AUG — OCT 2019 . #11
FREE
KIDDOMAG.COM. AU
Father-HOOD Dadvice + Taryn Brumfitt + more
Publisher PHOTO — Danielle Symes
Charlotte Chambers
Staff Writer Gemma Easton
Editorial Contributors Rebecca Morse Cassandra Kerr Danielle Symes Olivia Williams Hayley Berlingeri Jake Dean Matilda Schwarz Saskia Webb Annabel Hartnett Helen Connolly Dr. Lyndsey E. Collins-Praino Hanna Beaven Xavier Stewart Amelia Moseley
This issue we pay homage to fatherhood, with Father’s Day around the corner we wanted to delve into the important roles that fathers play in modern society. The role of a father has evolved, diversified (insert pray emoji) and expanded to be more hands on around the house and also with their children. Men are benefiting from being more involved, however with this, another set of challenges also present themselves, and like women, men can also experience pre and postnatal challenges. We chat to KIDDO Psychologist Hannah Beaven and Dr Grant Blashki, Lead Clinical Adviser for Beyond Blue about mental health for dads and beyond. We also get a look inside a modern day “Dads Group” (which is just like a mothers group, only in a pub, with beer - not coffee and sans children), where they meet monthly to chew the fat on relationships, fatherhood and expand their knowledge on important subjects like starting solids, teething gels, tummy time, and the best waves on the coast.
PUBLISHER'S PICKS
Sub Editor Cassandra Kerr
Art Director Serrin Ainslie
serrinainslie.com
In this issue we also welcome back Taryn Brumfitt ...AKA issue 10 cover girl, who will have a regular feature in KIDDO Mag, where she will fill our minds with her wisdom and continue reminding us to #EMBRACE the body positive movement. We have also listened to some feedback and increased the content for your KIDDO’s in KIDDO CORNER (page 34- 37), so your kids can benefit from reading KIDDO reviews, interviews, DIY, games and profiles! We hope you enjoy this issue and spoil all the wonderful fathers out there (Tommy), by cooking Annabel’s Beer + Beef + Bacon pie! YUM!!!
Photography Meaghan Coles
@meaghan_coles_photography
Danielle Symes
@daniellesymes_photography
Sales
adver tising@kiddomag.com.au
Printing
graphicprint.com.au
Distribution
passingout.com.au
Cover Danielle Symes
@daniellesymes_photography
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The Project Company PO BOX 1083 Glenelg South SA 5045 Opinions expressed by the author are not necessarily those of the publisher. Whilst all care is taken, the publisher accepts no responsibility for any errors or omissions.
KIDDO Mag is a team ef fort and if you have any suggestions or questions, make contact! We would love to hear from you. hello@kiddomag.com.au
kiddomag.com.au ⸺ WATCH The Lion King ⸺ HEAR Parental As Anything ABC ⸺ DO Celeste Barber Live 27 Sep ⸺ LISTEN Thelma Plum ⸺ READ The Testaments By Margaret Atwood
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FOLLOW US: @kiddomag
what's on Winter in Adelaide is anything less than ordinary with a bunch of brilliant shows, plays and festivals. Get out of hibernation and bear... the COLD this winter! u g - Sep 2A
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South Australian Living Arts Festival salafestival.com
Dreams Of Air and Flight aso.com.au
Jasper Jones adelaidefestivalcentre.com.au
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Kickstart Come Together Event eventbrite.com.au
Peter Pan by Australian Classical Youth Ballet adelaidefestivalcentre.com.au
Mamamia Out Loud Live eventbrite.com.au
Girl Asleep - Windmill Theatre Co windmill.org.au/show/girl-asleep/
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22 Sep
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Coastrek coastrek.com.au
Space Race sso.com.au
Gilles At The Grounds Market gillesatthegrounds.com.au
Breakfast with Elle Macpherson businesschicks.com
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29 Sep
Celeste Barber Live livenation.com.au
This Show is NOT Rubbish! adelaidefestivalcentre.com.au
Andy’s Amazing Adventures Live livenation.com.au
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Royal Adelaide Show theshow.com.au
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Techno Circus adelaidefestivalcentre.com.au
For more events, reviews and competitions head to kiddomag.com.au
BIRTH AND BEYOND DISCOUNTS FO RAA MEMBERS R WHEN THEY HIRE A BABY SAFETY CAPS ULES
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If you hire a Baby Safety capsule or Maxi Cosi carriers you will receive a 20% off recommended retail price of the seat you buy excluding boosters. In addition receive free fitting and adjustment for 12 months on the seat purchased
REDCROSS.ORG.AU/BABYSEATS @REDCROSSSABABYSEATS / BABYSEATS@REDCROSS.ORG.AU 125 Henley Beach Road, Mile End — 08 8443 9700 — Monday – Friday 9.00 am until 5.00pm
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Be the Face of the Variety Children’s Zoo! Want your face to be part of the new Zoo? A larger-than-life art installation will take centre stage in the new zoo area and, for just $50, people can purchase a tile with their photo to remain in the Variety Children’s Zoo forever. Submit your photo before 31 August to be part of the installation! For more information: adelaidezoo.com.au / @zoossa
Variety Children’s Zoo Art Competition Feeding the goats and patting the alpacas just got a whole lot more exciting kiddos! The Adelaide Zoo’s new Variety Children’s Zoo is just months from completion! Soon quokkas, critically-endangered bettongs, goats and many more of the zoos beloved animals will make the trot to the new and improved Variety Children’s Zoo. The sensory experience of being able to touch, feel and feed the animals will be even more thrilling for little ones than before. The $1.1 million plans include an interactive, immersive precinct connected to everyones favourite Nature’s Playground. Variety Children’s Zoo will create ooh’s and ahh’s for years to come with its feature two-level elements, balance beams and ladders for goats, climbing branches for quokkas, a dedicated presentation area for keepers to give educational talks, and aerial walkways connecting the new children’s zoo to Nature’s Playground.
Grab all your best colouring pencils and get ready to let your imaginations run WILD! Draw your best goat, chicken, guinea pig, rabbit, quokka or zoo pic - the options are endless! Winning entries will be featured in the promotions for the new and exciting precinct. How special is that? Simply upload your child’s illustration to Facebook or Instagram with the hashtag #varietychildrenszoo, drop it to zoo staff or send to competitions@zoossa.com.au. Zoos SA Chief Executive Elaine Bensted says the new Variety Children’s Zoo will help encourage and develop the next generation of conservationists, no matter their ability. “Our vision for the Variety Children’s Zoo is to help kids get hands on as they learn and connect with wildlife, and in doing so develop a strong passion for conservation,� Ms Bensted says.
Little Picassos - New Magill Location! Pack your paints and let’s Gogh, Little Picassos has welcomed their fourth studio location at 485 The Parade, Magill! This new edition will join the Glenelg, Woodcraft and Hyde Park locations across SA. If your kiddo hasn't already experienced the messy, vibrant, lively fun of a Little Picassos class, it’s time to get involved. They offer term classes, birthday parties, school holidays, art camp and now adult painting and ceramic classes! Founder, Janine Boyd, has a Bachelor of Education in Visual Arts with 20 years teaching experience as an art specialist in many South Australian Independent and State Schools. She understands the importance of messy play and believes that engaging children in art is a great emotional release where they can express themselves, reflect on their thoughts, feelings and the world around them. Art is also an opportunity to test out ideas and take risks, because the great thing in art is there is no right or wrong, just differences. Janine says ‘At Little Picassos we encourage differences, encourage children to share how they perceive something to be. This celebration of the individual child builds self-esteem, and confidence, the self-belief that what they do, see, and feel, is worthwhile and great’. For more information on class options and timetables visit: littlepicassos.com.au / @littlepicassosadelaide
Wacko! A book about the special bond between children and their grandparents. Ali Durham is and has been pursuing her love of children’s books for as long as she can remember. As an author and illustrator, some of her books have taken quite a long time to perfect, but it’s because she believes you have to ‘get it right’. Her passion has taken her to faraway places, including Italy and London where she studied children’s book illustration. (Some parents might recognize her name as the author / illustrator of Let’s Play which was first popped into the Little Big Book Club baby packs in 2014. It has recently been re-released and is again in this year’s packs as well!) As an art and early childhood teacher, Ali takes inspiration from the wonderful smaller humans
TICKETS AVAILABLE AT
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she meets each day. The occasional spot of eavesdropping sometimes assists the creative process as well! Infact, Wacko! was inspired when she overheard a grandfather state “wacko!� while his grandson swung from some monkey bars! Ali lives in Hawthorndene with her family, and cat, Maple. She teaches, plays in a band, sings in a choir, and loves to lose herself in the trails of Belair National Park when she is not creating in her studio. This short, joyful, rhyming picture book written and illustrated by local author Ali Durham, tells a simple story of growing up and nurturing a special relationship with a grandparent. It depicts the major milestones a young child reaches in the early years of development, such as walking, learning to eat independently, riding a bike, beginning to write and draw, and finally, going to
school. Each stanza and double spread depicts this growth and development in progression, and the text alternates between child and Grandpa, who share each experience with humor and joy! Wacko! RRP $24.99 Starfish Bay Publishing
WORDS  — Ali Durham
I'm Local!
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Your KIDDO Guide to SALA Festival Kiddos, grab your favourite crayons and let’s paint the town red, because it’s time to get arty and inspired! The South Australian Living Artists (SALA) Festival will return this August for another statewide festival of visual art.
Bring the Baby Art Tour with artist Luke Wilcox
Hundreds of venues and artists will take part in the festival offering an array of activations, art spaces, family-friendly activities and down right arty-farty fun, all across SA!
FREE
We’ve whipped up a quick Guide to SALA 2019: SALA Parlour (Presented by SALA's Education Partner, Credit Union SA) 1 – 31 August SA Museum lawns
FREE
Tues – Fri 11am-5pm, Sat 10am-4pm, Sun 11am-4pm (4, 11, 18 & 25 August 11am-3pm) SALA Parlour is an interactive pop-up, drop-in artspace for children and young people located on the South Australian Museum lawns. Children of all ages are encouraged to come and create art. Take your artwork home or leave it at the Parlour and contribute to an expanding gallery. During the week there are drawing activities and you can stop by and get some recommendations on what to see from friendly volunteers. On Sundays throughout August, SALA presents drop-in art activities with a stellar line-up of contemporary artists guiding activities for young people and their families.
Saturday 3 August, 10:30am Depart from ACE Open, Lion Arts Centre, North Terrace, Adelaide
FREE
Approx 1.5 hrs Bookings essential - salafestival.com/tours Join Luke and his daughters on this special tour to child friendly galleries and venues around the city. Babies, toddlers and young people are welcome! Special Bilingual Walking Art Tour (for seniors and families with children) Saturday 24 August, 10am
FREE
Depart from JamFactory 19 Morphett Street, Adelaide FREE In Mandarin and English
This tour is designed for senior art lovers as well as for the whole family – explore a range of art exhibitions including painting, ceramics and installations all within close proximity of each other. SALA Schools Over 40 schools and kindergartens are participating in exhibitions across South Australia as part of SALA Festival this year. Exhibitions are in schools, cafes, shop windows and even online – make your own schools art trail to marvel at the creativity of our State’s youngest artists.
CBD EVENTS 007 – Already Home (Various Artists) Adelaide City Library, 1 Aug-29 Sep 010 – Myriad (Various artists) Adelaide Convention Centre, 3-30 Aug 029 – Ghost Objects (Honor Freeman) Art Gallery of South Australia, 27 Jul-30 Sep 037 – This is a Place (Kaspar Schmidt Mumm) ARTHUR – Avant Garde, 1-31 Aug 053 – Dictatorship of Gravity (and other micro-politics) (Loren Orsillo, Felicity Townsend) Carclew, 8 Aug-25 Oct 058 - Art in The Arcade (Various artists) Central Market Arcade, 1-31 Aug 071 – Same Page (Nancye Turnbull) FELTspace, 7-24 Aug 078 – The Governor’s Sculptural Garden (Various Artists) Government House Garden, 11&18 Aug 1-4pm
Sunday Sessions (4, 11, 18 & 25 August 11am-3pm) @salafestival / salafestival.com
Space Race Blast off with the Adelaide Symphony Orchestra in this family concert capturing the thrill of mankind's first steps on the moon. Based on SA author Phil Cummings’ young person’s book Touch the Moon with music by local composer Glyn Lehmann.
quality fun art experiences for children
Now Open 485 The Parade Magill
Tickets from $21 Suitable ages 5+
September Sat 21 10am & 12pm
Book at aso.com.au
ASO Grainger Studio
www.littlepicassos.com.au
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When can I move my child from a rear-facing to a forward facing seat?
—PIP AND LENNY
We're Local!
Justine & Bec
Whether it’s driving your little ones to kindy, grocery shopping, or adventuring to the playground, you always want to know your kiddos are safe! New parents can often feel overwhelmed when it comes to important things like car seat selection, installation and proper usage. Key questions regularly posed to the Red Cross Baby Seats team indicate that many parents have similar concerns and a common one is; When can I move my child to the next car seat? Babies travel safest in a rear-facing car seat, and are best to stay travelling in that format, until they outgrow the particular car seat in use. This may be until they are two to three years old. Children should stay rear-facing for as long as possible. As your child grows, it may appear that there is no room for their legs, but this is a minor consideration as rear-facing is still the safest position for them to travel. You should only move your child to a forward-facing safety seat, incorporating an in-built harness, when the maximum height requirement on your rear-facing restraint is reached. The Red Cross Baby Seats team has been offering a professional fitting and checking service to South Australian families, local and international visitors, for over 40 years ensuring their capsules, carriers and car seats are fitted correctly. The team consists of staff and volunteers dedicated to maintaining the safety of children in cars.
For more information on how the Red Cross could assist you, please call them at 08 8443 9700. Opening hours: Monday – Friday 9am until 5pm. Closed on weekends and public holidays.
WHO IS BEHIND THE BRAND? Justine and Bec; midwives and mums to 6 children between us. We began this journey in 2017 with one rack of handpicked clothing, working out of Bec’s spare room amongst the splendid chaos that is our children. We now stock over 30 different brands, have moved into a warehouse and have ventured into designing our very own Pip and Lenny label.
WHAT DO YOU DO? We do everything from carefully and thoughtfully selecting and maintaining stock, picking and packing orders, maintaining social media and managing admin. We also spend endless hours learning about the fashion industry and have begun designing our own clothing for little people.
TOP BRANDS? • Pip and Lenny the Label
WHY SHOP WITH YOU? Being mums of small children ourselves, we can relate to our shoppers. We want to provide your children with ethically made, comfortable and practical, yet irresistible, stylish threads. We are passionate about supporting the hard working hands of small businesses around the globe and love to bring the best of these brands to our customers.
• Olas Supply Co
We think shopping should be convenient and exciting, hence why Pip and Lenny aims to stock the most beautiful pieces in the one place, taking the hassle out of your shopping experience.
