MAGAZINE.COM.AU
ISSUE 100 - JANUARY 2020
back to school issue
EDITOR IN CHIEF
Bianca Medina ART DIRECTOR
Bianca Medina DEPUTY EDITOR
Caroline Meyer CONTRIBUTORS
Sheree Hoddinett Amy Adeney Lance Green Hudson Marques Victoria Borodinova Caroline Hernandez Josh Applegate Ricardo Moura Hal Gatewood Joseph Gonzalez Cody Black Sai De Silva CONTACT
My Child Magazine North Parramatta NSW Sydney Australia +614 11 572 877 editorial@mychildmagazine.com.au
Contents 6
40
86
Smart Back To School Tips
Birth Injuries To Mum
Toy Reviews
10
46
92
Teaching Beyond Basic Education
Back to School Guide
Childhood Sexuality
16
52
98
Empower Your Kids To Make
Is Your Child Starting School &
Dad Read - Parenting Tips For
Decisions
You’re Totally Overwhelmed?
Seperated Dads
20
58
102
Stress Management Tools For Kids
Get The Look Interiors
Problems That Can’t Be Fixed
26
68
106
Ways To Help Your Kid Cope At
5 Reasons You Should Consider
Blogger - The Domino Effect
School
Getting Your 8-Year-Old Child A
32
Phone!
112
74
Book Reviews
36
Dummies And Soothers
80
Risks And Treatment Of Rectal Prolapse
Common Food And Eating Concerns
Fashion
122 Fashion Feature: Real Pretty Kind
132 Recipes
146
MY CHILD DIRECTORY
DISCLAIMER: It My Child Magazine and mychildmagazine.com.au are wholly owned by My Child Magazine (ABN 79 167 787 662). No other parties or individuals have any financial interest in the company or in My Child or mychildmagazine.com.au. My Child contains general information only and does not purport to be a substitute for health and parenting advice. Readers are advised to seek a doctor for all medical and health matters. The publisher and authors do not accept any liability whatsoever in respect of an action taken by readers in reliance on the recommendations set out in this magazine. Reproduction of any material without written permission by the publisher is strictly forbidden. We cannot accept responsibility for material lost or damaged in the post or for any unsolicited manuscripts and photographs. All reasonable efforts have been made to trace copyright holders.
Bianca Medina editor-in-chief Editor’s Letter Hello 2020. I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas and New Year spent hanging out with your loved ones and close friends! Well what a year 2020 is going to be! I’m excited by the chance of making this a new beginning! I have so much change coming my way, the biggest change, that I’ve longed for and at the same time wished away, is the new school routine that’s heading my way! As my only child, I have been busy enjoying these last moments with my darling Max before she embarks on her schooling journey that is sure to turn our lives upside down! I want to preserve every memory I can of my precious 4 year old before she’s 21 and moving out!!!! Ok, I know that last statement was dramatic! My bother in law told me that if your child is starting kindergarten in a new year that the school, they are going to may allow you to send your child to school vacation care vs. sending them back to day care. I didn’t even know this was a thing and I went to the school orientation and all! Anyhow, we were lucky that our new school offers this service for the incoming kindergarten children so I enrolled her in the school vacation programme so that she would have the opportunity to familiarise herself with her new surroundings before she starts at her new school this February. Fingers crossed, I really hope this makes a difference when Max attends school in February, I’ll keep you all posted! So, we are going to see some exciting changes coming to My Child in 2020 the first we be the relaunch of our social platforms towards the end of January with heaps of new comps that are sure to get you as excited as I am! Until Next Month
Bianca oxo
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Smart Back To School Tips written by: caroline meyer
Back to school can be chaotic. Making sure everyone has everything they need for the day and making it to school on time can be stressful for everyone. Here are a few tips to make back to school easier. PUT A ROUTINE IN PLACE Make adjustments if necessary over the first week, but put a routine in place so you know at what point each person is with their morning routine. Maybe have a chart where the kids can move along a magnet with their face or name on it as they complete tasks. This way you know at a glance who is lagging behind and may need some help getting ready. For the first two days, get everyone up 15 minutes early to make sure they can follow the routine and get out the door in time. You can then adjust the routine for an earlier or later start if needed. MAKE SURE EACH KID KNOWS WHAT BELONGS TO THEM Maybe use colour coding for backpacks, lunch boxes, water bottles and so forth. Have a tray or hanger in their colour with their clothing for the day and make sure clothing is labelled with names to prevent things going missing at school. Have a spot near the door to hang backpacks so there isn’t a mad rush to find them when it is time to leave. PREPARE BREAKFAST EARLY If you make a cooked breakfast in the morning, you can try doing it the night before and warming up the food in the morning. If you do cereal, have it out and ready on the table, along with bowls and cups and additions such as chopped fruit, honey etc. so breakfast is quick and simple in the morning. For quick, on the go breakfasts, you can chop up fruit the night before and in the morning add yoghurt and make smoothies they can drink for a healthy energy boost to start the day. PREPARE LUNCHES THE NIGHT BEFORE Add the snacks, fruit and other foods that don’t need preparation into the 8
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lunch boxes the previous night. Most sandwiches are okay overnighting in the fridge as well. If you prefer to make fresh, leave this task for the morning and make sure you have allocated enough time to get it down before the mad rush to the door. Water and juices can also be prepared the night before and placed in the fridge to stay cool, ready for the next day. HOMEWORK Once the kids are safely to school, you have a breather until they head home after school. You can set up homework stations for the children at home with all the items they may need to complete their homework. Have the stationary to hand and ensure that everything is packed back in to place after homework is complete. Use tubs, jars and bottle to store stationary and label with names or colours for each child so there is no fighting over what belongs to whom. Make sure the workspace is adequate and chairs are comfortable. Set times for work to be done as well as for breaks. AFTER SCHOOL ACTIVITIES Pack bags for after school activities such as ballet or swimming the night before and have it ready by the backpacks at the door or place it in the car for the next day. Have a check list of equipment if needed so that you make sure you have everything packed. When you get home, unpack the bag so items that need to be washed can go into the laundry. Place the equipment back into the bag so nothing is mislaid. You can probably think of a few more tips and tricks to make back to school a lot less stressful for you and for the kids. Handy lists and charts are a good way of keeping track. Routine lists for the kids can be set up and explained and maybe even used before going back to school so they get used to them prior to the back to school panic. Keep your cool, everything will fall into place soon enough! JANUARY 2020 | My Child Magazine Issue #100
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TEACHING BEYOND BASIC EDUCATION Written By: Caroline Meyer
At school children are taught to read and write and other skills that they may need when they have to venture out into the world to find employment or start their own businesses one day. Many kids, however, are not taught the basic life skills or even core values and ethics. Things that they will need if they are to survive on their own in the high-tech world that we currently live in. Start teaching them when they are young, and they are better able to become self-sufficient, capable, independent adults. LIFE SKILLS Laundry You can start teaching your child about doing laundry from the age of 5 to 6. Let them help sort the clothes into colours. Let them measure out the washing powder and fabric softener required. When they are a little older you can teach them how to program the washing machine and actually do the load of washing. They can also learn to fold and pack away the dry clothing and once they can reach, hang the washing out to dry (or use the tumble dryer if needed). Planting Seedlings Teach your child how to make a hole big enough for the seedling and its growth medium and how to transfer it gently into the soil. Nurturing the plant and watering regularly can be a very satisfying experience and may encourage your child to grow food plants, herbs and more in the future. Gift Wrapping This is another skill you can start early on. Most kids love to give gifts and they will enjoy getting involved. As they get older, you can teach them how to measure and cut the paper, wrap the gift and stick the tape on to hold the paper in place. Teach them about removing price tags and wrapping upside down so the top of the gift does not have the folded down parts on it. Using A Hammer You can start this one around the 6 to 7-year mark for boys and girls. Start with a small, lightweight hammer and soft wood. Use nails with a wide head and ensure the wood is held firmly in place.
