MAGAZINE.COM.AU
ISSUE 109 - OCTOBER 2020
child development
EDITOR IN CHIEF
Bianca Medina ART DIRECTOR
Bianca Medina DEPUTY EDITOR
Feba Maryann  CONTRIBUTORS
Sheree Hoddinett Amy Adeney Lance Green Katie E cottonbro Polina Tankilevitch Tatiana Syrikova Itati Tapia Lisa Fotios Laura Garcia Anna Shvets CONTACT
My Child Magazine North Parramatta NSW Sydney Australia +614 11 572 877 editorial@mychildmagazine.com.au
Contents 6
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5 Benefits Of Music
Warning Signs You Need To Look Out
All You Need To Know About Your
For Growing Children
For During Your Pregnancy
Kid Losing Teeth
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40
86
Five Areas Of Your
Why ‘Tricky’ Experiences Are Key To
Dad Read - What You Need To Know
Your Child’s Development
About Balancing Work And Your
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Family Life!
How Does Pre-School Contribute To
Get The Look Interiors
Child’s Development
Your Child’s Overall Development?
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To Love Reading Books!
Coping With Your Baby’s Vocabulary Spurt
Book Reviews
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Toy Reviws
How To Pick Age-Appropriate Toys
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That Help Stimulate Your Child’s Motor Skills
Essential Tips To Help Maintain A Healthy Relationship After Having Kids
Your Baby’s First Bath
How To Get Your Child
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Tips To Help Deal With Your Toddler’s “Terrible Two’s”
92 Blogger -Good Cop, Bad Cop
102 Fashion
106 Fashion Feature - Bassike
122 Recipes
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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 Peeps, Hope you are all well and staying safe! So here we are October! Only 2 months to go and we can Kick 2020 into the past!!! Yippeee So with Christmas just around the corner, my present planning has been in overdrive and I have ticked nearly everyone off the list with the exception of my beautiful baby girl (ok, she is 5 now ,but she will forever be my baby). I have to admit, that while it has been super easy to tick off all the other kids and adults on my Christmas Gift List, sorting out what my darlig daughter wants has been rather challenging! Gone are the easy days of buying for your baby or for that matter your toddler anything, just as long as it has wrapping! This new phase of dealing with a school aged child is a complete and utter game changer altogether. She has so much already and I refuse to buy her things for the sake of it! Oh well, hopefully I’ll find the perfect gift soon, thank goodness I started shopping earlier than usual this year! Well, until Next Month,
Bianca oxo
editor’s picks
Scrub Mommy Cleaning Sponge $4.99 house.com.au
Christian Louboutin Kate Pump $995 davidjones.com
Boy Chanel Handbag $8390 chanel.com
Love Single Earring $790 cartier.com.au
Gucci Sunglasses Style 610364 J0740 1017 $570 gucci.com
Amouage Reflection Man Collection Box $459 myer.com.au
Magical Unicorn Dress $54.95 luxuread.com.au
Roblox Hoodies $9.00 wish.com
Kids Pedal Go Kart $99.99 kogan.com
5 Benefits of Music for Growing Children written by: feba maryann
This is for all the parents who have repeatedly listened to nursery rhymes for at least 10 times per day while their kid was growing up. This may seem insignificant but playing music for your kids from a young age has a huge effect on their overall development. “How?”, you might ask. Keep reading, you will eventually figure it out. 8
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1. Fosters Cognitive Development Think about the time you taught your kids their ABCs, can you imagine how hard it must have been without the help of the song? Or is it easier for you to recall the elements of the periodic table or the lyrics of Lionel Richie’s “Truly”? In short, our brain tends to retain information presented in the form of music better than the ordinary way. According to recent research, children who were exposed to music from a young age did better academically than those who were not. It also helps develop fine and gross motor control. Simple sounds like clapping and tapping help ignite brain and body coordination. Music stimulates the limbic system of the brain which is responsible for memory power and emotional intelligence. 2. Develops Confidence While growing up, many children find it hard to adapt socially. Encouraging them to learn an instrument or joining a choir help them develop social skills. It will also boost their self-esteem and confidence. Once they get really good at an instrument, they will always be confident in the abilities they developed throughout the years. They will also be able to work in a team, listen to instructions, empathise with other kids and how to accept appreciation. Working with others to create beautiful music will help them realise the value of teamwork and patience. OCTOBER 2020 | My Child Magazine Issue #109
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Music can also soothe the brain, calming music can decrease anxiety in many cases. Researchers have found that music impacts brain functioning in the same way as meditation. Positive changes in the cortisol levels of a person were observed when listening to music during a research. You can inculcate pitch and rhythm by humming or singing to your children. 3. Ignites Creativity According to a research, it was found that the brain of a musician works differently than of a normal person.  Music-making needs both parts of the brain to work together. Hence, the corpus callosum which is the neural bridge of the 2 hemispheres of the brain becomes stronger. Young musicians tend to have a larger corpus callosum than others. Music also helps people with brain function disorders like ADHD. Hence, music can be used as therapy for children as well as adults. Music can also be a method your kids could use to express themselves. Musical activities like music composing and singing can be a platform for your kids to express their true selves.  Now that your convinced that music will immensely help your kid’s progress in the long run, here are a few fun ways to add music to your everyday schedule:
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• Visit an Opera house or a musical concert. • Always have karaoke tracks in your car, so that you will be able to entertain your kids wherever you go. • Bring music to your everyday activities like when you take your family pet for a walk or when they brush their teeth. • You could write songs with fun lyrics and beats with your family. You could be amazed at how creative your little ones can get. • Sing songs after your bedtime storey routine before you tuck them in. • Consider buying a karaoke machine for you to have fun belting to your favourite songs with your family. • Use music while teaching them difficult topics that need to be memorised like the names of the planets or the names of the states of Australia. Involve them while you make the lyrics so that they become more interested • Encourage them to learn a new instrument or to join a singing group. • Set up a music area in your home filled with instruments your kids love so that your kids can play music whenever they want to. All in all, music should play a major role in all of our lives. It lifts our spirits and puts a smile in our faces. Music can enrich our kids personal and social lives. With all the benefits I listed above, what are you waiting for? Get ready to unleash your musical spirits and dance to your favourite songs with your kids. OCTOBER 2020 | My Child Magazine Issue #109
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FIVE AREAS OF YOUR CHILD’S DEVELOPMENT Written By: Feba Maryann
From the moment you give birth, you can’t help but constantly worry if your baby’s development is on par with others in their age group. Anxiety keeps hitting us at every milestone, and its practically impossible to stop worrying. Here are five main areas your child should develop skills in. These five areas represent a holistic approach to the development of your child. Each area should be given equal weightage and should be interconnected. 1. Social And Emotional Development Your child is emotionally developed when they know how to respond to certain events. They begin to understand other people’s changing emotions and how they express it. Your child will also be able to handle and understand their emotions by themselves. Your child will be able to discern between right and wrong when they are morally developed. Subsequently, your child will develop a moral conscience which is the change in their behaviour caused by the understanding of right and wrong. Your child will be ready to interact and help others as well as take care of themselves when they develop their social skills. Enrolling them in a high-quality preschool programme helps with social development. They will learn to adjust and empathise with other kids in their age group. 2. Intellectual Development This is linked to your child’s ability to solve problems and organise ideas. How your child thinks and figures things out indicates their cognitive development. The development of their brain is directly linked to their cognitive development. You need to take the initiative to do all you can to foster your child’s cognitive development. You should interact with them on a daily basis, no matter how busy your schedule gets. Quality interaction between a parent and a child goes a long way in helping your child prepare for the long journey ahead. These are a few activities that help with your child’s intellectual development: • Music • Learning an instrument • Books and puzzles • Answering all the questions asked by your toddler • Allowing them to make small decisions like picking an outfit • Learning about your little one’s interests and helping them learn more about it 3. Speech Development Your baby starts learning right from the time they were in your tummy! However, your toddler develops the most between the 2-5 age gap. Language development help to indicate if your child has any delays in learning. Keep track 14
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of their learning milestones. Their learning starts with simple words like “Mum” and “Dad”. At around 2 years, your child will be able to comprehend most of what you tell them. They will at least have 50 words in their vocabulary. Remember that each child develops uniquely. Mild speech delays are common. Some children develop faster, especially girls, others pick up words a little slower. 4. Motor Skill Development Your child’s motor skill development is broken up into two categories: • Fine motor skill development Fine motor skills involve your baby’s ability to use small muscles such as their hand and wrist.
