I think we would all agree, music is one of life's greatest joys. Music weaves unforgettable memories into our lives by stirring our deepest emotions, making every moment more vibrant, no matter where we are or what we're doing. As powerful as music is in connecting with our emotions, did you know that music can have a profound impact on children's brain development in the early years of life? Neuroscientific studies have proven that exposing children to music during early education is exceptional for children's brain development, as it ignites a symphony of skill development, enhancing auditory, language, cognitive, and emotional skills. coordination, literacy, math, and more! So as a parent, grandparent or carer, we want to help you be aware of the significance of music in early brain development and the positive impact it can have on children. Why? So to help empower you to make informed decisions regarding your child's early education and activities. Also, to provide you with the tools to provide your children with a well-rounded and stimulating environment, setting the foundation for future success and lifelong learning. To help us understand all about this, we welcome back a very special guest, Dr Tessa Grigg. Dr Tessa Grigg is the Research and Education Manager at Toddler Kindy GymbaROO andKindyROO, She is a part-time lecturer at the University of Canterbury, NZ, a teacher and producer of children’s music. She has over 20 years of experience in the Early Childhood Education sector and a wealth of knowledge in this topic. We ask Dr Tessa questions including: How does music act as a precursor to language development? What is the connection between clapping, babbling, and music in babies? How does singing and moving with a baby contribute to secure attachment? Why do babies and toddlers often move in time to music? What role does adult involvement play? In what ways does engaging in a dance-a-day benefit brain development? How does a music-rich environment help children develop their musical skills? What is the significance of learning to keep a steady beat for the brain's internal timing signals? Why does the brain have a natural affinity for patterns in music? How does performing music contribute to the development of self-control in children? How does GymbaROO-KindyROO music cater to the developmental needs of babies and young children? What are the specific skills that music encourages in auditory processing, verbal memory, language, speech processing, perception, coordination, literacy, and mathematics? What role does classical music, especially from the Baroque period, play in stimulating the developing brain? How do the songs chosen or written for GymbaROO-KindyROO programs incorporate developmental sequences? What are some inexpensive musical instruments that parents can introduce at home for their children? How does dancing with a child and singing songs contribute to their skill development? Why is exposure to a wide range of music beneficial for a child’s development? How can parents use music to extend and strengthen their child's GymbaROO experience? For further details: https://www.gymbaroo.com.au/ https://www.facebook.com/GymbaROO.KindyROO https://www.instagram.com/gymbaroo/

I think we would all agree that our post-pandemic world is as fast-paced and demanding as ever, and through this, it’s essential to equip our children with the necessary tools to navigate life’s challenges and foster their mental health. It’s common as parents to feel unequipped and unsure of how to help support their child’s mental health. We know it’s essential, and more than anything, you want your kids to thrive, but how? What can you do or give them that will help and support them in reaching their full potential? Even more so, how can we provide experiences for our children that can make this process fun, enjoyable and effective? Well, that’s where the magic of play-based learning and specific focus on well-being for children comes in. This is what we discuss today, along with topics including children’s mental well-being, the importance of nurturing young minds away from screens and what you can do as a parent to help strengthen their emotional resilience from a different perspective, that being through fun and engaging activities as we welcome with our special guest, Naomi Green, Co-Founder of Tiger Tribe. We ask Naomi questions, including: Why do you think it’s important more than ever that brands create products designed to help parents support children through the demands and complexities of our lives? Can you share insights into the design process and how you ensure that your products effectively stimulate children’s imagination and foster their creative skills? Well-being is such a broad term that it can mean many things. In recent times, it’s become a bit of a buzzword. What aspects of well-being is Tiger Tribe focused on? How does Tiger Tribe ensure your techniques and practices are presented enjoyably for kids? Parents’ and carers’ lives are busy; what role can they play in helping and supporting children in strengthening their mental health? How can the Pocket Gratitude Journal help children develop a daily practice of reflection? Can you provide examples of activities included in the Mindfully Me activity set? What age group is the Tiger Tribe Well-being range designed for? Why is providing non-screen-based opportunities to parents so important to you? Why do you think providing self-directed play-based opportunities is so important? For the full article, please go to: https://kiddipedia.com.au/how-mindfulness-activities-can-empower-childrens-well-being-and-creativity/ For further details: https://tigertribe.com.au/ https://www.facebook.com/tigertribeau https://www.instagram.com/_tigertribe_/

Raising a newborn is an incredible journey filled with a whirlwind of new experiences. From the moment they enter our lives, we're catapulted into a world of learning and new information we never knew existed.. From trying to best decode baby cues, to the right and wrongs of sleep patterns to understanding the intricacies of early brain development we embark on a remarkable adventure of learning and growth alongside our little ones. Today we are going to be discussing the fascinating topic of ‘Primitive Reflexes’. Have you heard of this before? Well, until now I haven’t either, so even more reason to grab a cuppa and tune in as we welcome our special guest Dr Jane Williams, a Director of GymbaROO and KindyROO. Dr Jane is one of Australia’s leading child and baby development experts. She has been working with infants, children and parents for over 40 years and her extensive experience includes guiding the Research and Education of GymbaROO-KindyROO for over 20 years. We ask Dr Jane questions including: Can you explain what Primitive reflexes are and why they are important for newborn babies? How do Primitive reflexes contribute to the development of baby's balance, muscle tone, head control, vision, and hand-foot coordination? What happens if babies don’t gain full control over their Primitive Reflexes? Can you elaborate on the connection between retained reflexes and unregulated behaviour, lack of impulse control, poor social skills, and difficulty in learning? What are some of the signs or symptoms that may indicate a child has retained reflexes? How does the process of gaining control over Primitive reflexes contribute to brain development? Are all children born with the same set of Primitive reflexes, or can they vary? Can you explain the role of developmental movements, such as tummy time, head control, rolling, crawling, and walking, in helping babies control their Primitive reflexes? What are some potential risks or consequences if babies skip certain developmental movement stages? Are there specific exercises or activities that parents can do to help their babies gain control over their Primitive reflexes? How can parents differentiate between normal developmental movements and signs of retained reflexes in their babies? Are there any factors that may contribute to the persistence of Primitive reflexes beyond the typical time frame? Are there any long-term implications for individuals who have retained reflexes into childhood or adulthood? Where can parents find additional resources or information about Primitive reflexes and their impact on child development? For the full article, please go to: https://kiddipedia.com.au/primitive-reflexes-why-parents-need-to-know-about-them/ For further details: https://www.gymbaroo.com.au/ https://www.facebook.com/GymbaROO.KindyROO https://www.instagram.com/gymbaroo/ For free Baby Reflexes video: http://activebabiessmartkids.com.au/episodes/baby-reflexes/

Every parent knows the pain of mealtimes with children and that they can sometimes feel a little bit like a rollercoaster ride. Trying to keep their emotions in check can sometimes feel literally like juggling spaghetti while riding a unicycle. One moment, they're ecstatic about their favourite food, and the next, they're crying because their broccoli touched their mashed potatoes. One second, they're happily gobbling down their meal, and the next, they're wailing because their sandwich is shaped like a rectangle, not a triangle. Managing these emotional whirlwinds requires the patience of a saint, the creativity of a master chef, and the ability to perform magic tricks that transform ordinary vegetables into delicious superpowers. You quickly learn to become a master in negotiation, offering bribes of dessert and creative distractions like talking carrots. But hey, the satisfaction of seeing them eat happily makes it all worth it! Jokes aside, managing children's strong emotions during mealtimes can pose a challenge, yet it remains crucial to establish a nurturing and uplifting atmosphere that encourages them to freely express their feelings. To help us better understand how we can do this, I’m excited to welcome one of our partners here at Kiddipedia Miss Sinead from Food Is Cool We ask Sinead questions including: (3:22) Why do you think it’s so common that children experience big feelings around food? (9:28) What is the key to supporting hungry children at mealtimes? (12:12) What tips do you have for parents on having boundaries, being consistent and being mindful of the language used? (14:36) You mention it’s important to develop your child’s sense of agency and allow them to have a sense of belonging during mealtimes. Can you expand with examples of this? (17:55) You mention to also ‘Talk about anything but the food!’ Why is this important? (23:31) How can parents remain calm if big emotions arise? (27:04) In your article you list 4 strategies to help parents keep their boundaries, can you quickly go through them with us now? For the full article, please go to: https://kiddipedia.com.au/supporting-big-emotions-in-children-at-meal-times/ Research article: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35807307/ Socials: @drflavs facebook.com/drflav linkedin.com/in/drflav @foodiscool._ facebook.com/foodissocool https://www.linkedin.com/company/foodiscool/

Every parent wants their child to be healthy and happy and of course, a big part of ensuring this has to do with their diet and the balance of foods they’re eating. However, figuring out the right mix of healthy foods that are right for the whole family to eat each day can be a real puzzle, it's a little like trying to crack a code, especially when it comes to feeding ourselves and our little ones. I’m sure we’ve all heard the Australian Dietary Guidelines that say we should aim for 2 servings of fruit and 5 servings of veggies daily. But what does that actually mean? It's not as straightforward as it sounds. We need to know the right portion sizes, and have a variety of fruits and veggies. Plus, age, activity levels, and all other individual needs play a role too.  Working this out on our own can sometimes feel like an added layer of stress and anxiety to our already growing pile sitting over there in the corner, definitely not what we need, there has to be an easier way! Well, lucky for us there is and our special guest today is here to help us understand and explain what that is using scientifically backed strategies. Today I am so excited to welcome one of our partners here at Kiddipedia Dr Flavia from Food Is Cool.  We ask Dr Flavia questions including: (2:48) I understand you’ve focused your research and advocacy work on promoting a food-first approach to address public health’s biggest problems, especially among children. Where did this passion come from and Why is this so important to you? (4:17) You’ve mentioned that the norm in society around food and nutrition is not the evidence-based way, can you expand on what you mean by that?  (5:48) You’ve also mentioned that you’re here to re-think and re-work (almost) everything we thought we know about food and nutrition and throw quite a bit out the window, please explain why this is.  (8:33) What are some of the more common questions and concerns parents ask to ensure their children's diets are healthy and balanced? (11:51) In your article you mention that 99% of Australian children aren’t eating enough vegetables every day and that more than 1/3 of their daily intake comes from foods that are not nourishing their bodies and their mind. That’s an alarming statistic, can you expand on why the statistics are so high and why this is happening? (13:56) I understand Dr Flav’s research team published a world-first study last year proving that there are benefits to eating the rainbow that goes beyond just the fruits and vegetables. What can you tell us about your findings?  (15:26) In your article you list your top 5 tips on adding colour variety to your plate, can you go through them with us now? (19:23) You mention in the article to eat the rainbow plus brown and white, what foods do you mean by that?  (20:38) You mention that the more variety you are offered, the more you eat. This is called the ‘buffet effect’, can you expand on this? (21:44) Does Colour variety also leads to greater food consumption, if so how? What is the  (22:53) How can parents make it fun to involve children in making rainbow meals every day?  For the full article, please go to: https://kiddipedia.com.au/why-we-need-to-ditch-the-go-for-2-and-5-message-when-it-comes-to-children/ Research article: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35807307/ Socials: @drflavs (insta/twitter)  facebook.com/drflav linkedin.com/in/drflav @foodiscool._ (insta) facebook.com/foodissocool https://www.linkedin.com/company/foodiscool/

