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12 Baby & Toddler Sleep Tips to Survive Christmas

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December 23, 2020

12 Baby & Toddler Sleep Tips to Survive Christmas

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.

Article originally posted on The Baby Sleep Teacher website.

5 Tips for Dealing with Early Rising

Parenting

Guest Post

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November 5, 2020

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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.

Essential Info

Fenced? No
Toilets? Yes
Picnic tables? Yes
BBQs? Yes
Nearest coffee Kiosk or BWG Restaurant

Location: 58 Duncraig Road, Applecross

For more local playgrounds, check out our Parks & Playgrounds section on the blog.

5 Common Vision Problems for Children

Health & Fitness

Guest Post

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August 19, 2020

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Incredibly, one in five Australian children suffer from an undetected vision problem. However, it can be difficult for parents to tell if their child is having problems with their vision, especially if they are young. Making it even more challenging is that children who experience vision problems often assume that how they see is normal!

While school screenings can be helpful in picking up issues with distance eyesight, they often do not detect other vision problems that can affect your child’s ability to learn both in and out of the classroom.

Regular comprehensive eye examinations help ensure your child’s vision is developing as normal and any underlying vision or eye health conditions can be picked up early.

COMMON VISION PROBLEMS FOR CHILDREN

REFRACTIVE ERROR

Refractive errors are the result of the shape of the eye causing the light to inaccurately focus in the eye, causing blurred vision. The three most common causes of blurred vision for children are Myopia or short-sightedness (blurred distance vision), Hyperopia or long-sightedness (blurred near vision), and astigmatism (can cause blurred vision at distance and near). Myopia is the most common refractive error in children and is on the rise due to our changing lifestyle – less outside play and more time indoors on digital devices.

EYE MOVEMENT PROBLEMS

Eye movements help us keep place and scan effectively when reading. If eye movements are slow or clumsy, or the eyes jump or “stutter”, it can make it more difficult to accurately read and process visual information. Eye movements are also important for sport as they help us find objects in space and judge their position.

EYE TEAMING PROBLEMS

Our eyes should work as a team in order to perform as one, however, some children do not adequately develop this skill in their early years. Children with poor eye teaming skills are only able to aim their eyes together correctly for short periods of time. Over time, words may become blurred or there may be double vision.

FOCUSING PROBLEMS

Eye focusing (also known as accommodation) skills allows us to see clearly at different distances. It also gives us the ability to quickly shift focus when looking from near to far, for example, when a child is looking from their desk to the board at school. Our eyes should automatically focus and be able to maintain this focus while doing close vision tasks. When children have focusing issues, their eyes fatigue very quickly and they are unable to sustain the effort required to keep focus and control over their eyes. This usually results in blurred vision when doing prolonged close work, headaches, and eye strain.

VISUAL PERCEPTION PROBLEMS

Visual perception skills refer to the skills developed from experience – relating size, shape, texture, location and distances. Visual perception is the ability of the brain to interpret and understand what is being seen by the eyes. A child is likely to have visual perception problems if they reverse letters and numbers, have difficulty recognising familiar words, having problems recognising their own errors and have poor planning and spacing on paper.

KEEP AN EYE OUT FOR…

If your child routinely exhibits any of these signs, a comprehensive behavioural vision examination is recommended.

APPEARANCE OF EYES

One eye turns in or out
Red, burning, itchy or watery eyes
Frequent blinking or rubbing of the eyes
Squinting

WHEN WRITING

Writes uphill or downhill, poorly spaced writing, or unable to stay on ruled lines
Repeats letters within words, reverses letters or omits letters, numbers or phrases
Squints, closes, or covers one eye
Slow, untidy, or frequent mistakes when writing or copying

WHEN READING

Holds book very close when reading
Loses place often or uses a finger to keep place
Leaving out words frequently, confuses similar words or fails to recognise the same word in a text
Re-reads or skips lines
Complains of blurred vision or double vision
Complains words move or “swim” on the page
Whispers to self while reading
Short attention span or quickly loses interest while reading

WHAT HAPPENS IN AN EYE EXAMINATION?

During a behavioural vision examination, the optometrist will measure your child’s sharpness of sight and the prescription if required, to provide clear and comfortable vision (acuity and refraction).

They will also assess the ability of the eyes to work together as a team (eye teaming), the accuracy and ease of eye movements and the effort required to maintain focus and control over the eyes (eye movement and accommodation), and your child’s ability to distinguish between colours.

