Kids' Voice February 2013

February 2013

Rvier’s Gift . Single parent survival. Schools in focus . Baby massage Science at home . Pet care . Music education . Competitions . What’s on

Y O U R N E W F R E E PA R E N T I N G M A G A Z I N E F O R T H E G E E L O N G R E G I O N

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CONTENTS Page 6 - Making music with your child Page 7 - Watching them grow Page 8 - FEATURE Setting standards as a single parent Page 10-13 - Schools in focus Page 14 - FEATURE River’s Gift borne from tragedy Page 16 - Science fun at home Page 19 - Baby massage benefits Page 20 - FEATURE Solving problems Page 22 - The best apps for the school year Page 23 - Keeping pets cool in summer Page 24 - Competitions and reviews Page 26 - Cooking creations Page 27 - WHAT’S ON - events and activities

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PUBLISHING

DETAILS

Kids’ Voice is a monthly publication for parents with children of all ages. Each month the magazine will be jam-packed with news, views, reader stories, feature articles, advice columns as well as product, book and website reviews.

There will be somethng for everyone.

Experts have joined our team and will provide regular columns to ensure you’re in the know about all sorts of issues in the areas of health, education and alternative therapies.

EDITOR

Eve Fisher news@kidsvoice.com.au BUSINESS MANAGER

Michele MItten michele@kidsvoice.com.au ADVERTISING SALES

Cath Dunning cath@kidsvoice.com.au STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

Alan Barber GRAPHICS

Elise Blach

PO Box 54, Ocean Grove Victoria, 3226 Phone; 03 5255 3233 Fax: 03 5255 3255 Find us on Facebook facebook.com/Kids Voice Geelong COVER MODEL

Jodie Mitten

No part of this magazine, incudling the advertisements, may be reproduced without permission of the editor.

The opinions expressed within Kids’ Voice magazine are not necessarily the views of the publisher, but those of individual writers.

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L A I R O T I ED

Fight fat at the start I’ve got a bee in my bonnet about kids eating sugar. I mean, technically, I’ve got a bee in my bonnet about sugar in general and how it’s the scourge of society and a white poison that causes so many diseases – namely cancer. You’ve heard it all before. But this time, I have a real issue with feeding young babies and toddlers food with sugar in them. Yes, I know, everything has sugar in it – perhaps that’s another story for another day. Perhaps all the big-name food producers should stop pumping their products full of rubbish in the first place, but that really is for another time. I’m on the anti-sugar bandwagon.

Especially for kids and especially especially for babies. I have friends who feed their toddlers dessert. Junk food of any description, every day. They will become addicted to the stuff in their own time, parents don’t need to be practically injecting it into their blood before the child even has the vocal capability to screech “but mummy, don’t you know sugar causes candida which is already at pandemic proportions in our society and is linked to cancer and other forms of cell breakdown”. Kids don’t need sugar. Any of it. Ever. Hell, adults don’t need it.

Not for energy. Not for anything. They need proper protein, and carbohydrates through vegetables and fruit.

Speaking of fruit, I saw a great article about an idea called the FP100. Simply put, it’s a fruit platter n the fridge, 100 per cent of the time. Such a great idea for busy parents.

And when kids open the fridge looking for a snack, it’s the first thing they will see. Of course vegies could be on there as well. Another thing I read recently was research

conducted with kindergarten kids. For five days the children were let loose into their lunchroom to find two massive tables spread with food. One table was all healthy treats while the other was a Willy Wonka-esque table of delight. For two days the kids flocked to the junk food table, but by day three the kids started doing what the researchers predicted they would do. They headed for the healthy table. By day five, no one went to the junk table at all. Children know what is good for them. They are more in tune with their bodies than we realise.

Children need the adults around them to guide and educate them. We can’t rely on the big food corporations to have our best interests at heart. Read food labels and realise there is always a healthier option. And avoid sweetener at all cost. It is a chemical that never leaves your body.

Children should most certainly not be eating that.

Australia has an obesity problem and fat children have parents to blame.As our society becomes more sedentry and looks to quick food fixes, parents should be setting the standard of consumption and exercise.

There, the bee is safely out. Enjoy this edition and happy parenting.

EVE FISHER Editor

Illustration - Annalise Mayer

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EDUCATION Music is child’s play Playing music to children is good for them. The judicial application of music can help improve a child’s mathematical and linguistic skills, and their health, fitness and emotional wellbeing. There’s much more to it of course, and I’m not going to go into the details of various studies here, but essentially the facts of this have been well established. I admit to being biased – I love music and play professionally – but I’m just saying that science agrees with me on this one. As an example, here is one study by the University of Queensland, commissioned by the non-profit Australian Children’s Music Foundation. http://acmf.com.au/ wp-content/uploads/2012/07/ACMF-Executive-Summary2008-Project.pdf So that’s all well and good, but how do we, as parents, do something about it? How do we play music to our kids? Any way we can: it’s playing! Ok, easy for me to say. But while one of my favourite things to do is make up songs with my kids while we bash on the keyboard or strum guitars and ukuleles, I don’t necessarily mean you have to play an instrument yourself; just play them some music: CDs, YouTube clips … put on what you like and see what your kids respond to. Share the joy with them. The important thing is to have fun (just know what happens in the clips first though, or check in advance) Once you do get into this habit it doesn’t take much to incorporate drumming simple rhythms into dancing and for singing along to become making up new songs.

If you’re still worried about doing the right thing, developmentally speaking, the experts know their job. The dance moves in Yo Gabba Gabba or Wiggles songs are well informed by the research it isn’t an accident that the feet of those four coloured-skivvy-wearing fellows cross their centre line when crunching peanut butter or that they “romp-pomp-a-chomp” on both sides; swapping hands while raising them up and down. These types of actions have been proven to aid children’s motor-skill development. So, if you want to consciously incorporate those kinds of moves into your playtime (and maybe look into the research) then certainly do so.

You’ve probably also noticed that the lyrics and rhythms to all these popular modern songs are repetitive and mostly predictable but

contain some element of surprise. Children love this and it’s good for their brains. These are common traits of a good pop song as well: most adults still love this too. The tunes we remember best from when we were kids do the same, even if the composers then were less conscious about it. Many of the real classics – such as A Sailor Went to Sea Sea Sea – were written by actual kids at play.

Others kids (and professionals) haven’t been afraid to rewrite the words to existing songs to making new surprising jokes and actions.

Your kids know that we get wool from the baa baa-ing black sheep, but what noise do chickens make and what do we get from them?

Ask your kids and ask them for rhymes too. See if you can write a cluck cluck happy hen song together. Maybe you can even develop some actions to go with it. Little Miss Muffett works particularly well for this game, as you can think of something other than curds and whey for her to eat and something other than a spider too … do whatever rhymes. Maybe your kids’ favourite nursery rhymes are re-writable too?

You can take this idea further, of course. For their recent respective fifth and second birthdays, my wife and I gave both our kids new

swings. I’ve been singing them swinging songs by improvising new words to go with melodies I know well, including Sway, Bad Moon Rising and You Shook Me All Night Long. These days if I stumble over a rhyme my eldest will even offer alternative suggestions. They both sing about whatever it is they’re doing most of the time anyway, like most kids, but it’s great to be a part of that. A stripped down version of this approach is Elmo singing the word of whatever the topic of the day in Elmo’s World over and over to the tune of Jingle Bells.

Somewhere in between these is an approach that’ll work well for you and your kids, I reckon. It’s this idea of improvisational, inclusive play that I enjoy the most when both playing with my own kids and at my gigs. Amazing things can happen (and you get better at it the more you do it). So if you want to play some music for your kids take almost any song and see what you can make of it.

EARL LEONARD is a children’s performer and father of two talkative children.

Visit earlleonard.com

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READER VOICE Children change so quickly and for many it’s just a case of letting them be and letting them find their own sense of identity.

the sharks, or at least uncertainty about how to re-establish some form of social standing as such a little fish — a fingerling really — in the seemingly tumultuous ocean of high school life.

I was intrigued about the ways in which this uncertainty manifested itself on that morning, and most notably about the sudden significance of hairstyle. The ponytail that had been slightly off centre for the past year — in my opinion an accidental slip of the hand but in hers a statement about the sort of individual she is — had shifted properly to the side. A much better statement in my opinion.

“Come on, Mum. Let’s go.” My daughter was standing at the door, twisting the door knob incessantly. There she was, ready early as never before. That was a year ago.

