Educate

Nature Play SA: Magnificent Mud

Did you know research has found that friendly bacteria in dirt and mud cantrigger the release of serotonin? A wonderful chemical that helps to regulatemood. Mud can, literally, make kids happy yet parents often cringe at thethought of it. The dirty footprints, filthy bathtub and extra washing areenough to make anyone daydream about scrapping mud from the outdoorplay agenda. But, with International Mud Day just around the corner, it’s theperfect time to overlook the mess. In the second issue of Wild Ones magazine, Nature Play SA share thebenefits of mud for healthy sensory development, as well as tips and tricksto incorporate it into outdoor play. Even if you prefer to operate at a slower(cleaner) speed, there’s something for the whole family to enjoy – like thismost magnificent mud pie recipe. Friday the 29th of June, why not line thekiddos up for an International Mud Day mud pie bake-off? If you’d rathernot get your hands dirty, you can always pick the flowers. Most Magnificent Mud Pie Recipe Ingredients◆ 1 cup of dirt◆ 1⁄2 cup of water (added as needed)◆ Fresh herbs ground in mortar and pestle(plus extra for garnish)◆ 3 sprigs of lavender◆ A selection of twigs◆ Mixed leaves◆ Flowers for decoration (whole or petalsremoved)◆ Your own secret ingredientOptional Extras◆ Feathers, shells or natural treasures◆ Children’s waterproof onesies fromNature Play SAMethod◆ Mix, stir and decorate to create your ownmost magnificent mud pie.◆ Hose down waterproof onesie, run a bathand enjoy a warm drink together. Cubby Town Hands up if you joined the fun at Nature Play SA’s Forest Festival at Kuitpo Forest in April? Their next popular event, Cubby Town, is returning to Belair National Park in the winter school holidays 17 + 18 July. WIN TICKETS HERE Purchase here – they won’t stick [excuse the pun] around for long! Nature Play SA is a not-for-profit organisation dedicated to inspiring communities to engage children with nature through outdoor learning and play. Find out more about their Wild Ones magazine and Family Membership at natureplaysa.org.au Photography by Jason Tyndall 

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It’s a Buzz, Buzz, Buzz, Buzzby!

The latest buzz Honey bees have long played a part in children’s popular culture, way back from Do-Bee in Romper Room to today’s popular TV characters, Buzzby and Maya the Bee. If you ask a child what bees do, they’ll probably be quick to tell you that they make honey. Which of course is correct – for European honey bees. But the City of Adelaide are keen to raise awareness about the important role that our less-famous native bees play. Why are native bees important? In Adelaide, there are more than 200 species of native bees and they play an important role in the effective pollination of native flowering plants. Many of these plants cannot be pollinated by introduced bees, such as the European honey bee or bumblebee. Some native bee species are also great at pollinating some of the plant species that have been introduced to Australia. Australian farmers rely heavily on honey bees to pollinate crops. In fact, bees pollinate almost 80 per cent of our food! However, some species of native bees, like the Blue banded bee variety, can be better pollinators for some plants (like the tomato) than European bees. Blue banded bees use a technique called ‘buzz-pollination’ that shakes pollen from flowers – several plant species require a vibration for its flowers to release their pollen. Because some native bees have this ability they can make our tomatoes taste better! Around the world, bee populations are in severe decline. In Australia, native bees are threatened by scarce food sources, a lack of suitable habitat, the use of herbicides and pesticides, climate change, and competition with the European honey bee for food. Having a diversity of pollinating species in abundance helps maintain healthy ecosystems, and a healthy planet! Let them Bee! Most native bees tend to live alone, they might prefer homes in wood, gaps between rocks, the stem of plants or even underground. Typically, they are not protecting a hive, so they tend to be less aggressive and you are less likely to be stung by a native bee. The native bees that do build hives are stingless. In any case, it is wise to always take care around bees and keep your distance where possible. So, what’s the buzz in Adelaide? Teaming up with several local councils and the Adelaide and Mount Lofty Ranges Natural Resources Management Board, the City of Adelaide has joined a global movement to protect and increase native bee populations. The project so far has involved: educating the community on what native bees need for food and nests, how to build native bee nests in your own community (affectionately known as ‘Native Bee Hotels’ or ‘Native Bee BnBs’), installing bee hotels at several places along the River Torrens during community ‘Working Bees’, and planting special gardens to attract the bees. There will be three native bee hotels around the city for families to visit with two along the River Torrens and one in Wirraninthi (GS Kingston Park). The native bee hotels will be an opportunity for you to possibly spot and learn more about the bees, and see what flowers they are attracted to. Things to Do at Home to Attract More Bees GARDENING TIPS: ◆ Plant more bee food!– native plants that flower from early spring to late autumn– buzz-pollinated native plants such as Solanum,Hibbertia and Dianella species. Also, veggie gardenplants such as tomatoes, eggplants and potatoes. ◆ Cut back on mulch – bare ground is important forsome bees that dig burrows as their homes. ◆ Minimise your use of weed barriers (i.e.black plastic in gardening). ◆ Leave some areas of the garden free of vegetation. ◆ Include plants with pithy vines or canes –bees can live in these structures. ◆ Limit pesticide use – this will kill bees and other wildlife. ◆ Mow your lawn less often. INSTALL A ‘NATIVE BEE BNB! ◆ These are artificial nests with cavities to house bees. ◆ The aim is to replicate a variety of different typesof habitat that bees like, for example:– dry dead material with various sizedholes like bamboo, wood, pithy stems– create small holes in wood, bricks etc.– paper straw bundles. ◆ The hotels must be kept dry and preferablyshaded, out of direct sunlight. If you would like to find out more information about the native bee hotels and how you can attract native bees to your own backyard visit cityofadelaide.com.au/native-bees for all the details.