A full assessment of the health of their eyes will also be conducted, including checking for any abnormalities, signs of eye diseases and other health conditions.

WHEN SHOULD MY CHILD HAVE AN EYE EXAMINATION?

At age 3, an examination is recommended to ensure there are no signs of a lazy or turned eye or high degrees of long or shortsightedness. Before your child commences primary school, a comprehensive behavioural assessment is recommended to check for any vision problems that may interfere in learning.

Nicole is a paediatric optometrist at Bullcreek Optometrist in Leeming. She loves being able to help people resolve their vision and learning concerns; taking the time to listen to her patient’s concerns and working towards the best solution for each individual. Children’s vision, vision therapy, and myopia management are the areas Nicole is particularly passionate about.

Nicole studied Optometry in Glasgow and has since completed an Advanced Certificate in Children’s Vision and additional studies in Vision Therapy. Nicole spent time consulting in Scotland and England before making the move to Australia in 2006. When she’s not busy looking at eyes, Nicole enjoys spending time in the great outdoors with her kids.

Create Your Own Plate Artwork & Raise Funds for Kids Are Kids!

Guest Post

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August 17, 2020

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create your own plate artwork - Kids Are Kids!

Kids Are Kids! is running a Pictureproducts melamine plate fundraising activity and we’d love you to join in. Your child’s unique artwork is transformed into durable, high-quality melamine plate that will last a lifetime.

Children love eating off their individually designed plate, and as the years go by and they grow up and have their own families, their plate will bring back memories of those happy childhood years.

Your child can use photos, markers, paints and handprints to create their artworks and you can have as many copies made as you’d like, so it’s a fantastic gift idea for grandparents and other family members –and just in time for Christmas. What will your child draw?

How to get involved

Collect your A3 template/s from the Kids Are Kids! office at 26 Parry Avenue, Bateman (unfortunately we cannot post as folding will affect the production).
Your children can create their artwork at home in their own time with pens, paint, stickers, fingers, feet and photos—the brighter the better! Remember that up to 2cm will be trimmed from the inside of the drawing area at time of production.
Pay for your order online at https://pay.pictureproducts.com.au/KIDBAD/83757/
Please note a $1 payment processing surcharge will be applied per transaction. You can purchase as many plates from the one drawing as you like. Please indicate this on the top right of the template.
Please deliver your children’s drawings to the Centre when complete and ensure your order is paid for online prior to returning. Don’t forget to add your child’s name to the top right of the template.

** Drawings and payments are due by Monday 7 September 2020. Please deliver back to the Centre **

5. Once your order is completed at the Pictureproducts factory, it will be posted back to Kids Are Kids! We will let you know when your order is ready for collection. Please note that the estimated date of delivery is 14 December, 2020 (this is subject to change).

The plates are priced at $28 each and $6 of every plate ordered will go directly to helping the children of Kids Are Kids! As a not for profit organisation we rely heavily on the financial support of businesses and individuals to ensure our services are accessible to all children and their families.

If you have any questions please call Kids Are Kids! on 9313 6566.

Kids Are Kids! is a dedicated not-for-profit organisation transforming children’s lives through individual and group therapy and family support. The team at Kids Are Kids! provides Speech Pathology, Physiotherapy, Occupational Therapy and Clinical Psychology to children aged 0-13 years with disabilities or learning delays. Check out the Kids Are Kids! directory listing for more info.

Getting to Know Taryn Watson – FitRight

Melville Mums

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July 21, 2020

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Today’s Q & A session is with Taryn Watson, Women’s Health & Continence Physiotherapist and founder of FitRight. Taryn shares what inspired her to start her own business and how becoming a mum has changed her perspective on the challenges of keeping fit and active.

Hi, Taryn. Please tell us a bit about yourself

I am a physiotherapist with a masters degree in Women’s Health & Continence Physiotherapy – in other words, a pelvic floor guru! I have a particular interest in pre and postnatal health & exercise.

I have two children, a nearly four year old son and an 8 month old daughter, and although I worked as a Women’s Health Physiotherapist for nearly a decade before having children, motherhood has given me a whole new perspective on the challenges of keeping fit and active at this time of life!

I’ve lived in the Melville area nearly my whole life! I grew up in Bull Creek and, after a stint in London, I came back home and got married and we settled in Mount Pleasant. I have also always worked in this area, seeing patients at SJOG Murdoch and running exercise classes in Ardross.