She suddenly looked older, more like an edgy young lady than our audacious child. Few words were spoken and none of her usual theatricality showed. She was standing at the door in her new dress and blazer, freshly deodorised, with her hair in a neat ponytail. Her tablet computer was fully charged and she had checked the weather forecast.

I turned away and smiled but I would not say I told you so. Because it is not fair. Because I used to hate that four-word sentence. In my days … Okay, moving on.

The next day it had even moved straight to the back, to ensure the highest level of invisibility that could be achieved under the circumstances, I suspect. So, with time, she learned to negotiate the waves that sometimes threatened to intimidate and submerge her.

Not last night’s forecast of course, but the latest from this morning. 25 degrees Celsius. This was a vital piece of information. You would not want to be the only one wearing a blazer on your first day, would you?

For a change I was the one scrambling about, hoping to make it to the bus we had never depended upon in the past.

How things had changed. Grade six had turned our child into a knowing almost-teen, desperate to storm forward into the adult world. Her hugs had morphed into merely symbolic gestures. Naturally I demanded I still wanted the real deal, the kind where we physically touch, and warned her that, in the privacy of our home, I always would.

To my surprise, as the holidays progressed I was gradually receiving more hugs and smiles again from my independent child. We had numerous interesting conversations, many initiated by her, and the automated I-got-it-covered reply to my helpful little reminders was switched off. She also spent more time with her younger brother and answered his questions more patiently than she had in a while. I could sense a slight dose of

apprehension about the jump off the cliff that was fast approaching.

On transition day their buddies had revealed that the year sevens, the little peeps, would be scrutinised, pigeonholed and teased, but she also knew that going under cover was not an option while sporting the newly fitted and slightly larger than necessary uniforms, teamed with still-glaring snow white socks.

Then the long-awaited, but at the same time dreaded, day had come, evoking feelings ranging from bubbling anticipation and excitement to a fear of being thrown to

Now, a year later, the ponytail is bouncing confidently at the side, the oversized jumper has become an ally that feels soft and warm and, in addition, serves to pull up the dress to minimum regulation-length, and the blazer is, contrary to popular belief, not too warm on most days. She is part of the throng. She belongs and is now riding the waves.

And so are we. We are dealing with the mobile phone and Facebook profile, and at this point it is a success.

Hopefully the waters will be calm for a while ... if that is possible. Or at least only rippled, because now she has to share the same school bus with her younger brother every day.

I hope our guidance will continue to penetrate and I am looking forward to another exciting year … I think.

KERSTIN LINDROS

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FEATURE

Single-parent survival There has been a lot of news in the media recently about the government moving single parents on to Newstart allowances. Depending on individual circumstances this has meant up to $130 less per week. I am a single parent who benefited from Centrelink payments - the difference for me though is the last payment I received was four years ago.

born baby that relied on me for everything was confronting.

On top of that with my limited education and work experience my career prospects were less than inspiring.

Walking into Centrelink to apply for the parenting payment all those years ago was not a choice, it was a necessity to ensure that my child and I were able to put a roof over our heads and pay the bills. I am sure that each and everyone of you can relate when I say you would do anything for your child. And although I despised the fact that I was going onto Centrelink benefits – in the end it was the government’s help that ensured I got an education and am now in the position I am today – a little determination and drive on my part helped as well!

This $130-a-week cut is not going to affect me, but if the government had made these cuts when I was at my most vulnerable - raising a child by myself, working part-time and studying at university, it would have been unbearable and my life and how I contribute to society now would be a very different story.

Nine years on I hold a degree, I work full-time, pay taxes and support my son. Isn’t that a better outcome than condemning single parents and their children to a lifetime of poverty?

The journey of motherhood began. Labour was long and ended with an emergency caesarean. With mum and dad beside me, I gave birth to a beautiful healthy son, Hakeem. In the space of a few months life had changed dramatically. I moved from Sydney back to my parents house in country Victoria and the biggest change of all – I was now a mother.

I was eight months and 10 days pregnant when my partner decided to leave. I came home one afternoon and it was almost as if there had never been two people dwelling in my now very empty house. I was 19 at the time and he was my very first love. We had been dating for two years and living together for four months.

His departure just weeks before the birth of our first child came as a shock. All my calls and emails went unanswered. Until a few weeks after his leaving I received a note that simply said ‘‘Sorry’’. As reality crept in a sickening heaviness lay in my stomach, which lasted for weeks.

At 19 years old my life had all of a sudden taken a mas-

sive detour, a detour that I hadn’t signed up for. The prospect of being a single mother took a lot of adjusting to and not one I was keen on taking. It was not a choice I had made, but a reality that was forced on me.

I was flooded with questions and concerns – how would I look after a child on my own? At 19, I was pretty independent but the prospect of juggling work while taking care of a new-

The first few months flew by. Hakeem and I moved out of my parents house into our own home and we started our life together. My love for Hakeem was huge and although our family was not traditional by society’s standard – the two of us were still a family, and just like a traditional twoparent family – I wanted the best for my son.

The best life is of course very subjective. For me, defining the best life for my son encompasses a world that ensures opportunity and choice to be whoever and whatever he wants to be. My wish for Hakeem, other

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FEATURE than happiness and health, is a life where he grows up inventing and creating the best world for him as he sees it. It is not my job to tell him how to live his world but it is my job to make sure he has a life that supports that dream.

When Hakeem turned three I felt it was time for me to set that dream in motion. Education was at the forefront of my mind. I had done the research and decided on studying international relations with a sub-major in politics and policy studies. As cliché as it sounds, I have always held the view that it takes a village to raise a child.

Because of this view sending Hakeem to childcare was an easy choice. I had nurtured him for the first three years of his life and it was now time to bring in backup to help expand his experiences and views of the world.

At the time, JET was the lifesaver program from the government – The Jobs, Education and Training Child Care fee assistance scheme. While this program has been watered down quite significantly since I used it, it still exists and essentially covers some of the cost of childcare while completing approved activities, like university. Because the government chose to support me, I was able to return to study.

And so my dream had been set in motion. It wasn’t easy financially, even with the Parenting Payment benefit and JET support. It was easy to go into debt just covering the basics. I decided to get a part-time job and started working as a receptionist in a local health centre.

You would be forgiven for thinking that my drive to return to work and increase my education would be seen as a positive step from a government organisation such as Centrelink – their main drive once a person is on a benefit is to get them off. But once I started earning over $150 per fortnight my payments were reduced – I lost 50 cents for each dollar I made over that amount. To the point that sometimes it wasn’t worth it financially to continue working. But I did continue working because I knew that working now would increase my opportunities later.

Life was challenging for the next three years. While childcare helped significantly, I was still a single parent and the day-to-day needs of my son were huge – so was the pile of dishes and laundry. On top of that I was working and studying at university part-time. As I write these words I am happy to say that no matter how hard it got I was up for the challenge. That meant going to bed early with my son each night and rising at 4am to write assignments, read textbooks and listen to online lectures.

At 28 – soon to be 29, my drive, ability to dream and create a world that supports my son was only possible

because the government supported me. A society that looks after it’s most vulnerable people is a strong one; I am living proof of that. I am successful because of that and my son will be proof of that. I am educated, working fulltime, paying taxes and supporting my son because I was supported. Sole parents across the country deserve the same opportunity that was provided to me all those years ago.

KYMBERLIE DIMOZANTOS

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SCHOOLS IN FOCUS - KINDER TORQUAY

It’s a nail-biting time waiting for your youngster to start fitting in with other kids, as Laura Gordon found out.

KINDERGARTEN

So the wild child is off to kinder. Although when you are three they don’t really call it kinder, but it’s much easier than saying 3-year-old activity group all the time.

Torquay Kindergarten has been a wonderful communitybased kindergarten for over 50 years, operating since April 1962. With a rapidly expanding community, there was a need for a bigger facility and in 2006, the Torquay Kindergarten moved from its original site in Anderson Street, to its current position in Grossmans Road.

He starts next week and he’s very excited. Now he has done lots of activities in the past, even a few without me.

But for some reason this one feels a bit different and I’m not sure why. Perhaps it is because kinder is the first educational experience he has been involved in. The first one where it is accepted, expected and possibly even helpful, for him to be compared with the other children.

The Torquay Kindergarten is conveniently located at 27 Grossmans Road, beside the Surf Coast Secondary College/Torquay College and just down from St Therese Primary School.

It is the first one that really matters if he doesn’t fit in.

The new double room facility (a part of the Torquay Children’s Services Hub), was quickly utilised and in 2012, an additional room was added to the kindergarten.

