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ÊGREAT READING My Remedy for School Holiday Boredom Beat the Morning Blues Tips Plus more! ÊKids Corner Two Puzzle Pages pg 28 Make Fluffy Slime and Chia Seed Oobleck pg 30 ÊRecipes Winter Warmers Zucchini,Basil & Chicken Soup Cornish Pasties pg 15 &16
VOLUME 4
YOUR LOCAL FAMILY MAGAZINE
JULY 2020
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EditorsLetter Welcome to Our July Online Magazine Welcome to Winter Month Two! Well the little Darlings went back to school and with the blink of an eye ....they are on holidays! Get them to check out our Kids Corner, we have two pages of puzzles on pages 28 and 29 PLUS two exciting experiments to make, Fluffy Slime and Chia Seed Oobleck on pages 30 and 31. Have fun Kids! Still in the cooking mood? Well you can cook up a storm with our Winter Warmer’s, try our Zucchini, Basil and Chicken Soup it is delicious and so easy to make, and who can go past a Cornish Pasty especially when they are homemade. Maybe the Kids will want to help! With the children home, relaxing in a quiet corner....well it is just not going to happen, I know when my Children were young we would often have an inside picnic when the weather was against us, throw a rug on the floor and include the kids to choose what they want to take on the picnic, pack it into a basket and take a board game or cards and have fun on the floor.
Well I was reluctant to mention the elephant in the room but this Virus just will not go away and I have lost count how many phases / steps /stages there has been and how many more to come ‘hang in there, the other side is coming. We are all on the same journey just taking different roads to get there. The most important thing is to be kind to everyone including yourself. Best wishes for a better month and stay safe,
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Glenda Long Editor
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Feeling ALL the Feels by Marilou Coombe
I am not going to lie. I was an emotional mess when my boys went back to school. Especially my youngest, as he returned first. A mixture of sadness, excitement, relief of going back to some sort of normal and most of all so much pride. It was in my 20s that I first felt such polarity in my emotions. How is it possible to feel such sadness in my heart and at the same time so much excitement about what lay ahead. I was 24 and about to fly to live in the United States for a year. Sadness for leaving my loved ones behind and excitement for all the new places I will see and all the new people I will meet. What I learnt was we need to feel ALL the feels in order to feel better and get into our best state of mind. Over the last 3 months, we muddled thru schooling online, we learnt a lot about our learning styles, likes and dislikes of subjects. We had our eyes open to the skills we already had – especially the boys' resilience and ability to adapt so quickly. There were also the outbursts of frustration and anger. This is normal and a time where I encourage us to feel the feels and work thru them. What are these emotions attempting to tell us? They are the compass of what we need to pay attention to in our life. Especially if something does not feel so great, what needs to change in order for us to be in our optimum state?! The important part is to talk about why we are feeling the way that we are and rectifying any problems that are bringing on the negative feelings. It is imperative we talk to our children about how we feel. Admit what we don't know. If you 6
are scared share that with your child and let them know what strategies you are using to cope, or even better, come up with strategies to cope together. Practice it together, hold each other accountable. Afterall, our children model our behaviour regardless, so why not talk them thru it and show them how to navigate this topsy turvy time? If I learnt anything during this pandemic so far it is to take each moment as it comes and feel the feels. If tomorrow something else comes up and changes, we will just do our best to flow with it and feel all the feels that come up. And for now, secretly, bring on these school hols! Marilou Coombe Coach, Mentor, Author, Speaker, Yoga Teacher to little humans www.mariloucoombe.com
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What about Screen-time? So much has been written about screen-time for young children, and I'm sure much, much more will be written because it is a very important topic. Basically, Some of the pros about screen-time include: Ÿ positives in physical development i.e. hand eye coordination, typing skills Ÿ language and communication skills development Ÿ social skills development Ÿ problem solving and planning skills development Ÿ increased creativity Some of the cons include: Ÿ physical issues e.g. vision issues, neck, and spinal issues (due to poor posture) Ÿ sleep problems (blue light from screens before bed affect sleep) Ÿ inactivity leading to poor fitness and obesity Ÿ poorer language development and social skills with excess use Ÿ and seriously, the possibility of addiction to the use of digital technology (this is now a bona fide diagnosis) Ÿ emotional or depressive symptoms associated with unsuitable content or excessive social media use So how much is a healthy amount of total screen-time per day? This really depends on the age of the child, and how much compulsory schoolwork is required by their school. Only a parent can make the decision about how much screen-time as the experts have not concluded yet. All parents need to decide how much 8
by Debra Landini screen-time they will allow their child. It should be explained to the child when and for how long they can use their device. For example, mealtimes are not a good time to be mixed with screen-time. Getting ready to go out or go to school is best done with all devices tucked away. Perhaps areas of the house and times of the day can be made “screen-free”. Saving devices specifically for entertainment, is best used during high risk or problem times. An example of this, is when a parent is trying to get the evening meal together. It is not unreasonable for children to be watching television or given an iPad to play on during this time. Research has shown that children need nontechnology-based playtime to be creative and use their imaginations, on a regular basis. Research has also shown that relying on typing skills and not spending some time each day to handwrite, can have detrimental effects on the growing brain and subsequent emotional health of the child.
