Frank Gibson park in Fremantle is a little gem located on Forrest Street and Wilkinson Street, hidden behind the netball courts. There’s a great range of play equipment for children to play on, providing them with adventure and a chance to explore. It’s perfect for play dates and a great spot to keep the children busy if you need to exercise your dog on the adjoining park (please be aware that if you are taking your dog, the playground is a dog-free zone). There’s an undercover seating area with BBQ facilities, making it a great spot to bunker down for lunch or even host a party.
There’s a great tunnel slide that gets the kids climbing up the rock face before sliding down to do it again. The climbing frame is great for them to practice their ninja skills, and the spider web is irresistible for any little monkey. Don’t forget a bucket and spade for them to keep busy in the sand.
The nature play area has some shade and offers the kids an opportunity to use their balance, problem solving skills and creative thinking. Finished off with three swings, there’s enough to keep them entertained whilst you enjoy your coffee.
The playground was renewed in 2020, keeping some of its original features. The students at East Fremantle Primary School had a big say in what was included in the design of the new play space and we think it looks fantastic – we hope you do too!
Essential Info
Fenced? No Toilets? No Picnic tables? Yes BBQs? Yes Nearest coffee 9 Seeds, 121 Marmion Street, Fremantle
Location: Corner of Forrest Street & Wilkinson Street, Fremantle
Food Truck events are a great, affordable dining out option. Food is such a vibrant part of our culture and casual dining is a relaxed, child-friendly way of enjoyingtime with family and friends. Here’s a list of Local Food Truck Events over the summer.
Dinner at Dusk Wireless Hill, Ardross
When: 5.30 – 8.30pm, January 2nd, February 6th, March 6th, April 3rd, May 8th
Enjoy a night under the stars with the best range of food trucks, live music and an ambience you will love. Bring a blanket and set up with family and friends on the grass, or take up a seat at one of our complimentary tables and chairs.
Dinner at Dusk Point Walter, Bicton
When: 5.30 – 8.30pm, December 27th, January 10th & 24th, February 14th & 28th, March 14th & 28th, April 11th & 25th, May 16th & 30th
All of the same delights as Dinner at Dusk in Wireless Hill, but with the added bonus of the beautiful views of the river. Enjoy a night off from cooking!
The Freo Food Truck Collective are a group of local food truck operators aiming to bring the People of Perth the most unique food truck market! Under the Bridge has been running for 4 years and has built a huge reputation for bringing the best flavours to the streets!
South Beach Sunset Markets, South Fremantle
When: Every Saturday, 5.00 – 9.00pm through summer
Enjoy amazing food, live entertainment and a pop up bar, on the beach while watching the sun set over the beautiful Indian Ocean! Situated on the grassed area at South Beach, you will also find an animal farm and face painting for the little ones, you are sure to enjoy a family friendly night out.
South Perth StrEats, South Perth
When: Every week, Thursday – Sunday, 5.00 – 8.30pm, until 28th March 2021
Where: Sir James Mitchell Park, Coode Street, South Perth
South Perth StrEATS in conjunction with the City of South Perth bring some of Perth’s best Food Trucks to the South Perth Foreshore on Sir James Mitchell Park November through to March. head down to East Street jetty and watch the spectacular sunset overlooking the Swan river while selecting your dinner from a choice of five food trucks. A family-friendly event, it’s best to leave the alcohol behind for this one. Rudimentary tables and chairs are available. Get there early to secure a spot, otherwise make sure to take a blanket or picnic chairs to relax and unwind.
For even more local, family-friendly events, make sure to check out our What’s On calendar.
If the weather’s anything to go by, summer is well and truly here!
To keep the summer holiday vibes going, we’ve teamed up with Hawaiian’s Melville to bring you our Colour-In Summer Competition. We want you to have fun, get creative and you could be in with a chance to win a fantastic prize!
There are two age categories: 3-5 year olds and 6-10 year olds. One winner will be selected from each age category. Thanks to Hawaiian’s Melville and Melville Newspower, we’ve got an art & craft hamper to give away to each of the lucky winners. So, what are you waiting for? Time to get colouring!
