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parenting publication
NOVEMBER 2014 VOL 9 NO. 11
Be your child’s tutor
Finding the best quality child care
How to avoid the antibiotic roller-coaster
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november 2014
aussie kids parenting publication is a monthly
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articles
04 be your child’s tutor
05 the importance of volunteering
06 when your child learns differently
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10 education
08 finding the best quality child care
14 how to get off or avoid the antibiotic
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roller-coaster
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17 found: imagination in night shadows
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www.aussiekids.net.au November 2014 3
Be Your Child’s Tutor
Assess the problem areas
Begin by assessing the areas and subjects
your child is having difficulty with. Is your
child struggling with reading or maths
concepts? Is he working too slowly
and unable to complete tasks? Are his
comprehension skills good but organisational
skills in need of work? Analyze what some
of the trouble areas are so you can set up a
plan on how to help your child succeed.
Talk to his teacher
oc
Your primary school child is struggling
in school and the teacher has suggested
you hire a tutor. While a tutor can be an
enlightening experience, having one can also
be expensive and the time a tutor spends
with your child is limited. Instead, consider
tutoring your child yourself with the subjects
Set up a meeting with your child’s teacher to
get her view on what your child’s strengths
and weaknesses are in academics. Maybe
your child is distracted easily and cannot
concentrate in class. Or your child may learn
better by interacting and touching rather
than reading long chapters. Getting a second
opinion will help lead you in the right
direction to help your child.
Also, for specific subjects your child is
having trouble with, ask the teacher for a
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copy of the curriculum so you can help
supplement it at home. Ask for copies of any
worksheets or workbooks that the teacher
has that may help you work with your child.
It might be your child only needs a little
extra work in these areas to master them.
Get materials
Depending upon the subject your child
is struggling with, purchase or borrow
learning tools such as workbooks, flashcards,
and games. You can buy these at almost
any bookstore or borrow them from the
school or local library. Work together with
your child using these materials to help build
on the skills he already knows and to learn
new ones.
Organise your time together
Put aside time each day to help your child
with his current homework on the problem
subjects and to work with him on additional
materials to help supplement what he is
learning. Start with only a few concepts and
build on those as the days and weeks go
by. Don’t overwhelm your child with too
much extra work or concepts because this
will only frustrate him. Learning a little extra
each day will help to build on what he is
doing in school so he can catch up with the
other children.
If organisation or stress over timed tests are
your child’s big roadblocks try teaching your
child better ways to organise his time or
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relaxation techniques for stress. Sometimes
a perfectly good student can lapse because
of one of these issues, so it’s important to
teach them the skills they need to conquer
these problems.
Be Internet savvy
There are many sites on the Internet that
offer ideas for lessons for all subjects and
year levels. They have free worksheets,
word search puzzles you create yourself,
handwriting worksheets, reading
comprehension tests and even flash cards
you can print plus much more. These are
great tools because you can create materials
to suit your child’s needs. Try abcteach.com
or atozteacherstuff.com
There are also interactive learning sites your
child can use. These have learning games for
all age levels in a variety of subjects, puzzles
that you can put together, Sudoku, mazes,
word search puzzles and much more.
Try funbrain.com or primarygames.com
Be patient and have fun exploring these
subjects with your child. Often, as parents,
we expect to see results instantly but that
isn’t always the case. The important thing
is for your child to try to catch up and
keep up with his class and age level. Some
subjects may always frustrate your child but
it is comforting for him to know that you are
there and willing to help him when the times
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Consider tutoring your
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The importance of
VOLUNTEERING
at your child’s school
In many regions, the public school system
is overloaded. If one compares the number
of children per class 10 years ago to the
number of children per class today, one
would see that the head count has vastly
increased. At the same time budget cuts
have reduced the amount of staff and
resources available. That is why it is very
important for parents to take an active
interest in their children’s education by
volunteering their time whenever possible.
care and just because you can’t be there
once a week does not mean that you cannot
participate at some level.
Most homes have two working parents. It is
understood that, in many cases, volunteering
during regular work hours is simply not an
option. But for families who have a parent
who is home full-time, spending at least
one day per week at the school should be
considered part of their job.
It may not seem like much and you may
think that your child won’t care or even
notice. Rest assured, they do notice, they
most certainly do care, and it matters a great
deal. There’s nothing like a grin or the look of
pride on a little one’s face when their mum
or dad comes into school for the day.
It has been proven that children benefit
immensely when their parents take an active
interest in their education. Not only does
the entire class benefit from a volunteer, it
sends a message to your child that you are
interested in what’s going on in their life and
that school is important.
Many parents who volunteer on a regular
basis have noticed that there are a few
added benefits of being there as well.
This is not to say that working parents don’t
Throughout the year, there are a number
of opportunities for parents to pitch in on
either an evening or weekend. It could be
as simple as working the bake sale table for
an hour at the Christmas pageant, or offering
a hand on one of the maintenance jobs that
needs done.
While they may not necessarily follow
their kid around all day, they have a much
broader view of what’s going on. They get
to know their child’s friends and they get to
see first hand how they interact with others.
Choosing Child Care
Being around a lot also gives you the
opportunity to ward off any issues before
they become serious. In some cases it may
come down to recognising the signs of your
child being bullied or being able to prevent
your kid from getting in with the wrong
crowd before its too late.
In addition, there’s the benefit of getting to
know your child’s teachers. Yes, teachers
are supposed to be impartial and are not
supposed to play favourites, but they are
human. Developing a relationship with their
teachers can only benefit your little scholar.
This is not to suggest that the teachers will
Do your
WHAT MATTERS TO YOU!
Researchers from Macquarie University, together with Goodstart Early Learning and
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show favouritism to your child, but you
do get an opportunity to discuss their
development on a regular basis and have
the chance to take early action if they begin
to struggle.
All in all, most parents who volunteer their
time at the school would say that it has a
positive impact on their child’s academic
development.
Will he or she be automatically accepted
at Harvard just because you came in for
story time every Wednesday? Perhaps not.
But it does send your little one a very clear
message: school matters, it matters a lot.
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www.aussiekids.net.au November 2014 5
Harry is twelve years old. He is a talented
footballer and a whiz on the computer.
Sharing his vast general knowledge with
others is also a strength and he has a
special interest in science. Harry also has
undiagnosed dyslexia which means he
finds reading, handwriting and spelling
really tricky.
when
your
c hild
You wouldn’t know this about Harry
when you met him – he is so articulate,
creative and intelligent. People just don’t
understand why he can’t get his amazing
ideas on paper or read at an expected
age level. Sometimes he is blamed for
these discrepancies by his teachers and
Harry struggles greatly to understand why
he has the literacy challenges he does
and feels terrible about his difficulties.
Given Harry is unaware of any plausible
explanation for these challenges, he
naturally blames himself.
s
l e a rn
ntl y
e
r
e
f
dif
I have met and worked with many ‘Harry’s’
in my role as an educator. In my experience,
there are often four to six students like
Harry sitting in each of our classrooms
– intelligent, orally competent, creative
and kind individuals who present with
a significant discrepancy between their
strengths and areas of challenge.
If you met Harry you wouldn’t automatically
ACT
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It can be devastating for parents to realise
their child is finding aspects of learning
a challenge in some way. Many parents
are confused too – they know deep in
their heart that their child is intelligent,
has some wonderful strengths and simply
don’t understand why learning to read or
remember the times tables is so hard for
their child.
For parents, an exploration of their child’s
needs and a possible diagnosis can impact
them in a number of ways. Grief is a natural
response to this process and sometimes
discovering the reason for their child’s
learning differences can come as a relief.
Many parents I have worked with, knew for
a long time there were some differences
in their child’s learning profile and either
didn’t know who to see about this, raised it
with teachers who offered responses like,
‘They’ll grow out of it’, or the expense of a
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‘see’ his learning difference. This is because
a learning difficulty, diagnosed or not, is
invisible and silent. Children who learn
differently, don’t look different. This
invisibility can play havoc on their sense
of self and is why many children blame
themselves for their reading, handwriting,
spelling and sometimes maths and
concentration challenges.
professional assessment was beyond their
families budget.
I also know lots of parents who are in
complete denial about their child’s learning
difference. Sometimes, this is because the
adult too, has similar challenges and/or
their own school experience was traumatic
and they don’t want their son or daughter
having the same encounters. On the other
end of the spectrum, I have interacted with
parents who are completely accepting of
their child’s learning profile – strengths and
areas of need, diagnosis or not.
