Kids on the Coast Magazine - Sunshine Coast, - Issue 44 by Shore Media

! ! E e R F

o go, aces t l p , o & parents to d things for kids everything

IssUe 44 MAY/JUNE 2o11

sunshine coast

www.kidsonthecoast.com.au

WHAT’S THE DEAL WITH Middle School

Striking a balance THE GREAT DIVIDE:

when parenting-styles clash!

WEIRD PREGNANCY CRAVINGS - Anyone for gherkins and ice cream? Nature Deficit: a true disorder!? (or a ploy to get the kids outside?) plus Babies on the Coast, what’s on Calendar and lots more!

Gingerbread FUN… and d Men are elicious! LOL

dm RE ys iss E !! ion

Go Overboard with the kooky Gingerbread Man

Learn all about Ginger – Dad’ll love this part!

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Kool motoring memorabilia

Ride on a REAL Cane Train – “ALL ABOARD”!

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CONTeNTS May/June 2011 21

8 4

Good Shepherd Lutheran College

FEATURE Striking a balance

WELCOME

KOTC NEWS

WHAT’S NEWS

CHECK THIS OUT

36 37

46 48

PARENTVILLE HEALTH

When parenting-styles clash…and they will!

EDUCATION: What’s the deal with Middle School?

ONLY NATURAL: Nature Deficit Disorder Experts say kids and nature need more of each other!

LET’S CELEBRATE We’ve got some Winter Party Ideas for you.

HAPPY HOLIDAYS: Get on your bike! T ake the fam on a cycling tour of Vietnam (on a relaxed, well-paced tour).

ENCOURAGING KIDS Meet Natasha Waldroff, our local diving champ.

A discussion on men and family relationships.

THE ‘P’ FILES: THE GREAT DIVIDE

PARENT PROFILE: Meet Robyn Woodrow S he’s bold – to try new ventures. She’s bald – because of cancer. She’s beautiful – inside and out.

The boy knows his rock!

ow do we keep kids safe without being H overprotective?

BABIES ON THE COAST: WEIRD PREGNANCY CRAVINGS Did you have any? Find out the science behind them.

FEATURE: Striking a balance

F ind out what’s happening on the Coast for May and June

New, fun and funky things

CALENDAR OF EVENTS

BOOK REVIEWS AND COMPETITIONS

KIDS ON THE COAST DIRECTORY

Separate from the national curriculum push

Kids on the Coast magazine is printed with vegetable/soy based inks on paper supplied using pulp sourced from sustainable forests and manufactured to environmentally accredited systems. Kids on the Coast encourages recycling. Please keep this issue for future reference, pass onto your friends and family, use for craft projects or place into the recycling bin. www.kidsonthecoast.com.au

onthecoast.com.au

kids Read more @ www.

WHAT’S ON CALENDAR

PUBLISHED BY: THINGS 4 KIDS PTY LTD. PO Box 491, Eumundi QLD 4562 PHONE: 1300 430 320 FAX: 07 5476 6037 WEB: www.kidsonthecoast.com.au ABN: 86 473 357 391. All editorial and advertising in Kids on the Coast is published in good faith based on material, verbal or written, provided by contributors and advertisers. No responsibility is taken for errors or omissions and opinions expressed do not necessarily reflect those of the publisher. All material in Kids on the Coast is subject to copyright provisions. No part of this publication may be reproduced without written permission from the publisher. Feedback/comments/suggestions? Send to: editorial@kidsonthecoast.com.au. We aim to reply to all correspondence but don’t guarantee to do so. Letters to the editor may be edited for length or clarity. PUBLISHER: Toni Eggleston ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER: Simone Bell EDITOR: Belinda Hopper EDITORIAL CONTRIBUTORS: Shannon Breen, Justine Stewart, Kim Lahey, Maxine Arthur, Sarah Hindle, Toni Brown, Aleney de Winter, Belinda Hopper, Wendy Buckley ADVERTISING: For advertising enquiries please phone Tanya Ryan on 1300 430 320 or email: advertising@kidsonthecoast.com.au LOCAL BUSINESS DIRECTORY: Speak with your advertising coordinator or email: advertising@kidsonthecoast.com.au Production Department: Email: production@kidsonthecoast.com.au ADMINISTRATION: Kellie Kruger DISTRIBUTION: Kids on the Coast (Sunshine Coast edition) is a free publication circulating over 15,000 copies from Caloundra to Noosa and through the hinterland. Separate editions cover the Gold Coast and Townsville. For distribution enquiries please phone: 1300 430 320 or email: admin@kidsonthecoast.com.au FRONT COVER: Andrea Sproxton. Clothing: Prince Ratbag www.princeratbag.com, Car: Bright Sparks, Cotton Tree GRAPHIC DESIGN: Michelle Craik

MAY / JUNE 2011 – KiDs on tHe CoAst

Welcome to

Kids on the Coast fReE!!

To Go, PlACES PARENTS To Do, kIDS & THINGS HING foR EVERYT

IssUe 44 MAY/JUNe 2o11

SuNSHINE CoAST

www.facebook.com/kidsonthecoast …and tell your friends!

www.kidsonthecoast.com.au

STRIkING A BAlANCE

WHAT’S THE DEAl WITH mIDDlE SCHool

THE GREAT DIVIDE:

when parenting-styles clash!

WEIRD PREGNANCY CRAVINGS - Anyone for gherkins and ice cream? Nature Deficit: a true disorder!? (or a ploy to get the kids outside?) plus BABIES oN THE CoAST, WHAT’S oN CAlENDAR AND loTS moRE!

Well it had been a long time coming, and we ‘almost’ found our little piece of paradise! Yes – ‘almost’. From the humble beginnings in my hallway, to the fabulous community of Eumundi, to the highway in Forest Glen, and ‘almost’ to the beach…. oooh, I could smell the sea air from here! I say ‘almost’ – because as we go to print, we had found our perfect piece of paradise – but one tiny setback – we can’t get ADSL lines. So while it was a nice idea being able to see whales from our office balcony, we figured emails were a fairly important aspect of running three magazines! All good things come to those who wait, so watch this space! This issue brings you some thought provoking articles. Are you a helicopter parent? Or maybe a free-range parent? Or even a lawnmower parent? Check out the article on page 8 and you may recognize yourself under one of these headings. It’s a controversial one so if you want to have a say, go to our facebook page and join the discussion. This issue also brings some more exciting design changes. We love change! We received fantastic feedback on the cover changes in our previous issue, so we decided to give the whole issue a slight overhaul. Let us know what you think! I hope you enjoy our 44th edition of Kids on the Coast. Don’t forget to join the Facebook community for latest discussions, comps and more. As always, happy parenting!

Toni Eggleston

ITY N COMMU OUR KIds

ST A o C on the

KiDs on tHe CoAst – MAY / JUNE 2011

Magazines are dynamic; always growing and evolving. Here at Kids on the Coast, we’re very happy to be expanding our team. Welcome to Samantha Power, who has just joined our Sales team. And look out for our new editor, Jackie Goldston, in our July/August edition. And our facebook community’s growing by the day! ‘Like’ our page and join in the discussions; it’s a great way to keep up with our latest news and competitions.

Look

Sneak peek at our next issue:

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• Feature: Shared parenting - changes to family law • Education: Indigenous culture in education • The P Files: Why one love doesn’t fit all • Babies on the Coast: Miscarriage - still rarely spoken about • Only Natural: Hemp Got a product or service that has something to do with these issues? Like to tell our readers all about it? Call Tanya Ryan on 1300 430 320 for advertising info.

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SUNSHINE COAST DIVERS EXCEL

Local divers from Kawana’s Donnet Diving Club Qld have brought home a total of 25 medals from the Queensland State Diving Championships, including 13 gold, 6 silver and 6 bronze. This is an excellent result given all of these divers do their main training at Kawana pool, which only has 1x1metre and 1x 3 metre board. Thanks to this fantastic effort, the Sunshine Coast now has a strong team of 12 qualified divers for the 2011 National Championships to be held in Sydney in April.

TWO NEW HOSPITALS FOR THE COAST Patients in need of specialist care will be able to access more medical services locally, with construction of a new private hospital underway later this year, and tenders being called to construct a brand new $2 billion 450-bed public hospital. Both new hospitals will be built on a 20 hectare site on the corner of Lake Kawana Boulevard and Kawana Way. The private hospital (scheduled to open in late 2013) will have 200 beds and will provide up to 110 beds for public patients until the new public hospital opens in 2016. Premier Anna Bligh said this was the biggest hospital building project in Australia and would provide services including a cancer care centre, neurosurgery, cardiothoracic surgery, maxillofacial surgery and a trauma service.

GIANT REDBACK COMES TO AUSSIE WORLD A thrilling new rollercoaster called the ‘Giant Redback’ is coming to the Aussie World fun park, opening just in time for the Easter holidays. Targeting those with an adventurous spirit, the Giant Redback is 16 metres high, and seats 24 people on a platform with outward facing seats which rotate both ways. “We are thrilled to provide these new attractions,” says David Thomson, General Manager. “Our hope is this will give even more reason for people, domestic, international and the corporate business market, to visit the Sunshine Coast.” The park is investing over $2 million this year on the Giant Redback and another new ride is due to open later this year. www.kidsonthecoast.com.au

If you’re frustrated that your child isn’t achieving their learning potential, the program can help.

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Ph: 1800 188 338 Used by millions of students worldwide, the Fast ForWord® computer program is the future of learning. In as little as 12 weeks it has been proven to enable significant and lasting learning gains. Designed by a team of world-class learning experts, Fast ForWord® develops learning skills to improve performance in reading, maths, English, science, or any subject for that matter. Consider it a personal trainer for the brain! Your child will be learning with less effort and greater confidence in Contact Sonic Learning’s team of health and education professionals now to discuss how to unlock your child’s full learning potential.

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MAY / JUNE 2011 – KiDs on tHe CoAst 5 Ph: 1800 188 338 I info@soniclearning.com.au I www.soniclearning.com.au

KOTC 170311

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S ' T A H W

S W Ne ELLA’S PINK LADY TO CALL QUEENSLAND HOME Young Australian of the year Jessica Watson’s world famous boat Ella’s Pink Lady will call Queensland home after the State and Federal Governments agreed to buy the yacht. Queensland Premier Anna Bligh said Jessica’s story was an inspiration to people all over Australia and the world and that Ella’s Pink Lady would become a Queensland icon. “Sailing solo around the world at age 16 puts Jessica among the great Australian adventurers, and the pink lady will become a symbol of that Aussie free spirit here in Brisbane,” she said. Ella’s Pink Lady has been purchased jointly by the federal and state governments for $300,000 and will be housed at the Queensland Maritime Museum. Jessica Watson said she was pleased that both Governments had been able to keep Ella’s Pink Lady in Queensland. “I couldn’t think of a better home for her. Now all the public can get a chance to visit her and of course, I will be popping in regularly to check up on her,” she said.

DID YOU KNOW…?

There is an average of 18 million items for sale at any given time on Ebay. Human thigh bones are stronger than concrete. It’s impossible to sneeze with your eyes open.

NATIONAL WALK SAFELY TO SCHOOL DAY: FRIDAY 20 MAY It’s nearly that time of year again when primary school aged children from right around Australia make important steps towards a healthier childhood by participating in Walk Safely to School Day. Now in its twelfth year, the event encourages parents, carers and their children to drive less and walk more to build regular walking to and from school into their daily routine. An added bonus is less danger from vehicle congestion around schools and reduced carbon emissions from idling cars. For more info, visit www.walk.com.au.

ARE YOU UP FOR THE CHALLENGE? FANCY SOME BREAST MILK ICE CREAM?! While ice cream comes in a wide range of flavours, one London restaurant may have taken it to the extreme. The Icecreamists restaurant is serving breast milk ice cream to customers in a cocktail glass accompanied by a rusk, calling the £14 dish “Baby Gaga”. The ice cream is made by blending breast milk with vanilla pods and lemon zest. The company is looking for more women to provide breast milk - and are providing £15 for every ten ounces extracted using breast pumps: Any volunteers? 6

KiDs on tHe CoAst – MAY / JUNE 2011

With heart disease now the number one killer of Australian women, the Heart Foundation is running a free ten week ‘Healthy Heart Challenge’ to help women reduce the risks and improve their heart health. Starting on June 1, the challenge aims to encourage small, yet realistic lifestyle changes and provides support through weekly online newsletters to keep you motivated. Whether it’s becoming more active, quitting smoking or eating better, the challenge will help you meet your goals, and participants are eligible to enter the draw to WIN a range of fantastic prizes. Register now at www.goredforwomen.org.au. www.kidsonthecoast.com.au

K C e CH

THIS OUT

Bake, bake, baby

What’s cuter than a cupcake? Cakepops, by Bakerella! Discover the trick of mixing crumbled cake and frosting that can be moulded into different shapes and decorated for any occasion. Cakepops: the perfect gift for crafty bakers. RRP $29.95 Available at Big W and Kmart.

our guide to interesting & essential bits & pieces

The shoulder bone’s connected to the…

Create the ultimate biology class: your own Human Anatomy Museum with this deluxe 4D Human Torso Anatomy Model. 54 Parts included with stand and assembly guide. RRP $198.00 Order it from www.remo.com.au

Spill-Proof your kids’ drinks

The Contigo kids’ cup is the cool cup for kids who have outgrown sippy cups, but haven’t outgown spilling! It’s 100% spill-and-leak proof, using AUTOSEAL® technology. Automatically seals between sips. RRP $11.95 Available online at www.bonitobaby.com.au

Snotty no more!

Snotty is Australia’s first portable, battery operated nasal aspirator. It is innovative, hygienic, and portable. (Registered with the Therapeutic Goods Administration) RRP $41.18 Available online at www.snotty.com.au

Ride-on truck

Moover is a beautiful new Danish, wooden toy range. Their Baby Tow Truck is specially designed for children aged 6 - 36 months. It appeals to both boys and girls –an obvious choice for a child’s first “ride-on” toy. RRP $125. Find it at Think Kids, shop 8, Noosa Cinema Centre, Noosa Junction.