Now, with three rooms operating, the kindergarten is able to cater for its five pre-school groups, offering 15 hours of education for each child attending.

The range of session times reflect the needs of the community, with long day and sessional programs offered.

Named after Australian animals, the wombats, possums, emus, koala’s and galah’s enjoy the many opportunities that the Torquay Kindergarten experience provides.

Qualified early years trained teachers (with a combined 47 years of experience), develop programs that are supported by co-educators, who hold Certificates in Children’s Services and higher.

The kindergarten is supported by the Surf Coast Shire Council, as the licence holder and employer of staff. The council also administers the central enrolment system, accurately collating and allocating pre-school positions

I’m not too sad about the fact he is growing up and starting kinder. I know for many parents this must be a little bit challenging. Although I dare say, the majority of us are very happy to have Friday mornings organised with an activity for the rest of the year.

throughout the Torquay, Jan Juc and Anglesea areas. Kinder staff are supported by a parent committee, which plans social and fundraising events to support the programs run at the kindergarten. The committee also contributes to future directions for services offered by the kindergarten.

Torquay Kindergarten is proud to be a part of children’s learning, providing experiences and opportunities for children to grow and become active contributors to their world. The kinder welcomes the chance to support its families and the community for at least another 50 years.

It is more about how my wild, cheeky, busy little boy will respond to this new environment. There are expectations and rules and standards to be met. There are times and places for different behavior. There are many other children who will be far better behaved than him and I’m not sure how this will affect him. Or me.

You see the orientation meeting didn’t go as well as I’d hoped. Look, he wasn’t the child that spewed during the play session, but he certainly made his mark. As we arrived, I sat down to chat to a couple of other Mums that I sort of know. They both have sons; their sons are buddies. So the wild child ran off to where they were playing, keen to be part of it and make some new friends.

However, within minutes he had run into one of the boys

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SCHOOLS IN FOCUS - KINDER

and bumped him over. I think this was his weird, little boy way of trying to be part of the group. How I wish he could have just said hi. These Mums were really cool about it, as perhaps most Mums of sons are.

Anyway, we played, I chatted, he ran, and climbed and ran some more. The one positive was, he loved the place. The other positive was another little boy ran with him and he was much littler. This time the wild child ran beside and not into him. Thank God. And everyone commented on how much energy he has. Not in a particularly positive way I might add.

So I just don’t know how he will go this year. I don’t know whether he will make friends using his words, or by playing games, or laughing at their antics or copying

the clever things they do. I don’t know whether he will get into trouble for not listening, or sharing, or staying still, or fighting. I don’t know if he will find other children who don’t like him and who wont let him play.

I don’t know if he will drive the teachers mad. I don’t know if he will cry when I say goodbye.

But I suppose that is part of the adventure of being a parent, and being a kid. I do know that he will grow and learn and change. I do know that he will make clever things. I do know that he will learn to follow the rules, even if it is because he finds out what the consequences are when he doesn’t. I do know that he will surprise me.

Even though I am scared that he won’t fit in, or that he will be really naughty and the teachers wont like him

very much. Or that I will have some awkward conversations with these teachers about some choice words he has used, or other words he hasn’t used to sort out disputes with other children. The thing that worries me the most is that he won’t have fun there. I worry that he won’t make friends, laugh, play and come home filled with even more energy and stories of some real friends! I worry that kinder wont be somewhere that he feels like he belongs.

And perhaps what scares me the most, is that if that is case, this time I can’t fix it.

Laura Gordon is a teacher, blogger and mum of two boys.

Visit wildchild.aussieblogs.com.au

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SCHOOLS IN FOCUS - PRIMARY LARA LAKE PRIMARY SCHOOL Principal: Noel Creece Public/private/independent: Public Address: 89 Forest Road, Lara, Victoria, 3212 Phone: (03) 5282 1261 Number of Students: 630 Number of teachers: 35 teachers and 18 support

Describe the school’s drama/arts program: We learn drama and dance skills, which we use in performances and we employ the “you can do it” principles of persistence (learning new skills), getting along (group work) and confidence (performing).

Describe the school’s ITC program: We teach ICT skills to all students one hour each week as part of the specialist ICT program and we teach ICT skills using a variety of developmental software programs and web 2.0 applications to extend learning beyond the school environment. We make the lesson focus explicit to students so they understand exactly what they will be learning and why. We showcase student learning to a variety of audiences-peers, parents and the extended school community via a number of forums including open sessions/ afternoons, school assemblies, visual displays, the school intranet, the school website and the ultranet.

Describe the school’s sport program: Physical Education is taught for 1 hour every week and classroom teachers are encouraged to take their students outside for additional games and physical activities when possible.

Units of work are designed to start with simple tasks and progress student skill levels by providing stimulating and challenging activities. The school’s Physical Education curriculum is designed to develop students’ fundamental motor skills in early years (P-2) and progress these skills into sports specific skills in years three to six.

Does the school have the students laptop program? The school has recorders, digital cameras, wireless laptops, desktop computers, video cameras and iPads. We use netbooks daily in senior classes. The senior netbook program allows students to use their wireless netbooks for learning both in and outside the classroom. Netbooks allow anywhere, anytime access to learning; independent, self-initiative learning; more family involvement in education; and collaboration between students.

Describe the school’s music program: We learn to listen to the beat, rhythm and tune in music and we use voice as our main instrument, and we practise “in tune singing”. We learn to read and write music and learn to play musical instruments in small and large groups. We have a long tradition of choirs and bands at Lara Lake Primary School. Choir meets once a week at lunchtime, and performs at assemblies, at GPAC at the Geelong Schools Music Festival, as well as in concerts and local festivals.

Band also meets once a week and performs regularly at assembly.

What kind of camps and outdoor education programs are offered? Students attend excursions that support the classroom program – with the students experiencing the key aspects of the integrated topic being studied. For example, during the unit on Water Conservation, we would visit the Barwon Dam Authority to see how water is used. Middle and senior school students also attend camps.

What is the school philosophy? Lara Lake Primary School exists to care for and educate children. We are

a growing, vibrant and well-resourced school with a highly committed and very enthusiastic staff that have a clear focus as a team. Our staff cohesion is exemplary. We cater for the whole child – providing a safe and happy environment that nurtures academic, social, emotional, physical and psychological development.

We always go the extra mile and consciously work in teams, learning and sharing with one another in order to become the best teachers possible. We share problems of practice in order to move our teaching to the next level of development. We are open to new ideas and ways of doing. We see ourselves as learners. We are not afraid to share our data to seek opportunities to improve and we all embrace feedback.

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SCHOOLS IN FOCUS - SECONDARY MATTHEW FLINDERS

or Pro and our later years students will be able to bring their own technology to class. All students will have full access to the college intranet resources and the internet.

GIRLS SECONDARY COLLEGE Principal’s name: Jenny Hawkins Public/private/independent: Government girls school Address: Little Ryrie Street Geelong Phone: 03 5221 8288 Number of students: 950 Number of teachers: 100 Year levels: 7 - 12 Subjects offered: Curriculum is based on the VELS, VCE and VCAL programs administered by VCAA. Matthew Flinders is also one of three schools in the Geelong region that offers a Select Entry Accelerated Learning Program. The Accelerated Learning Program, or ALP, differs from our mainstream program in that it provides a faster-paced curriculum, the opportunity to work with more abstract, complex and in-depth course material.

Describe the school’s sport program: The college has an extensive classroom based Physical Education program and there are many opportunities for students to involve themselves in sports teams representing the college.

Describe the school’s music program: The school is home to the world-renowned group, the Sweethearts, who have played at prestigious local, national and international festivals for many years. Perhaps one of the more interesting and exciting projects the band has started is the Sweethearts Music Academy. In 2013 the band will start a training band in which members as young as early primary school age can apply to become a member of the Sweethearts Academy.

The students are set up with a music teacher in their chosen

What extra-curricular programs are available? Extra curricular opportunities exist in many aspects of College life. Students have opportunities to travel overseas to enhance their classroom learning, to participate in numerous sporting teams, learning area-based competitions (such as maths and science, and languages) and to take up leadership roles through form captaincy, the Student Representative Council, Special Area Captaincy and College Captaincy. The peer support program has connected year seven and year 10 students and been run through the home group classes. instrument (if they have not yet started learning an instrument) and are considered a full member of the Sweethearts from that moment on. In addition, students at the College have the opportunity to participate in classroom music programs and learn a variety of instruments through the instrumental music program.