• Quincy Mae
pipandlenny.com.au
• Grown Clothing
@pipandlenny
• Snuggle Hunny Kids • Susukoshi
redcross.org.au/babyseats
Join an upcoming Principal’s Tour to find out what Concordia can offer your child. + Tuesday, 20 August + Wednesday, 30 October Register online www.concordia.sa.edu.au
Enrolling now for Years 1 and 2 in 2020 /6
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WORD ON THE STREET With Helen Connolly, Commissioner for Children and Young People Young people don’t usually have the chance to be directly involved in allocating public funding to projects about which they are passionate. This kind of decision-making is usually put in the hands of adult administrators who are qualified to ensure the process runs transparently, appropriately and is accountable throughout.
I’ve seen firsthand, how if we’re prepared to be bold and trust in our young people, they can do almost anything we ask of them. When I brainstormed with Carclew and landed on the idea of handing a group of young people $10,000 in public arts funding to distribute on the community’s behalf, I knew it was a rare opportunity to demonstrate this capacity, and that we were onto a good thing. The Carclew Futures project saw 10 young South Australians between the ages of 12 and 15 learn the skills of public arts grant funding, supported by experts in this field. Not only were they required to decide which artists would get these funds and for which projects, they also had to define the criteria for their assessment and apply it to the 17 applications they received, including settling any differences of opinion there were amongst them to ensure a consensus was reached. At the project debrief I asked the young people involved to reflect on their personal experiences. They told me the thing they wanted to remember most was ‘how amazing it feels when you’re doing something you are passionate about’.
"Being ‘outside their comfort zone and finding the courage to try new things along the way’ were great things to learn. "
They were ‘confused about the budgeting side of things at first’ and ‘why the hierarchy of the group was the way it was’ but later ‘saw how this organisational structure worked well’. They learnt ‘how to be more confident’, ‘how to speak up when they are a little unsure’ and ‘how to take calculated risks that can persuade others to their own point of view’. The young panel decided on the artworks of two local artists, sharing the grant funds equally between then. Fourteen year old Charlee Watt received $5,000 for a large portable backdrop for youth events and indigenous gatherings in her home town of Port Lincoln, and Chad Spencer received $5,000 for a hay shed mural along the Mount Compass to Goolwa Road, taking advantage of the stunning rural backdrop this scenery provides. Real artists with real projects selected by a group of young South Australians given full autonomy to do so. What better way to up-skill young people than by creating actual opportunities in arts administration that will help nurture and retain their creative talent right here! If you’re a child, young person or parent with ideas on what you think I should be doing to make things better for the lives of kids in SA, please send me an email at CommissionerCYP@sa.gov.au ccyp.com.au
Our Kindergarten program is evidence based and is specifically designed for children aged three to five years. The curriculum is based on the Early Years Learning Framework, which is delivered by our degree-qualified Early Childhood Teachers. We nurture children’s collaboration, communication, creativity and critical thinking skills. Enquire now for Kindergarten in 2020. Call us today!
With nearly 50 centres in South Australia, there’s a Goodstart near you.
1800 222 543
goodstart kindergarten sa /7
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Tamara Whittaker, is using her grief and suffering after heartbreakingly losing her son at 5 and a half months gestation, to raise awareness and help others through the indescribable trauma and grief of loss. Tamara has proudly written, illustrated and printed Born To Fly, a beautifully and delicately written story that aims to offer comfort and explain the feelings that may be associated with the loss of a baby, or sibling. Tamara’s driving force behind writing the story and making it widely available was to provide hope and comfort, and ultimately strength through unity. By opening up the lines of communication and sharing the reality of loss, it alleviates the stigma and silence. Born To Fly is written through the eyes of a child and not only invokes a sense of comfort, hope and understanding for parents, but can also provide incredible comfort for siblings who have gone through the experience with their parents yet may not have the capabilities of processing their feelings. Children understand stories through pictures better than verbal explanations. A picture book is comforting and can offer insight and explanations in what can be a very confusing and confronting time for children, and by having a story read to them, it allows them to make sense of what’s happening, their feelings and digest the information through pictures. This beautiful book needs to be in the hands of everyone who has ever experienced the loss of a baby or child, or knows someone who has.
Pass With Flying Colours! Whether it’s grasping that forever dreaded long division or tackling the big scary NAPLAN test, NumberWorks‘nWords is here to lend a helping hand, with a gold star on top! If Abert Einstein or Thomas Edison struggled through school it’s very possible that your child could too. Or maybe they are excelling and want further mental stimulation outside of school. Either way, a tutor is never a bad decision. NumberWorks'nWords puts the fun back into learning Maths and English, catering to both high school and primary school level! They will work with you and your child to set goals each term and create an individualised program based on their specific needs. Their program is aligned to the Australian curriculum meaning that the strategies they teach are the same ones used in the classroom. And don’t worry, it’s not all hard work! NumberWorks’nWords puts a strong focus on learning through fun! They believe that if children see their own successes as they reach milestones in their program, they will be more confident and motivated to learn. This means rewards like certificates, treats and games! At NumberWorks’nWords all new students have a FREE ASSESSMENT during the initial 20-30 minutes of their complimentary first session. The tutor will discuss the results with you, and together, you can decide on the best program for your child.
Your child may need tuition if he/she: Needs to increase skills Finds the discipline of homework hard going or needs help with homework Says he/she is OK, but your instincts are telling you something is not quite right
Wants to get into or stay in the top group and feels a tutor will help
Needs a confidence boost before moving to a new school or sitting exams Loves learning and just can't get enough Can be disruptive during lessons or plays the class clown to cover up for nonachievement Has clear strengths, but also has weaknesses
We asked Owner and Manager of NumberWorks’n’Words Norwood/Unley, Stella Walls, how to decide if your child needs tutoring: ‘We understand the dilemma. On one hand you’re thinking “Maybe I’ll just wait and see how things work out”. And then your mind does an about-turn and thinks, “If we don’t do something soon, it’ll become a bigger problem”.
Tamara Whittaker Born to Fly is available online at tamaraj.com.au and in-store at Dymocks RRP $24.95 @borntofly_picturebook
If you really want to find out if your child needs tuition services, you need to consult an expert educator. You can do this for no cost by booking a free assessment with us. It doesn’t cost a thing and you’ll get a clear picture of how your child is doing compared to other children of the same age. You’ll also get specific information about weaknesses and strengths, as well as an indication of how tuition could make a difference.’
S P E E C H PATHOLO GY & OC C U PATION A L T H ER A PY OUR EXPERIENCED THERAPISTS ARE EQUIPPED TO HELP YOU IN MANY AREAS OF YOUR CHILD’S DEVELOPMENT INCLUDING COMMUNICATION, SOCIAL SKILLS, MOTOR DEVELOPMENT, SENSORY PROCESSING & MUCH MORE!
CONTACT US TODAY! 08 7228 6825 — info@spotpaediatrics.com.au Level 1, 360 Brighton Road Hove, 5048 WWW.SPOTPAEDIATRICS.COM.AU
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For more information or to book a free assessment head to numberworksnwords.com/au or call (08) 8333 2121 Shop 5 53 - 59 The Parade Norwood Adelaide 5067
Shop 5 248 Unley Road Hyde Park Adelaide 5061
P A E D I A T R I C D E N T A L C L I N I C
Unley
At Adelaide Children's Dentistry, we are passionate about providing high quality, comprehensive dental care to your child from infancy to teenage years. Â
Pleasant visits to the dentist promote the establishment of trust and confidence in your child that will last a lifetime. Our vision is to help all children feel good about visiting the dentist and teach them how to care for their teeth. We offer dental care in a friendly and welcoming environment, where not only the child feels relaxed but the parents do too.
"Great confidence and a big smile all start with little teeth."
C O N T A C T
U S
WWW.ACDENTISTRY.COM.AU 165 UNLEY ROAD UNLEY SA 5061 (08) 8271 9597 RECEPTION@ACDENTISTRY.COM.AU
Presented by SALA’s education partner
Parlour An interactive pop-up pop-in artspace for young people and their families salafestival.com/salaparlour
South Australian Museum lawn Daily throughout August (closed Mondays)
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REVI O PI NEI O WS N
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PHOTOS —Jessica Mary
WO R DS
My tips and tricks for making the change. PRODUCTS — All from @littleseedand_co
Plastic free… has a lovely ring to it but how realistic is it? Unfortunately in this day and age of convenience and fast paced living it’s pretty much impossible. You only have to do one shop at Coles to see the rows of packaging, even fruit and veg is suffocating in plastic. Trust me, it pains me to say because I am trying hard to be as plastic free as possible but with two young children, being time poor and the sheer volume of plastic surrounding us, it’s a difficult task. Each week I try to cut out one more item from our weekly shop that is packaged in plastic, but it gets to the point of either no viable options or the solution is to drive 15kms to some kind of wholefoods shop. Even writing that sounds so selfish that I’m not willing to give up the convenience of my local Woolies but unfortunately that’s the reality for many people. I used to have a health food shop in my local complex and it was brilliant! I could get my nuts, flour and seeds straight out of bulk bins and put them into my glass jars. Then they closed down and I realised how much the convenience of having them there played in my ability to be plastic free.
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it up to the counter without the additional bag and demand the discount anyway but is it not time the big guys start taking some responsibility too? I’m that person that brings my own fruit and veggie bags, bags for the pick and mix section and I always try to get my fish and meats put directly into a Tupperware container… almost always I am refused. And when I get to the checkout I’m usually met with some comment, whether it’s curiosity or they think I’m a hippy weirdo, but it astounds me that it’s so bizarre to people that I bring my own bags for my cashews and tomatoes. Now, don’t get me wrong, I’m in no way judging anyone for their plastic use, I’m not going to go all extremist on you and throw red paint in your shopping trolley, but it would be nice if stores educated more. Something as simple as not having plastic bags near the bananas or a little sign saying ‘hey, look I have my own protective cover, I don’t need a bag!’ So many people would have no idea they’re just routinely grabbing a bag for bananas but maybe a message like that might make them think twice. Unfortunately the likelihood is low so I’ll continue to try and do my bit and I thought I’d impart some of my little tips to eliminate plastic in our household. Some will seem hard work at first but once you start, the more you’ll find yourself wanting to do… before you know it you’ll be baking bread from scratch and making your own coconut yoghurt! I’ll start basic so you don’t put it in the too hard box straight up but here are 10 tips that are a good place to start. Even if you just adopt one or two, it will make a big difference. And don’t worry… I’m not going to convert you into using a menstrual cup just yet.
That said, education is key… I saw a man with one avocado in a plastic bag that he then, along with the rest of his shopping, put into another plastic bag. If only avocados had some kind of hard cover on them to protect them… oh wait they do! The thing is, it’s not his fault, we’re conditioned that everything needs to be put into plastic. Costco had a special if you purchased one loaf of bread it was a certain price but if you bought two you got a discount. But, in order to get it, you had to put the two loaves, which were already in their own plastic bag, into another larger plastic bag which had the discount barcode on it. To get the discount you were literally forced to use more plastic and most people wouldn’t think twice. It’s just what we’re told to do. Yes we can make the choice not to purchase that bread or just take
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1. Get a keep cup: If you drink take away coffee this is a really easy way to make a huge impact. Australian’s throw away approximately 2,700,000 coffee cups everyday which go straight to landfill. Most cafes now offer incentives if you bring your own cup… for example my local cafe offers $1 off coffee.
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2. Bring your shopping bags: Seems common sense but how often do we forget and have to buy a plastic one. My husband is a huge offender of this, or he tries to juggle 21 items on top of a bag of nappies.
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3. Invest in some produce bags for fruit and veg: I have a heap of little mesh ones but I also re-use the calico bags I get when I buy clothes online for things like dried fruit and nuts. If you forget your bags, use the paper bags that are provided for mushrooms (or don’t use any bags at all). I use my calico bags instead of the plastic bags provided at the pick and mix nut section.
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I’m that person that brings my own fruit and veggie bags, bags for the pick and mix section and I always try to get my fish and meats put directly into a Tupperware container… almost always I am refused.
4. Buy in bulk and avoid single use items: Things like those single serve squeezy yoghurts are unnecessary and easy to cut out. Before I made my own yoghurt we would buy the 1 litre tub and we’d serve portions in a container for Harper’s lunch box or Charlie would just have a bowl of it with some fruit.
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5. Look for plastic free packaging. A few I have found are: peanut butter, honey, mayonnaise, butter, flour, rolled oats, sauce and condiments. A double bonus is that a lot of the time food that is packaged in eco friendly packaging tends to be the real deal and isn’t full of nasty chemicals.
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6. Get a bamboo toothbrush and a reusable razor. The plastic those items are made out of is extremely dense and hard to break down. They are one of the worst culprits and as a society we use billions every year.
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7. Make the switch to soap and shampoo bars. This one took me a while to do because I had horrific visions of the soap bar from my childhood sitting there with random hairs floating on it but since we made the switch we haven’t had that problem. We also ditched our shampoo and conditioner bottles and use bars for them too.
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8. Get rid of cling wrap. It’s really not needed and there are plenty of alternatives. Tupperware, beeswax wraps and silicone covers do a great job and can be rinsed and re-used.
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9. Bring your own bread bags instead of the prepackaged plastic loaves. Yes you will need to go to places like Bakers Delight or your local bakery but in my experience they are more than willing to do it.
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10. P ack your lunch for work or at the very least bring some Tupperware along with you to get your take-away lunch put into. Don’t forget your drink bottle while you’re at it! Those pesky water bottles are taking over our oceans. For me, the most important thing is eTducating my children that this amount of plastic is not needed. As the saying goes… what you allow is what will continue. We determine whether or not the cycle continues. So let’s end it.
@danielle_symes daniellesymes.com
O PIN IN O N
Q A & with @sweetlittlestory
WA
Hey Hayley!