You may need to start the nail at first as it may be difficult for your child at the beginning. Allow them to hammer in a few nails and they may just join you in DIY projects in the future. Writing Letters Writing letters may seem old fashioned with texting, internet and so forth but it is still a good skill to have, especially later in life for job applications and so forth. When they are small, you can get them to tell you what to write and then allow them to draw something on the paper. Let them put it in the envelope and attach the stamp. Allow them to post it. When they are older, you can teach the proper layout of a letter and how to address the envelope. Reading A Map What happens if you are on a road trip, you get lost and there is no signal and no GPS to help you find your way? Teach them from young to be able to read maps. This can be done at home using the symbols on the map and having the child search for treasure by finding symbols that correspond to the map. Making A Meal Cook together, this is a great bonding experience and you can start this from an early age. As they get older you can teach them to make simple meals such as toasted sandwiches, noodles and salads. You can teach them how to cut up fruit with a butter knife and spoon some yoghurt over it for a healthy fruit salad. By the age of 10 they should be able to cook simple meals and make smoothies in the blender. Teach kitchen safety around electrical appliances, hot surfaces and sharp objects early on. Practise makes perfect and the more you allow them to learn, the better they will do. By the time they are teens they should be able to cook easy meals for everyone. Basic First Aid You will have to be calm when it comes to basic first aid so that your child doesn’t freak out at the sight of blood and is able to treat minor wounds himself. Show them how to put pressure on the wound to stop the blood flow and clean the wound with water and a disinfectant. Show them how to apply ointment and a plaster or bandage depending on the wound. When they are older, you can move on to CPR, shock treatment and getting help in the event of an emergency. Teaching them to remain calm under these types of pressure circumstances will also empower them in the future in emergencies. Cleaning From little you can teach them to clean up their messes such as spilled food, drawings on the walls and wiping up toothpaste off the sink. As they get older you can teach them about cleaning the bath and toilet, washing dishes and so forth. They will learn what to use to clean different surfaces and also to wash their hands thoroughly after cleaning. They can learn to make their own beds, put their toys away and eventually vacuum or run a broom around. If you instil basic habits from small you will have less problems fighting with your teenager to clean up their rooms. Shopping While a lot of products can be bought online, we still go to the grocery stores fairly 12
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“Many kids, however, are not taught the basic life skills or even core values and ethics. Things that they will need if they are to survive on their own in the high-tech world that we currently live in.�
regularly to buy food and household cleaning products. Teach your children about looking at pricing and comparing the quality, quantity and prices of a product before buying. Teach them about budgeting and deciding what is more important to buy when it comes to a strict limit to spending. From the age of 6 or 7 you can give them pocket money for household chores and as a parent you no longer purchase treats. They have to learn to buy treats that they can afford and to stick to the amount of money they have. Mom and Dad shouldn’t be chipping in with extra funds for these purchases as it teaches them that you can only buy what you can afford. They will also start comparison shopping and may surprise you how thrifty they can be. Hygiene Brushing teeth and hair, bathing, washing hands, wearing clean clothes are all learned habits. You can start these from young and explain to your children why they are important. Set up age appropriate skill charts and teach children to accomplish these tasks on their own as they become able. Have them mark off the completed tasks to ensure all of them are completed. They will eventually do them automatically without the checklist. Time Management This is an important skill for adults and kids alike. Help your child learn to measure how low a task takes and how to stick to a schedule, allowing enough time for everything they need to do. Staying focussed and getting tasks completed within a certain time period will help them learn basic time management. This is an invaluable skill and will also make your mornings a lot easier. Ordering Food Allow pre-schoolers to look at the pictures on the menu and order from there. Older children that are able to read should be allowed to tell the server what they would like to eat or drink. This helps with confidence and being able to speak to people outside of their social circle. Remind them of their manners and to say please and thank you and to treat the server with respect. JANUARY 2020 | My Child Magazine Issue #100
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Home Maintenance Little ones can help with throwing things in the garbage or changing the toilet rolls. Older children can be taught to unblock a drain, change a lightbulb and even wash the dog. There are always little tasks that need doing around the home and it is good to get children involved from an early age. When they get older you can even get them to help with painting and more complex home maintenance tasks. These are all things they will probably have to do for themselves one day so learning the skill is invaluable. Values Teaching children ethics and values will help them become better people. Teach your child about honesty and the value of telling the truth. You will also have to be a good role model in this area for the message to sink in. If your child does tell a lie, encourage them to find a way to tell you the truth and accept the consequences instead of making it worse with further falsehoods. Let your child learn to make up for their misdeeds. When they do something they shouldn’t, explain why it is wrong. Ask them questions so they are able to verbalize the lesson learned. Get them to apologize or fix what they have done as far as possible or make amends in some way for what they did. Let them express their feelings but they need to learn that there are consequences for inappropriate actions. Sometimes saying sorry is not enough and they should learn to practise the adage that “actions speak louder than words” by doing something to show their remorse. This will help them learn about fairness and treating people well in addition to making up for mistakes. Teach your children to take on challenges and follow through. Encourage them to try harder and reach further to achieve their full potential. Provide honest feedback without excessive praise or criticism. Be supportive while helping them develop and persevere. Encourage them to try new things and even to improve on those things they have already tried (pass or fail). Praise and rewards have their place, but quite often, just bolstering them with your support is enough to keep them striving to succeed or do better. Teach them how to give and receive love and affection. You do not need to say “I love you” fifty times a day but hearing it at least once or twice can go a long way to developing a loving relationship with your child. Responding to hugs and kisses is a wonderful way to enjoy the exchange of affection. You can also tell your children about loving people in the family and show affection to your partner and other family members as well. When they are older, you can also explain about inappropriate affection and if they ever feel uncomfortable to remove themselves from the situation and talk to you about it. Instilling values and teaching your children basic skills that they would not generally learn at school helps them grow and prosper into confident individuals that are able to do things for themselves. When they venture out of the home one day, things may be quite scary in the big world, but arming them with skills and values that they can use will help them along the path to success! 14
JANUARY 2020 | My Child Magazine Issue #100
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EMPOWER YOUR KIDS TO MAKE DECISIONS written by: CAROLINE MEYER
We make decisions every day. Most of the time we don’t even think before doing it. This comes from a lifelong habit of having to make decisions. This is a skill that has to be learned. The decisions we make in life can have a major impact on our development as people. Decisions are often make autonomously, but sometimes they are made jointly with other or after discussion with other people and taking their input into account. Most decisions are small and relatively easy, but some decisions can be quite difficult. Some decisions can have a small impact and others a serious impact on our lives. Some have far reaching consequences, while others may have little to no impact.
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Our decisions are often based around what we know and include our personal value judgements while sometimes we make decisions with very little knowledge of potential pitfalls. This is all a part of life. For our children, we often take the decisions out of their hands. We decide what they should wear, what they eat, where they go and a myriad of other decisions based on what we believe is the best for them. By making decisions, people get to decide to be adventurous or to walk away from decisions that take them out of their comfort zones. We can decide to be creative or conventional, innovative or traditional. You can decide to take a chance or not. Decisions can be big or small and can have very little or potentially major consequences. At the end of the day, there is no getting away from making decisions. Deciding to get out of bed in the morning is a decision! We need to teach our children how to make decisions. TEACHING GOOD DECISION MAKING Good decision making is generally based around knowledge. Having the facts can help have a foundation for the decision. Start with a small decision such as deciding what to wear. Explain what the weather is like and what activities they may do during the day and allow them to decide what clothes are appropriate. It is fine if they get it wrong, you can then guide them into make a better decision. When they are older, you can help them learn to find sources or information when it comes to finding facts to create that initial foundation. Teach them to read, observe and listen and to ask questions if they are unsure. This will help them make considered decisions. Once they have enough information, they need to reflect on what they have learned before making the decision. They can also reflect after making the decision so they can learn from what they chose to do, good or bad. Most decisions are not final, so they need to know that they can change their minds. This may not always be possible, and there may be windows of opportunity to do so, but they will also learn what can and what can’t be changed after making a decision. LEARNING TO NOT TAKE ACTION Sometimes deciding not to do something is also a valid decision. Choosing not to get involved, choosing not to give in to peer pressure, choosing to walk away instead of responding are all valid 18
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choices that can be made. Everything is not always black and white. In some instances, they can choose to do nothing and watch how things unfold. Pick your battles. TEACHING PRIORITIES Teaching a child to decide on what is urgent or most important as opposed to what can wait or be attended to later is a big part of teaching them to make decisions for themselves. Learning to put homework ahead of playtime or doing chores before watching TV needs to be learned. Otherwise nothing important would ever get done. Teach them that decisions that have greater consequences should most often be tackled first before the less serious ones. Help them to develop forward thinking skills to determine what may happen as a result of a decision that they make. This will also help them decide which decisions or actions to prioritize over others. EXPLORE OPTIONS Decision making can impact on creativity. Help your children explore options and opportunities. Let them choose new things to try out without fear. Help them assess potential consequences and accept them but not be afraid to try something because of potential failure. They need to be able to decide to try something first before making judgements on it such as taking up an instrument or trying a sport. You can support them in this process by explaining the pros and cons, and then allowing them to choose what they want to do. Creating fear of trying stifles creativity and potential. Forcing a child to do something is also likely to have a negative impact. Give them the choice, armed with knowledge so they can learn and grow. LEAD THE WAY Show your children your decision making skills. Explain your processes for decision making and let them know that there will be mistakes and failures along the way, but that these can be used to learn and grow as well. Don’t be afraid to loosen the reins a bit and allow your child to make basic decisions for themselves from a young age. This will help them be able to make the harder decisions later when we may not always be there to pick up the pieces. Create a strong, independent teen by instilling a good decision making process from the get go. JANUARY 2020 | My Child Magazine Issue #100
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Stress Manage Tools For Kids
ement WRITEN BY: CAROLINE MEYER
Stress is on the increase for children and teenagers in this fast-paced society of today. As the new school year approaches, it brings with it further challenges. For older kids, this may include moving away from home to study. There may be other stresses at home such as moving to a new house, divorce, a new baby or any other major changes that bring on anxiety and even panic. Your child may have social anxiety or worry about their academic abilities. For little ones just starting school there could be separation anxiety and a lack of confidence. Depression is also being diagnosed a lot more often among older children and teenagers. There is a lot more pressure on kids to conform and fit in as well as to compete with their peers than there was in the past. Some of the symptoms of high levels of stress include panic attacks, high levels of anxiety, headaches, stomach aches, withdrawal and isolation, exhaustion and fatigue, depression, sadness, feeling worthless or helpless, appetite issues and sleeplessness. There are ways of managing stress to prevent it becoming excessive and difficult to deal with. You do need some stress in life to encourage motivation and provide extra energy to reach goals. It is when the stress becomes overwhelming that it can affect mental and physical wellbeing. Many older children will look for ways to reduce anxiety and will try drugs and alcohol as a means to numb themselves. DISTRACTION Help children learn to use distractions as a way of coping with excess stress. Make a list of activities that they find calming and relaxing or that take their minds off what is stressing them out. When the anxiety starts to build, have them pick out an activity and get out of the stressful situation for a short period of time. This needs to become a habit early on as it can be difficult to get out of the stressful situation once you are in it. Learning how to break free from the anxiety can be difficult, but once it becomes a habit, it is easier. Distracting themselves from the anxiety producing situation switches the brain from worry mode to focus elsewhere and breaks the anxiety cycle. These activities can be as simple as colouring in, playing with a pet, taking a walk, reading a chapter in a book, talking to a parent or friend, anything that deactivates the stress producing centres. Limit the time spent on these activities though or they will never get back to the task on hand. 22
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DEFUSE THE SITUATION Help your child learn to defuse the situation that is causing anxiety and stress. Most of the time the stress comes from situations with an element of fear. Fear of failure is one of the major ones. Get them to look at the situation in ways that make it less threatening. Help them to see what might happen and what the long-term outcome would be should they fail. Show them that there are other options and not everything is all or nothing. This can help reduce high levels of stress. Imagining outcomes and what they can do in the event of failure, helps them realize that they can cope if they happen to fail and that for the most part, they can try again. Help them look at a future time when the particular stressor has passed. This will help them build confidence and be able to manage the stress better. TALK ABOUT IT We often think that if we ignore the stress or try and push it down inside that it will get rid of it. This generally does not work and it will eventually boil over causing a greater disruption. Teach your child to examine and accept the emotion such as sadness, anger, fear and to not put themselves down for feeling the way they do. Once they have accepted these emotions, they can find ways to move past them. The sheer negativity around the emotions can actually increase stress to an enormous degree. Have them learn to write down or verbally say how they feel. Acknowledge the emotion to yourself or talk to someone about how you feel. For older children, keeping an adjustment diary where they write down the emotions can help when there is no one they feel confident in talking to about the situation. Getting the emotion out in the open and acknowledging it without a value judgement can help children get past them and push on through to their goals. You can start helping your child deal with stress from a young age using the distraction techniques. As they get older, they can use some of the other techniques to help reduce stress. Should the stress become overwhelming and lead to panic attacks and depression, consult with your family doctor in order to get help. Depression is a disease that is very debilitating, but it can be cured.