Describe the school’s drama/arts program: The drama and arts are flourishing at Matthew Flinders. In 2013, there will be a school production that will give many students the opportunity to perform in front of a large audience. Students are involved in classroom drama and art classes throughout their years at the college.

Describe the school’s ITC program: Students and staff are able to access a wide range of information and communication technologies at the college. Many rooms have interactive whiteboards or LCD projection facilities, the Fraser Campus houses a theatrette; the library is well equipped with a range of books and other educational materials.

Does the school have the students laptop program?

The college has had a 1:1 MacBook program for four years. In 2013 our Year 7 students will be using iPads in the classroom, Year 8 and 9 students will be using MacBook Air

Does the school have clubs? There are opportunities for students to join clubs based on their current interests.

Students are involved in an extensive recycling program through the environment group and the ABC (AntiBullying Club) promotes positive messages throughout the school. The Special Area Captaincy gives students the opportunity to join teams in the areas of the arts, multicultural, community, environment and sports.

What kind of camps and outdoor education programs are offered? The college is particularly proud of the opportunities that students can access in terms of camps and other outdoor programs. Students in years seven to nine attend year level camps and there are ski camps and other outdoor adventures offered to those students who take up Outdoor Education in the later years. Students can also participate in language enhancement study tours overseas.

What is your school philosophy? The school specialises in providing opportunities for girls that best meet their learning needs. Our philosophy can be best summed up in our vision statement - Matthew Flinders Girls Secondary College empowers young women to be the best they can be.

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FEATURE

SIDS grief fosters Gift

128 days, eighteen weeks, four months and five days.

However you say it, it is a heartbreakingly short time to live. No one knows just how painful the loss of a child is, except the parents who live daily with the devastation of such a tragic experience. Alexander Hamilton and Karl Waddell woke on the morning of November 7 to a world that had been changed forever. Their beautiful baby boy, River Jak Adam had been put down to sleep in his cot the night before. His mum had breastfed him at 11pm and put him back in his cot, on his back, in full view of his audio-visual monitor. At 7.30am when Alex woke and looked at the monitor and couldn’t see River, she worried, but thought that her mum, who was staying with them and helping care for her adorable grandson, had picked him up and let his parents have a very rare sleep in. As she looked into her mum’s room and saw her sound asleep, she knew immediately something was very wrong. Karl describes the scream that followed as something he will never forget. Instantly their world had collapsed. Their baby boy had slipped away in the night, lost to them forever. They had only had him in their lives to cuddle, and hold and love for 128 days.

The blur of days that followed had only one element of clarity to it, they must find answers. River’s death was attributed to Sudden Infant Death Syndrome and there is no reason to explain why this perfectly healthy baby had passed away in his sleep. Surrounded by the support of family from the UK, Karl’s dad who they lived with in Geelong, and the extremely supportive police officer Jamie Cookson and nurse Marc Benson, Alex and Karl were driven to do something. They wanted people to know that this heartbreak was real and happened to ordi-

of pure SIDS. You don’t even have to be one of those 81 families that have been tragically changed forever to know that this is 81 innocent lives too many. But Alex and Karl are one of those families, parents to a child they can only remember, and so River’s Gift was born.

nary families like theirs. But more than that, they wanted to make a difference for River, and create a legacy that would prevent others experiencing the horror of losing a baby to SIDS. They needed to know why their precious baby had been taken from them so early.

So the research began. To their surprise they discovered that there was minimal research being conducted in Australia to find the cause of SIDS. We are all familiar with Red Nose Day, and the money raised from this and other programs enables the SIDS organisation to offer essential bereavement care and conduct a robust educational role in creating awareness of SIDS. But with limited funding, research into the causes, and therefore further prevention of SIDS, is minimal. Last year 81 babies in Australia died

Within months, Karl and Alex had created a foundation, garnered significant local support and, through the participation in the Great Ocean Road Marathon where 80 of their friends participated, they had raised $27,000 for River’s Gift. Twelve months on, this initial running event has grown into the Run for River campaign and has currently raised $90,000 with the intention of raising $150,000 to create the first International SIDS Collaboration. They have established a working relationship with the Florey Institute of Neuroscience in Melbourne and intend to strengthen the bond with scientific co-ordinator Dr Jhodie Duncan and the guru of SIDS research Dr Hannah Kinney from Harvard University. This is the future of River’s Gift and this is the future of SIDS research. Karl passionately describes this as “the first international collaboration of its kind”. This first stage of fundraising will fund a medical researcher to spend twelve months working in Boston at the Children’s Hospital with Dr Hannah Kinney, and then the next stage of fundraising will be used to set up the very first exclusive SIDS Research Laboratory. The excitement and passion Alex and Karl have for this project is infectious. Clearly the impact they have on those around them is making things happen.

Karl hopes that River’s Gift “can become one of the biggest charities in the country” and that they could work

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FEATURE

full time on raising the money to fund this essential research. To date they have created an SOS (Stamp out SIDS) Campaign, Run For River running group in Geelong that anyone can join for a small fee of $70. Beginner or experienced runners train with a professional and join other runners. Each individual agrees to raise a minimum of $500 for River’s Gift. It is a clever initiative and is clearly popular with the numbers of people donning the River’s Gift singlets and pacing the streets of Geelong.

They have recruited runners to represent them anywhere in the world, at any running event wearing a River’s Gift singlet. They are planning a Kokoda trek later in the year that again, anyone is welcome to join. And, most importantly, they are in search of a corporate sponsor. These current and future programs will help them get to that target of $150,000 and allow the real research to begin.

Perhaps the desire to do something, to help this family desperately suffering, doesn’t come from their painful story of loss, but from the joy of their new baby girl. Five weeks after the death of her son, Alex was pregnant and gave birth a baby girl Shiloh Elizabeth River. Shiloh is Hebrew for “his gift”, and to Karl and Alex that is exactly what this darling baby girl is. Alex fondly describes her as their rainbow baby. “The rainbow brings hope after the storm and a bit of light when it’s been dark for a very long time.” This baby girl certainly brings hope and rays of sunshine with her adorable smile, but for Alex, she is also brings a new terror, an overwhelming fear that if they don’t know why River died, surely it can happen to Shiloh too. And that is more than any parent could possibly bear. So to calm the panic in some way Shiloh always wears a Snuza monitor. This constant ticking tells her parents that she is breathing, and if Alex cannot hear the ticking over the noise around them, even if she is sleeping in her mother’s arms, Alex puts her hand on her chest to make sure she can feel her breathing. This monitor is the only thing that gives her some solace. This and the fact that Karl, Alex and Alex’s Mum Dee complete the 24 hour roster to watch her sleep every minute of the night.

Someone is awake watching over her constantly, listening to the tick of the monitor, confident that tomorrow she will wake up.

Shiloh is already older than River will ever be; she has already had more cuddles, more smiles, more mornings with her parents. She will pass milestones he was never allowed and she will be reminded of the love her family will always have for her older brother. Alex holds her tightly, Karl kisses her constantly, she is loved and she is needed this baby girl. Alex’s heartfelt plea to tell others

that “this is real, this is happening, we are a real family” is amplified when you can see the pain etched in their smiles at their daughter. Shiloh may well be River’s Gift to her parents, but River’s Gift to the rest of the world is still coming. With enough support, money and momentum maybe Alex’s dream for the future may just come true and one day we may see the River’s Test be administered to babies at risk and save the lives of many. That may be the most amazing gift of all.

If you would like to be involved in SOS Run for River in Geelong in February, the Kokoda Trek in July, purchase a River’s Gift singlet, donate money or find out further information email info@riversgift.com visit riversgift. com or call Karl Waddell on 5200 9058. Karl Waddell and Alexandra Hamilton will also be speaking at the Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, Melbourne, on April 8.

LAURA GORDON

Page 16

SCIENCE FOR FUN Getting creative

making the world a better and more exciting place.

If you want to conduct science experiments at home it doesn’t mean you need to buy expensive equipment. For example, simple ideas like seeing if salt will dissolve in water or what colours will be created by mixing different food dyes together at bath time can generate plenty of discussion without the need to visit a science shop first. By providing plenty of hands-on exploration and experimentation time you can make the science activities you do together fun for all. It has been proven that children learn best through play and by conducting the experiments themselves. Additionally, the hands-on approach will also ensure that your children are focussed for longer periods of time.