What inspired you to start FitRight?

Right from the days of being a new graduate physiotherapist, I knew that I wanted to work with women during and after pregnancy. I love being part of the motherhood journey, it’s such a privilege and so rewarding!

I became a clinical pilates instructor in 2008 and started running regular studio and aqua exercise classes. I quickly realised the high demand for services like this, run by physiotherapists with extra training in pre and postnatal exercise who run small group classes and include education throughout.

My classes were always fully booked with a waitlist and there weren’t many other classes in Perth to refer on to. So after living in London for a while, I got back and started my dream – to make services like this more widespread and easily accessible. I initially had four other physiotherapists on board and now have over 30 contracted to run FitRight exercise and education classes!

What makes FitRight different to other physio/pilates classes?

I have worked hard to make sure that FitRight remains the gold standard in exercise classes for women. The physiotherapist instructors have the same women in their class each week for a six week course and not only do they know them by name, they know their medical background, birth history, pelvic floor strength etc. – and they tailor the classes specifically to suit them.

We call the things that make us unique ‘The FitRight Difference’:

Led by experienced physiotherapists

Pelvic floor and abdominal muscle assessment with a physiotherapist is a pre-requisite

All classes are low impact, and have many different levels of exercise options
Rebatable on private health
Community volunteers on hand at Baby&Me and Toddler&Me classes to care for your child/children.

How you have adapted in light of the COVID-19 situation?

COVID-19 has been a crazy time! Back in March, in the space of two weeks, we had to cancel all of our classes and create a new branch of the business called FitRight Online.

FitRight Online classes are run for pregnant women, new Mums and women of any age, in the same way as our Studio and Aqua classes – in six week courses, with small group numbers, and with a physiotherapist instructor who knows your history. The classes are run live via Zoom so that the physiotherapist can see you as you exercise and make corrections.

Thank goodness, about twelve months earlier, I had also created a private Facebook group for members – this online library of workouts and education resources was accessed by a record number of women during lockdown!

So, what’s next for FitRight?

There is something BIG in the pipeline actually… as well as continuing the exercise classes, education workshops and online resources that we currently provide, FitRight is planning to open a clinic where women can come and have their assessments! It will be called FitRight HQ, and will be in the Melville area. It will be a Centre for Women’s Health – a place where you can see Women’s Health Physios, Musculoskeletal Physios, a Lactation Consultant, an OT who can treat your Caesarean scar, and more, all in the one clinic!

Taryn Watson - women's health & continence physiotherapist - Melville Mums

As a mum to two young children, do you manage to squeeze in a bit of ‘me-time’?

I have found it very challenging over my motherhood journey to prioritise me-time! As a small business owner, my free time is often filled with work!

But I am trying very hard to prioritise little pieces of ‘me-time’ during the week, and my favourites are a refreshing power walk along the river, reading a Home Beautiful magazine with a cup of coffee or going out for dinner and drinks every couple of weeks with girlfriends!

What are some of your favourite places to go or things to do in the local area?

Once a week, I work in a co working office up at Heathcote. That has got to be the most beautiful place in Perth! I absolutely love going for a lunchtime walk around the riverfront there.

I also spend a lot of time at Deep Water Point and Point Walter with my kids. My three year old much prefers nature play to playgrounds and we have spent so many hours splashing and exploring. It’s particularly special because I also grew up in this area and I have fond memories of doing exactly the same things when I was a child!

If you loved this post, check out our Getting to Know… blog series, which features local mums and business owners.

Meditation – Practice, Benefits & How to Begin…

Guest Post

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July 13, 2020

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Meditation – Practice, Benefits & How to Begin…

Meditation benefits - Serenity Wellness Collective

If I had to describe in one word what meditation has done for me it would be ‘Balance‘.

My life with a busy family is constantly keeping me challenged – physically, emotionally and mentally. Introducing meditation has given me the ability to bring balance into my life on a daily basis.

It has given me better coping skills with daily issues that arise and I feel I am a better person to those around me, having more patience and being less emotionally reactive.

Supporting my emotional and mental health has in turn improved my physical health in areas of pain, strengthened immunity, blood pressure, fatigue and sleep. More importantly, I feel I am a better person to myself – less judgemental, less stressed and more rational.