You may have heard the proverb, it takes a village to raise a child, and for so many reasons in our hectic busy and stressful day-to-day lives these days it’s not always possible to receive direct support and guidance from our family and loved ones like generations before us had. Thankfully, technology does have an upside, and that is that it gives us direct access to experts and thought leaders who can share their wisdom, knowledge and expertise to help us fill this gap. To help us build our virtual community of people we choose to help us ensure our children grow in a safe and healthy environment. Not only do these experts share their knowledge and expertise through their qualifications, but additionally layering scientific studies and research on top of that, … to further inform and support us, which is what we are here to discuss. Today I’m so excited to welcome a very special guest, one of our partners here at Kiddipedia and someone that I personally have a tone of admiration and respect for, the one and only Pinky McKay - one of Australia’s most recognised and respected breastfeeding experts. Pinky for thousands and thousands of Mums has been the go-to resource and expert with her sage knowledge and wisdom on breastfeeding, one person we definitely need in our village, circle or tribe to help us raise our children. We ask Pinky questions including: (15:40) We published your article ‘New Treatment for Mastitis - What You Need to Know, tell us, what the article is about and what inspired you to write it (17:11) What is Mastitis, and what are the symptoms if you’re suffering from it? (18:36) What causes mastitis? (20:20) How can we prevent mastitis from developing? (21:47) I understand there are findings from new research from the Academy of Breastfeeding Medicine; what can you tell us about them? (29:23) Are there different types of mastitis? (29:52):What happens if Mastitis is left untreated? (30:00) How do you treat Mastitis? In your article, you list 7 points. Can you go through them with us now? (34:10) How does mastitis affect the baby, and what should Mothers do about it? For the full article, please go to: https://kiddipedia.com.au/new-treatment-for-mastitis-what-you-need-to-know/ For further information, please visit: Website: https://www.pinkymckay.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pinky.mckay.fanpage Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pinkymckay1/ https://www.shopwithpinky.com/

Aren’t children’s imaginations beautifully vivid and all so entertaining  When children create by drawing and or writing, it really is a sneak peek directly into their hearts and minds. An opportunity to gain insight into seeing life through their lens and how they feel about the world around them, from their own unique point of view. The importance of nurturing a child's love for reading, writing, and illustrating cannot be overstated. These creative pursuits are not just hobbies; they are gateways to endless possibilities, empowering children to explore their innermost thoughts, emotions, and dreams. Now imagine an opportunity where children can be the architects of their own stories, where their vivid imaginations are unleashed onto the pages of a book with their own drawings, and their artistic talents bring colourful illustrations brought to life and yours to keep and cherish forever. Well, this is not just a fantasy but a reality as our special guest today, Sophia Stefanos Managing Director of Schoolyard Stories who brings these opportunities to schools is here to talk to us about the importance of why we should nurture children's love for reading, writing, and illustrating and how we encourage children to embark on creative journeys to develop their literary and creative talents. We ask Sophia questions including: Q1- Why do you think it’s so important for children to express their thoughts and emotions through storytelling? Q2- What are your thoughts on the correlation between the two? Q3- Tell us what inspired you to create Schoolyard Stories Q4 -What are your top ten reasons why children should get excited about reading, writing and illustrating through each of them with us now? Q5- I understand the process of writing, editing, and revising their work can help children refine their understanding of grammar, spelling, and syntax of sentence structure. Tell us a little bit more about that. Q6- I understand that Book publishing for children is open-ended. Can you confirm what that means? Q7- What are some specific examples of these open-ended opportunities? Q8- This initiative is an excellent way to celebrate Book Week, how can parents and schools get involved? For the full article, please go to: https://kiddipedia.com.au/why-children-should-get-excited-about-reading-writing-and-illustrating-books/ For further information, please visit: https://schoolyardstories.com.au/ https://www.instagram.com/schoolyardstories/ https://www.facebook.com/schoolyardstories https://twitter.com/systories?lang=en

If you’re a parent who wants to help your child to read, write and spell with confidence, tune in as you’re in the right place.  If you’re also a parent who went to primary school in the 80s or 90s and have noticed that the way we learnt to read back then was a completely different approach and technique then how your children are being taught today you’re not alone. Today we’ll help point out the difference in these techniques so you can best support your child, as we welcome our special guest Olivia Durnan, an industry expert in the field of children's literacy.  Olivia is a primary educator and is passionate about providing every student with the opportunity to read, write and spell with confidence.  After many years in the classroom, Olivia transitioned to a role with Little Learners Love Literacy®. As their Teacher Coach Consultant, Olivia supports other educators in implementing the LLLL program and helping as many students as possible to become confident, successful readers.  We ask Olivia questions including:  1. I understand that in the past 20 years, there has been much debate and discussion about the best way to teach children to read, what has sparked this? 2. Could you please clarify what the difference is between the whole language approach that we learnt and phonics and phonemic awareness techniques used today? 3. Does reading out loud to your child help them learn to read? 4. What is the ‘science of reading’ 5. What is phonics teaching and why is it important? 6. What is phonics-based reading instruction and what are the benefits? 7. How does this approach make reading less daunting for a child? 8. What are decodable books? 9. How do decodable books help children build their confidence and develop their reading fluency? 10. How can parents help their children? For the full article, please go to: https://kiddipedia.com.au/parents-guide-to-early-literacy-education/ Socials: Facebook: /foodissocool Instagram: misssinead._ LinkedIn: /misssinead @foodiscool._ facebook.com/foodissocool https://www.linkedin.com/company/foodiscool/

As parents, it’s our responsibility to provide children their best start to life. Did you know that a strong nutritional foundation and healthy future for children starts as early as 3 months prior to their conception, Yep! You may have heard about the importance of the first 1,000 days of a child’s life and how it is a foundational period that shapes their development and wellbeing. Today we are going to deep dive into what the First 1,000 days refers to and provide you with supportive evidence-based information and advice from an industry expert and our special guest Kristy Manners. Kristy is a university-trained Dietitian, with a diverse health and nutrition background. She is an expert in Infant and Young Child Feeding and has over 15 years work experience as an Ambulance Paramedic in Western Australia. She has specialised in maternal and child nutrition, having trained in paediatric clinical dietetics through the Dieticians Association of Australia, Curtin University and Monash University. Kristy is an IBCLC Lactation Consultant to better support mothers in providing optimum nutrition to their child. She has also worked with the World Health Organisation (WHO), ICRC (Red Cross) and other international humanitarian organisations, with over 8 years experience managing malnutrition feeding centres and running maternal and child health and nutrition programs in Albania, Cambodia and Africa. This has given her further experience after completing her Masters in International Health in 2011. We ask Kristy questions including: What is the first 1000 days and how did it come about? What are babies at risk of, due to inadequate nutrition during the prenatal phase? What is the role of nutrients in preconception and DNA? For couples planning to start their family what should they do to ensure their bodies have the optimal nutritional foundation? How can a tailored nutrition plan can help both the Mum and Dad and what’s involved? What would you say are the optimum conditions for conception? What are some of the other conditions that can influence couples chances of conceiving? What about men, what are some of the causes that may affect their sperm quality? What are some of the nutrients that are most important during pregnancy and what are the possible effects if the baby is not exposed to them? What is the impact on a babies brain development if they don’t have access to sufficient nutritional supply? As a lactation consultant what are your key breastfeeding tips related to the first 1,000 days? Why do you advocate for continuing to breastfeed when your baby begins solids? What are your tips for optimal postpartum mental and physical healing? For Kristy’s full article, please go to: https://kiddipedia.com.au/how-nutrition-impacts-mother-baby-during-the-first-1000-days/ For more details: https://growthspectrum.com.au/ https://www.facebook.com/growthspectrum https://www.instagram.com/postnatalroadmap/

If you were to explain to me what your children's play area at home looks and feels like, how would you describe it? What sort of toys fill the play area? What type of mix of plastics? Woods? Fabrics are in there?  How have you selected the toys that fill that area? Have you been strategic in a way that every toy has an intended play purpose? Or not? Either is fine and neither is wrong.  With so many recent changes in the world, have you ever looked at your children's toys with the view of determining their eco-friendliness and sustainability? once again, absolutely no judgement here. The concept of introducing sustainable toys into your children's playroom and making the choice to move to purchase eco-friendly sustainable toys is a new phenomenon for many of us. So, what if you could find a toy that not only looked great, is safe, promotes cognitive development in children, is eco-friendly, sustainable, cost-effective and lastly is made in Australia and supports our economy? Where can I find this gem? Well, lucky for us I've found that very thing and we are here to talk with their founder and creator, Damiano Gestri.  We ask Damiano questions including: What are your thoughts on the importance of purchasing sustainable products in our lives, generally? How and why did you make the switch towards eco-friendliness and sustainability? What makes a toy 'Sustainable'?  Can you tell us a little bit of your back story as inspiration for how Play Edo bricks came to life? In your article, you list the top 8 benefits your child can get from the giant building blocks, could you go through them with us now?  Please explain what is the Montessori approach. What is open-ended play? and what are the benefits?  How do cardboard toys help support sustainability? Why should parents grandparents, friends and family Gift children Cardboard Toys? For the full article, please visit: https://kiddipedia.com.au/what-are-the-benefits-of-cardboard-building-blocks-for-children-advice-and-buying-guide/ Website Facebook Instagram Unleash your children's creativity with an eco-friendly toy that's gentle on the planet. Engaging, easy to assemble, and safe to play with, your kids will love our Edo building blocks. Visit https://www.playedo.com.au/ for details.

The world has experienced more change in recent years than in the decades before. Thankfully, one behaviour that is continuing to build its momentum, going from strength to strength, is the shift of conscious purchasing decisions towards eco-friendliness and sustainability. After all, we all have a vision of leaving a better world for our children and it is our responsibility to leave the planet in the best condition we can for our children and generations to come, and I’m not sure we’ve done a great job of that so far. It’s never too late to make the shift to better safeguarding the planet. It makes perfect sense for sustainability to be infused in baby-related products, and for parents to become more conscious consumers when raising their families. If you’ve got an upcoming baby shower and are racking your brain to think of suitable options for a soon-to-be mum with sustainable values – or simply want more insight on products for your own sustainable child-rearing this is the interview for you. Today I am thrilled to welcome our special guest, Natasha Hughes, an expert in sourcing sustainable, ethically made, plastic-free and non-toxic clothes and Founder and Owner of On Chic Baby Clothes. We ask Natasha questions including: Why you are passionate about the difference sustainability can make to our lives, the environment and our future? Do you think that Sustainability is a lifestyle commitment? How can we best normalise sustainability in the community and push for change? We published your article titled ‘What to get the environmentally-conscious new mum: advice for sustainable gifting’ for someone who hasn’t read the article yet, please tell us what it’s about, and what inspired you to write it. What is the difference between traditional cotton harvesting and organic cotton?  How can parents best do their own research in identifying brands that are legitimately backing up their claims of sustainability?  What is your definition of what sustainability means? What are the benefits of wooden teethers for babies? How do you choose the right wooden teethers without affecting forest conservation? Why should Mummas choose cloth nappies over traditional single-use nappies?  For the full article, please go to: https://kiddipedia.com.au/what-to-get-the-environmentally-conscious-new-mum-advice-for-sustainable-gifting/ www.instagram.com/on_chic_baby_clothes www.facebook.com/onchicbabyclothing www.tiktok.com/onchicbabyclothes Music from Uppbeat (free for Creators!): https://uppbeat.io/t/andrey-rossi/seize-the-day License code: PKJUE9N0VOSPE5JK