Parental monitoring of the content is also critical. Excessive violence or sexual matter is obviously inappropriate. Another danger to the young user is online predators. Teaching children about being safe online is essential and there are government websites to assist you to do this. E.g. www.esafety.gov.au Do take time to plan your child's screen-time so all is well. Debra Landini R.N. www.goodhealthandparenting.com.au
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? ? ? ? ?
Questions All
Parents often ask 'how can I get my child to behave, to listen, to do what I say? All parents struggle with this at one time or another, sometimes most of the time. Before giving a quick answer or strategy, it may be helpful for us first to take a step back first and turn the question round, to ask why do children behave, listen and do what they are asked to do? There are three reasons: 1.Children behave (most of the time) because they recognize that they are in a meaningful relationship with their parents. They value the relationship and don't want to damage it. The relationship between children and their parents is something that is built up over time. These are the building blocks of love, trust, connection and belonging 2.Children behave when they know what the limits and boundaries are and what is expected of them. They need to know what the rules of the house are and these need to be consistent. If you let children jump on the furniture on Monday and get angry with them for doing it on Tuesday, they will reckon that it's not really a firm rule. 3.Children behave when they know who is in charge and who takes responsibility for the family. This always must be the parents. The Golden Non-Negotiables These days parents often become confused about being in charge, having rules and standing firm. They may want to do things differently from their parents because their parents' punishments may have been too harsh, or too arbitrary, as in 'do what I say because I say so'. There is no need for a full set of rules and 10
regulations, only three. These are the nonnegotiables and they are always: 1. Health 2. Safety 3. Civility Parents must ensure their children's health and safety and must act when it comes to situations that put them at risk. So that means for example that children need a healthy diet, not junk food and if they are young children they need to hold a parent's hand when crossing the road. These non-negotiables change as children grow but they should always remain a reference point. When your teenager wants to attend a party where there is no parental oversight and you have no idea who will be there, then 'no' is nonnegotiable. Civility is about everyone in the family treating each other respectfully and reminding each other when they don't. Parents are not rubbish bins and dumping grounds for all their children's emotions. By the same token children deserve to be spoken to in a respectful manner as well and not yelled at or belittled. Having and using authority as parents Parents often ask, 'what do I do when my child says you're not the boss of me'. The short answer to this is that parents are, and must be, the bosses of their children because they are held responsible when anything happens to their child. This means that they must assume authority. Having authority as a parent should not be confused with being authoritarian. It may sound like a joke, but the parent can say to their child when challenged about being the boss, 'by virtue of the power invested in me I am responsible for you and therefore I must Follow us on
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Parents Ask assume authority for you'. This means that parents do not need to go in search of authority because it is already invested in them. How this is all connected? When parents assume authority and are really convinced that they are in charge they speak with a different voice. Children overall don't just want to be naughty. They want to be loved and looked after and they want to do the right thing. Valuing the relationship and putting in place appropriate limits and boundaries is far better than putting in place 'consequences' such as sending children to their room and punishing them by taking things out of their room or forbidding them to attend a sporting event or birthday party. Most of these 'strategies' have very little effect.