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Goodstart Early Learning: Changes to the Government Child Care Package…What you need to know

If you are one of the thousands of parents who rely on child care to help support the day-to-day juggle of family life you’ve probably heard that there are changes coming to the Government’s child care package. From 2 July 2018, the Child Care Benefit and Child Care Rebate will be replaced by a single Child Care Subsidy. Each family could be affected differently by the new child care package. We’ve compiled a list of key things you need to know to help your family prepare for the changeover. There are three pieces of information that will determine how much subsidy you will receive: Your family’s combined income Your level of fortnightly activity such as work, study or volunteering, and The type of child care service your family attends. As part of the new Child Care Subsidy, the number of hours of subsidised care you’ll be entitled to will be based on your level of recognised activity. Understanding the different types of activity that will be recognised is key to maximising your child care subsidy. The good news is there’s a broad range of recognised activities that you can undertake to maximise your child care subsidy. Paid work: includes paid leave, paid or unpaid parental and maternity leave if this is a condition of employment, or being self-employed. Study and training: includes being enrolled in an approved course of education or study, or being enrolled in training courses for the purpose of improving the individual’s work skills or employment prospects. Unpaid work: includes unpaid work in the family business which is owned by a member of the individual’s immediate family, actively setting up a business, or unpaid work experience or internships. Actively looking for work: includes looking for job vacancies, preparing résumés and job applications, contacting potential employers, or preparing for and attending job interviews. Setting up a business: includes obtaining finance, advice and support, attending and organising meetings and networking, developing business and marketing plans. Volunteering: includes voluntary work to improve work skills or employment prospects, voluntary work for a charitable, welfare or community organisation, voluntary work for a school, preschool or a centre based day care service. Generally, the more hours of activity you do, the more hours of subsided child care you can access – up to 100 hours per fortnight, per child. Don’t underestimate how much activity you do! However, the changeover to the new Child Care Subsidy will not be automatic. If you don’t already have one, register now for a myGov account as this is how the government will communicate with you about what you need to do to transition to the new subsidy system and how families can update their activity information. You will need to complete a Child Care Subsidy assessment and apply for the Child Care Subsidy with Centrelink. For extra support you can contact the myGov helpdesk on 13 23 07, select Option 1. Source: Information sourced from the Department of Education and Trainingeducation.gov.au/ChildCarePackage Kindergarten has just become more affordable The year before school is so important for young children. It’s where they learn the skills to develop the confidence they need to make a smooth transition to school. The new Child Care Subsidy will now make Kindergarten more affordable with the offer of 36 hours per fortnight of subsidised kindergarten to all families earning less than $350,000 per year. That’s 6 hours per fortnight more than the current level of support. This is great news for families during the critical year before school. And even better is that families don’t need to meet the new activity test in order to qualify for this subsidy payment – that means that regardless of how much work or recognised activity you and your partner do, you can still receive generous payments to offset the cost of kindergarten. Want to get a child care subsidy estimate? Goodstart Early Learning have developed a simple subsidy estimator to get an idea of how your current payments will be impacted – click here to use the estimator. @goodstartel goodstart.org.au Phone: 1800 222 543

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Grasshopper Soccer: A Different Ball Game

Grasshopper Soccer is building children’s confidence in 24 locations across SA! Kids athletic capabilities come in all different shapes and sizes. It’s important to stay active and healthy, however, competitive sport can be scary for some little ones. Grasshopper Soccer is a community-based Australian soccer organisation that aims to teach children aged 2-12 the basics of playing soccer in a fun, social and non-competitive environment. Grasshopper Soccer coaches recognise the importance of developing skills non-competitively, allowing kids to develop relationships with their teammates, promote social and mental awareness along with improving physical prowess. Each program provides a building block upon which children can improve their game and their character. More than just a game, Grasshopper soccer is a valuable addition to learning. Each session children are given the opportunity to interact in a stress-free environment, discovering how to share, take turns, listen to instructions and work as a team. We chatted to Adelaide Grasshopper Soccer Coach Andrew Davidson to find out more: Why did you get involved with Grasshopper Soccer?As a general sports lover, soccer is a great way to get kids into sport and an enjoyable social environment. GHS was a program I could identify with as it’s fun based which helps the families grow their love of the game. We understand a lot of your trainers are really into soccer, how has soccer benefited you personally?Soccer is a great way to make friends and also keep fit. A team environment allowed me to grow as a person and meet many different people during my playing days. Now it’s a wonderful way to get kids outdoors and run a program to share my knowledge of the game. How does playing sport build up children’s confidence and help with their developmental learning?As we are a program that begins at 2 years of age, the fact that our staff are very friendly and the kids do the sessions with their parents up to the age of 5, the families are able to see the kids grow socially as their confidence grows. This enables new friendships to form, new skills to be acquired and confidence to develop while trying new games at sessions. Can you explain your tier system?The system is used as a guide with groups 2-3yo (Mite-E), 4-5yo (Pint Size), 5-6 (Intro to Micro), 6-8 yo (Micro) and 8-12yo (Micro Plus). As all kids are different development wise, we as staff make suggestions to parents as the kids develop when moving through the various stages of our program. How do you ensure a safe/supportive environment for children with all different levels of capabilities?All our staff are very enthusiastic and encouraging to help with this. As we promote self paced development, children are urged to try the next group when they feel they are ready. Are your programs purely competitive?GHS is a non-competitive program and self paced. What kind of feedback do you often get from your younger students?Mainly that they love coming along with their mates and family to have fun and learn new skills. Choose Your Tier Mite-E Soccer (2-3yo)• A great introduction to Soccer!• Kids work with their parents• Learn new soccer skills• Develop their motor skills• Lots of fun games• Non-competitive environment Pint Size Soccer (4-5yo)• First kicks in soccer!• Introduction to shooting,passing, dribbling andgoal keeping• Play fun, skill based games• Introduction to the Pint Size1v1 Big Game! Intro to Micro (5-6yo)Micro (6-8yo)• Ultimate challenge for youngsoccer players!• Learn the rules ofgrasshopper soccer big game• Develop skills in shooting,passing, dribbling andgoal keeping Micro Plus (8-12yo)• Skills developmentand teamwork• Ideal preparation forclub soccer• Fine-tune their skills• All the favourite fun basedsoccer based games• Play the GrasshopperSoccer Big Game! Choose Your SA Venue Aldinga Beach Primary SchoolBellevue Heights Primary SchoolBrighton Rugby OvalBethany Christian SchoolCoromandel Valley Primary SchoolCrafers Primary SchoolGawler Sports & Community CentreGrange CentreHawthorn CentreKensington Gardens ReserveLockleys Primary School OvalMawson Lakes CentreMcLaren Vale Primary SchoolMt Barker High SchoolMunno Para Primary SchoolPlympton Primary SchoolReynella East CollegeSeaford Rise Primary SchoolSt.Peter’s Girls’ SchoolSurrey Downs Primary SchoolUnley High SchoolWindsor Gardens CentreWoodcroft CollegeWoodcroft Primary School Contact! grasshoppersoccer.com.au Instagram: @grasshoppersocceradelaide Facebook: @GrassHopperSoccerAustralia 