I feel, see and appreciate what meditation does for me everyday, so I am committed to regular practice and integrating it into my daily routine. However, if there is a day when I am unable to meditate, I do not berate myself or feel frustrated. I accept it is not to be and move on.

My Practice

My meditation practice each day occurs in several different ways, what I like to describe as formal and informal.

I begin each day with a 10 – 20 minute meditation seated in a quiet space in my home, prior to the family arising. Meditating at this time prepares me for the day. If my sleep has been disturbed, or unsettled, meditating upon waking helps to ‘clear the clutter’ and release the mental fatigue that comes with broken sleep. It also helps to bring me clarity and as a result I find I am more productive in tasks.

Using Spot Meditations

I also do many ‘spot meditations’ throughout the day. These spot mediations happen in several ways.

If sitting in the car at traffic lights, or waiting in a queue at the supermarket, I will do three sighs, immediately feeling the tension and stress released from my body. These spot meditations bring me back to the present when I am trying to multi task and have many thoughts going through my head.

By stopping to do the breath, it releases any tension in my shoulders, neck and face, interrupts the constant stream of thought, and allows me to take a moment to reset and come back to focusing on one thing at a time. Doing this allows me to more present and a lot more productive.

My second short or spot meditation is when I am walking. I find when I am busy I tend to walk ‘anxiously’ or ‘highly aroused’, often catching my reflection and being surprised at my hunched shoulders, tense posture and stiff, jerky movements.

I now try to walk ‘consciously’, being more aware of my body and softening the muscles and movements. I do this by sighing deliberately three times and then focusing my attention first on my face, then shoulders, hips and legs. I immediately feel the tension lessen, my body soften and my movements flow more. It feels so lovely to ‘glide’ in my walking rather than be jerky, and I feel my posture improve allowing the breath to flow more freely too.

The Benefits

Meditation is a skill that I believe has been an integral part of my personal growth in the past 18 months. I feel that the physical and mental benefits I have gained have not only improved my life, but also the lives of those around me. I am committed to supporting myself, my family and those that I associate with in my oils business, in all areas of health and wellness. I believe that we need to look at all areas of our lifestyle in order to do this – sleep, diet, physical activity and toxic load within our daily activities. My regular meditation practice has helped with:

• Improved sleep
• Better focus and attention
• Increased productivity
• Emotional regulation
• Decreased stress
• Increased relaxation
• Supporting more positive habits
• Increased mental wellbeing
• Stronger immunity
• Improved relationships

Meditation & Essential Oils

How we feel physically, mentally and emotionally determines the state of our overall health and wellbeing. My journey with essential oils has presented me with the opportunity to support and encourage others to be more proactive in their health. My intention moving forward is to introduce my community to the benefits of combining meditation and essential oils as tool to support their physical and emotional health.

The essential oils I use have many benefits such as:

Immune and respiratory support
Relieve sleeplessness and quieten a busy mind
Reduce feelings of sadness and anxiety
Promote emotional balance
Lessen stress and tension
Calm emotions
Enhance and support focus
Muscle support
Digestive support

One can draw parallels between the benefits of mediation and essential oils. I believe that through my regular meditation practice, it has allowed my body to be more receptive to the oils.

What I hope to achieve through meditation personally and professionally comes down to one thing – being able to teach others the skill and benefits of meditation, and encourage them to make it part of their daily routine in order to bring more clarity, balance and less stress into their lives.

Guided Meditation Classes

Meditation is quite simple but many are reluctant or hesitant to start, thinking it is unattainable to ’empty’ their mind, and find it difficult to get started or maintain their practice on their own. Meditation is not about thinking of nothing or clearing the mind, but more about choosing a focus for your attention and simply observing your own thought processes.

At Serenity classes, you will be welcomed into a soothing, calm environment where you will be gently guided through breath and restorative meditations. Each class has a focus oil to compliment and enhance your meditation and relaxation, finishing with cacao treats and herbal tea.

Ideal for taking some time to reconnect with yourself and like minded people!

Would you like to start a meditation practice, or maybe strengthen your current one? Whether new to meditation, a seasoned meditator or somewhere in between, SWC meditation classes and perfect for any level. Let me help you create the calm you crave through online or studio meditation classes.