Here’s the thing – to be diagnosed with a
specific learning difficulty (LD) you must
be intelligent. It is part of the assessment
process. An LD has nothing to do with
how clever a student is. In his book,
Dyslexia and Other Learning Difficulties
(2012, Oxford), Mark Selikowitz defines
an LD as being ‘an unexpected and
unexplained condition occurring in a child
of average or above-average intelligence,
characterised by a significant delay in one
or more areas of learning’.
As a parent, it is important to acknowledge
in some way that your child is having these
difficulties. Ignoring them, pushing the child
beyond their limits or being in denial, only
reinforces to your son and daughter that
their learning difference is their fault.
In my experience, if an individual is
demonstrating a significant and ongoing
discrepancy between their strengths,
such as oral language and vocabulary,
and their areas of need like reading,
spelling, handwriting, concentration
and/or elements of maths, further
exploration may be required.
Exploring a diagnosis is a personal path and
choice for families, but I will say that, in my
experience, if a diagnosis is to be made the
person it usually benefits the most is the
child. This is because they finally receive
tangible evidence and affirmation there is
a reason for their learning challenges that
is not their doing! The freedom and peace
this can provide, is often palpable and can
directly impact a students learning progress
and confidence.
Some common types of LD are dyslexia,
dyscalculia (an LD in maths) and dysgraphia
(an LD in the mechanics of writing, not
usually the content unless the child also
has a language challenge). Although not
particularly scientific, I imagine that the
brain of a student with a learning difficulty
is shining bright with lots of great ideas and
strengths and that the literacy, numeracy
and/or concentration wiring (depending on
their individual profile) is bit fuzzy.
I also think of other challenges like ADHD
or an auditory processing difficulty when
I’m talking about learning differences
as I have observed the impact of these
conditions on students and families, along
with the strategies required to effectively
support a child with these needs, are
largely the same.
Many parents I know are consistently
advocating for the needs of their child
and, at times, this can feel like a tiring and
fruitless endeavour.
Parents also share with me the relief they
feel when their child is gifted with a
teacher who ‘gets it’. This generally
correlates with a fantastic school year
and experience for their child along
with success and progress that is a truer
reflection of their cognitive ability.
The frustration and conflict for students like
Harry is that, for the most part, our school
system remains a one size fits all model.
Yet, it is humanly impossible for most
children, let alone those with an LD, to do
the same amount of work, in the same way,
in the same amount of time.
Enforcing this expectation on students at
home or school is the equivalent of asking
an individual in a wheelchair to get out and
walk up a set of stairs. We simply wouldn’t
do it. We would provide the appropriate
accommodations to support the mobility
needs of this person.
The accommodations students with LD
require are not hard or complicated. It
may be something as simple as halving the
number of questions in a task or inviting
students to use modalities, like technology
to present their work.
Although it is not always easy to do, you
can reassure and model through your
words and actions that your child’s learning
challenges are not their fault. Students
who learn differently have been some of
my greatest teachers and just like Albert
Einstein, Steven Spielberg, Alexandar Bell
and Ann Bancroft (Arctic explorer), who all
experienced a learning difference of some
kind, your creative, clever, kind, athletic,
artistic and perceptive son or daughter have
much to offer the world. What hope and
inspiration this can be for the ‘Harry’s’ in
our lives.
by Tanya Dickson
Tanya Dickson is a mainstream and special
education teacher, author and consultant.
Further information about her book, Teaching
Students with Learning Difficulties, is
available at www.inclusivelearning.com.au
www.aussiekids.net.au November 2014 7
Finding the best quality child care
Every parent wants the best quality professional care for their child, and the many types of
child care available can be overwhelming and confusing, especially for new parents.
Finding the right care for your child can be
a difficult undertaking. With limited places
and many different types of care available,
finding the right situation can prove to be a
frustrating exercise.
• What is your child’s temperament?
Every parent wants the best quality
professional care for their child, and the
many types of child care available can be
overwhelming and confusing, especially for
new parents.
• Assess her behaviour; does she play and
interact well with other children?
Whether you choose family day care,
long day care centres, out-of-school
hours/vacation care (often called ‘OOSH’
care), preschool, a nanny, au pair or a
nanny share situation, you want to select
the care that best suits your family’s and
your child’s needs.
Above all, you want your child placed in a
fun, nurturing, and educational atmosphere.
Your child’s needs
First, take a moment to consider your
child’s needs.
• What does she like and dislike?
• What is her health situation?
• What are her interests?
• What is her learning style?
• Does she need or crave a lot of individual
attention?
By answering these questions, you can
assess where your child stands, and what
types of care might be best.
Centre-based and family day care
• Long day care centres usually care for
children under school age, in premises
specially built or adapted for child care.
They offer all day or part-time care for
working parents. Look for providers that
offer a reputable Pre-Kinder program to
best help prepare your child for school.
Meals are typically served, the
best services have a healthy
menu that is prepared fresh onsite. Some providers may offer
before and after hours care
for primary school children.
They can be run by community
organisations, private
operators, local councils or
non-profit organisations.
• Family day care services are run by
experienced carers who provide care and
developmental activities for other people’s
children in their own homes.
• Is the location convenient or far away?
• Is the security at the site acceptable?
• What is the quality and reputation of
the service?
Family day care is usually for younger
children who have not yet started school;
however, this varies widely, with some
offering before/after-school-hours care for
primary school children.
Visit the providers
• Preschool is child care with a planned
educational focus for children in the years
before a child formally begins school.
Children are usually aged between three
and five years of age. Pre-schools may
occupy a purpose-built building, a
community centre, a school, or may be
part of a long day care centre.
Nutrition for Parents
and Kids
Preschools usually run between 9.00am and
3.00pm but hours may vary.
Logistics
Once you have assessed your child’s needs
and the types of care available, consider
other important factors in the decision:
• How much do the various options cost?
Dietitian Services:
Next, take your child with you and visit
the centre or carer. Assess the facility, how
the staff interact with children, the safety
procedures in place, etc.
Don’t be afraid to speak with the child care
provider. Often the best way to discover
whether a particular centre or carer is right
for you is to get a feel for the person or
people involved. What is great for one
family may not be so suitable for yours.
You will feel a lot more comfortable leaving
your child with someone you instinctively
trust and can develop a relationship with.
At the end of the day, after assessing a
number of different child care options,
often you will have a clear gut feeling about
the best place for your child. Above all,
trust your instincts and enjoy this next step
in your child’s growth!
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Dyslexic
Studies show that more
than 15% of children
have dyslexia.
When reading, does
your child skip words,
add words that aren’t
there or get headaches?
Poor spelling, letter
reversal and being
easily distracted are
just some of the warning
signs for Dyslexia.
People with dyslexia are often highly
intelligent but have a physiological problem
with their eyes that prevents them being
able to do literacy or numeracy tasks.
The cause of visual dyslexia is an unsteady
fixation in the aiming point of the eye.
Early childhood is the best time to learn
a new language. Young children absorb
sounds, patterns and rules of a second
language as easily and naturally as they learn
their first language.
When fixation fails in one eye the images
that go to the brain from the two eyes are
jumbled, so the brain gets confused.
Kalimera Kids is an Early Learning Program
for pre-school children designed to
enhance the Greek language.
The Alison Lawson Centre provides a
simple and safe medical program for
treating visual dyslexia.
The Program views each child as an
individual, fostering self-confidence and
independence whilst developing important
social skills.
A permanent cure can be obtained in 10
one hour sessions, supported by structured
home exercises. Dyslexia is a hereditary
condition and adults or children from as
young as 6, can be helped.
Alison Lawson Centre
Suite 3, 87 Main Street Croydon or
233 Auburn Road Hawthorn
Telephone (03) 9724 9920
radio
kville
k s
Sunbury we
Templesto
nt South
Now you can tune in to hear your favourites
from hey dee ho music no matter where
you are.
NOW ACCEPTING ENROLMENTS FOR
CHILDREN BETWEEN 12 MONTHS
TO 5 YEARS OLD.
Certificate of
Education Support
e key
Tune in to hey dee ho music!
Kalimera Kids
Integration Aide/
Teacher Aide
Designed
Designedfor
forpeople
peoplewanting
wantingtoto
work
work with
with special
specialneeds
needsstudents.
students.
Supporting
Supportingstudents
studentswith
withadditional
additional
learning
learning needs
needsininprimary,
primary,secondary
and
specialist
settings.
secondary
and
specialist settings.