RE KIDD O O? M T N
I’m Hayley Berlingeri, Adelaide born and bred, mamma of three, and here I am just finding my way (AKA fumbling!!) through my days with my little ones, trying to be the best version of me that I possibly can be (which more often than not, results in me flopped out on the sofa at 10:34pm eating an entire packet of Mint Slice bickies, and thanking God that tomorrow is a new day with no mistakes in it!) Before the babes came in to being, I poured my heart into my career as a Junior Primary teacher and JP Coordinating Principal, I travelled the world, near and far, and I solidly slept. But since then have given every waking minute to motherhood and all its mess, mayhem and marvel. Oh, and I love to share our stories in squares on our Insta page @sweetlittlestory
Do you ever get the dreaded Mum guilt? - Maree
Mum guilt. We all know it IS a thing. But really, it shouldn’t be! And it never used to be! Our own mothers never lived with ‘mum guilt’. And that’s because they weren’t BOMBARDED with social media information overload about all the trillions of ways we MUST parent. For if we don’t parent using each and every one of those trillions of strategies, our babies will grow to be three eyed monsters who can’t function in society! All this info is nothing more than fear mongering. Sure, there’s some merit to most of that info..but with soooo much of it out there, we simply can not take it all on board and execute every suggestion (and they are just that: suggestions- not absolute truth). It’s making us fearful that we’re not doing enough, ever. It’s making us feel guilty that we can never be all that we need to be, ever. And that’s robbing us of our joy. And mothering, on the whole, should be joyful! Yes, we need to be present with our children, but no, our kids won’t become mutes who can’t make eye contact if we reply to a text on our phone for a few minutes, or if we have a little scroll on Instagram to see who’s having a blast on their Euro holiday (everyone I’ve ever known at the moment! Take me to Greece!) . And yes, we should lead by example, but if we need to flop on the lounge with a glass of vino and a bag of Burger Rings for a little recharge, our kids won’t become obese alcoholics because they’ve seen it! It’s like that tongue in cheek meme going around, we CAN NOT give our kids EVERYTHING, and do and be ALL of the things that ALL this info is telling us we should, hence the ‘mum guilt’... I truly, utterly, 100% believe that, and the end of the day, all they need is US. If we can give them as much of us as we can, and all of our love, the rest will surely follow...even if we do chuck one kid in front of the tv and straight-jacket the other one in the high chair so we can cook dinner.
The worst mum guilt I’ve ever felt was when Valentina was 7 weeks old and my body wasn’t producing enough milk to keep her little tummy full, and I started to wonder whether I needed to put her on the bottle. But I felt SO sick about it. So guilty that I was pondering the thought of giving her formula, because I KNEW BREAST IS BEST. I had full blown anxiety over it. I couldn’t sleep because of it. My stomach was in knots because of it. I spoke to my wise old granny about it and she so simply said that if I don’t have enough breast milk, then it’s an easy decision! Just pop her on the bottle. But it wasn’t an easy decision for me at all. And why?? Because I’d been BOMBARDED like a smack in the face by midwives, and TV ads, and community nurses, and social media articles that all said BREASTFEEDING IS BEST! Which IT IS!!! Of course it is! It’s the natural way to feed your baby. BUT if your body, for whatever reason, can not produce enough breast milk, well then you’re left feeling guilty, fearful, afraid of your only other option- evil, chemical filled formula. I totally agree that breast feeding IS best. That’s a given. And it SHOULD be promoted, but perhaps there needs to be some follow up information stating something like ‘If your tits happen to run out of milk, then feeding your newborn formula will not cause her body to shrivel to the size of a sultana. It will not cause her brain to dumb down due to chemical intake. Her immunity will remain strong enough to keep her alive, even in the middle of an Adelaide Winter. So do NOT be afraid. Go forth and FEED YOUR BABY!!!’ Now, THAT info would’ve come in real handy.
Love Hayley xx
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Reception 2020
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Book a one on one tour today T 08 7221 6217 spw.sa.edu.au
Where talent hides, we seek.
Got a question about life, motherhood or eating chocolate biscuits… I'll give you an answer! @sweetlittlestory / 11
REVI O PI NEI O WS N
We’re going to Sri Lanka for the school holidays! —
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b ecc a M ors
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This elicited one of the following responses: e
Rebecca Morse presents Adelaide’s Ten News First bulletin and is co-host of hit107’s breakfast show, Bec & Cosi.
She has a degree in Journalism and started her media career at the ABC, where she was named SA Journalist of the Year in 2005. Rebecca is actively involved in community and charity work, as a proud Ambassador for Kickstart for Kids, the Animal Welfare League, the Premier’s Reading Challenge, Uniting Care Pancake Day and the Port Adelaide Football Club, She is married with three daughters, Grace, Milla and Frankie and an adopted dalmatian named Henley. @rebeccamorse
My travel agent friend is one of those who’d returned from a recent visit raving and when she suggested it to us we were weighing up our options for a July escape that was warm, wouldn’t blow the budget, and wasn’t Bali, since we’d already been lucky enough to sneak in a cheeky trip there earlier in the year. As for the question of safety after the Easter attacks, it is a sad reality of our world that no travel, domestic or international, is immune from risk. Not surprisingly though the crucial tourist industry has taken a big hit and we were greeted with warmth, gratitude and relief at every location. (Greet me with a cold towel and a tropical juice on check-in and I’m yours forever.) And security was super-tight. The trip was, however, not without incident. It was never going to be without incident, let’s be honest. My teen amateur astrologer reckons it was Mercury Retrograde. A three hour flight delay for me in the Gold Coast post-Logies saw us miss our plane to Colombo and spend a day in arctic Melbourne with a suitcase of summer clothes. Oh and we lost a child on a hike. And I accidentally exposed myself to a monk. We climbed spectacular Piduragala and on the descent the two eldest went ahead, Milla issuing the challenge that the last one down would be declared a rotten egg. The humidity was already wreaking havoc with my hair and I had strained a hammy underestimating the leaping distance between two boulders so I was in no position to take up her challenge. When we made it to the bottom she was nowhere to be seen. We concluded she must have become impatient and continued the rest of the journey to the car, despite this involving a walk through a temple.
/ 12
azing “I’ve heard it’s am amazing.” /I’ve been and it’s
“Why Sri Lanka?”
u sure “Are yo e?” it’s saf
The rules of the temple dictated that women must cover bare skin and so my Lululemon bike shorts were hastily wrapped in a supplied sarong as I hurried down the stairs to solve the Mystery of the Missing Middle Child. So hastily wrapped in fact, that the piece of fabric would fall off and expose my legs just as a monk ascended towards me. I apologised profusely. Told him orange was his colour. Milla was not at the car. A mild panic began to set in as scenes from Picnic at Hanging Rock began to play out in my mind. “When was the last time you saw her?” I asked the eldest, who promptly burst into tears. (Granted she’s 16, she cries a lot) “Please don’t say that was the last time I saw her, ever” she sobbed, largely I suspect because we had now been out of wifi range for the best part of three hours. I found myself wondering how long local authorities would take to arrive to start a search party and whether it could be wrapped up in time for happy hour back at the hotel. No point searching in the dark. Her father doubled-back along the track and found her some ten minutes later after having taken a wrong turn. She was bemused by all the fuss that had been made.
d Places we love in Sri Lanka E lephant Transit Home, Udawalawe Flying Ravana Mega Zipline, Ella Pidurangala Rock Victor Hasselblad Sea Turtle Research and Conservation Centre, Kosgoda
Passikudah and Hiriketiya Beaches Elephant Safari, Minneriya National Park
The highlights for the kids were the incredible wildlife encounters.
"We saw herds of wild elephants from an opentopped jeep, visited an orphanage where baby elephants were hand-fed milk and held three-day old turtles hatched in captivity before their release to protect them from animal and human predators." The highlights for me, much-needed downtime, days spent by the pool and on palm-fringed beaches. I read two books. I consumed exotic curries, cocktails and over-indulged on the breakfast buffet. We had conversations that didn’t just revolve around day-to-day logistics. And we implemented a new buddy rule on future hikes. Hit me up if you need any Sri Lanka travel tips, excluding monk etiquette.
We flew Sri Lankan Airlines direct from Melbourne and booked through hollydaytravel.com.au
E DUCATIO N
NOW OPEN The year before school is so important for young children. It’s where they learn the skills to develop the confidence they need to make a smooth transition to school. If you are the parent of a three or four-year-old then you are probably already starting to consider what your options are for Kindergarten (also known as preschool) for 2020. For first time parents it can be a little overwhelming wrapping your head around the different options – Government run programs, sessional ELCs or Kindergarten at a centre-based long day care service. For a government preschool you also need to consider your ‘catchment area’ (or sometimes called ‘school zone’) and priority / wait lists may apply. Then cross your fingers and wait to see if you will be offered a place. Not to mention the added challenge of the traditionally limited Kindergarten hours – either ‘sessions’ or a ‘full 9-3 day’, maybe 2.5 days per week or perhaps a five-day fortnight.
And the icing on the cake, thanks to the Child Care Subsidy if you attend a Goodstart Kindergarten Program you may be entitled to 36 hours of subsidised care per fortnight. And even better is that families don’t need to meet the activity test in order to qualify for this subsidy payment – that means that regardless of how much work or recognised activity you and your partner do, you can still receive payments to offset the cost of kindergarten.
Play-based learning is a simple concept but because so many of us are accustomed to seeing learning occur in formal settings, it’s easily misunderstood.
If both you and your partner are working these inflexible hours can be hard to accommodate. This is when a Kindergarten program in a centre-based long day care setting, such as Goodstart Early Learning, has its perks. You get wraparound care for up to 12 hours a day, so your child can attend Kindergarten with the flexible longer hours you need.
Play-based learning is all about the process that children embark on, rather than achieving a specific outcome. It’s an approach that is led by the child and supported by teachers and educators by recognising ‘teachable moments’ during play, or by carefully planning play experiences that open up opportunities for learning.
Plus, at Goodstart nutritious meals are included (so no packing lunches, yay!!), there are extra-curricular activities and all kindergarten children receive a polo shirt, hat and a drink bottle.
So, what can you expect from Goodstart’s Kindergarten Program? At Goodstart, the Kindergarten program is evidence based and is specifically designed for children aged 3-5 years. The curriculum is based on the Early Years Learning Framework, which is delivered by degreequalified Early Childhood Teachers. This program nurtures children’s collaboration, communication, creativity and critical thinking skills. Goodstart’s high-quality Kindergarten program delivers a government approved curriculum and is geared towards helping children develop the foundational skills they need for a smooth transition to school. The program is built upon play-based learning which makes it active and fun for children
What is play-based learning?
and helps them develop an openness to learning that lasts well into adult life. The Goodstart Kindergarten Program helps children become school ready by developing their:
When children engage in play, they are more motivated to learn and develop positive feelings towards learning. By drawing on their natural desires, play-based learning is perfect for young children.
ents are Enrolm d ar roun e y open rt a t s d o Go for the en rt a rg e Kind Program
Physical health and wellbeing Social competence Emotional maturity Language and cognitive skills Communication skills and general knowledge
With nearly 50 centres across South Australia, there’s likely to be a Goodstart Early Learning centre near you. Book a tour and meet their friendly team early childhood teachers.
goodstart.org.au @goodstartel 1800 222 543 KIDDO FEATURE / 13
M O N EY
WORDS — Liv Williams
Canna Campbell knows a few things about money. With over a decade of experience in financial planning, including a successful career in banking and running her own boutique finance agency, she is passionate about educating and empowering women and families to create and sustain financial freedom. Canna’s new book Mindful Money, offers a holistic approach to finance, coupled with her accessible attitude and enthusiasm to share achievable strategies that could affect positive change in your life, the book guides readers through the practical realities of managing finances. We chat with Canna about how we can all be more mindful with money, budgeting for families and the best way to set up our children with healthy financial habits. /// Tell us a little bit about your journey to discovering your own financial freedom and how that has led you to want to help others on their own pathways by writing Mindful Money? I’ve been in financial planning since my early twenties, and I also started investing at a young age. I noticed that a lot of my girlfriends were asking me concerning questions like “what do you mean you don’t have any credit card debt?” or “what do you mean you’ve got emergency savings?” and I realised there was a big black hole in basic financial literacy. Basic financial literacy isn’t taught in schools or universities. There are accounting, commerce and business degrees focused around business and corporations, but no one ever shows you how to do a personal budget, why you should never have a credit card debt, how to use a credit card wisely or how to build an investment portfolio. I realised that I needed to help fix this, because financial stress is huge. They say that 30-35% of divorces are caused by financial stress, but it’s actually the one area you have so much more control over, and if I can show people how to make their lives that little bit easier, then I’m proud and happy to do that. What advice would you give to parents about teaching our kids how to be smart with money and laying the foundations for future success? Number one is always lead by example. Our children are sponges, and constantly watching us. Always educate, but come from a place of empowerment so your children understand what you’re explaining to them and feel part of it. Don’t just stop at savings. Savings is one third of the big picture; it’s great for your child to have a savings account, but also show them the power of investing because they have the benefit of time. If you can teach a child compounding interest, particularly through investment, not just savings, that’s going to set them up for life. / 14
1. P assive income is key. Make sure you’re building investments that pay an income stream
Tell us a little bit about the importance of having a ‘money mindset’. It’s about having the right attitude and engagement with your finances and along with it, empowerment. You could set a series of great financial goals, but if you don’t understand why they’re important to you, the benefits and value system that it triggers, they’ll end up being soulless goals, and you’ll either give up, get distracted, or if you do actually achieve the goal it will feel meaningless. There’s no gratification or sense of pride, and they’re really important things to have in creating new habits. The mindset is essential; we all have some form of selfdestructive patterns or triggers, it’s the investment of a little bit of time to understand them so you can catch them, and avoid jeopardising your successes. What do you believe are some of the most common misconceptions about money? We need to be talking about investing. Building up a passive income stream so that we have a sense of financial freedom in our lives, even if it’s a small amount, will help take some of the stress and pressure off our own mental and physical wellbeing. Another misconception is that you don’t need to worry about paying off your mortgage any quicker than the 30-year term the bank prescribes. It is significantly in your interest to pay off your home as quickly as possible, so that you free up your cash flow to be able to diversify, invest elsewhere, increase your family’s lifestyle and wellbeing, or start planning for things like retirement. One of the best pieces of advice I can give someone who has a mortgage is to actually pay it off as quickly as possible. You can find a detailed guide to family budgeting and setting up your banking ritual in Mindful Money Mindful Money is available at Dymocks Hyde Park and all good book stores RRP $34.99 Penguin Books. sugarmamma.tv @cannasass @sugarmammatv
2. H ave a separate savings account which is the financial goal account to put money aside into for long term investing 3. L earn about ETF’s (exchange traded funds) and listed investment companies because that’s the way to build an immediately diversified portfolio 4. A lways reinvest your income if you can afford to 5. Try and contribute on a regular basis, through a habit system, so you don’t think about it, you just do it 6. A lways track, review and monitor your passive income and watch it grow
1. Have four different bank accounts: • everyday account linked to your debit card, where your salary is deposited and most of your expenses withdrawn • life + emergency money which is your financial float account for recurring quarterly, biannual and annual expenses, and a set amount of money for emergencies • lifestyle goal account which could be a family holiday savings account • financial goal account where you put money aside to invest for your family’s financial wellbeing e.g. extra mortgage repayments or money to eventually put into superannuation 2. K eep all accounts with the same bank, so if you need to quickly transfer money, it’s there within seconds, and also from an efficiency perspective, you can see your entire cashflow situation on one screen 3. C heck your account balances and transactions daily, to keep yourself informed and ahead of upcoming expenses 4. E ven if you can only afford to put $1 into your financial goal account, that’s ok! Creating the habit is the most important principle here 5. K eep it simple: if you haven’t set up your finances in a really simplistic way, you’re not going to engage, it becomes too hard, it’s too easy to put off and do another day
A new home in the eastern suburbs We are now located at St Peters! Our new state of the art clinic is located at 50 Stephen Terrace, corner of Seventh Lane. We provide specialist orthodontics for children, teens and adults. Dr De Angelis has been offering InvisalignŽ to his patients for 18 years and was one of Australia’s first providers. No referral required. No obligation consultation. Call us or book online. T 133 TOC (133 862) E info@transformorthocare.com.au W transformorthocare.com.au TransformOrthodonticCare
Modbury | St Peters | West Lakes
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Inside the Toddler Mind WO
Dr Lyndsey CollinsPraino, an award-winning neuroscientist, completed a PhD in behavioural neuroscience at the University of Connecticut and a post-doctoral fellowship in cognitive neuroscience at Columbia University. She relocated to Australia in 2014, and is a Senior Lecturer in the Adelaide Medical School at the University of Adelaide and Head of the Cognition, Aging and Neurodegenerative Disease Lab (CANDL). Most importantly, she is the mother of an amazing two-year old son, Alexander.