by Dr. Ruth Schmidt Neven
Parents as mentors Children don't come into the world knowing how to behave and rely on their parents to help them to become social beings. We would not expect a new recruit to a job to know the ropes of how things work in the new workplace. Someone would generally be assigned to help them settle in. Children similarly need parents to be mentors to guide them through the path of social development, rather than expecting them to understand how to behave from the start. Emotional and social development is a balancing act and practice makes perfect. We want to set children up to succeed not to fail, so acting as mentors in this important balancing act helps them on their way. Dr. Ruth Schmidt Neven is a clinical psychologist and child psychotherapist and Director Centre for Child and Family Development www.centreforchildandfamily.com
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Zucchini, Basil and Chicken Soup Ingredients: 8 x Medium Zucchinis 6 x Chicken Thighs 1 x Large Onion 2 x Cloves garlic 2 Sticks Celery 1 x Tbs dried basil. 2 x litres of Chicken Stock (Salt reduced) 1tsp ground pepper (optional) Method: Roughly chop zucchini, onion, garlic and celery, fry off in a little olive oil, add stock and basil and bring to boil, then simmer till soft. Meanwhile chop chicken into small bite size pieces. Using stick blender, blend soup until smooth, add chicken and cook gently for 15-20minutes. Season with salt and pepper if required. Serve and Enjoy Don’t forget the pinch of 14
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Cornish Pasties Ingredients: 1 med / large potato 1 small carrot 1 med onion 1 med parsnip 1 small turnip 1 small swede 250g mince steak 1tbs Worcestershire sauce Ground black pepper Shortcrust pastry sheets, thawed 1 egg beaten for glazing Method: Roughly chop vegetables, place in processor and pulse until vegetables are a small dice (not minced). Mix vegetables with mince, sauce and pepper. Using pastie cutter to cut four circles from each pastry sheet. Place pastry circle on top of cutter lightly moisten edges with water, spoon filling into pastry do not overfill, close pastie press, place on baking sheet prick with sharp fork three times, glaze tops with egg wash. Cook at 180 degrees until golden. Place on wire rack to cool. Pastie & Wonton Cutters Serve with sauce, salt and pepper. Don’t forget the pinch of
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Lily-pads and Dragonflies by Dave Edgren Each of our children are a lot like a frog in a pond. I don't mean a yummy Freddo frog in a bowl of jelly! I mean real frogs in a real pond. By the time our children are in school they have matured past a few early stages. Frogs protect their youngest offspring in all kinds of creative ways – in their mouth, under the skin on their back, behind rocks. Likewise, when our kids were little they were coddled – in a pram, playpen and baby carriers on our front, back or hip! Then they grew legs. Now, no longer living under the water as tadpoles – they have moved to the surface, where all the other little frogs are living, breathing and growing – at school. And there are all kinds of new things they encounter. In this new environment outside of home – where our children will spend 12 years of their lives – there are two important factors that we, as understanding parents, can help with. Lily-pads and dragonflies. Lily-pads cover the surface of the pond. Each one is a small environment in which we live for a time – temporary environmental factors. Afternoon is a Lily-pad. Some people accomplish more in the afternoon. Others, during the morning. Being tired is a lily-pad. We all do our best thinking and behaving when we are rested. Then there are situational lily-pads – like having a cold, or a death of a loved one, or a family situation. These lily-pads come with our kids to school. These are where they are living, right now. Understanding concentration, attitude and behaviour are related to our emotional environment helps us plan accordingly – and treat ourselves kindly when we do something out of character due to one of the lily-pads we are resting on. Helping our kids understand the environmental factors in their 16