Day
Day Classes:
Classes:88days,
days,9am-3.30pm
9am – 3.30pm
OR
OR
Evening Classes: 16 evenings,
Evening Classes: 16 evenings,
5.30-8.30pm
5.30 – 8.30pm
Venues: Ballarat, Berwick, Broadmeadows,
Venues: "ERWICK#LAYTON#AROLINE
Caulfield, Clayton, Caroline Springs,
3PRINGS&RANKSTON'EELONG.ORTHCOTE
Doncaster,
Frankston, Mill Park, Northcote,
Ringwood,
Sale and Werribee
3ALE
Contact:
Contact:(03)
(03)9905
99052700
2700
Six
Six credit
credit points
pointsatatundergraduate
undergraduatelevel
level
For futher
furtherinformation:
information:
For
monash.edu/education/shortcourses
monash.edu/education/shortcourses
10 November 2014 www.aussiekids.net.au
It incorporates a number of activities such
as • Story Telling • Arts & Craft • Singing
• Dancing • Playing • Puppet Shows
• Plus a number of other activities
For more information call us on
0414 777 600 or email
greek@kalimerakids.com.au
CRICOS Provider: Monash University 00008C
and knowledge to support students who
have additional learning needs to access
the curriculum.
Whether you are in the car, listening via the
phone app, streaming online at an early
learning centre or at home in front of the
radio, you will be able to sing along and
enjoy the musical wonder of hey dee ho
music at the same time each week.
Every WEDNESDAY morning at 11.05am.
(eastern standard time)
Tune in to 98.7 RPPFM or download
the app now.
http://www.rppfm.com.au/
place where children can
explore language, literacy and
numeracy in a fun filled and
stimulating environment.
All 4 of our programs
recognise current research
which emphasises the
critical importance of these
early experiences in brain
development.
We feature the acclaimed
Letterland® system,
plus our own special
resources and approaches to present high
quality educational sessions that children
absolutely love.
Our programs begin for
2½ year olds right through
to 6 years with reading
programs designed to give
each child success and cater
for all types of learners.
Is your child
ready to read?
The first day of school
is almost too late for a
child to begin to learn to read. It’s
as scary as that. (Mem Fox, Reading Magic)
They allow children to explore
language, numbers and print
through a range of multi sensory
experiences that are highly
interactive and loads of fun.
Learningland fosters excellent reading
foundations in children aged from 2½-6
years that ensure a wonderful start to kinder
and school. Don’t delay stimulating your
child’s mind and love of learning!
Your child will sing, craft, write, read and
play their way to developing essential
literacy and numeracy skills, confidence
and creativity. Small classes fill fast.
Don’t miss out.
What is Learningland? For more than
a decade Learningland has provided a
Phone 1300 139 859
www.learningland.com.au
Erasmus School …
A classical approach
excursions enable them to meet inspiring
role models.
Everything we do at Erasmus School is
guided by four enduring virtues essential
in a changing world – wisdom, justice,
courage and self-control.
We use simple mindfulness exercises
to help focus the mind and enable children
to develop an inner quiet, strength and
steadiness. They are then able to attend
with greater application to the task at hand.
From the age of 10 about 10 minutes is set
aside twice a day for quiet, reflective time.
With parental approval
these older children can
learn meditation.
The children are nurtured at all levels of their
being – body, mind, heart
and spirit. This approach
helps build character.
We provide a thorough,
systematic grounding in
English and Mathematics,
Science, Social Studies,
History and Geography,
Scripture and Philosophy.
We take a classical
approach to languages
including studies in
Sanskrit and Latin.
Health and Physical
Education includes
swimming, athletics,
gymnastics, cross country
running and ball games.
Children in Years 4-6 attend
annual camps. ICT and
Design and Technology
programmes are integrated
into other subjects.
A diverse palette of
visual and performing
arts programmes includes
Art, Music, Drama, Dance, Craft and
activities such as needlework, woodwork,
calligraphy and hospitality. All children are
set regular homework.
After school activities
available include art, ballet,
chess, choir, dance, yoga and tennis.
Students can take up private lessons in
piano, violin, cello and classical guitar.
After school care is also offered on site.
All children regularly sing songs of praise,
enjoy fine music, learn prayers, read and
recite fine literature and participate in plays,
assemblies and sacred celebrations.
We use the Federal Government’s KidsMatter
framework to help us develop a positive
school community and social emotional
learning opportunities for students.
Throughout their studies, children delight
in time-honoured myths and legends
from around the world. Incursions and
Classes are non-composite. Where learning
assistance and additional extension
opportunities are provided as needed.
Fun programs for kids to assist literacy, numeracy and speech
‘Reading
Sk
the best in ills are
of student dicator
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Keen to sig rm’
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nsborough
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2½ yrs ‘Parent & Child’ (45 min)
3-4 yrs ‘Letters & Numbers’ (60 min)
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4-6 yrs ‘Rockets PLUS’ (120 min)
(Literacy and Numeracy)
NEW
NUMERACY
PROGRAMS
ENROLMENTS OPEN ONLINE SOON www.learningland.com.au
FAST TRACK ENQUIRIES info@learningland.com.au
A CO-ED, INDEPENDENT SCHOOL - PREP TO YEAR 6
40 Lisson Grove, Hawthorn Telephone: 9819 1266
BE INSPIRED. GO TO: erasmus.vic.edu.au
1300 139 859
◆ Berwick ◆ Brighton ◆ Donvale ◆ Glen Iris ◆ Greensborough
◆ Greenvale ◆ Ivanhoe ◆ Moonee Ponds ◆ Point Cook
www.aussiekids.net.au November 2014 11
Super Speak – Drama and
Public Speaking Program
all children develop in a fun learning
environment.
Speak well, perform and achieve more
in life.
Whilst fun is at the heart of everything
they do, Super Speak are serious about
a few things:
Super Speak is Melbourne’s award
winning public speaking and drama
programme for children aged 6-16 years.
Super Speak combines a structured
and fun mix of drama skills (such as role
playing, mime, script work, improvisation
and expressive skills) and public speaking
skills (such as voice work, storytelling,
persuasive speaking and informative
speaking).
Practical skills that last a life time:
• Build creativity and quick thinking
• Develop confidence and self esteem
• Build self awareness and leadership skills
• Learn practical presentation skills
• Communicate with confidence and
purpose
• Learn structured public speaking skills
• Overcome nervousness and build
assertiveness
• Develop in a safe and supportive
environment
• Have loads of fun and make friends
Whether your child is shy, outgoing or
anything in between, Super Speak helps
• Leading curriculum:
A team of experienced teachers have
designed Super Speak’s unique drama
and speaking progressive learning plan
that connects to the Australian school
curriculum and is FUN!
• Great teachers:
Super Speak’s teachers truly set them
apart. They are highly experienced,
qualified and skilled at teaching
children.
• Experienced:
Super Speak are proven, effective and
highly commended. They have been
teaching drama and public speaking
classes for over 20 years.
• Small class sizes:
Super Speak’s small class sizes ensure
each child gets more personal attention.
• Great culture:
Super Speak classes are fun, energetic
and supportive.
Join this award winning program and see
the difference! Enrolments NOW OPEN.
For more info, please call 9572 5249 or
info@superspeak.com.au
www.SuperSpeak.com.au
Omiros College
Learning Greek is fun and easy…
Omiros College is an accredited school,
and was founded in 1984, with students
from Kindergarten to Year 12.
The College is accredited by the Dept.
of Education and the VCAA. It has a
number of campuses in various suburbs
in the metropolitan area to service
the community.
The College’s aim is:
• To promote and teach the Greek
Language and Culture throughout
the Greek community and the wider
community.
• To provide the opportunity to students
to benefit by the achievements and
values of Hellenism and to appreciate
its contribution to the development of
the Western Civilisation.
It increases their confidence and self
esteem, improves their literacy and maths
ability and it also helps develop their
thinking and reasoning skills.
By starting early, your child will become a
fluent and confident speaker.
At the Centre of Italian Studies, Italian
is taught in a fun, nurturing and friendly
environment.
Our native Italian teachers use a variety of
fun interactive activities such as stories,
games, song and dance to teach Italian to
children ages 3-14.
Your child will be nurtured and will learn
a range of words and expressions related
to specific themes.
These include greetings, the family,
numbers, colours, animals and at CIS we
also encourage children to learn about the
Italian culture and traditions.
• To cultivate Greek values through
tradition and history.
We look forward to sharing a life learning
experience with your child this term.
For more information call us on
03 9380 6055
or email greek@omiros.edu.au
Why not make it a family affair and
ENROL NOW.
Children’s Italian Classes
Research has shown that learning a
second language can enhance children’s
overall cognitive development and
assist in forming and maintaining cultural
connections.
Visit www.italianstudies.com.au
or call CIS 03 9347 9144.