Today’s interview comes with a disclaimer, on one of the most difficult topics to talk about: that being of unintentional childhood injury. We’ll also discuss the most common childhood injuries in and around the home, their prevention along with the incredible work of Kidsafe. Today, we are calling on everyone watching and listening to be ‘The One’ to make the change, and help keep our little ones safe and to hep save kids' lives as Kidsafe Victoria has launched their heartfelt ‘The One’ campaign to raise awareness of child injury in the lead up to National Kidsafe Day. on Tuesday 24th May 2022. To help talk with us on this topic we welcome our special guest Alex Hamilton, Kidsafe Relationship and Engagement Manager. Alex has 10 years of experience working with bereaved families in the not for profit space. Alex has travelled nationally and internationally, speaking to audiences to passionately share her own story of courage, resilience and hope, as a bereaved Mum herself. Alex is Mum to two “rainbow” babies – Shiloh and Bodhi and feels so privileged to work with families to impact change within the community. We ask Alex questions including: Is it a common misconception that the most common location where children are injured is at home? Is it true that preventable injuries are the leading cause of death for Australian children aged 1-14 years and one of the leading causes of hospitalisation? What are some of the more common hazards in and around the home? You have a lived experience as a bereaved parent, can you tell us about your loved ones? For those that may not know everything about Kidsafe - what is the purpose of the organisation? What is National Kidsafe Day all about? I believe you have a new campaign this month called 'The One'. I've seen some of the promotions around this on social media. Where did the idea for this campaign come from? Why did these families get involved? What can the community do on National Kidsafe Day? For the further information, please go to: https://kiddipedia.com.au/you-never-imagine-that-you-will-be-the-one-but-what-if-you-were/   You can be the one to make the change and help Kidsafe save lives Kidsafe exists to prevent these types of tragedies by empowering families with practical strategies and knowledge of how to prevent serious, life-threatening injuries. When it comes to keeping our children safe, we all have a role to play. You can #beTheOnetomakethechange and help save the lives of our precious children. Together, we can keep kids safe.   How to get involved? Share our messageswith your family and friends – make safety a topic that is important to everyone with children. Download our home safety checklist Show your support by sharing the text below and an image of yourself in our National Kidsafe Day frame, on your socials   This National Kidsafe Day, I’m joining @KidsafeVic to #betheonetomakethechange You never imagine that you will be ‘the one’…. but what if you were? Take a selfie – like mine – with #1 on the palm of your hand, download the social frame, and post it to your network. We need to share this message to every person we know that looks after children to help prevent unintentional injuries. Support Kidsafe Victoria to continue to save children’s lives. https://www.kidsafevic.com.au/about/donate/ 

In life, all we ever want or aim to achieve is in the pursuit of happiness and the attainment of experiencing and feeling it After all, there isn’t anything more important than being happy, and ensuring children are too. Have you ever thought the way we see the world around us now as adults, our inner belief system, unconscious mind and feelings are all based on what we experienced and learnt and were exposed to in our childhood? Both good and bad. Positive and negative. That’s why is so important for us to understand what we need to do to ensure we create a solid foundation of happiness for our children. This is through the language we use, tone of voice, and the words which all form children’s inner voice and shape their mindset for life. Makes us think really what is the internal belief system we are instilling in our children? A child’s mindset forms their sense of belonging in the world, it’s their internal compass in which they steer the direction of their life’s events and the quality of their experiences of them.  So even if you didn’t have positive experiences of this in your childhood, there are ways you can help provide this for your little ones, which is what we’re here to discuss today with our special guest Charlotte Ziff Charlotte Ziff is the founder of Sunchild Affirmation Cards. A Wellness and holistic brand focusing on constructive thoughts that encourage positive thinking and boost self-esteem in children. She is also a trained Steiner educator and has worked as a nanny her whole life. We ask Charlotte questions including: Why do you think it’s so important to help children create a positive internal belief system? Why do you think affirmations are so important for a healthy body and mind at any stage of life? Do you think that positive affirmations require regular practice if we want to make lasting, long-term changes to the ways that children think and feel? How often do you think parents should speak affirmations to their children to help make a change? and from what age? What are your top 3 affirmation suggestions parents can say to their child every morning/night during the early stages of growth? Tell us about the deck of cards SunChild sells and how parents should use them best? How do the cards help children grow confidently with a strong sense of self? I understand you faced multiple challenges throughout your youth which resulted in the inspiration behind your brand SunChild. What was your inspiration for creating these cards? SunChild is very passionate about helping children who are experiencing grief? How do your cards support children going through grief? We understand you are a Steiner trained teacher - can you tell us a bit about that and did you incorporate some of those learning principles/ philosophies into the brand For Charlotte’s article, please go to: https://kiddipedia.com.au/the-top-6-affirmations-to-say-to-your-child-every-morning-night-during-their-early-stages-of-growth/ For further info: Charlotte Ziff is the founder of SunChild Affirmation Cards. Each deck of cards come with 27 Positive Affirmations to nurture children of all ages. To learn more head-to-head to: https://sunchild.co Each deck of SunChild cards include 27 positive affirmation statements created in Australia using recycled paper. 5% of all profit is donated to ‘Feel the Magic’ charity; supporting children suffering from grief, offering bereavement education and support. The cards retail for $34.95 and can be purchased online at www.sunchild.co   Music from Uppbeat: https://uppbeat.io/t/andrey-rossi/disco-street License code: IGZTUXCJRKDDMRAL  

Our Emotions are the fuel to our thoughts and actions. How we feel helps form the lens in which we see the world around us and gives credence to our individual point of view. If our emotions have us in a happy mood, even on a cloudy day we are going to feel positive and cheerful. On the flip side, if our emotions have us feeling pessimistic, we are more likely to see the world around us unfavourably and a little gloomy. So, how can we help children best identify what they are feeling and what it means? How can we help educate them to set them up for a life of success, well lucky for us our special guest is here to help give us expert information and advice. Today we welcome our special guest Rachel Tomlinson, a Registered Psychologist, mother, parenting expert and author of two internationally published books. Rachel is a sought-after expert for print and broadcast media on topics such as parenting, child development and relationships. We ask Rachel questions including: What have you learnt most from those experiences when it comes to the importance of emotional intelligence, especially when it comes to parenting young children?  Why is it important that parents find ways to optimise children’s abilities to express their feelings, explore and resolve troubling thoughts?  Do you have any tips on how parents can encourage and inspire kindness and compassion in children? It is common that parents will do everything in their power to protect their children from being upset, distress or discomfort. Are there any consequences to protecting children from experiencing adversity? When should parents try to fix issues for their children how could it result in children losing confidence? Why is it important not to rush and fix our kids' feelings? Why is it important to validate children’s feelings? If ignored, can this lead to developing some unhealthy habits? If so, how? Why is emotional regulation important? What can parents do to support their kids to manage big feelings   For Rachel’s full article: https://kiddipedia.com.au/why-its-important-not-to-rush-and-fix-our-kids-feelings/   For further info: Rachel is a Registered Psychologist, mother, parenting expert and author of two internationally published books, “Teaching Kids to be Kind” (Skyhorse) a parenting book focusing on how to encourage kindness and compassion in children and “A Blue Kind of Day” (Penguin) a picture book about the sensory experiences of depression in children. Website: https://www.towardwellbeing.com/   Music from Uppbeat: https://uppbeat.io/t/andrey-rossi/disco-street License code: IGZTUXCJRKDDMRAL

Every parent wants to give their children the life they deserve and positive future. It’s possible that during our childhood we experienced educational gaps where our parents have missed passing down knowledge and important life lessons. It’s not their fault, they most likely weren’t taught those lesson by their parents, who weren’t taught by their parents and the list goes back generation by generation. So, how is it that we can we teach children lessons about something that we never learnt ourselves as a child? Well, we learn how to as an adult, from people like our special guest. Today we welcome John Hattie, one of the world’s best known and most widely read education experts. His Visible Learning series of books have been translated into 29 different languages and sold over 1 million copies. John is passionate education experts who will help us learn how we can close that gap through their newly launched book that is aimed to help support parents in children with a successful and happy life. We ask John questions including:  You have a new book out, 10 Steps To Develop Great Learners - Visible Learning For Parents, tell us what the book is about in a nutshell? What’s the major theme? What can concerned parents and carers do to ensure their children, of all ages, develop great learning habits? Tell us a bit about your visible learning research John, and how you have applied that coparents this time around? In the book you offer a 10 step plan for nurturing curiosity and intellectual ambition - based on strong research, can you take us through some of those steps? How can we help parents and students communicate effectively with teachers? How do we promote a language of learning in the home? What do you say to parents who have high expectations of their children academically? Many parents are concerned about their children’s learning post covid, what advice would you give them? Why is failure most important to your child’s learning and development? What is the Goldilocks principle? For John’s full article, please go to:https://kiddipedia.com.au/10-steps-to-develop-great-learners/ For further info: https://visible-learning.org/ https://technologyforlearners.com/summary-of-john-hatties-research/

As we all know, a well-balanced meal contains a combination of vegetables, protein and carbohydrates. When encouraging and supporting children who are fussy eaters you can be lucky for them to eat one of these alone, and that could be on a good day. Pre-plating children’s meals have long been known as a practical way for parents to try and provide a solid nutritional foundation however, but, how beneficial is this method? Is there something else can we be doing to try and help encourage and foster fussy eaters' interest and enthusiasm toward food? Well, that’s what we’re here to discuss today with our special guest and resident expert in fussy eating, Marie-France Laval. Marie-France Laval is a Dietitian-Nutritionist, Home Economist and Counsellor originally from France. Marie France is also the CEO of Fussy Eater Solutions where she offers a range of online and in-home programs to support fussy eaters and their families. We ask Marie-France questions including: Where does pre-plating come from? Pre-plating seems practical, so what's wrong with it? hat causes pre-plating to go from practical to problematic? What is the difference with the family style, otherwise known as the European way of serving meals? How is that not equally nutritionally obsessed and focused? Family style of serving, is this, not more work? How does the family way of serving meals support fussy eaters? How can parents introduce this? How does pre-plating equally influence obesity and an unhealthy relationship with food that can last an entire lifetime? You’ve always recommended the inclusion of a second course such as bread/crackers with cheese or yoghurt, fruit or dessert. Why is this? For the full article, please go to: https://kiddipedia.com.au/are-pre-plated-meals-failing-your-fussy-eater/ For further information, please go to: https://fussyeater.com.au/online-fussy-eating-group https://fussyeater.com.au/

As we all know, each families’ race, ethnicity, and culture are important parts of their identity. Children, including very young children, understand and want to have a sense of belonging to their families’ racial, ethnic, and cultural group or groups. Iconic children’s television program Sesame Street recently introduced a new Korean American character called Ji-Young to encourage empathy and acceptance of Asian and Pacific Islander communities. Ji-Young will be making her debut on Sesame Street here in Australia on ABCKids on March 21.  Ji-Young’s introduction is part of an initiative by Sesame called ‘See us Coming Together’, which aims to support families to have ongoing conversations about race with young children. So, if you’ve ever wondered how we can help children feel pride and confidence in their own skin and develop positive racial attitudes about other children, then you are in the right place! Today, I’m so excited for our 200th Episode to welcome two very special guests all the way from Sesame Street in New York City, Autumn Zitani, who is a Content Producer at Sesame Workshop, and Ji-Young, the newest resident of Sesame Street! We ask Ji-Young and Autumn questions including:  Ji Young, you recently celebrated Neighbour Day on Sesame Street - can you tell us about that? You also met some celebrities like Naomi Osaka, who else have you met? What were they like and what did you learn from them? Do you enjoy learning about different cultures? We hear you love electric guitar, tell us about your music? You also love sharing some of your favourite foods with your Sesame Street friends? Can you tell us about that? You also spend a lot of time with your Grandma, don’t you? Can you tell me about your relationship with her, and the special things that you do together? How do you help friends feel like they belong? Ji-Young, how have you settled into Sesame Street? It must be such a fun place to live – what do you love most about living there? What have you learnt from any of the other Sesame Street residents, like Elmo or Big Bird? Why did Sesame Workshop decide to create a character like Ji-Young? Why was it important for Sesame Street to represent Asian and Pacific Islander communities? The introduction of Ji-Young is part of an initiative called See Us Coming Together. Can you tell us about that? How important is it that parents start having conversations with children at a young age about race and identity, and where do they start? What other advice would you give to families wanting to start having conversations about race and racism with their children? Last year, Sesame Street also introduced two characters called Wes and Elijah. Could you tell me a little about them? Why is it important that children see people like themselves represented on screen and in stories?   For the full article, please go to: https://kiddipedia.com.au/tips-for-talking-about-race-with-your-child/   Ji-Young’s Sesame Street debut in See Us Coming Together: A Sesame Street Special will debut on Monday 21st March at 9.30am on ABC Kids and will also be available on ABC iview and the ABC Kids app.  Additional videos and articles for adults to explore on what racial justice can mean for young children. Can be found

