain original copyright. Advertising features are explicitly stated and do not imply endorsement by Parents Centre NZ Inc.

Taieri Parents Centre

President’s Report Kim Timperley My goodness where have the last two months gone? I could swear I was only writing my first president’s report just yesterday. It must be because we’ve had a very busy last couple of months at TPC!! Wendy Perera has been and gone, and what a fantastic few sessions she ran for us! There was a pretty good turnout overall, which is always great to hear when we “import” someone from out of town to share their knowledge with us. If anyone has any feedback or requests for what could be included in future sessions with Wendy, please do let me know. We also had Kelly Sutherland from Baby Sleep Consultant pay us a visit. Kelly was fantastic at answering all our questions and concerns about our toddlers’ ever changing sleep habits. Turns out a lot of us have/had similar issues and were also able to offer each other some advice as well. This is one of the things I love about the TPC community; you’re never alone and it’s a great place to be able to share ideas, knowledge, and advice and also to ask for help if you need it. By far our biggest and most time consuming event in the last couple of months has been this year’s Jaffa Race but what an event to behold!! I hope lots of you managed to get down to the race itself and see our Pink Jaffas race their merry way down Baldwin Street. The Jaffa Race raises approximately 85% of the money needed to keep our beautiful centre running so it’s really important to everyone that we hold onto this amazing fundraising opportunity. It might seem like a lot of work at the time but it REALLY is worth it. The whole committee really throw themselves into ticket selling and I want to thank each and every one of them for taking time away from their families to do this. Special mention to Emma Currie and Jo Henderson who were the true force behind the organisation of this event; they both have done a truly amazing job. This year was Emma’s last year running this event as she has departed our fair city for the deep south of Invercargill. Next year I will take the reins….I only hope I can do half as well as she has. I also want to give a special thank you to those non-committee members who helped us out with selling tickets – you really have no idea how much it means to the committee to have your help during this time. It can be quite stressful trying to sell all those tickets with only a small group of people. So huge thanks must go to Louise Kirby, Carolyn Craik, Leanne Wright, Suze Crawley, Lesley Pijpker, Catherine Lindsay, Deanna Hollis, AJ Dowding, Sally Smith, Nikki Woodside, Madelene Kincaid and Rachael McCann. BUT what’s next I hear you say?? Well, I’m glad you asked - we have some great things coming up in August/September including sessions with our very own Claire McGowan and Donna Christensen, who will be sharing their knowledge on Car Seat Safety and Kids on Technology, respectively. Rachel McNeill will also be running a session on Quitting Sugar, including tips on where to start, recipes, taste testing, lunchbox options and how to get your kids on board. Rach will also be running our annual photo fundraiser again in September. You’ll need to keep an eye on the Facebook page for the dates and more information which will follow in the next few weeks. I think that’s all from me for now; I’m off to curl up on the couch under a blankie – little Miss E brought home a nasty tummy bug from day care and shared it with her dad and I……one little 16 month old has effectively bought an entire household to a grinding halt for the last 48 hours. It should be noted that she is

fighting fit and not even slightly fazed by how miserable we are. Winter as a mumma…..exciting times! So on that note, remember to stay warm, stay hydrated, wash your hands and stay well.

Until next time Kim, Ian and Miss E

Aug/Sept 2015

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Taieri Parents Centre

Our Weekly Services

Aug/Sept 2015

Winter Car Seat Safety Unfortunately we still have many cold days forecasted ahead of us here in the Deep South, so it’s important to ensure that your children are kept warm AND safely restrained while in their car seats. Here to share some winter tips is TPC’s own registered child restraint technician, Claire McGowan.

Winter is cold – don’t let it be unsafe as well! We all want to keep our children warm. We all want to keep our children safe. To do both these things within vehicles involves some careful planning. 

Do not put children in their car seats while wearing thick tops and jackets.



Do not put a swaddled baby into a car seat – swaddle over top of the harness.

Taieri Parents Centre

Techniques to combat the cold and keep our children safe: 

Put their jackets on backwards over the harness once buckled up



Swaddle, or put blankets over them once buckled up



Dress in thin layers – merino is great for this!



Pre-warm the car before getting in on cold mornings

My kids think it is hilarious to walk to the car with their jackets on backwards and then get buckled in! Turn it into a game and it doesn’t become a hassle.