“Your baby should start developing motor skills as a newborn. ”
Examples: Playing with toys, typing on a laptop keyboard, colouring, writing. • Gross motor skill development Gross motor skills involve your baby’s ability to use larger muscles like arms and legs. Examples: Walking, Sitting, lifting head while lying on their tummy Your baby should start developing motor skills as a newborn. Research about age-appropriate physical activities for your child to help them progress on their motor skills day by day. As mentioned before, every child is unique. Don’t be too anxious if your child isn’t developing according to the norms. Do not shy away from seeking professional help if you feel like your child needs help. As parents, all of us want to give our children the best lives they deserve. Your little one’s genetic make-up and their surroundings are the core factors that influence your child’s growth. We won’t be able to make changes to their genetic nature. What we can do is give them the ideal surrounding for them to grow in. Children surrounded by a nurturing environment tend to develop faster. Children who are deprived of basic needs and emotional support will never be able to unlock their true potentials. So a major part of your little baby’s development lies in your hands! OCTOBER 2020 | My Child Magazine Issue #109
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HOW DOES PRE-SCHOOL CONTRIBUTE TO YOUR CHILD’S OVERALL DEVELOPMENT? written by: Feba Maryann
As your precious baby grows older, you might start to yearn to go back and fully savour those new born moments. The nostalgia of feed times, warm cuddles and sleepless nights suddenly hit you. Amidst all this, sending your little one to preschool might break your heart. After all, your toddler is still a baby in your eyes. Placing them in a structured educational system might seem too early. You might be unsure about how they might cope with the separation. Well, the benefits of sending your child to preschool overweigh the concerns you might have. Preschool provides a strong base for your kid’s numeracy, literacy and social skills. Here are a few reasons why preschool is good for your child: 1. Promotes Emotional Development Children within the 3-6 age group absorb so much, even more than you think they can take in. They become more curious about their surroundings and would want to explore as much as possible. They might come up with interesting questions like “Why is the sky blue” and “Why does it rain?”. As a parent, you might not know how to respond to some of their questions. It is your responsibility to make the most of this time by helping them attain essential life skills they will need in the future. Home-schooling your child might not be a good option as it will only give them an academic boost. It does not help in developing their social and emotional skills. In preschool, your kid will have to adjust with other kids in their age group which nurtures essential social skills. They will learn to respect others, compromise and build confidence. Kids learn to be more independent thinkers and learn small tasks like tying their shoelaces. Teachers can also support their potty-training stage. Kids learn to be more aware of their bathroom habits when placed in a peer-based environment. 2. Provides A Strong Academic Foundation Preschool allows young children to experience an organised academic structure. It teaches them important classroom etiquettes like raising their hand to ask a question, following instructions, taking turns etc. Preschool also develops pre-numeracy and pre-literacy skills that will help your kids when they join elementary school. They will learn their ABC’s and 123’s through playing fun games at their own pace. 18
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The preschool syllabus is organised in a particular way so that they can sync with children’s cognitive, physical and emotional capacities. A preschool environment is ‘vocabulary rich’ which means that your child’s vocabulary will grow faster in a preschool setting. Teachers help kids increase their linguistic skills by introducing discussions, asking questions and introducing new words every day. Your children will be taught with the help of rhymes, engaging board games and physical activities. 3. Children Learn To Be More Independent Kids enrolled in preschools learn to make choices. They will eventually discover activities which interest them. Their sense of self-worth will increase as they learn to take care of themselves. Teachers offer them chances to help out with small chores like feeding the classroom pet and collecting activity worksheets. They learn to take care of their belongings and put toys away before moving on to another activity. Kids are also encouraged to help out other children with small tasks. When your kid learns such tasks in a group environment, they find it easier to cope with elementary school. The preschool environment is highly flexible, there aren’t a lot of rules that need to be followed. The classrooms are arranged to promote peer interaction and to reduce conflicts. 4. Develop Motor Skills Your child will be continuously challenged in different ways in the new environment they are placed in. Physical coordination improves as the children will be engaged in physical activities that help develop fine motor skills all day. They will be taught through activities like cutting with a pair of scissors, tying shoelaces etc. These activities help build their hand-eye coordination and their sense of balance. As each toddler will have unique needs, choose a high-quality programme which will work best with your family. However, you should understand that your child’s education is not limited to their classrooms. Parental support is essential for the holistic development of a young child. Sit down with them, ask them about their day and encourage them to talk about their feelings. Make sure you keep time aside out of your daily schedule for your child to open up and connect with you. After all, home is the first school and parents are the first teachers. Your influence over their development will be more than you think. OCTOBER 2020 | My Child Magazine Issue #109
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how to get your child to love reading books! WRITEN BY: FEBA MARYANN
As an avid reader myself, it’s not a surprise that I would want my kids to devour books the same way I did as a child. Ideally, I would want my kids to engross themselves in the magical worlds created by Morris Gleitzman and Jackie French. But sadly, our kids are born into the world of the Alpha Generation. They are the first generation to grow up with devices and technology all around them. Bringing your child to have an unfounded love for reading books might seem impossible in this fast-paced world dominated by interactive LED screens and virtually augmented devices. Here are a few genius ideas to immerse your child into the oldfashioned world of fictional characters and storeys: 1. Make Your Kids Listen To Books Some kids are auditory learners; they depend on listening and speaking as their preferred route of learning. If you think your kid grasps better while listening to something, an audiobook could be your solution. Listening to audiobooks isn’t any different from reading the old-fashioned way. You could have tracks playing in the stereo of your car while going and coming back from school. You could even download an audiobook app into your kid’s tablet to encourage the habit. Reading to them before bedtime is another great option. You could finish a chapter each night and keep them hooked to the suspense. Use this opportunity to bond with your child. Mimic sounds of their favourite characters, help them experience the fantasy of the book’s world within the comforts of their bedroom. 2. Be A Role Model Like it or not, your kids look up to for inspiration. This means that most of your everyday habits tend to rub off on them. They tend to mimic your actions and behaviour. If you want to raise a child who loves reading, you should make sure you read too. Talk to them about the book, point out parts of the book that struck your mind. This way, they will know how much joy reading gives you. This motivates your kid to pick up a book. You could then 22
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discuss their favourite characters and their personal opinions about the book. This fuels their love for reading. 3. Have A Reading Corner Dedicate an area of your house for an exclusive reading corner. Work with your kids to personalise the corner with their favourite items, this makes them want to hang out there which makes reading time more desirable. Fill the corner with books that interest them. For example: If your kid likes pirates, buy pirate-themed books to keep them hooked. You could take them along and ask them to pick books that appeal to them. You could even start a mini-club in the reading corner you just created. Ask your child’s friend to come over to discuss books they recently read. Transforming it into a social activity and including their friends in the journey makes it special to them. Considering the pandemic situation in Australia, if you feel it is risky to invite people to your house, you could just hold virtual book club meetings! 4. Bring Books To Life Go on little adventures inspired by the book your kid is reading. For example, if your kid is reading a book about the galaxy, take them to a planetarium right away. If the book has been turned into a movie, watch the movie after your kid finishes reading the book. This is a great way to get your kid to experience the world they created while reading the book. You could also celebrate your kid’s favourite writers. You could restock the reading corner with books they haven’t read of that particular author. You could also research about the author’s family, their favourite foods or where they lived. In short, these are some brilliant ways to get your children to love books. Reading transports your child into a world of their own filled with fictional characters. They will also be able to pick up new vocabulary and phrases. Many pieces of research have shown that reading has vast benefits on child development, which is why we felt it was essential to add this topic to correlate with our monthly topic. OCTOBER 2020 | My Child Magazine Issue #109
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BOOK e
v
i
e
w
s
by: Amy Adeney from Busy Bookworms
r
B AN D I T S BY SHA’ AN D’ ANTHES Fern lives in a colourless, lifel e ss c i t y and has only ever seen trees as p i c t ur e s i n her books. Fern is told that t he b and i t s who come in the middle of t he ni ght t o steal from the city dwellers ar e b ad guy s, but when she f ollows them b ac k t o t he i r home she discovers a land of c ol our , l i f e , friendship and a f uture she be l i e v e s i n.
Th is is a v isu a lly st u n n in g p ic tu r e b o o k f o r c h ild ren a ged fou r a n d u p , whi c h ex p l o r es t h emes of f rien d sh ip , d iv ersi ty a n d th e en v iron men t .
MEE SH A M AK E S F R IEN D S B Y TO M P E RC I VA L Me e sh a l ov e s makin g t h in g s …b u t there’s o ne t h i n g s h e fin d s d iffic u lt t o make – fr ie nd s . S h e d oes n ’ t kn o w q u it e what to d o , w h a t t o s a y o r wh en t o s a y it . B ut one d a y sh e d i s c o v er s t h a t s h e h as a special t a le nt th a t w ill h elp h er t o n avigate c ha lle n g i n g s o c ia l s it u a t io n s an d make fr ie nd s .
This i s a b e a u tiful e x amination of t h e j o y s a n d d i f f i cu lties of relating to ot h ers, a nd f i n d i n g y o ur place in the w orld . Tom P e rc iv a l ’s B i g B right F e elings s e ries is t h e p e rf e c t s p r i n g board for conve rsa t ion s a bo ut m e n ta l a n d e motional he alth, posit iv e s e lf - im a g e , b u ilding s elf-confide nce a n d m a na g i n g f e e l i n gs .