Today my 3-and 5-year-old daughters caught a cabbage moth from the garden and put it in a netted butterfly enclosure that Santa delivered. Listening to the sounds of delight as they watched the butterfly illustrated to me that young children are natural, enthusiastic scientists. They ask a barrage of questions (“Mummy, I just saw a really long tongue drinking the flower – why?”; “If I put a tea towel over its home, will it sleep because I made it dark?”; “I want to see it lay an egg – what do its eggs look like?”), they test theories, they experiment and they interpret. Both of the girls were happy, inquisitive, engaged and most importantly, they were learning while having fun.

So go ahead, get your hands dirty and encourage your child to explore, question and investigate while having loads of fun! You never know, due to your help and enthusiasm in their early years, your child could be the next human to skydive from the edge of space. OK, maybe that is a step too far, but by engaging their little scientific brains early on the possibilities are endless.

To me, observing my kids with their new butterfly pet reinforced something that I’ve long believed - science is fun and kids just get this. They love exploring, experimenting and testing their previously acquired knowledge of the world. They are naturally full of questions and have an innate desire to understand what is around them.

As parents, we can easily encourage our kids’ quest for knowledge and enhance their natural tendency for scientific inquiry. And the good news is... we don’t need to be astrophysicists to do so. We don’t need to know all of the answers – in reality, no one does. We just need to enthusiastically cultivate that natural feeling of wonder and excitement and help them develop the skills so they can find the answers for themselves – “I’m not sure what the butterfly’s eggs look like. How can we find out?”

By explaining to your child that science is a part of our daily life (just about everything they touch in today’s world is a result of somebody’s scientific exploration and discovery) you are creating opportunities for a range of discussions and experimentation. From turning on a light to riding a bike; from making ice cream to watching a lightning storm; or from cooking a cake to growing a sunflower – these are all diverse examples of activities that

kids love doing which can trigger a scientific discussion of one form or another.

Activities at home

In all of this, it should be remembered that science is as much about creativity and imagination as it is about seeking the truth. Without the creativity and imagination, many scientific discoveries would simply not exist. As a result of the endless scientific discoveries that have been made in the past, there are many stories about famous scientists that you could read to your children. Through these stories, your children’s interest in science will be stimulated further, as will their understanding that science fills so much of our lives. After all, without science (and of course scientists), we would not be able to predict the weather, heal the sick or understand global warming to name but a few. Children can learn that with a little bit of imagination, creativity and perseverance they too could contribute to

CREATING AND MELTING ICE Discussion: Where do we find ice? How is it made? What can we use it for?

Activity: Freeze water in two ice cube trays Encourage children to play freely with ice blocks: • Stack them • Draw with them • Build with them Discussion: How does ice feel? What causes it to melt?

What do you think makes it melt?

Page 17

SCIENCE FOR FUN Activity: Get the kids to come up with ways to make the ice melt quickly or slowly.

Example: • Place a block of ice in a cup of hot water.

• Also place a block of ice in a cup of cold water.

SLIME Solids can act differently to how we expect. Mix half a cup of cornflour with a small amount of water until you’ve got a mixture that is like thick honey. Add a couple of drops of food colouring for fun.

• Stir the mixture fast, then mix it slowly and observe.

• Spoon some of the mixture onto a plate, then pick it up and work it into a ball.

• Poke it with your finger and experiment with what happens when you try to pull it apart.

•Form it into a ball in your hands. Stop rolling it and let the mixture rest – what happens?

Discussion: When is the mixture a solid and when is it a liquid? How does slime act when you pull it apart quickly? - Or slowly?

Note: Quicksand acts in a similar manner – the more you struggle, the harder it is to get out.

SUNFLOWERS

Do sunflowers require air to grow?

Do sunflowers require sunlight to grow?

• Grow two sunflower seedlings.

• Plant one seedling in a jar with soil such as a jam jar and put the lid on.

• Put the other seedling in a jam jar too but leave the lid off.

• Leave for a few days and compare.

• Plant sunflower seeds in two different pots using the same soil.

• Position them in the garden in two different spots – the first pot in a spot that gets full sun for most of the day; the second in a spot that receives minimal sunlight.

• Ensure both sunflower pots are given the same amount of water.

• Leave for a few days and compare.

Do sunflowers need water to grow?

• Grow x2 sunflower seedlings.

• Plant both seedlings in a sunny spot in the garden.

• Water only x1 of the seedlings for a few days • Compare

MINDY HODGES is an educator and owner of Crackerjack Kids, specialising in science

classes for kids. Visit crackerjackkids.com.au

Page 18

Summer is here & kids will be kids...

Keep this list of dental Care Tips handy incase your child has a dental emergency.

Dr. Alastair McCallum - Dental Surgeon

Trak Arcade, 73 The Terrace, Ocean Grove Ph: 5255 2584 Dr. Samantha Ho has recently joined us from Wales and has moved to Australia for a new adventure with her husband.

She is enjoying the coastal lifestyle and has settled well into the practice.

Dr. Samantha Ho

She has very high standards and enjoys improving people’s smiles. She is a gentle dentist and enjoys treating children as well as adults. Before her move Samantha worked in a dental practice in Wales and also worked in a dental hospital in the children’s clinic.

Dental Emergency Reference Guide TOOTHACHE - Painful tooth with throbbing ache or excessive sensitivity.

Rinse the mouth vigorously with warm water to clean out debris. Use dental floss to remove any food that might be trapped between the teeth. If swelling is present, place cold compresses on the outside of the cheek. (Do not use heat or place aspirin on the aching tooth or gum tissues.) See your dentist as soon as possible.

ORTHODONTIC PROBLEMS - (Braces & Retainers) Painful or loose wires, brackets, or bands.

If a wire is causing irritation, cover the end of the wire with a small cotton ball, beeswax or a piece of gauze. See your dentist as soon as possible. If a wire is embedded in the cheek, tongue, or gum tissue, do not attempt to remove it. Go to your dentist immediately. If an appliance becomes loose or a piece of it breaks off, take the appliance and the broken piece, and go to the dentist.

DISPLACED TOOTH - Tooth out of position with bleeding of the gums.

Try to reposition the tooth. Go immediately to the dentist.

KNOCKED-OUT TOOTH - (Permanent teeth only; do not replant baby teeth) Tooth completely out of its socket.

If the tooth is dirty, rinse it gently in running water. Do not scrub it. Gently insert and hold tooth in its socket. If it is not possible, place the tooth in a container of milk or cool water. Go immediately to your dentist (within 30 minutes, if possible) Don’t forget to bring the tooth.

BROKEN TOOTH - Fracture of tooth with severe pain or sensitivity.

Gently clean dirt or debris from the injured area with warm water. Place cold compress on the face, in the area of the injured tooth, to minimize swelling. Go to the dentist immediately.

Page 19

HEALTH Baby massage During my pregnancy I was excited to learn baby massage as I understood how beneficial it was for bonding and attachment. When my beautiful daughter was born, it became even more important as my husband and I found ourselves with a baby who was difficult to settle and cried constantly. I was nervous to go out, even to the supermarket, as it didn’t always end well and certainly wasn’t a relaxing experience.

When I started my baby massage course, I did not fully understand how beneficial it was in assisting with issues such as colic and reflux, so I was pleasantly surprised to learn about how it could assist with these issues. In fact, I was kicking myself for not having learnt about this earlier. Baby massage soon became one of the most enjoyable and relaxing times of our day together, a chance for us both to be calm and enjoy one another.

Before long, with some changes to my diet and daily baby massage, my husband and I found ourselves with a completely “different” baby. She was no longer in pain and crying constantly which was a massive relief to us.

Asking the permission of your baby or child is a vital part of baby massage and allows you to send the message to them right from infancy that they have the right to refuse physical touch by an adult. Within only 2-8 weeks babies can start to recognise the permission sequence. It’s amazing to learn about the ways in which babies communicate with us once you know which cues to read.

In baby massage we say that there is a period of time sometime between the 10-13 months of age where babies will decline massage because they are too busy developmentally, but it is also said that they will “return to massage”. When my daughter started to decline, I was worried that it was the end of our massage journey together, particularly since it was also my favourite time of the day. But sure enough, before long, she started to accept it again.

Of course it becomes much easier to read your child’s cues as they grow older. Every so often at 13 months she started

bringing me the bottle of massage oil and would sit in front me with intent as her way of requesting a massage. At 14 months she started copying the massage strokes she knows so well. Now, she will sometimes just give me a grin and walk away when I offer a massage - a nice clear message that now is not the right time. I love the powerful message it sends your child when you honour their wishes in this way. But when the time is right, her excited grin and babble says it all.

training with the Infant Massage Information Service, I am now able to share this special gift with others, which makes me feel so lucky.