Bright Start Learning
Some children prefer running and
sports based play to drawing and crafts,
which may delay their fine motor skill
development.
As an experienced childhood educator,
I have seen many children struggle and
lose confidence due to their lack
of dexterity.
Bright Start Learning
Fine Motor Skill Development
Fun learning program where children can
develop their fine motor skills through exploring
language, literacy and numeracy.
• Small Classes • Ashburton & Mount Waverley
CALL NOW FOR A FREE TRIAL*
0478 197 668
brightstartlearning.com.au
Knowing and understanding how difficult
it is to address fine motor skill deficiencies
at home, kindergarten and school, I
developed Bright Start Learning, a play
and craft based educational program
which offers a series of fun workshops
designed to help children strengthen and
improve their fine motor skills in readiness
for kindergarten and school.
For more information go to:
www.brightstartlearning.com.au
or phone 0478 197 668.
*conditions apply
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Children’s
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• Fun-filled program for ages 3+
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12 November 2014 www.aussiekids.net.au
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www.aussiekids.net.au November 2014 13
get off or avoid
o
t
How
iotic Roller-C
n ti
A
e
Th
How this cycle typically begins
It’s such a common story … your child
develops a cold, it keeps them up
through the night which keeps you
up through the night. You give them
paracetamol to help with their symptoms,
which are typically fever, sore throat,
streaming nose and perhaps a cough,
and you cross your fingers.
You continue to give them their regular
food and hope for the best. The best
doesn’t happen. The illness progresses
deeper into their chest or perhaps
their ears, their snot turns green, and
presto – your child has an infection
that requires antibiotics. They take
the course of antibiotics and no
one mentions anything about
changing their diet through this
process, nor is there usually any
mention of probiotics.
A few weeks later your child comes down
with another cold. This time it may progress
to their ears or chest even faster, before you
know it their snot is turning green and hey
presto, you have another prescription for
antibiotics. Alarm bells are starting to ring
now but what choice do you have? You
cross your fingers, give your child the drugs
and move on.
14 November 2014 www.aussiekids.net.au
b
What’s wrong with this picture?
Why repeated use of antibiotics
is a problem
Antibiotics are wonderful at getting rid of
an infection if it is bacterial. They do nothing
to get rid of a viral infection however, and
every time they are used, they wipe out
a significant amount of your child’s good
bacteria as well as the bad guys.
Growing and developing immune systems
need plentiful supplies of good bacteria
to ensure strong immunity. So if you’re not
putting the good guys back into their gut
after a round of antibiotics, your little one
will most definitely be behind the eight ball
when it comes to beating the next cold, flu,
ear or chest infection.
Over 70% of your child’s immune system is
said to be in their gut – amazing isn’t it? It’s
oaste
r
so important to replenish after the army of
antibiotics has had its go at killing any and
all bacteria in sight – good or bad.
The other thing about antibiotics is that they
don’t get rid of the mucus. That tends to
hang around, especially as your child’s diet
often remains unchanged, and certain foods
promote more mucus. This mucus provides
a beautiful warm breeding ground for any
bug that might be lurking.
The thing is, bugs, viruses and bacteria are
everywhere all the time. They’re in the air, on
other people, can be in food and on things
your child touches with their hands which
ultimately end up in their mouth. This means
it’s super important to build your child’s
immune system from the inside out.
How can you build up their immune
system and stop them from continually
needing antibiotics?
1) Well first things first – you will need to
change their diet. YES – the power to
make big changes is actually in your
hands. It’s important to help their little
body get rid of the mucus first, to prevent
that breeding ground from hanging
around. You can do this by cutting out or
cutting down mucus-forming foods.
2) The second super important step is to
give them top strength probiotics that
are specifically helpful for repopulating
the gut after a round of antibiotics. It’s
recommended they take these for three
months post drug treatment. Ask your
practitioner or local health food store for
the best brands. It’s important to have
these strains in the product: Lactobacillus
acidophilus, Bifidobacterium lactis and
Lactobacillus rhamnosus.
3) The third step is to include immuneboosting foods in their diet moving
forward to help strengthen their system.
Favour vegetable sources over fruit when
they have lots of mucus as fruit can be
quite mucus producing. Once they are
clear you can include more fruit.
What if you do all this and it’s
not enough?
Your ability to fix the situation with food
and probiotics alone will depend on how
far down the roller-coaster you actually are.
Some children will need herbs to help shift
the mucus in their body and they may also
need herbs after that to boost their immune
system to avoid falling prey again too soon
to another virus or bacterial infection. In
Chinese medicine, herbs are individually
prescribed for your child. That’s how it’s
done. Everyone is that little bit different and
so each formula is tailored to suit the needs
of your little critter.
How you can avoid this roller-coaster
The answer is simple in theory – harder in
practice. Diet. When your child starts to
get sick, whip out those mucus-producing
foods from their diet and put them on
very easy to digest foods. Depending on the
age of your child and their negotiation skills,
this will be easy or hard. It is totally worth
the effort though and it will help them to
start to get an understanding of how their
body works.
If their gut is happier and they’re not getting
sick very often, they will sleep better, enjoy
more even moods, have well-formed
medium to low smell bowel movements
one to two times daily and generally life
will be smoother. It’s amazing how much
a continually sick child can impact not just
themselves but the whole family.
Mucus-producing foods
Wheat, ice-cream and dairy products
(except raw goat’s milk and unsweetened
raw yoghurt), sugar and concentrated
sweeteners, fatty meat (especially pork and
duck), eggs, tofu, tempeh, soy milk, lard,
butter, margarine, chocolate, nuts and seeds
(especially peanuts), avocados, tomatoes,
tomato paste, raw and dried fruit (especially
bananas and tropical fruit), salt and vinegar.
These are not all bad foods per se – they are
simply mucus-forming foods according to
Chinese medicine theory. Eggs are a MUCH
better type than sugar or concentrated
sweeteners for example, but both will
produce a level of mucus or “damp” in the
body and so you need to know that as a
mum. If your child is displaying “damp”
symptoms such as mucus from their
nose, watery or loose and smelly bowel
movements, ear infections or if they are sick
at all, then you should reduce these foods
until they are better.
Immune-boosting foods
• Garlic, shallots, ginger, turmeric,
• Carrots, kale, broccoli, cauliflower,
• Papaya, mandarins, lemon, grapefruit
• Slow-cooked bone broth made from
free-range organic chicken or beef bones
• Small amounts of free-range organic
chicken and beef
• Miso
Aussie Kids Online Events Calendar
gives you easy access to local events in
and around your city.
It is also the perfect opportunity for your
organisation to promote your upcoming event
free of charge to your local community.
Visit our website today!
www.aussiekids.net.au
Foods to avoid when they are sick
• Dairy (milk, yoghurt, cheese, ice-cream)
• Fruit (fresh and dried) especially bananas,
avocados, tomatoes, tropical fruit
• Chocolate, lollies, cake, biscuits, sugar
• Lots of meat – stick to broths
• Fish (avoid during the peak illness stage
as it expresses symptoms)
• Wheat
• Keep food super simple
(3-4 different ingredients at a sitting)
Foods to eat when they are sick
• Relatively plain and simple food
• Bone broth in everything
• Congee
• Chicken or beef or veg soup with rice
pasta or rice noodles and 1-2 veg
they like
• Porridge (rolled rice, oats or barley)
with broth or water and stewed fruit
• Increase garlic and ginger in foods
(not at the same time, remember to
keep it simple)
• Rice pasta with a little olive oil and
1-2 green vegetables (asparagus, broccoli,
snow peas, beans, carrots, peas)
• Blanched/raw/steamed vegetables
as snacks
• Rice crackers if you really need to as
snacks but favour all other foods already
mentioned as when they are sick their
appetite usually drops anyway.
Where to search for a Traditional
Chinese Health Practitioner:
www.atms.com.au
www.ntpages.com.au
Check they are government registered here:
https://www.ahpra.gov.au/
by Rebecca Mar Young. Director of Red Tent,
Mother-of-two, Traditional Chinese Medicine
practitioner. She’s giving a free call on November 11
on Fevers & Your Toddler.
www.redtent.com.au/free-talk-fevers
www.aussiekids.net.au November 2014 15
ry
Attention, Memo on
nformati
and Processing I
Many students with learning difficulties
especially students with Autism, ADHD,
Dyslexia and Dyspraxia tend to struggle
concentrating and focusing during events
which they are least interested in. Completing
a difficult task can also cause students to have
difficulty in staying on task.
The frontal lobe of our brain known as the
executive function is our Mr. Organiser.