Melville Mums Colouring-In Competition – Terms & Conditions
To be eligible, entrants must be aged 3-10 years and live within the Perth metro.
Melville Mums and Hawaiian’s employees/contractors and their spouse/partner, parents, children and grandchildren are ineligible to enter.
One entry per child.
The promotion commences at 10am on 5 January 2021 and concludes at 3pm on 30 January 2021.
The promotion is a Game of Skill, and the winners will be selected on 31 January 2021. There will be two (2) winners. The judge will be a representative of Melville Mums, and the winners will be chosen at the judge’s discretion.
Prize details: 2 x art & craft hampers provided by Melville Newspower (valued at $50 each).
The winners will be notified via the email/contact number provided on the submission. Prizes to be picked up from Hawaiian’s Melville.
By entering the competition, the parent/guardian gives Melville Mums permission to use the colouring-in sheet and the entrant’s first name for promotional purposes.
Entrants agree to receive email communications from Melville Mums and Hawaiian’s Melville in accordance with our Privacy Policy.
Prizes are not transferable and not redeemable for cash. If a winner does not accept the prize by the time stipulated, Melville Mums reserves the right to select another winner.
This promotion is in no way sponsored, endorsed, administered by or associated with Facebook and/or Instagram.
The Promoter is Melville Mums (ABN 78 247 134 183).
Seeing in the new year is a time for celebration, it’s a time to remember the year that was and to think of the year to come. It is a time to spend with family and friends and to offer new year wishes. After the good, the bad and the ugly of 2020, let’s raise a glass and hope for a better 2021.
Here’s some suggestions on local events and stay at home ideas for celebrating New Years Eve with kids.
Celebrate with family and friends this New Years Eve and see in 2021 at The Quarter Acre Hotel. There will be an Oyster & Champagne Bar, DJs from 4.30pm, Prizes, Drink Specials and a great atmosphere. There will also be an early 8pm countdown for the kids, as well as the midnight celebrations. If you’ve not been to the Quarter Acre before, they have a great menu selection, a bit of everything for the kids to choose from and there’s a sandpit for the little ones to enjoy.
You’re invited to the family New Year’s Eve Party at The Quarie. Bring your family and friends and join in from 3pm for an afternoon of fun. There’ll be something for everyone, live music, a magician and face painting.
Enjoy this free family friendly New Years eve party. There’s plenty of fun to be had with an inflatable obstacle course, face painting fairies, farm animals, kid friendly disco and an 8 pm countdown. Head down from 4pm to celebrate with your loved ones this year.
South Perth StrEats, South Perth
Source: South Perth StrEats
Where: Sir James Mitchell Park, Coode Street, South Perth
Say goodbye to 2020 in South Perth! Head down to Sir James Mitchell Park for a family friendly event from 5-10pm. There will be live music and a great selection of food trucks. There will be tables and chairs but feel free to take a picnic blanket. There is a BYO license for the evening but please remember to drink responsibly. Spend the evening with family and friends, relaxing by the river with views of the gorgeous city skyline.
The Zoo’s NYE celebrations will look a little different this year. They will be open until 7:30pm with all of the animal friends staying up late to enjoy the last evening of the year with you. There will be roving entertainment throughout the Zoo including bubble blowers, stilt walkers and a musician to serenade you on the Main Lawn. Enjoy dinner from the selection of food trucks or take a picnic with responsible BYO drinks.
Perth Zoo members are admitted free with a valid membership card. General admission tickets apply for non-members.
Celebrate New Year’s Eve with a fun filled afternoon with family and friends at The Vale. Relax in the beer garden from 2-4.30pm with live music, drink specials, free party snacks and face painting for the kids.
DIY New Years Eve Celebrations
Of course you can create your own fun! Here’s some ideas for a DIY NYE celebration.
Why not head to the Cappuccino strip in Fremantle, enjoy a casual dinner taking in the local atmosphere, treat yourselves with an ice cream, stroll down to the Esplanade for the kids to have a play and then ride on the Ferris wheel.