After having such an amazing experience with baby massage, I went on to learn to teach baby massage myself so that I could share it with other parents and their little ones. After

Peaceful Possums Baby Massage. Phone 0414

Trips to the supermarket aren’t always easy now, but with a toddler that’s for different reason.

MELITA BOND is a massage instructor at

478 159 or visit peacefulpossums.weebly.com

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We would love to hear from you g with Send us your story alon a picture or two

news@kidsvoice.com.au

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FEATURE

Emotional connection As parents it’s easy to become overwhelmed by our children’s demands. It takes a lot of time and energy to meet all of our children’s needs. Additionally, we may become so accustomed to thinking we always know what our children need that we don’t consider asking them directly ‘What do you need?’

Asking this question has less to do with the material needs of our children and much more to do with understanding their emotional needs. Often as parents we can think we know what is occurring for our children emotionally and what they need without really understanding what is going on for them.

Our children need to feel that they are safe and secure, that they can move through life with ease, that they can act from their own personal power, that they will receive love, that they are heard and can speak about what matters to them, that they can see a greater story and meaning in their life, and that they feel connected to others and to the greater cosmos. When needs such as these have not been met at a particular stage or in a particular environment the emotional imbalance that results can manifest in many ways.

The unprocessed emotions from unmet needs are in fact the first principal or original cause of any symptom. Your child’s body is a mirror for their inner life: the physical symptoms and behavioural expressions of your children are indications of what is occurring for them beneath the surface. The metaphysical cause of disease has been a subject of interest for centuries and helps us to understand the first principle or the original cause of illness. This science has recently been popularised with Louise Hay’s work and others who have brought forth a revival of the body information that embraces this metaphysical science.

The thoughts your child thinks and the beliefs they hold (and

unprocessed emotions) actually shape their lives—as they do our own. Interpreting or understanding the meaning of the many challenges faced by our children is not always easy.

However, when we pay attention to all of children’s expressions and challenges we begin to see that they are simply a ‘message’ bringing attention to an important need that has gone unnoticed or unmet.

Of course our children’s physical, mental and emotional aspects are all interconnected and each aspect is vital to the whole child.

So if you have considered the obvious physical factors (their diet, nutrition and exercise etc), and the symptoms persist, then it is important to consider the emotional issue.

In this article I offer an understanding of some of the most general issues that your child may face—examples that are common in my work and research in the field of childhood wellbeing. These examples may bring awareness to the unmet need of your child. As you read the examples, if your child is experiencing one of these, keep the question in mind ‘I wonder what my child might need’? You might even like to try asking them directly.

Allergies

Bedwetting Persistent bedwetting is a sign of underlying emotional stress (bedwetting is considered persistent after the age of three when bladder control is more established). Bedwetting is usually a repressed fear of an authority figure (father). A child that persistently wets the bed may feel that they are not good enough and often are very hard on themselves. A child that wets the bed needs to feel that they are loved regardless of their achievements or behaviours (even the bedwetting itself) Child’s affirmation: I am enough, I am accepted and I am loved.

Fears and phobias Childhood fears and phobias are common and varied. Some children are afraid of animals, some of loud noises, and some of certain people or situations. If children’s phobias are left unattended they can become more acute (childhood phobias can develops into compulsions (OCD)). Phobias may appear to have no rational understanding but they are real to the child and they can result in a great deal off anxiety, insecurity or even depression.

If your child is allergic, they may have a strong dislike for someone or something. Something is irritating them. The internal or emotional irritation if not attended to manifests as a rash, or as hay fever for instance. A child that develops allergies may be over-sensitive, defensive and easily intimidated. They need to feel safe to express their emotions and the many feelings they have.

A child with phobias perceives that the environment they are in does not meet their needs. So a phobia is the perfect situation in which to reassure the child that they matter (even when their reactions may be distressing for you to watch or deal with) and showing the child that you really want to understand what is going on for them. Asking the child about what they feel and try to help them to understand their feelings.

Help your child to affirm: I honour the power within me. It is safe for me to stand up for myself.

Child’s affirmation: I am safe and I am worthy of having my needs met.

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FEATURE Nightmares/Night terrors

longation or repetition of sounds. Stuttering is a fear of the child to express itself, especially to an authority figure. Children that fear expressing themselves verbally may hesitate and be uncertain about what they are saying. They are also worried that what they have to say will not be accepted.

Nightmares and the more severe night terrors can be very upsetting for children and parents alike. A nightmare is distressing, ends abruptly and leaves a child feeling filled with anxiety that persists into the waking hours. Night terrors are more paralysing - often the child does not wake, or will have trouble coming out of the terror. The night terror is not usually recalled upon waking. In both instances the child has a fear or anguish that they can’t face up to during the day and thus repress it. The fear then surfaces in the dream state. All dreams communicate issues for your child that they need to be aware of.

Child’s affirmation: I can express myself clearly - what I have to say matters – I am heard Stomach aches Stomach problems are the manifestation of a failure or refusal to ‘stomach’ a person or a situation. There may be something your child cannot tolerate. Often a stomachache alerts that there is a resistance to new ideas or a resistance to changing habits.

Nightmares and night terrors should not be dismissed as only a dream or told don’t worry it’s not real. It is real to your child. And it is often quite revealing that the child is afraid of something that is going on in their waking life. If you dismiss their real experience you may be closing the communication between the two of you, as well as the child’s future dreams. The child needs space to talk about (express) what they felt in the dream and you can reassure them that you want to help them to understand what the dream is telling them.

Child’s affirmation: I am open to new ideas and trying new things. I act easily and effortlessly.

Once your children are able to feel and think about their challenges as important messages, and are asked ‘‘what do you need?’’ they begin to understand their feelings, thoughts and emotions in a new way. From this position many things that were a challenge for them can be overcome. Often this feels like magic for many children and parents, however, there is no mystery in the transformation that happens when we bring forth hidden needs and make them known.

Child’s affirmation: My dreams bring me important messages.

I am open to the messages I receive.

Separation anxiety Separation Anxiety is common for many children as they transition from one environment to another. The environments of home and school or day care can often have a very different feel.

Separation anxiety is common in children that are not yet ready to separate from their parent (mothers generally) as they feel unsafe without them and are resistant to change. The child may feel that the environment is not able to meet their needs in the same way they are met at home.

settling to sleep, there may be some resistance to feeling the comfort, peace and solutions that sleep brings. The emotional factors that cause sleeping issues are generally based on fear. A child that is afraid and cannot verbally express their fears will have trouble sleeping. Often I see many children with sleeping problems that are living in environments of unrest. So it is important to please ask yourself as a parent if there is a feeling of unrest in the home that the child may be picking up on? They need to feel safe to express their emotions and the many feelings they have.

It is important to remember too that our children take on and mirror back the limited thought patterns and beliefs that they have adopted from their environments. So in this way, when our children have challenges, we as parents also have an opportunity to re-examine the limiting beliefs and emotional responses from our own unmet needs too.

Child’s affirmation: It is safe for me to be here - I am open to the beauty of change

Child’s affirmation: I am at peace. I welcome the relief and rest of sleep.

The Body is the Barometer of the Soul – Annette Noontil

Sleep/bedtime issues If your child has trouble sleeping, wakes frequently or has trouble

Speech difficulties/stuttering Stuttering is a speech disorder and involuntary hesitation, pro-

Resources: You Can Heal Your Life – Louise Hay MAXINE THERESE is a childhood wellbeing

specialist and founder of the Cosmos Child system. Visit cosmoschild.com

Page 22

TECHNOLOGY Apps for learning With the school year well under way, the kids are already buried in books and electronics. Try to limit the usage of computers, tablets and smart phones, and stick to educational apps where possible. Summer is a great time around Geelong and along the coast, so best to try to get your little ones outdoors.

Most schools offer iPads as a way of learning, and even kindergartens are taking them on board too. bestappsforkids.com is a great website that helps you find an app for a certain age or category. I have also listed a few suggestions of apps that will help your children learn while playing.

1. Playground HD2 More a games cupboard than a playground, this app has all the old favourites such as tic-tac-toe, Connect-4 and Mastermind. There are also three other new games that also help with maths and strategic skills. Perfect for all ages from as young as 4 right through to adults.

2. Animal Alphabet My youngest son started school this year, and I believe learning the letters of the alphabet is one of the first steps to becoming a successful reader. Learning to write the letters and attaching the sounds is a great way to give your little ones a head start and it is all offered by Animal Alphabet. There is also iWriteWords which teaches your child handwriting while playing a fun game.