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T I G ER , T I G ER , B U R NING BR I G H T BY FI ONA STEWART & BRI TTA TECKENTRUP A breathtaking, lavishly i l l ust r at e d anthology featuring an animal p oe m f or every day of the year. Th i s c ol l e c t i on of 3 6 6 animal poems r ange s f r om unforgettable classics to co nt e m p or ar y works from around the worl d , i nc l ud i ng poetry in translation.
Th e sp ec t a c u la r ra n ge of p o em s i n c l u d es works b y ren own writ ers of th e p a s t a n d p resen t . Tec ken t ru p ’s illu st r a ti o n s b r i n g t oget h er a ll t h e ric h n ess a n d wo n d er o f th e a n ima l kin gd om, ma kin g t h is a n th o l o g y a p erfec t gif t f or c h ild ren of an y a g e, th a t will b e t rea su red b y gen era t ion s .
THERE’S A MOUSE IN MY HOUSE BY RO S S CO L L I N S This is t h e l on g -a wa it ed s eq u el t o the aw a r d- w i n n i n g f avo u r it e, T h er e’ s a Bear on M y C h a i r . T h e t a b les h a ve t u r n ed and this t ime i t’s B e a r wh o h a s a n u n welcome gu e st . T h a t c h eeky m o u s e ju s t won’t l eave – h e ’s e a ti ng a ll t h e fo o d , lis t ening to l o ud mu s i c a n d even s p illin g b a t h water all o v e r t h e f l o o r ! Bu t w h en t h er e’s an une x pe c te d k n o c k a t t h e d o o r , Bear de cide s th a t p e r h a p s m ic e ar e ac t ually rath e r n i c e !
A fa bulou s l y f u n n y rhyming s tory to sh a re wi th re a d e r s a g e d two and up at be d t ime ( or a ny t i m e !) .
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HOW TO PICK AGEAPPROPRIATE TOYS THAT HELP STIMULATE YOUR CHILD’S MOTOR SKILLS WRITTEN BY: Feba Maryann
Your baby develops fine motor skills from the moment they reach out for a toy. Early development of motor skills plays a vital role in the progress of your child for the rest of their lives. You can contribute to your baby’s development by giving them toys that foster STEM development. Earlier, our parents used hands-on activities like blocks and cardboard forts to keep us engaged. With the dawn of the digital age, play toys are slowly being replaced by box-like LED screens. We can’t deny the positive shift in education with integrated technology in classrooms and homes, but it also leads to kids using more of their hands and less of other body parts which leads to less dextrous control. Fortunately, fine motor skills can always be enhanced. You can help your children by providing them with toys that contribute to their cognitive abilities and motor skills. Keep reading to find out age-appropriate toys for your child which helps foster your child’s development. 1. 0-3 Months Your newborn will start making movements that involve smaller muscle groups like hands and wrists. They will be able to reach out for dangling objects and shake toys. They go through sensory, motor and emotional development during this stage. It is crucial to select toys that involve sounds and contrasting colours.
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• Colourful playpens with hanging soft toys help to keep your baby’s head in midline. It also improves your infant’s ‘reach and grasp’ ability. • Reading out high-contrast animated books help with cognitive skills and speech development. • Mirror toys help your little one to focus on objects which are within 8-12 inches of vision range. • Rattles develop grip and tactile simulation • Wind-up musical toys can help stimulate hearing. It also provokes your infant to make sounds. 2. 4-7 Months Now, your infant will attempt to grab objects with a purpose and will be able to transfer objects from one hand to another. Everything within your little one’s grasp will mostly be teethed on because teeth start to erupt at this stage. The toys you choose should be large enough to not go through the mouth of your baby which could lead to choking. • Teethers help cope with the tendency of your infant to put in all objects within their vicinity into their mouth. • Soft toys build grasping skills. The smooth surface of soft toys will ease you from your constant worry of the baby hurting himself/ herself. • Toys that move when touched encourage overall movement and gross motor skills. OCTOBER 2020 | My Child Magazine Issue #109
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3. 7-12 Months During this stage, your baby starts uses the pincer grasp. They begin to explore and learn more. Babies gain more control over their index finger. Movement becomes more controlled. Your toddler will be able to sit, pull, stand and crawl independently. They start scribbling, so make sure they don’t ruin your spotless walls! • Blocks are a great way to enrich fine motor skills. Busy boxes also teach them about a cause and effect. • Toys that have a peek a boo help with object permanence. • Textured sensory balls promote tactile and gross motor skills. It can be used to calm your child and to improve coordination and crawling. 4. 12-15 Months This period is an important milestone for your child’s cognitive development. They start adding words to their vocabulary and use words meaningfully. Babies within this age group will be able to stand independently, walk and discover their surroundings. • Easy-grasp puzzles increase hand-eye coordination, receptive language and cognitive behaviour. • Stackable cubes build up fine motor skills and help your child to relate spatial elements. • Cause and effect toys engage your child whilst enhancing object permanence. 32
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5. Above 2 Years Engaging your toddlers 24/7 can be tricky as well as exhausting. Reading is essential for all age groups as it enhances speech and language development. Instilling the love of reading in a child will help him/her throughout his life. Toddlers start to exhibit developed vocabulary skills and numerical abilities. Make storytime interactive and ask your toddler questions about the book. As they become more independent, potty training books can help out with your bathroom issues! During this phase, toddlers have high levels of energy that need to be expended. You could buy a tricycle or an electric car to keep them engaged. Look out for physical activities that engage their muscles whilst building their motor skills like playing ball. The number of games you could invent with a ball is limitless. Use technology to assist with your child’s holistic development. Promote a well-balanced timetable of learning through play and using technology. Many fun preschool apps help toddlers improve verbal, numerical and problem-solving abilities. However, too much of screen time can do more harm than good. Be on the lookout for toys that spark your child’s creativity and imagination. You can always convert everyday household items into unique toys that keep your child engaged for hours.
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Warning Signs You Need To Look Out For During Your Pregnancy Written by Feba Maryann
As you get ready to welcome your baby into the world, there could be a time when you could worr y about some of the complications you might experience during pregnancy. Most changes are mostly normal. Each woman’s pregnancy experience will be ver y dif ferent, some may experience severe symptoms and some may not. Here are some warning signs you need to look out for. If you experience any of these symptoms, consult your healthcare provider right away. Some may just be normal, but you can never be too cautious, especially when it could be lifethreatening. If you feel like something is wrong with both you and your baby ’s health, get it checked right away. 1. Physical Discomfort A s your body star ts to suppor t another life in your womb, you might star t to feel minor physical discomfor ts like backaches, leg and head pain. Headaches can be caused by stress, fatigue and hormonal changes. Severe headaches could be a sign of pre-eclampsia which is a high blood pressure disorder, so seek medical help as soon as possible to prevent any causalities. Abdominal pain associated with chills or fever is an indicator of something wrong. 2 . Blurred Vision Even if it isn’t a serious problem, it is ner vewracking, make sure you get help so that you can give your eyes some rest. Changing hormones is 36
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the root cause of blurr y vision. Loss of vision, light sensitivit y or blurred vision are probable symptoms of gestational hyper tension or pre-eclampsia. Notif y your doc tor about any changes in vision, it ’s bet ter to take precautions than having to live with the af ter-ef fec ts. 3. Mood Swings Being pregnant can make you feel like you’re on an emotional roller-coaster ride for the 9 months of your pregnanc y. Your mood changes because of stress, changes in metabolism, or f luc tuations in oestrogen and progesterone. Some women feel depressed and over whelmed when pregnant, so it ’s impor tant to speak to your healthcare team early on. These are a few ways that can help you to control your stress level. • Eat healthy meals • Take frequent breaks from your daily ac tivities • Invest your time in doing stuf f you like painting, cooking etc. • Meditate or go for pregnanc y yoga classes 4. No Baby Movement Women feel their baby turning bet ween 18 to 25 weeks of pregnanc y. Monitor your baby ’s movements by the time you reach your third trimester. Lie OCTOBER 2020 | My Child Magazine Issue #109
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down and time the periods bet ween 10 consecutive kicks. Keep track of each movement and record it. If ver y less or no movement is felt by 24 weeks, consult your healthcare provider immediately. 5. Bleeding During the early weeks, many women experience spot ting which is called implantation bleeding. This happens when the embr yo is in the process of implanting itself into the wall of the uterus. This lasts up to a maximum of 3 days, af ter which it will stop on its own. This is also a sign of ec topic pregnanc y. When the fer tilised eg g at taches itself outside the uterus, it is ex tremely dangerous. Bleeding is also known to be a symptom of vaginal infec tion or placenta previa.  Call a doc tor up if your bleeding is accompanied with abdominal pain, dizziness or rec tal pressure.  6. Itching Intense itching without visible rashes might be an indicator of cholestasis of pregnanc y. Cholestasis of pregnanc y is a liver condition trig gered by pregnanc y hormones that are sometimes seen in late pregnancies. This should be constantly monitored by your doc tor as it can cause the baby to be born early
or have lung problems. If your stomach is itching, it is probably because of the grow th of your baby. A s your baby grows, your skin stretches, making it dr y which causes your belly to itch. 7. Frequent urination Pregnant women might sometimes need to use the loo frequently. This is because of the pressure the growing baby exer ts on their bladders. Hormonal changes also contribute to this. Some women feel a burning sensation while they urinate which may be a sign of urinar y trac t infec tion (UTI) Chills or fever are other symptoms of UTI. Your doc tor will be able to treat the infec tion if it exists before any complications arise If you experience any one of these symptoms, contac t your health care provider immediately. A s pregnanc y comes with some risks, be sure to keep regular health cheques. Make frequent visits to your GP or g ynaecologist to reduce your risk. This way, you won’t have to be anxious throughout your pregnanc y, if any problems arise, it can be taken care of in the best way possible.