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omehow, I am now the mother of a twoyear-old! My son Alexander turned two just a few days ago, and I can’t believe how quickly the time has gone. Suddenly, where I used to see my tiny, helpless baby, nestled in my arms, there now stands my fiercely independent, funny, incredibly sweet little boy (not that he ever stands still for very long!). As we prepared to celebrate Alexander’s birthday, one theme I kept hearing on repeat was,
“Uh oh! The terrible twos are about to strike! Better get ready!” But, is it true? Are the ‘twos’ really so “terrible?” One thing that is definitely true is that the brain of a toddler is rapidly developing. Although the cells of the brain, called neurons, are mostly finished being produced by the time of birth, there are several important changes that occur in the first few years of life. One of these important changes is called myelination. Myelin is a fatty sheath that wraps around axons, which are the specialised processes that neurons use to send signals. Think about myelin as being similar to the insulation that wraps around cables. Just like insulation, myelin helps the signal to travel more quickly. This is particularly important for healthy brain development, as being able to send signals quickly between neurons allows for the dramatic increase in cognitive abilities, like memory and language, that we see in toddlers. Another major change that occurs in the toddler brain is the production of more connections between neurons, called synapses. In other words, during this time, the brain is wiring brain cells together into circuits, which are critical for higher order functions, like abstract thinking. / 16
By the time that a child is three years old, their brain will contain roughly 1,000 trillion synapses, which is twice as many as the adult brain contains! Not all of these connections are necessary, however; as the child ages, weak or unused synapses will be pruned away. Similar to pruning the branches of a tree, this helps the brain to function more efficiently. This synaptic pruning lasts well into early adulthood, particularly in brain regions like the prefrontal cortex, which is the portion of your brain that is important for higher order cognitive functions, like impulse control, decision making and attention. But how does the brain know which of the connections to keep and which to remove? Research has shown that it is critically dependent on activity occurring within these circuits. Another way to think of this is “use it or lose it.” Synapses or connections which are active are strengthened, and therefore kept. Conversely, synapses which are not activated remain weak and are eventually removed. This process is largely driven by the experiences that we have during our life, especially our early childhood, meaning which connections are kept and which are removed is highly individualised, allowing the brain to optimise its function for unique environments.
What is particularly interesting is that different functions have different timeframes for when experience is likely to have the largest effect on strengthening connections between neurons. These are termed critical periods and correspond to the acquisition of certain skills and behaviours. Once this period passes, the behaviour is relatively unaffected by subsequent experience, and it may be difficult, or even impossible, to make up for deficiencies that occur during these times. Critical periods for the senses, like vision and hearing, occur quite early in infancy. For toddlers, however, they are in a critical time for
developing language, cognitive skills and social behaviours, with all of these highly dependent on the experiences that the child is offered during this time.
Research has shown that factors like extreme stress or a lack of warm, supportive relationships with caregivers can have lasting negative impacts on a child’s future emotional, cognitive and social skills. So the twos (and toddlerhood in general) aren’t really so terrible. Instead, these years are a period of rapid brain development, in which children are working to acquire many of the skills and behaviours needed to develop into happy, welladjusted adults. Coupled with the fact that they often lack the words to express how they are feeling or what they need, and that they are just beginning to learn how to self-regulate their emotions and behaviours, no wonder they feel overwhelmed sometimes! So what can we, as caregivers, do to help? First, the more diverse the experiences we offer our little ones, the more we give those sponge-like brains the opportunity to strengthen the connections between brain cells. Second, we can model appropriate behaviours both in our interactions with our toddlers and in the interactions they see us have with others. Finally, we can practise positive discipline (yes, even when they’re chucking a major tantrum in the middle of the produce aisle at the grocery store). After all, the word discipline comes from the Latin word, disciplina, which means teaching or instruction. If we respond during these times with compassion, responsiveness and empathy, our children will eventually, in the face of this security, learn to self-soothe and self-regulate their own emotions. Even better, we will teach these lasting skills to our children, which will help to influence the sort of people they grow up to become. I, for one, can’t wait to see what’s in store for the rest of the “terrible” twos! t. @lyndseypraino
O PIN IO N
As Tommie points out, early intervention is the key, “when a family is seeking support for their child, getting access to allied health professionals and services like play therapy is essential to avoid developmental delays. In offering this service we hope we are able to improve the outcomes for many young children in South Australia.”
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Play Therapist Tommie, answers some of the most common questions about play therapy. W HAT IS PLAY THERAPY?
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Play therapy can be particularly beneficial for children living with a disability, learning difficulty or other social challenges,” Tommie states. “For these children, a play therapy program implemented correctly can be used to address specific therapeutic goals which relate to a child’s wellbeing.
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“We all know children play. What I think we sometimes forget as adults, is that play is not simply just a way to pass time – play is an essential component of child development and helps form the basic building blocks of their communication.”
Working with children aged 2 to 12, HenderCare’s play therapy service develops bespoke play-based interventions focused on the individual needs of the child. HenderCare’s Play Therapist uses a range of directive and non-directive play therapy modalities to assist the child to express explore and resolve social, emotional, cognitive and behavioural challenges.
Working as HenderCare’s Senior Play Therapist, Thomasina Williams is a passionate advocate for the role of play in child development. With a Bachelor of Early Childhood Education and a Master’s in Child Play Therapy behind her, Thomasina (or Tommie as she prefers to be called) has witnessed firsthand the benefits of implementing play therapy interventions.
For parents or caregivers who may not immediately understand the difference between play therapy and regular play, Tommie says, “Play is a child’s language and toys are their words. Play Therapists meet children at their level. They undertake years of training to be able to understand, assess and communicate through play. This gives them a window into the child’s world helping them understand the child’s feelings, needs, experiences and behaviours”. Therapeutic services are in demand across the state as the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) continues to roll out. A part of HenderCare’s allied health services (which also includes physiotherapy, psychology, speech pathology and occupational therapy) HenderCare decided to offer play therapy to help ensure families had access to the services they needed.
Play therapy is a developmentally appropriate approach for working with children. Play therapists use play to communicate with and understand children’s feelings, needs, behaviours and experiences.
W HAT ARE SOME OF THE BENEFITS OF PLAY THERAPY? Depending on the needs of the individual child, your play therapist will work with you to set therapeutic goals. Examples of these could include relationship enhancement, improved social skills and self-regulation or assistance with processing and expressing emotion. Every child will experience different benefits based on their needs and desired outcomes.
D O I NEED A DOCTOR’S REFERRAL FOR MY CHILD TO SEE A PLAY THERAPIST? No referral is required.
I S PLAY THERAPY AVAILABLE UNDER MY CHILD’S NDIS FUNDING? Depending on the supports outlined in your NDIS Plan, you may have access to use your child’s NDIS funding for the sessions. Private paying families are also able to attend.
To find out more about HenderCare’s play therapy service or other allied health services, please call 1300 764 433 or visit hendercare.com.au.
Your children are amazing already. We just help them prove it. Specialised Maths and English tuition
1300 386 266 | numberworksnwords.com.au / 17
O PI N I O N
Embrace with Taryn Brumfitt ar
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Mumma of 3, 2018 Australian of the Year, SA Finalist
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2018 SA Winner Excellence in Women’s Leadership
2018 The Australian Financial Review 100 Women of Influence Finalist
tarynbrumfitt.com
I don’t know about you, but it felt like only last night I was on the dance floor at The Planet, knocking back an illusion or three and busting out my best moves to M People. And then I blinked and here I am. 41 years old, mother of 3, with a mortgage and saying things like “it’s a good day to get the washing done”. How the heckle berry did this happen?
Life, it moves so fast doesn’t it? I certainly don’t have an issue with getting older, I’m grateful for every precious minute I have on the planet but I do wish it would slow down just a little! In the past few years since learning to Embrace my body I’ve experienced more adventure and laughter than I did the first 30 years of my life. So, whilst life is speeding up, it’s also becoming more rich and abundant, joyful and fun. I’m not taking life for granted, I am squeezing out every last drop and I want to invite all of you to join me, because there’s plenty of room on the dance floor. In my experience of connecting and working with tens of thousands of women across the globe I know the number one reason that holds women back - the way they feel about their body.
Hating your body, or wishing you had ‘her body’ or her {insert any body part} reeks havoc on your life, your happiness and the relationships you have with loved ones. What I want you to know is that it’s never too late to learn to embrace your body, I was 35 years old when I did and I’ve never looked back. But how you ask? Well, the answer is quite epic and more words than I can type on this page, but how about we start with a commitment from you to learn to embrace your body? Take a moment out of your day to consider how hating your body has impacted your life, your kid’s life, your partners life? What have you said no to that you wish you could of said yes to? What would it mean to let go of the negative self-talk and just dive in the ocean, do a bomb in the pool and make peace with the change-rooms? (What about leaving the lights on? Ok, ok, that’s the next level!) Each edition of KIDDO I am going to be bringing you some bodylovin’ inspiration, we can start this journey together. You weren’t born into the world hating your body, you learned this this, now let’s unlearn it whilst there’s still time! I’ve got you – lets do this!
Taryn xo / 18
The best of our socials…
FOLLOW @bodyimagemovement for a daily dose of love and inspiration!
Remember the band Sheppard, say Geronimo, of course you do! This month I flew up to Brisbane to dance (badly) in their new film clip “Kiss my Fat Ass”! This song is going to be such a rad anthem for women all over the world. Seek it out, you’ll love it!
Introducing..
incredibly talented singer @tanerelle Last month she went braless on the red carpet at an Awards ceremony and was told she needed to “lift” her breasts? {What the beep??} What was supposed to be a joyous occasion turned into a shitstorm on social media after naysayers voiced their opinions on how they felt Tanerelle should have lifted her breasts or worn a less revealing dress. This is what Tanerelle had to say... “To all the negative comments about today’s look, I don’t need to lift my breast to wear a f*!&ing dress. I’m a woman and my natural tits hang and I f*!&ing love it and I have no intention of changing it to suit your gaze. I’m out here living my dreams, focus on better things.” YES SISTER, SLAY!
Doing it for the kids
One of the most frequently asked questions I get is “How do I help my child have a good relationship with their body?” This is my response... You are the Queen or King to your child, they see and hear everything you do, so the most impactful thing you can do to help your child foster a positive body image is model positive behaviour. That means not speaking negatively about your body in front of them, it means getting in the ocean, kicking the soccer ball on the beach in your bikini, it means faking it sometimes (it can be tempting to say something negative about your body in front of them - but just DON’T) and above all, the best thing you can do is show them how YOU enjoy your body. Move your body for pleasure and not punishment (don’t go for a walk / run because you ate the cake, move your body because it’s fun!) fuel your body with foods that give you energy, respect your body, show gratitude for your body, and don’t take it all too seriously. If you are on this planet worrying about some dimples on your butt or thighs, I reckon in terms of the human race you’re one of the lucky ones. X
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Can I get an Amen! Perspective, it’s what we all need a good dose of every now and again.
Download a song for your kids and change lives! As some of you know we are fundraising to make our next documentary - Embrace Kids. We’ve just released a body positive song for kids with all proceeds ($1.29) going to the film. Download it here: bodyimagemovement.com/embrace/embrace-kids-song/ (WARNING: The song is incredibly catchy!!) There are many other ways to get involved with our life-changing work, head to www.bodyimagemovement.com for guilt free shopping (100% proceeds go to Embrace Kids) and make sure you watch Embrace the documentary – it’s a game changer!
O PIN IO N
Welcome to Your Period All You Need to Know About Aunt Flo – With the DOLLY DR and Yumi Stynes!
If parents can feel comfortable first that will help reduce the stigma or taboo. WORDS —Gemma Easton Every woman remembers the first time they got their period and the whirlwind of questions that came with it. Thankfully, today’s pre-teens have more and more resources at their fingertips. For 23 years Dr. Melissa Kanghas was the voice behind the Dolly Doctor in the sealed section of Dolly Magazine. Remember that time when 12 year olds weren’t walking around with iPhones and the Internet didn’t even exist? Woaaah! Curious teens would rip open the perforated pages to reveal a world of sticky questions and sexual queries that might have been too uncomfortable to ask in person. Now we have another way to handle bleeding like a boss! The brains behind Dolly Doctor, Dr. Melissa Kanghas has teamed up with ABC’s Yumi Stynes to create the ultimate menstruation manual for pre-teens (9-12 years). Welcome to Your Period is a modern, funny, inclusive and big-sisterish guide to getting your period… and what to do once it comes. Okay pardon us, we’re a little bit star-struck, but we managed to get a one-on-one with the Dolly Doctor! Here are some questions that you may have been wondering yourself: /// Over the many years of receiving questions as the Dolly Doctor, did you find that the nature of the questions you received changed? Yes and no. There was a sort of cosmic reassurance that adolescence didn’t change – readers’ questions suggested that it remained full of angst and introspection and terrifying awareness of metamorphosing bodies, as well as the joy of discovering new found romance, sexual awakenings (mostly in fantasy), and the importance of peers and parents. The great majority of questions were about puberty-related body changes and seeking reassurance that everything was normal. The most noticeable change over time related to more explicit questions about genitals – such as pubic hair removal (how, how and how) and the consequent alarm when one’s labia (vaginal lips) became noticeable. This was without doubt due to the rise of accessible pornography and the normalisation of pubic hair removal.