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WAYS TO HELP YOUR KID COPE AT SCHOOL WRITTEN BY: CAROLINE MEYER
Your child learns from you from the day they are born. You are their first teacher and will teach them the basics as well as some of the most important lessons they will learn in life. When it comes to school, there are teachers to teach your children, but having you involved will make for a more positive experience and most probably a better long-term outcome. This doesn’t mean you need to go out and get a teaching degree. It just means you need to be present and supportive. HOMEWORK Start from the beginning of their school career encouraging them to do their homework. If they don’t have homework in grade one, create some creative work for them to do for a period of time when they get home from school. Set a specific time to start and let them know they can only go and play once they have completed their homework. This establishes a routine and a habit which will make things easier as the homework gets harder. Make sure you have a space set up that is comfortable and reasonably quiet. There should be minimal distractions. Usually setting up a desk space in their bedroom works the best, but for some children, they may need more monitoring. You can set up a study area somewhere that you can keep an eye without there being too many disturbances while they work. Make sure they have everything they need at hand in order to do their homework. This may mean you need to buy extra supplies so that they have for school and for home, but there is nothing more annoying than when they need to work and they are missing the basic essentials to get the job done. Keep track of what is used up so it can be replaced before it is needed again. 28
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Be available to help them as far as possible. When they are in the first grade, they will need a lot of help and you should be able to assist without doing it for them. Help them figure out how to do things themselves. Let them make mistakes and then help them correct them. People really do learn from their mistakes. Being involved also helps your child realize that it is important and that you support them. As they get older, you may find that it becomes more difficult to help with homework. Make sure that they have what they need to do the work and monitor to make sure it gets done. Further assistance might need extra lessons, tutoring, discussions with the teachers and so forth if they need it. They do need to at least try on their own first. The school will usually be able to help if your child needs help with assignments, homework and so forth. STUDYING You can help your child prepare for tests and exams. Make sure they have a quiet space in which to study and all the materials they need. Do research on standardized tests that can be used for preparation. Make sure they have time available to study without distraction. Check that they are studying. Remove distractions such as phones while they are studying. Be involved and assist them in any way possible. HEALTH AND WELL BEING Making sure your child eats healthy, nutritious foods can have a major impact on their performance at school. Cut out the sugary drinks and foods and make sure they get plenty fruit and vegetables. Drinking water and staying hydrated can also help them do better at school. Make sure that health issues are addressed and that they visit the dentist regularly. Being healthy and JANUARY 2020 | My Child Magazine Issue #100
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happy fosters positivity and better outcomes at school. DISCIPLINE A disciplined child that is used to routines and acceptable behaviour will do better at school than a child that is easily distracted, causes disruptions in class and is unable to learn as well as he should. At home have times for engaging in specific activities such as TV and games. Encourage creative play and outdoor games. Being physical and doing exercise also helps a child stay healthy and better able to focus at school. Make sure there are reasonable bedtimes in place and routines to ensure they are getting enough quality sleep each night. COMMUNICATION AND READING Start reading to them when they are young, so they develop a love of books and stories. Encourage them to read when they are older. Reading is an essential component to everything they will do at school and even once they start their careers. Spend time talking to your child and listening to them. Developing language skills comes from interactions with the important people in their lives. Give your child a developmental step up by encouraging open communication. This helps them learn to listen and be able to express themselves. It also shows your child that you are interested in them and what they have to say. Remember that you are able to speak to the school and the teachers should you have any concerns as to your child’s performance at school. Get involved and stay active in your child’s day to day school and homework activities. Getting a good start leads to children that are able to work independently, stick to routines and produce excellent results during their schooling. 30
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e
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by: Amy Adeney from Busy Bookworms
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THREE BY STEPHEN MICHAEL KING
Stephen Michael King is t he m ast e r picture book writer and i l l ust r at or of classics including Mu t t Dog! and Henry & Amy. This hum or ous b ook tells the story of Three, a hom e l e ss three- legged dog who sp e nd s hi s days walking about the c i t y f i nd i ng warmth and f ood. When T hr e e f i nd s a loving family who ad op t hi m , his lif e fills with more c ol our and amazement, f rom cardb oar d c ast l e s to pancakes on Sundays.
Th e soft wa t erc olou r i l l u s tr a ti o n s b ea u t ifu lly b rin g t o lif e th i s s to r y o f gra t it u d e a n d a c c ep t in g d i f f er en c e. Th is is a st u n n in g, mean i n g f u l r ea d a lou d for c h ild ren a ged th r ee a n d u p
LI T TLE P OS SUM BY ROGER PRIDDY
R o g e r P r i d d y h as c r ea t ed s o m e of t he w o r l d ’s m o s t s u c c es s fu l and e nd u r i n g n o n -fic t io n ear ly lea r ning bo o k s . W i t h b r ig h t p h o t o g r ap h s of a do r a b l e A u s t r a lia n a n ima ls and sw ee t, r h y m in g t ext , Lit t le P o s sum is a l o v e l y way t o in t r o d u c e b abies t o s om e o f o u r m o s t r ec o g n is able cre a tu r e s . Ea c h p ag e feat u r e s a dif f e r e n t t o u c h -a n d -feel t exture f o r b a b i e s t o exp lo r e, wh ic h will st imu l a te t h eir s en s es a n d help de v e l op e a r l y m o t o r s kills . T he g e n t l e tex t and bold image s will in t er e s t y o u n g children from birt h o nw a r d s , a n d cre ate an engagin g re a d i n g e x p e rience to s hare toget h er.
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T H E POWER O F SH OWI N G U P BY DANIEL J. SIEGEL, MD, AND TINA PAYNE BRYSON, PHD
What’s the one thing a p ar e nt c an do to make the most d i f f e r e nc e t o their child in the long t e r m ? T he research is clear - be pre se nt , show up! One of the best pre d i c t or s f or any child’s future happ i ne ss and success is whether at l e ast one adult in their lif e has consi st e nt l y shown up for them. W i t h al l of today’s demands and di st r ac t i ons, this might sound like a t al l or d e r , but showing up doesn’t t ak e a l ot of time, energy, or money.
I AM PERFECTLY DESIGNED BY KARAMO BROWN WITH JASON “RACHEL” BROWN, ILLUSTRATED BY ANOOSHA SYED
Ba sed on t h e la t est b r a i n a n d a t t a c h men t resea rc h , t h is b o o k s h a r es st ories, sc rip t s, simp le s tr a teg i es , illu st ra t ion s, a n d t ip s f o r wh en o u r kid s a re st ru gglin g or wh en th ey ’ r e en joy in g su c c ess. Th is is a p o wer f u l gu id e t o c u lt iv a t in g yo u r c h i l d ’ s h ea lt h y emot ion a l la n ds c a p e, a n d en su rin g t h ey feel sa fe, se en , s o o th ed a n d sec u re.
Wr i t t e n b y K ar a m o Br o wn , c u l ture e x p e r t o n th e h it Net flix s eries Q ue e r E y e , an d h is s o n Ja s o n , this e m p ow e r i n g s t o r y s ees a b o y and his f a t h e r t a ke a w alk t h r o u g h the cit y , c h a t t i n g a b o u t all t h e w ays in w hi c h t h e y ar e p er fec t ly d es igned f o r e a c h ot h er . Fr o m p layin g in t he p a r k a n d g et t in g ic e c r ea m to dr e s s i n g u p fo r H a llo w een and st a r i n g a t t h e mo o n , t h e fat h er and so n r e m e m b er p as t even t s an d l ook f o r w a r d t o t h e fu t u r e t o g et h er . T hi s i s a j o y f ul ce lebration of lov in g w ho y o u a r e, e x actly as you a re. F un n y a n d warm, w ith bright a n d liv e l y i l l u s tr ations , this is a book for f a m i l i e s o f a ll k inds , and would ma ke a p e r f e ct g i f t for fathers w ith son s a g e d 4 - 6 y e a rs old. JANUARY 2020 | My Child Magazine Issue #100
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Risks and Treatment of Rectal Prolapse? Written by: Caroline Meyer
The last 15cm of the large intestine is referred to as the rectum. This part of the bowel is just above the anal cavity. Ligaments and muscles hold the rectum in place by securely attaching to the pelvis. Rectal prolapse can occur as a result of long-term constipation or diarrhoea, previous rectal surgery, childbirth, straining during bowel movements and large haemorrhoids. Having whooping cough, cystic fibrosis, multiple sclerosis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease or being partially or completely paralysed as also risk factors for this ailment. Being over the age of 40 is another risk factor for prolapse. The ligaments and muscles weaken causing the rectum to move out of place. SYMPTOMS OF RECTAL PROLAPSE Pain, bloody or mucus tainted discharge from the tissue which is protruding, no urge to defecate or faecal incontinence are potential signs of rectal prolapse. Feeling something protruding from the area when wiping is also 38
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an indication of prolapse in this area. TREATMENT OF RECTAL PROLAPSE Treatments include stool softeners, enemas, suppositories or bulking agents to reduce pain and prevent straining during elimination. This generally eases the symptoms but, in most cases, surgery is required to correct the rectal prolapse. A colorectal specialist will operate to reattach the rectum to the posterior part of the inner pelvis. Most people recover well after surgery and long-term effects are usually minimal. PREVENTION OF RECTAL PROLAPSE Diet plays a big part in preventing a rectal prolapse. Eat high-fibre foods and drink plenty of water and other fluids. Avoid constipation and straining during bowel movements. Get treatment for haemorrhoids and longterm diarrhoea or constipation. Rectal prolapse is uncommon and is usually found in people older than 40 and affects more women than men. It can rarely occur in children and usually children younger than 3 years old. Women with complicated pregnancies or who have had more than five pregnancies have a higher risk. This is not an ailment that responds to home remedies and even if the symptoms can be eased by analgesics and treatment of constipation or diarrhoea, surgery is usually required in almost all cases. Kegel exercises may also help relieve some of the symptoms. Consult your doctor should you suspect you or your baby may be suffering from a rectal prolapse. JANUARY 2020 | My Child Magazine Issue #100
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Potential Birth Injuries To Mum written by: CAROLINE MEYER
Birth can be quite a scary process especially for first time mums. Some injuries can occur during the birth process that are natural and usually unavoidable although there are some that happen which can be avoided. Injuries in childbirth can be traumatic and can have a long term physical and psychological impact. During delivery of larger babies vacuums and forceps may be used which can cause trauma to the mum and baby. Being forewarned is being forearmed. Here are a few of the injuries that occur more commonly during childbirth, the risks, complications and treatment of the injuries. RISKS OF BIRTH INJURY AND TRAUMA • Difficult delivery or labour • Large babies weighing in over 4kg • Early babies born before 37 weeks • Prolonged labour • Babies lying in abnormal positions (breech, buttocks-first, shoulder dystocia etc.) • First vaginal delivery • Induced labour • Assisted birth (forceps, vacuum etc.) COMMON INJURIES TO MOMS • Vaginal or perineal tears during birth • Ruptured uterus • Prolapsed uterus • Post-partum Haemorrhage • Post Natal depression Many women suffer tears during a vaginal birth (up to 90%), most of which are perineal tears which affect the skin between the anus and vagina. These are generally small tears which heal quickly. Occasionally the tears can be more serious and can tear into the anal muscles and the vulva. These injuries can take a long time to heal. There may also be long-term effects as a result of these tears. These tears have to be monitored carefully to avoid infection and can be quite painful. If you have a lot of discomfort, it is best to get the tear checked out to make sure you are healing properly. Extreme tears can damage the sphincter and even the muscles and lining of the anus. These types of tears are handled on an individual basis as they are unpredictable and may need various interventions to heal. 42