Is there a link between nutrition and our mood? More importantly, does the food we eat impact our mental health? Well… that’s exactly what we're here to discuss today. In particular, we're talking to any new Mum, or a Mum to be, as we endeavour to answer the question 'How can nutrition benefit postnatal depression?' To help share her expert evidence-based advice on this topic we welcome our special guest Lana Hirth Lana is an Accredited Practising Dietitian and Nutritionist who helps women enhance their nutrition with the power of good food to live life to the full.  We ask Lana questions including: Why should expectant Mums, and new Mums, consider their nutritional needs equally as much as how foods affect our mental health? Also, the possible effects food has on developing post-natal depression? What is Post Natal Depression? What are some key signs that might be associated with postnatal depression according to Beyond Blue? What factors can influence postnatal depression? What is Maternal nutrient depletion and what causes it? I understand there was a landmark study in 2017 that led to how we can improve depressive symptoms, can you tell us about those findings? So the million-dollar question, what is the role of nutrition in managing our mood, depression and potential PND? What are your top 3 foods that you would recommend? Are there foods we need to pay attention to for postnatal depression? If a Mum had postnatal depression with her first, is there anything she can do to reduce it? How did you become a dietitian with a special interest in pregnancy and postnatal health? For Lana’s full article: https://kiddipedia.com.au/how-can-nutrition-benefit-postnatal-depression/ For further info: Website: www.lanahirth.com/ Instagram: www.instagram.com/lanahirthdietitian New Mums Nutrition Podcast: www.lanahirth.com/podcast

Did you know that sensory play is important for babies' and toddlers' brain development and the most critical period of time for children to be exposed to sensory play is within their early postnatal years? Why? It’s because over 90% of a child’s brain development happens before the age of 5 years. We’ve all seen babies and toddlers in insatiability to interact, touch or bite whatever they have the ability to reach in front of them, and it's through these sensory explorations they learn to perceive the world around them, and their role in it. So what are the benefits of Sensory Play for Babies and Toddlers? To help discuss this, and how Sensory Play is a gateway to children's crucial learning milestones,  we welcome our special guest Claire Behrmann, Owner and Managing Director at Jellystone Designs. Claire is the driving force behind the ever-evolving innovative award-winning products at Jellystone Designs and a busy Mum to 3 young children. Jellystone Designs are experts in facilitating children’s sensory play, with a trusted range of sensory toys and devices to facilitate babies' and toddlers’ development, including teethers and chew pendants, sensory balls and stackers. We ask Claire questions including: As a busy Mum, where did your inspiration come from to work in this industry? What are the most important features parents should identify when looking for safe silicone toys, teethers and jewellery? What have you learnt most from the Occupational Therapists, Psychologists and experts you work with in developing your award-winning range? What is sensory play? Why is it important? The article features 10 benefits of sensory play, what are your top 3 favourites? Why do you think our insta feeds are so full of parents creating sensory play setups at home?  Does sensory play have to be complicated? What are your favourite quick and easy sensory play activities? For the full article, please go to:  https://kiddipedia.com.au/10-amazing-benefits-of-sensory-play-for-babies-toddlers/ For more info please see: Instagram: @jellystone.designs Pinterest: @jellystonedes Facebook: Jellystone Designs Tik Tok: @jellystone.designs Linkedin: Jellystone Designs Spotify: Jellystone Designs   Music from Uppbeat  https://uppbeat.io/t/matrika/funk-style License code: CH7VBXXNXWQEPCNP

If you are planning to have a baby, are currently expecting or are with a newborn, and are navigating the complexities of parenting in a pandemic, then this chat is for you. The first moment you discover you’re expecting a baby is one of the most significant and momentous experiences of anyone's life. Naturally, you experience overwhelming feelings of euphoria and elation at the wonder that is about to unfold. However, bringing new life into a world that is navigating its course through a pandemic comes with its own additional set of challenges So, if this is you, and you could do with a little bit of support along, with evidence-based expert information and advice, well you’re in the right place as today we welcome our special guest, Belinda Joyce Belinda is a midwife, maternal & child health nurse with over 20 years of experience. She is also a mother of four and author of 'Survive and Enjoy Your Baby'. Her passion is in providing safe, evidence-based advice & options to parents so they can find their own path to parenthood. We ask Belinda questions including: What are the differences in pre and postnatal experiences for new parents pre-pandemic and now? As a maternal and child health nurse, what are some of the most common questions and concerns new parents ask? What are new parents missing out on most during this COVID-era? What are the benefits of Parent Groups when run Face to Face as opposed to online appointments? What health professionals would you suggest new Mums continue to use as telehealth appointments? Which health professionals do you suggest they should choose to see face to face? How can new parents look after their mental health?  You’re starting a new program to support new Mums, can you tell me about it? For Belinda’s full article, please go to: https://kiddipedia.com.au/surviving-a-new-baby-in-the-pandemic/ For further details: https://belindajoyce.com/ https://www.facebook.com/SurviveAndEnjoyYourBaby/

This week is Red Nose Australia’s 6th Safe Sleep Week, an annual national awareness campaign to help save little lives. As Australia’s leading baby safe sleep organisation Red Nose’s Safe Sleep week was created in 2017 to raise awareness of their 6 Safe Sleep Recommendations to equip new parents with the practical information they need to keep baby safe while sleeping. In support of this, we are honoured to welcome our special guest Jane Wiggill - Chief Midwife Red Nose Australia We ask Jane questions including: Why is it so important to keep talking about SIDS? What are the 6 Safe Sleep Recommendations? Why they are so important? What are the Top 10 Baby Safe Sleep Questions Red Nose receives from new parents on how to keep baby safe while sleeping? My 5-month-old baby is rolling when sleeping & wants to sleep on his tummy. I have tried tucking the sheet & blanket in really tightly, but he still rolls. What do I do?  My 4-month-old baby is rolling, but still has startle reflex – how long should I take to transition out of a swaddle?  Can I sleep my baby in a hammock or similar device? Are all products sold in Australia safe for baby to sleep in – e.g bouncinette, nests?  What about bassinets? Are they safe?  What is the safest/most effective way to swaddle/wrap a baby? What is SUDI?  Are there any specific safe products designed for baby to sleep in? My parents smoke, but only smoke outside, then wash hands before picking up my baby. Is this safe?  My mother told me she always placed me for sleep on my tummy and I was ok. She said my baby is more likely to choke on her back. Is this true?   For the full article, please go to: https://kiddipedia.com.au/safe-sleep-week-top-10-bedtime-worries-of-new-parents/ For more info, please go to: https://rednose.org.au/news/safe-sleep-week-2022 Every dollar Red Nose raises helps to fund research, support families and save little lives. If you would like to learn more, fundraise, get involved visit https://rednose.org.au/ Red Nose encourage anybody affected by the death of a child to contact their 24/7 Bereavement Support Line on 1300 308 307 or visit rednosegriefandloss.org.au #safesleepweek

Picture this scenario with me for a moment if you will. Your toddler, sat in their highchair, feeding themselves surrounded by food mess. Their meal is equal parts on the table in front of them, on their clothes, face, it’s everywhere. As a parent, what is your first instinct? How reactive to mess at mealtime are you? Do you a) let your child be to explore their food’s textures and take in the experience for what it’s worth? Or b) do you grab the first sponge or wet wipe you can get your hands on and frantically clean their face and surroundings? Which of those two would you do?  It’s good for us to know, that whatever your reaction is, it may in fact influence your child’s eating habits later on life, which is exactly what we are here to explore today with our special guest and resident expert in fussy eating, Marie-France Laval. Marie-France Laval is a Dietitian-Nutritionist, Home Economist and Counsellor originally from France. Marie France is also the CEO of Fussy Eater Solutions where she offers a range of online and in-home programs to support fussy eaters and their families. We ask Marie France questions including: What impact do our reactions to mealtime mess have on raising confident eaters who can tackle most foods? In your years of experience, have you found there is a correlation between parents who are super clean and have children who are fussy eaters? Typically what type of parental behaviours can impact the chances of a child being raised as a confident eater? Some parents really cannot stand the mess, what does this look like during a meal? Why is this behaviour not helpful when a child is fussy? Why is it unwise to clean a fussy eater’s face during meal times? Why is avoiding sauce and dips no a good idea? How can not allowing a child to self-feed backfire? Why is it so important that children learn to explore food with all their 5 senses? Does this mean a child could struggle from a sensory perspective? What tips can you share that can limit the toll on parents? For Marie France’s full article: https://kiddipedia.com.au/freaky-clean-parent-fussy-eater-child/ For further details: https://fussyeater.com.au/  

We know all too well the pressures for parents and carers who have been supporting their children’s education through remote learning over the last 18 months has been intense. Especially for families in Victoria due to the ongoing and extended sixth lockdown. Naturally all parents and carers are concerned about their children’s education, and the impact extended periods away from classrooms will have on them. Thankfully we have commenced a slow transition back to the classroom, however it has been noted that there may be a hybrid model for sometime. If you could do with expert tips to help with this transition, you’re in the right place. Today we welcome our special guest Dr Tom Brunzell, Director of Education at family service organisation Berry Street, co-author of Creating Trauma-Informed, Strengths-Based Classrooms, and Honorary Fellow at the University Of Melbourne Graduate School Of Education. We ask Tom questions including: What is the impact of extended remote learning on student’s education? From your research, has remote learning created a negative impact and secondary traumatic stress on children, if so how? What have been your personal observations of this with the students and families you’ve been working with at Berry Street and the wrap-around support of children and young people? How long do you think the hybrid / remote learning model will continue post-lockdown and parents will be required to continue supporting their children’s education at home? In your article you provide 3 strategies that adults can action at home that teachers and teacher assistant do every day in the classroom? What is a strengths-based classroom? Why do you believe trauma awareness is important in schools - for teachers, parents, and school leaders? What does that look like post-lockdown? For Dr Tom’s full article, please go to: https://kiddipedia.com.au/teacher-assistant-101-strategies-that-every-parent-and-carer-can-learn-to-support-at-home-learning/ For further details: Facebook https://www.facebook.com/berrystreet1877 Twitter https://twitter.com/berrystreet Instagram https://www.instagram.com/berrystreetorg/ YouTube https://www.youtube.com/berrystreet LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/berry-street/

On the back of marathon restrictions and extended lockdowns, countless parents around Australia will be overjoyed at the thought of children returning back to school for good. But, did you know that from 2019 to 2020 in Victoria alone homeschooling students increased by 1,224. Yep, you heard me right, parents choosing to homeschool their children has increased. Data from the Victorian government suggests that there has been a 20% increase in children being registered to homeschool, with home learning support networks say the trend is continuing nationally with an increased number of enquiries. Today we’re speaking with Melbourne mother of two, Carlie Maree who has has been homeschooling her children for some time, about the benefits of homeschooling and learn how parents can begin this transition. Carlie Maree is an international best-selling author, thought leader and industry disruptor with a deep understanding of how women work – what motivates them, what drives them and what holds them back. Her book, Soul Modes is a Wall Street Journal and USA Today best-selling book. We ask Carlie questions including: What is the difference between remote learning and homeschooling? You’ve mentioned that the current state of home learning through traditional schools is a bit like ‘Panic learning’ can you elaborate on this? What have been the biggest outcomes/ benefits that you have experienced since homeschooling you children? Can you tell us a little bit about the process of registering and transitioning into homeschooling? What things would you say are your ‘homeschooling best friends’ in terms of apps/ books/ activities etc? How do you manage your Childs social and social wellbeing now that they don’t have access to friend’s everyday at school? What do you think are the biggest problems with the traditional schooling system? What would you say to parents considering homeschooling or who are struggling with homeschooling in the wake of the Covid19 pandemic in general. For Carlie’s full article, please go to: https://kiddipedia.com.au/to-the-parents-who-have-struggled-with-remote-learning-you-are-not-alone/ For further details: https://www.carliemaree.com/