/// Were you ever alarmed by reader questions? The most alarming questions were not because of a dramatic revelation or disclosure, but rather the realisation that the double standard remained alive and well – girls feeling pressured to look or be sexy, and to please boys. Many questions showed that girls knew how to experience (solitary) pleasure and enjoy new sensations that came from their adolescent bodies, but not necessarily believing that this was something they were entitled to. Most Dolly readers were too young to be sexually active, but even for these young ones, there were sad stories about being ostracised or having rumours spread about them by boys. /// What made you decide to help write this book? It was an incredible opportunity to put everything I’d ever answered for Dolly Doctor into one place, with diagrams and illustrations. It was also wonderful to work with Yumi whose sense of humour and commitment to women’s issues were present in equal measure throughout. I wanted to help demystify and destigmatise not only periods, but our comfort in talking about them. /// How can parents help alleviate the stigma around periods? It’s good to start with oneself – to be aware of our own feelings about periods, and about our children growing up. Periods and puberty are naturally associated with sexuality, and this can be uncomfortable for parents. Yet – periods are so natural, half the population has them. If parents can feel comfortable first that will help reduce the stigma or taboo. Being a good listener – your pre-teen might be worrying about something you didn’t have any inkling of – have conversations with them where you’re curious, wanting to understand what’s on their mind rather than jumping to conclusions. Taking your child to the supermarket and showing them where the sanitary products are, buying them together openly and not making a fuss. Asking and talking about periods, sharing our own stories. Basically, feeling that periods can be part of any conversation.
/// Are there moments when girls are more likely to get their period for the first time? E.g Travel, school camp. Why is this? Many people are surprised at what an anticlimax the first period is. Sometimes it’s just a brown streak and nothing more. It’s no more likely to happen away from home than anywhere else and it’s unlikely to be anything dramatic - but it’s often a girl’s worst fear. The book tackles this fear and also what to do if you are caught out.
/// Can you give us five quick tips on how girls can prepare for getting their period for the first time?
Learn the signs of your body getting ready – the most obvious one is an increase in vaginal secretions over several months, sometimes a year or more Get a hold of some period products (eg pads, tampons) and take a couple out of their packaging - have a look at them, feel comfortable handling them Get your period pack ready and keep it in your school bag or handbag Talk! To your friends, your parent or carer Read up on periods and look for answers to any questions you might have
Welcome to Your Period by Yumi Stynes & Dr Melissa Kang and is now available at all good book stores. RRP $19.99 Hardie Grant Egmont / 19
H E ALTH
Bath time
A new home for Orthodontics East Side
The purpose of bath time is to get your kiddo squeaky clean. But you also want to make sure that the products you are using are safe and eco friendly, with minimal toxins and nasties. We’ve rounded up a few bath time essentials for keeping your little one clean, healthy and safe. Jurilique Baby's Gentle Hair and Body Wash, 200ml $35.00
De iel Dr Dan
Ecostore Kids 3 in 1 Shampoo & Body Wash 350ml $10.95
An gel is
Dr Daniel De Angelis and the lovely team from Transform Orthodontic Care (TOC) now have a new home in the Eastern suburbs at 50 Stephen Terrace (corner Seventh Lane), St Peters. Care and attention to detail has gone into the team’s new clinic to create a welcoming and positive experience for their patients. They have plants from local business, Potted Thoughts, hand wash from Thank You and magazines, books and toys to suit children, teens and adults. Ample parking is available on site and on surrounding streets.
If you drive past you’ll see the big 50 sign and Transform Orthodontic Care’s signature apricot colour. It will be hard to miss.
A’maree’s Baby Wash & Shampoo, 236ml
And if you sign on for orthodontic treatment during the month of August you’ll receive $500 off the total cost of treatment! Just mention this promo when you book an appointment. T&C’s and minimum value applies. Ends 31st August, new patients only. See their web site for more info.
Dr. Bronner Baby-Mild Organic Hand And Body, 335ml $17.95
You’ll find TOC at St Peters, West Lakes and Modbury. 133 TOC (133 862) transformorthocare.com.au @transformorthodonticcare
MooGoo, Mini Moo Bubbly Wash, 500ml $17.50
Play is a child’s language. We speak play. HenderCare’s Play Therapy service can help children, aged two to 12 living with a disability or other cognitive or social challenges, better express themselves & learn to cope with difficulties. BESPOKE PLAY-BASED SOLUTIONS
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Your Child's Eyes
Optometrist - Stuart Aitchison
A classic game that we’ve all played is ye old ‘staring competition’. An uninterrupted look into someone else’s eyes, the game lost by the one that blinks first. As optometrists, our job is one big staring competition and our favourite contestants are your children!
At National Pharmacies Optical we believe strongly in the importance of your children’s eye health in their development. So you might be interested to find out, what are we actually looking at when we’re staring into your child’s eyes! And what can you, as their parent, also help look for. Are they squinting or frowning?
When a child is struggling with their vision they will often squint or frown, which is the body’s way of trying to achieve focus. If you see your child doing this when reading, on the computer or watching television, an eye test is a good idea. Are they tilting their head or moving it from side-to-side?
Children are remarkable at finding ways to cope with not seeing properly - without even realising they’re doing it! Moving their head up and down, side to side, or holding it on a tilt while concentrating is another sign they’re struggling to see clearly. Do their eyes look red or irritated?
If you see your child rubbing their eyes regularly, or they complain of ‘sore eyes’ there can be lots of reasons (for example, hay fever) but dry, irritated eyes can be another sign that something isn’t 100% with their vision or overall eye health. Are both their eyes focused on the same spot?
It’s an interesting fact that each of our eyes can develop at a different rate to the other, meaning it’s not uncommon that at any stage of your child’s development, they may be struggling to focus. Correcting this can be as simple as some at-home eye exercises, but a proper eye test will determine the best course of treatment.
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The most important part of our ‘staring competition’ will be actually talking to your child about how they see the world. In a child’s eye test at National Pharmacies Optical we will talk to you about your concerns, but it will be the conversation we have with your child, combined with the tests that we do, that can help us to determine how your child can have the brightest outlook on life. And the best part is if your child does need glasses to support their vision, as a family member of National Pharmacies, your child will receive a FREE pair of glasses every year until they turn thirteen. Yes, FREE. Now that’s a word worth staring at! To book your child''s appointment head online nationalpharmacies.com.au/2020by2020
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@nationalpharmacies / 21
REVI E DUCATIO E WS N
THE ST PETER'S WOODLANDS DIFFERENCE WORDS — Gemma Easton & Eloise Richards PHOTOS —Andy Francis @heyandy.studio
There are many tough decisions we make as parents on a day-to-day basis. Sometimes the choice between distracting them with Peppa Pig or Baby Shark (while you’re trying to have a quiet moment to read the latest issue of KIDDO) is a hard bet.
For parents, choosing a primary school is one of the first monumental decisions that will pave the way for the rest of their lives. Aside from the joyous new friendship making, glu-sticking, story reading, handclapping, alphabet-learning-fun that primary school is, it’s also one of the most formative periods in your child’s life. There’s no underestimating the importance of choosing the right primary school for your child and your family. As well as wanting your child to feel happy, safe and secure, and able to take risks in a supported environment, primary school is a time for each child to pursue interests and discover unique strengths.
/ 22 KIDDO FEATURE
E DUCATIO N
Educators “When teachers are well supported, they’re able to spend more time with each child to uncover individual strengths and interests,” says SPW's Principal, Chris Prance. At SPW, classroom teachers are supported by a team of Learning Support teachers and assistants, who help develop, plan and source programs designed to enrich learning for everyone. An initiative of the Learning Support team is The Hub, a centrally located space offering stimulating lunch time clubs and activities for all children. The library also offers a creative ‘Makerspace’ each lunchtime where children can challenge themselves with deliberately designed creative activities. Thanks to the support the school provides their educators, SPW has become a school of choice for teaching staff, boasting a high retention rate of staff, both male and female.
Specialists in Primary Teaching
While SPW’s focus is strong on literacy and numeracy skills, they also offer a diverse and in depth extra-and co-curricular program with specialist teachers. To build self-esteem, it's important for young people to excel at something, and feel proud of their individual achievement.
SPW has modern teaching spaces, facilities and resources to support each child in their learning and development.
Sport plays a large part in the SPW community, teaching team skills, cooperation and discipline. From Reception upwards, children can take part in sports including dance, gymnastics, netball, football, cricket, tennis, judo, basketball, soccer and netball.
Students are supported to discover interests through engagement with purpose built facilities including the multimedia suite with green screen, dance studio, design and technology studio, music suite, visual art rooms and food technology centre.
For the creatively inclined, SPW has a strong extra-curricular arts program, from one-on-one instrumental and voice instruction to various choirs, school musicals involving students from R-7, bands and ensemble participation.
Children who love being outdoors can explore extensive play spaces and grounds, with three large grass playing fields along with multi-purpose outdoor and indoor court facilities, all within a short stroll to Glenelg beach.
To help build your child’s confidence and citizenship skills SPW also offers Tournament of Minds, debating and public speaking, along with a strong Student Service program that incorporates leadership opportunities for students across multiple year levels.
State of the Art Resources in the Heart of Glenelg
SPW recently constructed a nature play space, and actively creates educational programs to encourage outdoor learning and exploration of the environment.
SPW offers something for everyone and has the resources to help your child succeed in the formative years of their educational journey. If you're interested in finding out more information or to book a personal tour contact Jo Gray, Enrolments Manager, today.
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This inquiry approach, paired with the high value SPW places on developing individual social, emotional, physical, spiritual and intellectual needs of children, means children are able to confidently pursue their unique interests and talents in smaller group sizes at every age.
A Range of Extra Curricular Activities
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As an International Baccalaureate Organisation World School, St Peter’s Woodlands (SPW) delivers the IBO Primary Years Program. This program fosters the development of the whole child as an inquirer, both in the classroom and the world outside. Engagement in the IBO Primary Years Program ensures children are seeking answers to real world issues.
When teachers are well supported, they’re able to spend more time with each child to uncover individual strengths and interests
Find out more information or book a school tour visit: St Peter’s Woodlands ELC – Yr 7 Jo Gray, Enrolments Manager spw.sa.edu.au jgray@spw.sa.edu.au T 08 7221 6217
KIDDO FEATURE / 23
PRO F I LE
Father-HOOD WORDS — Liv Williams PHOTOS —Danielle Symes
Aussie dads are a diverse bunch. From stay at home hubbies, to on-duty working fathers, dads make up 20% of our population, and are more involved in parenting than ever before (WOO to the HOO). It’s no surprise that engaged fathers create all sorts of benefits for their kids and subsequently, their wives, so three cheers to our dadfolk who are changing the world and changing the nappies! We chat with the three ripper dads about how they prepared for the life changing role of fatherhood and what advice they would pass on to dads-to-be.
Name: Nick Lawrence Age: 30 Kiddos: Frankie (1) and another on the way
How has fatherhood changed you? I’ve become more patient and less selfish. Although I have a way to go, I understand that I now have someone who I am responsible for.
How did you prepare for parenthood? Luckily for me, my wife Lucy was incredibly prepared and researched so I was able to learn so much from her, and still do. We did a hypnobirthing course through Kate at My Private Midwife. This was incredibly valuable and educated me so much on not only the beautifully natural birth process but the health system as well. I found the internet to be a dark and scary place, however, I was able to get a few tips from Raising Children, a government resource.
How does your parenting style compare to that of your own dad? As I've grown older, I found myself with more and more similarities to my dad. My dad worked two jobs when I was young to ensure we would be fine. Although I didn't know it at the time, he taught me a valuable lesson on parenting; to serve without acknowledgment or recognition. Differently, I am trying to spend as much time as possible with Frankie and form a really secure attachment, something I probably don't have with my dad. We are trying to allow space for emotion, both happy, sad, and everything in between. / 24
What is your favourite thing about being a dad? Watching Frankie learn and find joy in everything!
What are your 3 top tips for new dads? • Learn as much as you can about the birth process before the baby comes. Be involved, and support when needed. • Spend as much time with your baby as you can and develop your own special relationship. • Try not to stress. Babies are resilient and if you’re trying, you’re doing a great job.
PRO FIL E
Name: Brad Symes Age: 34
“I hope to strike a similar balance with Harper and Charlie that I shared with my father. He was disciplined enough that I could never mistake his role as a parent, however I also knew he was my best friend”.
Kiddos: Harper (5) and Charlie (2) How has fatherhood changed you? I don’t think fatherhood has changed who I am at the core. I’m the same person I’ve always been and still very much hold the same values and outlook on life. Fatherhood does, however, help to put a lot of the little things that you used to worry about into perspective. I remember thinking that I needed to have 11 hours uninterrupted sleep to play a good game of footy, now if I pump out more than 5, I feel lazy for having overslept!
— Brad Symes
How did you prepare for parenthood? Danielle and I were really the first of our friendship group(s) to have kids so we didn’t have a lot of “new parent” friends to draw advice or inspiration from. We both come from amazingly tight-knit and supportive families though so we got plenty of advice along the way on that front (for better or worse). We did read a few books in the lead up (and I use the term ‘we’ quite loosely) and Save Our Sleep was the pick of the bunch. It isn’t the answer for everyone but it definitely was for us.
How does your parenting style compare to that of your own dad? I don’t think I differ too much to how my dad goes about things. A lot of people judge a parent’s success by how well their kid turns out, so under that logic I think my dad has almost done the perfect job, haha! My dad was disciplined enough with me that I always knew he was the parent but kind and supportive enough that I also knew I had a best friend. I hope to strike the same balance with Harper and Charlie.
What is your favourite thing about being a dad? It’s those rare moments when you are all at home together, both kids are being adorable, nobody is fighting and there’s actually nowhere else in the world you’d rather be.
Name: Joe Godsell Age: 35 Kiddos: Eve (3), Zac (9 months)
What are your 3 top tips for new dads?
How has fatherhood changed you?
• Look after your wife. It is easy to fall into the trap of thinking that being a new dad is all about how to take care of your child. If you can support your partner and ensure that she is enjoying being a new mum, then parenting together should be a breeze.
Fatherhood changes everything! You now have something that is more important than yourself and that is amazing, but also really hard. I've become more disciplined with my time at work because it’s more precious. If I work late, I miss a few hours of my child's life! I am now closer, but also more distant, with my wife. We share two young children which is an unbreakable bond, but sometimes we don't talk about anything deeper than whose turn it is to change a nappy... I miss that.
• There’s no perfect way to parent. All parents will have their own techniques and all kids will respond in different ways. Try a few things and then do what feels right for you. We have friends that parent completely differently to the way that we do. They are still great parents and are raising great kids. It certainly isn’t a “one size fits all” model. • Take your son or daughter out for one-on-one dates together. It’s the best way to bond with them. Plus, when you’re a dad and you sit down for a babycino with your 4-month-old daughter people honestly think you’re the greatest human on the planet!
How did you prepare for parenthood? We attended pre-natal classes at the hospital which helped a lot. It’s basic stuff, but it gives you the confidence when it is for real. The main help for me was having friends and siblings who have been through it before, people who really understand what you are about to go through and will tell you exactly how it is. The good, the bad and the hideous!
How does your parenting style compare to that of your own dad? It’s probably the same, we are quite similar characters although I am a bit quicker to the boil than he is. My dad was always around, always kind and enjoyed to laugh. I try and emulate that as much as I can, but I take my parenting skills from both of my parents.
What is your favourite thing about being a dad? Play time; especially outdoors. Seeing my kids laugh and being out in the fresh air is absolutely amazing. I work in an office all week and when I get home it’s straight into dinner / bath / bed, so any time that we can go to the park or pool is fantastic. Also, seeing them grow, physically and mentally; it makes me immensely proud when they do something new.