Remember the harness must be as close to the body as possible!! This keeps their body stable and secure in the event of an accident. Questions on car restraints? Want to ensure that your restraint is properly fitted in your vehicle? Don’t hesitate to contact Claire! tpc4carseats@gmail.com Aug/Sept 2015

Situations Vacant HEY YOU!!! YES, YOU reading this notice… can you help? These are the roles we currently have available on our committee and we would love to see them all filled. If you think you could be interested in one of the roles listed please contact Kim Timperley on 027 4243476 or parentscentretaieri@gmail.com 1. TREASURER’S ASSISTANT Buddy and assist the treasurer with the day to day handling of monies and possibly paying bills. A good lead into the treasurer’s role. 2. CORRESPONDENCE SECRETARY Check the PO Box regularly and deliver mail to relevant committee members either personally or to their cubby holes in the TPC office. Compile a report of all correspondence received each month for the committee meeting, including reports sent from other committee members. 3. ACTIVITIES AND EVENTS CO-ORDINATOR Main organiser for events (with lots of support from other committee members), and keeping members informed about what is going on. It entails creating and maintaining an activities and events calendar in our rooms and for the newsletter; working with the website developer to ensure activities and events are listed on Facebook; organising events (scheduling, booking venue, marketing etc.). You would not be on your own making these events happen, but would be the key person ‘in charge’, delegating and making sure nothing is overlooked. 4. MARKETING MANAGER Organise advertising and press releases for the Taieri Times & Star, flyers and posters around town (ideally you would be able to make the flyers and posters as well so some computing skills would be preferable) and keeping the noticeboard up to date. 5. GRANTS OFFICER There are a variety of organizations who offer grants to non-profit organizations. You would be responsible for identifying potential avenues to fund projects and purchases, completing or coordinating the application, thanking ‘donors’ and ensuring that granted funds are spent according to the conditions given. 6. BUMPS & BUBS COORDINATOR Ideally you would be attending Bumps & Bubs anyway making this role incredibly easy. You don’t have to sit on main committee for this role, but would liaise closely with the Playgroup Coordinator and also with the Parent Education coordinator. Once a term complete a roster for opening and closing, and organize any speakers approximately twice a term. Monies collected are to be given to the Playgroup coordinator.

Taieri Parents Centre

TPC Upcoming Events Committee Meeting TPC Hot Topic: Info Night TPC

Tues., Aug. 3rd, 7:30 pm

(see poster next page)

Tues., Aug. 25th 7:30 pm

Hot Topic: Quitting Sugar TPC

Tues., Sept. 15th 7:30 pm

(see poster next page)

Photo Days TPC More FM Baby and Child Show

Sat. & Sun. Sept. 19th & 20th Sun. Sept 20th 10am â&#x20AC;&#x201C;3pm

Edgar Centre Fish & Chips with the Family, TPC

Sun. Oct 18th 4:30 pm

Aug/Sept 2015

Hot Topic

Taieri Parents Centre

Hot Topic

Aug/Sept 2015

Childbirth Education Classes

Taieri Parents Centre

Aug/Sept 2015

Music & Movement Music and Movement classes aim to provide a fun and stimulating environment for your child to benefit through sound, movement and music and an opportunity for you to meet and socialise with other parents. The appropriate Music & Movement class for your child is dependent on your child’s level of confidence, stage of development and class numbers.

Jigglers Classes are held every Monday during school term. 9.30 – 10.00am: Little Jigglers (walkers) 10.00 – 10.30am: Morning Tea 10.30 – 11.00am: Baby Jigglers (NB to crawlers)

Music Gym Classes are held every Friday during school term.

9.30 – 10.15am: Music Gym (3 – 5yrs) 10.15 – 10.45am: Morning Tea 10.45 - 11.15am

Music Gym (2 1/2 - 3yrs)

Parental participation is required in all classes. Current Taieri Parents Centre members: FREE Non-Members: $25 per term ($10 for each extra child enrolled) All enquiries: Donna Christensen 489-8360, dave.donna@vodafone.co.nz

Taieri Parents Centre

Interested in advertising in the TPC Newsletter? Check out Page 30 for further details

Advertisements Aug/Sept 2015

Spring into family fitness Spring is just around the corner and with it comes warmer weather, longer days, and the opportunity to shake off any winter sluggishness and get moving. Physical activity is important for the entire family, but this isn’t limited to ensuring that the kids are ferried to their soccer match or swim practice on time. For parents, some of the benefits of regular exercise include increased energy, improved mood, better sleep, and even a better sex life. “That’s wonderful”, you say, “but how in the $%#^& world am I supposed to find time to exercise!?” Being a parent and finding time for your own fitness isn’t easy. Fortunately, there are many tips, tricks, and options out there to help you incorporate a physical activity that you enjoy into your life.

Basic Tips: 1)

With any fitness programme, start with an activity you enjoy and at a level that you’re comfortable with. If you have any questions about your own health or any injuries, see a medical professional before beginning anything new.

Don’t feel like you have to set aside a large chunk of time out of your schedule each day for exercise. Four 15 minute increments of exercise throughout the day have been found to be just as beneficial as an entire hour.