If you’re home in time you can watch the Early Night Show, Kid friendly Sydney fireworks on ABC from 8.30pm with fireworks at 9pm.
You could have your own dance party with some glow sticks, snap them as the sun goes down for the kids to have a light show disco in the lounge!
Create a signature mocktail together for all to enjoy.
You could have a board game competition.
Make your own party hat competition.
Create a time capsule.
Have a family pyjama party.
Create a Treasure Hunt.
Family Olympics – recreate a kid friendly Olympics in your home.
Depending on the age of your kids, you could all talk about your favourite parts of the year, try to put a positive light on 2020. Look through photos of the year too.
Talk about what you are looking forward to in the new year; perhaps plan some things you would like to do together as a family.
However you choose to spend New Years Eve, we hope it’s filled with lots of love and laughter. From all at Melville Mums, we wish you a happy and healthy 2021.
For more local events, head to our What’s On page.
Spending the last two decades working with young children in a teaching and family daycare capacity, Stephanie Bull aka The Baby Sleep Teacher has learned how to effectively manage a baby or toddler’s day. Her secrets lie in managing a child’s level of stimulation and having adequate rest. Apply the below practical and easy to tips to survive Christmas Day!
Tip 1 – Less is more
This tip is all about managing the amount of stimulation your little one is exposed to. From a baby or toddler’s preceptive there is a lot to mentally process on Christmas Day. Opening gifts, realising Santa has come, learning about their new toys, family gathers, holiday feasts and maybe even a Christmas Day swim! When faced with too much activity, children become overstimulated and quickly become grumpy and overtired. When a child becomes overtired, they have a very difficult time settling to sleep.
When planning for Christmas Day, less is more! Minimising your little one’s level of stimulation will help you get through a very long Christmas Day! Prioritise your day into “must do” versus “potentially not practical” activities. The less you do, the more you are going to get out of your children.
Tip 2 – Late nights equal early mornings
With the excitement of Santa’s arrival and opening presents who could blame a child for waking early on Christmas morning. To cope with an early morning, have an early bedtime on Christmas Eve! When a child stays up too late, they become overtired and a hormone called cortisol is released into their brain. With cortisol swirling around a child’s body, falling asleep and staying asleep become very difficult and ultimately cause a child to wake early and feeling overtired in the morning. Not a great combination for a little one when faced with a long Christmas Day ahead.
Tip 3 – Spot tired signs
Knowing your child’s early tired signs make nap and sleep time much more manageable. Both babies and toddlers have an easier time falling asleep when they are not overtired so act quickly when you spot an early tired sign. Glazed eyes and staring intently at an object are the most common early tired signs for a baby between the ages of 4-12 months. For a toddler between the ages of 1-3 years of age, common tired signs are a long stare and a quiet moment.
Tip 4 – ChristMUST naps
Napping on Christmas Day is a MUST! If your Christmas Day plans find you travelling to another home, then plan for your little one to nap in a pram, car seat, swing or even on Mum. The most important thing is that your child naps! Planning ahead and building in nap time will ensure you have a happy content child on Christmas versus an overtired, grumpy and screaming one.
Tip 5 – Build in down time
It is very normal for a child to become overwhelmed with feelings of excitement, joy, frustration and even sadness on Christmas Day! An effective way for a child to cope with feeling overwhelmed is to have some down time. Down time in a quiet place, away from all the noise and stimulation that is Christmas Day, allows a child to deal with their big emotions and the sensory overload they are experiencing. After recharging, a child can re-join the festivities. Some children may need to escape to a quiet place several times to cope with the stimulation and excitement of the day.
Tip 6 – The Grinch…Be prepared
The Scout’s motto “Be Prepared” is one slogan to consider when organising for Christmas. With most shops closed on Christmas, it is important to have anything you’ll need for your kids. No one wants to leave the festivities to fetch nappies and wipes so in the days leading up to Christmas ensure you are well stocked. I know in most families Mum or Dad would resemble The Grinch if they were faced with having to go find an open shop.