What are your 3 top tips for new dads? • Never underestimate how hard it is for the person who stays at home with the kids. • Accept the fact that your life has changed and don't try and fight it. • Tell your partner you love them and work as a team. / 25
PRO F I LE
DADVICE
If you were to walk into a pub and see a group of guys sitting at the bar, craft beer in hand, shooting the breeze and having a laugh, you could be forgiven for assuming they’re a footy team having end of season drinks, or old mates from Uni catching up.
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L-R—Shelley, Ben, James, Ben, Callum, Tim
What might not spring to mind immediately, is that this group of blokes is actually a dad support group, chatting about fatherhood, life with young children, changing relationship roles and the highs and lows of supporting their partners through the early, hazy days of parenting and beyond. But, that’s exactly what happens every week at the Wheatsheaf, where a group of Adelaide dads have formed their own dads’ group; having regular catch-ups to connect with other fathers, discuss parenting issues, and learn from the experiences of other dads.
PRO FIL E
Across the country, thousands of mums meet regularly for mothers’ group, many of us attributing our sanity through the long, nebulous days of early parenting to having a support network around us, of other women with a shared experience. In this day and age, men are more connected with family life, taking a more active and hands on role in parenting than ever before, but these types of networks are rarely geared toward fathers; dads who may be looking for similar avenues of support and the opportunity to swap notes and connect with others experiencing the same challenges. We chat with James, dadvocate and one of the founding members of local Adelaide Dad Support Group, about how having a support network of other fathers has affected his journey through parenthood. James encourages Adelaide dads to reach out to The Dad Support Group and come along, or check in with dad mates and find a time to get together and chat about all things fatherhood. How long has your dad group been meeting? The Dad Support Group has been around for a few years, some of the core members had kids nearly four years ago and caught up casually. The current iteration which includes new members, some first dads and soon-to-be dads, has been going a few months now. I think the regularity is a key aspect, it's so easy to let dates and events slip past with kids because of competing schedules and the general madness of parenthood. What have been the benefits of creating the group? They're bigger than I imagined. Men, typically like to interact side by side with a task to focus on. This gives us a bit of an ‘out’ when it comes to discussing anything of real depth. In this case, we come together with a single question or topic to discuss. It happens eventually, after a heap of chat about the usual (footy/life/work) and we often discuss a particular topic for an hour or more. It offers a platform to share, listen and discuss issues around being a Dad and a supportive partner. My kids are older than a lot of the fathers in the group and I think some of the biggest benefits have come to the guys who are new to being a parent, or about to become one. It's great to pass some of this on, as this lived experience is so fresh for some of us.
“We will often discuss a particular topic for an hour or more. It offers a platform to share, listen and discuss issues around being a Dad and a supportive partner.” What are the main things that shocked you when you became a father? This was a topic of one of our chats actually! For me it's happened slowly, but after having our second child I'd say how relentless parenting is. It's very hard to find time for self-care and more structured opportunities are needed, otherwise you can really struggle. What information would you give to expecting dads? Not to listen to the Dads that feel it's a rite of passage to freak them out with lazy comments like 'what have you done?' or 'you're in trouble now, mate'. I mean, I've said this stuff in moments of weakness but honestly, the advice I'd give is to be excited! Being a dad is the best thing that’s ever happened to me. I'd also say be super supportive and present during the pregnancy and beyond; the experience you have after the arrival of your first bub won't come again, it's the best time to indulge in the journey. What do you think are the main pressures on modern dads? Firstly, I'd like to say the pressures on both parties has increased and I don’t want to discount the experience of the modern mother. Having said that, I think there's a lot more expected of modern dads in relation to child rearing and tasks within the household. This obviously takes away from the things that dads traditionally did to wind-down and decompress. I really think that we need to talk more about dads; their mental health, pressures, expectations and opportunities for self-care.
Meet James AGE: 36 OCCUPATION: Owner of Dirty Deeds Produce Marketing @dirtydeedsmarketing KIDDOS: Paloma 3, Fleur 2 LOVES: Surfing, drinking wine, travelling, and being a dad. HUSBAND TO: Clare
What is the best thing about being a dad? The other day my three-year-old said 'when I grow up, I'm going to get a step dad', I'm not sure if she knows something I don't, but we had a good laugh. I'd say the best thing is that regardless of the day you've had, be it work or even challenges with the kids, it can all be washed away by a single moment of love or laughter provided by the little ones. My kids are at an age where I get lots of affection and they say some hilarious stuff daily. I've never laughed so much or dished out and received so many kisses
“Regardless of the day you've had, be it work or even challenges with the kids, it can all be washed away by a single moment of love or laughter provided by the little ones” Have you come across any misconceptions about parenting? I guess that everyone's experience is the same. Before parenthood I probably would’ve assumed it was a pretty uniform experience, but sleeping habits, health of children and parents, location and support from family really changes your experience. Have you seen a difference in yourself as a partner and a parent having a dads’ group to attend? I think I'm feeling a bit more supportive of other dads and supported as a father. It's also really crystallised my feelings on the merits of support for men and fathers.
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Fatherhood an
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Adelaide psychologist and mother of three boys, aged ten, seven and two, Hanna Beaven, specialises in families’ emotional wellbeing in the stages of trying to conceive, pregnancy, birth and parenting babies and young children.
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Firstly, I think it is important to acknowledge that while I am writing an article about fatherhood, I am not a father myself! I do, however, support fathers in my perinatal psychology service, I have a father, I am married to and co-parent with my children’s father and I know many fathers. The role of a father has evolved over time, and while this evolution has brought with it many positives, it has also created some challenges. I believe more than ever, parents are under great stress and pressure to ‘do it all’. Modern fatherhood has progressed from men being mainly observers and disciplinarians of their children to being integrally involved and very hands-on with raising their children. Families have also evolved from the nuclear family to a rich diversity of many wonderful variations. As a result, fatherhood can take many forms – fatherhood within a partnership, single fatherhood, part-time fatherhood, step-fatherhood, stay-athome fatherhood, working fatherhood etc. Becoming a dad brings inevitable changes to every area of a man’s life, for example, his view of himself, his role in life, his relationships, and so on. While many of the changes of becoming a dad are exciting and joyful, they can also be overwhelming and stressful. Therefore, it is essential to provide support not only to your partner, but to also ensure your own self-care. Our parenting style (authoritarian, permissive, disengaged or supportive) is largely shaped by the way we were parented! Other influences are: generational expectations regarding masculinity and fatherhood, social media, culture, religion, friends and family, life circumstances, the amount of support available and so on. While these factors influence your parenting, it is up to you to decide what is best for your child(ren) and how you choose to raise them.
Fathers should engage in each stage of parenthood: PREG NANCY: • Listen to your partner and her thoughts and feelings about pregnancy and parenthood and share yours too • Attend the antenatal scans, appointments, parent education classes • Learn about the development of the baby • Talk, sing, play music to your baby as they grow within your partners amazing body
BIRTH: • Listen to your partner and their expectations, thoughts and feelings about birth and share yours • Attend birth preparation classes • Learn about – - The process of birth - What your partner may experience both physically and emotionally - What your partner may want during birth and be an advocate for her - Ways you can provide physical and emotional support throughout the birth – to avoid feeling helpless
NEWBORN: • Listen to your partner about their thoughts and feelings regarding their experience of parenthood and share yours • Skin to skin contact with your baby • Support your partner and actively participate (without being asked) in caring for your baby: feeding, settling, bathing, changing, playing (looking at, talking, singing and reading to your baby) and so on • Support your partner by taking the baby for a walk in the pram or a drive in the car • Assist with household tasks like cooking, dishes, laundry, cleaning and so on • Self-care activities for you and your partner
Important things to consider regarding fatherhood: Fathers can struggle with the level of selflessness being a parent requires – it is no longer about what suits you best but what is going to be best for the whole family Fathers can feel more responsibility after having a child and more pressure to provide financially for their new family Fathers can feel left out or jealous of their new baby – due to their partner’s focus on the baby and not seeming to have time for them anymore Fathers can feel criticised by their partner when they are doing the “wrong” thing with their baby, and this can lead to a lack of confidence in caring for their child Fathers often develop a stronger bond once their baby is more interactive Fathers can struggle with their own big feelings that arise frequently in their role as parents, like despair, frustration and anger Fathers might need to buffer wider family stressors Fathers may have to support their partners and / or their own mental health while adjusting to parenthood
Your partner may resent you for things like: A lways suggesting the baby needs a feed when they cry G oing to work - being able to go to the toilet on your own, consume hot beverages and converse with other adults F or sleeping F or being able to escape the house without being tied to the baby I f you come home a minute late I f you ask “what did you do all day?
HELP ONLINE:
Childbirth education for dads at the pub beerandbubs.com.au Perinatal Anxiety and Depression Australia (PANDA) panda.org.au Beyond Blue Healthyfamilies.beyondblue.org Gidget Foundation gidgetfoundation.org.au Centre of Perinatal Excellence cope.org.au MensLine Australia mensline.org.au
hannabeavenpsychology.com.au 3/262 Magill Road, Beulah Park / 28 I M A G E — Karen Kleiman and Molly McIntyre
H E A LTH
Check in with a new DAD!
Bla shki
Mental health is an important topic of discussion whether it’s for women, men or children, and here at KIDDO we love that the lines of conversation around mental health are being opened and the stigma is lessening. We talk to Dr Grant Blashki, Lead Clinical Adviser for Beyond Blue about mental health for new dads.
Fathers are more hands on than ever before. Has this had a positive or negative impact on their mental health?
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Dr Grant Blashki is a practicing GP, the Lead Clinical Advisor for Beyond Blue, and has published numerous books and research Dr papers about mental health. WO R D S — He is an active commentator in media and has given hundreds of public presentations. As the father of three grown-up children, he is committed to helping new dads traverse that exciting, and sometimes daunting, transition to fatherhood.
What are the main challenges that face the “modern father” in society today? The very notion of being a father has evolved and morphed in recent decades, mostly for good. In my clinic, I see so many young fathers who are engaged with their children on a daily basis. In times past, this was rare, however these changes in roles have also brought their own pressures. For instance, social media is a relatively new phenomenon that can increase the pressure to be the perfect parent, which often paints a false representation of what parents should experience day to day.
"Being involved and engaged with the raising of their children is an overwhelmingly positive thing for fathers. It promotes strong emotional connections with their child and it can really boost the dad’s sense of purpose."
What are the main reasons that men will struggle when becoming a new father? Because men don’t experience all the physical changes of pregnancy and giving birth, they may not begin to feel like a dad until after the baby is born.
What are some recommendations to get help if someone is struggling with their mental health? Talk to someone you trust about how you’re feeling. Your GP is a great place to start, they can help find the right support for you. For soon-to-be dads, it may be helpful for you to take some time to think about how you’ve reacted to the news and talk it through with your partner. What are you worried about? What are you excited about? The main message is, talk about how you’re feeling, don’t just dwell on it by yourself. Mental health professionals are available 24/7 at the Beyond Blue Support Service on 1300 22 4636. Web chat is also available 3pm until midnight AEST at beyondblue.org.au/ getsupport The Beyond Blue website has resources for new dads including Dadvice, and some excellent videos from the fathers discussing how they manage some of the challenges.
"Becoming a dad is a big change. Some main ways men can struggle include the pressure to be a ‘good parent’, relationship stress with their partner, worrying they won’t love their new baby and difficulty getting enough sleep."
tips for keeping well as a new dad
It’s great that dads are becoming more and more hands-on in raising their kids, we’re gradually seeing traditional gender roles for parenting soften and this stands to benefit everyone. There’s still some way to go in these changing roles being more accepted in society, but we’re moving in the right direction.
These adjustments come with stress which, when it builds up, can put your mental health at risk. In fact, depression affects one in 10 dads between the first trimester and the year after the baby’s birth. Anxiety conditions affect one in six dads during the pregnancy and one in five in the postnatal period.
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Some dads today feel the stress of trying to ‘have it all’, balancing their career ambitions and being an involved parent at the same time. Which is why it’s great to see workplaces becoming more supportive than in the past with parental leave arrangements, relieving some of the pressure on mums and dads.
However, awareness about men’s experience of PNDA is low, with 45 per cent of fathers not aware that men can have postnatal depression and 43 per cent of first-time fathers see anxiety and depression after having a baby as a sign of weakness.
Some dads are feeling the pressure from society to still fill the traditional role of ‘the bread winner’ as well as being a hands-on father and struggling to juggle both roles. My impression is also that for many young men who are about to be fathers, there is a sense of “how can I be a father? I haven’t really got myself worked out yet.”
How has the evolution of a father’s role changed the pressures on fathers these days?
1. Talk to your partner about how you’re both feeling 2. Reach out to other dads/ parent groups – Beyond Blue forums might be useful
If you need help, see your GP and maybe undertake a GP Mental Health Plan 4. Try not to forget the small stuff – drink enough water and eat well If you or someone you know is struggling with feelings of depression and loneliness reach out beyondblue.org.au
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PRO F I LE
Lighthouse Youth Projects striving to give every child the chance to be amazing WORDS — Liv Williams Co-founders of Lighthouse Youth Projects, Jamie Moore and Ryan Lloyd share a longstanding love of BMX and cycling, borne of a lifetime spent riding trails, tackling jumps, performing tricks and forming lasting friendships through a love of bikes. With a wealth of industry experience behind them and a passion for living life to the fullest, these two dads harnessed their mutual love of riding and the benefits and life skills it can bring, and created Lighthouse Youth Projects. The registered charity, volunteer supported, not-for profit organisation was founded with the vision to inspire disadvantaged young people, supporting them into positive pathways through bicyclebased mentoring and life skills programs. We chat with Jamie about the inspiration behind Lighthouse, and how they’re helping disadvantaged young people in our state and beyond. /// Tell us about Lighthouse Youth Projects. What inspired you to start a not-for-profit directed at helping young people? Ryan and I set up Lighthouse Youth Projects with the vision to give every child in Australia, regardless of their disadvantage, the opportunity to ride a bike with someone passionate enough to care, willing to see their potential and to encourage them to make a change for the better. I met Ryan, who is one of Australia’s best freestyle riders, while I was running a bike distribution business. We started riding together, with Ryan in a sponsored role and myself as an advocate. In 2013, Ryan broke his back overshooting a BMX jump and around the same time, my business failed. For both of us, these life changing events prompted us to really work out what mattered most. Both having a wealth of experience riding bikes, we wanted to share that with people; we wanted to create something that would enable us to pass on this love of riding and its many benefits, to the next generation of young people, particularly those with a background of disadvantage.