I think it’s fair to say parents are completely over extended lockdowns and homeschooling. As we emerge from this point in time, it’s important for us to reflect: What has this time taught us?  How is it likely to affect our children’s future? What can we do to best support our children? To help answer these questions we welcome our special guest Greg O’Connor. Greg is an Australian educator with over 30 years of experience and is the Educational Technology Manager for Texthelp. The company works with a range of institutions including Western Sydney University and The ACT Department of Education to improve literacy and numeracy skills through technology. We Greg questions including: Do you think we will experience a hybrid / remote learning model post-lockdown? If so, what are the benefits? In your article you share a homeschooling tip that parents should ensure they’re setting clear boundaries. Also how parents can show children what’s expected of them, rather than just telling them. Can you please expand? It’s been said that you have stated that “we all need to work together to integrate educational technology into family and school life to ensure all Australian students are digitally literate.” Could you please expand on this? Just how important are literacy and numeracy skills for children to succeed in their future workplace? What are your expert tips for navigating hybrid in classroom/remote learning? What technologies are available to parents and kids to help aid their learning? For Greg’s full article, please go to: https://kiddipedia.com.au/learning-to-learn-during-lockdown/ For further details: https://gregoryoconnor.com/ @gregoconnor @texthelp #texthelp #aussieED #EquatIO  #Read&Write

You may have heard the saying, ‘The way we speak to children become their inner voice’ It’s true, the way we speak to children matters as the tone and feeling they experience from our words imprints in their hearts and becomes the internal inner voice and dialogue that plays over continuously, both conscious and subconsciously in their minds. What we choose to say out loud, will shape a child’s way of thinking, so… why not use this to our advantage? It’s for us to help ensure the little voice in our children’s heads is being kind to them and will help support them along their life’s journey.  So, how can we help make children’s inner voice positive, to help empower them to confidently live the optimistic life they deserve, well that’s what we’re here to discuss today. To help we welcome our special guest Lili-Ann Kriegler Lili-Ann is an education consultant and author and has taught at all levels from toddlers to adults. Her expertise is in early childhood education (birth-9 years), leadership and optimising human thinking and cognition.  We ask Lili-Ann questions including: Can you explain how parents positively framing experiences can help children in stressful scenarios? What strategies should parents apply and work through with children after a meltdown? How does communication with young children support their thinking and learning? Why is it important to explain to children ‘why’ we are doing things? Do children learn how to react to stressful situations by mirroring their parent’s emotions and reactions to high-stress scenarios? How and why are the early years critical for language development? How does voicing your thoughts out loud provide labels for children’s emotions? How do you foresee that parents’ expectations and how they interface with their kids have long term effects on how children think, relate to others and view themselves? How do children use different parts of their brain in stressful situations, how can parents help children respond to stressful events using their thinking brain? Why do children need to both think and feel their emotions? Do you have any tips you would like to share with parents and educators to support the development of children’s concept-based understanding of the world around them? For Lili-Ann’s full article, please go to: https://kiddipedia.com.au/what-you-say-and-how-you-say-it-can-elevate-your-childs-thinking/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/liliann.kriegler/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lili-ann-kriegler-7a7298199/ Kriegler Education: https://www.kriegler-education.com

Relationships can be complicated and complex. I don’t think anyone enters into a marriage with the intention of wanting it to end in divorce, especially when there are children involved. Divorce can be very unfortunate however not all uncommon. Did you know that 33% of all Australian marriages are expected to end in divorce? There's no doubt the toll of ongoing lockdowns has put a strain on many couples over the past year and will be contributing factor to an anticipated rise divorce rates. So, if you currently going through a separation or considering it, and or want to support someone going through this, are looking for tips how you can help achieve it amicably, you’re in the right place. To help share her expert tips and advice we welcome our special guest Kirsty Salvestro, Family Lawyer, Mediator and Divorce Guide and the author of the book What are we fighting for? We ask Kirsty questions including: You’re an expert in providing separating couples with a peaceful Pathway. How easy can this be achieved? When communication issues are the most common cause of marriage breakdowns, how difficult would it make it to work through them amicably? In your article you list 4 tips to help assist with achieving amicable settlement, could you go through them with us now? Stats show mental health and behavioural problems are twice as likely to be reported by separated a divorced individuals, what has been your experience with this? What are some of the biggest mistakes couples make when separating? What is “the peaceful pathway” that you talk about in your book? There are concerns the COVID crisis general and highly anticipated recession could cause divorce and separation rates to rise in the coming months and years. What are your thoughts on this? Relationships Australia released a survey in 2020 that found 42% of respondents stated being stuck at home in lockdown and prolonged periods of isolation had negatively impacted their relationship with their partner. What has been your professional experience with this? Divorce can be expensive, what would be the average cost of family law litigation? For Kirsty’s full article, please go to: https://kiddipedia.com.au/4-tips-to-achieve-an-amicable-settlement/ Weblink: https://www.flourishfamilylaw.com.au/book Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FlourishFamilyLaw Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/flourishfamilylaw/ www.thekindlawyers.com  

Witnessing your child’s struggle with eating difficulties can be somewhat traumatising, equally for you and your child. If this situation isn’t counselled and supported effectively you may be at risk of developing anxiety and stress feeding for years to come which can have a lasting impact on your family. However, like many things in life, knowledge is power, the more we know, the better we can prevent these behaviours from happening. So if you’re a parent that has found that feeding your child has become a challenging and nerve raking activity, and you are looking for support and additional help and advice, you’re in the right place.   To share tips to help you raising a happy, healthy eater and empower you feel more in control we welcome our special guest, Marie-France Laval, Dietitian-Nutritionist, Home Economist and Counsellor originally from France. She is also the CEO of Fussy Eater Solutions where she offers a range of online and in-home programs to support fussy eaters and their families Marie-France will be sharing her expert advice how to best mange fussy eaters. We ask Marie-France questions including: As a parent, how do you know you need support? Can this journey be very lonely for many parents? What has this been the experience of the families you work with this? What are some of the common issues parents experience with this situation? What type of support is there for parents and children? (a parent or a child may deal with trauma, negative experiences etc) What is co-regulation? What is responsive feeding? How do you establish it? Especially if your child has been showing little interest in feeding? For Marie France’s full article, please go to: https://kiddipedia.com.au/feeding-baby-nightmare-is-it-doing-you-harm/ For further info, visit: https://fussyeater.com.au/

Have you heard of CMV? If this is the first you’ve heard of it I’m sure you’re not alone. Did you know that CMV is the most common infectious cause of disability in newborn babies? So, why do we know so little about it and what are the simple steps we can take to minimise the risk of contracting it? That’s what we’re here to discuss today with our special guest Dr Hayley Smithers-Sheedy, With a long list of qualifications, Dr Hayley Smithers-Sheedy is a Senior Research Fellow Cerebral Palsy Alliance The University of Sydney and Postdoctoral Research Fellow in Epidemiology, Australasian Clinical Trials Network. She has expertise in epidemiology, congenital infection, neurodevelopmental disability and consumer involvement in research. We ask Dr Hayley questions including: What is CMV? Is CMV Highly Contagious? Is CMV an STD? What are the symptoms in mothers? What are the typical symptoms of CMV who are sick at birth? Who does CMV affect? How do you test and diagnose CMV? How does someone contract CMV? How can you prevent it? How can we better educate maternity health professionals? How do we get CMV prevention messaging out to parents and carers? For the full article, please go to: https://kiddipedia.com.au/cmv-awareness-month-pam-and-christophers-story/ For further info, visit: https://www.facebook.com/cerebralpalsyalliance/

In the midst of this COVID-19 crisis, a lot of us are thinking about the world we are leaving the next generation and what we need to do to help children be prepared for their future. Your child’s employability in the workforce may be the last thing on your mind right now, but did you know that in a Dell Technologies report they stated that 85% of the jobs in 2030 that Generation Z and Alpha will enter into have not been invented yet. Also, according to a World Economic Forum report, 65% of primary-school children today will be working in job types that do not exist yet. So, what skills can we be teaching our children today to help open the doors to 21st Century skills and prepare them for job opportunities in the future? That’s what we’re here to discuss today with our special guest Adam Jacobs, Managing Director of Junior Engineers.  As an experienced leader in the education and edtech sectors, Adam has been a multiple industries, ranging from corporate finance to film and television to education. But education is by far the topic he is most passionate about. Since its founding in 2013, Junior Engineers has educated over 40,000 students [also internationally!] and delivers over 120 classes per week and over 55 workshops during the school holidays at over 110 schools and corporate organisations via a network of qualified and engaging instructors. We ask Jacob questions including: How important do you think it is for parents to understand the importance of STEM for their children in today’s increasingly digital world? How important do you think it is for educators to find ways to ignite enthusiasm when teaching digital technologies to school aged students?  What is coding – in simple terms? Why should kids learn to code- isn’t that something to worry about in Uni? Why are you, Adam, excited about this? Why is not all screen time a bad thing? With kids spending so much time on gaming and platforms like ROBLOX, how can we get them to actually do something educational instead? What have you been surprised to discover by teaching coding online But isn’t learning face to face more efficient? What kind of software can kids actually develop? Or what kind of apps? Who is teaching the classes? For the full article, please go to: https://kiddipedia.com.au/what-is-the-secret-value-of-your-child-learning-coding-and-stem-in-online-classes/ For further details: https://www.jnrengineers.com.au/online   1300 089 344 admin@jnrengineers.com 2 projects of note:  Digital Access Program: In partnership with Substation33, an IT recycling company in QLD, we can now sell a laptop with each program for only $165 Deadly Coders: Free STEM programs for indigenous youth! We were recently on NITV.  