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Happy Mother’s Day: Mama Makers

To celebrate Mother’s Day, we have put together a list of some of our favourite local mama-made labels for you to follow. We admire these power mums for juggling it all! Whether it’s sharing their creations, designs, photography or ideas these mumpreneurs will provide you with some great inspo. Chook Shed Designs  Instagram: @chooksheddesignsWebsite: store.chooksheddesigns.com.au Eco Crayons  Instagram: @ecocrayonsWebsite: ecocrayons.com.au Goldie + Ace Instagram: @goldieandaceWebsite: goldieandace.com Word Finders Club  Instagram: @wordfindersclubWebsite: linktr.ee/wordfindersclub Numbers & Letters  Instagram: @numbersandlettersWebsite: numbersandletters.com.au Play Pouch Australia  Instagram: @playpouch_kidsWebsite: playpouch.com.au Austin Bloom  Instagram: @austinbloom Website: austinbloom.com  Jag & Knox Instagram: @JagandknoxWebsite: Jagandknox.com.au KIND Photo  Instagram: @_kindphoto_Website: kindphoto.com.au

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Play Smart Stay Safe

Many kids spend hours in the online gaming world. While there are many benefits to safe and responsible gaming, there are some important things to be aware of. Establish time limits and regular breaks Between smartphones, tablets and laptops, and gaming consoles, children and teens are consuming many hours of screen time each day. There are some very good reasons why a good balance of time online and offline should be maintained. Excessive screen time can impact on sleep patterns. Extended time absorbing artificial light at night can affect the natural body rhythms and hormones such as melatonin. Social activity can continue well into the night and is very stimulating for the brain making it difficult for children to settle into ways to prepare their body for sleep. There have been a number of studies linking excessive time online (in particular gaming and social networking) with loneliness and anxiety. With all that said, children that play age appropriate games for only an hour a day are not negatively impacted. Make time offline for your children to spend time with friends, their favourite sports and other activities. Check age ratings and make sure games are age appropriate App store games are self-rated. Have a thorough read of the content and themes.The average age of online gamers is currently 32 years old. Yep, that’s right! It’s not just child’s play. Appropriate content for a 32 year old is not appropriate content for children. While they play, they talk. Do you know what conversations are taking place that your children are listening to or are involved in? Not all games are created equal For some children weapons and violence hold a special fascination, especially for boys. We all played cops and robbers or cowboys and Indians, or our brothers did. The difference between role-play and online play in this instance is the graphic nature of the play, its intensity, addictive nature of the game (you cannot just quit when you want to, you need to complete the level or challenge or reach so many tokens) and the extended periods. This combination has been known to desensitise children to violence. There are many educational and safe online games and much to consider when looking for iPad games for your children. Firstly, check the rating but don’t stop there. A game may say 4+ in the App Store, but if this is a free game, it is likely to have either In-App purchases or advertising links. Recently, I have found some of the advertisements within 4+ rated games a bit on the questionable side for Primary age students. Too often, they are only a click or two away from inappropriate YouTube content or an unwanted download or purchase! This is a big reason why Cybersafe Families recommends parents thoroughly test the games they allow for their children. Choose a game that you can purchase with no ads and that does not have In-App purchases. Sometimes the game may need to be downloaded for free first and then you pay to purchase the full version to remove ads. Games with in-app purchases are designed to make it hard to succeed or progress in the game unless you spend more money and it never stops. These games will either hurt your credit card if your iPad parental controls are not active or leave your child feeling disappointed they aren’t progressing. Here’s a few we have tested and are enjoyed by our children… Minion Rush Fruit Ninja Chesskid Archery Champion 2.0 Gladiator Run Tank Hero Angry Birds – varied versions ABCKids As always, we recommend parents test the games to know they align with their ideals. Please make sure your parent controls are also enabled on the iPad. Be aware of multi-player options The Office of the eSafety commissioner released a snippet of survey results from the Youth Digital Participation Survey 2017 that tells us that 64% of children are playing online games with others and 52 % of are playing with people they don’t know. Know who your child is playing with, sit with them, check their friends list and get involved. Make sure they are only playing with people they know and have met in person. Check the settings on your child’s games to ensure strangers are blocked or restrict chat features through parental controls. Accepting a stranger in an online game is like inviting a stranger into the playroom to hang out with your child. If your older teen is chatting with other gamers, they must protect their privacy and keep personal information private. Activate privacy settings that are password protected. Children who share too much can put themselves at risk for being targets of grooming. Be screen aware Games are available on all screens; phones, tablets, PCs and game consoles and the total screen time can add up. Set firm limits as a family around online gaming time. An hour per day is more than enough for the experience to be a positive one and not enough time to get hooked! Stay involved Play online games with your child. Be sure to play to the very end to make sure it is what you are expecting. Watch out for online ads and free games, the content can be inappropriate. Similarly, in-game and in-app purchases can run up large credit card bills. Even if the game is free to download, the player can be required to pay real money to proceed in the game, or get extra tools. You can turn off in-app purchases to safeguard against this Step into their world, talk to them about it, learn about what they play and interact with your child while they are playing. This will open the lines of communication should they need your support somewhere down the track Because of its interactive nature, communicating with others while gaming can sometimes lead to others bullying or behaving badly. If this happens encourage your children not to retaliate or respond and show your child how to block