Beach Buddy

The Beach Buddy was designed to keep children safe from undertow in the surf, but can also be used as an extra safety aid while out and about. Less intrusive and less visible than a harness, you can use it to attach to your child’s wrist and to either your pram or your own wrist. RRP $39.99 + $6 postage. Get yours from www.beach-buddy.com.au

Ready2Roll pregnancy pillow Pregnant women get ready to roll in comfort. Ready2Roll is the most stylish and compact double-sided pregnancy pillow. The special design solves common complaints associated with pregnancy and (lack of) sleep. RRP $79.95 plus $5.80 postage. Available online at www.rrpregnancypillow.com.au

www.kidsonthecoast.com.au

Toothpaste never tasted so good!

Banilla Bling Toothpaste makes brushing your teeth as fun as eating an ice cream cone! Kids absolutely love the taste and parents love dentist-approved cavity fighting toothpaste. RRP $9.95 Available online at www.tannerstastypaste.com.au MAY / JUNE 2011 – KiDs on tHe CoAst

FEATURE

KiDs on tHe CoAst – MAY / JUNE 2011

www.kidsonthecoast.com.au

Striking a by Shannon Breen

How do we keep kids safe without being overprotective?

balance

Think back to your own childhood. Remember the freedom of tearing off on your bike in search of adventure? Maybe you walked to school with friends, or took a bus solo to piano lessons or soccer training.

Now think about what you consider safe for your own children. Does your preschooler run free at the playground, or do you hover nearby? Do you drive your children to school, or home from the bus stop, though it’s not very far? Would you let your kids go to the park with their friends? In our desire to control a world we’re told is very dangerous for children, we may be denying our kids experiences we ourselves enjoyed⎯experiences that may not be as dangerous as we think. The good news for helicopter parents is that if we relax a little and trust each other we can make our communities even safer for our children. Landing your helicopter will make your parenting workload a little lighter, and may make your child a more confident, competent person.

in the United States have declined in the last 30 years, parental anxiety about crime has increased. Things once expected of children walking to school, riding bikes to a park and playing outside unsupervised are now considered aberrant and dangerous. Skenazy says she looked at the real statistical risk and found kidnapping from a public place in the United States is extremely rare. So rare, she says, if your child stood on the average street corner they’d wait 750,000 years before they’d disappear. Similarly, in Australia, the number of children abducted by a stranger is very small. The Australian Federal Police estimates of the 35,000 people reported “missing” in Australia each year, half of these are “young people”. Over 95% of them are found, often at a friend’s place, most within 24 hours. (The Salvation Army claims a higher success rate of over 99%).

The free range parenting movement

This is not to downplay the tragedy of the small number of children who are abducted by criminals. The coronial inquest into Sunshine Coast teenager Daniel Morcombe’s disappearance in December, 2003 is a potent reminder that some strangers do intentionally hurt children. But the Morcombe Foundation’s own website avoids a sensational take on missing children, recognising many teenagers go missing on their own. Overall, the community’s response to Daniel’s disappearance should hearten us, as much as the crime committed against him appals us.

Unapologetic, Lenore answered her critics with her book, Free-Range Kids: How to Raise Safe, Self-Reliant Children (Without Going Nuts with Worry). In a wisecracking New Yorker’s style, Lenore writes of a crazy paradox: although crime rates

It’s easy to feel overwhelmed as a parent. But we can take a positive approach (like teaching kids traffic skills, how to react to an uncomfortable situation, and where to seek help if they get lost), and focus on strengthening our communities. Instead of watching violent television that makes child abuse and abduction a weekly entertainment, go for a walk in your neighbourhood. Better yet, get to know your neighbours and get involved in community events. You may be surprised at how safe real life is compared to what’s on TV.

When New York journalist and mother of two, Lenore Skenazy, allowed her nineyear-old son to ride the subway home alone from an afternoon shopping trip, she copped a torrent of abuse and was dubbed “America’s Worst [in their parlance] Mom” on national television.

www.kidsonthecoast.com.au

MAY / JUNE 2011 – KiDs on tHe CoAst

FEATURE

“Free Range parenting isn’t just about giving kids physical freedoms to explore the world.”

Mixing freedom with common sense

Sunshine Coast mum, Erin, 25, is determined to put the risks into perspective for her daughters, Cooper, 5 and Bailey, 3. Cooper started prep this year, and confidently makes solo forays to the tuckshop. She regularly peruses the lolly aisle in the supermarket while Erin spends a few minutes at the deli (“she’s still within earshot”), and is rarely bored or alone because she approaches kids she doesn’t know. “She’s quite happy to make friends with just about anybody that she encounters, anyone from another four-year old to a sixteen-year-old girl down the beach,” Erin says. “She’ll sit and chat with them and interact with them [without me being involved in the conversation]”. Is Erin concerned strangers could exploit Cooper’s outgoing personality? “As parents we always have that watchful eye. You have to go with your gut instinct and I’m always present. I just don’t see the need to interfere so long as things are within my comfort zone,” Erin says. “We have conversations about whether you feel comfortable, and if you don’t like something then it’s okay to say no. You can tell mummy if something doesn’t make you feel right…I trust her to put that into practice.” When Cooper is older, Erin would like her to walk to school with a group of friends, although she’s not sure if other parents will feel as comfortable as she does with the idea. “The media don’t report, ‘Ten children walked to school today safely and that’s wonderful.’ What we get is, ‘Someone pulled over and asked them directions’ and suddenly it’s red alert, get the police out there.” Erin tries to ignore the “scare mongering” in the media, and trust a little in her community so her kids can explore the world on their own as much as possible. “It may not be 100% safe, (but) I do think it takes a village to raise a child, and if I was to see a little girl being snatched up in a supermarket, then of course I would step in.” Townsville mum, Leona, 32, says while media reports of missing children “get to you” she tries not to let it influence how she parents her two-and-a-half year old son, Mitchell. “I personally don’t have a lot of fear and anxiety about him being snatched by a stranger. “Toddlers in particular move so fast, and they’re so clever about getting into where they want to be. For me, the big risks are not watching around pool areas, not watching when he’s in the kitchen.”

KiDs on tHe CoAst – MAY / JUNE 2011

Learning Independence

Free Range parenting isn’t just about giving kids physical freedoms to explore the world. In her Free-Range Kids blog, Lenore Skenazy chronicles all the madness of modern parenting, from the “experts” who make us feel as if every tiny decision may be crucial to our child’s development, to the safety products industry that sells us baby knee pads for our crawler, a helmet for our toddler, or a special rubber ducky to tell us baby’s bath is too hot (what’s wrong with your elbow?). Parenting for every possible contingency, whether to control every outcome or avoid every injury can become a habit that’s hard to kick when your kids start school. If you stress over how lumpy baby’s puree is now, you may find yourself “helping” your kids with their homework so they don’t get less than an A, ever. All the better for their self-esteem, you may think. But educators say learning to cope with risk and failure is vital to development. Sunshine Coast Grammar School’s assistant head of junior school, Genevieve Hudson, has seen a shift in parental attitudes in her 32 years in education. “There’s a very different parenting style that’s emerging over ten years, where parents who are really busy sometimes feel to be a good parent you have to be very, very involved in your child’s life. And a good parent is someone who might carry the child’s school bag, unpack the child’s school bag for them, ensuring everything’s done.” Genevieve believes geographic mobility has led to a breakdown in the old support networks once provided by grandparents, aunties and uncles. “Parents are doing it tough, they’re doing it on their own, and it’s quicker for parents to get in and do it for the child and control the child’s life than it is to take time to empower the child to do things for themselves.”

www.kidsonthecoast.com.au

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FEATURE

Genevieve says giving kids challenges need not be scary, especially if we “scaffold” the risk by teaching our kids life skills. “The challenge need not be that big (that) it’s terrifying and frightening, but enough of a challenge to be a new experience…that might be something from using adventurous words in your writing through to initiating play with children you don’t know to having a go at solving a conflict with a friend. “Life as an adult is filled with challenges, and as a child if you’ve never experienced challenge then you’re not going to be equipped with the emotional resilience and the confidence to tackle new tasks,” Genevieve says.

Anxious, much?

If you feel a panicky sensation in your stomach every time you think of something that could possibly go wrong, and that happens frequently, you may be suffering from clinical anxiety. The good news is that treatment is available, and getting professional help can not only make parenting more enjoyable, it can help prevent your kids falling into the anxiety spiral. Even if our anxiety isn’t at clinical level, so conditioned are we to telling our kids to “be careful” that it can be hard to stop, even when the risks are not that great. Observe yourself at the playground or when your kids are trying something new: you may find yourself hovering and issuing warnings more often than you realise. Leona says she feels judged by other parents when she lets her son Mitchell take physical risks on the playground, but she is adamant that kids need independence.

“Life as an adult is filled with challenges, and as a child if you’ve never experienced challenge then you’re not going to be equipped with the emotional resilience and the confidence to tackle new tasks.” “I let him make what I call safe mistakes, where I know it’s not going to cause him great harm, but I know he’s going to learn that probably wasn’t the best decision,” Leona says. “School is tough for kids, and if he can make decisions on his own when it comes to peer pressure and things like that, it will allow him to cope a lot better.” University of Southern Queensland Early Childhood lecturer Dr Louise Phillips tends to agree. Her research challenges our assumptions that children are incapable of engaging with social issues: “Through my research into children as citizens, my view is that children should be included in society and effectively treated the same (as adults) in many ways. “By overprotecting children, they aren’t developing skills and a sense of themselves as being competent and capable and engaging in the social world,” Louise says. She adds that her personal philosophy is that life must involve some risk taking. Lenore Skenazy paints a grim picture of the excesses of our litigious, injury-averse world: schools that ban hula hoops from the playground (they could roll into someone), housing estates that ban children from playing outside, classic Sesame Street episodes from the 1970s re-released on DVD with a legal disclaimer warning. (They show kids playing follow the leader in a vacant lot, unsupervised. Seriously!) And she adds: “Kids deserve freedom, responsibility, and a chance to be part of this world, not cooped up like, well… chickens.”

KiDs on tHe CoAst – MAY / JUNE 2011

www.kidsonthecoast.com.au

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MAY / JUNE 2011 – KiDs on tHe CoAst

FEATURE “…we need to arm ourselves with accurate information, good support, and focus instead on being sensibly optimistic.”

On the other hand…

The challenge for parents is that there are situations in which kids do need our protection. While news reports may focus on stranger kidnappings, the danger is more likely to lie closer to home. An estimated 85% of child sexual abuse is perpetrated by family member, friend, or someone known to the family. Many children are abducted as a result of custody disputes. The state government’s Commission for Children and Young People found in 2008, Queensland had the highest rate of overall child death in the country. We recorded the highest rate of child drownings, with 18 children dying, most in backyard pools. Sadly, we also had the highest rate of youth suicide. And while Tasmania recorded more deaths in traffic accidents per head of population, Queensland’s rates were “comparable” with 52 children dying in cars. In 2001-05, 12 children were killed in “low speed run-overs” (often in the driveways of their own homes). Even watching too much TV can pose demonstrated risks to children’s physical and mental health. If you’re getting stressed just reading through all that, don’t feel too bad. It’s normal to worry! The problem is when we allow our worries to overshadow a sensible assessment of the situation. That includes allowing for individual kids’ differences: what one child can easily cope with at age 11, another may not be ready for until they’re 13, while yet another could easily have managed at 9. Let’s put it this way: how often do you consider not driving anywhere because you could have an accident? Most of us get behind the wheel each day, simply because we know that spending all our time worrying about risks would be paralysing. Similarly, when it comes to parenting, rather than allowing ourselves and our kids to collapse under the weight of all the possible negatives, we need to arm ourselves with accurate information, good support, and focus instead on being sensibly optimistic. As well as “helicopter parents” there are now “lawnmower parents” who step in and smooth out any obstacles in their child’s path to make their lives as easy as possible. If you think this could be you, ask yourself: • Do your kids take on some household jobs, without pay? • Do they pack their own lunch / hang up their clothes? • Do they complete their homework and behave at school or cop the consequences? • Do they get involved with the community/help others less fortunate? “Protecting” children from these kinds of responsibilities, some experts say, is what’s doing the real damage. Taking healthy risks and experiencing adventures and failures is vital for kids as they grow older. This can come through not only being allowed some physical freedom, but taking on employment, community involvement, artistic projects and selfexpression of their own choice, and under their own steam. As you let go, gently, it may help to remember that we don’t own our kids; we just get to look after them for a while. Useful websites: freerangekids.wordpress.com www.danielmorcombe.com.au

KiDs on tHe CoAst – MAY / JUNE 2011

Further reading Free-Range Kids, How to Raise Safe, Self-Reliant Children (Without Going Nuts with Worry) By Lenore Skenazy. Publisher: Jossey-Bass A lot of parents today, Skenazy says, see no difference between letting their kids walk to school and letting them walk through a firing range. Any risk is seen as too much risk. Skenazy argues that if you try to avert every possible risk in your child’s everyday life, that child never get a chance to grow up. Whether you think she’s America’s Worst Mum or the voice of reason in a world gone safety-mad, Skenazy’s take on kids and risk is entertaining. The Idle Parent By Tom Hodgkinson. Publisher: Penguin UK Eccentric British dad Tom Hodgkinson makes the case for backing off and letting kids be kids, rather like The Famous Five (where were their parents?) Funny and a little satirical (He can’t really expect us to give the baby beer?)

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THE ‘P’ Files

when parenting-styles clash!

The great

divide:

by Kim Lahey

It’s not the first time. And you have an inkling it won’t be the last. But glance sideways and you’ll find another mum or dad in the same territory. Because locking horns over parenting-styles tests even the strongest partnerships--often. Never more-so than when the heat is on (aka: challenging behaviour from kids). Battles aside for a moment: What’s seen as the pinnacle of parenting style? Research places all bets on the warm and supportive parent-child relationship, just as it links over-controlling methods with behavioural problems. Kids raised with an authoritative parental-style - where parents are responsive and reasonable, but also demand high standards - tend to be happy and confident, with highly developed social skills.