Mr. Organiser helps us to pay attention to
surrounding stimuli, comprehend information,
and finally filter important information to be
kept in storage (memory). This can be known
as mind processing. However, Mr. Organiser
functions differently for every individual.
The common concentration time span
can be explained through the concept of
‘age plus two’. For example, if you are 20
years old, then your attention span will be
20 + 2, which is 22 minutes. However,
some of us have the ability to stay
focused probably a little longer than that.
Unfortunately this is not the case for students
with learning difficulties; they struggle to
stay focused even up to five minutes.
Early Interventions and Inclusive Learning
#Today’s Kids are Tomorrow’s Leaders!
Supporting students with learning difficulties; ADD, ADHD,
Autism, Dyslexia and any other learning conditions
www.interventionsandinclusion.com
SERVICES:
School Visits
After School Interventions
PD/Seminars
Parent/Teacher Consultation
Parent Support Group
School Holiday Program
This situation can be certainly explained as
the Mr. Organiser of these students feeling
confused because of a fault in either one or
more of the processing measures.
PlayStation,
Wii, and other
similar gaming
platforms). Play
activities that are
supervised by an
adult result in better
progress.
So, waiting can be a terrible issue for some
children, for some others learning is another
issue; specifically reading, and problem
solving can be a difficult task. This may
even affect their daily life when reading a
description in a menu, writing comments
on social media, texting on phones, and
with many other similar activities. Even,
simple activities like writing and spelling
will not be easy. This is because, all these
activities require the child’s Mr. Organiser
to go through the three step process. Thus,
this is an involuntary process where intensive
intervention would encourage better control
over the mind.
Besides that, too often
lengthy sentences and chunky
paragraphs will be overwhelming
for some children to read, process and
comprehend. Thus, a major task should be
broken down into smaller steps, otherwise
known as task analysis. Task analysis is a
clearly written list of steps on how a task can
be accomplished. Too many steps is just
as inefficient as none. Avoid using jargon.
Always accompany your verbal instruction
with visual cues and printed words.
Do you have a child who is having trouble
paying attention in class?
Here are some tips for helping students
who have difficulty in paying attention,
remembering and processing information
taught. Keeping the mind active is what these
tasks require us to do. How do we keep their
minds active?
Guided play activities will help stimulate
and develop the young mind by providing
exercise to Mr. Organiser. This is often
achievable when the child is consistently
engaged in a play session of board games
(e.g. chess, snakes and ladders, scrabble,
etc.), riddles, puzzles, simulator games (e.g.
In addition to that, you can help your child
learn to manage difficulties by having a
notebook at all times where they can record
their understanding, and refer to it when
required. This may especially assist students
who are struggling to remember facts learnt.
Routine and structure are of prime
importance; practise makes perfect. When
the brain gets used to something, the
subconscious mind has the ability to repeat
the task without help and prompting.
Also, be aware of your child’s ability and
interest; when you deliver a message or
lesson it is important to do it in a way the
ABA Therapy
OT Work
Yoga Therapy
Study Skills
Living Skills
Brain Training
Reading Recovery
Organisation Skills
Warm, salt water pool
Baby to adult lessons
Small class sizes
Term classes
Heidelberg Primary School Pool
116 Cape Street Heidelberg. Ph: 9455 1330
learntoswimvic@optusnet.com.au
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www.learntoswimvic.com.au
child will comprehend. Provide plenty of
examples related to the child’s knowledge
and interests, preferably tangible items
(e.g. physical space and images) for better
understanding to take place. Consequently,
this help your child form a pattern or
sequence to see the connection between
each lesson, just like the ‘memory place’
technique used in the ancient times by
the Greeks.
Moreover, did you know? A great thinker
is one with a calm mind. In the process of
helping your child achieve a harmonious and
balanced mind, it is useful to incorporate
yoga and meditation into their weekly routine.
Finally, on-going motivation, encouragement
and unconditional love is enormously
important for these children to continuously
try and learn from the mistakes that they make
throughout their learning journey. It is crucial
to remember that these children are struggling
because they can’t do and not because
they won’t do. There is large gap between
the definition of can’t and won’t that some
parents are still unaware of.
Dealing with children with learning difficulties
surely requires sound strategies, good
understanding and lots of patience.
by Reena M.Palanivelu
Learning & Teaching Specialist. B.Ed(Hons), M.Ed
(Special Education, Inclusion & Early Intervention)
www.interventionsandinclusion.com
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Imagination in Night Shadows
“I’m afraid! I’m afraid!” my three-year-old
yells from her bedroom. I let out a long
exhale, the kind I reserve for crayon-on-thewall moments, and prop myself up on
my elbows so I can see the digital alarm
clock. It’s 2:48, 22 minutes since the last
frightened outburst.
It’s my turn; my husband went last time.
I fumble through the darkness, stubbing my
pinky toe on the leg of a chair, and make
my way to my daughter’s dimly lit bedroom
(she has three night lights).
She sits on the edge of her rumpled bed
staring at her play kitchen.
“What’s the matter, Sweetie?” I ask, arms
folded across my chest.
“I’m afraid.”
“What are you afraid of?”
“The kitchen,” she says, not taking her eyes
of the colourful kitchen, a gift from her
grandmother last Christmas. How can she
be afraid of that toy? She plays with it every
single day.
“Come on,” I say, “I’ll lie down with you for
a few minutes.” We get comfortable in her
little twin bed. I put my arm around her and
she grabs my ear, a habit she picked up as
a baby. After a few minutes her breathing
slows down and regulates. I’m eager to get
back to my bed, but I also don’t want to
risk leaving too soon and waking her.
So I examine her room. I look at the sturdy
wooden shelf my husband built for her
stuffed animals. I study my paint job,
light blue with white trim. She has called
her room the “blue room” ever since. I
scrutinise the homemade curtains I made in
the spring. I searched three fabric stores for
just the right shades of blue and yellow. It’s
a homey room, I thought. How can she be
afraid of it? I began to drift off to sleep.
As my thoughts blur between sleep and
consciousness I notice the shadows. The
row of friendly stuffed animals on the
wooden shelf becomes an advancing army.
Tall shadows line up behind them like ghost
reinforcements. The folds in the curtains
become columns in a fortress, ready for the
stuffed animal army. Each shadow takes on
a life of its own, greater than the object it
hails from.
My daughter flinches, startling me, and then
falls back into her deep sleep. I look at the
toy kitchen, so harmless in the daylight, and
see a steely robot staring me down. My
eyes widen, and I think back to the haunts
of my own childhood bedroom.
From the top bunk I shared with my sister, I
gazed at the textured ceiling just a few feet
above my head. Each night the plastered
swirls became new and different objects,
oddly three-dimensional: dragons, trees,
hardened profiles, swamps.
Much to my frugal father’s dismay, I insisted
on keeping the hall light on all night, with
my door cracked. The beam of artificial light
thrown into my room resembled a long
straight leg with an angular foot at the end. I
thought of a phrase my mother often used,
“get your foot in the door,” and pictured a
tall bright man trying to stick his scary long
foot into my room.
E
SIV CE TE
EN REN N SI
T
EX NFE S O
E
CO LITI
CI
4½ Star Apartment Accommodation
A
F
These late night memories, combined with
the shadowy figures on my daughter’s light
blue walls, send shivers through me. What
happened to my imagination, I wonder?
Did I trade it in at junior high school
orientation for my locker combination?
Did I use it up making one too many book
report dioramas in elementary school?
Or did I smother it with my pillow after it
scared the living daylights out of me one
night long ago?
I untangle myself from my child’s arms, tuck
the quilt firmly around her as a protection
against her own imagination, and kiss her
smooth forehead.
As I make my way back to my own dark
bedroom, I vow to respect my little one’s
imagination not only for its beautiful
watercolour creations at preschool but also
for its nighttime power.
And I make a goal to find my own
imagination and pick up where I left it years
ago. But not until the sun rises.
by Rachel Tolman Terry
THE PARK
FOR ALL
SEASONS
Discover all Emerald Lake Park has to offer
• Have a splash in the free seasonal wading pool – open during summer season
• The Environment Centre offers a live aquatic display, information on
flora and fauna and historic information on the park.
AK-0614CSC
• Take a paddle boat ride • Visit the model railway display
• Enjoy a snack at the cafe • Utilise the free barbecue facilities
• Watch Puffing Billy arrive at the station • Try your luck at some fishing
• Take a walk along one of the many walking tracks
Kids Club School
Holiday Program
Pools, Playground,
Games room
Watermark
Restaurant & Bar
www.silverwaterresort.com.au
17 Potters Hill Road, San Remo VIC 3925
info@silverwaterresort.com.au | 1800 033 403
1300 131 683
www.emeraldlakepark.com.au
www.aussiekids.net.au November 2014 17
How children cope learning two languages
How will my child’s development
differ from other children?