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RIE Parenting: A Caring Approach

No dummies, high chairs, bouncers and flashy toys. RIEⓇ parenting may not be mainstream, but its respectful approach to raising kids is a philosophy that’s here to stay. There is no shortage of parenting handbooks. Do this, they say, and your baby will self settle. Try that, and they’ll be rolling on their tummies right in time for their milestone. According to renowned infant specialist and educator Magda Gerber, trying to control the development of babies is where many parents are going wrong. Magda was mentored by paediatrician Dr Emmi Pikler, who observed children at a Hungarian orphanage to find better ways to raise them. Madga then took this respectful approach to the US, where in 1978, she founded Resources for Infant Educarers, more commonly known as RIEⓇ (pronounced wry), which changed the way parents and educators around the world viewed babies and children. In its simplest terms, EducaringⓇ – the name of the approach RIEⓇ advocates – teaches to trust a baby, observe, speak to them respectfully (yes, baby talk is out!) and meet their needs. While it’s known to have a big celebrity following (Vanity Fair even profiled it), this is not a fad. Mum of three, Emily McDonald, has been an advocate of EducaringⓇ for several years, and noticed a significant difference in her children’s development and her own parenting from the moment she began practising it. “I’d read the article by [US-based RIEⓇ expert] Janet Lansbury, ‘How to talk to your newborn’. It said that from the very beginning, you should just talk to your baby honestly about what is happening to them. Observe them mindfully and see what they are communicating to you, then we can better understand what our baby needs,” explains Emily, a parent guidance specialist at beingwithbaby.com.au . “The authentic, genuine approach made sense to me. It felt strange at first telling my baby everything that I was doing, but after a short period of time, I felt a deeper connection than I ever had before with my baby.” Emily admits one of the biggest challenges she faces as a parent is ‘letting go’. “EducaringⓇ trusts the baby to reach their milestones of rolling, crawling, sitting, walking, when they do it. Part of that means they develop that joy of mastery themselves,” says the Perth mum, who is on the board of the Infant & Toddler Advocacy Network Australia (ITANA). While some elements of EducaringⓇ are seen by some as controversial, its growing legions of fans around Australia show this technique is going a long way to helping parents understand their mysterious little human beings. “The goal for this approach is an authentic child – one that is true to themselves,” says Emily. “They’re confident, capable, and able to communicate their needs.” Not only that, it can be good for mum and dad, too. “It has made me a confident and calm parent,” says Emily. “I’m less stressed about my role and I’m forever grateful for Magda Gerber for sharing it.” The basics of EducaringⓇ Talk to your babySpeak in a normal voice and talk about what’s happening at that moment, such as: ‘I’m going to pick you up now’. Ask questions and give them time to respond. CryingAvoid distracting a baby from crying, as that makes them feel disconnected. “Crying is a healthy way for babies to express their feelings,” says Emily. “Pause and observe it and consider what they’re trying to communicate and try to meet that need.” Dummies“Dummies are tempting for parents but Magda advises not using them because a baby’s cry is a way to communicate a need to us,” says Emily. “If we give them the space, they may soothe themselves with a thumb or their hand.” FeedingA baby will give you cues such as pushing their hand away from the spoon when they are full so there’s no need to cajole them into eating with aeroplane sounds. As for how to feed, EducaringⓇ isn’t a fan of the high chair as it restricts the baby’s movements. “You would feed your baby in a semi-reclined position on your lap until they can sit independently themselves,” explains Emily. “Also offer their food at a very low table with a stool they can get into and out of themselves. It allows them to tune into their own bodies and know when they are full.” Manners“Social things like please, thank you, sorry and other polite terms are caught not taught,” says Emily. “What we model is what they pick up on. I haven’t ever asked my five year old to say sorry and he says it all the time.” Praise“Children should be intrinsically motivated to do something, not seeking the praise of a parent,” says Emily. “If they’ve completed a puzzle, we would say something like, “I see you’ve built the puzzle, you must be really proud of yourself. We wouldn’t say ‘good boy’ or ‘good girl’ as that motivates them to please us.” Sharing“Infants need to go through a stage of development to understand sharing,” explains Emily. “They need to know the concept of ownership and that an object will be returned to them after someone uses it. We trust that they will figure out toy struggles themselves.” PlayEducaringⓇ promotes uninterrupted, self-directed play in a ‘safe space’ in the home that an infant can be placed in unattended and unrestricted for a period without being harmed. “When they’re starting to commando crawl, we might introduce a low platform so they can explore going up and over something,” says Emily. “Parents should trust that their baby can figure out how to navigate it and not try to teach them. Magda wouldn’t recommend any battery operated or loud toys as they make the baby a passive observer. Walkers and bouncers also restrict their bodies. The best toys are often those in the kitchen cupboard.” Read up on RIEⓇ Your Self–Confident Baby by Magda Gerber and Allison JohnsonElevating Child Care: A Guide to Respectful Parenting and No Bad Kids: Toddler Discipline Without Shame By Janet Lansbury

