Having a nutritious diet and being physically active are essential for healthy growth and development. Early childhood is the ideal time for children to develop and practice healthy eating and physical activity habits and to learn a range of movement skills that will help them more confidently take part in physical activity throughout their lives.
Munch and Move is a fun, games-based program for NSW preschools. It supports the healthy development of young children by promoting physical activity, healthy eating and reduced small screen time (TV, DVD, computers).
Check out the Healthy Kids website for more information on this exciting program for NSW preschools.
Early Days provides workshops for mothers and fathers, and other family carers, of children aged six years and under who have been diagnosed as being on the Autism Spectrum or are starting the assessment and diagnosis process. The workshops provide information about Autism Spectrum Disorders and about the early intervention services that are available to help within the local community.
ASD often isolates children and their families. These workshops provide an opportunity to meet and share experiences with other parents and family carers of young children with ASD.
Today is the 11th International Mother Language Day. 21 February was proclaimed the International Mother Language Day by the General Conference of UNESCO in November 1999 and has been observed yearly since February 2000 to promote linguistic and cultural diversity and multilingualism.
International Mother Language Day originated as the international recognition of Language Movement Day, which has been commemorated in Bangladesh (formerly East Pakistan) since 1952, when a number of Dhaka university students were killed by the Pakistani police and army in Dhaka during the Bengali Language Movement.
This year mulitlingualism is key on the agenda. Multilingualism is essential to the conversation that leads to mutual understanding. Language learning and translation are therefore vital to the unity of humankind.
Today think global, act local ...
check out the UNESCO website and find out what is being done to promote multilingualism
look into studying a new language. Learning a new language can be a very fullfilling and enriching experience. This can be as simple as going to a local college and completing a course for travel, studying at a language school or even going to university (either on-campus or distance)
find more out about another culture within your community. This can be as simple as trying some new food.
Celebrations have begun in Rome and Australia after the announcement of Australia's first Roman Catholic saint, Sister Mary MacKillop.
Pope Benedict the 16th has announced the canonisation at a meeting of cardinals at the Vatican. The official ceremony will be held on the October 17.
It has taken nearly a century, but Australia is to get its first saint at last: Mary MacKillop, a 19th-century nun who spent her life helping impoverished children, and whose rebellious streak saw her briefly excommunicated from the Catholic Church.
Australian Ambassador to the Holy See, Tim Fischer, says her work laid the foundations for education of the disadvantaged in many country areas.
Statistics from the 2008 Infant Nutrition Survey show that while 95% of new mothers initiate breastfeeding, many do not go on to exclusively breastfeed for six months as recommended by the National Health and Research Council and World Health Organisation.
Under a new ambitious national policy women are being encouraged to breastfeed exclusively for 6 months. The breastfeeding strategy also aims to increase the numbers of mothers who continue breastfeeding their babies and supplementing with solids for 12 months and beyond. An example of the implementation is the Queensland Health’s 12+ months on the breast – normal, natural, healthy The aim to help Mums overcome the barriers that lead many women to cease breastfeeding within six months.
However the goals would require a huge rise from present norms under which only 14 per cent of mothers fully breastfeed their babies to six months. Nearly half of mothers have abandoned reliance on breastfeeding only after three months
The Health Minister, Nicola Roxon, said Australia did not have high levels of breastfeeding compared to many other countries. ''Yet all of the evidence shows breastfeeding children for a longer period of time than is common in Australia has enormous health benefits both for the child and for the mother.''
Essential Baby quotes Dr Jennifer James, breastfeeding expert as saying that government leadership was vital to making breastfeeding socially and culturally acceptable in Australia.