What if my child starts mixing the
two languages?
Although every child’s development
is different, typically bilingual children
will develop at the same rate as their
monolingual counterparts.
It is normal that bilingual children go
through periods of mixing the two
languages in one sentence. This generally
occurs because the vocabulary may be
known in one language but not the other.
Mixing languages will tend to peak around
2½ years of age and then gradually decline
until around five years of age.
That is, they will start using single words
between 10-18 months of age and
putting two words together in a
phrase by 2 years of age.
It is normal that bilingual children
may appear to have a smaller
vocabulary in one language
and may take a little longer to
master the languages than their
single-language peers.
In Australia’s multicultural society, there are
many children whose parents come from
non-English speaking backgrounds.
Thus, there are many children who are
exposed to two or more languages
right from the time they are born. The
issue of teaching toddlers and young
children to speak two languages raises
several questions and challenges for
multi-cultural families.
After all, learning two sets of words
and grammar is more challenging and
requires more effort. Eventually, bilingual
children will usually catch up to their peers
and most differences will disappear by
grade five.
It is also common that children have a
dominant language that will progress
quicker than the other, depending on the
child’s environment.
Some tips for parents raising a family
with more than one language:
• Allow your child to have plenty of
exposure and practice in both languages.
Children need to hear and speak each
language often to learn the words and
grammar of both.
• Digital media isn’t as effective as a real
person using language in everyday
situations such as playing, shopping or
just talking.
• Read to your children in both languages –
it’s a great way to build vocabulary and
early reading skills.
• To reduce confusion, you may like to
help your child learn to associate the
two languages differently, e.g., using one
language while speaking to the mother
and the other while speaking to the father.
• Use language the same way with all of
your children. Using one language with
one child and the second language with
another could lead to hurt feelings.
• Have patience with mistakes or language
switching. This is a normal part of learning
two languages. With more practice, these
mistakes will fade.
Will learning two languages cause
speech/language problems?
Learning two languages simultaneously will
not cause speech or language problems.
However, like in the general population,
specific language problems can occur and
learning two languages will make it more
difficult for these children to progress.
What if my child is having trouble
communicating?
If your child is experiencing difficulty
communicating, it is best to stick to the
language that you and your child are most
comfortable with. It is also advisable to
seek professional help if your child appears
to be struggling in both languages.
by Louise Tyquin
Moonee Valley
SPECIALIST CENTRE
G a s t r o e nterological and Rela t e d C a r e
(03) 9372 0372
www.mvscentre.com.au
reception@mvscentre.com.au
Suite 2, Ground Level,
767 Mt Alexander Road, Moonee Ponds, 3039
Sportlink’s new
new holiday
holiday
Sportlink’s
sports camps are a fun,
sports camps are a fun,
safe and cost effective way
safe and cost effective way
of keeping your children
of keeping your children
entertained during the school
entertained during the school
holidays. All camps are delivered
holidays.
All camps
are delivered
by
experienced,
qualified
and
by
experienced,
qualified and
enthusiastic
coaches.
enthusiastic coaches.
Holiday sports camps cater for
Holiday
camps
cater for
childrensports
aged 6-12
years.
children aged 6-12 years
These popular school term
programs involve group coaching
by skilled badminton, table tennis
and futsal coaches within a fun
and supportive environment.
Catering for primary and early
secondary aged children.
FIND OUT MORE
VISIT www.sportlink.org.au
CALL 03 9847 7111
Sportlink Vermont South
2 Hanover Road, Vermont South
18 November 2014 www.aussiekids.net.au
go
Phillip Island Nature Parks
– an island adventure!
Phillip Island
Nature Parks is the
renowned home
of Australia’s most
popular natural
wildlife attraction,
the world famous
Penguin Parade.
A mere 90
minute-drive from
Melbourne, the
Nature Park covers
1805 hectares of
Phillip Island’s unique
natural areas, so there
is much to explore.
The Nature Parks cares
for much of the natural
areas on Phillip Island
and features worldclass attractions where
you can experience
wildlife in its natural habitat.
Be assured that you will need at least a day
to enjoy all four PINP attractions, including
The magic of the sunset march of the
Little Penguins at the Penguin Parade will
complete your wild visit.
Other popular attractions that form part
of Phillip Island Nature Parks include Rhyll
Inlet, Cape Woolamai and Pyramid Rock,
where walking tracks and boardwalks
allow you to explore these stunning natural
areas that are home
to unique Australian
animals and plants.
The 3 Parks Pass gives
visitors entry to the
Nature Parks’ top
attractions for one
discount price. It
offers entry to the
Penguin Parade, Koala
Conservation Centre,
Churchill Island and
the Nobbies where
entry is free.
Visitors can also
upgrade their
Penguin Parade
entry to any one
of our penguin
viewing options
including Penguins
plus Viewing Platform, Private Penguin
Parade Experience, Penguin Skybox or
the Ultimate Penguin Tour (extra cost and
conditions apply).
out the back to the fern gully, and maybe a
play in the adventure playground.
Soon it’s time to feed again, then we’ll
have a BBQ and toast marshmallows over
the fire-drum. What a day! Time for bed!
3 Parks Passes are available online at
www.penguins.org.au, at any Phillip Island
Nature Parks’ outlet, Phillip Island Visitor
Information Centre and selected outlets.
A day on Emerald Park
Holiday Farm
266 Licola Road Jamieson Victoria
Phone 03 5777 0569
www.emeraldpark-jamieson.com
Macka’s Farm
If it’s a real farm experience you are
seeking then share a few days on our busy
farm with our large indoor animal nursery
that houses our friendly animals; cuddly
baby bunnies, chickens, kittens, puppies,
goats, piglets and more.
Imagine waking to the morning song
of the kookaburras and magpies, yeay
no school! I’m on the farm! Time to put
on my boots and feed the animals with
the farmer.
First off is the chooks and collecting the
eggs, all these eggs we’ll have to have
some for breakfast! What are those strange
looking fluffy ones? They’re Silkies, wow
how odd!
Next some treats for the sheep and then
it’s off to the stables to feed and brush the
ponies, I wonder if there’s some cows to
feed too! All Done!
Lets go for a walk in the Fairy Garden or
The farm yard is just full of surprises!
Milking can be observed twice daily;
morning and evening.
Fresh milk is always available as are the
farmyard eggs that can be an exciting
experience to find, collect, eat and enjoy.
We’ve got a good supply of gumboots
in all shapes, colours and sizes … so just
grab a pair that fits.
Phone 03 5598 8261.
2310 Princetown Road Princetown.
EXPERIENCE COMFORT RELAX PLAY
BARNYARD FUN MILKING ANIMALS
E M E R A L D PA R K
H O L I D AY FA R M
Macka’s Farm
LOADS OF FUN TO BE HAD
• Collect eggs
• Brush the ponies
• Feed the animals
• Swimming • Fishing
• Adventure playground
• Sand-pit • Swings
• Campfires • Bbq area
A farm
experience
for all
Four self-contained
cottages, each sleep
six people
266 Licola Road Jamieson Victoria
03 5777 0569 www.emeraldpark-jamieson.com
AK-0913MF
places
2
We recommend that you start your
journey at Churchill Island Heritage Farm,
which was the site of Victoria’s first
agricultural pursuits in 1801, before moving
on to the Koala Conservation Centre and
later exploring the spectacular western
tip of the island that features the new
Nobbies Centre.
Being not for profit, revenue supports
our award winning ecotourism, land
management, research and environmental
education programs designed to protect
and promote Phillip Island Nature Parks’
unique wildlife.
AK-0614EPHF
the Penguin Parade, the Koala Conservation
Centre, Churchill Island Heritage Farm and
the Nobbies Centre. Our super-value ticket,
the 3 Parks Pass will ensure you don’t miss
a thing and you’ll save money as well!
Quality self-contained accommodation
Phone 5598 8261 Fax 03 5598 8201
2310 Princetown Road Princetown
E: mackasfarm@aussiebroadband.com.au
www.mackasfarm.com.au
Enjoy a
3 PARKS PASS
visit Phillip Island’s top attractions
for one discounted price
plus the nobbies centre for free!
penguins.org.au
@Penguin Parade
@
www.aussiekids.net.au November 2014 19
Playdays …
where every day is a playday
Our indoor play area has been designed to
provide a safe, fun, exciting and enjoyable
atmosphere for toddlers and pre-school
aged children.