lives will help them make sense of who they are in the big world and why they feel the way they do. Dragonflies dive in from the sky. They cause us to react suddenly and unpredictably. Someone touching my hair might be a dragonfly. Someone picking up the toy I wanted might be one. Being told to sit down and be quiet might be one. Everyone has their own unique dragonflies based on our physical, emotional and intellectual identity. Personal dragonflies cannot be seen by others. And, most of the time, we don't see them coming ourselves. They just strike and we react. Each time we meet one of our dragonflies, it helps to give it a name and define it. Then we know that dragonfly and may be able to prepare for it or avoid it next time. Lily-pads and dragonflies is one way to teach emotional awareness. It is useful to develop daily habits of choosing good lily-pads – and skills in how to live through rough times. It is also a great life-skill to learn to face your dragonflies by naming them and learning how to prepare for next time. I hope lily-pads and dragonflies is helpful for you. If it is, put a Freddo in a jelly cup and let your little tadpole eat it while you teach them all about the big frog in a pond world out there! Dave Edgren is a storyteller, author & trainer. Dave writes from a primary school in Melbourne where he spends his days playing games with kids and talking about things that matter. Learn more about Dave: valuesinstory.blogspot.com.au
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Beat the Morning ^ Hello Happy Child Happy Home Friends, Some of you are back to the school run now and although everyone is happy to be seeing friends and teachers, it can be a little shock to get ready and out the door on time! If you are not back, you can save these tips for when you are! Here are a few fun tips to help with 'beating the morning blues!' - all ages! Be organised! How do you feel when you stay at bed and breakfast and the table is laid when you get up? I like it! As a game each night before bed with your child, lay the table ready for morning breakfast, encourage your child to play ‘waiters /waitresses’ and place out the bowls, spoons, cereal (a little jug especially for them to pour their own milk). Also, pack as much of the lunch box as possible and even lay clothes out the night before. Make sure everything has a 'home' - car keys, shoes (anything that goes missing occasionally!) If it has a 'home' you can find it! If you are arguing about summer clothes (as it is cold now here!). The Winter Gnome comes and takes ALL the shorts, t-shirts away and leaves vests and warm tops, and long trousers! The Springtime Fairy brings them all back! It is morning time, always remember to greet in a loving way to start the day (if not in a hurry, hop in bed together and read a story or have a 18
chat - this luxury will soon go!). Give a hug, play 'I love you’ three hand squeezes game. Next step, get DRESSED BEFORE you EAT BREAKFAST. This may sound simple but if a child in Pjs has a full stomach and is warm, then getting dressed and away from toys is harder! Warm up clothes - a tip for the cooler weather, wrap a top around a hot water bottle, it will be so lovely to put on! Or take clothes in front of a heater. Buy a fun egg timer (or simply put timer on phone or oven), see if everyone can dress in a certain amount of time! Start by saying “I bet we can’t beat . ........ minutes all together' (don't get siblings o to race each other -there will be meltdowns). Take the clothes to the children, do not wait for the children to move to the clothes and help to get started. Complete tasks if adult help is required. Allow time for new skills. Try the game ‘hairy tales’ to brush hair: say things the hair will do today, or enjoys, whilst brushing. Think of five or more things and the hair will be brushed. Breaky time - yum! Now for a coat? A magic wand left in the porch; make a wish when ready to leave the house. Play ‘snakes coming out of holes for young children’ (Arms coming out of the sleeve). Follow us on
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Blues Tips! Visit the 'Shoe Shop' - I had a parent whose young child went to the shoe rack to buy his shoes (from a pretend imaginary shop!) When ready early enough play a quick game of basketball if older (5 shots each) or draw a hopscotch: have a few minutes game (incentive to be ready!) ‘Let us move like a cheetah and not like a snail’ to the car, ‘Let’s fly like an aeroplane and not a slow push bike to the car’. Place something in the car which is enticing for your children: new books perhaps and play a 'car game!' Or play a count the colour of cars game: Choose the colour your car (whatever it is, white, blue) and a new colour and then see who wins the family or the chosen colour car of the day!
Look for three things each morning out of the window (take turns to choose 'three things' - a dog, a bike, and a green car... can we spot them this morning!
by Lou Harvey-Zahra
Play a game of singing all your conversations to school - that will star the day up the right way! Try a few of these ideas to get you out the house and to your centre or school, with hopefully a smile on your face with young children – at times!