Tip 7 – Murphy’s Law and presents
When it comes to Christmas morning, overindulging young children with too many gifts can quickly lead to disaster. From a baby or toddler’s preceptive, every gift they receive is another new toy they must mentally process. Young children easily become overwhelmed and overstimulated and when in this state, become tired and grumpy very easily. The difference between a happy child versus an overstimulated one may only be a few gifts.
After buying the best possible gifts for your child, they will prefer to play with the wrapping and the box, it is just Murphy’s law! The wrapping and the box are always less stimulating than the gift itself and it is no wonder children gravitate to them after a long Christmas Day.
Tip 8 – The Christmas feast
Introducing a plate full of new foods on Christmas Day would be a lot for a baby or toddler to mentally process and even digest. New foods also pose the risk of a child being allergic to something on their plate. To cope, keep your child’s Christmas Day meals simple and familiar for them. When planning include dishes, your child has ate before and will happily eat again. Christmas Day is stimulating enough without having to sit down to a whole new plate of food.
Tip 9 – Relax and have FUN!
Staying calm and being relaxed about how Christmas Day unfolds will help you and your child cope with the day. This is important because young children pick up on your emotions. When you are relaxed your baby or toddler will be too. The same goes if you are feeling anxious.
A child’s ability to pick up on their parents emotions often cause problems at bedtime. When babies and toddlers sense their parents are feeling anxious about them falling asleep, they began to feel anxious too. If this resonates with you, take deep breaths, and put your little one down when you are feeling calm and confident about the situation. It is always better to place your child in their bed in a calm and confident manner then to hesitate halfway through.
Tip 10 – Cuddle Magic
Who does not love a cuddle from a sleeping baby? One of the last memories I have of my late mother is of her rocking my girlfriends baby girl to sleep. My Mum was fighting cancer and cuddling a baby made that evening easier to deal with the pain. After a year where we have all suffered from a global pandemic, a cuddle from a sleeping baby maybe the best gift you could give a family member this Christmas.
The last nap of the day is generally a catnap for a baby. This is the perfect nap for a cuddle! The following day return to your baby’s normal method of falling asleep to ensure they do not become dependent on being cuddled or rocked to sleep.
Tip 11 – Sleep training on Christmas Day…No!
Guaranteed when you have a baby, and meeting family and friends someone is going to give you baby sleep advice. Starting sleep training on Christmas Day just adds unnecessary stress to a parent and their baby after a long day. When Christmas is over, and everyone is rested then is the time to teach new sleep habits. When working with clients I always say, “a sleep problem is not a problem, unless it is a problem for you!”
Tip 12 – When ALL goes pear shaped
After two decades of working with children and caring for multiple babies and toddlers in my home, I have realised that after a long stimulating day sometimes things will just goes pear shaped! Children do get tired and who can blame them after an eventful day. When things start to go pear shaped, the key to managing the situation is to move quickly either to sleep time or down time. Staying calm and managing the calm before the storm will help you and your little ones out.
All wrapped up in a blog
The ideal Christmas Day routine should mirror any other day for a baby or toddler. The practicality of this is not always possible. Going with the flow with a young child’s Christmas Day routine and adapting to the hustle and bustle of the holiday will build resilience for your child and allow you and your family to enjoy the day!
Stephanie is originally from Canada and has been living in Perth for 8 years. Prior to living in Australia, she taught at a private international school in Dubai. Stephanie and her family are often found in the East Fremantle area where her husband operates his coaching business Tennis Factory. For more baby sleep information, you can follow The Baby Sleep Teacher on Instagram and Facebook.
Whether you’re Spring cleaning, need to make space in your toy-box for upcoming Birthdays or Santa, or you would like to know where to take any unwanted gifts once Christmas has passed, here’s a list of local op shops that would appreciate your deliveries.