KiDs on tHe CoAst – MAY / JUNE 2011

Naturally, some parenting styles mesh well with particular kids – a gentle encouraging approach is seen as especially beneficial for shy reticent children, while a patient, assertive and firm (as well as warm and affectionate) approach works well for feisty, volatile kids. But at the heart of any parenting-style lies the kind of connection you have with your child and your partner. Beyond the household clutter - rules about bedtime, TV, food and manners – it’s the emotional climate of the house. And it’s a house where difference of opinion about raising a family is standard fare. Manager of Centacare’s marriage and relationship education unit in Melbourne, Denise Lacey, says style-differences are normal and can be worked out to make way for a happy relationship. “It’s about discussing values; what’s important to you as a mum and dad; what you want your child to say about you when they are 21.”

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The Integrated Life Centre specialises in working with families to understand and overcome behavioural challenges—from toddler tantrums and preschool anxiety to “tween” rebelliousness. Pettina also helps new parents, especially mothers, to deal with the demands of a new baby and post-natal issues, aiming to return them to integrated wellbeing. The Integrated Life Centre offers a variety of services such as: • Easy-to-access counselling through Skype packages and online support • Residential retreats or one-on-one counselling, initially in your home if preferred, for post-natal problems • Working with whole families to address behaviours and develop better relationships In addition, The Integrated Life Centre’s bookshop has an extensive collection of workbooks and stories to support the therapeutic process and empower parents, as well as nurturing the child-parent relationship. There’s also a monthly online newsletter, with practical parenting tips, case studies, and the latest audio material and articles from international psychological and behavioural journals. www.kidsonthecoast.com.au

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THE ‘P’ Files “At the heart of any parenting-style lies the kind of connection you have with your child and your partner.”

Born or made? Our parenting styles are sculpted by the family we grow-up in. “By 16 our values, behaviours, attitudes and beliefs are created,” Denise explains. So if we want to work differently, we need to make a conscious decision not to repeat some of these early-learned behaviours. If you came from a family that did a lot of yelling, you can make the decision to reject harshness. But when we’re under stress our first reaction is to yell, so we need to make a conscious decision not to repeat that, Denise says. “Whatever it is you want to change, you need to be aware you’ll revert back to (those behaviours set by 16) when under stress,” Denise says.

‘Pair’enting “Before kids we both felt we’d have the same ideas about rules and chores. But ten years on, I’ve definitely become the softie while he is more like a boss of the kids. It’s a rut, it causes fights - I think we’d both like to be back to the middle,” says mother-of-three, Julie. How couples connect as they make the transition to parenthood has a huge impact on their relationship, Denise says. And she sees this first-hand as manager of Centacare’s Bringing Baby Home program, which focuses on the relationship of the couple during the transition to parenthood. “Couples co-parent better when they have done two things - maintained and continued to build their relationship and learned to manage conflict,” she says. This leads to better outcomes for the couple and for the baby, plus a much higher rate of father/baby connection. “Building their friendship means they talk on a day to day basis about what they did that day, likes and dislikes, what sort of things they are afraid of, their inner world,” Denise says. Early on, it’s usually the mum who looks after the baby, and sharing the progress of the baby builds the relationship – especially in the first six to eight weeks, Denise explains. “Sharing gives permission for the guys to know more, even about things like pooey nappies because the neighbour won’t want to know, but he will!” she says. “Not holding back information means there is not one person with more power and control, so you both know what’s going on,” Denise says. The Raising children network says backing each other up really eases the stress of managing children’s behaviour. And agreeing with each other (or agreeing and discussing it later) in front of children makes disciplining easier because they thrive when they see consistent rules. If one parent is softer or some rules only apply with one parent; they learn, pronto! The network advises parents to agree on rules, rewards, and consequences in advance, then ‘check in’ with each other to see if a problem is already dealt with, to avoid contradicting each other. And simple emotional support can make a big difference – like just being there without being distracted. Parents are encouraged to share the good things about parenting as well as problems. It’s also about the baby not being the most important part of your life, Denise says, quoting Dr John Gottman (renowned marriage and parenting researcher and creator of the Bringing Baby Home program) “The best gift you can give your child is a strong relationship between the two of you”.

KiDs on tHe CoAst – MAY / JUNE 2011

Tips for solving problems together * • We can raise a problem for discussion with each other at any time • Either of us can say ‘no’ if we don’t want to talk now, but will make another time (no more than a day later) • If the discussion is getting heated, either of us can call for a break to calm down • Problems will be raised at a good time and place. (Kids not in earshot, there are no competing demands like mealtime or phone calls, and we are both calm) • We will try to listen so we understand what the other person is saying • We will not raise conflict topics in front of other people • If one of us has a problem, we both have a problem

You know your rules are working when: • you can solve problems effectively • both partners feel like they are working as a team • the conflict does not cause lasting negative feelings like anger and resentment • after the conflict, you’re able to reconnect and spend positive time together *Source - Raising Children network (Adapted from Brief Therapy for Couples: Helping Partners Help Themselves).

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THE ‘P’ Files

Cool change How conflict is resolved matters. Denise’s key advice about handling parental clashes is not to fall back into negative behaviour. “You have to, one, recognise the behaviour, then two, make a decision to do things differently,” Denise says. You can choose to do things differently, like how you raise an issue. "You can raise an issue harshly (say by yelling 'you always leave the towels on the floor') or softly (by saying 'please hang the towels up because if they are left on the floor they won't dry'), Denise explains. The key difference between the 'harsh start-up' and the 'soft start-up' is that the soft start-up does not include blame. "Complain but don't blame," Denise says. If you feel things are getting out of hand, you need to agree to time out, to come back to it. Repair work can include adding humour, going for a walk or looking at other ways to move on, Denise suggests. Centacare’s group studies and research shows there is no difference in the level of conflict between successful and unsuccessful couples - the key finding is that the successful couples have a positive attitude to it and know it won’t undo their relationship. It’s about the way the conflict is managed – successful couples tend to have a feeling they will get through it, Denise explains. “So if you are tired and cranky you can handle it, because you are thinking, ‘this is tough, but we can get through it’,” Denise says. “But if you are thinking ‘it’s all his fault’, this is a danger sign,” she says. The four danger signs are criticism, contempt, stonewalling, defensiveness and “if one or all of them are played out a lot in a relationship, it can destroy it,” Denise says. But those who feel like it’s tough, but still feel like they are doing it together, succeed. Parents from one of Denise’s groups, who’ve been married over 10 years, and have just had their first baby, are finding it hard-going, particularly the sleepdeprivation. But “He works shift work then comes home and takes over with the baby so she can have a nap,” Denise says.

Further reading www.fahcsia.gov.au - The Keys to Living Together kit provides useful tips, advice and ideas to enhance relationships. Each kit contains a DVD and mini magazine. Raising an Emotionally Intelligent Child: The Heart of Parenting - An in-depth guide to helping kids with their emotions – includes simple five-step ‘emotion coaching’ parenting techniques. And it works! Kerrie is seeing more parents coming in asking for help and wanting to be positive and work well as parents despite their differences. “We say to parents, ‘If you really want to put the kids first, remember how you felt when you had that newborn in your arms’,” Kerrie says. We help them get back to that goal after their crisis; we normalize it a lot and parents then soften, she explains. After all, “kids just want peace,” she says. “They just want to be free to love both mum and dad.” For more information: www.familyrelationships.gov.au – information about family relationship issues, ranging from building better relationships to dispute resolution. It includes useful tips for handling conflict. Family Relationship Advice Line. 1800 050 321 8am–8pm Monday to Friday. 10am–4pm Saturday (except national public holidays) www.raisingchildren.net.au - Raising Children Network provides a relationship toolkit including tips on teamwork, handling conflict and backing each other up.

“They didn’t see themselves as doing well, but they were and that’s the key thing, people need positives,” Denise says.

Two-roof repair Differing post-separation parenting-style and values might attract comparisons from the kids, like, “Mum would say I could” or “Dad’s place is more fun.” But this difference is not the key problem. Family Relationship Centre senior advisor and child consultant, Kerrie Anderson, says if parents have similar routines; that’s great, but if they are different, children manage well. “Life-styles are so different and kids understand this – it’s just like when they go to Nanna’s and she has her rules,” says Kerrie, who runs Family Relationship Centre’s child-inclusive mediation program. What children really struggle with is long-term conflict between parents, she says. “The research tells us this is the damaging aspect. But it also tells us kids are very resilient,” Kerrie explains. And research also shows the intrinsic concern parents have for their children can reign, in the end. If parents can make a psychological shift and let go of issues in the past, it is amazing what can be achieved, Kerrie says. “We have parents who’ve not seen each other face-to-face for years, and after mediation, they are smiling and joking and showing each other photos of the kids,” she says. The most outstanding advice Kerrie could give to parents, is to seek help. “It’s difficult enough parenting anyway, parents often do have different parenting styles, and mediation can raise parents’ capacity to communicate,” Kerrie says. Mediation is more than facilitated conversation, it’s a life-skill tool, Kerrie explains. “It’s future-focused, helping parents see past their differences to let go of the past, and helps them work with conflict.”

KiDs on tHe CoAst – MAY / JUNE 2011

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education

KIDS MIDDLE

Immanuel Lutheran College

IN THE

by Justine Stewart

Just as it can be hard to adjust your parenting style as kids get older, schools and teachers are now discovering a one-size-fits-all teaching method hasn’t worked for kids in the “middle years”, or roughly Grades 5 to 9. In fact, it’s now established that early adolescence mirrors early childhood in its complexity and importance to educational success.

What is ‘middle schooling’ all about, and could your child benefit from this approach?

[It’s worth noting here that within a few years, Queensland primary schooling will end at Year 6. The exact date is uncertain at this stage because of changes to budgets caused by this year’s natural disasters.] About twenty years ago, Australian education researchers identified some particular problems common to the young adolescent age bracket, says Susan Hearfield, Executive Officer of the Middle Years Schooling Association (MYSA):

Early adolescent students are in “no man’s land” — the upper end of primary school (currently Year 6 and 7) and the lower end of secondary school (Years 8 and 9).

“One of the concerns was absenteeism for students aged 12, 13, and 14. Another thing they found was that, through primary school, the graphs of the kids’ engagement and performance would go up, up, up, then plateau out at the end of primary school, and in the first year of high school there’d be a real dip.”

In both cases, kids are stuck in systems that were designed for those at the other end of the spectrum. They’re getting too old for the structure and educational approach of a primary school, but throw them into a traditional high school environment and they often flounder because they lack the skills and maturity to cope.

International research was also pointing to the same kinds of problems with the kids in the “middle school” years, i.e. aged around 10-15.The slump in literacy and numeracy levels was found to be even more pronounced in boys than girls, and although many students found their feet and went on to successfully complete high school, others did not.

www.kidsonthecoast.com.au

MAY / JUNE 2011 – KiDs on tHe CoAst

education “Kids in this age group are undergoing so many changes at once, and their rate of development varies widely from one individual to another.” And the problems were more than just school-related. According to the Australian Secondary Principals’ Association: “Students who fail to prosper in the middle years… sometimes develop strong anti-social attitudes”. As a result, educators started looking at ways to engage these students and overcome some of the problems they were having. Although research is still continuing, the most effective approaches to teaching this age group have now been brought together and are known as middle schooling. As Susan Hearfield points out, this doesn’t mean necessarily creating a separate set of buildings and calling it a middle school; it means that whatever school you’re in, you adopt the kinds of methods and ideas that have been identified as being the best way to keep kids in this age group interested and on-target with their learning.

Why do the middle school years need a different approach? Kids in this age group are undergoing so many changes at once, and their rate of development varies widely from one individual to another:

Immanuel Lutheran College

• As well as the fairly obvious physical changes brought on by the onset of puberty, there are all the accompanying major emotional upheavals. • Society has changed, too, so young adolescents are under new and different pressures as they form their own identity, values, evaluate friendships and relationships, and develop a sense of independence. • And from a purely cognitive point of view, their brains and intellectual processes are also rapidly changing. Although teenagers are often stereotypically portrayed as lazy and self-centred, it’s actually in early adolescence that kids become more interested in how they fit into the world around them, developing their ability to think in abstract terms about things like politics and social issues. Phew! If it’s exhausting reading about it, spare a thought for the teachers who are expected to take these hormonally-charged mixed-up children-in-transition and turn them into interested, motivated students!

What does good “middle schooling” look like? In some ways, studying what works in the middle school years has simply confirmed what good teachers had already instinctively figured out. “A lot of the things that we now promote with middle schooling were things that…I knew worked, but I didn’t know why,” says Susan Hearfield. “Now we know the practices that are most effective,” she says. “You can’t continue to teach the way you always have,” she adds. “Kids are different, and they’re a lot more global, and socially aware; the world, the Internet, is their encyclopaedia. So you do want teachers who are interested in all the latest methods.”

Sunshine Coast Grammar

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MAY / JUNE 2011 – KiDs on tHe CoAst

education According to the experts, ideal middle schooling involves a unique and targetted approach to: • Curriculum (what’s being studied) • Pedagogy (teaching methods) • Organisation (the structure of the school and classroom) • Environment (social and developmental support) The more you look into it, the more you realise these things can’t really be neatly separated, as they’re all intertwined. Bear in mind, too, that this stuff hasn’t just been plucked from thin air; it’s backed up by numerous studies and reports of actual schools and students. (Google “middle school” if you’re interested in reading some of them.) Okay, but enough of the educational jargon – what does that mean in real terms for your child? Well, to break it down further:

Curriculum – what’s being studied To keep students interested, motivated, and able to achieve their best results, a middle school curriculum should be relevant, engaging, and challenging. Uh-oh, more edu-speak buzzwords. But they do make sense once they’re explained further. Relevant: Because kids in this age group are developing their sense of autonomy, they need to feel like what they’re learning has some connection to their life. No longer content to just absorb information for the sake of it, they’re increasingly looking for real life examples and connections between the classroom and outside world. Education Queensland

growing and learning together we understand that every child is unique. at Pacific lutheran College we apply individual focus and attention – every child is known to us and every child is important. a specialised early learning program at Prep optimises children’s learning.

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Together we grow for a better tomorrow.