^
Lou Harvey-Zahra is a popular parenting author with 7 books, including her bestselling 'Happy Child, Happy Home' translated into three languages, and 'Creative Discipline, Connected Family' 'Growing Children, Thriving Children' and 'Happy Families, Table Talk: 111 Fun Questions'. Please see Lou's website www.happychildhappyhome.com to purchase books (available from all book sites too) and for her inspiring and supportive online parenting courses on 'Terrific Toddlers' and 'Happy Children' (Parenting 3 to 7 year olds) and 'Thriving Children' (Parenting 7 to 11 year olds)
www.happychildhappyhome.com
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N F U C 20
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Little Inventors Can Become
I
magination lights the pathway to freedom and an endless supply of resolutions, solutions, inventions, possibilities and our biggest creations. When I was small my backyard was the world. Alongside my two brothers we created worlds within worlds, a series of fun and drama that peaked and played out for months. It became a battleground for good and evil. It was a wild untamed jungle with beasts and armies of marching ants. Our backyard even transformed into an Indian reserve complete with a tee pee made from old pine branches and grass.
almost daily question. Along with the pure and magical imaginings of a child, “Mummy why don't the fairies fly through the wall and play in my bedroom?” And my favourite just before she turned four, “Mummy can Dad go to the market and buy me a unicorn for my birthday?”
We had no fancy props or expensive play suits. What we needed was all around us. We created shops that became department stores selling everything from mud pies to finely handcrafted dishes and tableware. If we could imagine it we played it, and play was unlimited. These days life is not so simple. Times have changed. We now have iPad's, players and pods taking over, and often at the expense of play. Being a parent of two energetic girls, I am thankful their imagination is beyond time and the must have's and must do's we have created. For my seven and four year old, their imagination is still safely intact. I am proud to say that as a parent I am a star player in helping the seeds of their imagination grow and blossom and this starring role my girls have entrusted me with is not only special, it is divinely beautiful. When my eldest daughter was three she was fascinated with things “we can't see”. “Mummy why can't I see angels?” This was a regular, 22
Presented with a symphony of questions I was very aware of preserving the fragile world of “make believe” for as long as possible. So, we played, danced and imagined. We called on the fairies when Rhianna was ready to give up her dummy. We danced with fairies when our land was dry and the flowers, plants and trees needed a drink. We spoke to the angels when we were sad. It was the sweetest time watching dragonflies in summer and trying to catch butterflies in spring. Follow us on
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our Biggest Creators by Kirsty Metcalf And incredibly beautiful for me as I remembered that imagination is the key to curiosity. Curiosity leads to questions and questions lead us to amazing discoveries. Allowing your child to be the inventor, the creator, the director of their world is one of the greatest gifts you can bestow. From this place of imagination they can be their own problem solver, set designer, scriptwriter or leader. But bigger than that, we give them tools to become their own biggest creator. Even in their own backyard. I quote a brilliant human being and creator, Albert Einstein. “If you want your children to be intelligent, read them fairy tales. If you want them to be more intelligent, read them more
fairy tales.” Making time and being a part of creative and imaginative play alongside your child in a world that is evolving faster than we can literally keep up is simply put, powerful and empowering child's play.