why ‘tricky’ experiences are key to your child’s development
It may seem counterintuitive, but ‘Tricky’ Experiences are actually incredibly important when it comes to your child’s physical and mental development. As parents, our natural instinct can sometimes be to wrap our children up in cotton wool to protect them from hurt, injury and disappointment. However, our desire to keep them safe at all costs - and close to us at all times - can actually hinder their physical and social development. Children require the physical and mental challenges associated with certain risky or ‘tricky’ situations and experiences in order to grow and learn. They need to be able to test boundaries for themselves and navigate their way forward. ‘Tricky’ experiences, as we call them at Guardian, can help children develop resilience and confidence; that they are competent and capable individuals. Likewise, tricky play encourages decision-making skills and risk assessment. These skills are especially essential for children approaching primary school as they help children navigate the challenges and opportunities of a formal school setting, including new and larger play areas and environments. The Guardian Outdoor Curriculum includes “Being Tricky” as an ongoing weekly planning consideration, and is a key way that children enjoy play and being outdoors in the Centres. Guardian Childcare and Education Curriculum Lead Bronwyn Thomson says, “This is not about putting your child in harm’s way, but about supporting them to develop important life skills.”
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“When your child rolls down a hill or slides down a slide, they are developing their senses and understanding their bodies. When they spin, hang upside down, run down a hill or climb a wall they are learning about their natural limits and how-to problem solve. Here are some ways parents can encourage tricky play at home – both indoors and out – to bring its benefits to life and help prepare children for the transition to primary school. Create An Obstacle Course Guardian Childcare and Education’s Freshwater centre manager Sarah Lean suggests getting creative by making an indoor obstacle course for your child to explore. “To make an obstacle course, all you need are basic items from around the house - like chairs, boxes, blankets and pillows (just nothing breakable!). Then let your child move their way through the course – jumping, crawling, even hopping!” Sarah says. Obstacle courses offer your child the chance to make their own decisions as they find their way through. Decision-making is an essential skill for school readiness, as children continually build up their independence. Developing this through play allows your child to feel empowered by their choices and encourages them to reach out to their peers, developing social unity. Run Downhill Most of us remember running wildly down a hill as a child, or even better, rolling down it. This activity gives your child an understanding of their body and how it moves in relation to surroundings thereby helping OCTOBER 2020 | My Child Magazine Issue #109
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develop spatial awareness. By allowing children to play in the outdoors, we are saying to them, “I trust you” and, “You can do it”. “Tricky play is an impactful way to learn about consequences through the understanding of, ‘If I do this, then that will happen’,” says Diane Forrester, Centre Manager at Guardian Childcare and Education Coromandel Valley. “While you may come back with a few bumps from time to time, children will also return with a better understanding of their own boundaries, and more confidence in their ability to move and control their body. Not to mention, fun memories!” A Trip To The Local Park Take your child to your local playground or park and watch them take on the climbing net, swing higher and higher on the swings, race their friends down the slide, or jump from tree stump to tree stump. “At our Centre, the absolute favourite piece of equipment in our outdoor play area is our wooden fort. The children love it, and there are so many physical and mental benefits they can gain by using it!” explains Sarah. “To climb up the fort, the children have to pull themselves up a steep incline – this exercise is great for their core strength. It is also an example of how children can learn more about the power and uniqueness of their bodies and what they are capable of.” “Play equipment like the fort often presents challenges that test children’s balance and coordination as well as developing their cognitive thinking by learning to 44
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problem-solve, such as, ‘If I place my foot here, I can climb down safely’.” Bush Walks Walking through nature is a great way for your child to take calculated risks in their play and to discover new things about the world around them. They might climb over rocks and up hills or down narrow, bumpy trails. Hopefully, they’ll also encounter a lizard, different bugs, or even prickly plants along the way. “We have a hill – or as the children call it, ‘The Mountain’ – in our yard, and a creek just across the road. We are so lucky, as these environments are where we are going to run our Bush Kindy program, which allows the children to exercise their decision-making and risk-assessment skills,” says Diane. “While we absolutely supervise the children in these environments, we also encourage the children to explore, be socially responsible and show respect for the environment in which they are playing. All are key learnings as they prepare for primary school and life.” Children need opportunities that will help them grow into confident and independent individuals, and tricky play experiences do just that – readying them for primary school and beyond. For more information on Guardian Childcare & Education’s Preschool Programs visit: www.guardian.edu.au/childcare-and-education/ preschool-and-kindergarten-program/. Discover the Guardian difference and book: www.guardian.edu.au/book-a-tour a tour today!
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INTERIORS
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Selena Round Baskets Set Of 3 In Natural $299 ozfurniturestore.com.au
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Spring Fields Sunflower Quilt Cover Set $15 spotlightstores.com
Lincoln Junior Table in Natural Rattan $229 ozfurniturestore.com.au
Handmade Super Cute Beech Wooden Animal Giraffe $43 wish.com
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YOUR BABY’S FIRST BATH Written by Olivya Sara
Initially, bathing your baby might seem quite intimidating. How could have so many questions about bath time. How frequently should you bath your baby? When should you give your baby their first bath? What products are most ideal? Don’t worry, here’s an extensive guide to bathing your baby for the first time and beyond. When Should You Give Your Baby Their First Bath? It used to be a standard practice in hospitals to bath newborns as soon as they were delivered. But that trend is slowly on a decline, experts recommend delaying your baby’s first bath up to 12 hours after delivery. Your baby doesn’t need daily baths until they start crawling and get dirty. Increasing the wait time for a newborn’s bath time has significant emotional and physical benefits. Babies are born with a waxy coating called the vernix, which helps retain heat and serve as a protective barrier against infections. It also leads to an increased breastfeeding success rate as new moms can nurse faster and have more skin-to-skin time. Until your baby starts crawling, you don’t need to give them a daily bath. Your newborn only needs a bath three times a week. Stick with a sponge bath until his/her umbilical cord heals. When the infant can sit up, use a tub bath. Benefits Of Bath Time There’s nothing cuter than a baby covered with soapy 58
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bubbles splashing in the bath. We can’t deny the adorable photo ops that come our way during bath times. But bathing your baby has a lot of benefits beyond getting cleaned up. • Calms Your Baby. After a tyring day, soaking up in a tub with your favourite book or a glass of wine could be the most relaxing part of your day. This is exactly how your baby feels during bath time. Massaging your infant afterwards further soothes your baby. If your baby fusses or turns their head, don’t worry, take it slowly. It will take some time to figure out what’s most comfortable for your child. The warm water could also induce sleep. Adding bath time to your baby’s bedtime routine could help in getting your baby to sleep faster. • Serves As A Bonding Experience Singing silly songs, kissing your baby, gently touching your baby helps in establishing a stronger bond with your baby. Hearing your voice instantly helps your baby to feel secured. Bath time lets you to spend quality time with your baby and helps you to understand them better. How To Give Your Baby Their First Bath? However, daunting it may get, with the right supplies and preparation, your baby’s first bath can be transformed into a smooth and joyful experience. Here are all the steps you need to know about bathing your infant.
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Sponge Bath Initially, your baby only needs a quick and effective sponge bath. Step One: You will need a clean diaper, a plush towel, some washcloths and a baby soap or shampoo at a minimum. Make a checklist to ensure you have all your supplies ready before you start bathing your baby. Keep all these items at your fingertips so that you don’t have to leave your baby alone, even for a minute. You might also need somebody holding a camera to help treasure this precious milestone digitally. Choose a comfortable setting that’s moderately warm with adequate lighting. Step Two: Remove your baby’s clothes and place them in a sink that supports their head. Dip the washcloth in warm water and wipe your baby. Wet your baby slowly on small areas pat it dry as soon as you wet the area. Diaper areas are extremely sensitive, so be extremely careful with that area. Full Baths Once your baby’s umbilical cord has healed, your baby can shift from sponge baths to full baths. You might feel scared to bath your newborn because of how tiny your baby is. Try to take help from a relative, your partner or your friend. You could also ask your midwife or trained doulas for professional help. 60
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Step One: Your baby can lose heat very quickly because they’re naked. Make sure the temperature of the room you bath your infant in is between 75 to 80 degrees. Test the water temperature before putting your baby into the tub. Do not fully immerse your baby into running water. Gently slide your infant slowly, never let go of your baby’s head. Letting your baby sit for too long can irritate their skin or expose him to a cooler temperature. Step Two: A bath might not seem complete without using soapy products. Even if using mild soaps don’t cause any harm, warm water and a dry cloth is more than enough to clean them. Focus on creases, areas behind the ears, the neck area and the private area. Once you finish bathing your baby, wrap the infant up in a warm and plush towel. Your newborn’s skin might seem dry, but using baby lotions and after-bath products isn’t a must. Use oil of petroleum jelly to treat dry patches. Putting baby powder on your baby might seem tempting, but it could get into your infant’s lungs and cause breathing problems, so it’s a huge risk. There’s a lot to prepare before you bathe your baby for the first time. Soon, bath time will turn out to be a regular slot in your daily timetable. You just need to give yourself space and time to master the art of bathing your child!