The ancient art of storytelling has been around since time began. As a tribal species, humans have relied on storytelling to help people connect, learn and communicate, with ourselves and others. The voice of narration has always had a place and purpose in our lives. The evolution of storytelling goes way back to cave painting and primitive art, through to tribes of people sat around a open fire listening to an elder passing down life lessons from generations before. Over time through to the 21st century, the mediums of communication have changed to books, audio books, social media, feature films and subscription TV amongst many. Throughout this time, the core concepts of using a sequence of events in an exciting nature has remained the same, so what are these core concepts? and how can children benefit from them? Well we’re here to today to find out, with our special guest Emma Mactaggart, a mother and an award-winning author and publisher, and one of our partners here at Kiddipedia. For the last 15 years Emma has been teaching the craft of writing and illustrating to children and adults via her Child Writes program. Her publishing business Boogie Books is the largest publisher in the world on Amazon of children’s picture books written by children for children. For five years, these same books also flew with Jetstar as part of their in-flight entertainment system! Emma is a regular guest on ABC Southern Queens-land Radio and she is also the Founder of International Read to Me! Day: a reimagined global event this year, encouraging readers to share the love of story via Facebook live. We ask Emma questions including: How do you think tales and storytelling can teach children basic life lessons? How do books help children strengthen their imagination? What do you love about teaching children how to write and illustrate their own books? What are the seven plots used in storytelling? How can books help children build resilience? Do you think listening to stories can help children develop empathy? If so how? How do you think books can children develop how to deal with their fears and insecurities? How can parents use storybooks to help open conversations with their children to learn about how they view and experience the world around them? How can you test if a child has high self-efficacy? Do you think the idea of increasing self-efficacy can help create a child’s resilience? If so, how? What’s your #1 book to help support your children’s fears and build adversity? For Emma’s full article, please go to: https://kiddipedia.com.au/overcoming-the-monster/ For further details: https://www.emmamactaggart.com.au/ https://www.facebook.com/ChildWrites/

Evolution. By definition, biologically, is defined as ‘change in the gene pool of a population from generation to generation by such processes as mutation, natural selection, and genetic drift.  The recent increase in climate change awareness has increased a global shift towards plant based diets which have become identified as critical in helping reduce and preventing climate breakdown.  Did you know in January 2021 that high-profile international scientific journal EMBO Molecular Medicine published results from a recent study, which showed that Vegan diets are continually gaining in popularity especially among young adults, and through the choices of the families vegan diets are becoming more common in young children, too? Through this, and recent challenges like COVID, have brought about a shift and lift in consciousness. One of the many changes includes that many of us, children included, are choosing to eat less or no meat and animal products as we become more sensitive to our environment and what it means when we eat animals.  However the choices for families choosing vegetarian or vegan diets for their children have been rife with criticism which is what we’re here to discuss today with our special guest, Sarah Smith, Dietitian from Bayside Dietetics.  Sarah works in private a practice in Bayside Melbourne after working for an extensive period within a Monash Children’s Hospital.  We ask Sarah questions including: What are some of the key findings from this study?  What should parents make of these findings? What should parents be aware of should they wish for their children to live on a vegan diet?  Where do vegans get their protein from? How can kids thrive on a vegan diet? No doubt this requires a lot of planning?  Do you think that the more we have access to information and advice as to how we can eat healthily on plant-based diets the more people would be likely to give it a go?  For the full article, please go to: https://kiddipedia.com.au/a-response-to-recent-reports-about-the-dangers-of-vegan-eating-for-infants-and-children/ References: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/01/210121132300.htm https://www.news.com.au/lifestyle/health/diet/a-new-study-looks-at-the-dangers-of-a-vegan-diet-for-infants/news-story/6a30cb922c79ed197334b488c7ff0e87 For further details: http://www.baysidedietetics.com.au/

Have you ever thought, that as we sleep we are in our most vulnerable and defenseless state. For this reason, it’s no surprise that many children crave the companionship, support and comfort of their parents as they wind down for bedtime. For those with common sleep issues, it’s characteristics that many children will make their way in your bed by way of habit and or to simply help comfort their fears.  Broken sleep patterns and sleep deprivation for parents is a very real health risk, for this reason and may others it is important that a healthy sleeping routine and guidelines are set in the entire family. But what do you do when your child refuses to sleep in their bed alone and throughout the night? Well, our special guest, Deb Herdman, is here to tell us exactly what that is. Deb Herdman is a mother, registered nurse, sleep practitioner with over 10 years experience and one our partners at Kiddipedia. She is also an author of 2 e-books, composer and developer of the Nigh Nigh Lullaby and ever growing nigh nigh brand. On a regular basis presents on radio and podcast, locally and internationally on how parents can get good quality sleep by providing sleep solutions that work.  We ask Deb questions including: How difficult can it be for parents to identify why their children won’t stay in their own bed? How important is it for parents to set boundaries for children’s night time routine? Can situations like this help build resilience in children? It’s common when transitioning from a co-sleeping scenario that children may cry worried they are going to miss their parents. What should parents do in this instance? How important is it to have nighttime routines structured?  Should parents reduce the amount of choices for children and not ask too many questions before the children’s bedtime?  Do you have any tips for children that have separation anxiety in extreme cases? What about when siblings observe their brother or sister throwing a tantrum, how can we limit this to one child and prevent other children from getting upset also? How can parents get children to cooperate?  How would you best describe the dos and don’ts in this situation, starting with the don’ts?  For Deb’s full article: https://kiddipedia.com.au/my-child-refuses-to-sleep-in-their-bed-i-need-help/ For further details: https://www.nighnigh.com.au/

Discovering that you are expecting a baby is one of the most uplifting and thrilling experiences any couple could encounter. Whilst a mother is carrying a baby, naturally, we focus on her health and wellbeing. With ongoing prenatal checkups and classes we are eager to know, almost daily, how she is feeling. With the spotlight on the mother, sometimes her partner can feel a little like a third wheel, however, this shouldn’t be the case. Dads are an equally important pillar in the development of a child’s cognitive, social and emotional wellbeing and development. This all starts as early as in utero. Today we’re here to help break old stereotypes and discuss how dads can be equally involved as mothers in the preparation for their newborn baby’s arrival, and beyond. So, what can Dads do now to help get ready for the baby’s arrival? Lucky for us our special guest is going to tell us what they are. Today we welcome Keren Ludski, CEO of Red Nose Australia Keren has over 30 years of clinical and business experience, having spent the last 18 years as Director of a counselling service specialising in the area of grief and loss. However, Keren’s life changed forever in 1998 when her third child Ben died from SIDS. Following this, Keren turned her professional energy to supporting other bereaved parents and families providing clinical supervision and educating other professionals in the field. We ask Keren questions including: Why do you think fathers are so important during a baby’s first year of life? What benefits can be obtained when both father and mother take care of the baby equally? Do you think that strengthening fathers confidence in the early stages, by showing them how they can help support the baby’ arrival and what activities they can do, that it could foster the father’s positive parenting skills? Do you think the earlier the father is involved with the preparation of the babies arrival could possibly contribute to strengthening the bond the father has and the depth of connection with the baby? How can Dads get ready for baby arrival? In your article you list your top 10, could you share them with us now? A new Red Nose Australia poll of 120 dads has found that around 65% had not received any newborn safe sleep advice from a health professional. Tell us more about safe sleep advice? How can they reach out for support More broadly, tell us about Red Nose Day on Friday 13th of August, 2021 Why is it important to raise awareness about SIDS? Why do you personally think that Red Nose Day is so important and why everyone should do their bit to help support parents living through the nightmare of losing a baby or child? For the Red Nose article, please go to: https://kiddipedia.com.au/10-things-dads-can-do-now-to-get-ready-for-babys-arrival/ For further details: Website: https://www.rednoseday.org.au/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RedNoseAus Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rednoseaustralia/ Get silly for a serious cause and support Red Nose Day - Friday 13 August Donate now rednoseday.org.au/donate

If you’re a soon-to-be parent, with questions about baby bottles and teats, then you’re in the right place.  Irrespective if you intend to breastfeed, use formula or a combination of both, it’s a great idea to learn as much as possible about the products available and how they will help benefit the health and well-being of your baby.  The information we’ll share with you today is with the view of supporting you in what can be a steep learning curve for many parents. To help share expert information and advice we enlist the wisdom of Belinda Joyce  Belinda is a midwife, maternal & child health nurse with over 20 years of experience.  She is also a mother of four and author of 'Survive and Enjoy Your Baby'. Her passion is in providing safe, evidence-based advice & options to parents so they can find their own path to parenthood. We ask Belinda questions including: How do parents know which bottle size is right for their baby? What are the benefits of different baby bottle materials? What’s the difference between ‘wide neck’ and ‘slim neck’ bottles and teats?  When may a wide neck or slim neck bottle/teat might be more suited to a baby? How do parents know which size of teat and opening is right for their baby? I understand there is the round and Y cut, why is this? What features are very important for a parent to consider when deciding on a teat? Is it the shape? surface texture? air ventilation system? or all of the above?  What other features are important when choosing a teat? How do parents know when is the right time to change their baby's teat size?  How do parents know when teats and bottles should be replaced? For Pigeon’s full article, please go to: https://kiddipedia.com.au/baby-bottles-and-bottle-feeding-101-for-new-parents/ To prepare for the arrival of your little one or to enhance your current bottle-feeding experience, it’s worthwhile looking out for Pigeon, their range can be found on the Pigeon website or at your local pharmacy or baby retailer.

Undoubtedly, being a parent is the most honourable, righteous and wonderful role known to women or man. One that is filled with selfless sacrifices yet an undeniable, unconditional love that no words could ever describe.  For that reason, it’s understandable that a parent puts the health and wellbeing of their newborn before anyone or anything else, especially their own.  In order to give our chidren the life they deserve and a positive future, we must first be the best version of ourselves at all stages throughout our parenthood, in mind, body and spirit. The first and most common of these that we neglect is our mental health, which is what we are here to address today with our very special guest.  We're honoured and thrilled to welcome Dr Harvey Karp, America’s No.1 Paediatrician and one of the world’s most trusted and renowned baby and sleep experts. For the last 25 years Dr. Karp practiced paediatrics in Los Angeles for the likes of Madonna and Pierce Brosnan. He is on the faculty of the USC School of Medicine and a fellow of the American Academy of Paediatrics. Dr Karp is the founder and CEO of Happiest Baby, an award winning smart-tech and parenting solutions company, author of several celebrated books including the Happiest Baby on the Block, and creator of the 5S’s. Dr Karp is also the inventor of the SNOO baby bassinet that A-listers like Beyoncé, and Jay-Z, Natalie Portman, Dwayne Johnson – The Rock, Khloe Kardashian, Kate Hudson, Mila Kunis, Jessica Biel and Serena Williams have all used to help their newborn babies get a more restful sleep. Dr. Karp has devoted his life to helping families raise healthy and happy children, we’re thrilled to ask him the following questions:   As one of the world’s most renowned baby and sleep experts, and of all your achievements to date, what are you most proud achieving?  What can you share with us from your 25+ years of research about the importance of quality sleep for babies and parents alike?  What is the calming reflex in babies?  How can we learn to trigger the calming reflex with your 5S’s method? Why are they so important?  How does your 5S’ method relate to parents getting more sleep? Through your research, what have you found about the causes of sleep deprivation and the importance of parents maintaining a healthy sleep routine?  Why is it so important to look after your mental health as a new mum or parent? Why is it so important for new parents to ask for help when they need it? What are the causes of perinatal depression or anxiety?  What are some tips to look after your own mental health as a new mum or parent?   For Dr Harvey’s full article, please go to: https://kiddipedia.com.au/5-tips-to-look-after-your-own-mental-health-as-a-new-mum-or-parent/   For further details: Facebook: @thehappiestbaby Instagram: @happiest_baby Website: https://happiestbaby.com.au/

Watching children, or a loved one experience challenging times and emotional hardship is extremely tough, especially when you don’t know how you can or should help them A common self-destructive habit and behaviour that people find hard to support loved ones through are abnormal or disturbed eating habits. Eating disorders are complex and come in various forms. Today we’re here to chat about warning signs and offer tips to help you, help those you love. Eating disorders affect people of all walks of life, however is becoming increasingly common in adolescents and young people. As a disclaimer this is assumed due to social pressures and stereotypes with the help of social media. Despite that the term disordered eating refers to food, and is observed as a physical condition, eating disorders are in fact more commonly associated with complex mental health conditions. It’s a very raw, and unpleasant topic to approach but necessary if we are truly committed to doing all we can to offer our support to those in need. So if you think your child is showing signs of an eating disorder, or a loved one in your life, it’s important to seek support as soon as possible. Today, to help show our support and address this challenging topic we welcome our special guest, and one of our partners here at Kiddipedia, Stel Coombe-Heath, a leading authority in binge and emotional eating recovery. Stel leads various programs on changing mindsets around eating and healthy food choices. She supports her clients to cultivate healthy eating habits and to build trust with food. We ask Stel questions including: What are eating disorders and how may they start? We usually assume an eating disorder is related to anorexia or bulimia, however it’s rarely spoken about the cases of emotional eaters that can lead to a disorder. Could you please expand on this for us now? What can you share with us about your experiences? As a holistic health coach, what are some of the some of the self-transformation health practices and techniques you apply to help your clients? What is the difference between an eating disorder and disordered eating?  What are the signs and dangers of disordered eating?  How can we look for the warning signs? How can anyone listening support someone with disordered eating? Do you think the best way to avoid these problems getting out of hand is by early recognition and early treatment? If we’re concerned about a loved one suffering with disordered eating, a child, adolescent, relative or friend, how should you best approach it? Why is it important to talk about it? For Stel’s full article, please go to: https://kiddipedia.com.au/how-to-support-someone-with-disordered-eating/ For further details: https://wholesomelifestyleproject.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wholesomelifestyleproject/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WholesomeLifestyleProject Podcast: https://kite.link/Beyond-Overeating-by-Wholesome-Lifestyle-project Kids help line 1800 55 1800 https://kidshelpline.com.au/ Bufferly foundation help line 1800 33 4673 https://butterfly.org.au/