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Seedy Slimy Fun

DIY Slime Slime is a permanent fixture in Kid & Hub’s Movers & Makers classes, as it is the ultimate sensory material, and is so popular with little ones and parents alike! Most slime recipes call for the use of toxic ingredients such as contact lens solution, borax, and glue. Given the tendency for little ones to taste test when they’re playing, this is pretty frightening. The go-to slime at Kid & Hub is ‘oobleck’ – cornstarch, water and a drop of food colouring. However, we’re always on the lookout for something new and exciting for our Movers & Makers members. So imagine our excitement when we discovered this chia seed slime. It’s squishy, stretchy and entirely edible! Ingredients ¼ cup chia seeds2 cups water1 tsp xanthan gum500g cornflour (extra may be required)3-5 drop food colouring Method Measure 1/4 cup chia seeds and 2 cups of water into a sealable container and store overnight in the fridge (12-24 hours). If you can, stir at least once during this time to prevent the seeds from clumping. The next day, your seeds should be nice and gelatinous. Stir to break up any clumps, then add 1 teaspoon of xanthan gum and whisk. Add 3-5 drops of food colouring and mix. Finally, add a 500g box of cornflour and mix. Eventually, it will be easier to knead by hand. If the mixture is still too sticky, add extra cornflour by the tablespoon. Continue to add cornflour by the Tablespoon until the slime isn’t sticky. Your slime is ready to play with when you can move it as a big heap. As this slime is edible, it is also perishable, so store it in the fridge in a sealed container when not in use. It can keep for up to a week. Kid and Hub @kidandhub

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TAFE SA: Yours By Design

TAFE SA offers a choice for everyone, no matter what age or stage. Education doesn’t have to be all about books and computers. At TAFE SA, there are courses for leisure activities, professional development and career changes, with hundreds to choose from online and on campus. TAFE SA offers more than 400 short courses in a diverse range of areas. Cooking, art and design, hair & beauty, furniture restoration, property and marketing are just some of the areas of study available. Meet Laura New mum, Laura, was feeling inspired to change her career. Her interests were in interior design, so she began researching some course options. TAFE SA was a great fit for her, because of its flexibility and the range of courses offered. An eight week short course appealed most to Laura while she busy juggling her 20 month old baby. Laura has now finished her ‘Introduction to Interior Design’ course. Having enjoyed it so much, she continued on to do her diploma, with the goal of becoming a full time interior decorator. We chatted to Laura to find out how TAFE SA was convenient for her as a new mum and what she liked about interior design: What was it about a TAFE SA Interior Design course that appealed so much to you? I love interior design, so when I started doing research on what courses to take, this one popped up. Being a new mum, I needed a course that was at a convenient location, time and duration. This one met all those needs. How was a TAFE SA course more convenient for you? It gave me an insight to what the Diploma of Interior Design would be all about. I was able to get my feet wet and see if I would enjoy pursuing this as a career. What was the best skill that you learnt during your interior design course? The whole course is geared towards helping me develop my authentic interior design style. What made you want to continue on to do your diploma? I was inspired by my teacher’s passion and enthusiasm. It made me want to learn more and to dive into something that I’ve always loved. Other than interior design are there any other short courses at TAFE SA that you would consider taking? I have always wanted to try the floristry, furniture/woodworking and real estate/property investment courses. Do you have any recommendations for someone considering a TAFE SA course? If you’re toying with the idea of whether or not you should try a short course, I say give it a go! What do you have to lose? The best part of taking a short course is that if you like it, you can pursue the diploma and explore more. I learned so much in my first year and I can’t wait to see what this year brings! ENROL NOW Feeling inspired? Feeling creative? Feel like expanding your knowledge while having an enjoyable 8 weeks with like-minded people? Enrolments for TAFE SA short courses starting May 1st are now open! More Choice 70000 Students1300 Qualifications400 Short Courses80 Areas of Industry To enrol or find the full list of short courses available visit Website: tafesa.edu.au/shortcoursesFacebook: @tafesaYoutube: TAFESouthAustralia Meaghan Coles Photography

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Colette Bos: The Golden Rule