Incidental exercise is still exercise! This means taking the stairs instead of the lift, parking further away, or even household chores still count as exercise. But unless you absolutely love cleaning, you may find some other activities that are more rewarding:

Walking/running: Cheap, effective, and you can do it almost anywhere. Pop your bub in a carrier, tot in a pram, or let your older kids run or bike beside you. There are some excellent locations in the area that are pram friendly, including: 

Tomahawk Beach, Warrington Beach, Long Beach, and Brighton (note: St. Clair and St. Kilda beaches are still quite eroded and do not have adequate access for prams at this time)

Taieri Parents Centre

(walks, continued) 

John Wilson Drive: closed to vehicles on weekends and in the morning and afternoons (vehicles on road from 11 am – 3pm)



Silver Stream Bank Reserve



Ross Creek – Upper Reservoir Circuit

For more information, check out DCC’s “Walking with Wheels” page https://www.dunedin.govt.nz/ facilities/walking-tracks/walkingwith-wheels ~ Lyra and Blitz on a jog at Ross Creek~

Cycling: The Dunedin/Taieri area is renown for its variety of road and off-road cycling areas for all abilities and members of the family, including: 

Dunedin Harbour bike path



Signal Hill Tracks



Jubilee Park



Otago Rail Trail

For more information, check out DCC’s “Cycling Route” page https://www.dunedin.govt.nz/services/cycling/cycling-routes After some other ideas or looking for a group to join? These pages have information on local events, clubs, and groups for a variety of activities for the entire family: 

MoveMe Dunedin: Local event information, walking/cycling guides, activity and sport group information, nutrition information, http://moveme.org.nz/



Sport Otago: Local event information, sport clubs and groups, active family programmes, http://www.sportotago.co.nz/

Aug/Sept 2015

Sometimes even with all of the information and best of intentions, prioritising your own workout still falls right to the bottom of the pile. Some people prefer organised gym and fitness programmes to keep on track, including those especially catering to new and expectant mothers:



Active Mums: Group fitness classes specialising in ante- and postnatal workouts, babies and children welcome. http://www.activemums.com/

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AM I FIT: Group and one-on-one circuit and boot-camp style workout sessions, enclosed and secure kids entertainment area within gym. http://www.amifit.co.nz/



Configure Express: Women’s gym with equipment and studio classes, free child minding. http://configuredunedin.co.nz/



Les Mills: Fitness gym with equipment, group and studio classes, childcare available. https://www.lesmills.co.nz/clubs/dunedin/



Let’s Go Fitness: Boutique-style gym with boxing and circuit training, post-natal workout programme, babies and children welcome. http://www.letsgofitness.co.nz/



Lucy Warren Pilates: Mat and studio style Pilates classes, specialty ante- and post-natal focussed sessions, babies and children welcome. http://www.lucywarrenpilates.com/

Taieri Parents Centre



Kangatraining Dunedin: Group post-natal fitness classes that incorporate baby wearing during sessions. https://www.facebook.com/ kangatrainingdunedin/info?tab=overview, or email philipa@kangatraining.co.nz

Photo credit: Kangatraining (http://www.kangatraining.at/downloads/presskit_nz.pdf) 

Valley Strength and Conditioning: Group and one-on-one lifting, circuit, and boot-camp style workout sessions, babies and children welcome. http://www.valleysc.co.nz/



Yummy Mummy: Group and virtual fitness classes with circuit, boxing, and mobility options, babies and children welcome. http://yummymummyfitness.co.nz/

No matter how you do it, the most important thing is to find an activity you enjoy and get moving! Your mind and body will thank you, and by leading by example you set your family up for healthy habits for life.

Note that this list is NOT an advertising feature, but is just a sample of childfriendly gym options available in the area as chosen by our editor. If you would like to be included in a future issue or would like to advertise with us, please contact tpceditor@gmail.com.—Kate