Book through the Serenity Wellness Collective website

Special Offer for Melville Mums

Use code MELVILLEMUMS to receive a month of online classes for just $20

For details and to book go to https://serenitywellnesscollective.com.au/meditation/

About Narelle

Nagele Weir - Serenity Wellness Collective

Narelle is the founder of Serenity Wellness Collective and Meraki Essence and believes in a collaborative approach to supporting both physical and mental health.
She is a meditation teacher, doTERRA wellness advocate and mum to three children with a passion to support mental and physical wellbeing through natural alternatives.

Narelle is a dedicated practitioner of mindfulness and meditation and through weekly classes and retreats loves to share her passion for meditation with others.
She has completed the Certificate of Mindfulness Teaching (Perth Meditation Centre) , Level 1 of STM training with Tracy Whitton and is currently studying Meditation Teaching and Holistic Human Development through Higher Branches College.

Narelle credits her own daily practice to living a life with enhanced mental clarity and focus, improved immunity, better quality sleep and strengthened emotional regulation and balance.

Through SWC Narelle organises and hosts events, workshops, one day retreats and classes with natural health practitioners and motivational speakers, bringing together a collaboration of natural therapies for the community to experience.

Narelle’s contribution to the community also includes charity events hosted three times a year with a guest speaker to share their story and bring awareness to different areas of health.

To stay up to date with all things Serenity Wellness Collective, you can follow Narelle on Facebook and Instagram.

Dinosaur Park – Palmyra’s Little Gem

Melville Mums

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July 3, 2020

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We made the most of the glorious winter weather and headed down to the Dinosaur Park, a small local play space that has more than meets the eye!

If you haven’t yet ventured to the Dinosaur Park in Palmyra, you’re missing out! Even though the park is quite small, there’s still plenty to keep the little ones and big kids occupied.

When you arrive, you’re greeted by two colourful dinosaurs that all the kids absolutely loved to climb on and slide down.

For the younger ones, there’s a playground with sandpit, slide and nest swing, but there’s no shade sail so it could get quite hot in the summer months.

There’s a path that goes around the perimeter, which provides a safe way for kids to practise their cycling skills or, as my boys did, have speed trials and races. Along the path, kids can spot several ‘fossils’ that add another great feature and element of surprise.

The older ones can make use of a basketball hoop, plus there’s a large grassy area to kick a ball around or have a picnic, with natural shade provided by the tree cover.

Essential Info

Fenced? No
Toilets? No
Picnic tables? Yes
BBQs? No
Nearest coffee Oushk (less than 1 minute walk)

Location: 65 Carrington St, Palmyra

If you’d like to know about other local playgrounds for little ones, check out these Must-Visit Fenced Playgrounds in the Melville Area.

10 Things to Consider When Selecting a Child Care Centre

Parenting

Melville Mums

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June 22, 2020

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10 Things to Consider When Selecting a Child Care Centre

Parents seek child care for a multitude of reasons. You may be going back to work, wanting your child to engage and socialise with other children, preparing them for school, or perhaps you are in need of a break, or all of the above. Remember the old adage: “It takes a village to raise a child”.

In my experience, common issues that parents face when looking for child care include:

Lack of care or quality care available in your local area or at highly sought-after centres.
You feel anxious or worried about leaving your child with “strangers”.
Finding care whose values are aligned with yours.

I feel that quality child care is as much of an art as it is a science. I think back to when I was searching for child care for my children. I wanted them to be loved and have fun in a safe environment- but foremost, I wanted them to socialise and have fun. When you are ready to make this tough decision, go ahead and ask for a tour of your shortlisted establishments and bring with you all your 5 senses as you will unconsciously need them to help you in the decision making process.

I feel that there are many benefits to having your child attend a child care service. Some of these benefits include:

1) Identity development – He or she can find his or her own identity away from you – eg. Forming bonds with people outside your family & therefore experiencing new personalities;

2) Social development – human beings learn from other human beings, so being around other children of similar ages, but from different backgrounds, can expose your child to valuable social interaction. This is where they learn to negotiate, show empathy, make friends and ultimately leads to further development of their own personality;

3) Independence for parents – Having your child settled into a loving, nurturing & stimulating service, means that you can return to work, maintain the home, or look after your own physical and mental health.

The quality that each different establishment is able to offer greatly varies from meeting the minimum requirements to services that offer teaching and experiences well beyond the minimum.

Some important points that could help you decide on an establishment are:

What is the maximum number of children in the centre
Consider if your child needs one-on-one care or care in a small group
Opening hours
How well they communicate with you;
How organised the business is
General cleanliness and tidiness
General quality of resources and playground
Meal and food offerings
How warm the staff are towards you and your child
The quality of its curriculum and activities

After using both your head and your heart in this process, you are then ready to decide on the type of care and which service you feel is best for you and your child. Best of luck!