School holidays. It’s a time to enjoy moments with our families, a time to savour positive experiences and also, when to try not to tear our hair out when moments can be challenging and stressful. It is a chance to fosterkindness and compassion and to ensure we give kindly to ourselves. Kindness may not be a word that is frequently used. Perhaps it seems archaic in our competitive social media-infused, politically contentious culture. However, nothing could be further from the truth. Today, more than ever, we need to cultivate kindness, not only for the sake of our society but for our own wellbeing. It is important to boost kindness in our world. We should never do an act of kindness to gain from it. We should always be kind because it is the right thing to do. But, when we are kind, there are positive side effects that come with it: Kindness makes us happier Kindness gives us healthier hearts Kindness slows ageing – yes, the science says this is true! Oxytocin (which we produce through emotional warmth) reduces levels of free radicals and inflammation in the cardiovascular system and thus slows aging at its source. Kindness makes for better relationships Kindness is contagious As humans we are wired for kindness. It is part of our biological heritage, designed to support us to foster relationships, work together and survive in groups. When we are kind to others, it releases neurochemicals in our bodies that increase trust and give us a warm feeling. But, let’s face it – the holiday period can be a stressful time, and in all honesty, it can be hard to be kind, particularly when we are stressed out or emotionally spent in dealing with the rat-race. These are moments when we forget to notice others around us or be empathetic to their suffering. In fact, sometimes our stress leads to withdrawing from those who are close to us, or worse, reacting by lashing out at them. This kind of reactive behaviour tears at the heart of our relationships, making it harder to feel good and to do good for others. During the holiday period, this can be a challenge. How exactly in times of stress, particularly when the children are home 24/7 do we live and breathe kindness when we are dysregulated, and in desperate need of a coffee, or…champagne? Be Mindful and Reset your Stress At times of stress, our bodies are flooded with neurochemicals that prepare our internal systems for fight and flight responses. All of these act against your desire to reach out and be kind to others. Step back and give yourself some time…try a breathing meditation. The first stage of meditation is to stop distractions and make our mind clearer. Sit with your eyes partially closed and turn your attention to your breathing. Breathe naturally, preferably through the nostrils, without attempting to control your breath, and try to become aware of the sensation of the breath as it enters and leaves the nostrils. This sensation is the object of meditation. Try to concentrate on it to the exclusion of everything else. At first, your mind will be very busy, and you might even feel that the meditation is making our mind busier; but in reality you are just becoming more aware of how busy your mind actually is. If you discover that your mind has wandered and is following your thoughts, immediately return it to the breath. Repeat this as many times as necessary until the mind settles on the breath. Just stop. Stopping and being aware allows us to be kind and practice empathy for ourselves, our children and others. When we are rushed, we often tune out what’s happening around us. By attending to the sensations in our bodies, our thoughts and what’s happening in our environment without judgment, we can strengthen the skills of attention. This also helps us become more attuned to our emotions which helps us to be more empathetoc towards others. Positivity As humans we are naturally conditioned to pay attention to the negative things happening around us (crayon drawings on walls, spilt drinks, chaos, loud screaming and endless tears). In our modern world, media headlines take advantage of this predisposition, leading with stories bound to make us feel sad, enraged, helpless and fearful. And those emotions are antithetical to kindness. Counter this by purposefully creating opportunities for positive emotion and balance the positivity to negativity 3:1. This could mean something as simple as smiling at others that you pass on the street, giving your child a warm hug when you are with them and savouring the positivity that happens throughout the day through photographs. As you sit around your kitchen table, share three positive experiences you have savoured throughout the day. Kindness is contagious We are influenced by others around us, so it is important to influence our social networks and children to be more kind. One way to do this is by practicing gratitude; giving thanks to others for their kindnesses. Saying thank you to people augment their feelings of trust and goodwill and can inspire all to be kind in the future. Live the Golden Rule – a great rule for the home ‘Treat others as you would want to be treated.’ The Golden Rule is the ultimate, all-encompassing principle for moral behaviour. To determine if our actions are moral, we should ask ourselves if we would like to be treated the way we are treating the other person if we were in their situation. Twenty-four hundred years ago, Aristotle made a logical point that if everyone lived by the Golden Rule, we wouldn’t need government. We would all get along nicely, without any human authority over us, if we all lived by the Golden Rule. Enjoy the holiday school holiday period with your loved ones. Being kind to yourself is totally underrated. It will allow you to give to others. Cultivate a practice of radical kindness creates a ripple effect that changes every relationship in

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Seymour College: The Future of Pollination

Seymour’s Year 8 girls are very excited to be working with Associate Professor Karin Nordström from Flinders University. Professor Nordström will be helping the girls understand pollinator choice in the face of declining bee populations. Professor Nordström will be guiding the girls to undertake an experiment she recently had published in the USA. The girls will be determining factors that affect the choices a pollinator makes by designing artificial flowers (lures) with different flora cues. The lures will be tested at Seymour College where the girls will gather data and interpret the results – possibly contributing to international research. Prof Nordström’s research: http://bit.ly/NordströmPollinatorChoiceSC ‘With more than 80% of flowering plant species specialized for animal pollination, understanding how wild pollinators utilize resources across environments can encourage efficient planting and maintenance strategies to maximize pollination and establish resilience in the face of environmental change. A fundamental question is how generalist pollinators recognize “flower objects” in vastly different ecologies and environments.’  Excerpt from Prof Nordstöm’s research abstract. Seymour College

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Star Academy: Reaching for the Stars

Star Academy has set a new precedent for Performing Arts Studios in Australia, from its contemporary décor to its modern facilities. The Star Academy Grote street studio is a vibrant, colourful, urban venue consisting of 3 dance studios studios, 1 drama studio and a singing studio all equipped with sound systems, mirrors, ballet barres, microphones, high ceilings and wooden flooring. Ohh and don’t worry mums, there is also a lounge area with coffee and a 50inch plasma to prevent you from hysterically needing to rush past the drive through for a mediocre 1/4 strength coffee in-between kid pick ups. Sit back relax, read a magazine and sip away. The performing arts Academy offers acting, singing, musical theatre and a variety of dance styles including Jazz, Tap, Ballet, Hip Hop, Contemporary/lyrical and Acrobatics. Priding itself on providing an atmosphere which instills confidence and develops self esteem, Star Academy aims to release the inner potential of students of all ages and capabilities. Jenna Boffa the founder and Creative Director of Star Academy has over 20 years of performing arts education. Her passion has lead her to create an institute, which brings passion, friendships and talent together. The Academy caters for students who desire to pursue a career in entertainment or simply to have fun and get fit. It can be a struggle to find the perfect match when it comes to finding an extra curricular activity for your child. You don’t want to be ‘that mum’ dragging a screaming 6 year old to classical piano lessons at the attempt of morphing them into the next Mozart, before they can even read. It can be difficult choosing the right activity where your child will feel comfortable doing something that’s at the right level for them. At Star Academy friendship is strongly encouraged throughout student, teacher and parent relationships. This has created a welcoming, supportive environment for the all members. There is an apparent sense of community within the studio, Jenna Boffa Star Academy Creative Director says ‘Star Academy is proud of the family environment that has developed between staff, students and their families and we are so grateful for the amount of support we have received over the past 7 years. It is beautiful to watch friendships build in class, not only between students but also between students and teachers, and their families.’ Don’t mind us while we gasp over these adorable Student Testimonials…. Star Academy makes dance fun, is action packed and you build cool friendships !! – Marcus De Palma – Age 12 It’s an enjoyable performing arts studio to be at and everyone has become that close we are all like family. – Tayla Filleti – Age 13 The teachers are nice and funny and give us lots of time to practice and all my best friends are there – Zoe Rae burns – Age 9 I love Star Academy because I get to do hip hop and ballet. – Annabelle Aristides Age 7 (Annabelle brought her tap and ballet shoes to show and tell. The topic was “what was the best thing about term 1?” and she said her dance lessons!! ) Star Academy is a place where everyone can feel welcome and inspire to achieve there goals. From the moment I walk into the studio each day there is a rush of excitement, energy and love that comes through my body. That is why I LOVE STAR ACADEMY -Rachel Green age 14 I love Star Because I get to dance and play dress ups – Milana Furina – Age 4 Is your child’s birthday looming on the horizon? Just incase offering almost every style of performing arts wasn’t enough, Star Academy also has a party service.  Your party will be hosted by enthusiastic and experienced teachers/performers. Think dancing, singing and lots of fun… and the best part is you do not have to do a thing! The set up, decorating, food, hosting, games and even the cleaning is all taken care of.. seriously, Pinch us! Party packages includes: Personalised InvitationsThemed Party HostsThemed Birthday Set upThemed Costumes and Props for all guestsParty Music & Sound SystemGames/PrizesAll Party BagsAll Food and Drink Catering Supplied by Star AcademySnacksBirthday Cupcakes (May bring your own Cake if you wish)Birthday Present for Birthday GuestAll Clean UpPlease note: We can tailor any party to your specific needs.The most easy parties any parent will ever have to host!! Website: Star Academy  Instagram: @staracademy_adelaide Facebook: Staracademy5000