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COPING WITH YOUR BABY’S VOCABULARY SPURT Written by Olivya Sara
Even if babies come into this world with an inborn skill to tune to our voices, they should develop it over time to be fully capable of understanding language. They start developing pre-skills needed to converse in a particular language like showing gestures, interacting with you etc. Mastering basic language takes time, your child will start picking up words at a very fast pace from 18 months onwards. Many new parents don’t realise the influence they hold over their child’s verbal development. Kids with a large vocabulary adjust better in a structured classroom setting than the others. Children pick up linguistic skills over time and your efforts. Here’s how you can help nurture your toddler’s vocabulary. 1. Direct Interaction One of the best ways to boost your child’s verbal development is to directly interact with them. Converse with them and talk to them about stuff that’s interesting to them. Ask them about their favourite cartoon show or character. Ask them questions that make them ponder and encourage them to use more vocabulary. Reward them with a smile or an applause when they take the effort to respond. You don’t have to perfect each line that comes out of your toddler’s 64
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mouth, just acknowledge their attempt positively. Some toddlers are auditory learners, which means that they respond better to music more than conversations. Use nursery rhymes that facilitate your child to learn new words. Use actions to keep them engaged and interested. Even if educational shows are beneficial, I don’t recommend putting your toddler in front of your TV to pick up vocabulary. Your kid will respond better to personal interaction, so make sure you spend daily quality time your little one! 2. Story-Time Try to incorporate reading time to your bedtime routine. Initially, use picture books with captivating graphics to get your kids hooked. Show them different pictures and explain the names of the objects clearly. Ask them about their favourite characters and plots. To make it more engaging, you could roleplay with DIY costumes and props. Recreate your toddler’s favourite scenes from the book to help bring the book to life. Teach OCTOBER 2020 | My Child Magazine Issue #109
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them short dialogue exchanges and record the roleplay to treasure it for a lifetime. 3. Games Another brilliant way to aid your baby’s vocabulary spurt is to play games together. Here are some ideas you can use for playtime: • Pointing game – Point out different objects around the ask and ask your toddler to name them. It might be challenging initially, but once they get a hang of it, they will start enjoying the game. Reward them with a treat for each object they name correctly. You could also take them outside and ask them to describe how they feel and smell. This helps them learn sensory words quickly. • Guess it – Ask your kid to guess the animal by its sounds or body parts. Imitate the animal’s sounds and describe important facts about the animal to your kid. • Online Activities – Interactive animated storeys and activities can be found online. All you have to do is lookup for websites that contain educational game for kids.
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4. Play Dates Allowing your child to play with kids their age helps them socialise better. You could also let them mingle with older children. Your child might try to imitate their way of talking and behaviour. This in turn increases their confidence and aids their social development. Normally, a two-year-old has a vocabulary of around 150-300 words. Their vocabulary increases exponentially during the 2-3 age gap. This is when they learn to control their volume and pitch of their voice. They start creating longer sentences with detailed explanations. All you need to do is to interact with them, sing songs, read with them and play engaging games. Tell them storeys about your past or about the time she was born. Don’t try to fast track your child’s linguistic development by teaching them too many words a day. Pick a word every day and teach them what it means and how to use it. Learning a language is a slow process, you need to be patient enough to allow your child to make mistakes and learn from them. OCTOBER 2020 | My Child Magazine Issue #109
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T O Y r e v i e w s
by: SHEREE HODDINETT
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4/5 G o o n a r e s c u e m is s io n wit h Fr ed die and Chrissy at Freddie’s Fire Station j ust l i k e i n E piso d e 4 o f t h e Net flix o r ig in al s eries. Freddie’s mum Carolyn Firetruck e nc our age s e x plo r a t i on o f all t h e exc it in g a c t ivities the f ire station has to off er with mini c har ac t e r s F r e dd i e a n d C h r is s y. H elp Fr ed d ie and Chrissy rescue Phil just like in the show. S l i d e do w n t h e s p i r a l r a m p wh ile b u ild ing motor skills, then activate the PlayZone l oc at i on to he a r e a c h c har a c t er s a y u n iq u e phrases. Place any SmartPointTM cha r ac t e r (sol d se pa r a te l y ) on t h e S ma r t P o in t T M l ocation to hear them talk, play music and l i ght up . He lp s a v e t h e d ay! Y o u’ ll l ov e g o i ng o n a d ven t u r es w i th the gang in Bumperton Hills. Press t he l i ght -up w inds c r e e n t o hear t h e c h ar a c t er s talk. Each character introduces a colou r as we l l as pla ys f o u r s on g s a n d s ix melo d ies . Each vehicle features an action button t hat t r i gge r s a re sp o n s e a n d p lays fu n s o u n d s , phrases, sound ef f ects and music. Plac e t he m on a S m a r t P o i n t T M lo c at io n o n T o o t -Toot Cory Carson® playsets to discove r e v e n m or e phra s e s , s on g s a n d s o u n d s . ( P laysets sold separately). Cory Carson, F r e d d i e F i r e Truck , H a l l e C op t er , Fr a n n ie Fen d erson, Kimmy O’Tool and Timmy O’Tool . Our V e r d i ct – B e ing the he ro of their ga me a n d fu n t ime is wh a t ev ery kid d r ea m s o f , rig ht ?! A n d to b e able to play it out ju st like t h e sh ow, wou ld b e t h e h igh ligh t f o r a n y o n e’ s d a y . I f y o u r l i t tl e one is a fan of anyth in g rela t ed t o f irefigh t in g a n d resc u in g , th ey ’ l l h a v e a b a ll w i t h th e fire hous e and us ing t h e t oy s t o slid e d own t h e sp ira l ra mp . T h r o w i n a few lo u d b a n g s and blas ts for s ound ef f ec t s a n d t h ey ’re well on t h eir wa y to r ec r ea ti n g the ir v e r y o w n res cue mis s ion right in t h e c omf ort of t h eir h ome or y a rd . W h i l e m y g i r l s are g e t ti n g o l d er and moving pas t the lit t le kid s t oy s, t h a t d oesn ’t st op t h em f r o m tr y i n g the m o u t a n d p u tting the m through t h eir p a c es. If t h ey c a n su rv iv e my kid s (a n d th ey g et p re t t y r o u g h a t t ime s ) , then the littli es will b e f in e! I t h in k for my girls, a n y t oy s th a t l i g h t u p and m a k e n ois e always get the ir a t t en t ion , n o ma t t er h ow old t h ey a re, ha h a ! Ava i l a bl e fro m: B i g W, K m a rt a n d T ar g et, g ood toy stor es and online r e t ai l e r s w w w . v t e ch . co m. a u 70
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VTECH MYLA’S SPARKLING FRIENDS – AVA THE FOX $29.95
4/5 P la yt i m e i s m a g ic al wit h Myla ’ s Sparkling Friends Mia the Unicorn, A v a t he F ox, a nd P e n n y th e P eac o c k! T h es e b eautiful creative toys talk, sing, and li ght up wi t h a k a lei d o s c o p e o f c o lo u r s . T o u c h the magical necklace, then see the My l a S p ar k l i ng F r ie nd s ’ e y e s , h ead , w in g s o r t ail change colour when you touch them. S i ng al ong t o t he so n g s y o u hea r w h en yo u t o u c h their mouth, and trigger lights and f un r e sp onse s w he n y o u s q u e eze t h eir leg s o r move their wings or tail. Each Myla Spark l i ng F r i e nd s w ill r e a c t w i th over 100 fu n , m a g ical responses about their mood, feelings, and l uc k y co lo u r s . E a c h m a g ic al c r ea t u r e c omes with additional accessories so y ou c an ad d so me e x t r a f l a i r . Co llec t a ll t h e fr iends f or more colourful play (each sold se p ar at e l y )!