"Considering over a quarter of Australians think that breastfeeding in public is unacceptable, we know there is a long way to go,'' Dr James, a course co-ordinator in the Department of Nursing and Midwifery at RMIT University, said. She said particularly worrying was that many women in the 18-25 age group, tomorrow's mothers, disapproved of breastfeeding in public. It appeared the change in attitudes among young women from previous generations was linked to the rise of the ''boob-flashing'' era and the sexual display of breasts ''They become very numb to it [breastfeeding]. When you put it in the context of nurturing a baby, there is this yuk factor.'' (Essential Baby)
Support for workplaces to adapt to the needs of breastfeeding mothers was also essential ''if we are serious about boosting breastfeeding rates'', she said. (Essential Baby)
It is very simple ... breatfeeding is best for baby, mum ... and in the end society. When it comes to babies ... Breast is best!
The StEPS program (Statewide Eyesight Preschooler Screening) is an initiative of NSW Health and offers all 4-year old children free vision screening.
Did you know?
If a child has a 'lazy eye' it may lead to severe vision loss or blindness in that eye if not treated
If a child has a vision problem, the earlier the problem is detected and treated the better the vision outcome
If parents wear glasses or had vision problems as a child their children are more likely to have vision problems too
After eight years of age some childhood vision problems cannot be treated and the child will have poor vision for the rest of their life - glasses won't help
Low birth weight babies and children with neurological problems are at a greater risk of developing eye problems
Why would my child need their vision screened?
Children rarely complain of eye problems
Children may not realise they can’t see well
Some children can see well with one eye but have very poor vision in the other eye
Children’s eyes may look OK and parents/carers might think that their child can see well but some children might still have a vision problem
The only way to tell if a child has a vision problem is to have the child’s vision tested one eye at a time.
Check out the NSW Health STePS Website to find out more information on how your child can access this program
I almost the end of summer and the Australian ski season is approaching quickly. I can't wait. I am sorry everyone that loves summer but the heat and humidity this year is driving me crazy. I can't wait to be sitting in front of a nice wood fire and looking out the window at a beautiful all white view.
One thing I wish I could attend this year is the official start of the ski season and the Perisher Snowy Mountains Music Festival. On the June long weekend (11-14 June 2010) there will be in Perisher a 3 day festival packed with live music at the snow. The Festival aims to present a variety of Australian and world, folk, roots, Celtic, blues, acoustic and traditional music, song, dance, poetry and yarnspinning.
At 8.30pm on Saturday 27 March 2010, millions of people from around the world will join together for Earth Hour. Together, we can show how lots of little actions add up to one big statement on climate change.
What is Earth Hour? Earth Hour is a worldwide grassroots movement started in Australia whose aims are simple ... to communicate to world leaders support for action climate change.
How did it start? Earth Hour started in Sydney, Australia in 2007. Approximately 2.2 million people and 2,100 businesses took part in the first year.
In 2008, Earth Hour involved between 50 and 100 million people in 370 cities and towns around the world, including Chicago, Toronto, Copenhagen, Dublin, Atlanta and Bangkok took part.
In 2009, the concept truly went global, with Earth Hour triggering people to “switch off” all over the world – from the Eiffel Tower in Paris to Times Square in New York. Millions of people in over 4,000 towns and municipalities in 88 countries took part.
I was reading about these in in the smh a few days ago and think that it is a great idea to help people get into their first home. If you're saving to buy or build your first home then a first home saver account may suit you. You could take advantage of a government contribution to your savings and a lower rate of tax on your interest or earning
What is the First Home Saver Account? A first home saver account is a special way of saving to buy or build your first home in which your savings attract a government contribution. First home saver accounts became available from 1 October 2008. Unlike an ordinary savings account or investment, you can only use the funds in this type of account to buy or build a home that you will live in, and only after you have saved for at least 4 financial years.
Main features of first home saver accounts • Your savings are matched by a 17% government contribution on amounts up to $5,000 in a financial year. For example, if you contribute $5,000 this financial year, the government will top up your savings with $850. • Low (15%) tax on interest or earnings • Interest or earnings on your savings from your financial institution.
Check out the ATO website and the ASIC FIDO website (Australian Securities and Invesments Commission - Financial Tips and Saftey Checks) to check out eligibility, conditions and if the first home saver account is right for your situation.