Every parent, and caregiver, wants to give their children the best chance to succeed in life. A crucial ingredient in experiencing a joyful happy life lies within the quality of our relationships, fuelled with emotion. Many psychologists over time have confirmed that the ability to manage our emotions in a healthy way will determine the quality of our life, much more fundamentally than our IQ. Psychologists call this ability EQ, or Emotional Intelligence Quotient, which is what we are here to discuss today. To help we welcome our special guest Stephanie Pinto, a Certified Emotional Intelligence Coach and Trainer, Co-Founder at EQ Culture, and Emotional Intelligence trainer for Zen Tea Lounge Foundation Her passion is helping parents and their children to have a more calm and connected life, and better relationships with those around them. We ask Stephanie questions including: How important do you think it is to train EQ skills early on in life? Are we born with EQ or does it have to be taught? Would you say a child’s EQ starts with their relationship with their parents? What are the 4 core areas that makeup EQ? I believe the first two are related to our awareness of our and others' emotions? And the second area of EQ relates to how we manage emotions, both our own and others. What are the benefits of teaching children EQ? How can I teach my children emotional intelligence? Did this impact your schooling as a child, and or your adult life at all, if so, how? For Stephanie’s full article, please go to: https://kiddipedia.com.au/how-teaching-our-kids-eq-can-lead-to-better-individual-and-societal-outcomes/ For further details: https://www.stephaniepinto.com/

The first gift we give a newborn baby is a cherished and loving symbol of welcoming them into the world and our lives. It is very rare for a baby gift to stand the test of time, 60 years to be exact, whilst continuously growing in popularity loved and adored by millions of families, with over 70 million units sold, in over 85 countries, right around the world. The emotional bond children develop with this toy last a lifetime - far beyond their newborn years And for so many of us, gifting her to friends and family who are expecting a baby becomes our own tradition as we wish to pass her joy on and for them also to experience the love and priceless moments only she can give If you haven’t guessed already who I’m speaking about, it’s none other than Sophie The Giraffe To share with us today the rich history and story of Sophie The Giraffe as we celebrate her 60th Birthday, we welcome our special guests, the passionate duo who have brought the french flair to Australia, and who are responsible Sophie's distribution, and other Vulli products, here in Australia none other than French entrepreneurs Isabelle Gardy and Cecile Boston We ask Isabelle and Cecile questions including: What do you think has contributed to Sophie's success for so long? Why do you think people love her so much? Tell us the story about how you came to distribute Sophie out here in Australia? How and when was Sophie created? How has Sophie changed over the 60 years, or not? Has she remained the same? Why is Sophie so unique? What are Sophie’s developmental benefits? How to look after Sophie? How does Sophie provide parents with environmental peace of mind as a pioneering toymaker? I understand Sophie has made a commitment to help giraffe conservation, what can you tell us about this? For the full article, please go to: https://kiddipedia.com.au/5-reasons-to-celebrate-the-iconic-sophie-la-girafe-toy-on-her-60th-anniversary/ For further details: https://www.lesfolies.com.au/ https://www.facebook.com/sophielagirafe.officialAUSTRALIA https://www.instagram.com/sophiethegiraffeaustralia

Salt: as a natural resource it’s found everywhere from our tears, perspiration to the ocean Would you believe the earliest evidence of humans producing salt dates back to 6000 BC in northern China? So, it’s been part of our lives for thousands of years. Much like sugar, however, salt is also hidden in so many of our everyday foods. Without knowing it, three-quarters of the salt we eat is already in everyday foods such as bread, breakfast cereal, and ready meals, so for this reason, it’s very easy for us to exceed our daily intake without knowing it For better health, we all need to limit our daily salt intake to the recommended amount, because as we know, the side effects of too much salt are detrimental to adults, but we also need to take into consideration the impacts it has on children and babies To help talk to us about some tasty and healthy salt alternatives we welcome back our special guest Siobhan Boyle, CEO of Jamie The Good Foundation We ask Siobhan questions including: How important is it for parents to reduce salt content in their household diets and home-cooked meals to the recommended amount? How much salt is the right amount? Is it true that some foods with a high salt content won't taste very salty at all? Why is too much salt bad for both an adult and a child’s diet? What are some easy alternatives to ensure meals still taste delicious? What are your go-to herbs that every parent should have in their kitchen to flavour up meals? For Siobhan’s full article, please go to: https://kiddipedia.com.au/salt-alternatives/ For further information, please go to: https://www.jamiesministryoffood.com.au/ You can visit the Heart Foundation and VicHealth’s website Unpack The Salt

Have you ever wondered does a child’s birth order help shape their personality? According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, the average amount of children per family is 1.8. So even though it’s not as common that families are as large as they used to be, it is fascinating to understand the psychology behind first, second, third, and subsequent children’s birth order. Also, how science and research determines what the birth order says about the child’s personality To help share her expert information and advice we speak with Dianne Gramp, a Senior Registered Psychologist from Positive Mind Works Dianne has 20 years of experience in private practice working with children, adolescents, and adults. We ask Dianne questions including: Does birth order really affect a child's personality? What are some of the assumptions about firstborns that we should know about? Could you please share with us the common assumptions about Middle-born children? What does science tell us is actually true about them? Are there any common assumptions about younger or last-borns? What are the commonly claimed characteristics of all children we should know about? What does science tell us is important for parents to know about their child’s births order? Should parents treat children differently depending on their birth order? What do psychologists know is important in family dynamics for raising psychologically healthy children, regardless of their birth order? How are attachment styles a powerful predictor of a child’s later social and psychological outcome? What are parental personality styles and how can they become a powerful parenting tool? For Dianne’s full article, please go to: https://kiddipedia.com.au/your-childs-birth-order-what-matters-and-what-doesnt/ For further details, go to: https://www.positivemindworks.co/au/team_member/dianne-gramp/

Newborn babies are everything we optimise with perfection. An impeccably sublime exquisité symbol of hope and faultlessness. Every newborn parent, at one time or another I’m sure, has held their baby and realised how delicate and fragile they are. Depending on how sleep-deprived you are, most parents are eager to build their bond with their newborn and find out more about their personality, and eager to engage in play. But how can we play with something as feeble and vulnerable as a newborn? Well our special guest Belinda Joyce is here to tell us how Belinda is a midwife, maternal & child health nurse with over 20 years experience. She is also a mother of four and author of 'Survive and Enjoy Your Baby'. Her passion is in providing safe, evidence-based advice & options to parents so they can find their own path to parenthood. Today Belinda is going to share expert ways how you can play with your newborn baby. We ask Belinda questions including: Is it true that a large portion of a baby's early brain development is dependent on activity and that they learn through play? What would be some of the first intentional movements a parent would see their baby engage in? What is Flat Head Syndrome and is there any way of preventing it? How do you play with a newborn baby? Why is hearing your voice so important for a newborn baby? At what age do babies start to smile and show you a positive response? How can visual play and simple sensory input for babies help with development? Is visual tracking a skill that is born with, and or is it something that is learnt? Can activities such as reaching out to catch bubbles help with progressing hand eye-foot coordination and gross motor skills? How can this help self-confidence later on in life with activities such as walking, running, climbing, jumping, etc? Why is tummy time so important? Why is it important to start tummy time as early as possible? What should parents do if their baby dislikes tummy time? Is it right that even short bursts of tummy-time of up to 1 minute can help, and it’s more about the frequency? What is your opinion of a baby swing or bouncy bouncers? What are some good toy options for newborn babies? What are the dangers of introducing screen time to babies and toddlers under 2 years of age? How do you prevent your newborn from becoming overstimulated? For Belinda’s full article: https://kiddipedia.com.au/how-to-play-with-your-newborn-baby For further details: https://belindajoyce.com/

Every generation hopes the legacy we leave our children, and the state the world they are left to live in, is one that is bigger and better than what we lived in before. We aspire to provide due diligence providing them the best opportunity to live the life they deserve and a positive future. Not only for our children, but for their children’s children and generations to come. However, due to the escalating mental health crisis facing our children, the ability for us as parents and careers to provide this is slightly questionable. Disappointingly, the statistic of childhood obesity, mental health conditions, self-harm and suicide are all greater than ever before Did you know almost fifty per cent of the factors that determine children’s psychological wellbeing and happiness come from the environments in which they are raised? So, this tell us that we do have the power to positively influence our children’s lives and help raise a mentally fit generation. To help explain how we can do this, welcome our special guest and beautiful human being, Kari Sutton Kari is an expert in fostering children's positive mental health. Kari has helped over 25,000 children, parents, and educators with evidence-based strategies, tools and approaches as well as common sense tips that help kids stop worrying so much and to manage their anxiety. Her expertise has made her an in-demand conference speaker, author and consultant in wanting to foster children's positive mental health. She launch her second book “Raising a Mentally Fit Generation” in November 2020. We ask Kari questions including: Having worked as a teacher and guidance counsellor for the past 25 years, how have you seen the dramatic rise in anxiety disorders, depression and suicide affecting our kids? What are the 10 key components to mental fitness mentioned in your book? What is Mental Fitness and how can it benefit our children? How can Mental Fitness impact a child’s mental health? You draw a distinction between Mental Fitness and Resilience - what's the difference? You have a strong view that a lot of our children are struggling to develop resilience, why do you think that is? What are some of the successful strategies and tools your clients are implementing with their children that we can learn from? What are your best tips for future-proofing the next generation? What is the effect if childhood mental illnesses are left untreated? For the full article, please go to: https://kiddipedia.com.au/raising-a-mentally-fit-generation/ For further details: https://karisutton.com/ https://www.facebook.com/karisutton https://www.instagram.com/karisuttoninsta/

At the start of every year, we aspire to live the next 12 months bigger and better than ever before. It’s common that our goals include living a healthier life, less stress, create more time for the things we want to do, and increase our savings. What if I told you one thing that could help you with achieving all those four I just mentioned. As hard as it is to believe, we’re at the halfway point of the year. In saying this, it’s never too late to revisit the hopes and dreams we set out for ourselves and finish the year off strong. So, what is this mystifying idea and notion? Well, it’s the possibilities that meal prepping by freezing our foods can and does provide us. To help share inspiration and expert tips on this subject we welcome back Siobhan Boyle, CEO of Jamie Oliver’s The Good Foundation. We ask Siobhan questions including: Why do you think Jaime is such a big fan of planning ahead with the use of our freezers? Why do you think that winter is a great time for freezer-friendly dishes? Are frozen vegetables as good as fresh? Which contain more nutrients and are healthier for us? In your article, you share 3 top tips on how we can integrate meal prepping through freezing, can you go through them with us now? Why are frozen meals healthy and convenient for families? What is your go-to winter meal to freeze? In your article you share a list of freezer-friendly recipes, can you share some of your inspirational ideas with us now? What are some ‘freezer’ do’s and don’ts? How long can you freeze meals like soup and stews for? For Siobhan’s full article, please go to: https://kiddipedia.com.au/freezer-faves/ For further information, please go to: https://www.jamiesministryoffood.com.au/     Reference: https://www.foodmanufacture.co.uk/Article/2009/07/24/Research-says-frozen-is-as-good-as-fresh-for-school-meal-nutrition