“So many young lives are wasted and if someone doesn’t step in and try to help, then everybody loses, not just the child” As soon as we started working in the juvenile justice system, I truly realised that so many young lives are wasted and if someone doesn’t step in and try to help, then everybody loses, not just the child. / 30
/// Can you tell us what positive benefits bike riding has, and how your work helps disadvantaged kids? We believe that bicycles can change lives and be a springboard to a new, positive way of living. Riding is something that most people seem to enjoy, and a lot of people probably take the physical ability to actually ride a bike for granted. It’s not uncommon for the kids we work with to have never ridden before, or to have never had someone in their lives who was willing or able to teach them to ride a bike. Riding is the most efficient way a human can move across the earth under their own power so it’s a very effective metaphor to show positive change and encourage good habits too. /// Can you tell us about the programs Lighthouse offers? We are lead contractors in two federally funded programs, Cycle of Change and RIDE, which have successfully targeted youth unemployment by way of bicycle-based mentoring. These programs run every day of the week in both South Australia and Tasmania. We also run an ongoing ‘Behind Bars’ program, working with young people who have become involved with the juvenile justice system. This involves school holiday mentoring and programs to help the residents adapt better once they are on the outside, with an aim to help these kids in accessing opportunities to participate productively in the community. We also facilitate Concrete Sessions at Oaklands skate park every fortnight. These are open to the general public, bikes and helmets are available to borrow free of charge, and we welcome people to come down, have a warm meal and hang out in a stress-free environment. /// Can you share some success stories about kids you’ve worked with? Seeing a young man called Ben from Munno Para finally start to ride on his own after persevering and trying so hard but with limited success, was simply amazing; the look on his face is something I will never forget. Another story that springs to mind is a young person we worked with, Dale, who came to us in Cycle of Change with no idea whatsoever about "what to do with his life". After working and riding with him for a year, he graduated the Cycle of Change program and started an apprenticeship with Aldom Motor Body Builders. He always texts me the photos of what he is working on, and this type of connection is just so rewarding for all of us.
/// What are your personal highlights over your time mentoring disadvantaged kids? There are so many, to be honest, it's hard to pick! I think one of the best things I can be involved in is seeing someone ride a bike on their own for the first time. It never gets old and we know that for them, the adventure is just about to start! Also seeing someone who has been involved in the juvenile justice system making a positive change and being released. For me, that’s a moment when I think "well, someone didn't give up on that kid, and that might have been the only time that's ever happened". /// What’s coming up for Lighthouse? This year we started delivering our RIDE program in Tasmania, so for us working in another state is pretty exciting. We will also be doing a lot more Get Stoked! riding sessions across SA and TAS and that's a great way we can connect and ride with more disadvantaged kids, hopefully spreading a positive message along the way. /// How can people get involved and help out with Lighthouse Youth Projects? As a volunteer driven organisation, the more hands on deck, the more opportunity we have to help as many kids as possible. We are always eager to hear from skilled professionals in their field who could have an integral role in helping us to help others. We encourage people to visit our website and fill out the volunteer form, and we’ll get in touch!
Want to help? Lighthouse Youth Projects are always on the lookout for donations of second hand, usable mountain bikes or BMX bikes for their programs. Please contact Jamie and Ryan via the LYP website if you have something you’d like to donate! lighthouseyp.org @lighthouseyouthprojects
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Beef, Beer and Bacon Pie
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What more could your Dad, Step-Dad, Grandpa or favourite Uncle want for lunch on Father’s Day? This do-ahead pie has it all! The cooking process evaporates the alcohol in the beer so it’s safe for children to eat. Most casseroles tell you to brown the meat first but this is a chuck-it-allin-and-cross-yourfingers kind of recipe, who's got time for browning meat anyway? Enjoy!
Ingredients (Serves 6-8)
Pie • 1 teaspoon olive oil • 2 brown onions, diced • 4 cloves crushed garlic • 250g streaky bacon, diced • 2kg chuck steak, diced • 2 carrots, diced (optional) • 1 cup tomato passata or crushed tinned tomatoes • 375mls Coopers Pale Ale or your beer of choice • 1 cup chicken or beef stock, salt reduced • Bay leaves and sprigs of fresh thyme
Mashed potato topping • 800g white potatoes • 40g butter, cubed • 1/2 cup warm milk • 50g grated parmesan cheese, extra to sprinkle
Method 1. Preheat oven to 150 degrees celsius. 2. In a large ovenproof casserole pot, brown diced bacon in olive oil until crispy, remove from pot using a slotted spoon and put aside. Next, brown off onions in left over bacon fat with a pinch of salt until soft and translucent. Add crushed garlic for the last minute. 3. Return bacon to pot along with beef, tomato passata, beer, stock, bay leaves and thyme. If using, the carrot can also be added at this stage. Season with black pepper, don't add any more salt until the end, it may not need any after the sauce is reduced. 4. Stir all ingredients together and wrap pot tightly with foil, or cover with a well fitted lid. Bake in the oven for 2.5-3 hours or until meat is tender and almost falling apart. Remove meat from pot using a slotted spoon and put aside, reduce sauce that is left until it is thick enough to cover the back of a spoon. Check seasoning then return meat to pot and stir to combine.
5. Meanwhile, for the mash, peel potatoes, cut into 1/4’s and place in a saucepan of cold salted water. Bring to the boil and cook until soft in the middle. Drain well, return to pot and mash with butter. Next add warm milk and grated parmesan, stir to combine, but do not over mix. Check seasoning and add salt and pepper if needed. 6. Increase oven temperature to 200 degrees celsius. Place generous scoops of mash on top of beef mix in pot, sprinkle top with extra parmesan and bake for 10-15 minutes or until golden. 7. As you place the assembled pie in the oven also pop in kale leaves, tossed in olive oil, sprinkled with salt and pepper and placed in a single layer on a lined baking tray. These will also take 10-15 minutes. 8. This pie can be made in advance and reheated as needed. After topping beef mix with mash, place in fridge and then follow recipe as per instructions. It will take about 45 minutes if the pie has been in the fridge. The kale chips are best cooked just before serving.
Kale Chips • 1 bunch of kale, stalks removed, chopped into 5cm wedges • 1 tablespoon olive oil • Salt and pepper
Annabel Bower graduated from the world renowned Ballymaloe Cookery School in Ireland seventeen years ago. Annabel has since worked in events and catering and her present focus is on recipe development and food styling. As a mum of three and a passionate foodie, Annabel spends most of her time in the kitchen! Her favourite people to cook for are friends and family and even though like all children, her kids won’t eat everything she cooks, she is determined to keep trying and happily share a few of her fail-safe, crowd-pleasing recipes with you! @foodbyannabel foodbyannabel.com.au
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REVI E WS
well read
A selection of new release books - for you - and your little people to enjoy. A WOMAN LIKE HER. THE SHORT LIFE OF QANDEEL BALOCH By Sanam Maher
A beautiful woman in winged eyeliner and a low-cut top lies on a bed urging her favourite cricketer to win the next match. In another post, she pouts at the camera from a hot tub. She posts a selfie with a cleric, wearing his cap at a jaunty angle. Her posts are viewed millions of times and the comments beneath them are full of hate. As her notoriety grows, the comments made about her on national talk shows are just as vitriolic. They call her Pakistan's Kim Kardashian, they say she'll do anything for attention. When she's murdered, they're transfixed by the footage of her body.
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MINDFUL MONEY By Canna Campbell
ABOUT A GIRL By Rebekah Robertson
Canna Campbell is an experienced financial planner, and also a mother, partner and entrepreneur. She understands the challenge of trying to maintain balance and motivation when you’re time-poor, and she’s used this experience to develop an inspirational and effective approach to personal finance management.
In 2000, Rebekah gave birth to twin boys, George and Harry. But as they grew older, their preferences began to show, and by the age of three it was clear Georgie was drawn to anything that was pretty or had a skirt that could swirl. Before long Georgie was insisting that she was a girl and became distressed that she had to hide who she really was when she began school. Soon, the bullying started and she would come home in floods of tears, begging her mother to help her.
Penguin $34.99 THE TESTAMENTS By Margaret Atwood
When the van door slammed on Offred’s future at the end of The Handmaid’s Tale, readers had no way of telling what lay ahead. With The Testaments, the wait is over. Margaret Atwood’s sequel picks up the story 15 years after Offred stepped into the unknown, with the explosive testaments of three female narrators from Gilead.
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Penguin Books 42.99
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ARGH! THERE'S A SKELETON INSIDE YOU!
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AN ABC OF EQUALITY By Chana Ewing, Paulina Morgan
From A to Z, simple explanations accompanied by engaging artwork teach children about the world we live in and how to navigate our way through it. Each right hand page includes a brightly decorated letter with the word it stands for and an encouraging slogan. On the left, a colorful illustration and bitesize text sum up the concept. Cheerful people from a range of backgrounds, ethnicities, and abilities lead the way through the alphabet
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Quog and Oort are on their way to Kevin's birthday party. Unfortunately, there's been a slight detour. Their spaceship has crash-landed, if only someone could lend them a hand. A highly entertaining and interactive picture book about two party-going aliens that also explores the scientific concept of biomechanics and the anatomy of the human hand.Wide Eyed Editions.
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Aya is eleven years old and has just arrived in Britain seeking asylum from the war in Syria. In a local ballet class, a teacher spots Aya’s talent and believes she has the potential to earn a prestigious scholarship. But, Aya and her family must fight to remain in the country, and find Aya's father separated from them during the journey from Syria. With wonderfully authentic ballet detail and an important message championing the rights of refugees, this is classic storytelling filled with warmth, hope and humanity. $14.99 Allen And Unwin / 32
Viking $34.99
$17.99 Allen And Unwin
By Idan Ben-Barak and Julian Frost
NO BALLET SHOES IN SYRIA By Catherine Bruton
Finally, we are starting to talk about this epidemic of gendered violence, but too often we are doing so in a way that can be clumsy and harmful. Victim blaming, passive voice and over-identification with abusers continue to be hallmarks of reporting on this issue. And, with newsrooms drastically cutting staff and resources, and new business models driven by rapid churn, the 24 hour news cycle journalists and editors often don't have the time or resources to bring new ways of thinking into their newsrooms. Viking $34.99
Bloomsbury $29.99
$19.99 Allen And Unwin
FIXED IT By Jane Gilmore
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5 WILD SHAPES By Camilla Falsini
This innovative board book uses a series of colourful spreads with sliding discs to introduce basic shapes. Young readers can look at the animals in each scene, listen to the gently rhyming text and trace their fingers over the nature-inspired shapes. Robust and fun, it is perfect for encouraging a lively, interactive reading experience and developing motor skills. Words & Pictures. RRP $18.99
THE MONSTOR WHO WASN'T By T.C. Shirly
This is the story of a creature who is both strange and unique. When he hatches down in the vast underground lair where monsters dwell, he looks just like a human boy – much to the disgust of everyone watching. Even the grumpy gargoyles who adopt him and nickname him 'Imp' only want him to steal chocolate for them from the nearby shops. He's a child with feet in both worlds, and he doesn't know where he fits. Bloomsburry Publishing, $14.99
REVIE WS
LISTEN /// No Filter Podcast. Anxiety: A Guide. May 20 episode Seeing as we’re already wading around, knee deep in the messy, unpredictable quagmire of my inner psyche in this Mum Words, let’s talk about anxiety. I don’t usually recommend a specific podcast episode, but I’m making an exception for this one, because it’s a goody.
DO /// Heysen Trail Walk to the Bridgewater Fairy Garden There are fairies living in the Adelaide Hills and I’m not even kidding. I’ve seen them. If you’re looking for a nice family outing, head to Bridgewater and follow the Heysen Trail from the Mill, towards Deanery Reserve, where you may just stumble on a little fairy village in the woods. Sadly, word on the street tells me that a few years ago this village was a lot bigger but has suffered at the hands of vandals, causing many fairies to move on to more secret locations. We visited in June however, and it looked as though some of the little sprites are slowly finding the courage to move back. If we work together, we could perhaps encourage more to return by leaving them some small gifts for them to add to their gardens! By the by, it’s a lovely family walk, with a little magic for good measure, and I can personally confirm the sausage rolls at The Little Cog on Mill Road near the Bridgewater playground are ace. Bridgewater Fairy Garden Deanery Reserve, Old Mount Barker Road, Bridgewater
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$34.99 Penguin Books
W i l li a m Liv s
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Olivia Williams is a twin mum + 1, wordsmith, competitive coffee drinker and professional reality TV enthusiast. Her favourite party trick is not going. You can also find her at
bodyimagemovement.com
One in four adults suffer from anxiety, and yet two in five people believe the condition is not a treatable mental illness. In this episode of Mamamia’s No Filter podcast, Mia Freedman is joined by the founder of the Sydney Anxiety Clinic, to look at how anxiety presents itself, the causes, and what sufferers can do to treat it. Obviously, this is not a substitute for going and seeking professional help, but I found this a really relatable listen on the subject of anxiety, recognising and being aware of unhelpful thought processes and identifying the complex relationship we have with our own thoughts.
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You know who’s an awesome dad? Chris Hemsworth. Because Instagram says it’s so and I am not above spending hours trawling through photos of him shirtless, as research. And wouldn’t you know it, there is indeed plenty of evidence of C.Dawg being the internet’s favourite father; hand making dinosaur birthday cakes looking hot, running superhero camp from his living room looking…super hot. Anyway… not even sure where I was going with this, I just became really distracted, but it’s safe to say that yes Chris is indeed exceptionally good looking and is also a father. That fact however, doesn’t pay tribute to all the dads out there who are also amazing men, exceptional fathers and probably fine to look at, so guys, I salute you all! May your Father’s Day be better than your jokes! (And also... mine at this point).
READ /// Embrace Yourself Taryn Brumfitt Like many women, I have more issues than Vogue when it comes to my body image, and frankly, I thought by the ripe old age of 37 I’d be over this malarkey. You may have read my interview with Taryn Brumfitt, founder of the Body Image Movement, in the last issue. I left that conversation wishing I could bottle some of her enthusiasm and passion for loving the skin you’re in, and drink some every day, which sounds way creepier when I read it back to myself, but OK. Reading Embrace Yourself and keeping it on my bedside table is about as close as I’ve been able to get to having my own Taryn that I can carry around with me whispering positive affirmations in my ear when I accidentally see my own reflection in a store window. Embrace Yourself is your how-to guide to loving your body, aimed squarely at ending the ongoing war we have with how we look. If you’ve ever inched towards the water’s edge at the beach, with your towel around your waist, before hurling yourself into the freezing water in a torturous half a second, desperate modesty plunge so that no one on the beach could see you in your bathers, pick up a copy.
Jake Dean is a writer, surfer and bibliophile who sometimes blames his farts on his two-year-old son. @jakejdean
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G’day, fellas. A dad-themed issue, hey – rejoice! Unfortunately, I’m light on dadthemed reviews, but fear not. Here are some hot tips to get you through the last few woolly weeks of winter. Bring on the footy finals and spring swells, I say.