3. Memory and Alphabet HD This app is similar to the Animal Alphabet, but has three game modes allowing the kids to learn to associate different images and sounds of 170 words. The memory game aims to make the process of learning to spell a fun exercise.

4. Mable Math Brilliant graphics on this app allow your kids to solve

multiplication problems by collecting numbers as they roll and drag their marble through a series of fun mazes. This free app is sure to entertain while learning at the same time.

Another math app is Mathtopia, but beware, this app is addictive. Now who would have though Maths was fun?

5. Recycle Hero Taking care of the environment is very important, and this adventure game teaches kids about recycling. Your child can be a hero and save the world from being polluted.

6. KidArt for iPad This one is for the creative ones, or those hoping to improve in art class. Kids can draw, stamp and colour and this app allows them to save their work so they can show everyone – like their real own art gallery.

7. IBM Think This is one of my favourites and is geared towards the older kids that love to know how things work. If your kids love their science, history or technology, this app will be a sure hit. It is translated into 10 languages, so for anyone that is looking for a real challenge, try utilising the app in the language being taught at school. The IBM Think does a great job at teaching while bringing history to life.

8. Wikipedia, Wikiweb and Wikipanion When I was growing up, we had a whole bookcase dedicated to Encyclopaedia Britannica. Even though my parents paid a fortune for them, they were out of date as soon as they make it to the book shelf. Today, kids can download the Wikipedia app to be the most knowledgeable kid in class. Wikipanion is a condensed version that is designed for easier search and navigation and book marks important pages that you have previously visited.

The Wikiweb app is another alternative which is used to navigate around Wikipedia which is constantly updated and costs a fraction of the cost of the volumes of books that used to clutter our lounge room.

9. MyHomework App I am not sure whether I think this app is for those who are really organised or the procrastinator. This app allows you to keep track of your homework, tests, assignments and classes. You can set reminders and even prioritise each activity. While this is not technically a learning app, it is great for helping organise those in the higher levels of learning that have plenty on their plate.

Another similar app is Bento which has the added bonus of a safe place to store your passwords.

10. Minecraft I really hesitated in including this one in the list due to how addictive it is. Classrooms around the world are tapping into the popularity of this app, and believe it allows for some great learning opportunities for children.

This includes team building skills and social interacting, reading, maths and geometry – after all, the world is made up of cubes. There is also the added bonus of learning to spell, and I am afraid to say that my son started his first day at school knowing how to spell his name as well as Minecraft and Herobrine.

There are hundreds of thousands of apps, so obviously this list doesn’t even brush the surface. There is an app for just about anything you can imagine like a calculator, translator, a choice of over 300 guitar tuners, an app with different whistles to help train your dog (with over 10 million unique users) and even an app for helping you find where you parked your car (special note to my Mum to take note of this one). And if you can’t find what you are looking for, there is probably even an app to help you look! Good luck and have fun.

Shelley Gross is director at Wonderful Websites. Phone 0447 353 033,

visit wonderfulwebsites.com.au or email sales@wonderfulwebsites.com.au

Page 23

PET CARE Staying cool in summer Summer is a great time for all the family, including the pets, to spend time together. It is important to remember that our pets feel the heat just as we do, and it is our responsibility to keep them cool and comfortable.

Remember that animals cannot cool themselves by sweating like humans. Dogs and cats might sweat a small amount through their foot pads, but the main way a dog cools off is by panting.

It is essential that you keep fresh, cool water available to your pets at all times. In hot weather, this is even more crucial. Make sure you keep the water dish in a shady location and change the water frequently. Lots of dogs love playing in the hose or a paddling pool. Ice cubes in water bowls are a fun way to encourage your cat to play in their bowl and spend more time drinking on warm days. Add extra water to tinned or moist foods to boost your pets’ fluid intake when it is warm.

Your dog or cat might enjoy a little sunbathing, but they ultimately need to have a cool, shady spot to get out of the sun. Prolonged sun exposure not only leads to heat exhaustion, it can also cause sunburn. While sunscreen is available for dogs and cats, it needs to be re-applied regularly and at a time when it can’t be groomed or licked straight off the skin eg. right before a meal is fed or prior to a walk. The best sun prevention is to offer adequate shelter such as shade from trees, undercover patio areas, well ventillated dog houses or an open air tent or beach canopy. The addition of a fan will help to further cool things down. The best shelter is going to be inside sharing the airconditioning with other family members also sheltering from the heat.

If your pet must be outdoors on a hot day, placing frozen ice bricks or big blocks of ice in the shelter or enclosure area are a great way for them to keep cool.

This works particularly well for rabbits and guinea pigs.

An icy treat like a Kong or chew toy frozen with chicken stock inside makes a cool treat for dogs, and frozen chicken wings are great for cats.

As a general rule, avoid taking your dog for a walk when the temperature is more than 27 degrees. On days with a forecast warmer than this, walk early in the morning or head to the beach. If your dog has a short nose eg. Pug, Boxer or Bulldog, avoid exercise at all when it is warm, as these dogs are not at all efficient in keeping themselves cool by panting.

Never leave your dog in the car on a hot day.

Signs of heat exhaustion include: continuous panting,

weakness progressing to collapse so the dog is unwilling or unable to rise, thick white saliva, gums turning either a bright brick red or a pale blue colour. If you recognise these signs it is important to get your pet to the vet as soon as possible. Do not submerge your animal in cold water, gentle cooling is best and can be achieved by placing cold wet towels over sparsely haired areas eg.

Abdomen, armpits and foot pads and have the airconditioning or fan running on high in the car for the journey to the clinic.

Katie Stoeckel is a vet at Newtown Veterinary Clinic. Phone 5221 5333.

Adopt a pet 5248 2091

gaws.org.au Pazzo ID: 9590

Pazzo is a great little guy who loves life. He is fun, energetic and very friendly.

Pazzo is a confident fellow who doesn’t mind the company of other dogs. He is great to lead and walks with his head held high. He knows the basic commands like sit and he has good recall skills too.

He’s quite gentle and doesn’t jump up like most small dogs. He does love a cuddle though, so if you think you have a place for him in your life, we are sure he would love to meet you.

Fatty ID: 10808

How can you resist this gorgeous fellow?

Fatty is one beautiful boy who would be quite content in finding a nice warm spot around your home and having a catnap.

He does enjoy a pat, but only on his terms. He is not the most athletic cat, but he still enjoys life.

Fatty is looking for his forever home so please come and meet him.

Biscuit ID: 10807

As you can see, Biscuit is a very handsome young man.

He can be quite affectionate and enjoys having a pat. Biscuit would be the type of cat that you can talk to about your day, and he will listen contently.

Biscuit is looking for his forever home so please come and meet him.

Sponser a pet by advertising on this page. Phone Rob on 0457 007 463 or email rob@kidsvoice.com.au

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REVIEWS T H E M O N DA Y T O F RI D A Y D I ET

B y Su s i e B u r r el l - Randomhou s e

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Lose the weight you need and keep the life you want with this exciting new real-life diet. ‘This week is going to be different to all the others; this is going to be the week I get my food, my diet and my life on track, for good’. How often have you said that, only to have it all come apart

by Wednesday? At last an honest diet that works with real life! In The Monday to Friday Diet Susie Burrell unmasks your ‘food enemies’ - the people in your life that hold you back from reaching your weight loss goals. Susie gives you the advice and strategies you need to deal with these ‘food enemies’, so you can keep your friends, and finally lose the weight! The Monday to Friday Diet provides the critical tips and tricks to manage your working week, set rules, know your daily trigger points and set your own weight loss principles. By following Susie’s simple Monday to Friday program over just 20 days To win this book LIKE our you will revolutionise your approach Facebook page facebook.com/ to weight loss. You will discover that KidsVoiceGeelong and send us you can lose the weight you need, a message telling us why you’d and keep the life you want! like to win.

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By Nick F a l k - Ra n d o m h o u s e When Jack wishes for his own Tyrannosaurus, he doesn’t expect a real one to turn up in the veggie patch. It’s pretty cool, but there’s no way he can keep it. It’s far too big to hide, and it’s bound to eat one of the neighbours sooner or later. With the help of local whizkid Toby, Jack builds a time machine and sends the T-rex back to the dinosaur era. But when Toby, Jack and the dog get sent back to the Cretaceous period too, there’s more than one troublesome Tyrannosaurus to deal with! And that’s only book one. When a pterodactyl swoops through Sam’s window just as finishes his homework he knows he must get it back. It’s the fifth piece of homework he’s lost this month!