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Eat, Sleep, Repeat with Hanna Beaven Child Psychologist

Adelaide psychologist and mother of three boys, aged ten, seven and two, Hanna Beaven, specialises in families’ emotional wellbeing in the stages of trying to conceive, pregnancy, birth and parenting babies and young children. Eat, sleep, repeat I didn’t think a new mum and Bill Murray would have anything in common, but I was wrong! Do a Google search of “groundhog day mum” and you’ll find at least 10 listings. The reason being, new mums can feel like they’re trapped. Like it’s Bill Murray in the famous movie, day after day. The Oxford Dictionary describes groundhog as: “(a) situation in which a series of unwelcome or tedious events appear to be recurring in exactly the same way”. While Phil (Bill Murray) is stuck, repeatedly reporting on the annual emergence of the groundhog in the 1993 film Groundhog Day, new mothers can feel like they’re in a time loop of monotonous care for their baby, having to relive the same day over and over again. For example, repeatedly changing nappies. ‘In the first few years of your child’s life you’re going to change around 6,000 nappies,’ says the book, Raising Children. I’ve chalked up two nappy changes of the stinky variety just while writing this article! It is only through the lived experience of keeping a tiny human alive – one that we love with all our heart – that the enormity of the 24/7 task sinks in. I think we could better support women to create a more realistic picture of how life changes after having a baby. Instead of flooding expectant mothers with images that portray motherhood as glamorous and serene, with settled babies and coffee dates, we should be open and honest. While parenting can bring us immense joy it can also be lonely, and at times boring. Becoming a mother is one of life’s biggest and most significant event in a woman’s life. Changes occur to many areas including: sense of self, relationship with partner, body, hormone levels, social life, sleep (or lack thereof), work and day to day activities. Once the birth is over (which we can prepare for by taking various courses) we are literally left holding the baby, and then the feeding, settling, changing, on repeat begins. Unfortunately, many new mums don’t have a safe and supported environment to share not only their joys, but also their challenges of caring for their baby. This can lead to new mums feeling alone and guilty, despite loving their babies. Karen Kleiman and Valerie Raskin have it spot in their book, This Isn’t What I Expected. “(W)e can feel good and bad at once. We can love our baby and feel angry at the same time. We can love being a mother and resent giving up our free time…To acknowledge ambivalence is not an expression of failure. Nor does it challenge the investment we all have in being the best mother we can…Though we are taught to search for and embrace the positive feelings that prevail, every mother has experienced these ambivalent feelings at one time or another.” How to thrive as a new mum while experiencing groundhog day:  Allow yourself to face, feel and process your grief & loss about your pre-baby life Notice the critical things you say to yourself – we can be our own worst enemies Increase the self-compassionate things you say to yourself – talk to yourself the wayyou would to a friend Try to build in some alone time – even if it’s just to have a shower Establish a flexible flow to your day that works for you and your baby Spend time with supportive and non-judgemental people – out of the house ifpossible Accept or ask for assistance when needed Take regular exercise such as walking around the block with your baby in the pram Re-introduce parts of your pre-baby life when and wherever possible Work towards accepting how your life has changed in both positive and negativeways Try to trust that your life is going to constantly change as a parent alongside yourchild’s growth and development – therefore this is a temporary stage Balance the housework and parenting tasks with parenting fun and joy Spend some time being intentionally in the present moment with your baby Have open and honest communication with your partner Try not label a whole day as “bad” rather reflect on parts of the day that were easy /fun (no matter how small) and the parts that were challenging Unlike Phil (Bill Murray), new mothers are not alone in their experience of groundhog day. The more we can open up about both the joys and challenges of motherhood the more we can support each other when it’s hard. However, like Phil, mums are on a journey of self-discovery, growth and acceptance in their new and important role in life. As a new mum it can feel like days last forever when you’re doing the same things over and over again. But parenting happens in each tiny ordinary moment of every day. It is through the process of sharing the repeated loop of life’s ordinary moments that the extraordinary occurs – our babies feel safe and loved by us, which is the greatest gift we can give them. When we feel like the monotony is dragging us down, we can try to see it as an opportunity to press the reset button and welcome Sonny and Cher’s I Got You Babe playing from your clock radio the next morning. Facebook – @hannabeavenpsychologyInstagram – @hannabeavenpsychologyWebsite – www.hannabeavenpsychology.com.au