I think that this is a great initiative and if you meet the eligibility criteria and can fit within the rules I think that this is definitely worth a look.
(Please note - The purpose of this blog post is for information purposes only. This is not financial advise and you will need to get independent advise based on your unique circumstances to see if this scheme is suitable for your own situation. Also you will need to read the product disclosure statements of any product to ensure that they meet your unique needs.)
Time for another Small Business Spotlight. This time I would like to do one that is a bit of fun, Hair Fairy Clips. I found Hair Fairy Clips last year not long after my daughter was born. Having a girl caught me a little by surprise. My older child was a boy and so I wanted to get her a few little girlie things (hair clips and headbands). However finding hair clips and headbands that I liked proved to be a harder task than I first thought ... until I found Hair Fairy Clips.
Hair Fairy Clips are all orginal, handmade to order (not mass produced) using the best of materials from an Aussie stay at home mum (work at home mum). And they are just soo cute. What could be better.
My personal favourite is the Precious Pink Flower Headband. My looks so adorable when she wears it ... however if you can't make up your mind and you a buying it as a present they also do gift vouchers.
While the main media focus will be on Valentine's Day today, many Cathedrals, Churches and religious organisations around the world will be 'spreading the love' in a rather different way - by showing support for the over 60 million people with autism and Asperger's Syndrome around the world and those who support and care for them, both family and friends.
Today is Autism Sunday. It is the International Day of Prayer for Autism and Asperger's Syndrome. The day is observed on the second Sunday in February.
Autism Sunday was launched in 2002 in the United Kingdom by parents and carers Ivan and Charika Corea who have a son with autism, Charin. Autism Sunday was launched with a historic service at St.Paul's Cathedral in London. It is now celebrated all around the world. The organisers are urging people to use Autism Sunday to lobby and campaign over the serious issues concerned with autism and Asperger's Syndrome.
Worldwide there are thousands of autism organizations offering information, resources and services to people with autism and their families. Check out the World Autism Awareness Day website to find out about organizations in your country and how you can help.
This year I have decided to add Autism Awareness as an additional campaign/cause to At Home Mums. Recently I have been made aware of the situation in Australia in regards to Autism and support for chidlrena nd adults with autism and their families and think that this is something that should be spoken about more often and more should be done. More MUST be done.
What is Autism? According to Autism Awareness, Autism is a " complex neurobiological disorder that typically lasts throughout a person's lifetime. People with ASD have problems with social and communication skills. Many people with ASD also have unusual ways of learning, paying attention, or reacting to sensations. It is part of a group of disorders known as Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD). In most cases its causes are unknown."
Today, 1 in 160 individuals is diagnosed with autism, making it more common than pediatric cancer, diabetes, and AIDS combined. This equates to a newly diagnosed child every working hour and more that 30,000 families directly touched by autism.It occurs in all racial, ethnic, and social groups and is four times more likely to strike boys than girls.
Autism impairs a person's ability to communicate and relate to others. It is also associated with rigid routines and repetitive behaviors, such as obsessively arranging objects or following very specific routines. At one time people subscribed to the myth that all children with ASD were unresponsive and aloof and never showed affection. We now know ASDs are much more complex with a variety of symptoms and characteristics that can occur in different combinations and varying degrees of severity.
Autism impacts on the child (the major cause of learning difficulty), the child’s family (limited vocational and social opportunities, very high rates of parental depression and marital separation, social disadvantage for siblings) and the community (the cost of autism to the Australian community has been estimated at $7 billion per annum). What can be done? While there is no cure for autism Early Intervention programs targeting the crucial early learning years can dramatically improve the performance of these children, setting them on the path to mainstream education and eventual independence.To be most effective these programs need to follow the evidence based Best Practice Guidelines published by the Commonwealth Department of Health and Ageing in 2007.