Our ve r d i ct – Q u ite often w hen you see or t h in k of a f ox, y ou h a v e a c rea t ur e th a t i s n ’ t e x a c t l y t h e f r i e n dlies t out the re. B ut lit t le Av a is p ossib ly t h e b righ t est a n d n i c es t l o o k i n g f o x I ’ v e e v e r s e en and s he ’ s de finit ely c a p t u red t h e a t t en t ion of my t wo g i r l s . Wh en i t c o m e s t o l i t tl e girls , there’ s s omet h in g a b ou t t oy s t h a t sp a rkle, ligh t u p a n d c h a n g e c o lo u r . O h a n d of cours e, one s the sin g. Kid s h a v e t h e b est ima gin a t ion , espec i a l l y wh en it c o me s t o to y s. W hat I s ee and wh a t t h ey see a re oft en on d ifferen t en d s o f th e s c a l e! Ava h a s n o w j o i ned the many mys tica l c rea t u res for p la y t ime in ou r h ou se. Oh th e s to r i es and f u n I ca n h ear to do w ith unicorn s, d olls, roy a lt y , t ea c h ers (y ea h I kn ow th a t o n e i s a b it diff e r e n t !) a nd anything e ls e you c a n t h in k of , my girls rec rea t e it . I gu es s i t’ s a l l p a r t o f t he f u n o f b e i ng a k id! I’ m s ure A va is goin g t o en joy h er t ime b ein g p a rt of th e ma g i c a l wo rld th a t i s m y children and playtime! B i g W, g o o d t oy sto res a n d o n l i ne r etailer s. w w w . v t e ch . co m . a u 72
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TIPS TO HELP DEAL WITH YOUR TODDLER’S “TERRIBLE TWO’S” Written by Feba Maryann
If you have kids between 18 to 30 months of age, you’re probably living in a world of angry outbursts, tantrums and incomprehensible arguments. Life can get pretty frustrating when a simple “NO” is followed by a 10-minute hunger strike. What’s Happening During This Stage? Your child changing from an all-smiling baby to a defiant toddler can be exasperating for many parents. It’s completely normal for your cute little baby to turn irrational and angry during this age. For example, your toddler crying about the colour of the bowl she eats cornflakes off isn’t justified in any way for you. From your two-year-old’s perspective, it’s as important as the time you got angry at your husband for buying the wrong dishwashing liquid. At 24 months, your child’s brain starts growing very fast. This makes your toddler want to be independent and decide for themselves. So, when you don’t give your child the exact coloured bowl they were asking for, they act up. As they have a very limited outlook of life, they will never be able to understand why you can’t provide them with what they want. What Should You Expect? Screaming, throwing things, kicking, hunger strikes and balking are all indicators of your baby entering the phase of the terrible twos. However, the most terrifying sign of the terrible twos is loud public tantrums. Bringing them to open public spaces like supermarkets and restaurants could turn out to be quite embarrassing. You need to understand that your child isn’t a baby anymore, but you can’t treat him like a middle-schooler too. Both ways will only get them more irritated. This phase might seem never76
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ending, but here are some strategies for some problems you might encounter while your toddler passes through this stage. 1. Tantrums When I go back to reflect on the time my sister’s child had a meltdown because he couldn’t have the candy bar he wanted without eating his veggies, I only remember being extremely petrified because of how violent he got. He started crying and screaming, with tiny comical tears flooding his face, his face turned into the colour of the tomatoes he was supposed to eat. He could barely breathe. I suddenly grabbed the bar and gave it to him. In a second, he was all better and was happily munching on the candy bar while his mum shouted at me for giving it to him. Don’t get me wrong, you shouldn’t give in to all the wild desires your child might have. Tantrums are caused because your child doesn’t know how to handle the intense and sudden feelings of anger they have. Throwing a tantrum is just their way of letting their emotional flood gates open. You just have to learn to ignore these outbursts as long as they aren’t hurting others or themselves. Too much attention or giving in to their demands will only encourage this kind of unruly behaviour. Sometimes, your toddler might get triggered by the most unexpected and hilarious reasons, it can get difficult to stop from laughing a bit. Laughing at a tantrum can only make it worse, because to your child, this whole situation is a very serious issue. The best option in this situation is to talk about your child’s feelings. Stoop to their level, maintain eye-contact and talk to them in a loving tone as you explain why you can’t give your child what they want.
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2. Fussy eating Your toddler’s dietary preferences can change almost every day. They might want to eat only carrots for a whole day and then shift to cucumbers the very next day. So, make them try new flavours and different foods every day to keep their taste palates engaged. I must admit, watching ‘Sisters’ or ‘MasterChef Australia’ on TV while you feed your kid can be very tempting. Kids tend to eat better if we feed them while they watch something on their iPads. Mealtimes can serve as quality family time. It can be transformed into a time where you eat at the table as a family and talk about the day. Make sure you have at least one dinner as a family. You don’t have to stress on proper table manners now, let them get themselves a little messy. You can always clean up later. Having your family sit down together for a meal which can make your child look forward to it. 3. Bedtime Tucking your toddler into their bed might turn out to be a long-drawnout battle you have every day. Try making a fun, bedtime routine filled with activities reserved only for bedtime so that your child could look forward to it. You could read a book, give them special pyjama sets or have beautiful night lamps to b=keep them interested. Allow them to wind down at their own pace, let them play silently in bed until they feel tired and go to sleep by themselves. Positive re-enforcement can go a long way when it comes to disciplining your child. Learn to communicate with them openly. Always let them know that they are loved however big their outbursts might get. If your toddler gets too aggressive and starts to harm themselves or others, you should seek professional help. Toddler behaviour can get to your nerves and make you want to pull your hair out, but remember, this is only a temporary phase, there is light at the end of the tunnel.
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all you need to know about your kid losing teeth Written by Feba Maryann
My sister’s boundless excitement of her son losing his teeth used to fascinate me. Her camera roll was filled with photos of my nephew’s proud toothless grins. As white teeth slowly started erupting from his gums, she used to run her fingers over the top of his emerging teeth until my nephew bit her fingers. While her son was fascinated, my sister rode an emotional roller-coaster. She was proud of the big boy he was growing up to be, but the fact that his baby days were over tugged her heart. The time your kid starts losing teeth is both exciting and intimidating. You finally realise how big your kid’s grown and how far you’voe come as a parent. Here are a few points you need to keep in mind during this stage of your child’s development: When Do Kids Start Losing Teeth? Your kid’s teeth fall off to make way for the adult teeth to come in. Baby teeth start wiggling at the age of four; most kids lose teeth from the age of five to fifteen. If your child starts losing their teeth early, it could be due to injuries or gum issues. On
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the other hand, some kids don’t lose teeth even by the time they reach eight years old. Consult a dentist right way to cheque if there are any underlying issues. Kids with special needs tend to follow a different pattern. Gender also plays an interesting role; girls lose baby teeth faster than boys. How Should I Assist In The Process? Gone are the days when our parents use to force our teeth out by tying a string to the doorknob, a trick that was followed by bleeding gums and vanilla ice-cream. You don’t have to use brute force to yank your kid’s loose teeth. Let it fall out normally to prevent any damage to the gums. Encourage your kids to wiggle their tooth slowly so that it falls out naturally. Regular brushing at the gum line accelerates the process. Talk to your children about this, let them know that this is normal and explain to them why their teeth are falling out. Some kids struggle to cope with their new look; it might also take time to adjust with the gap,
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prepare them for the changes. A lot of families have a tooth fairy tradition to commemorate this milestone. You could always look up for unique ideas on the internet to help make this a fun process. As a kid, my mom used to tell me to put my tooth under my pillow for the tooth fairy to come and pick it up at night. I always used to wake up the next morning with a small gift box filled with candy beside my bed. You could also read fun and educational books like the “The Last Loose Tooth” by Tyler Clark to help them understand better. What’s Next? There’s nothing cuter than a 5-year-old’s innocent gap-toothed smile. Loosing one small tooth can completely change your child’s appearance; it gives your child a remarkably mature look. Help them build confidence in their new look and encourage them to embrace themselves. Make sure your kid brushes their teeth twice a day. Use a low-fluoride toothpaste and a pea-sized amount. Flossing also helps with keeping your child’s teeth clean. Supervise