Stephanie is a Speech Pathologist by profession, passionate owner of Amare Child Care in Bassendean, owner of soon-to-be-open Wool and Thimble School of Early Learning in Melville, mother to two fun-loving children, and wife to an understanding husband. During the week (and most weekends too), you’ll find Steph at Amare Child Care, ensuring all of our parents, children & staff are happy, healthy and well-looked after. Steph has also been meeting parents in the Melville area, dropping off enrolment packs for her new centre, due to open in late August/early September 2020. On the weekends, Steph and her family enjoy family hikes, camping and adventure sports – just generally being outdoors. Steph and her staff are passionate about providing a space where children are loved and nurtured, to give them a magical start to their lives. They look forward to continuing this dream at Wool and Thimble School of Early Learning. Stay up to date with all things Wool and Thimble via their Facebook and Instagram pages.

Bring Joy to Your Day with Musical Play!

Guest Post

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June 11, 2020

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Bring Joy to Your Day with Musical Play!

Musical Play is a magical way to share joyful experiences with your children whilst providing them with a wealth of benefits in their early years. As we know, play is how children explore and begin to understand the world around them. Musical play provides opportunities for your child to not only learn about music but will also support all areas of their development whilst fostering creativity and imagination. Not to mention is it SO MUCH FUN!

“Play is the work of childhood” – Jean Piget

“Play is the highest form of research” – Albert Einstein

Benefits of Musical Play

Here are just a few reasons WHY musical play should be part of everyday life for young children:

Rhythm and rhyme help to prepare children for language and reading skills
Singing nursery rhymes and songs helps to expand vocabulary
Finger play songs and Wiggles help to develop important fine motor skills
Music can help to build the foundations for literacy and numeracy
Movement to music helps to strengthen gross motor skills, muscles, balance and spatial awareness
Music improves general mood and ability to concentrate
Music aids in the development of social and emotional competence

Before you start thinking, “It’s too hard”, “I can’t sing”, “I can’t play an instrument” …let me inspire you!

Everyday examples of Musical Play

Here are some ides of how easy it is to engage in musical play with your child at home and how you will expose them to different elements of music:

Narrate Your Day Using Songs

Use songs to commentate what you and your children are doing throughout the day e.g. bath time, getting dressed, in the highchair, hanging up the washing, going to the shops etc. This helps to reinforce and establish a routine and will provide comfort to your child as once they hear you singing a song, they will associate it with what will happen next. Also making up the silliest of songs and being spontaneous (even while doing the grocery shopping), will add a FUN FACTOR!

Wiggles & Tickles

Engage in Wiggles: rhymes where you wiggle each finger (or toes) in order from thumb to pinkie, or Tickles: rhymes that involve tickling body parts such as the tummy, feet or under the arm.

Keep Your Baby Engaged

When singing to babies make sure to face them and engage in eye contact to further strengthen your bond and create a special connection on an emotional level. They will love seeing your face, and their face will light up when they see you singing and playing with them!

Play Pretend

While you are playing with your child’s cuddly toys or teddies, you could pretend to put them to sleep by singing a lullaby. You could talk about why you might rock the cuddly toy slowly and gently, rather than fast and rough. This will help support their understanding of Tempo (speed) and Expression in music.

Experiment with Sounds

Encourage your children to bang on the pots and pans and include a variety of different types of materials such as ceramic, metal, or wooden utensils. This helps expose your child to Timbre (the character or quality of a musical sound).

High to Low

When your child is sliding down a slide, make sounds with your voice that slide from high to low, matching their movement. This helps to make a connection between physically being up high and sliding down low, with the concept of the Pitch of your voice. See if they can make similar sounds exploring their own voice. You can also try this activity while they are playing on a seesaw or swing.

Row, Row, Row Your Boat

Sit your child in a washing basket and rock it back and forth, while singing “Row your boat”. This fosters wonderful imaginative play! A washing basket can also be a car, an aeroplane…endless possibilities.

Encourage Exploration

Have a small collection of a variety of percussion instruments scattered around your play space for your child to explore and enjoy.

Use Books as Inspiration

Read your favourite books and think of instruments or things around the house that could create a sound effect for your story. “We’re Going on a Bear Hunt” and “Alpacas with Maracas” are some of our favourites!