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KiDs on tHe CoAst – MAY / JUNE 2011

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Child’s Play Play is the most important aspect of a young child’s life. It is what children do and how they learn. Play can foster intellectual development; enhance the development of gross motor and fine motor skills; and is an important part of a child’s social and emotional development. Behaviour in play develops in stages. Children will progress through each stage at their own rate, but play stages follow the same sequence. Solitary Play Infants to 1 year olds play alone and watch others play. They enjoy batting at mobiles hanging over the cot; shaking rattles; listening to music; dropping objects from tables and the high chair; crawling through large openended boxes; and rolling a ball and crawling after it. Parallel Play 1-2 year olds engage in parallel play. They like to be around other children, but have difficulty sharing so they tend to play alongside one another, with limited interaction. Children this age like to climb through obstacle courses; fill and empty containers with non-toxic substances such as sand, rice or water. They enjoy finger plays, scribbling with crayons, and threading large beads. Associative Play 3-5 year olds begin to play and interact with other children. They may play well in groups of two or three. Preschool age children enjoy finger painting, dressing up, cutting and pasting, and blowing bubbles. They love playing with play dough, exploring movement to music, and going for walks around the neighbourhood.

Playing With Your Child Can you carve out a little time each day to play with your child? Perhaps you could identify a regular time each day when you would be free to play. Sometimes this isn’t possible, but even if you find yourself with a spare five or ten minutes on your hands, this would be a good time to join your child in their play. As you play together, look for ways to extend your child’s learning. Follow their lead and offer ideas that could provide the ‘next step’ in their play. Safety Tips: Are your child’s toys safe? ✓ Check for splinters and sharp edges. ✓ Make sure there are no small parts that could be swallowed. ✓ Shorten strings or ribbons that could become wrapped around your child’s neck. ✓ Check that crayons and paints are non-toxic and lead-free.

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Quality childcare and early learning for children from 6 weeks to 5 years old. • Separate Nursery and Pre-Prep wings • Air-conditioned centre • Library, music and sport lessons for Pre-Prep For more information Ph: (07) 5453 7077 • newleaf@scgs.qld.edu.au 372 Mons Road, Forest Glen Qld 4556 www.scgs.qld.edu.au/newleaf

Come,

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education Engaging: It’s easy to feel bored and disconnected at school if you’re old enough to watch the news, but teachers stand and deliver lectures about algebra or 19th century history and you’re supposed to sit down, be quiet, and rote learn. However, when you’re actively involved in selecting and investigating the answers to a topic that interests you (“how can I use algebra to figure out the number of Lego bricks I need to make various constructions?” or “how are today’s political protests like those of the 19th century”?) it’s a whole different ballgame. That’s not to say direct instruction has no place in middle schooling, it’s just acknowledging that it must be tailored to what students need, rather than what teachers find easiest. Challenging: Contrary to what some parents and teachers may have thought, research has identified that students don’t simply want to ditch school and head for the local milk bar. What they need is the chance to develop their skills and expertise in a way that gives them realistic challenges, has high expectations, and provides constructive and honest feedback. For example, as well as understanding the subject and being able to show that they’ve learned new information by, say, passing a test, they want the chance to develop their skills further – for example, by creating a professional-looking website that helps others learn about the topic.

Pedagogy – teaching and learning methods Young adolescents flourish in a middle school environment where rights and responsibilities are both heavily emphasised. “Kids are active participants – they’re given empowerment,” says Susan Hearfield. But this doesn’t mean they spend the day making paper planes. “They take more ownership of their own learning, and they’re taught how to do that,” she explains. A democratic classroom environment, where kids and teachers interact with mutual respect, means teaching is not just “sit there and I will tell you”. Rather it’s about teachers saying: “okay, how can I get you involved in learning about this?”, and “let’s make a plan of how you’re going to learn it and then I can help you achieve that”. It may mean more work initially, while teachers adjust, but the end result is worth it, says Ms Hearfield: “[Teachers] say [once they’ve made these kinds of changes] it’s so much easier because they’ve got the kids engaged, they’ve built those relationships, they don’t have the behavioural issues,” she says. Middle school kids need special attention given to helping them develop their ability to express themselves clearly in written and spoken language. This allows them to understand, and be able to use, what they read and hear. If this is done properly, literature and new information can help kids make sense of all the changes they’re going through, and changes in the world around them. Young adolescents are also starting to work out connections and higher level thinking strategies. If subjects like science, geography and maths are all taught at completely separate times and places, in an over-specialised way, it just seems like “random information” to them. By contrast, good middle schooling integrates subject areas and often uses “team teaching”, so kids can see the general connection between, say, plant biology, the crops grown in Asia, and the mathematics involved in basic economics. Organisation – structure and day-to-day life One of the most obvious differences between middle schooling and a traditional high school, (lockers, home rooms, and six different teachers and subjects in one day), is the emphasis on community and connection. “Students should be able to form a long-term relationship with a teacher who takes them for a large part of the school day,” according to the Australian Secondary Principals’ Association (ASPA).

Good Shepherd Lutheran College

KiDs on tHe CoAst – MAY / JUNE 2011

www.kidsonthecoast.com.au

Prep at Immanuel... make the right choice Finding the right school with supportive and nurturing teachers will set your child on a path of lifelong learning. That’s where we come in... With places still available for Prep 2012, call us today and find out what makes an Immanuel education so special. Immanuel… where everyone is someone.

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Montessori – Science Based Education Many people make the assumption that Montessori education is grounded in metaphysics. They are often surprised when they learn that it is a science based education. So, is it just by chance that Montessori education appears to promote brain development? Contemporary research and evaluation are confirming Dr Maria Montessori’s insights. There is a growing body of developmental analysis provided by researchers like Angeline Lillard, Dr Steven Hughes and Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi suggesting that it is not coincidental. Dr Steven Hughes, Paediatric Neuropsychologist at the University of Minnesota Medical School says, “Montessori education parallels what we now know about brain development and fosters the development of advanced cognitive functions, social cognition, and such higher-order competencies as empathy and leadership. Dr Steven Hughes continues by saying, “Montessori children are motivated learners and effective hands on participants in their world, largely because of Montessori’s curriculum - a curriculum that precisely triggers brain functions that are the building blocks of learning and personality. Interestingly, Harvard Business Review conducted a six year study surveying 3000 creative executives and conducted an additional 500 interviews. Five ‘discovery skills’ were prominent: the ability to associate, question, observe details, experiment, and network with smart people from whom they could learn. In other words, they were inquisitive. Their study also found that most innovative entrepreneurs had been raised in families where inquisitiveness was encouraged, and ‘many had attended Montessori schools where they learned to follow their curiosity’. If you would like to read more about Montessori International College visit www.montessori.qld.edu.au www.kidsonthecoast.com.au

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Good Shepherd Lutheran College

education

st.com.au

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“…productive teacher-student relationships are just as critical in the middle years as they are in early childhood.” In fact, the ASPA’s Middle Schooling Policy states that productive teacher-student relationships are just as critical in the middle years as they are in early childhood. “And that flies in the face of the old secondary structure of seeing 150 kids over the week, seeing them for 45 minutes three or four times a week,” explains Susan Hearfield. “You can’t get to know them as learners, or as people [in that system],” she adds.

Environment – caring, safe, and supportive Because of what’s happening developmentally, kids in this age bracket have a strong need to feel safe, secure, and part of a team – metaphorically as well as physically. “Kids needs to build relationships and have that pastoral care, or concern for the welfare of the whole child, caring for the student as a person, not “they’re coming here to learn I’m only worried about their academic development”,” says Ms Hearfield. Throughout history, young adolescence has been a time when adults help guide children to become productive members of society. Over the last few decades, schools have tended to step back from what’s perceived as ‘moral instruction’, but there is now research to show that actively teaching ethics and values, (as well as supporting kids who are under stress or feeling isolated), helps foster the sense of belonging that is vitally important to this age group.

Australia leads the way So if all of this sounds like a good idea to keep your kids on track in the middle years, how do you know whether it’s happening at your local school? “I wouldn’t say the majority of schools are doing it. Parents need to ask questions and see whether [the school] is providing learning environments that are responsive to young adolescents’ needs,” says Susan Hearfield. Parents can contact the school or P&C Association (P&F in the Catholic system) as a good starting point, or contact the Middle Years Schooling Association directly to find out more about a particular school’s approach. “The ones that are members of our association, I know a reasonable amount about them,” says Susan Hearfield. “[Having said that], the school down the road mightn’t be a member of our association but they might be offering brilliant learning experiences,” she clarifies. Australia is part of an international movement (along with countries such as China, Italy, the US, and UK) who are developing a strong middle schooling culture. In fact, a major international conference on middle schooling is being held this month on the Gold Coast, highlighting Australia’s role in the area of ongoing research and development. “A couple of years ago at a middle schooling conference in Perth, I asked one of the top American experts to recommend a US speaker for an upcoming event,” says Ms Hearfield.

Education Queensland

Coolum Beach Christian College 2011 mid year enrolments available for Prep to Year 12. New Library and Multi-Purpose Hall now open.

“He said to me: ‘Why would you be doing that when you’ve got so many wonderful things happening here – you’re way ahead of us!’” The MYSA conference is being held from May 26 to 28 and is open to teachers, parents, and the public (registration fees apply). See contact details below. For more information: Middle Years Schooling Association.Contact: (07) 3720 8711. Visit: www.mysa.org.au Education Queensland. Visit: www.education.qld.gov.au. (search for “middle phase of learning”)

KiDs on tHe CoAst – MAY / JUNE 2011

Modern facilities, caring staff and very competitive fee structure including sibling discounts and a scholarship program.

If you are interested in finding out more, please contact the school office on 5446 4780 to receive a prospectus, or arrange a school tour. Email: enrolments@cbcc.qld.edu.au www.kidsonthecoast.com.au

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For more information or to book your child’s place, call Donna Farman Mobile: O414 674 674

Groups are run by registered teachers and facilitators of the Fun Friends and Friends for Life Programs. These programs are authored by Brisbane psychologist Dr Paula Barrett (www.pathwayshrc.com.au) and have been recognised by the World Health Organisation. Research has shown the positive effects of the strategies and skills taught in the program in the prevention of anxiety/depression as well as for general well being and ability to cope with life for all children.

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MAY / JUNE 2011 – KiDs on tHe CoAst

Compiled by: Jessica Chaplin

What’s on CalendaR May 1

MYSTERY ISLANDS’ 2ND BIRTHDAY PARTY

May 5

May 6 and June 3

Where: Maroochy RSL, Memorial Ave, Maroochydore When: 11am-2pm and 6-9pm Mystery Island is turning 2! Come and join our birthday party including face painting, pirate treasure hunts, fun games and great prizes! Cost: Entry is $2.50 for members and $4.50 for non-members. Details: www.maroochyrsl.com.au

SUNSHINE COAST WORK AT HOME MUMS

Where: Kawana Family Centre, Iluka Ave, Buddina When: 10am-1pm Sunshine Coast Work at Home Mum’s, or SCWAHMS, is a great resource for Sunshine Coasters to support a WAHM, and in turn help the community by keeping our money here. Kids Welcome! Tea, coffee and morning tea provided Cost: $5 donation on the day. RSVP: www.scwahms.com

Where: The J, 60 Noosa Drive, Noosa Junction When: 6pm-8pm The ever-popular Green Zone Disco is held on the first Friday of every month. The same great DJ and awesome prizes and giveaways mean the Green Zone Disco is always welcomed with enthusiastic cheers! Strictly 8-12yr olds. For full instructions visit the website. Details: www.thej.com.au Cost: $6 per child

May 7 & 8

May 10 and 11

May 13

Where: Maroochy RSL, Memorial Ave, Maroochydore When: All weekend long Come and make something special for your Mum at Mystery Island’s Mother’s Day Craft weekend. Bring your favourite pictures of your Mum and decorate a photo frame or mini flipflop photo album for her. Cost: Entry is $2.50 for members and $4.50 for non-members. Details: www.maroochyrsl.com.au

Where: Noosa Outreach Centre, Cnr Beckmans & Eumundi Rds, Noosaville Caloundra, Lake Kawana Community Centre, Sportsman Pde Bokarina When: 10am and 11.30am Songs, stories and games. It’s Play School, live in Concert. Featuring two presenters plus the toys from the ever-popular television show, it’s 40minutes of interactive fun. Cost: $14.50 Details: www.kidspromotions.com.au or ph 1300 788 028

Where: Nambour Civic Centre, Centenary Square, Currie Street, Nambour When: 6pm Hi-5 has a brand new show called Turn the Music Up! The Hi-5 team of Casey, Fely, Lauren, Stevie and Tim are very excited to be joining all their friends for this fabulous new live show. Join the Hi-5 team, along with Chats, as they sing, dance and share a great fun time! Hi-5 share their favourite songs and dances. Cost: $34.90 Details: www.nambourciviccentre.com.au

MOTHER’S DAY CRAFT WEEKEND

May 13

May 13, 14 and 15

May 14-15

Where: White Canvas Gallery, 26 Church Street, Fortitude Valley When: 6-9pm Celebrate as ACT for Kids celebrates their 21st! Win some fantastic raffle prizes and auctions, marvel at an exclusive range of work, mingle with artists and purchase your own art with heart to support ACT for kids. RSVP May 6 Cost: $70 pp canapés and wine provided Details: www.actforkids.com.au or email michellem@actforkids.com.au

Where: The Grand Marquee, Lions Park, Noosa Heads When: From 11am The premier food and wine event in Australia, boasting an influential line-up of more than 150 leading chefs, iconic winemakers, prominent food and wine media, restaurateurs, and passionate foodies who converge on the magical setting of Noosa, to taste, talk, debate, dine and indulge…Noosa-style! Cost: From $55 Details: www.noosafoodandwine.com.au

Where: Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre, Cnr Merivale Road and Glenelg Street, Brisbane When: 9am-4pm Information sessions, cooking classes, product and service displays and more, this is the perfect opportunity to plan a healthier lifestyle – from shopping for gluten free products to cooking gluten free meals. Cost: TBA Details: www.glutenfreefoodshow.com.au