Kirsty Metcalf is a Professional Children’s Author www.icanseebooks.com.au
Sometimes it takes three.... Would you be our Egg Donor? We are a healthy, loving and financially secure couple. Having been happily married for nine years we are beginning to ache to have a child of our own, to raise our own family..we are both from loving and supportive families and we are confident we will be able to provide a child with a loving, caring, stable home, a good education and a happy upbringing. Sadly we have been unable to conceive ..our only hope is for a generous donor to help us. If you are a mother under 35 and are willing to help us, please contact Jason and Belle via email jasloky@yahoo.com.au or ph: 0414 037 385 or 0478 162 859. Actual expenditure incurred on medical expenses and associated travel costs will be reimbursed. This advertisement has been approved by the Victorian Minister for Health, as required by s.40 of the Human Tissue Act 1982 (Vic) August 2014 To advertise in Your Child in Casey & Cardinia call 1300 657 996
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Monsters Under the BED by Alison Burton
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s bedtime a nightmare in your house? Do you tell your child to go to bed and go to sleep and they put up resistance? Many parents are exhausted by the end of the day and have little patience for kids demanding one more glass of water, one more trip to the toilet, one more cuddle or another bedtime story. The longer a child takes to settle the more frustrated parents can become. The catch is that children are really intuitive. They sense the frustration and they get stressed. That makes a child even less likely to settle down to sleep. Children can be scared to go to bed for many reasons. They may feel like separation from parents or an older sibling is a form of rejection and they feel abandoned. They may be especially anxious if they think you are angry with them. They may fear being alone in a dark room. I remember as a child being terrified at night by the imagined monsters under the bed, or the dressing gown hanging on the door that resembled a ghost. A vivid imagination can be a good and a bad thing. Remembering your own childhood fears or insecurities can be a helpful way to stay compassionate with your child. When you enter into the child's world you will approach their concerns differently. Years ago I read a book about hypnosis. It told a story of the author's own child who, like me, had a huge fear of monsters in the bedroom at night. Rather than telling his child that her fears were unfounded this very wise father bought a piece of dowel about 40cms. He painted it black and spiralled a silver ribbon around it. Then he 24
bought a long box with a clear lid from a florist. Placing the wand inside the box with satin fabric and plenty of glitter he had the box delivered to the house for the child. It was, of course, a magic wand to rid any home or bedroom of monsters! That night, before the child went to bed, she and her dad waved the wand under the bed and all around the bedroom and chanted something like “Monsters be gone.� And, you guessed it, the child slept soundly all night. Whether you use a magic wand, a dream catcher, crystals or a space clearing spray, intentionally cleansing a child's sleeping space can create surprising changes. It really doesn't matter if it's mind power or if you are literally clearing negative energies, your child will feel supported and safe and hopefully you will get to put your feet up sooner. Alison Burton is a Clinical Hypnotherapist and Director of Simply Natural Therapies, Natural Health and Wellbeing Centre in Doncaster East Vic. www.simplynaturaltherapies.com.au
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DO YOU HAVE A CHILD WHO LOVES MUSIC? Our PROMISE to you is that we will take your child on a musical path with a difference... §we would love your child to take a musical journey like no other... §they become part of a group of students who make friends.... §students encourage each other to be the best they can be... §your child will learn to express themselves through music.. §a positive, inclusive and safe space for children... §family-focused, welcoming all abilities... §students will learn technique... THERE IS NO SCHOOL LIKE US! We can prepare your child for AMEB music examinations, auditions, scholarships and performances.
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My Remedy for School I promised myself the last school holidays, I would try really hard not to use Uncle TV to babysit my children. As much as the kids love him and I love that he is part of our lives and offers free babysitting at a drop of a hat, I wanted to give them experiences that did not involve technology or send me broke. I had a plan to do loads of arts and crafts; rock painting, slime making, water painting, drawing, craft making with recycled materials. It was supposed to last a week. It kept them occupied for three days. During that time, the squabbling was kept to a minimum but without a backup plan for activities, they were at risk of boredom. We all know bored kids equals broken things, fighting and nagging. So what did I do? I took them for a big walk to a nearby oval and let them run off their leashes until they came back panting and tired. They enjoyed the fresh air and freedom. Two weary and satisfied children, one content parent and a good night's sleep. Nine days left. I created Project Weed Annihilation. The side court was chock-full of overgrown weeds, so I set them to work weeding. They thought it was fun (suckers!). Two tired and happy children, one grateful parent and a weed-free court. Eight days left.
impressed with that game. Two grumpy children, one ecstatic parent and a cleaned house. Six days left. I strongly encouraged them to play 'Shopping at the Supermarket'. It involved making a grocery list and buying said groceries. This got me on the sh*tlist. Two angry children, one tired parent and groceries no one helped me carry. Five days left. My husband took pity on our situation and suggested we do an overnight stay in a country town a couple of hours away. The catch? We would take public transport and walk EVERYWHERE. Anyone who knows me understands that I am ill-equipped for walking. Something about chaffing thighs, itchy sweating and sore feet just doesn't appeal to me. It took four hours, three trains and a bus ride to get to our destination due to train disruptions! We walked for hours on end! The only thing I was looking forward to getting to the hotel and resting my tired feet. It was a pity that when I booked the place, I had not realised it was a drive-in motel inn in the middle of nowhere. We had to walk the Great Plains and trek Mount Everest to find solace in a hovel.