Full of adventure, super humour and fun facts, the Saurus Street series is destined to become a classic, especially amongst kids with dinosaur-sized imaginations.

T U O B A S TELL U !

S T N E V E YOUR IF YOU HAVE SOMETHING HAPPENING IN YOUR AREA DROP US A LINE news@kidsvoice.com.au

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REVIEWS

THE HO BB IT

An Un expe ct e d G ath e rin g - Le g o

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To win this Lego LIKE our Facebook page facebook. com/KidsVoiceGeelong and send us a message telling us why you’d like to win. There are 4 sets of Hobbit to be won!

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If you are a Hobbit fan then this is definitely the set for you! This Lego set is amazing and it was great fun to build. The interior of the house is not the same colour as the exterior, with the outside being green and the interior having a layer of tan.

The roof of Bilbo’s house comes off so that you can easily access the inside of the house, however there are a few blocks that will attach the top to the base so that it doesn’t fall off if you move the set.

Inside the house, there are many wonderful pieces, such as the table laden with food, the treasure chest, fireplace and chimney and most of all, Bilbo’s writing desk which even has a little scratch painted on it. You get six mini-figures with the set - Bilbo, Gandalf, Balin, Dwalin, Bofur, and Bombur, who all have some really nice extra touches. Bilbo is adorable with his casual Hobbit garb, plus he has two faces!

From Li ttl e W r a p b a g

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These pouches are perfect for days out, walks along the beach or simply for when you need two hands free. They are cotton canvas and cotton lined and available in four designs. Measuring 85mm deep x 135mm long, they are sized to suit your phone, iPod, camera, tissue pack or similar. Coming with its own black and silver, 90cm neck To win this Pouch LIKE our Facebook page facebook.com/KidsVoiceGeelong lanyard for optional use, these pouches have been and send us a message telling us why designed to make your life easier. Available from selected you’d like to win. There are 10 Multiretailers and online at www.littlewrapbag.com.au purpose pouches to be won!

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“Roll Me, Throw Me, Catch Me, I always land on my feet” was the tag line for these Beanie Ballz. These plush toys are absolutely adorable, from their big eyes down to their soft cuddly fabric. We felt really bad throwing the beautiful, big fluffball called Dewdrop in the air to see if it would To win this Beanie Ball LIKE land on its feet, however we can happily say that nine times out of ten this our Facebook page facebook. did happen. They are super soft and super cute and with a large range that com/KidsVoiceGeelong and send us a message telling us you can start collecting, these toys will suitably fill the arms of any child. why you’d like to win.

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Page 26

COOKING CREATIONS Hamburgers by the metre INGREDIENTS French stick or baguettes

milk, eggs and sugar. Once well mixed, pour it into your baking dish, making sure all the bread pieces have the mix poured over them. Pop into the oven and cook for 30 mins.

The top will be like toast, lower down will be nice and squishy. Once cooked, give a sprinkle of cinnamon sugar.

500g beef mince Tasty cheese HOW TO Preheat oven to 180 degrees. Slice the bread lengthways so you have 2 long boats. Pull some of the bread out of the centre of the boats, leaving your bread boat with an edge about 1cm wide. Mix the bread you have pulled out with the uncooked mince (this is also the stage you would add any extras like herbs, spices, chillis or onions). Then cook the mince mix in a frypan Fill the hollows in your bread boats with your mince mix. Sprinkle tasty cheese on top and place your boats in the oven until the cheese melts.

Vegetarians can make this using tinned beans or chickpeas.

Bread & butter pudding INGREDIENTS Raisin bread (you can also use a butter cake sliced into 1 cm slices) 7 eggs 300ml milk 2½ tbsp sugar Cinnamon sugar Butter HOW TO Preheat oven to 180 degrees Celsius. Grease the bottom and sides of your round or square 2cm baking dish. Lay your slices of raisin bread (I usually use around 9) in your dish, slightly overlapping. You can cut them to fit if you like. Do two layers of bread. Using a hand mixer, mix your

Nutella icy poles

I make this one with a hand mixer in an easy pour bowl.

It’s a recipe inspired by one I found on Kidspot, but I am more heavy handed with the nutella. If you swap the ratios (1 cup nutella, ½ cup milk or cream) you will have yourself a nutella dip that you can use for dipping wafer biscuits or fruit, or even using warm as a topping for your ice-cream.

This recipe makes six icy poles.

INGREDIENTS I cup full cream milk (you can use lactose free or soy) 1/2 cup nutella HOW TO Blend ingredients well. Pour the mix into icy pole moulds and pop into the freezer. Serve when frozen. Done! If you don’t have icy pole moulds you can use ice cube trays, and could even use your nutella ice cubes in a glass of milk.

Bubble and Squeak INGREDIENTS 300g mashed potatoes (you can use leftover mashed potatoes,) 100g broccoli (cut small) 100g grated carrots 200g grated zucchini Half a cup grated tasty cheese Butter Olive oil (can use vegetable or canola if you like)

HOW TO If you are using leftover vegies, skip to step 2, but be sure to mash your vegies up a bit so they’re not in big chunks.

1. For all of your grated vegies, they won’t take long to cook. Pop them in a microwave safe dish with half cup of water and microwave for one minute. Do same with broccoli for with ½ cup water for two minutes. Drain off the water from these once cooked. If you are doing your potatoes from scratch, cut them into small pieces and boil in water for 15-20 minutes. Drain off the water and mash with a little butter. Don’t worry if there are lumps.

2. Mix all your vegies together and then mix in the grated cheese. Then roll into balls and pop into the frypan with a little oil (unless you’re using a non-stick pan). Squash the ball a¬ bit flatter with your spatula and cook until golden brown. Flip over and cook other side the same. Serve hot.

MEGAN BROOKS is an award-winning cook who

runs a home-based food business specialising in handmade fudge. Visit fudgalicious.com.au

Page 27

WHAT’S ON EDUCATION Every Monday: Road to Reading, agegroup sessions between 9am and 3pm, Uniting Church, Anderson Street, Torquay.

Every Tuesday Road to Reading, agegroup sessions between 9am and 1pm, Western Heights Uniting Church, Douglass Street, Herne Hill.

9.30-10.30am, Barwon Heads Community Hall, Corner Hitchcock Avenue and Ozone Street.

Kids Dance Classes, Tuesday to Friday evenings, 4/22-26 Essington Street, Grovedale. Phone 0420 998 596.

Rainbow Riders horse riding and farm activities. Visit rainbowriders.com.au or phone 5264 1175, Koombahla Park Equestrian Centre school holiday program.

Phone 5256 2742.

FESTIVALS February 23: Pako Festa in Pakington Street, Geelong West. Parade at 11am.

Live performances from midday. Workshops and entertainers all day.

HEALTH & FITNESS March 3: Rotary Family Fun Runs on the Bellarine Rail Trail. Events for adults and kids, racing the train. Visit familyfunrun.org.au or phone 0412 211 653.

Every Monday: Parent & Toddler Group Fitness, 9-10am, Barwon Heads Community Hall, corner of Hitchcock Avenue and Ozone Street.

Every Wednesday: Yoga and Dance,

PERSONAL March 6: PFLAG Geelong, 6pm, support group for parents, carers, family and friends of same sex attracted and gender diverse people. Phone 5272 4688.

MUMS Every Wednesday: Pregnant Young Mums Club, 2-4pm, Newcomb Community Health Centre, 104-108 Bellarine Highway. Phone 0423603633 or 5260 3333.

First Friday each month: Greenmums, 10am, Moby, Esplanade, Torquay.

YOUTH Girl Connect 3241: Free community art program for women 14 and over.

Programs will run on Wednesday in Winchelsea from February to June.

Phone 5221 6333 or email geelong@ ywca.net The fOrT Drop In youth centre, St Georges Rd, Corio (Old Tourist Information Centre - Stead Park), open Monday, Thursday and Friday, from 4pm, for anyone aged 12 to 25.

Mondays: Food for fOrT, 4-6pm.

Thursdays: Movie Night, 4-7pm.

Music lessons – guitar and drums – bookings 0488 443 778.

February 14 & 28: Artery at Lara Library, 4-6pm. Take part in international postal art projects and see your art travel overseas. Book online at geelonglibraries. vic.gov.au or visit your local library.

Submit your listings for What’s On at news@kidsvoice.com.au

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