May 17

May 19-22

May 20

ACT FOR KIDS, 21ST ANNUAL ART EXHIBITION

GOOD SHEPHERD LUTHERAN COLLEGE OPEN DAY Where: Good Shepherd Lutheran College, 115 Eumundi Road, Noosaville When: 9-11am or 3.30-5.30pm Celebrating its 25th anniversary, Good Shepherd Lutheran College is well established and located in an environmentally friendly bushland setting. Prospective students and families who are interested in attending the Open Day can contact the College on 5455 8600. Cost: Free Details: www.gslc.qld.edu.au

AUDI NOOSA FOOD & WINE FESTIVAL 2011

IMMANUEL ARTS FESTIVAL Where: 126-142 Wises Road, Buderim The Immanuel Arts Festival is the largest of its kind on Queensland’s Sunshine Coast and has a proud 30 year tradition of showcasing the artistic talents of our region. The festival promotes visual, creative and performance art within the Sunshine Coast community. In 2011 it is shaping up to be even bigger with a prize pool of over $5000. Cost: Costs apply Details: www.immanuelartsfestival.com.au

HI-5’S TURN THE MUSIC UP! TOUR

NATIONAL WALK SAFELY TO SCHOOL DAY Where: In all Primary Schools around Australia Walk Safely to School Day promotes the vitally important message: Active Kids are Healthy Kids. The event encourages parents, carers and their children to build regular walking to and from school into their daily routine. It also encourages parents to drive less aiming to decrease dangerous vehicle congestion around schools and reduce carbon emissions from idling cars. Cost: Free Details: www.walk.com.au

May 22 and June 12

May 25

Where: Departing from South Brisbane Station When: 10.10am, 11.40am and 1.10pm Departing from Roma Street station or South Brisbane station, a magnificently restored Queensland Rail steam train will take passengers on a one hour round journey through Brisbane’s suburbs, passing landmarks and river crossings. Steam Train Sunday will run regularly from May to December 2011. Cost: $19 Adults $11 Children under 15 $57 Family (2 adults 2 children) Details: www.theworkshops.qm.qld.gov.au

Where: Maroochy RSL, Memorial Ave, Maroochydore When: From 6pm Watch the first State of Origin game for 2011 live on the big screen at Mystery Island. There will be games of mini ball and you can design your very own footy jersey. Cost: Costs may apply Details: www.maroochyrsl.com.au

Where: Buderim Wall Memorial Hall, Cnr Main St and Gloucester Rd, Buderim When: 9am-1pm Mamma’s Market is a high quality boutique style monthly market with a focus on handmade, unique items and services catering to pregnancy, baby, children and family as well as delightful homewares! A fun experience for the whole family, there will be gourmet food, activities for children and live entertainment which will compliment the unique wares for sale, all contributing to a great atmosphere! Cost: Free entry Details: www.mammasmarket.com

PLAYSCHOOL CONCERT

GREENZONE DISCO

THE IRRESISTIBLE GLUTEN-FREE SHOW

STEAM TRAIN SUNDAYS

May 21 and June 11 MAMMA’S MARKET

MAY

KiDs on tHe CoAst – MAY / JUNE 2011

STATE OF ORIGIN - GAME 1

May 25

ADVENTURES OF ALVIN SPUTNIK: DEEP SEA EXPLORER

Where: The Events Centre, 20 Minchinton St, Caloundra When: 10:00am A visually inspired solo show, created and performed by Tim Watts, who employs a unique blend of mime, puppetry, live and recorded music, and animation to present an exploration of the next and oldest frontier: the deep blue sea. Cost: Full: $14.00 Concession: $13.00 Members: $12.00 Groups 10+: $12.50 Details: www.thej.com.au/the-events-centre

www.kidsonthecoast.com.au

JUNe

A calendar of regular weekly events is available online. For details of playgroups, library activities, weekly sporting events, craft classes, Australian Breastfeeding Association meeting times and much more, visit www.kidsonthecoast.com.au We publish information based on what is supplied to us - to the best of our knowledge all details were correct at time of printing, however we do recommend you check event details with the organisers.

June 4-9

SAIL MOOLOOLABA 2011

Where: Waters off Mooloolaba Beach, Mooloolaba When: Regatta racing - June 4 from 11.30am, June 5 from 10am. Sailability for kids with disabilities - June 7, 9-12noon. Radio Controlled Yachting - June 7, 1-4pm. Match Racing - June 9, 1-5pm Sail Mooloolaba is an annual sailing event bringing together national and state junior, youth and senior sailors racing dinghies and keel boats in a two-day regatta on the waters off Mooloolaba beach. Cost: Costs may apply Details: www.sailmooloolaba.yachting.org.au

June 10

June 5

SUNSHINE COAST WORLD ENVIRONMENT DAY FESTIVAL Where: University of the Sunshine Coast, Sippy Downs. Be a part of a world event with local focus! Each year World Environment Day is recognised around the world making it one of the largest global environment events of its kind. This vibrant one-day festival focuses on acting as a catalyst for effective and sustainable change with some great family fun. Cost: Free entry Details: www.scec.org.au or www.facebook.com/worldenvironmentday

NOTHING TO WEAR Where: Mudjimba Community Kindy When: 7pm Proudly sponsored by Novotel Twin Waters, Mudjimba Community Kindy will be hosting their annual fundraising event. Hosted by Jodie Hedley-Ward, author of the book You sexy Mother, there will be a great range of local designers and stall holders, as well as a Fashion Parade. Amazing prizes to be won throughout the night. Cost: $35 Details: email nothingtowear2011tickets@hotmail.com

June 10-12 QUEENSLAND BALLET PRESENTS…. Where: Playhouse QPAC Cnr Grey and Melbourne Streets, Southbank When: Check website for show times The kind-hearted Little Mermaid rescues a Prince during a storm at sea, and so begins a journey that takes her far from her home beneath the waves. Determined to pursue her love on to the shore, she makes a bargain with the Sea Witch - but it comes at a heavy price. This charming and poignant ballet explores the nature of longing, how making choices may have lasting consequences, and how goodness can be rewarded in unexpected ways. Cost: From $41 Details: www.queenslandballet.com.au. Bookings www.qtix.com.au

June 11

Where: Maroochy RSL, Memorial Ave, Maroochydore When: From 6.30pm Bring your boogie down to Mystery Island town for a disco night full of music, games and dancing! Cost: Costs may apply Details: www.maroochyrsl.com.au

Where: Kiah Park, 20km East of Gympie When: Check website for drop off and pick up times. Kiah Park Holiday Camp offers a wide range of horse riding camps, catering for all riding abilities and absolute beginner riders are welcome. From 7-day camps to shorter trail rides, Kiah Park is sure to have something to suit all families and budgets. Weekend camp date is June 10-13. Visit website or phone for more details. Cost: Costs will apply Details: www.kiahpark.com.au or ph: 5486 6166

Where: Caloundra Events Centre, 20 Michinton Street, Caloundra When: 7.30pm Breast Wishes is a new Australian musical about love, life, loss and silicon; a witty and heart-warming journey of courage and determination through laughter to triumph. A sophisticated and hilarious glimpse of cleavage and beyond which promises to make your heart sing. Proudly supporting the National Breast Cancer Foundation. Cost: $48 Full $44 Concession $14 Youth Details: www.theeventscentre.com

www.kidsonthecoast.com.au

Where: Caloundra Arts Centre, 5 North Street, Caloundra When: 9am-3pm A wonderful array of quality handcrafted goods will be on sale, as well as light refreshments including Devonshire Teas and a sausage sizzle. Plants, pre-loved books and raffles complete the picture. Cost: Free admission Details: www.mysunshinecoast.com.au

June 19

CALOUNDRA FORESHORE FUN RUN Where: Check website for starting place When: Check website for starting time The 10km Foreshore Run takes entrants through the spectacular scenery at Kings and Shelly Beaches, before climbing over the Moffat Headland to the finish line. There is also a testing 3km Fun Run for those who prefer a shorter distance. All funds raised will benefit the Parents and Friends Association of local primary school Our Lady of the Rosary. Cost: Entry fees apply. Check website for details Details: www.caloundrafunrun.com

BREAST WISHES

SIDS and Kids calls on all Australians to support Red Nose Day. SIDS and Kids provides vital counselling and support to the many Australians affected by the unexpected death of a baby or child each year. Buy a red nose or any Red Nose Day product, donate via the website or hold your own fundraising event. Details: Visit the website for fundraising ideas www.rednoseday.com.au

CALOUNDRA ARTS & CRAFTS FAIR

KIAH PARK WEEKEND HORSE RIDING CAMPS

June 21

RED NOSE DAY

June 11-12

June 18-25 and June 25-July 2

DANCE IT UP DISCO

June 24

10-12

June 30

BEN 10 LIVE: TIME MACHINE Where: Nambour Civic Centre, Centenary Square, Currie Street Nambour When: 10am For the first time, the three Cartoon Network series’ Ben 10, Ben 10 Alien Force and Ben 10 Ultimate Alien are all featured in one live theatre event. Ben 10 Live: Time Machine stars Ben, his cousin Gwen and Grandpa Max. Joined by some of Ben’s alien superheroes, love-to-hate faves Vilgax and the DNAliens. It’s ‘Hero Time’?! Cost: $26.90 Details: www.nambourciviccentre.com.au

MAY / JUNE 2011 – KiDs on tHe CoAst

BABIES ON

the coast

Taste buds in

overdrive An excuse for indulgence? by Maxine Arthur

Intense food cravings can derail the best dietary intentions and, as many women know, they can be particularly strong during pregnancy. We are not talking real hunger here but the ‘I need a packet of Tim Tams now or no-one is safe’ kind of craving. A longing so powerful that even ‘film star whippet thin two weeks after giving birth’ photos won’t stop you from indulging. We all know that chips, pizza, biscuits and chocolate contain empty calories. We know that once we get our hands on that block of chocolate we won’t stop at two squares. Choose a healthy snack? Chocolate’s choosing me! Eat in moderation? You’re kidding!

on a steady diet of hot chips and gravy in a sandwich, topped with ‘plastic cheese’ along with ‘anything chocolate and lots of milk’. “I couldn’t get enough of eggs and lamb. I didn’t eat either before my pregnancy,” Tamara said.

I can’t get it out of my head

Brenda remembered cooking hot chips every day for lunch and smothering them in tomato sauce. “They couldn’t be bought chips. I had to make them myself from fresh potatoes. I went from a size 10 to a 16,” Brenda laughed. With her second pregnancy the chips were replaced by a craving for big bacon and egg burgers from the local milk bar, accompanied by caramel malted milkshakes. “I also had to have avocadoes which I hadn’t eaten before.” Brenda’s daughter Amanda, pregnant with her first child, couldn’t even stand to be in the same room with chicken, let alone eat it.

Food cravings of the mid-afternoon munchies variety can hit at any time but for many women the most intense and bizarre cravings are associated with pregnancy. Studies have shown that more than 60% of women report food cravings during pregnancy. The most popular cravings include sweet, salty, spicy or fatty foods. Chocolate tops the list – no surprises there – with milk, ice-cream, fruit, hot chips, pickles, doughnuts, biscuits, pizza and cheese making the Constant Cravings top ten. Brisbane mum, Marsha, gave birth to her first child, Coco, last December. In the first trimester Marsha craved nutritious food. “I felt that I needed lots of fresh vegetables to give me energy as I was feeling quite lethargic. Later on I developed a really strong craving for carrot cake.” Marsha indulged her carrot cake fixation but kept it to an every other day treat. Just as well she was living in New York at the time where a 2am delivery of carrot cake was readily available! A round- table discussion with a group of Sunshine Coast women proved several things. Mums of all ages can remember exactly what their cravings or aversions were down to the last detail. Each woman’s food cravings were different and ranged from the healthy to the not-so-healthy. Cravings varied from one pregnancy to the next and included foods not eaten before or since. Most obviously, these were not merely food choices. More available or more sensible substitutes would not do. These foods were ‘had to haves’, just the way I like it, as soon as possible. Jules developed a passion for Cherry Ripes but they had to be melted in the sun. Cream matches (pastries with a filling of jam and cream) were irresistible. Carly ate roast pumpkin every day and golden syrup crumpets every morning. Tamara went

KiDs on tHe CoAst – MAY / JUNE 2011

How can the craving for, or aversion to, a particular food be so overwhelming that common sense and willpower desert us?

Is my body trying to tell me something? Cravings often start round the end of the first trimester, once morning sickness fades. They are occasionally linked to nutritional deficiency – a vegetarian may crave red meat because she is lacking in protein or iron. An overpowering need for milk and cheese may be satisfying the body’s need for more calcium. Very rarely a woman may crave non-food items such as chalk, gravel, dirt, toothpaste, cleaning products and other unusual substances - a condition known as ‘pica’. This may indicate a need for iron or zinc supplements. Don’t indulge extreme, possibly dangerous, cravings – talk to your doctor. Unfortunately, it’s hard to argue a case for vanilla slices and soft drinks as nutritious foods. Most of us aren’t reaching for broccoli or high-quality protein to fill a pregnancy craving, are we? What we crave and what our bodies need may be entirely different things. Recent research indicates that a complex combination of hormonal changes, emotional factors and fluctuations in blood sugar levels drive intense food cravings.

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Hormonal havoc Clinical Director of IVF Sunshine Coast, obstetrician and gynaecologist Dr James Moir explained how hormonal fluctuations during pregnancy may affect food choices.“In early pregnancy HCG levels (human chorionic gonadotropin) produced by the placenta rise quickly, stimulating the ovaries to produce higher levels of oestrogen and progesterone. By the ninth or tenth week the placenta is selfsustaining and HCG levels drop.” High hormone levels can alter a woman’s sense of smell and taste dramatically but Dr Moir hears more about the flip-side of cravings – the food aversions brought on by nausea. Foods that were once enjoyable turn into foods a woman can’t stand the smell, taste, texture or even the sight of for several months. Dr Moir recalled one lady who was so overcome with nausea that she survived on a diet of water and macadamia nuts for the first trimester. In addition to the hormonal rollercoaster, Dr Moir suggested another reason for powerful food cravings at odd times. “Basal sugar levels in pregnancy are lower on average so between meals and at night, sugar cravings might hit. If cravings for a particular food are strong, have a small amount but be aware that a diet high in sugar may cause problems, particularly for women with diabetic tendencies.”