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them and give them help until they learn to be independent. When the adult teeth start coming through, they tend to be more ridged. Teach them about good oral hygiene as this is the set of teeth they need to live with for the rest of their lives. When the molars erupt, your child might feel some pain. Over the counter pain medications can generally solve this issue. Visit your dentist every 6-12 months. Public dental providers offer free service for children up to a certain age in Australia. You can always look up for clinics near you in your state’s health department website. If you opt for private dental services, you have to pay for all the expenses, but if you have private health insurance, you will get some money back. This experience can be challenging for many parents. The thought of our precious baby, growing up into the category of a “big kid” can get scary. Learn to love every minute of the parenting journey and celebrate every milestone reached, making memories every step of the way. OCTOBER 2020 | My Child Magazine Issue #109
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W H AT YO U NEED TO KN OW ABOUT B AL ANCI NG W ORK AN D YOUR FAMILY L IFE! written by: Lance Green
Whenever the Broncos played on home ground, I used to tag along with my dad to watch my idol, Randy Gradishar in action. This was the only time we spoke, as my dad was a man of very few words. While players scored brilliant touchdowns, I used to make the most out of the very little bonding time I had with my father. Most of us grew up in traditional households, where dads were the sole breadwinners of the family, and mums stayed at home to look after the house. As a result, I could never establish an emotional connection with my dad. My dad was just a person who went off to work every morning, came back in the evening, and sat in front of the television with a beer in his hand till he drifted off to sleep. The day I first held my baby in my arms, I knew that I didn’t want to be like my dad. I wanted to prioritise family life, support my wife in her career, and be involved with my kid’s life. Being a dad completely shifted my attitude around work, having to look after another human being put my work into perspective. I didn’t want to have exponential growth in my career at the expense of me being an 88
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absent parent in the life of my only child. It wasn’t easy; there are still times when I feel like I miss out on important milestones on the way. Even if the perfect work-life balance only exists in a utopian world, I figured out what was best for my family. Here are some tips to help you balance having enough bonding time with your family whilst nurturing your career: Prioritise The Littlest Things Being there for only the critical events of your child’s life isn’t how you balance work and life. The smallest of things like knowing your child’s favourite cartoon character, taking your child to school every day or taking daily walks around the neighbourhood can yield the most unforgettable memories. These day-to-day interactions tend to nurture a better father-child relationship. This does not mean that you should stagnate your career growth. The fact that your kids look up to you as a role model is the only motivation you will need to be a leader at work without a tinge of regret. You should know what is urgent. You can OCTOBER 2020 | My Child Magazine Issue #109
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put some work issues can be put on hold without having to suffer any consequences. Some emails can wait in your inbox for a few days, and some papers can be signed off the next day at work. You aren’t procrastinating by doing this; you are just working towards achieving a perfect balance. Establish Goals Establishing goals doesn’t mean that you have to plan out performance metrics, or you have to make plan models for your family. Set goals to help your partner and be a better dad to your children. You could make a chart which decides school drop-off and pick-up timetables or the weekly groceries you need to pick up. It helps you figure out what you need to do around the house and how you can be productive to your household. Make sure that you have at least 3 hours daily to spend quality time with your kids. Have a family game session every weekend or a game of table tennis every day. Have a consistent presence at home, think twice before taking up jobs that require you to travel too much. When you are more present
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around the house, your kids acknowledge and respect you; which in turn allows you to be a better disciplinarian. Draw A Fine Line If you currently work in a top-tier firm with a 6-figure salary, congratulations! However, top jobs also require you to invest a lot of time into your work. Once you land a leadership role, you’re accountable for all the mishaps that happen in your office. This burns up the time you kept aside for your family. All you need to do is to set boundaries between your work and family life. Prioritise family events life your son’s football games over your company’s work-late culture. Your colleagues need to understand your intentions of protecting the very little time you have with your family. The final message is crystal clear. You need to make sure that you do not intersect work and family life together. This makes you a complete parent and will help you live a fulfilled dad life. OCTOBER 2020 | My Child Magazine Issue #109
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ESSENTIAL TIPS TO HELP MAINTAIN A HEALTHY RELATIONSHIP AFTER HAVING KIDS Written by Feba Maryann 
Hours of antennal classes or hundreds of parenting books can never keep you immune from the change your child brings to your marital dynamics. Prioritising your relationship along with the added responsibilities you have towards your child might feel overwhelming. As a result, the health of your relationship can plummet.  Here are some tips to keep your relationship strong throughout your parenting journey: 1. Friends and Family Transitioning from a carefree lifestyle to one with responsibilities can cause a change in the momentum of your current relationship. That’s natural but the strong backing of extended family and friendship can help you wade through these troubled times safely to the shore. Talk to relatives with kids, ask them how they manage everything. They might be able to give you an insight as to why your partner might feel a certain way or enforce certain rules. Getting external support for the first few months after you give birth helps you to 94
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cope with the initial difficulties of parenthood. You can bring in parents, friends, relatives or a doula to help you out during the first few months. This gives you time to discuss an inhouse system that should be followed while taking care of the newly added responsibilities. You can schedule play dates for your kids while you enjoy precious intimate moments with your partner. This can help you relax and kick back into your pre-parenting lifestyle for a few hours. 2. Quality Time Spontaneous drives to the beach, trying out a new restaurant in another town at odd hours of the day or just having a relaxing afternoon at home – all this become quite distant and strange with the addition of the cute little bundle in your life. Try to spend quality time with each other as frequently as possible. Go beyond date night, engage yourselves in a new experience altogether like aerobic or dance classes. During this alone time, don’t talk about your kids. A few hours of worry-free heart-to-heart time might just be the medicine you need to strengthen your relationship. OCTOBER 2020 | My Child Magazine Issue #109
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3. The Little Things It’s okay to feel a little overwhelmed with the new path drawn out. Sleep deprivation, constant feeling of exhaustion, demands of the newborn, physical and hormonal changes in your wife’s body can be stressful for new dads. You might not be able to enjoy exclusive weekend getaways or do huge romantic gestures like the old days, so focus on the little things. Take time occasionally to surprise your partner with a breakfast-in-bed or by taking time out to brew coffee. This reminds them that you think and value what they do for the family. 4. Communication Along with catering to the constant demands of the newborn, the domestic chores still need to be done, errands to be run, bills to be paid, house repairs, mowing the lawn, clearing the trash should be handled etc. It’s easy to pick up a squabble with your partner when you have such a packed schedule. This squabble can easily turn into a blown-out argument which leaves both of you 96
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exhausted and frustrated. The key to helping you overcome this problem is Communication. Not taking enough time to communicate may increase the tension and bring the worst out of the relationship. You need to understand that this phase is hard for both of you. It’s okay and to take “baby” steps to overcome this period. Start to talk about the times you miss from your pre-baby life, talk about what you don’t enjoy about your parenting journey, this helps you reconnect faster. Take a “Tech Break”, your mobiles phones should never be a hindrance to the very little time you have together. When you spend quality time together, you become a model for your kids and help them learn to prioritise family over mobiles phones or iPads. The relationship journey you have with your partner after having a baby won’t be a bed of roses. However, you should keep in mind that every obstacle you overcome together helps you come closer and build stronger bonds with your partner. When you prioritise your relationship over any barriers, you will start to enjoy your life to the fullest as a parent. Yes, a baby can change everything; but you decide how it affects you. OCTOBER 2020 | My Child Magazine Issue #109
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GOOD COP BAD COP WRITTEN BY: SHEREE HODDINETT
Sometimes being Mummy means you have to be the bad guy. The one who yells, who smacks (yes, I do!), the one who takes away all privileges, cancels playdates and throws away treats. You also…at times… get to be the good guy. The lucky one to reveal surprises, actually handover treats, take everyone out to dinner and buy toys just because you can. There doesn’t always have to be a reason for which one you are, because you are only human after all. Being a mum (or parent in general) is an exhausting role. Yes, it’s one we chose for those who like to point out the obvious.