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If you have concerns about tears during birth, especially if you are aware that you are carrying a larger than normal baby, you can speak to your medical professional during antenatal visits. You may be advised to try perineal massage to help the skin stretch without tearing during birth. You may also be offered the option of an episiotomy during birth. This is an incision made during the birth to reduce the uncontrolled tearing of the perineum. This cut helps the vagina open wider for baby to pass through with less risk of tearing deeper into the muscles. The most common episiotomy is a cut from the vagina at an angle to the side of the perineum. A midline episiotomy is another option which is a straight cut from the vagina towards the anus. This is rarely done. An episiotomy is generally down at the request of the mother or if the medical professional needs to help birth a baby which is in distress and other delivery interventions are not helping. Most women prefer an episiotomy to a spontaneous tear as it is more controlled and reduces the risk of a serious tear. It does however take longer to heal than a natural tear. Complications of episiotomies include: scarring and pain during intercourse, incontinence (flatulence and stool control), pain when passing urine, pain when sitting or when active, and rectovaginal fistula (tear in the wall between the anus and vagina which can cause faeces to enter the vagina). These may require further interventions and possibly a secondary repair, requiring longer healing periods. POST-NATAL DEPRESSION AND POST-TRAUMATIC STRESS DISORDER Injuries and traumas during childbirth or just a bad experience during or after the birth itself can have an impact on the mental well-being of new moms. The drop-in hormones after birth can also induce PND. Some of the more common signs include: feeling isolated or a sense of guilt, feeling depressed or a sense of failure, difficulty bonding with baby, avoiding anything birth related, severe fatigue and possible withdrawal. There are many other potential signs and symptoms that will require medical intervention in order to recover from it. It is important to consult your doctor to get treatment if you are feeling this way. POST-PARTUM HAEMORRHAGE It is normal for there to be some blood loss after having your baby. This bleeding can last for 2 to 6 weeks after the baby is born. It is usually fairly heavy for the first few days after birth and gets lighter until it eventually stops all together. Some women experience abnormal amounts of bleeding. JANUARY 2020 | My Child Magazine Issue #100
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This can be quite dangerous for the new mom. Heavy bleeding for the first 24 hours after birth is known as immediate PPH or primary PPH. Heavy bleeding that continues after the first 24 hours and up to 6 weeks is referred to as delayed or secondary PPH. Primary PPH happens in around 5% of pregnancies and can result in the loss of around 500mls of blood. It can however be more severe and result in the loss of 2L or more of blood. Secondary PPH happens in around 2% of births and is usually as a result of an infection after delivery of the baby. PPH can be life threatening and steps are usually taken to reduce the bleeding as quickly as possible. If you experience heavy bleeding, ensure that you get medical attention immediately. RUPTURED UTERUS A ruptured uterus is when the womb tears during pregnancy. This is more common in women that have undergone previous caesareans and usually occurs at the site of the scar. This needs to be treated immediately as it can be life threatening to mum and baby. The treatment usually involves an urgent caesarean and repair of the uterus where possible. In cases where repair is not possible, a hysterectomy is usually done. The surgery often requires a transfusion and antibiotics for the mum as there is often a lot of blood lost. A ruptured uterus makes future pregnancy risks and all future pregnancies will require a C-section. PROLAPSED UTERUS Childbirth can result in some of the pelvic organs bulging into the vaginal canal. In up to 50% of vaginal births there may be some prolapse. This is generally not life threatening but can affect quality of life. Symptoms of prolapse include pain during sex, urinary incontinence, heavy feeling in the perineal or vaginal area. In mild cases of prolapse pelvic exercises, weight loss and treating constipation can assist in improving the situation. A severe prolapse may require surgical repair to the pelvic floor muscles or a hysterectomy (removal of the uterus) preventing further births. REDUCING THE RISKS OF BIRTH INJURY While it may not be possible to prevent birth injury, you can reduce the risks by being in the best possible health. Do pregnancy safe exercises especially pelvic floor exercises. Avoid constipation as straining during elimination can weaken your pelvic muscles. Discuss a caesarean with your doctor if you are carrying a large baby (although this comes with its own risks). Perineum massage can also help stretch the skin to avoid tears. 44
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Is Your Child Starting School & You’re Totally Overwhelmed? Written By: Noelle Sadinsky
Your first child is starting school and you don’t know where to start? There’s so much to do and it can be confusing. This is where we can help and share our expertise. Firstly breathe. Always breathe and know that everything is figureoutable! Check out this is a brilliant book by Marie Forleo, I recommend you read it may just help: Everything is Figureoutable: One Simple Belief to Create Unstoppable Success. Now Back to starting school, it can be a stressful and emotional time but it’s also the start of a new phase for you and your child as you embark on an exciting journey. Strap on your seatbelt and get ready for the ride! We’ve been there. Twice actually. With one son in high school and another almost finished primary school, we know about the first day of school and it’s best to keep things simple. Your child’s school probably had an Orientation Day and they got to dress up in their new uniform and check out big school. Schools are getting so much better at preparing kids and parents so take some time to go through all the information you were given and get a list going of ‘must have’ items. You can also have another list of ’nice to have but not compulsory’ items that I’d suggest you wait to buy in case they really aren’t needed. Ensure you have the school uniform organised (if there is one) and I suggest you get at least 2 of each item for the first term, ie 2 x sport shirts, 2 x sport shorts, 2 x regular uniform shirts, 2 x regular uniform shorts, 1 x hat, 1 x bag, etc. Start with the summer uniform and then as you get used to how things work, you can add 54
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to their seasonal gear. Spend time in the uniform shop to ensure you only get the necessary items and ask lots of questions. A library bag might be nice, but your child might already have a perfectly good bag at home you can use. Try not to go crazy getting multiples of everything as you may find you don’t need them all. You might also ask if your uniform shop takes old gear and sells recycled gear at a discount - keep the ‘used and reuse’ cycle going if possible. I’m sure to always pass on items once they get too small to another family as well as they are always appreciated! School shoes are so important and be sure to go for quality over price. Your child will be doing so much in these shoes - lunch time running, skipping and playing - so make sure they fit. Get fitted at your local kids’ shoe shop and ensure there’s plenty of space for their feet to grow into - you want these babies to last as long as possible! Get your child involved in picking the shoes they want (with some guidance of course) as it’s all part of the process and helping to teach them to be responsible for themselves and their things. School lunches can also be daunting, but they don’t need to be. Australia is hot and often school lunch bags are left outside in the sun but not to fear. Be sure to get your child a Fridge-to-go Lunch Bag that they’ll use for years and works just like a fridge. You can be confident in packing your child’s favourite meals, knowing they’ll stay fresh and most likely get eaten. Even easier, now there’s a Fridge-to-go School Lunch Starter Pack for $79 that includes all the accessories you’ll need to hit the ground running. The Fridge-to-go pack includes a lunch bag, reusable snack pouches, a stainless steel bento box, a bamboo spork, the bag and a spare panel. You don’t need JANUARY 2020 | My Child Magazine Issue #100
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anything else. The thin panels that are placed inside the bag should be kept in the freezer when not being used so they always ready to go. In the morning the panel gets put in the zipped pocket, fill it with your kids favourite lunch items and they’re ready to go. After school, it’s great to get them to unpack their lunch bag and replace the panel in the freezer. Start with jobs in the family now and keep them going - you’ll be grateful later and will raise beautiful and kind humans. In our family, we make our primary child’s lunch for him although he needs to unpack his school bag, including his lunch bag, when he returns home. Once our kids start high school, it’s up to them to make their own lunch and learn that buying it at the canteen every day with their own money is expensive. They learn pretty fast and even get up earlier to ensure they are organised which teaches them amazing responsibility. It can be hard to let go, at the right age of course, but taking baby steps for you and your kids will only make them more resilient and successful in their school life. Once your child starts school you’ll get to know other parents and you can all share information to see what they’re doing and see if you need to tweak your routine at all. There’s always room for improvement and listen to your child as they’ll let you know what their friends are doing and what’s important to them. A bit of planning ahead of time goes a long way to managing stress and overwhelm. School is a long journey and it should be fun and exciting for your family so enjoy the process. Check out the Fridge-to-go starter pack by visiting: www.fridgetogo.com.au/collections/back-to-school/ products/school-lunch-starter-pack. 56
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Photo: Sleepy Silk
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Eos Feather Lamp Shade - Grey $249 amara.com/au
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Dipped Round Basket with Handles $14 kmart.com.au JANUARY 2020 | My Child Magazine Issue #100
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5 Reasons You Should Consider Getting Your 8-YearOld Child A Phone!
While it might feel like summer holidays have only just begun, the school bells are just around the corner and there are loads of parents tossing up whether now is the right time to get their child a mobile phone. 8 years of age is that sweet spot, where your child has just started to gain their own independence, but they may sometimes feel a little too young for their first mobile. Here are five reasons you should consider getting your 8-yearold a mobile… Safety & Security The most obvious of them all, a mobile provides a safety net in terms of opening a line of communication between you and your child at all times. You can rest easy knowing that they are only a call away! With today’s technology, GPS tracking is also available on most smartphones, so if you wish to keep track of your little tyke, you have the relief of knowing where your child is, at all times. Convenience School drop off or after school activities can be a nerving time for loads of parents, saying goodbye to your little ones before they commence a whole day without communication or contact. Getting a smartphone for your kid brings an extra sense of security when you are unable to reach them whilst they are with friends or at school. That extra line of connection can sometimes help bridge the gap if school pick up changes due to a last-minute emergency, or when your child isn’t sure who is picking them up that day. Comfort For Your Child Growing up can be a daunting time for kids, as they begin to mature and grow independent, it is important that they always feel safe and comfortable. By having a smartphone, your child can eliminate the stress and fear they may face in an uncomfortable situation. While it is reassuring for parents 70
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“The most obvious of them all, a mobile provides a safety net in terms of opening a line of communication between you and your child at all times.”
to be able to contact their child, kids also feel more secure knowing that their parents are a phone call away. Introducing Safe Practices And Healthy Habits With Technology Let’s face it, technology is all around us and is a super important part of day to day life. Introducing mobile technology at a young age is not always a bad thing for a few reasons. The first; it’s not as much as a novelty once your child hits high school and is likely to get distracted by it later down the track. It also gives you the chance to introduce healthier phone habits, such as only using it when it’s really needed, and avoiding distracting apps such as games or social media. There are a whole bunch of software systems that can help you stay in control of what your child views, or can download on their phone, such as FamilyZone. The Responsibility Factor It is common for a child to ask for an expensive present for Christmas or their birthday, which they might noy be interested in the following year. By gifting your kid a smartphone, it comes with an added responsibility and teaches them how to value and look after an expensive product. There may be a risk that your child might not bring the phone home in one piece, but they need to learn to take care of the smartphone as it is a valuable possession.