READ /// DYSCHRONIA – By Jennifer Mills Can you imagine waking up one morning to discover the sea has disappeared? Imagine the smell of what’s left behind. SA writer Jennifer Mills takes us to a small coastal town that’s grappling with just that in this foreboding dystopic novel. Switching between the future and the past, we learn of the town’s troubled history at the hands of a huge corporation and we glean hints about similar catastrophes afflicting towns nationwide. The one constant is the visions experienced by one of the townsfolk, Sam, which seem to predict the future. But can they be trusted? If you’re at all concerned about climate change and government inaction on the environment, this book might give you chills. Either way, it’ll definitely leave you spellbound.
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WATCH /// ALONG CAME A SPIDER It’s scientifically proven (no source) that shitty 1990s crime thrillers are the easiest films to watch when you don’t feel like thinking. I’ll allow Along Came a Spider (2001) in this list because it’s the sequel to 1997 classic Kiss the Girls, and barely a thing has changed. Morgan Freeman reprises his role as a detective forensic psychologist, who’s hunting the kidnapper of a US senator’s daughter. I can’t confirm there’s any original thought in this movie, but it’s super fun watching hackneyed scenes like when the villain is double-crossed and killed by the other villain, who you thought was on that guy’s team, only for another villain to double-cross and kill that villain. Like I said, don’t think too hard about it [shrugging emoji]. Netflix.com
Available from booktopia.com.au, $24.75
READ /// GOOD MORNING, CHICK – By Mirra Ginsburg Picked up this baby for 50 cents at an op-shop recently and it’s moved to the top of my son’s nightly rotation. Good Morning, Chick (1989) opens with a chick emerging from its egg and navigating life on a busy farm under the watchful eye of its mum, Speckled Hen. The chick experiences trials in the form of a nasty black cat, its attempt to crow like a rooster, and a wise old frog, but ultimately, it’s a story about the love between the chick and its mum. I can’t remember having read a kids’ book so colourfully illustrated, which should capture any real-young tacker’s attention. Available from Dymocks $14.99
DO /// Freycinet National Park, Tasmania I said there wouldn’t be any dad reviews here, but what the heck. I snuck off to Tasmania for five days on the cusp of winter with just one of my best mates from interstate, who also has a small human at home, and it’s one of the most restorative trips I’ve done. While initially sceptical because we weren’t bringing surfboards, I soon became a believer thanks to the sheer beauty of Freycinet National Park (three hours’ drive from Hobart – Google “Wineglass Bay”), and the tranquil beaches and rugged forest it boasts. We did a hike, which was epic, but if you’re not so inclined you could just as easily post up at a single campsite with a heavily stocked esky. Five-star boys trip material. discovertasmania.com.au / 33
KI D D O C ORN E R
diy junk masks BY MINI MAD THINGS At MINI MAD THINGS we love to create crafty fun using simple household objects, recycling or found natural materials. Introducing The Egg-sons, a crazy bunch of eggheads created using only egg cartons, paint, paper and a bit of glue. Happy crafting everyone!
you will need: • Egg cartons • Coloured paper • Poster paint • PVA glue (or hot glue) • Scissors.
For us at MINI MAD THINGS, it’s all about play. We design and make a fun range of kid’s fancy dress costumes and accessories to encourage imaginative play. Ethically handcrafted in Nepal, or hand made in our Australian workshop, every MINI MAD costume is produced with care. We also have a kid’s craft blog and run pop up craft events. All our craft projects are simple, fun and designed to inspire creative fun with your little ones. Our aim is to help children see the magic in the world and to be part of it, engage with it and belong to it. What’s the rush to grow up?
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Cut out your head shapes from the egg carton lids.
Cut out different facial features; think eyes, noses, mouths, eyebrows, moustaches and maybe even tongues! For little ones you may need to cut the egg cartons for them as they can be a bit tricky, older kids can have a go themselves.
Let the kids arrange their funny faces and begin gluing. PVA glue works well but takes a while to dry, if you don’t want to wait for drying help your little ones out with using a hot glue gun.
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Now get messy with paint and decorate your faces. We only had bright neon colour paints so we painted ours crazy colours but you could go with more natural colours, just use what you have on hand.
Cut some scrap pieces of paper to decorate your faces, we made some hair, eyelashes and patterns for ours. Stick your paper decorations in place
Your funny egg carton faces are finished!
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For more craft ideas, costumes, jewelery and accessories head to minimadthings.com and follow @minimadthings
kiddo corner! BTS with BTN
did you know… BTN just celebrated its 51st birthday! It’s the third longest running national TV show in Australian history and it’s all made in Adelaide! #alllthebestthingscomefromSA
Amelia Moseley reporting for KIDDO Mag!
the space race You probably know a thing or two about the moon landing, right? Like these famous words spoken by NASA astronaut, Neil Armstrong, when he first set foot on the rocky surface: “It’s one small step for man. One giant leap for mankind.” But, did you know the whole moon landing thing started with a race? Actually, it sort of started with a round, silver ball thingy called Sputnik 1. It was Earth’s first ever man-made satellite and it was launched in 1957 by the Soviet Union The Soviet Union doesn’t exist anymore, but it was a collection of states that all lived by a set of ideas and rules known as communism. The biggest Soviet Union state was Russia and it did not get along with the United States. In fact, the two countries were in the middle of a war. The Cold War.
KIDDO CO RN E R
the two countries began racing to shoot more stuff into space! They sent fruit flies, mice, monkeys and even dogs! Eventually they sent a much bigger animal; a human (more precisely, a Russian man named Yuri Gagarin). He became the first person to reach space in 1961!
WATCH OUT FOR… Me at The Dish in Parkes NSW! Bringing you a very special episode of BTN to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the moon landing. LISTEN TO... Spirit (From Disney’s “The Lion King”) - Beyoncé DO... Head to the Royal Adelaide Show and visit the ABC Photobooth to take a snap in the BTN studio with me and Jack!
But, the race wasn’t over yet. Shortly after that, the US President at the time, John F Kennedy, set the seemingly impossible goal of landing a man on the Moon by the end of the decade. The Russians took that as a challenge to see who could do it first. Putting a man on the moon wasn’t going to be easy. After all, it was the 1960s. There was no internet and computers were about as powerful as a calculator! But that didn’t stop NASA. It got to work creating the Apollo program. It didn't start well.
After years of training and preparation, Michael Collins, Buzz Aldrin, and Neil Armstrong crammed inside a command module on top of the world's biggest rocket and blasted into space. It took three days to get to the moon, before Aldrin and Armstrong landed their craft on the surface. "The Eagle has landed!” They'd done it! And what's more - they managed to get safely home again, returning as heroes to a world that would never be the same.
It was called ‘cold’ because the two countries never actually fought each other directly.
There was even a terrible accident during a test that killed the crew of Apollo 1.
What they were doing was stockpiling weapons. That made things pretty tense.
But they kept going.
Find out more at abc.net.au/btn
And by 1968, NASA sent astronauts to orbit the moon.
BTN @10am Tues on ABCMe & Newsbreak @6.25pm Mon-Fri
Then, a year later, they were ready for the main event, Apollo 11.
@behindthenews
So, when the Soviet Union successfully sent Sputnik up into space, America wasn’t too happy. The US government decided to create NASA and
top pet!
KIDDO FLICKS LION KI NG RE VI E W
to the throne and is now bumped off the lineage. Well, we’ll soon see about that! Based on the cartoon classic from 1994, it stays true to the original animation – but now everything looks crazy real. The CGI is off the chart. And I mean EPIC! The graphics look so good that your brain can’t quite work out if it’s real or animation or both or neither. WHOA!
WORDS — Xavier Stewart, age 15 The future king of Pride Rock is born and Young Simba (JD McCrary) is presented to the other animals by his father, King Mufasa (James Earl Jones). But not everyone in the kingdom celebrates the new cub's arrival. Scar (Chiwetel Ejiofor), our catty villain and brother of Mufasa is the former heir
The humour is on point and I especially loved Seth Rogen and Billy Eichner as Timon and Pumbaa. They’ve got some new dialogue too, which was really funny and totally hit the spot.
I give it 4 out of 5
Our August TOP Pet winner is Captain The Turtle! Mila and Eva have won a
Mila, Eva
$50 Burnside Village gift voucher.
& Captain
Mila and Eva Cenin, 8 and 5 years NAME: Captain the turtle, Age: 4 years LIKES: Bloodworms, digging pebbles DISLIKES: Shallow water, any other animal
Now screening at palacenova.com.au
If you have an adorable pet and would like to be featured in KIDDO Mag, send us a pic to hello@kiddomag.com.au
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kiddo corner!
VIEWS E R K O O B R N J
Malamander by Thomas Taylor
The Grand Nautilus Hotel stands in the centre at the beachfront of Eerie-on-Sea. Inside, Herbert Lemon, a young boy, works as the Lost-and-Founder, the person in charge of lost property. One day, a girl named Violet Parma crashes in through the window of Herbert Lemon’s room. Violet needs Herbert’s help to find her missing parents. They go to the Eerie book dispensary, where the mechanical monkey gives Violet a book on the Malamander, Eerie-on-Sea’s local legend. Violet knows that her Dad once studied the Malamander, and that the egg of the Malamander could help her find her parents. Violet drags Herbert into an adventure, including crossing the dangerous Malamander’s path. Malamander was one of the best books I’ve ever read. I could really imagine the characters, and fall into the story. I liked it so much because of the detailed and descriptive writing, and the amazing plot and twists.
We b b
I rate it 5/5 and would recommend it to anyone aged 9+ who likes books filled with adventure, fantasy and mystery.
This is an outstanding book about friendships, finding your identity and feeling like you belong. I enjoyed reading it because of the interesting and detailed story line that is so relevant to today. “A rich, patient story about a teen girl who craves family and an understanding of her roots after suffering a tragic loss.”- Publishers Weekly I rate this book 4/5 stars Available at Dymocks Hyde Park $17.99
WO R D S
MEET THIS MONTH'S MAKER
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WO R D S
Fifteen-year-old inventor, Joel Ransom has created a better way to treat Sever’s disease, which is a common cause of heel pain, particularly in young and active people. Joel was inspired to invent an easier way to treat the disease, which he used to suffer from, and which would limit him to applying ice to his heels while sitting on the couch only and restricted his activity. “I invented a product called ‘I-SicHeels’ – it’s a foot treatment for Sever’s disease that allows you to ice your foot while multi-tasking.”
“My product is a little heel raiser and when you snap it, it turns cold, so you’re able to slip it into your shoe – that way you can ice your foot while you’re walking the dog or doing your shopping.”
N A M E : Joel Ransom AG E : 15 PASS I O N : Inventing
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$17.99 Dymocks Hyde Park
After Emma Saylor’s mother passes away when Emma is young, Emma and her dad lose contact with her mother’s family. So when 17-year-old Emma has to spend the summer with her forgotten family in North Lake where here mum grew up, she meets cousins, aunts, grandparents and family she never knew existed. Then she meets Roo again, the boy who she was best friends with when they were both younger. With the help of Roo and her cousins, Emma digs deeper into her family’s history to find out more about her mother. To her dad, she is Emma, but to her cousins and North Lake she is a Saylor, and the more time she spends at North Lake, the more divided she feels. When the summer ends, she will have to choose who she wants to be.
S chwa r z
In Summer, Cheerie-On–Sea is a normal seaside town fit for holidays. In Winter, the C and H fall off the sign and it becomes Eerie-on-Sea; a place full of mystery and adventure.
The Rest of the Story – Sarah Dessen By Renee Treml
l da
KI D D O C ORN E R
Joel was a finalist in the innovation category of the SA Young Achiever Awards and is hoping to turn his ‘I-Sic-Heels’ prototype into a commercial product. However, he needs funding to take his invention to the next level. Message @getaroundit_ sa if you can help!
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Get Around It is an initiative by the Commissioner for Children and Young People designed to showcase 14 to 22 year old South Australian thinkers, makers and doers. Over time it will become a ‘talent bank’ showcasing young South Australians who are making an impact, but in ways that are less wellknown. The Get Around It talent bank is exhibited via a dedicated Instagram account (@getaroundit_sa) and a portable pop-up clothesline that travels to special events around Adelaide and South Australia to showcase young people in a unique on-the-line way! Follow @getaroundit_sa on Instagram and see what young South Australians are making, thinking and doing in their own backyard. Or, why not nominate yourself or a young person you know who you think would make a great addition to the Get Around It showcase? Send us a message via Instagram or email CommissionerCYP@sa.gov.au today!
MOVIE BIRTHDAY
PARTIES PA L A C E N O VA P R O S P E C T
Choose from our new release lms for your ver y own private cinema par ty!
Lightly dimmed cinema & easy pram access 98 PROSPEC T RD, PROSPEC T PH: 08 8125 9313
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For more information email our sales team: events@palacenova.com Th i n g s I l i ke m o re t h a n Pa l a ce N ova . O h r i g h t, n o t h i n g… . W W W. PA L A C E N O VA . C O M . A U
KIDDO CO RN E R
KIDS LOLS We all know that dads love jokes, share some of these LOL’s with him on Father's Day! Q: What do you call a
Q: Why did the tomato blush?
dinosaur that crashes his car?
A: Because it saw the
A: Tyrannosaurus Wrecks.
salad dressing.
Q: Why was the sand wet?
Q: What do you call cheese
A: Because the sea
that’s not your cheese?
weed.
A: Nacho cheese.
Q: Which hand is better to write with? A: Neither, it’s better to write with a pen.
Send your lols to hello@kiddomag.com
#dadjoke
SPOT THE DIFFERENCE Find 11 differences in the scenes below
I L L U S T R AT I O N S — Jana from @wordfindersclub
range of children’s huge r u Come i o cational books n and see ! of edu literature, a wide range 147 King William Rd, Unley SA 5061 (08) 8271 8514 OPEN 7 DAYS A WEEK
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C L ASSI FI E DS
Shout Out! Are you a local business with a small budget but a big message? Get in contact to find out about our affordable DIGITAL + PRINT advertising packages, starting from $220+gst.
Sunday 2 5 August
hello@kiddomag.com.au
down If you go today o o to the z for a you’re in ! N U F lot of
We’ve moved to Holmesdale Tennis Club in St Morris!
25
FRI DAY
OCT
supported by HomeStart Finance
dare for Join us if you sc are! a Halloween
events visit For more details and/event adelaidezoo.com.au
THE FLU CAN HIT ANYONE, ANYWHERE. PROTECT YOUR FAMILY FREE FLU SHOTS FOR KIDS 6 MONTHS UP TO 5 YEARS For all ANZ Hot Shots tennis and private coaching contact Didi Paronis E:info@littletennisstars.com.au
P:0405 419 252
littletennisstars.com.au
Get up close and personal with our friendly farm animals, these school holidays! / 38
2282 Mount Barker Rd, Hahndorf (2kms past Beerenberg Strawberry Farm) 8388 7289
farmbarn.com.au
sahealth.sa.gov.au/flu
REVIE WS
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REVI E WS
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