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Seymour’s New Furry Friend

‘Ms the dog ate my homework!’ is a common fib Seymour teachers might hear more of , now that the College has welcomed Hunter, a Wellbeing Dog. Hunter is a three-year old Labrador who was trained by Guide Dogs SA. He is now a Pets as Therapy Dog (PAT), permanently situated on-site at Seymour to assist with student wellbeing and learning. Seymour is the only independent school in South Australia to have a therapy dog permanently on-site. Already, Hunter has started attending counselling sessions as well as visiting classrooms to sit with the girls for a lesson. Teachers have also found he is making a positive impact on students’ learning and engagement. Vanessa Browning, the Head of the Junior School says “Some of the girls have had the opportunity to read to him and they do so with real confidence. Hunter’s loving nature helps children to relax, open up, try hard and have fun.” “We have also found Hunter is very helpful with girls who are distressed from injury or are just having a bad day. He helps them to relax and takes the attention away from their ailment. The benefits with the students and parents has far exceeded my expectations and we are loving having him here”, says Ms Browning. Seymour College

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Mind Full or Mindful?

‘In today’s rush we all think too much – seek too much – want too much – and forget about the joy of just being.’ Eckhart Tolle A few years ago, I would walk out of work, head down, shoulders lowered, eyes glued onto the face of the mobile phone in my hands still checking emails. I had physically left the office, but emotionally and mentally I was still there. This happened daily and would continue when I walked through the door of my home. This was my habit until one day a colleague walked out with me and commented on the trees that had blossomed along the footpath. This was a rude awakening. I did not even know that there were trees along the path, let alone noticed the white blossom flowers that had bloomed, nor had I looked up and paid attention to the white clouds that slowly swept across the sky making elaborate shapes. As children we laid on the lawn, watching the clouds make vivid images above our heads, however, as adults we barely look up to take note as our minds are full with information. We are busy. Our times of rest and relaxation so often become just another race to get things done. How often do we feel the need to continually be busy, feeling guilty if we sit even if it is just for five minutes? It is said that we have about 50,000-70,000 thoughts a day. There are often constant streams of thoughts that move throughout our minds, and quite often, a lot of the time, our minds are not actually focussed on what it is that is being done. Maybe you can relate to sitting down at work or home with your family and caught yourself jumping between tasks and feeling like you are not doing anything properly. Or perhaps, you’ve noticed how easily it is that you can get hijacked by social media and waste hours scrolling mindlessly, when you could have spent that time doing something far more productive. Life is like walking a slack line. We’re always balancing things; work, play, health, sickness, friendships, families and our relationships. It is a little (and sometimes more than a little) stressful. As soon as we tense up, the line starts to shake and we are more than easily thrown off. It’s these times we may regret the way in which we treat others, ourselves and most importantly our children. The slack line gives immediate feedback and meditation and mindfulness can help us make use of this feedback. The idea of mindfulness is to train our minds so that we can choose where to focus our attention and keep it there. Mindfulness allows us to be present in our parenting, choosing the calmed and skilful response instead of succumbing to our primitive reactions. It is also good for our children. There is an emerging body of research that indicates that mindfulness can help our children improve their abilities to pay attention, to calm down when they are upset, and to make better decisions. In short, it helps with emotional regulation and cognitive focus. Do I even need to ask if you want that for your kids? Applying Mindfulness in your Life Establish your own practice. You would have trouble teaching your children ballet if you had never danced. To authentically teach mindfulness to your children, you need to practice it yourself. Check your expectations. A core principle of mindfulness is letting go of expectations, and this certainly applies to teaching mindfulness to yourselves and your children. Are you expecting mindfulness to eliminate tantrums? To make your active child calm? To make your house quiet? If so, you are likely to be disappointed. The purpose of teaching mindfulness to our children is to give them skills to develop their awareness, to be present, to recognise their thoughts as “just thoughts,” to understand how emotions manifest in their bodies, to recognise when their attention has wandered, and to provide tools for self-regulation. It is not a panacea, and it will not completely get rid of what is normal child behaviour, like tantrums and loudness and whining and exuberance and arguing. The more present you are with your children and yourselves the more happy and resilient you and they will be. It will support you to remain in the present moment and to engage more fully when interacting with others, including your children. Research shows that parents and carers who practice being mindful around their children contribute to improving their child’s sense of self-worth and self-esteem. For children Mindful play Dedicate a window of time each week to mindfully play with your child or children. Turn off all other distractions such as the TV, and put your mobile away and on silent. Try to give them your full attention during this time and if your mind wanders off to all the things you should be doing, that’s fine – that’s just what minds do! Use your child as an anchor to come back to every time your mind wanders away. Mindful dinnertime Create a time for your family to appreciate and savour their food at the start of a meal by spending the first few minutes of dinner in silence, just eating and enjoying the food. It’s a surprisingly nice activity to do with the whole family, and done regularly, can become a lovely ritual. For adults Mindful breathing 1. Find a relaxed, comfortable position. You could be seated on a chair or on the floor on a cushion. Keep your back upright, but not too tight.2. Notice and relax your body. Let yourself relax and become curious about your body seated here; the sensations it experiences, the touch, the connection with the floor or the chair. Relax any areas of tightness or tension. Just breathe.3. Tune into your breath. Feel the natural flow of breath, in and out. You don’t need to do anything to your breath. Not long, not short, just natural. Notice where you feel your breath in your body. It might be in your abdomen.

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