The Commonwealth Government’s Best Practice Guidelines state that “A program needs to be of at least 20 hours per week over an extended period of at least two years”. This equates to 1000 hours per year for 2 years. Despite these guidelines only a handful of families can afford to access this amount of therapy.
Whilst expensive to deliver studies suggest that the life time savings achieved by 2 years of 1000 hours of best Practice Early Intervention exceeds $1 million per child. The value to the child and their family cannot be estimated. What is currently being done? Currently the Helping Children with Autism package falls short of providing children with best practice early intervention. Whilst the funding certainly provides universal access to at least some early intervention, for most children the hours provided fall far short of government recommendations, 100 - 150 hours per year. At Home Mum supports the 1000 Hours Campaign asking government to bridge this gap for all Australian children with autism as soon as possible.
What is the 1000 Hours Campaign? 1000 Hours is a campaign to lobby government to fund a minimum of 1000 Hours of Early Intervention per annum for 2 years for every pre-school child with autism. Why support the 1000 Hours Campaign? The future for children with autism can be significantly improved if they can access quality early intervention that meets best practice guidelines. This means both quality and quantity. Now is the time to have your say and support the next generation of children with autism and their families!
What can you do? Register at the for 1000 hours website. (no cost) The campaign sends out regular newsletters with details of upcoming events and information updates.
I think that this looks like a brillant idea. My son, like most boys his age, loves Thomas. I just know he is going to have a great time. Thomas will be there ... and so will Henry, Bulgy, Toby, Donald and the Troublesome Trucks.
Activities include:
Genuine Steam Train Ride from Sodor Island Railway Station pulled by Henry
Thomas Movie Station
Jumping castles
Face Painting
Mini Train Rides
Face painting
Looks like a great idea for the little man in your life and something the rest of the family can also enjoy.
While I am of the opinion that it is best for everyone in the world to accept and respect differences between cultures including belief systems and practices ... however there are just some as much as I try I can't and some that I just belief are completely wrong and should be stopped. One of these is Honour Killings.
Today I was reading an article in the SMH with the title "Girl buried alive by her father and grandfather for befriending boys" . This appears to be such a terrible story. A 16 year old girl that "never went to school and perhaps barely knew how to read and write", Muhammed Cevik, who owns the local Kahta newspaper, was found in a sitting position with her hands tied, in a hole in a chicken pen outside her house in Kahta town, Adiyaman province, 40 days after she went missing. A post-mortem examination showed a significant amount of soil in her lungs and stomach, meaning she was buried alive, forensic experts have said.
It is believed that this is a honour killing. What is honour killing? According to Human Rights Watch Honor (as found on Wikipedia) crimes are acts of violence, usually murder, committed by male family members against female family members, who are held to have brought dishonor upon the family. A woman can be targeted by (individuals within) her family for a variety of reasons, including: refusing to enter into an arranged marriage, being the victim of a sexual assault, seeking a divorce—even from an abusive husband—or (allegedly) committing adultery. The mere perception that a woman has behaved in a way that "dishonors" her family is sufficient to trigger an attack on her life.
The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) estimates that the annual worldwide total of honor-killing victims may be as high as 5,000
I find it hard to believe that this happens in today world ... but I am reminded that violence against women happens around the world.
Honour Killings and Violence against Women are just wrong .. not matter who does it or where it happens.
According tot he SMH today, a SIX-MONTH scheme of paid parental leave and plans to extend to nannies similar pay and conditions as childcare workers are at the heart of a Coalition policy being designed to woo family and female voters.
The Herald has learnt the Opposition Leader, Tony Abbott, has approved the development of a policy for the election campaign that would outdo Labor's promised taxpayer-funded, 18-week parental leave plan.
Last year the Rudd's Government announced an 18-week national scheme that would pay the primary carer the minimum wage of $544 a week, which would be taxed. To be eligible for the Parental leave scheme the primary carer would need to meet the income test of $150,000 (based on the primary carer’s adjusted taxable income in the previous financial year) and it will have required them to have worked on at least a part-time basis for 10 months prior to the brith or adoption of the child (for more details ... read this booklet)
The scheme was announced in the May budget but because of pressures caused by the global financial crisis, its start was postponed to next January.