Willagee, Australian Red Cross: Shop 1B/62 Archibald St, Willagee
Myaree, Salvos Store: 1 Hayden Ct, Myaree
Myaree, Save the Children: 9/67 McCoy St, Myaree
O’Connor, Portcare: 372 South St, O’Connor
O’Connor, Salvos Store: 10/378 South St, O’Connor
O’Connor, Save the Children: 362 South St, O’Connor
Willetton, Good Sammy: 4/147 High Rd, Willetton
Please remember to be respectful of what you take, as they’re not a dumping ground for junk. If they’re closed, please go back when they’re open, as it is illegal to leave goods outside the store, so it would be best to check what their opening hours are and some are even open on Sundays and late nights on Thursdays. If it’s a bulky item you’re looking to donate, most charity shops do offer a pick up service.
Different charities and op shops take different things, so please think about what you donate where. It’s worth checking the main charity website to find out what can’t be donated if you are unsure.
Lastly, please make sure the items are clean – the staff don’t need to be cleaning off dried on porridge from a cuddly teddy bear!
Here at Melville Mums, we’re excited to bring you our very first community survey!
With 1200+ members in our Facebook group and 3000+ social media followers, we want to learn more about what our mums want and make Melville Mums even better as we go into 2021.
To say thank you, we’re giving away 2 x $100 Prezzee digital gift cards, which can be exchanged for 130+ leading retailer gift cards such as Woolworths, Myer, endota spa, M.A.C., Freedom, and more! If you would like to be entered into the draw, please provide your email address at the end of the survey. The survey will remain open until 5pm AWST Thursday 17th December.
Melville Mums Prezzee Gift Card Draw – Terms & Conditions
To be eligible, entrants must be 18+ and live within 10km of the City of Melville.
The promotion commences on 4 December 2020 and concludes at 5pm AWST on 17 December 2020.
The promotion is a Game of Chance, and the winners will be selected at random on 18 December 2020. There will be two (2) winners.
Prize details: 2 x $100 digital Prezzee gift cards.
The winner will be notified via the email provided.
Prizes are not transferable and not redeemable for cash. If the winner does not accept the prize by the time stipulated, Melville Mums reserves the right to select another winner.
This promotion is in no way sponsored, endorsed, administered by or associated with Facebook and/or Instagram.
For more than 36 years, Zonta House Refuge Association Inc. have supported women who have experienced, or are at risk of experiencing family and domestic violence. Zonta House provides refuge and transitional accommodation, holistic support services and education to women over the age of 18.
From 1st – 12th December Zonta House are collecting Christmas food hamper items and gifts to spread Christmas Cheer to women in need – the hampers and gifts will be delivered to women in their care. All presents must be unwrapped due to security reasons. All items to be delivered to the Willetton Head Office by 15th December; please contact Zonta House directly for the address.
The requested items for the hampers are below:
Meal Kits
Dried Fruit
Tinned Fruit
Tinned Veggies
Pancake Mix
UHT Milk
Jelly
Jam
Savoury Biscuits
Vegemite
Cordial & Fruit Juice
Paper Plates & Napkins
Christmas Pudding
Potato Chips
Christmas Cake
Tinned Cream & Custard
Confectionary
Rice Crackers
Cleaning Products
The requested items for gifts are below:
Handbag
Wallet
Socks & Slippers
Thongs
2021 Diary & Journal
Alarm Clock
Nail & Hair Care
Perfume
Beauty Gift Sets
Watch
Sunglasses
Beach Items
Stationary & Pencil Case
Craft Kids
Earphones
Reading Lights
Photo Frames
Plant Pots
Gift Vouchers
2019 was their most successful year with a huge number of women and children supported through the appeal. Let’s help make 2020 just as successful. Please contact Zonta House if you have any queries.
Early rising has got to be one of the most common sleep issues that parents face, particularly in the summer months. Our little people can all of a sudden decide it’s time to wake earlier than before, unfortunately for us!
Why does it happen? It’s all to do with the circadian rhythm of our 24-hour clock, which makes us alert in the day and sleepy at night. It’s our sleep-wake system. The main external factor for this is light. As the days get longer, it’s lighter earlier and stays lighter later. Babies and toddlers can’t tell the time, hence relying only on their body clock which is affected by the light.