Aug/Sept 2015

TPC Playgroup

Term 3 Playgroup Schedule

July 29th

Chipmunks

August 19th

Pippity Pop

August 26th

Ministry Visit

September 9th

Toitu Museum

September 24th

End of Term Superhero Party

Taieri Parents Centre

Playgroup trip to New World Mosgiel

Aug/Sept 2015

Celebrating Dads Father’s Day is September 6th, and one of the many reasons that we love the dads in our lives is the way that they are the Yin to the mother’s Yang of parenthood. This was a fantastic story submitted by a fellow Parent Centre father, Daniel Mapletoft. I used to be a boy scout. It was a lot of fun. I remember one occasion in Cubs where the local Brownie group came and visited and OMG; there was miss K, a girl in my class who was my friend and semi-secret crush. Yes! We did some activities and at one point the boys had to go on one knee to form a chair, while the girls sat on it. Miss K came and sat on my knee and I was in 8 year old heaven! I felt like I… Ahem, yes well, anyway. My point is, it was fun. But it was also instructive. It taught us to be creative, solve problems and not to give up. A key tenant of the scouting movement is to “be prepared”. As such, I'm always prepared for anything. Except when I'm not. What does this have to do with anything? Let me explain... A while ago we went to Wellington for a volunteer symposium. My wife attended while I had a little holiday with mr Ryan (7) & miss Poppy (2). It was our last day and we’d spent the morning at Zealandia before riding the cable car up to the Carter Observatory to watch a show. While we waited for it to start we checked out the exhibition and Ryan was loving it. All of a sudden I smelled that certain smell emanating from Poppy; it was time to change her. Except, I was not prepared. Me, not wanting to take the buggy on the cable car, also neglected to think to take the nappy bag attached to it. My unconscious mind decided to troll me. You see I'd changed her just before we left Zealandia, about 15 minutes ago and I didn't even think of it. Bugger. What to do, what to do. I lifted her high and saw that it was worse than I thought. She was leaking, my shirt had a little wet patch and there was a decent stain on her pants. Oh crap, literally. I told Ryan I was going to change Poppy (even though I had no idea what I was going to do) and asked him to tag along. Even though he was having so much fun, he was cool with that, and I started running through my options. Thus, I present to you: 21

Taieri Parents Centre

The Unprepared ex-Scout’s Tactical Guide to Improvised Nappy Techniques in the Field. Plan A) Mooch a nappy off another parent. Nope, I couldn’t find anyone with young enough kids. Dismissed. Plan B) Leave her in it? No, it really smelled and would hurt her little bum. Dismissed. Plan C) Clean the nappy out as best as possible and line it with toilet paper. Hmm that might work. I proceeded into the family room and pulled Poppy’s pants off. The little bit of poo that dropped onto my shoe was my first clue I was still underestimating the problem. I undid the nappy and Plan C went up in smoke. I suspect she had been saving this up all weekend because it was everywhere, right up to the waist band. This nappy was not salvageable. Dismissed. Now what? Plan D) Go commando? No, I believe they call that jumping from the frying pan into the fire. I would be even worse off if she needed to go again. Dismissed. Plan E) Really? Plan E? This is getting desperate. Then, after thinking for a bit, it hit me. I was going to make a toilet paper nappy. After I cleaned Poppy up I ripped about 10 metres of paper off and started folding it in half over and over and over. When it was the right size, I put it front to back between her legs. Then I ripped off another 10 metres and wrapped it round and round her waist to hold the first bit on. She now looked like the smallest and cutest sumo wrestler in the world! Success! Kind of. I did the singlet domes back up to hold everything together and then I noticed my flaw. There were fairly sizeable gaps around the legs. I started scrunching up more paper and stuffing it in the gaps. I felt a little like I was stuffing a bra, but it worked. She was locked down and secure. I cleaned and dried Poppy’s pants off as best I could and we walked back out to Ryan. The smell was gone, Poppy was happy and Ryan enjoyed the planetarium show. Poppy was still dry on the outside when we got back to the car an hour later. She had gone “number 1s” but the nappy had held together magnificently. Perhaps I was more prepared than I thought I was! Daniel Mapletoft West Auckland Parents Centre Aug/Sept 2015

Photo Competition

The theme of this photo competition was â&#x20AC;&#x153;Winter Wonderlandâ&#x20AC;?. From snowy family photos to infants snuggled up warm inside, we thank all those who submitted their photos!

Thank you to judge Rachel McNeill! 23

Taieri Parents Centre

The winner of each competition will receive a $25 voucher from Mosgiel New World and will be featured on the cover of the newsletter. To Enter: email your photo to tpceditor@gmail.com, entries must be received by Sept 19th

Next photo competition theme: â&#x20AC;&#x153;What a mess!â&#x20AC;? Aug/Sept 2015

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Taieri Parents Centre

Aug/Sept 2015

I recently realised the need for toddler-safe art supplies when I tried to get my 14 month old to paint a picture for her dad for his birthday. I brought out my own art kit and checked my supply of paint. Oils were definitely a no-go, but I confirmed that acrylic paints were non-toxic and washable. Putting my daughter in her highchair with two different sets of bibs, I indulgently daydreamed of the wonderful handmade gift we were about to make and my brilliant baby Monet that I was about to debut to the world. I gave her a couple different colours of paint and waited for the magic to begin. To my horror she immediately stuck her fingers in the paint and shoved them in her mouth. We didn’t get very far with the painting that day, but I did find some great homemade paints that won’t break the bank or make you worry about poisoning your child during arts and crafts. –Kate

Easiepeasie.blogspot.co.nz 27

Taieri Parents Centre