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SO, WHAT ARE YOUR OPTIONS? The Affordable Mobile - Alcatel 3X When you think about actually purchasing your child’s first phone, you often think of the jaw-dropping price tag attached to it. The good news is, this doesn’t always have to be the case. The Alcatel 3X smartphone is a great mid-range, reliable option that has all the cool features of a top-end phone, at less than half the price. With 64GB of storage, a triple rear camera plus FaceKey and fingerprint security, your kid can enjoy all the benefits of a new phone. It’s a must have for kids who love to Instagram, stream movies, play games and browse the web, with its HD+ Super Full View display. Furthermore, the best-in-class photo capabilities are demonstrated through its super wide-angle lens, which spans 102 degrees, and its real-time bokeh, providing users the ability to take fun and artistic photos. The Alcatel 3X is available from JB Hi-Fi for $299.
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A Phone Alternative - TCL MOVETIME Family Watch If you’re not quite ready to give your child their first phone, but still want to stay connected, you could consider a kids smart watch. The TCL MOVETIME Family Watch is a great option for those kids that can’t yet handle the responsibility of a smartphone and the perfect gateway for parents to introduce connective technology to their child without the worry of social media and the “internet nasties” that are associated with owning a smartphone. With the MOVETIME Family Watch, parents can keep in contact with their children via direct twoway calling, video calling, photo-sharing and messaging on its single touch point display. It is packed with elements to provide parents with peace of mind whilst their kid is at school through geofencing and geolocation features. Customisable geofencing of the school can be conveniently created on the watch and notifications will be sent if your child leaves those areas. Additionally, the watch encourages an active lifestyle through its pedometer feature, allowing children to track steps, calories burned, and distance walked. They can compete in activity rankings with friends and set new goals, while parents can “like” children’s daily activities to give motivation and encouragement. The TCL MT40 Kids Watch is available now for $199 from Big W in pink or blue.
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Dummies For Little Ones – The Pros & Cons Written by: Caroline Meyer
Why are dummies so controversial? Many babies worldwide derive comfort from sucking on a pacifier but is this a bad or a good habit to instil in your baby? There are pros and cons to allowing your baby to use a dummy. Weigh up the facts and you can then decide the best choice for your baby. 76
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WHAT IS A DUMMY? Dummies are also known as soothers or pacifiers. They are usually a rubber or silicon teat which is attached to a plastic shield, so they are not swallowed or sucked into the mouth to become a choking hazard. They are used to pacify a crying or niggly baby to soothe them and help them to sleep or reduce restlessness and tears. They usually have little handles at the back to make them easier to pick up and may even have thin plastic chains attached to the back so you can pin it to baby’s bib or top so it doesn’t not get lost. The sucking motion is usually enough to help your baby become calmer and often go off to sleep. A dummy is designed in a similar shape to a nipple to replicate the sucking they do during feeding. This motion is comforting and familiar to the baby and helps reduce stress to mom and baby. This is usually a pretty good reason for many parents to offer their baby a dummy. It is recommended that you don’t use a dummy before your baby is around a month to two months old so they can get used to latching for breastfeeding or sucking on the rubber nipple for bottle feeding before the non-feeding nipple is introduced. If the dummy is removed before the age of 3 months, the baby will quickly forget this form of soothing. Should you wait until later, it can become a bit more difficult to remove the dummy as the baby has become reliant on it for comfort. It is best that your baby does not use a dummy after the age of 12 months though. After this point the dummy can start affecting speech and may even cause speech delays. Try and wean them off the dummy as fast as possible especially during the day to help reduce the risk of speech delays. You may have a JANUARY 2020 | My Child Magazine Issue #100
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few bad days while getting through this process, especially at night, but they do get over it. If they are still relying on a dummy to soothe with at the age of 3, the dummy will potentially cause problems with the development of their teeth. It may force the front teeth forwards which could result in dental issues and possibly the need for braces or other corrective dentistry later on in life. This is a potential risk for some children and will not affect all children that get rid of their dummies later on, but where possible, use orthodontic shaped dummies to reduce the risks. PROS OF USING A DUMMY A dummy helps soothe the baby and reduces the length of time it cries for when all other issues have been addressed such as dirty nappies, hunger, pain and so forth. This is especially appreciated by other people when baby is in a confined space with other people such as a restaurant or a plane. Some research suggests that sucking a dummy may also reduce the risk of sudden infant death syndrome. CONS OF USING A DUMMY Babies do not learn to self-soothe and rely on the dummy for comfort. Dental issues and speech delays are possible if the dummy is used for an extended 78
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length of time. Misplacing the dummy can lead to hysteria as baby does not know how to comfort themselves without it. Dummies are often not as clean as they could be and are not sterilised enough leading to babies picking up illnesses from a dirty dummy. Sucking a dummy can also lead to a higher risk of ear infections. GETTING RID OF THE DUMMY At your child’s dental check-up get the dentist to explain to them why they need to stop using the dummy. Coming from an authority figure, they may better understand and take it seriously that the dummy can make their teeth grow out wrong. Decide to do the dummy disappearing act on a weekend, preferably when no one is visiting. This gives you 2 to 3 days to deal with broken sleep, crying and the rest of the stress that comes with it. Try and reserve it for a time when you and the child are in good health and when there have not been a huge amount of other stress causing issues already playing on your mind. Be prepared to offer a bribe such as a new toy or bed cover to sleep with. Praise them for being brave and clever in giving up the dummy. Don’t back down once you have started. It will only take 3 or 4 days to break the habit and build up their confidence of sleeping without it. If you break down and give them back the dummy, the next time will only be harder and they may lose their confidence in getting by without it. A dummy has its place when it comes to a fussy baby or one who needs extra comforting, but should you use a dummy, try and give it up easy on before baby becomes reliant on it. The quicker you stop the dummy the better for your baby’s long term development. JANUARY 2020 | My Child Magazine Issue #100
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COMMON FOOD EATING CONCER
Written by Caroline Meyer
D AND RNS
While parents are often concerned about what their children eat and how much they are eating, there are also concerns about inappropriate behaviour at the table. In general, monitoring their weight, general health and correcting table manners are the best ways to keep eating issues in check. For most children, eating issues are quickly outgrown. For some kids the behaviour may need intervention to correct, especially where there are health concerns. The media is full of messages about obesity and its detrimental effect on health and welfare. However, unhealthy food is advertised by good looking, slim actors which sends a mixed message to children. The opposite problem also occurs when there is an obsession with healthy eating and maintaining or reducing weight, which can lead to eating disorders, even in really young children. Most food-related behaviours can be addressed by changing the 82
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foods available in the home and improving activity as well as encouraging discipline. This still allows for occasion treats without being obsessive about food. Some of the signs to look for that may indicate a deeper problem is if the child continually worries about their weight or how they look. If they start to lose weight or gain weight at an abnormal rate there may be an eating problem that needs to be addressed. Eating disorders such as bulimia nervosa and anorexia nervosa are not as common in younger children but are more often seen in adolescent children. There have however been cases of children under the age of 12 suffering from severe eating disorders. UNDEREATING Slowed growth and a decreased appetite can occur in children around the age of 12 months. This is fairly common and not usually a problem. When kids are coerced or forced in to eating or a lot of focus is put on eating habits, this
can lead to an eating problem. The excessive attention may work in the opposite direction of what the parents want to achieve. The child may refuse to eat in order to gain the attention usually given when they do so. They may even vomit when parents try to force deed them. The high levels of negativity and tension during mealtimes makes for emotional scenes and unpleasantness. Try setting a variety of healthy options in front of the child, leave it for half an hour and then remove the food, without discussion or undue attention to eating / not eating. During mealtimes drinks other than water can be offered, but the rest of the time, only water should be allowed. You can also offer 2 or 3 healthy snacks during the day, which does not need to be eaten at the table. Have the main meal at a table, with everyone talking and enjoying the meal together, without other distractions. This may also encourage the child to join in. Behaviours such as dropped food can be ignored during the meal, but the child should participate in cleanup afterwards. If none of these methods work and the child is undernourished or is not growing at a reasonable pace, consult with your medical professional. OVEREATING Moderation is key. Obesity can have long term health effects on your child. It can lead to self-esteem issues, health conditions and even problems interacting socially. Children that are overweight are also more likely to become overweight adults. Do not use forced diets to encourage a child to lose weight, instead offer healthy food choices and remove the temptation of sugary and fatty foods. Encourage moderation and give them foods that are enjoyable without being unhealthy. Encourage exercise and play that they enjoy. Getting a child active is a good way to bring their weight in to check without forcibly reducing their meal sizes. Eating food containing high fibre combined with plenty of fruit JANUARY 2020 | My Child Magazine Issue #100
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and veg as well as drinking water will go a long way to preventing or reducing obesity in young children. POOR TABLE MANNERS Poor table manners can include throwing food, eating with your mouth open, fidgeting or simply eating too slowly. Sit your child or children down and lay down the rules of eating at the table. Explain what you expect of them as well as what the consequences will be for not following the rules. You can also instil a reward system for good behaviour at the table such as giving stickers after a meal where they have behaved and allowing them to cash in 10 stickers for a small reward (preferably not food related). PICKY EATERS Some kids will simply refuse to eat the food that has been prepared and demand other food items. This can make it difficult for parents that are trying to ensure their kids get a balanced, nutritional diet. Giving in to fussy eaters may result in the problem becoming even worse. There may be food phobias, sensory issues or motor skill problems causing problems, this is especially true if certain textures seem to be an issue. If you suspect this, you should discuss it with your doctor for further testing. If there are no underlying issues, the power struggles at the table could be reinforcing the negative behaviours. Offer your child a variety of foods and avoid arguments over what they do or do not eat. Encourage them to try foods, but do not force feed or threaten. Unless there is a problem with the child’s health or they are not getting the nutrition they need, there is no real cause for concern. They will eventually outgrow this phase as well.