Fatherhood and newborns, a topic not nearly covered enough.  Providing new Dads with practical emotional and social support is something that we can consciously become better at achieving, and purposefully do much more of. It’s not uncommon that when you arrive home with your newborn many new dads feel overwhelmed, trying to figure out their role and place among the changes in the household. Among all the wonderful changes a newborn baby brings, many dads doubt their parenting skills and can feel unprepared questioning if their parenting knowledge is enough. Before you know it, Dads are back at work which presents new challenges as acute stress can build due to sleepless nights and ongoing sleep deprivation. This is all whilst Dads are will-fully wanting to be strong as the backbone of the family. Dads we feel you, that’s why we’re here to show our support with encouraging tips from our special guest Belinda Joyce. Belinda is a midwife, maternal & child health nurse with over 20 years experience. She is also a mother of four and author of 'Survive and Enjoy Your Baby'. Her passion is in providing safe, evidence-based advice & options to parents so they can find their own path to parenthood. **As a disclaimer, during this interview we use the terms ‘Dad’ and ‘Father’ broadly as we acknowledge and support the broad spectrum that includes all modern families including co-parenting and rainbow families ** We ask Belinda questions including: In your 20+ year career to date, have you seen an increase of dads attending maternal and child health sessions?  Do you think Dads should be supported and this issue should be addressed more? What are some of your suggestions how Dads can help support a mother with their Newborn? How can Dads support Mum while feeding? How should Dads play with their newborn baby? Why is it important for Dads to have 1 on 1 time with their baby? How else can Dads bond with their baby? What can Dads do to ensure they are also making time for their self-care? How long does the perinatal period run for? For Belinda’s full article: https://kiddipedia.com.au/the-importance-of-dads/ For further info, visit: https://belindajoyce.com/

The loss of a baby or a child is undoubtedly the most devastating, heartbreaking experience anyone could possibly endure. It’s common for many parents to experience intense and profound feelings of despair, loss, and heartache and is left living their lives like a piece of it is missing It’s the deep feelings of maternal and paternal love for a child you never had the chance to know If you’re a parent who has lived an experience such as this, and or a friend or family member who is supporting a grieving family or someone who would love to have greater knowledge and perspective on what parents live through, then this chat is for you To help talk to us about this today we welcome our special guest special guests Amelia Walker and Chris Barnes from the Gidget Foundation We ask Amelia and Chris questions including: What has been your exposure to parents who have experienced the trauma of baby or child loss? Is there a difference in which a mother mourns to how a father emotionally lives through life events? If so, how? How long can the acute mourning stage of grief last? In some cases, this process can last for years? What types of perinatal loss does Gidget Foundation assist with? How important do you think it is to commemorate and pause to remember the lives of babies who have died during pregnancy, or soon after birth and in infancy? What are some of the most common feelings and experiences parents face? Why is it important to allow yourself to grieve in your own way and in your own time? How can rituals be an important part of dealing with grief? What are some of the common triggers for parents? How do they differ from male to female, mother to father? What is the impact of grief and loss on families? For Gidget Foundation’s full article, please go to: https://kiddipedia.com.au/a-guide-to-coping-with-reminders-of-your-pregnancy-and-child-loss/ For further details: Get Support: https://gidgetfoundation.org.au/get-support/where-do-i-start/ Website: www.gidgetfoundation.org.au Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GidgetFoundation Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gidgetfoundation/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/GidgetFndation LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/gidgetfoundationaustralia  

Getting children to eat their vegetables has been the bane of parent’s existence for eons. A dilemma that almost all parents face at one point. It’s common that, amongst your frustration, you worry if your child is getting enough nutrients from the foods they’re eating to help support their growth and development. One way to overcome this is the age-old trick of sneaking the veggies into the foods that they already love eating. Even if this is something you’re already doing, there’s no harm in acquiring some new and creative tips. To help share some inspiration we welcome back Siobhan Boyle, CEO of Jamie Oliver’s The Good Foundation. Who, Kiddipedia is honoured to be in partnership with. Siobhan is going to share her expert tips on how you can include veggies in your kid's favorite recipes. We ask Siobhan questions including:  Why do you think it is so hard to get kids to eat their veggies? Do you think that it’s important for parents to persist and continue trying to give their children whole fruits and vegetables with the view of trying to make them familiar with new foods? Do you think that it’s valuable to expose children to this wisdom especially during this time in history with COVID? Do you think it’s important for kids to understand, with age-appropriate information, why eating their veggies is crucial to their long-term health? Do think that children’s palettes can change over time, and for that reason, it’s important for them to have exposure to many different foods as early as possible? What is the easiest kid-friendly dish to sneak some veggies into? Do you think that getting children to explore and understanding food is the basis for healthy eating choices? What are some ways to get your kids to have fun in the kitchen and love their veggies? Which veggies should one always have in their fridge? For the full article: https://kiddipedia.com.au/including-veggies-in-your-kids-favourite-recipes/ For further information, please go to: https://www.jamiesministryoffood.com.au/

Our earliest experiences in childhood form the foundation of who we become in adulthood. Did you know that 90% of a child's brain develops by age 5? During this time, a child’s neural pathways are formed based on their everyday experiences, and what they are exposed to. Once the brains connections are formed, they last a lifetime. For this reason, we need to protect children’s vulnerability and preserve their true authentic self. Re-assess the environment our children are growing up within and reduce any exposure to stress and trauma. The most common affliction for mental, chronic illnesses, physical disease and abusive behaviours, is trauma experienced in childhood. The average childhood experience that has developed into abusive behaviours are a result of adverse experiences at home as generational trauma passed down from generation to generation. As an example, this is exposure to unbearable circumstances at home of raised voices, parents swearing, insulting or putting the child down. Aggressive behavoiurs of throwing things at them, hitting or injuring them. Even as simple as feeling unloved, no-one in their family is that safe person for them. It doesn’t have to be this way. We need to put a stop to the endless cycle of generational trauma that fosters behaviours later on in the life such as domestic violence. To help talk to us about how we can stop this, we welcome our special guest, Kari Sutton Kari is an expert in fostering children's positive mental health. Kari has helped over 25,000 children, parents, and educators with evidence-based strategies, tools and approaches as well as common sense tips that help kids stop worrying so much and manage their anxiety. Her expertise has made her an in-demand conference speaker, author and consultant in wanting to foster children's positive mental health. She is launching her second book “Raising a Mentally Fit Generation” in May 2020. We ask Kari questions including: Do you think suppressed trauma from childhood can foster abusive behaviours later on in life which in turn inflicts suffering on others? Do you think that the responses to trauma from childhood isn’t our true selves, rather they are learnt behaviours and survival instincts? How do you think we can make a start on freeing ourselves from this cycle and manifesting real change to a more positive future? How does a child develop from a kind 4-year old into someone who, 20 years later, is violent to a person they love? What can we do to change it now and in the future? Can we teach young children the skills, behaviours and attitude to cultivate respectful healthy relationships? Could you give us some examples of things people might say that inadvertently excuse disrespectful behaviour? How do we teach our kids to set really clear limits and boundaries? For Kari’s full article, please go to: https://kiddipedia.com.au/stopping-domestic-violence-starts-in-early-childhood/ For further details: https://karisutton.com/ https://www.facebook.com/karisutton https://www.instagram.com/karisuttoninsta/

We’ve arrived at the point of the year where parents need to make the decision if their preschooler is ready to commence primary school next year, or not. This is determined by the cut-off dates for your state or territory meaning that your child must turn five by that date to start school. This decision determines if your child will be among the older, more mature, taller students, and depending on their academic level can determine their level of confidence. Not only throughout primary but their secondary education also. So the decision is no mean feat If you’re a parent with a child, especially a boy, who was born in one of the months before the cutoff date for enrolment at school and could do with some expert advice, this is for you. Today we welcome Andrew Oberthur, a father of two teenagers and a Primary School Principal with over 30 years’ experience teaching and leading primary schools in Brisbane. Andrew is here to share expert age, gender, and school readiness tips to help you make informed decisions that are right for you. We ask Andrew questions including: In your article you see 5 assumptions on this topic, what are they? What are the qualities that would indicate a child is ready to cope with the rigours of primary school? Are age and gender enough to determine if a child is ready to start school? Can it be detrimental to a child if they start school before they are ready? If so, how? In your opinion, do you think the introduction of 3 year old kinder will help with increasing children’s age-appropriate level of skills in communication, socialisation and independence? Or that is inbuilt in the child’s and their personality which in turn can’t be developed? Why can’t Australian governance structures agree on when children should start school? What can parents do to assist in preparing their children to be most ready for school? Who is best placed to give parents advice about their child’s readiness for school, especially at this time of the year? If my child, especially my son, is born just a month or less from cut off date, should they have a second year at Kindy? What are the 3 factors that may influence a child’s communication, socialisation and independence? I understand there are many conditions that provide children with the experiences to have them prepared for school, what are they? For Andrew’s full article: https://kiddipedia.com.au/age-and-gender-and-school-readiness/ For further details: https://www.creativecollaborativesolutions.net/creativecollaborativesolutions Andrew’s book is available from his website www.creativecollaborativesolutions.net

Fatherhood is one of the most challenging, yet profoundly fulfilling jobs there is. It’s common that on the outside Dads portray that they are fine, however on the inside many silently carry the weight of worries and acute stresses as they balance family life and commitment to work. As we know, sleepless nights and ongoing sleep deprivation is a horrible experience, so imagine that all whilst wanting to fiercely be strong as the backbone of the family. If you’re a Dad and can relate, and would like some helpful tips and advice, then today is your day. To help we welcome our special guests Amelia Walker and Chris Barnes from the Gidget Foundation who will share tips on how new Dads can improve their work/life balance. Chris Barnes is a Clinical Psychologist and has been in private practice for over 25 years. Amelia Walker is a Program Clinician and Registered Counsellor with 12 years of clinical management and inception of clinics in London. As a disclaimer, during this interview, we use the terms ‘Dad’ and ‘Father’ broadly as we acknowledge and support the broad spectrum that includes all co-parents and rainbow families  We ask Amelia and Chris questions including: What insight can you share into the challenges father’s experience? Do you think that Dads are far too hard on themselves? Thankfully, open discussions about mental health are now on the table for discussion without prejudice. Have become you experienced Dads being more open to receiving help and support? How has a father’s role changed in recent years? How can Dads best-overcome feelings of discouragement and money worries when providing for their family? In your article you share your top 5, what are some tips and support services you can share with new and expectant parents? How can The Gidget Foundation help families nationally with services like telehealth?   For Gidget Foundations full article: https://kiddipedia.com.au/improving-your-work-life-balance-as-a-new-dad/   For further details: Website: www.gidgetfoundation.org.au Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GidgetFoundation Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gidgetfoundation/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/GidgetFndation LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/gidgetfoundationaustralia   Fact Sheets: https://gidgetfoundation.org.au/about-pnda/fact-sheets/ https://www.facebook.com/groups/gidgetvirtualvillagedads/   (peer support for dads) https://www.facebook.com/groups/gidgetvirtualvillage/  (peer support for mums)   Gidget Perinatal Support Centre powered by Sonder, 24/7. This app is available via any app store. Once downloaded use the code 'Gidget' for FREE access. For more information, check out our website: www.gidgetperinatalsupportcentre.org.au https://mensline.org.au/being-a-dad/changing-face-fatherhood-family-time/ Busydads.com.au (a website all about balance in fatherhood – from nutrition & exercise to being a partner & parent)