Healthier alternatives

Controlling cravings • Enjoy a little of what you crave occasionally without guilt • Learn to distinguish between hunger and emotional eating • Treat yourself with something other than food • Take some regular exercise

Ice cream – non-fat frozen yogurt, sorbet or sherbet Soft drinks – mineral water or tap water with fruit juice or lime Pastries/doughnuts – whole-grain muffin with no added sugar jam Cake – low-fat banana bread Pizza takeaway – try a homemade pizza on flatbread using lots of vegetables Potato chips – popcorn Chocolate – chocolate flavoured milkshake made with low-fat milk

Craving comfort through food Director of Sunshine Coast Dietetics, dietician Sally-Anne Livock believes that some cravings may be psychological. Beliefs about food and our emotional associations with food can stimulate cravings. “Certain foods may be associated with certain situations, for example, buying takeaways on a Friday night, eating popcorn at the movies, snacking while watching television or having a glass of wine every evening.” These associations become habitual. You start to associate certain emotions with certain foods such as chicken soup when you are sick, cake and coffee to cheer yourself up, chocolate at the end of the day as a reward, Sally-Anne says. So if you believe that ‘eating ice cream at night is the norm for pregnant women, or even that this is what made your mother feel great when she was pregnant’ you may need a hug more than the ice cream. Pregnancy is a time of major changes to your body, your lifestyle and your relationships. Stress, depression and boredom can lead to comfort eating. Of course there is nothing wrong with seeking comfort and if a little ice cream lifts your mood, choose good quality ice cream and savour every mouthful.

KiDs on tHe CoAst – MAY / JUNE 2011

“Most cravings are not harmful and as long as the mother is still following a balanced diet and meeting all her nutritional requirements there is no harm at all in a little indulgence - just don’t let it get out of hand. The old ‘I’m now eating for two’ is a total misconception. You really only need around 200 calories extra per day in the second trimester and around 300calories extra in the third trimester-easily achieved by increasing a dairy serve per day to meet increased calcium needs,” Sally-Anne says.

The sugar trap Low blood sugar can cause major food cravings. Trying to follow a very low calorie diet and going for long periods without food can serve to intensify cravings. Sally-Anne advises against following a restrictive eating plan whether pregnant or not. “Eliminating or reducing food groups often leads to cravings and the foods craved are usually far less nutritious than those restricted. Limiting your intake of carbohydrates will usually lead to sweet cravings. The chocolate or confectionery you crave are a far less healthy choice and higher in calories than the carbohydrates would have been.” Missing meals, especially breakfast, will only fuel the sugar cravings. “The energy supplied by a meal or snack is usually utilised in 1-2 hours. Having long breaks in between meals and snacks can lead to food cravings for something sweet to help top up the blood sugar levels. Aim for a light meal or snack every three hours. Low fat dairy foods, fresh fruits and raw nuts are great snack options,” Sally-Anne suggests. Tempting as it may be to justify over-indulgence as part and parcel of pregnancy, a sensible approach (well, most of the time) is best for mum and baby. Further reading: How To Reduce Food Cravings By Anne Collins. Visit: www.annecollins.com/weight-loss/food-cravings.htm www.kidsonthecoast.com.au

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And yet, at the same time we realised that our already bizarre unborn boy would fall into a contented sleep whenever ‘Wild Thing’ was played. Clearly this was a child that was born to rock and the easiest way to settle my newborn rocker was for his mummy to softly sing him to slumber reassuring the tiny little wild thing that he really did make her heart sing and really did make everything groovy, quite. My tiny music man embraced every imaginable incarnation of rock’n’roll. Traditional lullabies drove him crazy, but Bernard Fanning could calm him immediately. There was a brief foray into Brit pop, as he banged the drum to the Stone Roses before a naturally occurring fauxhawk serendipitously coincided with a love of punk classics that saw him dodging Spanish bombs with The Clash and creating anarchy with The Sex Pistols. While the Wiggles left him cold, Jimmy Hendrix and the Doors lit his fire. There was a brief ‘Bob’ phase when he mellowed out with Mssrs. Marley and Dylan until Raging Against the Machine and couch-diving to Them Crooked Vultures became his raison d’etre. And while he knows and loves singing along to many a children’s nursery rhyme, when it comes to listening it’s a whole different story. Concerned that he might be missing out on some important toddler rite-of-passage that would impair his development I have dutifully spent the last few weeks revisiting music for minors to see if I could convince my mini madman that it was where things were at for hip and happening toddlers. My attempts were met with a huffy “No mummy, turn that yuck off just right now!” And so, always one to do as I’m told, I did just that. I have accepted defeat and instead of a houseful of kiddie’s tunes have had The Jam song, A Town Called Malice on repeat for several hours at the behest of our small but insistent in-house DJ, as he dances wildly about. And while Mummy certainly prefers his musical choices to songs about mashed potatoes – it would be nice if my obsessive boy rocker would, just once, listen to a whole album! www.kidsonthecoast.com.au

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Men and family separation Family separation is an increasingly common experience for many Australians, and presents a challenging time, as many people experience significant emotional, financial and legal impacts as a result. Randal Newton-John, Program Leader at Mensline Australia, said research shows that men are more likely than women to live alone post-separation and may be less likely to ask for help. International Men’s Health Week is June 13-19 and Mr Newton-John says, “It’s a good opportunity for men to take stock of their situation and consider their well-being, especially if they are going through separation”. “The message for men is, don’t ‘tough it out’ – there is support out there when and where you need it. And the better off you are, the better off your kids will be,” Mr Newton-John said. The Child Support Agency (CSA) can offer a range of assistance including connections and referrals to support services to help separated parents and their families in this situation. While the primary role of the CSA is to support separated parents to transfer payments for the benefit of their children, the agency also cares about the wellbeing of separated families and works closely with a range of national and local counselling and mediation services including Beyondblue, Relationships Australia and Mensline Australia to provide assistance for separating families and their children.

Restoring your confidence with bladder control Dr Petra Ladwig from Suncoast Women’s Centre understands the problems most women face after giving birth. One of the most embarrassing side effects is often incontinence which can occur due to weakened pelvic floor muscles. A lot of women simply put up with this as the natural course of being a woman after child birth but this need not be the case. If addressed early these problems can be managed, improved and even cured by something as simple and painless as sitting in a chair, fully clothed for 20 minutes! The pelvic floor controls your urinary, bowel and sexual functions yet these muscles are your most neglected. The new ‘Wave Brilliance’ Magnetic Pelvic Floor Stimulation chair (magnetic chair) uses magnetic fields to stimulate nerve impulses which rapidly flex and tighten your pelvic floor muscles. This is the equivalent of approximately 200 pelvic floor contractions every minute at 20 times greater the intensity than the patient can do themselves! It is the ideal way to kick start or regenerate the pelvic floor and surrounding muscles to restore strength, endurance and continence. Treatments are tailored to individual patients but a typical therapy program consists of two 20 minute treatments per week for eight weeks. Of course children are most welcome to attend with you and can simply sit and play whilst you undergo your treatment. For more information about the new Wave Brilliance magnetic chair treatment phone the Suncoast Women’s Centre on 5437 7244 or visit Suite 5, 5 Innovation Parkway, Birtinya (Kawana). Medicare rebates available.

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 

Mr Newton-John said there are a number of publications available that may provide  more information or support options for men and for separated and separating families.     “The booklet Men and Separation, produced by Beyondblue,  Relationships Australia  and Mensline Australia, is for men who are going though separation or divorce, or      anyone who is supporting a man going through separation,”  he said.    

 “This booklet is designed to show men that they’re not alone, help guide them      through constructive choices and raise awareness of support services.”    

  Separated men can contact, Mensline on 1300 78 99 78 or Relationships Australia on 1300      364 277 to obtain a copy of the booklet and find out more about support services for men.        The CSA also has a range of information and support products for separated     families, including: The Me and My... booklet series, which have practical ideas and  advice on parenting from a distance, money issues, forming a working relationship     with your ex, and taking care of yourself after separation.   Other useful resources include:  • The Parents Guide to Child Support, which can help parents better understand their rights, responsibilities and services available after separation. • For children under 12, the CSA’s interactive CD-ROM, A kid’s guide to changing families, and story/activity book, Our family’s changed are available at: www.csa.gov.au.

To order these or other free CSA publications go to: www.csa.gov.au/publications/ and http://www.youth.csa.gov.au/ Separating dads will also find useful information at the website: My family is separating — what now? : familyseparation.humanservices.gov.au/ The Mensline Australia website also has a range of self-help of worksheets and tip sheets: http://www.menslineaus.org.au/Home.html The information contained in this article is not intended nor implied to be a substitute for individual professional medical advice from your physician or qualified health care provider. www.kidsonthecoast.com.au

           

   

MAY / JUNE 2011 – KiDs on tHe CoAst 37  

 

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Why kids need nature …and nature needs kids! by Sarah Hindle

Research has linked a rise in obesity, depression and even eyesight problems with the trend towards the indoors, and a decline in accessing green spaces. Why have we retreated inside, and can we break free from our cloistered indoor environments? Significant changes in childhood have occurred over the past several decades, relating to the level of interaction children have with the outdoor environment in their everyday lives. Stressed, overweight and unfit children with poor eyesight, low resilience, and an inability to empathise with nature have developed what some researchers are now calling the ‘nature deficit disorder’.

What is Nature Deficit Disorder? Nature deficit disorder (NDD) describes the cumulative effect of withdrawing nature from children’s experiences. The disorder is systemic at a social and cultural level, but children are uniquely victimised by it. Richard Louv, author of Last Child in the Woods: Saving Our Children from Nature Deficit Disorder coined the term to ring alarm bells about the harm caused when a child experiences disconnection with the natural world, not as a serious clinical diagnosis. He says that a combination of over reporting in the media, and paranoid parents have literally scared children out of the natural world*, and into virtual representations of it instead. As a result, children are spending less time outside: “Our kids are actually doing what we tell them to do when they sit in front of the TV all day or in front of that computer game all day...society is telling kids unconsciously that nature’s in the past”. In his book, Louv examines a growing body of scientific research suggesting that children who are given early and ongoing positive exposure to nature thrive in intellectual and physical ways their ‘shut in’ peers do not. Stress is reduced, concentration sharpened, and creative problem solving is encouraged. He concludes that disconnection with the natural world has hit an all-time peak, based on his observation that the very presence of such a disorder evidences two generations of alienation from nature.

KiDs on tHe CoAst – MAY / JUNE 2011

Furthermore, lack of nature doesn’t seem to be unique to cities and suburbs - kids in rural areas are having the same ‘screen time’ and are going on longer car rides. You might have concluded your kids are lacking in motivation or energy - but perhaps what they really need is less motivational speeches from you, and more of a ‘sweep them outside with a big broom’ style. Your backyard, overrun with all the wonder of bugs and weeds could be exactly the therapy they are missing!

Our Indoor Lifestyle Whilst children who were raised in the ‘70s and ‘80s were commonly told “go outside and play until dinner time”, the ‘sweeping plains’ and ‘far horizons’ of our sunburnt country have become little more to us than a nostalgic piece of Australiana. Karen Malone, Associate Professor of Social Sciences at the University of Wollongong in NSW cites technophilia, shrinking backyards, safety regulations at school and daycare centres, and parental over-scheduling in childhood as significant contributing factors to the generational nature gap, but particularly blames road safety and parental worries. In a study she conducted in the western suburbs of Melbourne, of three hundred children aged four to eight ears, she found two-thirds said their parents didn’t allow them to play outside their front gate*. According to Louv: “Biologically we are still hunters and gatherers and we need, at some level we don’t fully understand, direct involvement with nature. We need to see natural shapes on the horizon. And when we don’t get that, we don’t do so well.” While it is hard to prove that children are spending more of their time indoors, the Australian Institute of Family Studies has shown in recent years that children aged six to nine spend under two hours a day outdoors on the weekend, and four and five year olds just 2.3 hours outside on weekends.

*See this issue’s feature article for more on this topic. www.kidsonthecoast.com.au

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Shared Care laws explained “A lot of mums and dads come to me saying, `shared care (equal time) is now the law’, but that’s not true,” says Michelle Beatty, Senior Associate with Ferguson Cannon Lawyers. “The 2006 changes to the law specifically says parents have `equal parental responsibility’. So parents must both agree on long term decisions for children - education, name (including surname), health, religious and cultural upbringing and changes in a child’s living arrangements that would affect them seeing the other parent,” she adds.

to implement a shared care regime; the level of communication between the parents and the impact of a shared care regime on the child.”

“If equal parental responsibility applies, then the first thing the court has to decide is whether shared care (equal time) would be practical and in the child’s best interests. As to practicalities, a court will want to know, amongst other things - how close the parents live to each other; the parents’ ability

“Essentially, the changes in the law require parents to agree on the big issues. Orders like we used to see in the past, for children to only spend alternative weekends with Dad, are rare, rather than the norm, if Dad does want more time. The Court’s position is: `The welfare of the children is the paramount consideration,” Michelle adds.

Michelle explains that if shared care isn’t appropriate, the Court must consider whether the child should spend `substantial and significant time’ with each parent: time on weekdays, weekends and holidays that allows both parents to be involved in the child’s daily routine as well as occasions and events of special significance to both the parent and the child.

Everyone wins when you put kids first. Kids F irst

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Separation or relationship breakdown can put you into conflict affecting your whole family. Advice from a family law professional, who is focused on achieving positive outcomes, p for fo you and your children can put you in safe hands. For Fo our free information booklet email info@fclawyers.com.au

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ONLY

natural

Other indicators of the deficit include: • Over scheduling: children today are likely to remember their childhood as a view from the back seat of the car, being driven from one scheduled activity to the next. • Diminishing discretionary time at home: numerous studies around the world show changes in childhood which contribute to the effects of the nature deficit, such as the growing demands on children’s time, resulting in less free and unstructured playtime. • The promotion of ‘safe’ sports and scheduled activities over imaginative play. • A ‘plugged-in’ culture: an increase in media time, and high levels of screen time in preschoolers. • A change in environment: the majority of children are urban, raised indoors, and in increasingly smaller spaces. • The restricted use of private and public land for children’s free-play. • An increase of myopia (short-sightedness) in children due to concentrated near work. Of major concern to researchers and educators is the loss of connection children have with nature and biodiversity, many of them unable to name common plant species and garden variety insects. If today’s children are growing up without nature experiences, they risk never being bonded to nature, and may care less about environmental hurdles of the future, although the more recent trend toward organic gardening in urban areas moderates that gap somewhat. Factors such as car ownership, reduced public transport services and the poor quality of many outdoor play environments challenge the health of the bigger picture. Complex issues such as the growing middle-class tendency to heavily schedule children’s lives into a kind of ‘turbo-childhood’ are all challenges that need to be faced by parents, and to a greater extent, society at large. With childhood obesity levels in at one-quarter of the population in Australia (up from 21 per cent in 2005), the pressure to find effective responses is mounting.