Get Bouncing!

Bounce your child on your knees while saying a simple nursery rhyme. You are providing your child with exposure to Beat and Rhythm. The beat being the bouncing up and down and the rhythm being the words you are saying. Older children can bounce their own teddy or soft toy on their lap in time with the beat while you both say the rhyme. See if they can do it themselves in time with the beat.

Play with Height & Pitch

While building a tower of blocks, you could play a pitched instrument such as a xylophone up the scale, so that as your child’s tower gets higher, the music you are playing gets higher. This will give your child a visual representation of the concept of Pitch (the degree of highness or lowness of a tone).

Create Patterns

Create patterns with things you can find around the back yard such as stones, rocks, sticks, flowers, leaves. Can you clap or tap these patterns? Creating patterns like these are laying the basis for the fundamentals of rhythm in the future.

Feel the Rhythm

If your child likes to “hammer” or “fix things”, build upon that by tapping different rhythms – short and fast or long and slow.

For older children, they could practise clapping your weekly shopping list e.g. Milk, eggs, apples, bread. Watermelon, grapes, butter, carrots. This also helps reinforce rhythmic concepts.

“A child who sings is a happy child.” – Enrique Falabella

There are so many wonderful musical play activities you can do with your children right in the comfort of your home. Sing, play, be in the moment, experiment, explore, imagine and share in the joy that music brings, together!

Michaela Ivory is a local mother of three children aged 8, 5 and 2, and is a music teacher passionate about the inclusion and importance of music in the early years. She teaches, “Crescendo” a community outreach music education program for the West Australian Symphony Orchestra at two primary schools in Perth’s south, as well as teaching her own early childhood music classes for 0-6 year olds, Nurturing Notes. Michaela has a double degree in Music and Education and holds a Level One Orff Schulwerk Certification, as well as a First Steps in Music Certification. She loves to share her passion with parents, teachers, educators, and families, through sharing her songs, rhymes and teaching ideas on her blog, as The Musical Mum.

Tip 1 – Less is more

Tip 2 – Late nights equal early mornings

Tip 3 – Spot tired signs

Tip 4 – ChristMUST naps

Tip 5 – Build in down time

Tip 6 – The Grinch…Be prepared

Tip 7 – Murphy’s Law and presents

Tip 8 – The Christmas feast

Tip 9 – Relax and have FUN!

Tip 10 – Cuddle Magic

Tip 11 – Sleep training on Christmas Day…No!

Tip 12 – When ALL goes pear shaped

All wrapped up in a blog

Understanding sleep

Other factors and some solutions!

1. Light

2. Noise

3. Temperature

4. Appropriate awake times

5. Habitual waking

Essential Info

COMMON VISION PROBLEMS FOR CHILDREN

REFRACTIVE ERROR

EYE MOVEMENT PROBLEMS

EYE TEAMING PROBLEMS

FOCUSING PROBLEMS

VISUAL PERCEPTION PROBLEMS

KEEP AN EYE OUT FOR…

APPEARANCE OF EYES

WHEN WRITING

WHEN READING

OTHER PROBLEMS

WHAT HAPPENS IN AN EYE EXAMINATION?

WHEN SHOULD MY CHILD HAVE AN EYE EXAMINATION?

How to get involved

Hi, Taryn. Please tell us a bit about yourself

What inspired you to start FitRight?

What makes FitRight different to other physio/pilates classes?

How you have adapted in light of the COVID-19 situation?

So, what’s next for FitRight?

As a mum to two young children, do you manage to squeeze in a bit of ‘me-time’?

What are some of your favourite places to go or things to do in the local area?

My Practice

Using Spot Meditations

The Benefits

Meditation & Essential Oils

Guided Meditation Classes

Special Offer for Melville Mums

About Narelle

Essential Info

In my experience, common issues that parents face when looking for child care include:

I feel that there are many benefits to having your child attend a child care service. Some of these benefits include:

Some important points that could help you decide on an establishment are:

Benefits of Musical Play

Everyday examples of Musical Play

Narrate Your Day Using Songs

Wiggles & Tickles

Keep Your Baby Engaged

Play Pretend

Experiment with Sounds

High to Low

Row, Row, Row Your Boat

Encourage Exploration

Use Books as Inspiration

Get Bouncing!

Play with Height & Pitch

Create Patterns

Feel the Rhythm