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ALWAYS HUNGRY Some children will continually complain that they are hungry. This can result due to confusing the body’s signals of thirst or exhaustion for hunger. Boredom, excitement and anxiety can also be confused for hunger. Besides 3 proper meals a day, a child should not be eating more than 2 to 3 small, healthy snacks in between meals. Teach your children to eat only until they are full. As long as they are growing well and maintaining a good weight, there should not be any cause for concern. Limit extra servings and additional snacks. Suggest methods of reducing other emotions and see if it has an effect on their need to graze. FOOD FOCUS Some children may be overly focussed on food. This can also lead to overeating and obesity. Children that constantly ask what is being offered for the next meal, especially after having just completed a meal, may be overly food focussed. Other children may obsess about the calories in food and may refuse to eat certain foods they consider “bad”, out of a fear of becoming overweight. Teach your children about nutrition and ensure the emphasis is on their health, and not how many calories are in a carrot. The best way to ensure your kids eat healthy and behave at the table is to set a good example. Eat healthy and prepare healthy meals for your family. Participate in exercise and other healthy practises. Show your children how to use silverware, request condiments and use a glass or serviette at the table as well as other behaviours that we consider to be desirable when sitting at the table. Learning from a role model such as a parent is the best way to improve eating habits in children. JANUARY 2020 | My Child Magazine Issue #100
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T O Y r e v i e w s
by: SHEREE HODDINETT JANUARY 2020 | My Child Magazine Issue #100
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JELLYCAT SMALL CECIL BEAR $44.95
4/5
Lo o k in g f o r a m ig h t y s n u g g le? S a y hello to Cecil Bear. A gorgeous grizzl y i n y um m y t o f f e e f u r , h e ’s a ver y h u g g ab le honey. With big curvy arms, chunky- s of t p aws, a cur io u s f a c e a nd t u ft y ear s , t h is gentle bear takes care of his f riends and e v e r y one a ro un d h i m .
Our V e r d i ct – C ute , cuddly and s ure t o b e ev ery on e’s b est f rien d , t h is sn u ggl y b ea r wi l l d e f in i t e l y w a r m the cock les of anyon e’s h ea rt ! A q u ic k gla n c e in h is d irec t ion s h o ws h e h a s a g e n tl e n a t ure and will lean in f or a h u g a t a sec on d ’s n ot ic e a n d I d ef i n i tel y l o v e h ug s ( j u s t a s k my girls ) ! H is s oft fur is p erfec t t o t h e t ou c h a n d a h in t of a c h eek y s m i l e sh o w s h e ’s r e a dy to join you for a bit of misc h ief if n ec essa ry . If y ou r lit t le o n e ( o r b igg e r ch i l d ) l i k es be ars , you won’ t b e a b le t o wa lk p a st t h is lit t le gu y ! Ava i l abl e fro m: S en d A Toy, S i l l y M illy M oo, L il T r easur es, Shor ties
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FLASHING LIGHT UP YO-YO $8.95
4/5
Light u p th e s k y an d yo -yo like a p r o! With auto- return, high speed axle and l i ght we i ght bo dy th i s u b e r - c o o l lig h t u p yo -yo will give you the edge and make tricks l i k e wal k i ng the do g a n d r o c k t h e b a b y a wa lk in the park!
Our v e r d i ct – T ak ing this little beaut y for a sp in d ef in it ely t ook me b a c k a fe w y ea r s b u t I thin k I s t i l l m a n age d the bas ics ! My girls were keen t o giv e it a go (esp ec ia lly i n th e d a r k ! ) , alt ho u g h th e y m ay need a bit of ti me t o h on e t h eir skills, t h e y o-y o sp en t mo r e ti me ru nnin g a l o n g t he floor then s pinni n g b a c k u p . Somet h in g t ells me t h ey wil l b e s h o wi n g m e so m e co o l t r ick s in no time and I t h in k I’ll ju st st ic k t o my b a sic wrist flic ki n g y o -y o i n g b e c au s e I k n o w it w ork s ! This is a grea t c h oic e f or t h ose lookin g t o t ea c h th ei r k i d s th e e asy in s a n d o u t s of yo-yos w ith a c ool ligh t u p t wist . Ava i l abl e fro m: Ha rry Ha rtog B o okseller s
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LEAPFROG LEAPSTORY $69.95
5/5
Turn a n y t i m e i n t o s t o r y t im e w it h LeapStory. Not just f or bedtime, Leap S t or y he l p s de ve l op c h i l d r en ’ s lis t en in g c o mprehension skills by letting them hear st or i e s r e ad t o t hem , w h e n ever t h ey wa n t . W hile a n a r r a to r r ead s t h e s t o r y, watch dif f erent images and animation s shi ne ont o t he ce i l i n g a n d w all. Ch ild r en c an li sten to content from f our categories: cl assi c st or i e s a nd p oe m s ; m yt h s , leg en d s an d fables; sleepy- time stories; and songs . Pl us, af t e r yo u in s ta l l th e Lea p Fr o g Co n n ec t application to your computer you can downl oad 60 a ddit i o n a l s t o r ies , p o ems an d s o ngs for free. Childr e n c a n c h o o s e fr o m a w id e range of classic stories like ‘The Three L i t t l e Pi gs’ a nd ‘ T h e L i t t l e Mer m a id ’ ; m yt h s a nd legends including ‘Robin Hood and T he G ol d e n A r r o w’, a n d ‘T he T o r t o is e a n d T h e Hare’. Learning songs include f avouri t e s l i k e ‘ O l d Ma cDo n a l d H a d a Fa r m ’ a n d ‘ T winkle, Twinkle, Little Star’, while the sl e e p y -t i m e se le ct i on f e a t u r es s o n g s like ‘ H u s h Little Baby’ and ‘Frère Jacques’. Y o u c a n a l s o p er s o n alis e yo u r LeapStory by recording your own voice r e ad i ng y our child’s f a v o u r i t e s t o r y. S u c h a lo v ely idea for families who live far aw ay or t r av e l re gular l y . Le a pS to r y w i l l h elp s p ar k yo u r c h ild’s imagination with stories any time , not j ust at re a din g t i m e . Our Ve r d i ct – I l ove it! W e are all abou t st ories, rea d in g (a n d writ in g) in ou r h ou s e a n d th i s am a zi n g s t o r y r eading device has ju st a d d ed a n ot h er elemen t t o st ory t ime! M y g i r l s a n d I a lwa y s l a y d o wn together to read books a n d n ow we c a n c u d d le ev en more a n d l i s ten to o u r f a v o u r i te m agical fairy tale s wit h ou t me h a v in g t o p osit ion my self for ev e r y o n e to s ee t he bo o k . I a l s o re ally lik e the fact you c a n rec ord y ou rself rea d in g a st ory fo r y o u r k i d s , e sp e ci a l l y f o r thos e nights whe n I’ m n ot u p f or t h e c h a llen ge of rea d in g t h e s a m e s to r y f o r a b o u t th e b illionth time! D efinit ely a b ig t h u mb s u p for t h is on e! Ava i l abl e fro m: B i g W , good to y stor es and online r etailer s. 90
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VTECH CRAZY LEGS LEARNING BUG $34.95
4/5
W o bb l y s u r p r i s es a wa it w it h t h e Cr azy Legs Learning Bug interactive pull t oy . C hi l d r e n ca n so r t a n d p o p s h ap es a s t h ey sit on the f loor or use the storable co r d t o p ul l i t w he n th e y s ta rt t o wa lk. T h is a dorable bug has f our easy- grasp, colo ur f ul shap e blo ck s f or s o r t in g . P lac e t h em in the matching slots on Mummy ladybug’ s b ac k t o lea r n a b o u t s h ap es , c o lo u r s , n u m bers and nature objects. Press down on t he b ab y ladyb u g on M u mm y Bu g ’ s b ac k t o pop blocks out after they are sorted. H e ar p l ay f ul music a n d s ou nd s wh en yo u p r es s the light- up buttons on the bug’s back. I n l e ar ni ng mo de c h i l d r e n h ea r a b o u t n a t u r e, shapes and colours, with more than 3 5 sound s and phra s e s . I n m u s ic m o d e, lis t en t o over 2 5 songs and melodies such as F l i ght of t he B umb l e B e e a n d Old Mac D o n a ld . Give little nature lovers a leg up on lea r ni ng.
Our Ve r d i ct – I still re membe r the fu n of wa lkie t a lkies wh en I wa s kid . Fa st for wa r d a f ew ye ars a n d th i n g s have changed a lit t le b it , t ec h n ology wise a n y wa y , t h ey d o n ’ t s o u n d a s sc ra t c h y a s th e y us ed to. It’ s hilariou s wa t c h in g my girls p la y wit h t h ese. Th ey s ta n d i n th e st a y ro o m a n d y e ll into the m, not very effec t iv e, h a h a ! Tea c h in g t h em t o u se th em l i k e a p ho ne h a s a l s o had funny res ults wit h more y ellin g d own ou r h a llwa y b ec a us e th ey th i n k the y n e e d to r a i s e their voice to talk in t o t h em. An d t h eir t op ic s of c h oic e, wh o k n ew h o w silly m u m m y r e ally is ? H aha! The s e wou ld b e id ea l f or kid s wh o lov e t o p la y a d v en tu r e ga m e s a r o u n d t he yard or jus t for a b it of in d oor f a mily f u n on a ra in y d a y o r a f ter d a rk. Ava l i abl e fro m: K m a rt, good to y stor es and online r etailer s, JANUARY 2020 | My Child Magazine Issue #100
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CHILDHOOD SEXUALITY WRITTEN BY CAROLINE MEYER
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This is one topic that is often not discussed but sexuality is very much a part of who we are as people. Sexuality is about relationships, intimacy, love, values, feelings and attitudes. Discussing sex and sexuality is very important when it comes to healthy development. You need to be open (age appropriate) with your child and allow them to be able to discuss their growing curiosity with you without judgment or shame. This needs to be open and honest discussions where you and your child can talk about their questions in this regard as well as talk about everything that goes along with it. Children will demonstrate certain sexual behaviours at certain periods of their development and this is generally quite normal. This will include body curiosity, the differences in genders, masturbation and later on, their own sexuality. This is to be expected and nothing that you need to be concerned about. SEXUAL BEHAVIOUR IN CHILDREN Babies will start to explore their own bodies when they are just a few weeks old. There is pleasure in stroking their own skin and even in touching their own genitals. They may even stimulate enjoyable feelings by rubbing against pillows and toys or rubbing their legs together. This is nothing to be concerned about and is perfectly normal. Babies are not embarrassed or ashamed of their bodies. These kinds of feelings only come later when they are taught by caregivers that certain things are not acceptable in society. Shame is a learned emotion. Masturbation may also start quite young and in little children it is best to ignore it and be tactful with how it is handled. This is often not a problem when children are little but around the age of 3 or 4 you can discuss with your child that while the behaviour is normal, they should not do it around others and should do it in private only. From the age of around 5 94
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and onwards, children will generally be discreet in touching themselves and will start being secretive about it. Some children will masturbate a lot and some will not touch themselves at all. It is often thought that masturbation increases in children that are tired, bored or needing comfort. Some children will masturbate for almost any feeling of unhappiness and not seek solace in any other activity. At this point, you may want to seek help from a professional. SEXUAL CURIOSITY IN CHILDREN This generally happens around the stage when they start asking the names of things. This is especially true if you have boys and girls in the home. They will notice that their body parts are not the same and will want to know why. It is important that they learn the proper names for the various body parts instead of nicknames which may differ from family to family. This will also help them indicate injury or pain in these areas by saying the proper words. Whether you choose to allow your child to see you naked or not is a personal preference and different families may have different attitudes towards being nude, but your child should know their bodies are not shameful. Be aware that other families may have different attitudes especially if your child regularly goes for sleep overs etc. Your child will need to understand that other people may not always have the same attitudes towards nudity and that they would need to adjust to the rules in those homes. PLAYING SEXUAL GAMES Out of a natural curiosity, your child may play sexual games with other children. This can include games like mommy-daddy, doctor-doctor or simply “if you show me yours, I’ll show you mine”. This is generally harmless and they learn about what JANUARY 2020 | My Child Magazine Issue #100
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is the same and what is different on other children’s bodies. For the most part, this type of innocent play can be ignored. If you feel uncomfortable about your child playing with another child in this way, you can calmly steer the games in other directions without embarrassing the children or making them feel bad. Role playing and imitation is common in childhood games and kids may also play at dressing up. This can include boys dressing up as girls or girls being “daddy”. This does not have anything to do with their sexuality and is simply just role playing at a young age. It is actually quite good for girls and boys to roleplay as opposite genders and take on the stereotypical traits of the opposite sex. Let them have fun and enjoy their play without any value judgement. Some children do have gender dysphoria and identify as the opposite gender from a young age, but for most children, this is simply play. Should your child be gender diverse or identify as the opposite sex from a young age, you can seek professional assistance to guide you through handling the situation so that your child grows up well-adjusted and unashamed of their sexuality. BE POSITIVE ABOUT SEXUALITY Your skin and other organs are sensitive to touch for a reason and generally it feels good to touch your own body. Your attitude and values towards self-touching is passed on to your child and their openness and honesty will be determined by you as well. Keep the communication open and allow your child to talk to you about their bodies, changes, curiosity and concerns. If your child can talk to you openly about 96
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this subject from a young age, this should continue on into puberty and their teen years. This will also allow them to come to you with sexual questions, allowing you to give them factual information. You can also discuss your family’s values with them at this point. This allows your child to be positive about sexuality and to accept that it is a normal part of their being. They will also then be able to approach you with physical and emotional concerns. CONCERNING SEXUAL BEHAVIOURS While masturbation and general physical exploration is quite normal in small children, abnormal behaviour should be investigated. A small child should not be exposed to explicit sex activities in their home or on television. This can be quite distressing and confusing to them and is inappropriate. If your child displays overtly sexual acts such as trying to have sexual intercourse with a toy or another child (or even an adult), keeps touching themselves obsessively even when told to stop, tries to force other children in to sexual play, touches the genitals of adults, tries to initiate oral contact on other people’s genitals, becomes aggressive if you try and prevent them from carrying out the sexual act or other inappropriate behaviour that goes way beyond the knowledge they should have at this age, then you should seek professional assistance as soon as possible. This could point to sexual abuse or witnessing sexual behaviours beyond their ability to process. Seek assistance from the authorities should this be the case so that the child can get help and perpetrators be brought to book.