Green Essentials Whilst many parents are fretting over whether their children are eating enough green vegetables, the amount of green exercise may be at least as important! Research has shown that time spent outdoors can: • reduce stress • boost the immune system • enhance productivity • promote healing • reduce anxiety and depression • cut crime rates • improve cognitive functions • reduce symptoms of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder • increase competency levels • discourage anti-social behaviour Reconnecting our kids with the outdoors can even improve communication in the playground, help them show greater responsibility for others, increase their curiosity about living things, and enhance their story-telling creativity.

Further reading

RRP: $24.95 Last Child in the Woods. By Richard Louv. e becom have en childr our how s This book show e, why natur from ced distan and ted aliena singly increa ence. differ a make2011 can/ JUNE how –we andCoAst matte thisKiDs 40 onrstHe MAY

Preventing Nature Deficit Disorder in your Kids 1. Be a role model: Demonstrate your curiosity about nature and share it with your children. Do this in everyday ways, such as noticing a rainbow, running out in the rain, reading National Geographic, recycling, not littering. 2. Plan a monthly surprise outdoor adventure: Go to a river, beach, national park or city park. (Find a QLD park or forest www.derm.qld.gov. au/parks/index.php ) 3. Limit TV and computer/video games to 1-2 hours a day. 4. Take a daily or weekly walk together as a family after dinner: Stroll around your neighbourhood with your kids, pointing out flowers or birds, or just chatting about the day’s events. 5. Go Camping! Camping in national parks is a great cost effective family holiday that can be fun and educational. Enjoy your local parks, or take a road trip to discover other national treasures. 6. Plant a garden. Follow the inspiration of Stephanie Alexander (www.kitchengardenfoundation.org.au) and Jamie Oliver, and grow vegies or herbs in your backyard, or take part in a community garden. Food gardens also teach children how to be smart about nature, nutrition, and to make better food choices. 7. Compost, keep a worm farm (www.wormsdownunder.com.au/), or backyard chickens (ecocity.net.au). Involve your children and explain why you are doing it - the sight of wriggly worms or freshly laid eggs is enough to rouse even the most dedicated couch potato! 8. Buy a field guide. Field guides make a walk in the park an educational experience, helping the whole family to name and identify what you find outside. 9. L ink up with one of your great local or national organisations. National Geographic Kids www.kids.nationalgeographic.com/kids Earthwatch Kids www.earthwatchkids.net Millennium Kids www.millenniumkids.com.au Fit Kids Australia www.fitkidsaustralia.com Australian Conservation Foundation www.acfonline.org.au The concept of a child-nature reunion has struck a chord with many, and since 2005, when Last Child in the Woods hit the shelves, a movement was born. Louv claims that it is because the concept rings true for parents and grandparents who are reminded of their own treasured experiences in nature as children. Camping holidays, building a tree-house, or catching tadpoles; all prized and cherished experiences unique to the wonder that goes with childhood. Richard Louv says “there’s a lot of nature in most people’s back yards. Leave part of the yard rough. Don’t manicure everything. Small children in particular love to turn over rocks and find bugs...give them some space to do that. Take your child fishing. Take your child on hikes.” When playing freely outdoors, children have access to many loose materials, such as branches, leaves and stones. The power of the imagination is then given free reign to transfer a stick into anything, way beyond the scope of the average plastic super-market toy. So next time you send the kids out the back door and into the garden with a desperate “Go OUTSIDE and play!” you can feel very assured it could be the very thing they (and you) need. Richard Louv would approve. www.kidsonthecoast.com.au

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Kids’ posture under strain Posture, or how we hold ourselves, is very important for our health, but our kids’ posture has never before been under the strain it is today, says chiropractor Dr David Hendrey of Hendrey Chiropractic at Lake Kawana. There are three major factors why our children’s posture is deteriorating at alarming rates, he says. “Firstly, 21st century recreation is often via handheld games and mobile phones, and sitting slumped over these devices for hours on end is taking its toll; when we’re distracted by the game, we shut out distractions including our posture,” he says. “Combine that with lack of exercise and heavy school bags and we have a trifecta of trouble.” Dr Hendrey has some suggestions for concerned parents who want to help improve their child’s posture, including: • Limiting the amount of time your kids play with handheld games • Playing outside with your children every day • Encouraging them to take up a sport that keeps them active and having fun, and • Ensuring their school bag is a backpack style, and aiming to keep it at or below 10% of their total weight. If you would like a professional opinion about your child’s posture or tips and exercises to help keep their back strong and healthy, call Dr David Hendrey on 5437 7222. The first session for all children under 18 is free. www.kidsonthecoast.com.au

Revolutionary fees At Hendrey Chiropractic we believe that great quality health care should be available to all people. That’s why our fees are radically different. An Adult exam is just $37. A child exam is FREE. Any required x-rays are done on site and bulk billed to Medicare with no gap. (We typically only x-ray adults. We DON’T x-ray pregnant women.) Follow up sessions are: $45 for Adults, $35 for Concession, $25 under 18’s

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13/5 Innovation Parkway (Level 1) Kawana Waters MAY / JUNE 2011 – KiDs on tHe CoAst

PARENT

profile

Bald& Beautiful by Belinda Hopper

It’s easy to define ourselves by the problems that beset us, so it was surprising and refreshing to hear Robyn Woodrow, who in June of last year underwent significant surgery and six months of chemotherapy to treat ovarian cancer, say her life defining moment has nothing to do with having cancer, “I’m not defined by the cancer, nor has it facilitated any significant changes in my life - apart from forcing me to go back and better prioritise some aspects.” In fact, Robyn speaks of the positive things that have come out of her diagnosis, “During this period, I expanded my quest for headwear into a business – Beautifully Bald, and my cancer also provided me the opportunity to meet people who I would otherwise never have met.” Robyn sees the cancer as “just” a road-bump she hopes not to revisit. She chooses to focus on, “just getting on with living” and hopes to make the journey a little easier for the women who follow, by taking every opportunity to speak to women about ovarian cancer, and participate in many cancer fundraisers. So what was Robyn’s life defining moment? Losing her mother a good twenty years earlier than she expected to! “My mother has been a great inspiration to me and was just one of life’s most beautiful souls. She always put everything into perspective, and would make everyone feel valued. She also believed, quite correctly, that a cup of tea could solve a plethora of problems.”

Where do you live and why? We live at Eudlo. We used to come up here every weekend, and every Sunday afternoon we would all groan as we packed up to go back to Brisbane. One day we just decided that there was no reason we couldn’t reverse the pattern - live in Eudlo, and travel to Brisbane if we needed to. I also wanted some space to establish a small studio. We have lived both around Australia and overseas – we lived in India, in the ‘suburbs’ in New Delhi for a year when the kids were 4 and 8 years old. One of the main reasons we accepted the post was that we thought it would be a great experience for the children, and that they would appreciate what a blessed life they live in Australia. It was quite confronting for the kids, with so much ‘in your face’ poverty and filth, but we did lots of preparation before we went. I think moving often has led to our kids being quite close – family was the only constant, but it is wonderful to be staying put for a while! Is the journey of motherhood what you expected? I had no expectations, and was always conscious of listening to advice and reading widely, but ultimately making my own decisions about what felt right. I had a wonderful role model in my own mother. I’ll be honest though – raising teenagers is much more difficult than I ever expected. What qualities do you most admire in each of your children? I admire my son’s insight and sense of humour, and my daughter’s compassion and concern for others. I am also envious of their musical abilities (I have no idea where they got that from!).

So make yourself a cuppa and be encouraged by Robyn’s journey:

What is your biggest parenting frustration? Feeling invisible – talking, but realising no-one is listening.

Can you give our readers a little snapshot of your family? My husband, Craig, and I met when we were both in the Army. We spent the first fifteen years of our marriage moving every year or so. During this period our children Thomas (15) and Molly (11) were born. I was juggling full-time work, studying for a couple of Masters Degrees, and managing the kids while my husband was away for periods of up to three months at a time. In hindsight, I’m not sure how (or why) I did it! Now Craig works and lives in Brisbane during the week, so I do the ‘single parent’ thing Monday to Friday, and the kids go to school.

What delights you most about motherhood? Feeling valued and valuable. Realising that the world would be much poorer without my children – and I have a role in that. I love a spontaneous hug from a teenager who often won’t let me near him, and finding my bed strewn with hand-cut paper love hearts from a child who thought I needed cheering up. I especially treasure those moments lying next to my kids and really talking about things that are important to them, and (hopefully) passing on some sound advice.

KiDs on tHe CoAst – MAY / JUNE 2011

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MAY / JUNE 2011 – KiDs on tHe CoAst

PARENT

profile

Can you share some advice you’ve found helpful? Firstly: You always have a choice – there is never, ever a situation where you ‘have to’ do something! And I’m trying hard to heed that ‘special occasion’ or ‘tomorrow’ may never come – so use the good crystal today! In regards to work, a sage piece of advice I’m trying to live by is: every time you say ‘yes’, think about what you are saying ‘no’ to. It helps me make decisions about what’s really important, and feel much less guilty saying ‘no’ to requests, including work offers. The work advice which I do heed, and I often pass on to others is: If it’s not fun, don’t do it! (You either need to find a way to make it enjoyable, or get out!) What work do you do? I have just started a company, Beautifully Bald, which specialises in stylish full coverage headwear for women who have lost their hair. I also run a business consulting company, Red Zebra Consulting; and I design and make jewellery and accessories for Red Zebra Designs. This year I am also convening the Immanuel Arts Festival, as well as participating in a couple of local art shows. Previously I was a high school Art and English teacher for two years, an Army Officer for ten years, and a business consultant specialising in training analysis and project and risk management, which took me to the US and the Middle East. What does a typical day look like at your place? There is no such thing as ‘typical’ – things are always swinging between manic and relaxed. I’m always up at 6am Monday to Friday. Some mornings, everyone is up and ready to go with thirty minutes to spare, other mornings it takes an hour and a half just to get the kids ready for school, and then we make the mad rush for the bus. When I’m working from home, I try to give myself the first hour to get all the house tasks done (otherwise I’m distracted all day) and have a cup of coffee – then I sit down to work until school pickup. I’m fairly disciplined in that aspect. Mid to late afternoons are spent ferrying kids around to a variety of sporting and musical events. I try to remember to feed my kids every night! Evenings are spent preparing for the next day, and working at my computer, while the kids are doing their homework. Once the kids are in bed I tend to catch up on non-work stuff like emails and volunteer work. I try to get to bed by ten and usually read a few pages of a trashy magazine before going to sleep. How do you balance family and work demands? Not easily – and this is still a work in progress. I have always been able to get everything done, but found that, when working full time, the time I was spending with the children was not ‘quality time’ – they were just getting the leftovers. I accepted (after a while) that my most important job was to raise valuable citizens of the world, not my paid employment, and I have adjusted my work practices accordingly.

Robyn’s favourite things: Book: The Millennium Trilogy: Girl with the Dragon Tattoo etc. They have a wonderful balance of fact, fiction and suspense, but all easy to read with very ‘real’ characters. Music: Depends on my mood (and what I want my mood to be) – ranges from easy listening jazz, through to good old 70s hard rock Food: anything I don’t have to cook Holiday destination: Right now, I’m enjoying holidaying at home. When you live in a place as beautiful as the Sunshine Coast hinterland – 20 minutes to either the beach or the mountains – why travel somewhere else? Rainy Day activity: Either working in my studio, or playing board games with the kids.

KiDs on tHe CoAst – MAY / JUNE 2011

What would be an ideal day for you? Awake unaided and fully refreshed – realise it’s only 6am and I have a full day to enjoy! I’d look in the laundry and finding all the washing and ironing done, and look in the fridge to find there are enough healthy meals made for a week. I’d love a nice leisurely breakfast with the whole family; a chance for us all to talk and share. A couple of hours of pampering (massage, facial) wouldn’t go astray. I’d spend a couple of uninterrupted hours in my studio, painting. Then the whole family would take the dog for a walk on the beach in the late afternoon. We’d have a BBQ (with someone else doing the cooking, of course) on the deck with a few friends and my extended family – great company, great music, great wine. We’d listen to the kids play in the pool and find the washing up has all been done. Then I’d get an ‘I love you’ from the kids before they put themselves to bed. And maybe I’d stay up late to watch a great movie. Where do you see yourself in five years – personally and professionally? I have no idea – I just keep going with the flow. I have been blessed with a wonderful life – I’m just trying my hardest to keep it going. I would love that I could make sufficient income from some of my creative ventures, and that Beautifully Bald is able to provide great support to charity organisations.

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1/4pg Kids on the Coast SC 4-11.indd 1

14/4/11 12:22:55 PM

celebrate

LET’S

Winter Party Ideas A few of us at Kids on the Coast have kids with winter birthdays. We were chatting about how it can be a tricky time of year to host a party and so we started asking on our facebook page for some winter party ideas. ‘Like’ our facebook page so you can be part of our discussions. It’s a great way to keep in the loop.

Rosie: “My daughter wants to invite a few friends horse riding for her winter birthday party.”