There are also some other factors that can come into play. Ania Rae-Frac, certified baby sleep specialist and owner of We Love Sleeping Babies, tells us about some of the causes and what can be done about it, but first she helps us better understand sleep.
Understanding sleep
There are two types of sleep.
Non rapid eye movement (NREM) which is often called ‘deep sleep’.
Rapid eye movement (REM) sleep ‘light sleep’.
We cycle between these two stages all night and babies can spend up to 50% of their sleep in REM stage, compared to only about 20% for adults.
NREM ‘deep sleep’ is essential for growth and repair. Children have the longest amount of deep sleep in the first half of the night.
In the second half of the night, they are in a lighter sleep phase. This is why they can wake more often in the early hours. Especially if they are reliant on a sleep prop or hear a loud noise!
At 5am they have a quick burst of ‘deep sleep’ again. This is why it’s important to get on top of early rising.
Other factors and some solutions!
1. Light
Get block out blinds/shades. A Gro-blind or aluminium foil onto glass is cheap and easy to do. Even that ray of sunlight creeping in around the edge of a curtain can be disruptive. Block it out!
2. Noise
Birds in spring/summer can be super loud – we have all heard them! Cars and dogs are another bother. A sound machine with white noise (not music, birds etc.) can be your best friend. It must be played all night. You can easily stop using when you don’t need it and can used at any age!
3. Temperature
Cold?? Another big factor is when the weather changes. Children’s temperatures peak at 10pm but drop to their lowest at 5am. Making sure they are warm enough without overheating them. An extra blanket before bed or sleeping bag that’s fitted correctly is a safe option.
4. Appropriate awake times
Over or undertired? Overtired children wake more often. If you think putting them to bed later gets you a sleep in, that will back fire! Try an earlier bed time, not later. Also, be realistic about your expectations. If a 12 month old child has fallen asleep at 5.30pm, expect that they may wake at 5.30am which is 12 hrs sleep. That’s because their total amount of sleep in 24 hours is roughly 14hrs and they should still be on two naps a day at this age.
5.Habitual waking
It can take 3 days to form a new habit and even more to break one! Be patient. If they wake early, PAUSE. Give them time to realise their body needs more rest. Using a timer can help, as even 5 or 10 minutes can feel like a long time! Ask yourself How am I reacting when they wake early? Running straight to them or bringing them into bed, feeding straight away etc. Give them a chance, and if they are still determined that it’s morning, that’s ok too. Keep everything quiet and boring until it’s time to get up.
There are many factors involving sleep issues. Finding the part of the puzzle that’s missing can be overwhelming, but that’s where a sleep consultant can help. Taking that first step is usually the hardest decision, but you have nothing to lose and so much to gain, aka SLEEP! Once you find the piece of the puzzle and have a solid plan, the changes to family life can be magical!
The pirate ship playground in the Goolugatup Heathcote Reserve in Applecross is consistently rated as one of the best play spaces in the local area, and it’s easy to see why.
Set in the grounds of the Heathcote Cultural Precinct, the massive pirate ship is the major drawcard, and there’s plenty to explore with walkways, climbing walls, slides, monkey bars and fireman’s pole. There are also three sets of swings plus a section with musical instruments, steering wheel and periscope in keeping with the playground’s nautical theme.
It can be tricky to keep an eye on younger children, especially as there are several ways to get on (and off) the pirate ship structure plus some sections are quite high with no barrier. Thankfully, there’s an area dedicated to babies and toddlers with small slides, digger, low-lying structures and lots of sand!
For families wanting to set up for a picnic or party, there are plenty of BBQs and picnic tables, the toilets and change facilities are nearby, plus there’s a kiosk if you want to grab a coffee or bite to eat. If the kiosk’s closed, you can also get takeaway food and drinks from the BWG restaurant around the corner.
With stunning views out to the Swan River and the city, the pirate ship playground at Goolugatup Heathcote is a must-visit and you could easily spend a few hours there.
Essential Info
Fenced? No Toilets? Yes Picnic tables? Yes BBQs? Yes Nearest coffee Kiosk or BWG Restaurant