Our equipment is of a high quality and
is aimed at assisting children to use their
imagination and physical energy to develop
their cognitive and motor skills.
Playdays is designed so that your children
are visible to you at all times whilst they
are playing.
Children will find Playdays to be
challenging, social and best of all FUN!
The FUN includes * Jumping Castles
* Ball Play Area * Swings * Home Play Items
* Slides * Roller Coaster Track * Soft Play
Obstacle Course * Cars * Crawlers Soft Play
Ring * Soft Play Climbing Tower * Two Large
Ball Ponds * and much much more!
Playdays Parties are unique at Playdays!
We supply fully trained party instructors
for the two hour duration of your child’s
party. Your Party Instructor will supervise the
celebrations and help the children get the
most out of free play time on the Playdays
equipment and they also provide fantastic
party games! At Playdays we do all the
work so you can sit back and enjoy the
party too!
While the children play, mums, dads
and guardians can relax and enjoy a
Your personal Chill On party host will take
care of you and ensure a totally unique
birthday experience!
cappuccino, hot chocolate or perhaps
a cold drink and light snack can be
purchased. To avoid disappointment
book early.
Join Club Playdays for great member
benefits including:
* Entry Rewards System
* Your own access to check your entry
reward status and details
* Birthday Club Specials
* E-News letters, so you’ll know what’s
on, special just for you!
Get set for an amazing winter wonderland
experience, filled with chills and thrills
you can marvel at the 50 tonnes of ice
carved into incredible ice sculptures whilst
slurping on a frosty fruity drink.
Chill On Ice Lounge also hosts the hottest
kids parties at the coolest place in town!
Enjoy a party like no other completely
surrounded by ice. After hanging out
in the Ice Lounge, the party continues
in the Ski Lodge where we serve party
food and drinks, play cool games with
awesome prizes.
AK-1213DIS
☺ Jumping Castles ☺ Ball Play Area
☺ Home Play ☺ Slides ☺ Roller Coaster Track
☺ Soft Play Obstacle Course ☺ Swings
☺ Crawlers Soft Play Ring ☺ Cars
☺ Soft Play Climbing Tower ☺ 2 Large Ball Ponds
☺ Birthday Parties ☺ Great Coffee and Food
☺ Rewards Program ☺ and much much more!
20 November 2014 www.aussiekids.net.au
• Chill On requires 1 parent or guardian for
every 7 guests under the age of 18.
WINTER SEASON: 1 April – 30 September.
Cross Country competitions are run weekly
by most Centres.
Do you like to Run, Jump,
Throw, have fun and be
healthy?
Then Little Athletics is for you!
Family, Fun & Fitness. Little Athletics
isn’t just for the kids. There are plenty of
opportunities for parents to get close up
to the action.
You can be a coach, team manager, parent
helper or join the committee. Different
programs are offered for summer and
winter seasons.
SUMMER SEASON: 1 October – 31 March.
Track & Field competitions are run weekly
by all Centres. Events vary for different age
groups and may include:
y and Party Centre
The Fun Pre-School Pla
www.playdays.com.au
THROWING
• Discus • Javelin • Shot Put
Chill On Ice Lounge & Ski Lodge
Southgate Retail Complex, Mid Level MR6,
3 Southgate Avenue, Southank.
Phone 9663 3877. www.chillon.com.au
Know where the coolest kids in
town hang out?
JUMPING
• High Jump • Long Jump • Triple Jump
• In the Ski Lodge under 18’s are welcome
until 10pm with a parent or guardian.
• All school groups need to be pre-booked
Playdays centres are located at:
350 Blackburn Road East Doncaster.
Phone 9842 8844
247 Bay Road Sandringham.
Phone 9532 2226
Visit www.playdays.com.au
EAST DONCASTER 350 Blackburn Road Phone 9842 8844
SANDRINGHAM 247 Bay Road Phone 9532 2226
• Children are welcome in the Ice Lounge
between 10am and 7pm and are served
a fruity drink in an ice glass included in
their admission.
RUNNING
Sprints: 70m, 100m, 200m.
Distance: 400m, 800m, 1500m.
Hurdles: 60mh, 80mh, 90mh, 100mh, 300mh
Walks: 1100m and 1500m.
Education & Training. In addition to
training nights offered by Centres, Little
Athletics Victoria conducts these clinics:
• U6-U8 Carnival
• U7-U10 McDonald’s Skills Clinics
• U11 Skills Clinic
• U9-U16 Race Walking Coaching Clinic
• Introduction to Starters, Officials,
Coaching Courses
Junior Development Squad – JDS
JDS gives U12–U16 athletes an opportunity
to gain new skills and improve technical
competencies through participation in
coaching and training sessions with some of
Victoria’s leading coaches.
Find a Centre. With over 22,000 members
competing on a weekly basis at 102 Little
Athletics Centres across Victoria, you are
bound to find a Centre close to you.
Go to www.lavic.com.au and click on
Find a Centre.
Luna Park
Shrug off the winter blues these school
holidays and discover the unique carnival
magic that has delighted families for over
a century as Melbourne’s most iconic face
enjoys its 101st spring.
the magic of this world famous roller
coaster, the oldest continually operating
wooden roller coaster of its kind and
winner of the prestigious American
Coaster Enthusiasts (ACE) Coaster Classic
Award. It also provides spectacular views
over Port Phillip Bay and has to be at the
top of every “must do” list of Melbourne
attractions.
Just as when the gates first opened in
1912, it’s all just for fun! There’s exciting
contemporary thrill rides, there’s historical
rides that you will enjoy just as much as
your great grandmother did when she was
a girl, and there’s that amazing carnival
atmosphere that only can come from a
century full of screams and giggles.
You can also experience the views of
Port Phillip Bay upside-down aboard thrill
rides like the Pharaoh’s Curse, test your
skills and win cuddly prizes in the carnival
games huts, or relax and enjoy family
favourites like the beautifully restored
Carousel which celebrated its 100th
birthday last summer.
Spend a day aboard the Park’s new and
famous historic rides and enjoy all that
Luna Park continues to offer its visitors.
It offers the perfect break from the
more thrilling rides and is a not to be
missed chance to enjoy a beautiful
piece of history.
Luna Park is the ultimate destination for fun
in Melbourne!
There are always the familiar screams and
rumbling tracks you know and love but
now the new Power Surge thrill ride is
waiting to test your courage further still.
This extreme thrill ride will take you high
over the Park and will spin, twist and twirl
as you are catapulted high and low. This
white-knuckle ride reaches over 17m
in the air and will have riders instantly
considering if they were better off back
on the ground!
While you’re here, don’t forget to jump on
board the Great Scenic Railway – you’ll
be riding a piece of history! Experience
Venture inside Mr Moon’s giant mouth,
grab a stick of fairy floss and join the
century of visitors before you in creating
your own, unique, Luna memory.
Open from 11am every day of the
school holidays, Luna Park is bursting
with amazing rides and attractions to
fill your school holidays with screamworthy excitement.
Check out the website for more
information – www.lunapark.com.au
Parks Victoria’s
Junior Ranger program
Parks Victoria’s Junior Ranger program
is a free and fun environmental-based
program for children aged between
6 and 12 years.
The Junior Ranger program provides
an opportunity for kids to discover
the secrets of Victoria’s national parks,
reserves and waterways.
Using fun, hands-on activities budding
Junior Rangers can be involved in a variety
of ranger-led activities including wildlife
detective walks, water-based activities,
environmental craft sessions and rock
pool explorations of the bay.
If you’re a true blue Lunie you might
like the new Annual Pass. This pass lets
you scream and save with 12 months of
unlimited rides for only $110.
Junior Rangers can also explore on their
own. The Junior Ranger website is a great
resource for self-guided activities that
Junior Rangers can do with their families,
whenever they want.
Bursting with amazing rides, attractions
and activities to fill your school holidays
with scream-worthy fun, Luna Park really
has something to satisfy all ages and
thrill levels!
Junior Rangers is all about celebrating
nature and encouraging kids to discover
more about the environment and the
part parks play in protecting animals
and plants.
There are many types of Junior Ranger
activities you can get involved with.
Including:
• Rockpool Ramble
A hands-on exploration of rock pools led
by a ranger. Marine sanctuaries protect an
amazing underwater environment. Learn
all about how these animals live in one of
the harshest possible environments and
how they’ve adapted to survive.
• Bush detective
A ranger led walk and talk. What type of
animal made this scratch, that footprint
and left behind these droppings? Children
get to become a wildlife detective, using
their senses to search for and identify
clues left behind by native animals.