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PARENTING SEPARATE
G TIPS FOR ED DADS
written by: Lance Green
Separation and divorce is hard on the parents and the children. As a dad that is dealing with sadness, loneliness, anger, confusion and other emotions that may accompany a breakup of a relationship, it may be very hard to put on a positive front for the children. You want to be a good Dad, but it may seem very difficult to adjust to the new paradigm, especially if you and your ex are not getting on at all. For some Dads there is no contact with the children after a split which can be quite difficult to deal with as well, but we are going to address options for Dads that do have some involvement with their children. DON’T PUT THE CHILDREN IN THE MIDDLE Children have a risk of psychological damage from witnessing physical violence as well as verbal assault between parents. Try and improve the relationship with your ex to the point where you are able to maintain a cordial relationship in front of the children. Resolve conflicts in a civil manner, out of earshot of the kids. They do not need to be in the middle of your arguments and definitely do not need to be forced to choose sides. If you are unable to be civil to each other, make use of a go between for collecting and dropping off of children or pick up and drop them off at school. Use notes or a book to pass along messages related to the child’s well-being or a change in schedule etc. If this does not work, seek out a mediator to help the both of you remain calm when dealing with the other. Do you best to keep your cool and speak to your ex-partner as if they are a work colleague so that you remain civil without letting emotion cause discussions to degenerate into a fight. Do not get the child to carry messages to the other parent. Do not undermine the other parent’s authority and do not run them down in front of the child. Placing your child in a tug-o-war situation will only harm the child which may even lead to them resenting you. BE INVOLVED IN THEIR LIVES Having input from a Dad helps a child build moral strength, selfesteem, social and intellectual competence. Dads also get to enjoy psychological growth, emotional growth and improved well-being from positive interactions with their children. You can be involved in their school activities, watch them playing sport, attending functions as well as parent/teacher interviews. Attend extracurricular functions such as dance recitals, plays, karate, soccer matches and so forth. Show interest in their hobbies and listen to them when they tell you about their lives. When they are not with you, you can send them texts, emails, voice notes or phone them to stay in contact. Celebrate birthdays with them, even if it is not on the exact day. 100
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LET THEM KNOW YOU LOVE THEM Children often think they are the cause of their parents splitting up and that they did something to cause it. You need to explain that you both still love them very much and that this is something between the adults. They need to know they are not to blame and that you still fully support and cherish them. Reassure them with words but also with hugs. Give them emotional support as well as always being open to their questions. IF POSSIBLE, HAVE A PARENTING PLAN WITH YOUR EX-PARTNER It will make things a lot easier for the children if both parents agree to certain basics when it comes to the child’s upbringing. Discipline in both homes should be similar and routines such as bedtimes, homework etc. should be kept consistent as far as possible. This will maintain discipline while helping the children feel more secure. If rules are consistent and clear, there is far less uncertainty and children know how to behave no matter whose house they are at. If you cannot come to an agreement, you may want to consult a mediator to assist in putting together a shared parenting plan. After the separation or divorce, you need to try and stay close enough to the home you shared with your partner so that you can remain involved in the life of your children. This will help your connection with your children and give them some stability as well. This may sometimes be impossible due to work and other commitments, but if it is at all possible, try and stay nearby. YOUR OBLIGATIONS If your ex-spouse is the custodial parent, you will be responsible to provide child support for your children. It is important that you keep up these payments as there can be serious consequences to not paying. Should you have problems with payment due to a change in circumstances after the separation, you need to look in to how this can be sorted out legally instead of just skipping payments. Make sure that the time spent with your children is positive without having to make grand gestures every time you are together. You don’t have to throw a party or take them to the ice-rink every time they visit. Just spend quality time together, whether it is cooking dinner together, playing board games or having a karaoke night at home. Your children will appreciate your time and your love and this is what makes the time together memorable, not what you bought them or where you took them. Enjoy the time together and let them know they are loved. JANUARY 2020 | My Child Magazine Issue #100
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Relationship Proble Be Fixed
written by: CAROLINE MEYER
ems That Can’t
Every relationship will have its trials and tribulations. There are ups and downs which you have to face as a couple. Getting to grips with your problems as a couple will often help resolve them and even make your relationship stronger. There are some problems that may spell the end of a relationship, where there is not much that can be done without a huge change in the dynamic. While couples may be able to work through some really trying situations together, there are some things that may not be able to be fixed. CONTEMPT OF EACH OTHER Running your partner down and flinging stones at your partner, sarcasm, blame and contempt will break down the foundations of your relationship. The fighting and back-biting would need to stop and both partners come to the table without blame and finger pointing if there is to be any chance or rescuing the relationship. Breaking each other down is one of the top indicators of a likely separation. If both partners are not prepared to compromise and stop the war, there is no chance of rescuing the relationship. ARGUING OVER NOTHING You are two people with their own opinions and you will not always disagree. This can be on small things such as where to squeeze the toothpaste, to serious situations that may shock either or both of you. Being prepared to agree to disagree is the best way to handle these deviations in opinion for the most part. When one partner or both partners look for reasons to argue, when they provoke each other or wilfully refuse to forgive each or let go of small disagreements, this spells the beginning of the end. This is often accompanied by a refusal to talk about the problems while holding grudges, which leads to a complete breakdown of the relationship. INFIDELITY For some relationships, an infidelity may not spell the end of it. If there is honesty and open discussion and a commitment to not cheat again in the future, there may be a way to save the relationship. Chronic cheating with dishonesty and constant injury to the other spouse is sure to drive a wedge between the two people in the committed relationship. Some people may still try for some time to try and fix their relationship, but the breakdown of the relationship is often inevitable. Constant cheating will usually lead to a bitter end. SECRECY If one partner is sneaky and secretive about their movements, their mobile phone calls and messages and social media, there may be a serious problem 104
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in the relationship. Privacy is something else altogether and everyone has the right to some privacy. Being secretive in order to sneak around behind the other partner’s back to spend time with other people or in pursuits that exclude the other partner will eventually lead to a breakdown of the partnership. Being secretive can make the other partner feel isolated, abandoned and even feel distrusted by their partner. There needs to be openness and honesty in a relationship for it to work. Hiding things from your partner will lead cause negative feelings and may escalate arguments and emotional pain. SEX Being incompatible in the bedroom can be a major rift in a relationship. Having vastly different sex drives can be a major problem. Small differences where 1 partner has a high sex drive and one has a medium drive or one has a medium drive and the other has a low drive is usually not too much of a problem and compromises can be reached. The problem comes in where one person has a very high drive and the other partner has a very low drive or no drive at all. For most people a mutually enjoyable sex drive is a very important component of a long-term relationship. A lack of sexual fulfilment can lead to one partner seeking satisfaction elsewhere or losing interest in the other partner. This can also be applied to emotional intimacy. If you want to be close and share everything with your partner but he or she is dismissive and cuts you out, it may be impossible to be completely fulfilled in the relationship. There needs to be a balance of physical and emotional intimacy that satisfies both partners for a relationship to work long term. LACK OF COMMUNICATION Your partner should be more than just a lover; they should also be your best friend and the person that you can open up to about everything without judgement. Keeping everything bottled up may lead to an eventual explosion and the dissolution of the relationship. You need to be able to express your feelings as well as talk to your partner about everything, the important stuff as well as the inconsequential. If you are unhappy in the relationship, you should be able to talk to your partner about it and come to a resolution through open communication. A breakdown in communication will quickly lead to a complete breakdown of the whole relationship. While there may be a little hope for fixing relationships with these kinds of issues, by the time they get to this point, it may already be too late. Talk to your partner openly and honestly and most issues can be resolved before they get out of hand.