But that doesn’t mean it doesn’t get too much at times or you feel like the whole world has it in for you. Because once again, we mums (and dads too) are only human after all. So why is it often expected that we take on such a superhuman existence?! I know producing a teeny tiny human is a superhuman feat in itself. But that quickly changes when they come into the world and pretty much take away any energy you may have! And they continue to do so for many many many years. My girls might only be young but they have definitely contributed to the large shopping bags and dark circles always featuring heavily under my eyes. You know the types that no amount of makeup can cover, no matter how hard you try?! How come the littlest people that you love so much can sometimes be the hardest work?! I always say, lucky I love them right?! But it’s so much more than that. It’s trying to be patient when you have no patience left. Trying to be diplomatic when your last nerve has already left the building. Smiling when you feel beaten and all you want to do is cry. Trying to understand why your children are being
feral when they have everything they could possibly want or need, it’s all just so much “fun”! Sometimes I like to sit back and watch my girls as they play by themselves. It’s funny to see their individual imaginations at work as they set up their little game, chat away to themselves, giggle out loud and just have a great time. It’s in that moment that I love how creative their little minds can be. Plus I love the chance at some kind of silence in what can be a hectic time. Then bam, along comes the other child and the moment of peace just passes us by. And that’s when all hell breaks loose and I have to yell, enter the really bad cop! It’s always good while it lasts, right?! I’m not silly, I know life with kids is pretty much going to be this way, for the foreseeable future anyway. I know my girls love each other, but they also go out of their way to tick each other (and Mummy) off every chance they get. Some days can be a challenge and other days a breeze. You can have a day start out perfectly (well sort of) and then by lunchtime, everybody is
on the verge of tears. No matter what you do, no matter how hard you try for things not to go pear shaped, it never works! As someone who likes to be in control and is very organised, watching things unravel before me can sometimes be a little hard to swallow. You can imagine how quickly I felt out of control when dealing with a newborn for the first time. Now fast forward seven years and I’m dealing with a sassy, attitude riddled child (and her younger sister) who will probably get on my nerves many many more times before she even hits the teenage years. What have I done?! Haha! I know in the whole scheme of things all this will pass in the blink of an eye and maybe one day I’ll look back on it and laugh. Either that or I’ll still be rocking myself in the corner. Whichever way you look at it, it’s reassuring to know that I’m not the only one dealing with good cop bad cop situations, it happens everywhere, whether you admit to or not! Just don’t let them break you! Ever! Haha! Check out my page www.shereekim.com for more fun and adventures with my dearest darling offspring. Until next time… OCTOBER 2020 | My Child Magazine Issue #109
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girls FASHION
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BABY Baby Striped Dress and Bloomer Set $29.00 Baby Mary Jane Faux Suede Infant Shoe $12.00
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GIRLS Shirred Playsuit $30.00 Closed Front Sandal $16.00
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UNDER $70 theiconic.com.au BABY Stretch Mesh Polo Dress $69.00 Old Soles Gabrielle Mary Janes $54.95
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SPLURGE melijoe.com/au
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GIRLS Stella Jean Bi-Material Shirt Dress $307.00 Little Mary Shimmering Leather Sandals - Lio $98.00
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boys FASHION
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BABY Baby Striped T-shirt and Short Set $20.00 Baby Lonsdale London Harrow PreWalker Shoe $16.00
UNDER $20 target.com.au BOY Striped T-shirt $10.00 Palm Boardshort $10.00 Twin Tab Sneakers $18.00
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UNDER $90 theiconic.com.au BABY Polo Ralph Lauren One-Piece Seersucker Shortall $79.00 Oscars For Kids Milan Loafers $89.95
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BOYS Mini Rodini Cat Choir Ss Tee $60.00 Huxbaby Reversible Chino Shorts $54.95 Nike Pico $49.95
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BABY Burberry Bodysuit And Trousers With Braces $380.00 Burberry Newborn Baby Trainers $300.00
SPLURGE melijoe.com/au BOYS Gucci Mini Me Logo Polo $300.00 Chloé Checked Shorts Mini Me $225.00 Emporio Armani Logo Leather Sneakers $455.00
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Cross Back Overalls - Natural Linen $49.95
Tiered Dress - Sweet Meadow $44.95
Pinafore - Natural Linen $49.95
Rib Overall - Clay $54.95
Knit Jumper - Little Dinosaur $49.95
Waffle Hoodie - Jet Stream $54.95
miannandco.com.au
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recipes sourced from: nnswlhd.health.nsw.gov.au OCTOBER 2020 | My Child Magazine Issue #109
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Quick & Easy
Carrot & Oat Mini Muffins INSTRUCTIONS 1
preheat oven to 180°c. lightly oil a 24-hole mini muffin tin with olive oil spray.
2
in a large bowl, combine flour, oats, grated carrot, honey or brown sugar, and cinnamon. mix to combine. lightly whisk eggs and add to oil. pour into carrot mixture and mix until just combined (don’t overmix).
3
spoon evenly into the muffin tin. bake in the preheated oven for 1215 minutes, or until a skewer inserted comes out clean.
4
allow to rest in the tin for 5 minutes before turning out and cooling on a wire rack.
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prep and cooking time: 30 mins serves: 24 INGREDIENTS 150g wholemeal flour 150g plain rolled oats carrots, grated (about 2 180g medium carrots) honey or brown sugar (do not use honey if 70g making for children under 12 months old) 1/2 tspn cinnamon 2 eggs 100ml olive oil
Delicious
Wholemeal Banana & Yoghurt Bread INSTRUCTIONS 1
preheat the oven to 180°c. grease and line an 11 cm x 21 cm loaf tin with baking paper.
2
using an electric beater, blend the oil and honey until well mixed. add the eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition.
3
in a separate bowl, mash the bananas and stir in the yoghurt. fold through egg mixture. fold flour and mixed spice into mixture.
4
spoon into prepared tin and bake for 50-60 minutes, or until a skewer inserted comes out clean.
5
prep and cooking time: 25 mins serves: 6-8 INGREDIENTS 1/2 cup vegetable oil honey (do not use honey if making for 1/4 cup children under 12 months old) 2 eggs 3 medium ripe bananas 200g natural yoghurt 1/2 tsp vanilla extract wholemeal self-raising 250g flour 1 tsp mixed spice
remove from oven. allow to cool in the tin for 5 minutes before turning out onto a wire rack.
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Couscous Salad With Sun Dried Tomato & Feta prep & cook time: 25 mins serves: 6 INSTRUCTIONS
1
place chickpeas, couscous, vegetable stock powder, coriander and garlic in a large bowl. pour over hot water, shake to level out couscous (chickpeas should mostly settle on top). cover with plate or cling wrap, set aside for 5 minutes.
2
fluff couscous with fork. cool a bit.
3
add coriander, parsley, onion, sun dried tomatoes (including some oil), rocket, cherry tomatoes, lemon juice and black pepper. sprinkle zest across surface. toss well to combine.
4
transfer to serving bowl, sprinkle with feta. serve.
INGREDIENTS 1 1/4 cups dried couscous 1 1/4 cups boiled water vegetable stock powder 1 tsp (or 1 cube crumbled) 1 garlic clove, minced coriander powder (or 1 tsp cumin) 400g can chickpeas, drained 1/2 cup coriander, finely chopped parsley, finely chopped (or 1/2 cup mint) 1 red onion, chopped jar sun dried tomato strips 220g in oil rocket or arugula lettuce, 120g chopped into pieces punnet cherry tomatoes 1 (halved if large) 1 Zest of lemon Juice from 1 lemon coarsely ground black 1/2 tsp pepper 60g feta, crumbled Pepper, to taste
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Cucumber Sushi prep & cook time: 20 mins serves: 2-3
INSTRUCTIONS 1
cut whole cucumber into 3 chunks
2
use the end of a teaspoon to hollow out cucumber seeds / core
3
in a small bowl mash chicken and avocado together
4
spoon a small amount of the chicken mixture into each cucumber tube and compress down to one side
5
insert the vegetable strips until the tube is full
6
cut into small rounds to serve
INGREDIENTS 1 continental cucumber chicken (cooked and 50g shredded) 1/4 avocado vegetables of choice 2-4 (cut into strips)
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Pea Pesto Pasta INSTRUCTIONS 1
cook pasta in a large saucepan of boiling salted water, following packet directions until tender. drain, reserving 1/3 cup of cooking liquid. return pasta to saucepan.
2
cook peas, following packet directions, until just tender. drain.
3
place 2 cups of the peas in a food processor or blender. add garlic, basil, parmesan and oil. process until almost smooth.
4
add pesto, spinach, remaining peas and reserved cooking liquid to pasta. season with pepper. toss to combine.
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prep & cook time: 25 mins serves: 4 INGREDIENTS spaghetti or other pasta (shells 500g work well) 500g packet frozen peas 1 garlic clove, chopped 1 cup chopped fresh basil leaves 1 cup baby spinach 1/3 cup grated parmesan 2 tbsp olive oil pepper
Mexi Dumplings
prep & cook time: 40 mins serves: 20-25
INSTRUCTIONS
INGREDIENTS left over mexican mix (or see note 1 cup for our vegetarian alternative) 1 tin of refried beans 3/4 cup low fat cheese packet of wonton wrappers (the yellow type give a more 1 mexican-y taste than the whiter variety)
1
combine mexican mix, refried beans and cheese in a bowl.
2
place approximately 1 tablespoon of filling in a wonton wrapper and fold to form a triangle. dampen edges to seal. you can fold in the sides if you like to make a tidier dumpling.
3
cook in a non-stick fry pan, over a medium heat until crispy – usually 3-5 minutes on each side.
4
serve with guacamole and salad if you wish.
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Frozen Berry Granola Bites prep time: 15 mins freeze time: 6 hrs serves: 4
INSTRUCTIONS 1
line the muffin tins with silicone patties or baking paper. you can also add directly to a non-stick muffin tin.
2
stir together granola (or almond meal \ crushed nuts if using) and coconut oil.
3
spoon a small amount into the bottom of each muffin cup and press down firmly.
4
mix together yoghurt and honey. spoon 2 tablespoons on top of each granola base.
4
top with chopped fruit. freeze until firm, about 6 hours. to serve, remove from the muffin tin and enjoy!
INGREDIENTS granola or almond 1/4 cup meal or crushed nuts coconut oil, melted (can replace with 1 2 tbsp tbsp honey, 1 tbsp margarine) natural or vanilla low 3/4 cup fat yoghurt honey (omit if using 2 tbsp vanilla yoghurt) frozen or fresh chopped fruit – 1 1/2 cups berries work best but banana is also fine 6 cup muffin tin and liners
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Choc-Peanut Bliss Balls prep & cook time: 30 mins serves: 30-40
INSTRUCTIONS 1
2
combine all ingredients in a blender and pulse on high speed for 15-20 seconds or until combined (add a tablespoon of water if mixture is dry). shape tablespoon size portions of mixture into balls and set in the fridge.
INGREDIENTS 500g 1/2 cup 1/2 cup 1/3 cup
dates natural peanut butter coconut cocoa
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OCTOBER 2020 | My Child Magazine Issue #109