I persuaded them to role-play 'Cleaning Crew'. It involved cleaning the entire house and lasted several days. It was epic. They were not
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KIDS IN
s ’ a Holiday Boredom n THE KITCHEN a N My germaphobe alert beacon was in full distress mode. The shower had black mould infestation, there was hair on the bathroom floor, towels had suspect stains, dust infiltrated all living spaces, and the beds left an itchy sensation. There was no way I was even bothering with their complimentary communal gym, sauna and spa. We couldn't get out of there fast enough. Highlights were an overpriced tram ride, eating from a kebab food truck for lunch and McDonald's for dinner because everything was Ingredients: closed on a Sunday and a walk through a 2 Litrespark. of chicken stock beautiful The kids saw many interesting sights like a giant skeleton head, a British tram (salt reduced) cafe, and statues. Two exhausted and satisfied
6 x Chicken Thighs 2-3 x Medium Carrots 2 x Medium Onions 4-6 x Medium Sticks Celery 2 x Garlic Cloves 1/2 tsp Chilli Flakes (optional) Olive Oil Business Management,
p u o S n e k c i h C
by Kathy Ha
children, two wiped out p a r e n t s a n d experiences for the memory bank. We are in the home stretch now.
Wi
Joshua BENDIGO
It is important to give children valuable experiences to create memories, provide learning experiences and develop an understanding of the world around them. We asked Henry, the train/tram enthusiast, what his favourite part of the trip was. His answer? The motel. Kathy Ha is a creative writer and storytelling enthusiast, sharing snippets of her journey through life and parenting on her blog, KN J Tales and Snippets. She aims to inspire, empower and ignite laughter, with every word that she writes. www.knj.home.blog
Accounting & CRM Software www.tbssoftware.com.au Contact Shannon - 0419 557 314 sales@tbssoftware.com.au 26
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KIDS
CORNER
Weather Words
Find and circle all of the Weather words that are hidden in the puzzle The words may be hidden in any direction. BLIZZARD CLOUDS COLD DRIZZLE FOG FREEZE FROST HAIL HOT ICE LIGHTNING RAIN SLEET SNOW STORM SUNNY THUNDER TORNADO WINDY
Hey Kids you can be a ‘Your Child STAR’ share your jokes, recipes, puzzles, fun facts or photos with other Kids in Casey & Cardinia Contact us: Kids Corner PO Box 5374, Cranbourne 3977 email: info@yourchildincaseyandcardinia.com.au ph: 1300 657 996 28
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KIDS
CORNER A Rainy Day Colour by Spots
Hey Kids you can be a ‘Your Child STAR’ share your jokes, recipes, puzzles, fun facts or photos with other Kids in Casey & Cardinia Contact us: Kids Corner PO Box 5374, Cranbourne 3977 email: info@yourchildincaseyandcardinia.com.au ph: 1300 657 996 Call 0455 312 166 29 27 To advertise advertise in in Your Your Child in Whittlesea Casey & Cardinia call 1300 657 996 Your Child In Whittlesea 26To Shop Local and mention
Chia Seed Oobleck What you will need - 1/4 cup chia seeds - 1 & 3/4 cups water - food colouring - 3 - 4 cups corn flour
How to make Chia Seed Oobleck Mix the Chia seeds, water and food colouring together. Cover and refrigerate overnight. Uncover and add the corn flour a li le at a me. About a cup at a me. Mix and then con nue un l you achieve the desired consistency. It should look like regular slime. Slimy, and slips off of your hands. Slime can be stored, covered in the refrigerator. You will need to add a li le water each me you take out to play. (As this will reac ve the slime.) This slime is safe to eat - however, I don’t think it would taste nice.