• Ponding
A fun ranger led activity combining field
and lab work. Learn about why healthy
water contains diverse species, and
measure the health of their pond or coast
by identifying what lives within.
• Fired into Life
A ranger-led demonstration.
By participating in a hands-on
demonstration about the role rangers
play in fighting bushfires, children learn
about how fires are planned for and
managed in our national parks.
Visit: www.juniorrangers.com.au
Á
ÞÁ
Þ
Get outdoors
with a Parks Victoria ranger
and become a Junior Ranger today
Parks Victoria offers a fun and engaging way for kids
to explore the outdoors. Come along on a ranger-led
activity these school holidays and be inspired!
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To learn more visit:
www.juniorrangers.com.au
Lower Esplanade
St Kilda
www.aussiekids.net.au November 2014 21
9 November
Family Festival at Finns • A great
what’s
2
on
day of fun for the whole family featuring
craft, food and community information
stalls, animal farm, camel and pony
rides, children’s rides and Opus 21 Big
Band. Gold coin entry. 9am-4pm. Finns
Reserve, Lower Templestowe (enter via
Templestowe Road). Enq 0412 558 066 or
9855 8184. www.templestowerotary.org.au/
Community Fun Fair • Picnic in the
grounds, stalls, entertainment, bbq, raffles,
kids rides, petting zoo, face painting and
more. 10am-4pm. 48 Edinburgh Place
Mooroolbark.
Sophia Mundi Steiner School
Spring Fair and Open Day • Activities
4 November
St. Michael’s Melbourne Cup Day
Fair • A great range of plants with helpful
tips * Trash and treasure * Cakes and jams
* Second hand books * Arts and crafts
* Devonshire teas * Children’s activities
* Sausage sizzle and lots more! 9am.
Monash Avenue Olinda. Enq 9728 6353.
7 to 9 November
Beechworth Celtic Festival •
Historic Beechworth will celebrate all
things Celtic, with a program of live music,
theatre, dancing, comedy, village markets,
pipe bands and a street parade. 9am.
Beechworth Information Centre, 103 Ford
Street Beechworth. Enq 1300 366 321.
8 November
Family Open Cockpit Day • Open
cockpits include F-111, DH Dove, Vickers
Viscount, Canberra, Hunter, C-47, DH Sea
Venom and more. Aircraft engine runs,
model kits store, military vehicle display and
motorcycle display. 10am-5pm. Australian
National Aviation Museum, Corner First St
and Second Avenue Moorabbin Airport.
Enq 9580 7752 or www.aarg.com.au/
8 to 9 November
Dandenong Show • Fun-filled with
carnival rides, animal competitions, live
music, spectacular fireworks and much
more. 9am. Dandenong Showgrounds,
Bennet Street. dandyshow.com.au/
for the whole family, including candle
making, face painting, blacksmithing,
stonemasoning, live music, performances
and a magical children’s tent surrounded
by examples of student’s work. Free entry.
10am-4pm. Abbotsford Convent, 1 St
Heliers Street Abbotsford. Enq 9415 3600
or www.sophiamundi.vic.edu.au/
North Fitzroy Primary School Fete •
Loads of traditional fun with rides,
face painting, cake stalls, food,
live entertainment, raffles, silent auction,
book stalls and toy and clothing stalls.
10am-4pm. Fergie Street Fitzroy North.
Enq 9481 5860 or fitzroynthps.vic.edu.au/
The Story Sessions with Leigh
Hobbs • Find out how Leigh creates
characters like Old Tom, and then create
a giant collaborative storybook. The story
sessions introduce young learners to the
State Library, books and the joy of reading.
State Library of Victoria, 328 Swanston
Street Melbourne. Enq 8664 7099 or
inquiries@slv.vic.gov.au
15 November
Holy Rosary School Family Fun
Day • Free entertainment for all the family.
Activities and stalls will include face
painting, rides, an auction, cakes, second
hand clothing and toys, craft and much
more! Free entry. 10am-3pm. Holy Rosary
School, 37 Gower Street Kensington.
Enq 9376 9455.
15 to 16 November
Hans Christian, Stories In The
Wall • Experience this interactive digital
story installation, housed around the nooks
and crannies of Arts Centre Melbourne.
The stories are written and performed by
primary school students, with the music
composed and sound designed by
secondary school students. 10am-6pm.
Theatres Building, 100 St Kilda Melbourne.
www.artscentremelbourne.com.au
15 November to 23 December
Santa’s Magical Kingdom • Bringing
all the wonder and joy of a traditional
Christmas. This interactive walk-through
is an enchanting experience that
includes everything that you love about
Christmas. Get ready to be amazed as
you see the magic of Christmas come to
life! Caulfield Racecourse. Book now at
ticketek.com.au or phone 1300 307 740.
santasmagicalkingdom.com.au
15 to 24 November
Santa’s Christmas Spectacular •
Wonderland Fun Park will transform into
Santa’s Magical Wonderland where you can
enjoy all of your favourite Christmas treats.
120 Pearl River Road Docklands Melbourne.
www.wonderlandfunpark.com.au/
to 13 years inclusive, and their Dad, or
significant male other. 525 Tynong North
Road Tynong North. Enq 0431 839 035 or
www.fatheringadventures.com.au/
22 November
The Great Fete • Loud and silent
auctions, food stalls, art and craft stall,
home produce, cake stall, plant stall, lucky
dips, fantastic rides, superb entertainment
on the central stage and much more.
1-8pm. Hartwell Primary School, Milverton
Street Camberwell. Enq 9889 4012 or
www.hartwellps.vic.edu.au/
Dingley Fair • With food and stalls
galore, there is plenty to keep you
enthralled. Heaps of prizes and giveaways.
Free entry, with free or low cost activities.
11am-4pm. Cnr. Old Dandenong and Tootal
Roads Dingley. Enq 9551 7871.
22-23 November
Strawberries and Cherries Festival
• Join in and celebrate the arrival of
strawberry and cherry season along the
Avenue of Honour and throughout Bacchus
Marsh.www.visitbacchusmarsh.com.au/
29 November
Bell Primary School Fun Day •
16 November
Fairy Party • Petting zoo, pony rides,
face painting, jumping castle and more.
$10 per entry. Overnewton Castle,
51 Overnewton Close Keilor. Tickets
www.trybooking.com/DRGL. Enq 9331
6367 or www.overnewtoncastle.com.au/
Sausage sizzle, crafts, rides, games, cakes,
preserves, 2nd hand goods, free 10
minute massages and kids’ workshops. The
workshops will cover learning to crochet
friendship bracelets, drawing caricatures
and comic making. Free entry. 10am-3pm.
78A Oakover Road Preston. Enq 9480 5622.
20 to 23 November
Frankston’s Christmas Festival of
2014 Australian Masters • Kids rule
Lights • Frankston is transformed into an
enchanted land where magic happens
and dreams really can come true. 5-10pm.
Free entry with costs for rides, food and
amusements. Davey Street Frankston.
at the Masters! Special kids viewing areas,
golf simulators, interactive zones and
more! The nation’s best golfers will be on
show to inspire a new generation of Gold
Jacket winners and there will be plenty of
chances to pick up a few tips. Free entry
for kids under 16 with a paying adult. The
Metropolitan Golf Club, Golf Road Oakleigh
South. www.australianmasters.com.au
21 to 23 November
Father-Son Adventure Weekend
• A Father-Son Relationship Investment
Adventure Experience, for boys aged 7
29 November
Wallan Secondary College Family
Fun Day • Great rides, side show alley,
games, show bags, food, markets, raffles,
art display, entertainment and an animal
farm. At midday we will be attempting to
break a group world record, everyone is
invited to join in. 9am-2pm. 100 Duke Street
Wallan. Enq: 5783 4338.
Join us on Facebook
22 November 2014 www.aussiekids.net.au
Interesting Bee Facts
Help the squirrel
find the right path
to the acorns
Looking for an
entertaining activity
for your child’s
next PARTY?
Watch your child’s imagination run wild!
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★ Honey comes in different colours and flavours. The flower where the
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www.aussiekids.net.au November 2014 23
Looking for something to do this week-end with
the family . . . the answer is Aussie Kids online
What’s On Calendar.
With a user-frendly system it’s easy to search for
events happening in your local community.
Aussie Kids What’s On Calendar is aiming to
be the best and most comprehensive calendar
available for families in Australia.
All listings can be uploaded free of charge. So if
you have an event you would like to promote to
a broader community go online now.
www.aussiekids.net.au