Does the government scheme go far enough or is the Coalition scheme more than we can afford ?
IMHO. ... We need to action (sorry until I see this actually in practice I don't count what the government has promised so far as being action) and we need action NOW that supports ALL families.I do not feel that the Rudd Governments policy supports all families and doesn't not go far enough. Do I support the Libreral proposal ... well I have not read enough detail but it appears to be interesting so far. Above all, I think Australia needs to learn from current systems around the world on world's best practice and implement a ecosystem of policies including paid parental leave that support ALL families.
An interesting report, "Parental Leave Polciies in 21 Countries - Accessing Generosity and Gender Equality" provides detailed comparisons between the countries including Australia. The review of 21 countries lead them to identify four countries with policies that are strongest on both generosity and gender equality. These countries include three Nordic countries – Finland, Norway, and Sweden – plus Greece. Across these high-performing systems, five policy practices stand out as the most important: (1) generous paid leave; (2) non-transferable quotas of leave for each parent; (3) universal coverage combined with modest eligibility restrictions; (4) financing structures that pool risk among many employers; and (5) scheduling flexibility.
Figure 1 reports the amount of unpaid and paid parental leave available to two-parent families with a new child. The totals here reflect the combined legal entitlements for both mothers and fathers, under the assumption that both parents take all available leave. ("Paretnal Leave Polciies in 21 Countries - Acessing Generosity and Gender Equality" )
Australia does not currently (and even if you include the policies to be implemented next year) very well. I think Australia needs to benchmark all of our family policies against other countries in the developed world and improve our policies on supporting families.
If you are looking for a vet practice that is professional, listens and cares about your animals then this is the one for you.
My experience .... We had the misfortune late last year of one of our cats being diagnosed with cancer ... so I have spent a far bit of time at the vets and have got to know all of the satff well. They have been excellent throughout the whole process. At the time of diagnosis I was also 9 months preganant (and ready to give birth at any minute). They were understanding of our unique situation and were also very forthcoming with suggestions on how we could balance my condition with that of our cat. They were very caring and helpful .. not just to our cat but also to us in getting through the grief process while getting action for the cat as soon as possible. They also provided us with lots of information and allowed us to contact them when we needed to get clarification or understand more ... they were also very open to listening to what we wanted to do both in the general sense and in each immediate step of the care process. If required that also have access to specialist (our cat required consultation from a veterinary oncologist). I think they are the best.
Please let me put it here just in case people think I am alittle biased because we have had a positive result with his treatment.. I know they are vets and not magicians or miracle workers. My cat has a terminal condition and while things are looking good now but he could at any day slip. The important thing is that the team at Annandale Animal Hospital with us have worked together to provide the best care for my cat both in the professional sense but also in regards to care and quality of life. I always hope for the best but I know that this is not a guarantee ...
I think the thing that comes across with all of the staff whether that be the bright and friendly receptionist, the caring and funny vet nurses or the professional and compassionate vets is that they all love animals.
However don't forget they are other services than just medical veterinary including
cat boarding - the cat boarding is great. Cats love the "Lion's Den" and they do also cater for special needs cats. I have used the cat boarding a few times and it is great.
dog boarding drop off and pick up - they have a relationship with a boarding keenel and provide the facility for you to drop off and pick up your dog from the vets.
puppy pre-school
cat adoption
In short ... if you are in Sydney's Inner West and have a pet I recommend that if you want them to get the best of care then visit Annandale Animal Hospital. They are magnificent. http://www.annandalevets.com.au/
I was reading on my local council's website about this program and became very interested and thought it worthwhile to share ... What is Little Green Steps and how does this work?