Here are some of the great ideas from our creative readers: Katie: “Both my boys were born in June, now they are older we might look at taking them to Ten Pin Bowling parties, or a huge indoor play centre. At home maybe a sleepover for the older kids, movies, popcorn, games and everyone can stay warm inside.” Jodi: “For my June girl I have had a pool party at an indoor swim centre.” Melissa: “My daughter’s birthday is in August so we always seem to convert the garage into a big painting room and the girls paint there own canvas we tidy up and turn the disco lights on and have a disco. You can make it very economical too.” Dani: “For my son’s 1st birthday we had a western/cowboy party. Everyone came rugged up in their checked shirts, jeans & boots. Each child got a bandana and a straw cowboy hat. I made what looked like loot money bags, we even had a great big teepee & bales of hay to sit on.

KiDs on tHe CoAst – MAY / JUNE 2011

Mel: “Set up an indoor camping party. Make tents and cubbies with sleeping bags and camp chairs. Make a pretend camp fire with coloured cello and sticks. Have toasted marshmallows. If you know anyone that can play a tune on the guitar you can have camp fire songs. You can even black out a room and have some fun with torches. For craft ideas the children could make their own star to blu-tac on the ceiling.”

Jane: “I took my daughter and her friends strawberry picking. It was so much fun. We had a little party there too, eating all the delicious strawberries and a BBQ lunch.”

Sarah: “I reckon winter’s the best time of year to go to a fun park. It’s not as hot, so you can last longer and there aren’t as many people, so you don’t have to line up very long and you get to squeeze more rides into your day.”

Angela: “I’m going to plan a party at the movies. The kids can eat all the lollies and popcorn in the cinema, they can see the latest movie with their friends, and then they can come back to our place for the cake and a play.”

Naomi: “We just did a Myth Busters party at home. My husband was the lab technician in his white lab coat. He did a whole lot of experiments with the kids, to try and bust some myths. I don’t know who loved it more; him or the kids! I did a Heston Blumenthal and created all sorts of party food that looked like experiments gone wrong! It was fabulous.” Corinne: “We hired a magician to come and entertain the kids. He kept them amused for ages. Our party was full of 4-year-olds, but I think kids of all ages would love it.”

Melissa: “My 8 yr old went to a masterchef party recently and loved it! They made schnitzels, pastry ant cupcakes which were put onto a tower and became the birthday cake. Then they got to set the table with organza ribbons on chairs and candles and shells on the table; then they all sat down and ate it. It was fabulous!!”

We hope we’ve given you some good ideas for your winter party and to the readers who offered their suggestions: a big thank you from the Kids on the Coast team and all our readers!

www.kidsonthecoast.com.au

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MAY / JUNE 2011 – KiDs on tHe CoAst

holidays

HAPPY

by Wendy Buckley, Travel With Kidz, www.travelwithkidz.com.au

on your

bike!

Family holidays in Vietnam are filled with natural beauty, varied history and beautiful people, combining to make an exciting and fun-filled family holiday. Highlights for family travel in Vietnam include:

Going it alone Hanoi the capital of city of Vietnam is the gateway to Halong Bay where you can stay overnight on a junk with your kids, catch the Victoria Express from Hanoi to Sapa mountain area and experience the rich mountain culture. You can take a leisurely bicycle ride around Hanoi and visit the interesting museums. Fly south to Danang and travel to China Beach and Hua Hin. The car-free cobblestone streets of Hua Hin make it easy for kids to bike ride like a local. The food is cheap and easy for kids to eat, and the shopping is endless. Then head south to Saigon where the streets are crazy with bikes and people. There is heaps of shopping, food and history on offer, all within easy access of your family-friendly hotel. We recommend hotels which have a pool so that you and the kids can wind down at the end of a busy day discovering Vietnam. The kids will love being able to run through the Cui Chi tunnels an hour’s drive from Saigon, which is the home of the Vietcong during the Vietnam War. It is a special place filled with history of the Vietnam War with old relics of the war on site.

Getting some guidance Various options are available for families wanting to travel around Vietnam. Private tours with your own driver, guide or car is a great option for busy families and helps tailor your travel around Vietnam. Private family touring in Vietnam is available all year round. Another great option is an escorted bike riding tour, which is fabulous for blended families and busy teenagers, keeping everyone active and busy during the day while dedicated family departures on small group tours depart over the Australian school holiday dates.

A blended holiday Blended families and stepfamilies now account for the fastest growing family type in Australia, having increased by 50 per cent over the past decade. One in five families is now included in this sector. Parents these days have to juggle work, friends, family, after school activities and rarely find time to think about planning a family holiday that will cater for all the varied ages and needs of their family.

…And cycle in Vietnam with the fam

Organised by World Expeditions, usually in groups of 16, you can quickly immerse yourself in the simple routines of a well-planned cycling holiday, equipped with easyto-ride, 21-gear mountain bikes. The tours take routes which exclude obvious tourist traps. Instead, they allow you to explore stunning scenery and remote villages.

It’s not all hard work Each tour is fully supported with a bus to take luggage and constant refreshments, along with anyone who elects to sit out the cycling, and a truck to convey the bicycles and mechanics. The group convenes every 15 kms, which means you can cycle at your own pace, in your own space (for teenagers, read: headspace), knowing that there’s someone to guide you along the way when your thoughts drift off and you don’t want the discipline of paying attention or organising the family. Now that’s the kind of holiday that appeals to parents and kids! This trip has been a great success for many years, partly because the program gives everyone enough freedom to lose themselves a little and do their own thing, and partly because at the end of each day the family regroups and is immersed in a vibrant local culture which often involves feasting with locals and staying in some wonderful places. Imagine a holiday in which you give every family member the freedom to do their own thing? It’s possible you’d never see each other again! Cycling in Vietnam is ideal for families. It provides the freedom for everyone to do their own thing, but the overall structure is to unite at the end of a day, over a great meal in fantastic local places, to collect your thoughts and laugh about your day. Best of all, you will be blown away by the scenery, the culture and the people, (and the iPods and texting will only get an occasional look-in).

HOT TIPS FROM TRAVEL WITH KIDZ Older kids can be a picky and tricky age to please, particularly if yours is a blended family. But some resorts that offer kids’ programs are making special efforts to keep the older kids happy. Here are a few international destinations that cater particularly for teens: Cancun Palace Mexico - The Cancun Palace comes with a beautiful beach and perfect waters to play in! The Cancun Palace is close to shopping, dining, entertainment, marina, and all types of water activities and sports. Four Seasons Resort Bora Bora - Exotic over-water suites and beachfront villas with pools immerse you in ultramodern comforts and the welcoming spirit of French Polynesia.

This means a rise in demand for holidays suitable for blended families, over the conventional family holiday. Contemporary families are likely to include a mix of teenagers who didn’t grow up as siblings, a wide range of ages and conflicting interests, and adults who have come together as partners prepared to take on the children of their loved one. This all creates a unique challenge in planning a family holiday.

Novotel Nusa Dua - Novotel Bali Nusa Dua Hotel & Residences is located in Nusa Dua area and surrounded by an 18 hole golf course. The hotel offers five stars resort facilities including private beach club, pool lagoon, spa, sauna, massage, fitness centre, kids club, meeting and conference rooms.

A Vietnam cycling tour caters well for children aged from 12 years and up, with varying degrees of fitness and interest in travel and Asian culture. It’s a good way to spend time together as a family (and the teens can still listen to their iPods).

The Rarotongan Beach Resort & Spa - The Rarotongan is also the ideal holiday destination for older families, because teens stay and play free!

KiDs on tHe CoAst – MAY / JUNE 2011

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Our diving belle

by Belinda Hopper

Most 10-year-olds are still feeling their way with interests; still working out what they’re good at, or thinking about which sports they might like to try.

around so you are facing the opposite way when you dive into the water. It’s a hard dive because if you twist too far, or not enough, you don’t get any points at all.

When Natasha Waldroff came home from school with a note for a holiday diving clinic last year, nobody could have predicted where it would have led her, just one year later.

If all that isn’t enough to make you baulk, imagine performing it from a height of three metres, all in a split second! And if that sounds do-able, imagine synchronising your precision movements with a partner!

Natasha thought the diving school might be fun, “The clinic went for three hours over three days, and it was great,” she says. Her coach, Barbi Donnet Carver, from Donnet Diving School at Kawana, had an inkling Natasha could do well with a bit of training and chose her to join the diving squad once the clinic was over. Natasha says you can dive just for fun, like her 8-year-old sister, Madison, who trains for one hour a week. Although, since joining the squad, Natasha’s training has become a little more serious, in preparation for competitions. The dive for which Natasha has received the best result, is the forward dive half twist. “It’s hard to explain very well,” she says. “You do a small run up and bounce on the end of the board and dive. While you are in the air you twist your body

KiDs on tHe CoAst – MAY / JUNE 2011

In the last year, Natasha has competed in four competitions, and has placed in every single one! She says, “In my first competition I was in the 13 and under Novice event and I came first. Since then I have dived in the 11 and under age group and got a first, a second and a third. At the Queensland Age Championships I was first on the 3 metre board, second on the 1 metre board and third in the Synchronised diving, with my Synchro partner Sophie Johnson.” All this success may come from a natural talent and flair, but it’s also the result of plain hard work. Asked how many hours she trains for, Natasha says, ”I normally train for 12-and-a-half hours a week but at the moment I am doing 18-and-a-half-hours because Nationals are getting close.”

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“All this success may come from a natural talent and flair, but it’s also the result of plain hard work.” That’s right: the Nationals! Natasha has only been diving for one year and has already qualified for the Nationals, which were held at the Sydney Olympic Park Aquatic Centre, from the 17th to the 21st of April. Asked how she felt when she found out she qualified, Natasha said, “I was very excited and it felt great. I couldn’t believe I had qualified for Nationals in my first year of diving.” What an incredible feat! As you would expect, Natasha’s training schedule was full-on in the lead-up to the Nationals. Her morning sessions went for an hour and a half and included, “a run and a warm up and then we dive for about an hour.” In the afternoon, after school, Natasha would back-up for another two-and-a-halfhour session, repeating the morning’s routine then adding ‘dryland’ training, which involves, “sit-ups, handstands and other strength exercises.” The week before the Nationals, Natasha said, “I am starting to feel a bit nervous about competing, but I’m very excited at the same time.” Natasha’s family travelled to Sydney to watch her compete.

At the time of going to print, she had competed in two of her three events. Jennifer, Natasha’s very proud mum, said, “Natasha competed in the 3m and came 12th, which is fantastic, considering most of the kids are a year older.” It certainly is. The next day Natasha competed in the synchronised diving with her partner, Sophie. Jennifer reported, “it was very exciting. Natasha and Sophie were winning half way through! They finished 13th in the end though, which again is fantastic, as this event was 13 and under.” Well done, girls! Asked how she feels about her accomplishments, Natasha says, “I am very proud of myself”. Although, Jennifer has a sneaking suspicion Natasha hasn’t fully realised the extent of her accomplishment of going from complete novice to a competitor at the National titles, in one year. Stay tuned to hear more about Natasha’s diving career; she’s dreaming about representing Australia at the Olympics one day. And with her family’s support, her determination, hard work and talent, it’s not hard to believe that she will!

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MAY / JUNE 2011 – KiDs on tHe CoAst

S W e i V RE BOOK

The Emerald Casket: The Billionaire Trilogy Book II by Richard Newsome. p/b $19.95 I thought it would be appropriate to include an author who will be a guest speaker for the upcoming ‘Voices on the Coast’. This book follows on from the first in the series which was a wonderful adventure involving a missing diamond, a vast inheritance and some engaging characters. In this, the sequel, Gerald and his friends go on a holiday which unfolds into another adventure where they will need to beat time and criminals. There is also a good dose of humour amongst the suspense to captivate any reader.

Feathers for Phoebe by Rod Clement. Angus & Robertson. h/b $25.00 Most of you may know Rod Clement as a popular Australian author/ illustrator having produced such gems as “Olga the Brolga”, “Edward the Emu” and my personal favourite “Grandad’s Teeth”. He does not disappoint with this fun story about a rather plain brown bird who visits Zelda, the colourful bird who runs the beauty salon in the forest, to become more exotic. After some fun and dangerous antics, he finally meets up with another small grey bird. Suitable for children 2-5 years of age.

Suitable for boys & girls aged 10+

Violet Mackerel’s Brilliant Plot by Anna Branford. Walker Books. h/b $19.95 This is a charming new series of books aimed at girls who are just beginning to read chapter books. There is a good balance of text and illustration to keep the child engaged before embarking on books with ‘no pictures’. They are well-presented books as the covers are sweet without being too nostalgic or old-fashioned. In this story, Violet decides she would really like to buy a blue china bird from a stall at the market where her mother works. She devises what she believes is a ‘brilliant plot’ but manages to achieve much more than her original goal. It is refreshing to find a book for girls that is appealing without needing to be fantasy or something which is not ‘age appropriate’ for this target audience. Being hardback it would make a lovely gift. Suitable for girls aged 6-9.

Being Billy by Phil Earle. Penguin. p/b $16.95 This book is well worth a read for teenagers and adults. It gives so much insight into the reason why some youth are so angry and behave the way they do. Billy is what he refers to as ‘a lifer’ which means he has been in care of some sort for most of his life. He doesn’t really care about anything except for his younger brother and sister for whom he feels a great sense of responsibility. As he begins to make friends with a girl of similar circumstances you gradually see his background unfold and you begin to empathise with his plight. The author was once employed as a care worker in a children’s home which explains his understanding of the situation and his brilliant portrayal of the one person who seems to really care about Billy, the staff member, Ronnie. It is a difficult process but gradually Billy begins to realise that Ronnie is not the enemy but someone who can really make a difference to his life. There is an interesting twist to the story which I will not reveal but which brings about a dramatic ending. Suitable for ages 15+

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Our Family’s Changed This book is part of a series the government has published, through the Human Services Portfolio. It is aimed at children under 12, to help them understand and cope with the dramatic changes they face when their parents separate or divorce. Zoe and Seb are the loveable characters whose emotional journeys we follow. The whole range of emotions and fears a child might face, are addressed. It finishes with the comforting message, “Seb and Zoe knew one thing would never change – their parents would always love them and they would always love their parents! The book is interactive, with puzzles and activities for children to do and comes with a set of colouring pencils. To order these or other free Child Support Agency (CSA) publications go to: www.csa.gov.au/publications/ and www.youth.csa.gov.au/ Suitable for children 12 and under whose family situation has recently changed.

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