If you have enjoyed this experiment why not take a look at Dr Seuses’ Bartholomew and the Oobleck. Have 312 Follow us166 on 30To advertise in Your Child in Whittlesea Call 0455
fun!
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Fluffy Slime by n i t 10, d Sen e Ag t t e l r nda r e Sca M from
What you will need - 1 bo le Elmer’s white glue (the foam kind, not the gel or cream) - 1/2 cup - 1 cup of Shaving foam - Borax solu on (1 cup water & 1tsp Borax, mixed un l clear) - Food colouring/paint (op onal) - Essen al oils (op onal)
How to make Fluffy Slime Squeeze 1bo le of white glue into a medium bowl. S r in 1/2 cup to 1 cup of shaving foam (depending on how fluffy you want your slime.) Add food colouring to colour desired and s r. Add Borax solu on a teaspoon at a me (un l the mixture forms a clump in the bowl.) Knead your Fluffy Slime.
Helpful Hints & Ideas If it’s too s cky, add more Borax solu on. If it need more glue, shaving cream or colouring you can knead that in. If you would like your Fluffy Slime to be scented, knead in a few drops of essen al oil. You can even kneed in texture - sand, gli er, foam balls, beads or even sequences.
n! Have fu To advertise in Your Child in Casey Whittlesea & Cardinia Call 0455 call 312 1300166 657 996
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USEFUL INFORMATION Emergency Numbers Ambulance Fire Police
}
DIAL 000
Hospitals Casey Hospital........................................................ Monash Medical Centre.......................................... St John of God Berwick Hospital............................. Dandenong Hospital..............................................
8768 1200 9594 6666 9709 1414 9554 1000
Crisis Centres Poisons.................................................................... Kids Help Line.......................................................... Lifeline..................................................................... Suicide Helpline - (Victoria only)............................. Nurse-on-Call.......................................................... Child Protection - (After Hours Service).................. Domestic Violence Crisis Centre............................. Sexual Assault Service (After Hours)....................... Centres Against Sexual Assault................................ Victims of Crime Helpline....................................... LifeCircle - HOPELINE.............................................. SANDS* Vic...*Stillbirth & Neonatal Death Support Australian Breastfeeding Association Helpline
13 11 26 1800 551 800 13 11 14 1300 651 251 1300 606 024 13 12 78 1800 015 188 or 9373 0123 9349 1766 1800 806 272 1800 819 817 1300 364 673 13 000 SANDS/13 000 2673 1800 686 268
Your Local Police Station 9705 3111 Narre Warren Police........................................................ 9709 7666 Endevour Hills Police........................................................ Cranbourne Police.......................................................5991 0600 Pakenham Police ................................................... 5945 2500
Other City of Casey..................................................... Cardinia Shire Council......................................
9705 5200 1300 787 624
If you provide a free service to our community and would like your phone number included on this page please call 1300 657 996 To advertise in Your Child in Casey & Cardinia call 1300 657 996
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CONTENTS Regulars 4. Editors Letter
L VE YOUR L CALS SHOP L CAL
15 Zucchini, Basil and Chicken Soup Recipe 16 Cornish Pasties Recipe 28 & 29 Kids Corner Puzzles
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30 & 31 Kids in the Kitchen - Experiments
This Month’s Advertisers
Articles 30 Useful Local Information
AFM Auto
6 Feeling ALL the FEELS
Beaconsfield Dental
8 What about Screen-time
Begin Bright
10 Questions all Parents Ask
Chairo Christian School
16 Lily-pads and Dragonflies
Creative Souls Studio
18 Beat the Morning Blues Tips
Foundation Early Learning Centre
22 Little Inventors can become our
Glory Kids Childcare & Kinder
Biggest Creators
Haileybury College
24 Monsters Under the Bed
Hey dee ho
26 Recipe for School Holiday Boredom
Gift of Hope Lakeside College
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