Little Green Steps is a program originally developed by Wyong and Gosford Councils in 2004 to provide support to early childhood educators wishing to communicate sustainability messages to very young children (aged under 5 years)
Canterbury, Hurstville, Leichhardt, Waverley and Woollarah Councils partnered to successfully gain funding from the NSW Government's Environmental Trust to run this project in Sydney.
Little Green Steps takes a practical approach to environmental education for the under fives. Children learn through hands-on education, observation and participation. Families are involved through hands on implementation, meetings, sustainability workshops, newsletters and displays. The project also involves conducting environmental audits, developing environmental management plans for the centres, professional development for early childhood professionals and the creation of environmental education resource kits - including environmentally themed children’s books, large laminated photos, educational activities etc.
Desired outcomes of Little Green Steps include:
adoption of positive sustainable habits and views by the children
behavioural change amongst centre staff and parents
a reduction in energy, water, waste, toxins and resource consumption
appreciation of the value of nature
networks to share resources, experiences and knowledge
increased sustainability in children’s centres’ operations and services
quality sustainability education, targeted to young children.
A great idea for teaching our children and our families on ways we can live more sustainably!! Is your child/ren attending a centre implementing this program and do you have first hand experience? I would love to hear some stories.
From 1st January 2010, the National Employment Standards (NES) replace the non-pay rate provisions of the Australian Fair Pay and Conditions Standard (the Standard). Under the NES, eligible employees have a right to request flexible working arrangements for employers to assist them to care for their child.
What is a flexible work arrangement? From 1 January 2010, an employee who is a parent, or has responsibility for the care of a child, may request a change in their working arrangements.
changes in hours of work (eg. reduction in hours worked, changes to start / finish times),
changes in patterns of work (eg. working ‘split-shifts’ or job sharing arrangements)
changes in location of work (eg. working from home or another location).
Who is eligible? An employee who is a parent, or has responsibility for the care of a child, may request a change in their working arrangements.
In order to be eligible to make this request an employee:
must have completed at least 12 months continuous service with their employer immediately before making the request or:
be a casual employee that:
has been employed by the employer on a regular and systematic basis for a sequence of periods of employment of at least 12 months, immediately before making the request, and
has a reasonable expectation of continuing employment by the employer on a regular and systematic basis, and
must have care of a child who is either:
under school age (ie. the age at which the child is required by the applicable State or Territory law to start attending school)
under 18 and has a disability.
How do you make a request? The request must be made in writing and set out details of the change sought and reasons for the change.
What are the employers options? The NES doesn’t require an employer to agree to a request for flexible working arrangements, but refusal must be made on reasonable business grounds, as outlined below.
Employers and employees are encouraged to discuss their working arrangements and, where possible, reach an agreement that balances both their needs.
Factors that may be relevant in defining reasonable business grounds could include:
the effect on the workplace and the employer‘s business of approving the request, including the financial impact of doing so and the impact on efficiency, productivity and customer service
the inability to organise work among existing staff
the inability to recruit a replacement employee
the practicality or otherwise of the arrangements that may need to be put in place to accommodate the employee‘s request.
If you need grater flexibility in your work arrangement, it is worthwhile checking out what your rights are on the Fair Work website and talking to your employer ...
Also check out the Fair Work Ombudsman website for best practice guides on Work & Family. A great guide for both employers and employees.
Blog about the musing of an entrepreneur mum (mumpreneur). Follow in the adventure, trials and tribulations as I try to balance business, a husband and 2 children. I hope to also cover issues that are important to me including
* Work at Home Mums - Employment and Mumpreneurs * Study at Home Mums * Campaigns and Issues affecting at Home Mums including Paid Maternity and Paid Parental leave * Activities for Kids * Childcare * Bilingualism & Multilingualism * Autism Awareness Terms of Use
Having a nutritious diet and being physically active are essential for healthy growth and development. Early childhood is the ideal time for children to develop and practice healthy eating and physical activity habits and to learn a range of movement skills that will help them more confidently take part in physical activity throughout their lives.