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T HE D OM INO EFF ECT
WRITTEN BY: SHEREE HODDINETT
So it begins…another year is already underway and I’m still trying to work out where the last one went?! Gone in a blur. Each year seems to keep flying by faster and faster but every one continues to present new and different challenges. I may get knocked down but I just get right back up again and again and again. Parenting is simply a repetitive cycle at times and either you win some (none, it’s really none!) or you just plain lose, even if it’s to a child. I’m still pulling my hair out (explains why it’s thinning a lot) over the attitude I’m copping from my sixyear-old. Yes, don’t worry, I know who the parent is in this relationship and quite often I’d rather hand the responsibility over to my darling daughter, she seems to have all the answers anyway! 108
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She has perfected the eye roll but claims innocence and tries to pretend her eyes have something going on with them. Hands on hips and a quick tongue also feature prominently in her responses to not getting her own way. Lying is definitely not her strong point but she may have a good future in a role involving dramatic acting scenes or even business presentation where she may require a bit of artistic flair. While my frustration bubbles up, my pride also secretly gives her a mental high five for having some serious cheek and definite sass and spunk. I have no doubt, she will definitely leave a mark on this world, not sure what the impact will be though, haha! I think the one thing I’m partly grateful for, is that both my girls still sort of listen when they know they are in big trouble. I’ve probably only got a few more years before their selective hearing switches on full time and I’ve got no chance. Well I can gleefully rub my hands together over the “fun” punishments I can dish out then, <insert evil laugh here>. Sometimes I wish I knew of a way to resolve
things where I don’t have to yell at my kids when they have frayed my last nerve. Apparently there are these parents out there that don’t resort to yelling, how on Earth do you do it? I’ve tried counting to 10, taking a deep breath before speaking and even being super nice but where does it get me? Nowhere but up the proverbial creek without a paddle! And to top it off my girls just laugh at me. Sometimes it’s cute and other times, it just hits that bit harder! But while there is often the negative side, I can’t bypass the positive, the bits where I eat chocolate and drink wine, no wait I mean where my children do something amazing. No really, it does happen, I promise. It’s not all doom and gloom and crazy yelling. That’s only “some” of the time. It’s things like hearing “I love you mummy/mumma” that absolutely floor me and the things they give to me. My big girl likes to draw and she is pretty good at her artwork too but more often than not there is a little message written on her drawings as well “To Mummy, I love you” or something similar. The pile is getting bigger
and I fear I will have to “recycle” some sooner rather than later and that’s the hard part which has to be done in secret! My youngest daughter is a bit of a tough nut to crack at times, she’s stuck in that wanting independence but still really needs mummy phase and doesn’t always know which way is up, but boy does she still know how to melt my heart with a kiss and cuddle. I have no favourite child, I don’t think any parent should, but each to their own. I have soft spots for different traits for each daughter. Although if you ask them I’m always choosing sides, sigh. There is no way of playing fair, someone always ends up unhappy, either one or both of them or me! But at the end of the day, the very long day, I wouldn’t change a thing, maybe a few things, but mostly I would just leave things the way they are. Head on over to my blog www.shereekim.com for some more light-hearted reading. Until next time, enjoy every moment, the good and the bad!
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recipes sourced from: australianeggs.org.au JANUARY 2020 | My Child Magazine Issue #100
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Delicious Gluten-Free Apple & Almond Pancakes INSTRUCTIONS
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1
in a large bowl, whisk eggs, milk, oil and syrup together. stir in almond meal, baking powder, grated apple and cinnamon. mix to combine well.
2
heat a large, lightly greased non-stick frying pan over medium heat. working in batches of 3, pour ¼ cups of batter into the pan. cook pancakes for 2-3 minutes, until bubbles break on the surface and underside is golden brown. flip over and cook for 1 minute.
3
serve topped with a dollop of greek yoghurt, extra sliced apple and berries. drizzle with extra maple syrup and sprinkle with almonds.
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prep time: 10 mins cook time: 10 mins serves: 4 INGREDIENTS 2 eggs 1/3 cup milk or almond milk 1 tbs coconut oil, melted maple syrup, plus extra to 1 tbsp serve 1 1/2 cup almond meal 1 tsp gluten free baking powder grated green apple, plus extra ½ cup sliced to serve ½ tsp ground cinnamon greek yoghurt and strawberries, to serve natural almonds, roughly chopped, to sprinkle
Quick & Easy Prosciutto Egg Cups INSTRUCTIONS 1
preheat oven to 180â&#x20AC;&#x2122;c.
2
oil a 12 cup muffin pan, then ease a slice of prosciutto into each one, leaving 2cm above the pan edge. ensure there are no holes where egg could seep through.
3
place a slice of tomato inside the prosciutto, then a spoonful of shredded cheese into each cup, then crack an egg into each on top of the cheese. season with salt and pepper, and then sprinkle with chopped parsley.
4
bake for 13 to 15 minutes, or until the eggs are cooked as desired. serve hot or cold.
prep time: 12 mins cook time: 13 mins serves: 12 INGREDIENTS extra virgin olive 1/2 tsp oil thinly sliced 12 slices prosciutto egg tomatoes, 2 sliced thickly 12 large eggs grated cheese e.g. 1 cup swiss, gruyere finely chopped 2 tbsp parsley salt flakes & freshly ground black pepper JANUARY 2020 | My Child Magazine Issue #100
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Zoodles & Egg Salad prep & cook time: 40 mins serves: 4
INSTRUCTIONS
1
preheat oven to 200°c. line 2 baking trays with baking paper. place tomatoes onto one tray and drizzle with oil. season with salt. spread parmesan evenly onto remaining tray. bake for 20 minutes or until tomatoes are tender and parmesan forms a golden melted crust. break parmesan crisp into large shards.
2
meanwhile, bring a medium saucepan of water to the boil. reduce heat to low, and when bubbles subside, use a spoon to stir the water until a whirlpool forms. break an egg into a small bowl and gently slide into whirlpool. cook for 3 minutes or until white is cooked. use a slotted spoon to transfer egg to a plate. repeat with remaining eggs.
3
using a spiraliser, turn zucchini into spirals. heat oil in a frying pan over a medium heat. add zucchini and garlic. cook for 3 minutes or until just softened. remove from heat. add basil. toss until combined. divide zoodles between serving plate and top each with a poached egg. serve with roast tomatoes and parmesan crisps.
INGREDIENTS sweet berry truss 260g tomatoes 1 cup finely grated parmesan 4 eggs large zucchini, 4 large trimmed 2 tbsp olive oil 2 garlic cloves, crushed 1/2 cup small basil leaves
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Cheese And Broccoli Fingers prep & cook time: 45 mins serves: 4
INSTRUCTIONS 1
preheat oven to 180c. grease and line a 30cm x 20cm x 3cm deep lamington pan with baking paper.
2
half fill a medium saucepan with water and place over a high heat. when water comes to the boil, add broccoli and cook for 5 minutes or until just tender. drain and rinse under cold water. roughly chop.
3
whisk eggs, cream, flour, salt and pepper (if desired) in a large bowl. add broccoli, shallots, ž cup tasty cheese and ½ cup parmesan. stir until well combined and season with salt and pepper. gently pour mixture into prepared cake pan and spread evenly. sprinkle with remaining tasty and parmesan cheese. bake for 35 minutes or until golden and set.
4
cut slice into wedges or fingers and serve sprinkled with micro herbs.
INGREDIENTS broccoli (650g), cut 2 head into florets 5 5 eggs 1 cup light thickened cream 1/2 cup self raising flour green shallots, thinly 3 sliced 1 cup grated tasty cheese finely grated parme3/4 cup san micro herbs, to serve
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Mini Egg Meatloaf INSTRUCTIONS 1
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preheat 200Ë&#x161; c and line a baking tray with baking paper. place 4 eggs into a saucepan just large enough to fit eggs in neatly. cover with cold water and bring to the boil over medium heat. cook until hard boiled. drain and cool under cold running water until completely cold. peel and set aside. combine mince, breadcrumbs, onion, carrot, tomato sauce, them and remaining egg; mix well with clean hands until thoroughly mixed. divide mixture evenly into 4 and form into a balls and place onto trays. push a hardboiled egg into the centre of each meatloaf and reshape into a small rectangle, making sure to have a flat top. bake 15 minutes. remove and drain excess fat from tray. spoon barbecue sauce over the top of each loaf and return to oven; cook a further 10 minutes. stand on tray for 5 minutes before cutting in half. serve with steamed brocollini and snow peas
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prep time: 15 mins cook time: 15 mins serves: 4 INGREDIENTS 5 eggs 500g lean mince beef 1 cup fresh wholemeal breadcrumbs 1 small onion, grated 1 med carrot, grated 1 tbsp tomato sauce fresh thyme leaves (or 1 tsp 2 tsp dried) 1/3 cup barbecue sauce
Mini Noodle & Sweetcorn Omelette INSTRUCTIONS 1
break up the noodles and place into a heatproof bowl with the peas. cover with boiling water. stand for 2 minutes, then drain well. return to the bowl and add the contents of the noodle flavour sachet, corn and eggs.
2
spray a small non-stick frying pan lightly with oil. heat the pan and spoon 2 tbs of the mixture into a small pile. spread out to about 7cm in diameter. cook over medium heat for 1 1/2 minutes each side. repeat with remaining mixture to make 12 omelettes (you can cook 3-4 at a time). serve with salad.
prep time: 2 mins cook time: 8 mins serves: 4 INGREDIENTS packet fat free chicken 2 75g minute noodles 1/2 cup frozen peas 125g can corn kernels, drained 4 eggs, lightly beaten spray olive oil salad, to serve
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Vanilla Meringues prep time: 45 mins cooking time: 60 mins serves: 6 INSTRUCTIONS 1
Preheat oven to 120 degrees Celsius
2
Beat egg whites with electric mixer until soft peaks form
3
Beat in sugar a little at a time
4
Stir cornflour into mixture, then fold through vinegar and vanilla extract
5
Take 1/3 cup mixture and shape into a small round.
6
Place onto greased and lined baking tray. Repeat with remaining mixture
7
Place trays in oven and bake for 45 minutes. Turn oven off and allow meringues to cool in oven
8
Serve with fresh berries and a dollop of whipped cream
INGREDIENTS 5 egg whites 1 1/4 cup caster sugar 1 tbsp cornflour 1tsp white vinegar 1 tsp vanilla extract fresh berries of your choice to serve whipped cream, to serve
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Basic CrĂŞpes prep time: 5 mins cooking time: 10 mins serves: 4
INSTRUCTIONS 1
In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the flour and the eggs.
2
Gradually add in the milk and water, stirring to combine.
3
Add the salt and butter; beat until smooth.
4
Heat a non-stick frying pan over medium high heat and melt butter. Add the batter into the pan, using approximately 1/4 cup for each crepe.
5
Tilt the pan with a circular motion so that the batter coats the surface evenly.
6
Cook the crepe for about 2 minutes, until the bottom is light brown.
7
Loosen with a spatula, turn and cook the other side. Serve hot.
8
Let it sit in the remaining water in the roasting tray on the bench until cool. You can eat it warm or transfer to fridge until cold then enjoy
INGREDIENTS 1 cup 2 1/2 cup 1/2 cup 1/4 tsp 2 tbsp
all-purpose flour eggs milk water salt butter, melted Butter or margarine, for frying
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