Lifestyle Triple P : Helping You Raise Healthy Kids

For more information on the Positive Parenting Program, click here.

Back to School

The holidays are over, the kids are back to school - and for some, this means beginning year one, taking the first exciting steps into "big school", and wading a bit deeper into the refreshing waters of lifelong reading!

To help your child have the best chance of learning success at school, give them lots of opportunities to read aloud at home. Inspire your young reader to practice every day! Reading Rockets has put together some tips for parents of first-graders that offer some fun ways you can help your child become a happy and confident reader.

Try a new tip each week, and see what works best for your child.

Don’t leave home without it.	-	Bring along a book or magazine any time your child has to wait, such as at a doctor’s office. Always try to fit in reading!
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Once is not enough.	-	Encourage your child to re-read favorite books and poems. Re-reading helps kids read more quickly and accurately.
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Dig deeper into the story.	-	Ask your child questions about the story you've just read. Say something like, “Why do you think Clifford did that?”
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Take control of the television.	-	It’s difficult for reading to compete with TV and video games. Encourage reading as a free-time activity.
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Be patient.	-	When your child is trying to sound out an unfamiliar word, give him or her time to do so. Remind your child to look closely at the first letter or letters of the word.
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Pick books that are at the right level.	-	Help your child pick books that are not too difficult. The aim is to give your child lots of successful reading experiences.
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Play word games.	-	Have your child sound out the word as you change it from mat to fat to sat; from sat to sag to sap; and from sap to sip.
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I read to you, you read to me.	-	Take turns reading aloud at bedtime. Kids enjoy this special time with their parents.
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Gently correct your young reader.	-	When your child makes a mistake, gently point out the letters he or she overlooked or read incorrectly. Many beginning readers will guess wildly at a word based on its first letter.
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Talk, talk, talk!	-	Talk with your child every day about school and things going on around the house. Sprinkle some interesting words into the conversation, and build on words you’ve talked about in the past.
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Write, write, write!	-	Ask your child to help you write out the grocery list, a thank you note to Grandma, or to keep a journal of special things that happen at home. When writing, encourage your child to use the letter and sound patterns he or she is learning at school.

Visit www.ReadingRockets.org for more information on how you can launch a child into a bright future through reading.

A Midsummer Knight's Read : Fairytales at the Library

Hear Ye, Hear Ye!

Come along to the Busselton Library for a school holiday storytime full of fairytales both classic and twisted!

Stories read will be suitable for ages 5 and up (though younger kids are more than welcome too), followed by a fairytale-themed craft activity. The entire session will last about an hour.

Where:	Busselton Public Library
	Stanley St, Busselton
Date:	Wednesday 18th January 2012
Time:	10.00am - 11.00am
Cost:	FREE!

The Busselton Library runs regular storytime sessions throughout the year at 10.00am, every second Wednesday. For more information call the library on (08) 9754 1588 or email.

Relationships Australia : Dads Raising Girls

Did you miss the Dads Raising Girls workshop held at the Kent St Family Centre in September? Well it's on again!

This one night seminar looks at the importance of the father-daughter relationship. It discusses what daughters need from their dads and covers practical ways to improve and maintain a positive and rewarding relationship.

Where:	Busselton Family Centre
	19-21 Kent Street Busselton
Date:	Wednesday 23rd November 2011
Time:	6.30pm - 9.00pm
Cost:	$25.00 per person

For bookings and payment please call (08) 9792 1111.

For more information please visit the Relationships Australia website.

Relationships Australia : Dads Raising Girls

Find out how you can build a rewarding father-daughter relationship.

As the primary male role model in a girl’s life, fathers play an important role in the development of their self-concept and self esteem. This affects how they relate to others, particularly to boys and men.

This workshop will discuss:
* Common myths and mistakes around father-daughter relationships.
* The importance of the father-daughter relationship.
* What do our daughters need from their dads?
* Practical ways to improve and maintain a positive and rewarding father-daughter relationship.

Where:	Busselton Family Centre
	19-21 Kent Street Busselton
Date:	Thursday 1st September 2011
Time:	6.30pm - 9.00pm
Cost:	$25.00 per person

For bookings and payment please call (08) 9792 1111.
Concessions are available for concession card holders.

For more information please visit the Relationships Australia website.

Relationships Australia : Mums Raising Boys

As the primary female role model in a boys life, mothers play an important role in the development of their sons identity, including their ability to be nurturing. This in turn affects how they relate to others, particularly to girls and women.

This workshop will discuss:
* The importance of the mother-son relationship
* What boys need from their mums
* Practical ways to improve and maintain a positive and rewarding relationship

Where:	Busselton Family Centre
	19-21 Kent Street Busselton
Date:	Thursday 1st September 2011
Time:	6.30pm - 9.00pm
Cost:	$25.00 per person

For bookings and payment please call (08) 9792 1111.
Concessions are available for concession card holders.

For more information please visit the Relationships Australia website.

Real Healthy Kids : Natural First Aid Workshop

Event: THE NATURAL FIRST AID KIT FOR YOUR CHILD : Supporting Your Child’s Health Naturally
Date: Saturday July 2nd
Time: 9.30am – 12 noon
Cost: $50 (small classes only)
Contact: Sally Gray ND 0433 542 189 Child Health Specialist - Naturopath – Nutritionist – Educator – Author

You will learn:
• The Natural First Aid kit – including herbs, homeopathics and nutrition
• 12 month plan for child health maintenance naturally
• Natural remedies to use for common acute and chronic conditions
• How to support your child’s immunity
• Including immune boosting foods into everyday life

Lotus Young Mums Group

Lotus is a support group for mothers aged 15-25. The group meets every Tuesday at the Busselton Family Centre and do all sorts of activities for the mums and children. There are regular guest speakers who talk about things like nutrition, sexual health, child restraints, sleeping and behaviour issues and toddler music. Lotus mums share morning tea/lunch then have an activity or guest speaker and then read a story and sing some songs to finish off for the day.

Where: 19-21 Kent St Busselton

When: Tuesdays 12.30pm during the school term - sessions last approximately 2 hours

Contact: Amy (0434 582 388) or Celeste (0422 049 928)

Real Healthy Kids

Real Healthy Kids is committed to improving the health and well being of our children by providing educational workshops, seminars, lectures and cooking classes for families, caregivers and mums to be.

Event: NOURISHING YOUR CHILD : Kitchen Pantry Essentials and Cooking Basics
Date: Saturday June 4th
Time: 9.30am - 12.00pm
Cost: $50.00 (small classes only)
Contact: Sally Gray ND 0433 542 189 Child Health Specialist - Naturopath, Nutritionist, Herbalist, Author and Food Lover.

Pregnancy, Birth and Baby Helpline 1800 882 436

Parents/Carers can use this service from the moment they find out they are pregnant to when their baby is 12 months old. The site gives good coverage of the frequent questions asked on pregnancy, birth and caring for your baby. It also has up-to-date information on health topics for families.
http://www.healthdirect.org.au/pbb.

Tips for Sharing Books With Your Child

It has been shown that the single most important activity in building knowledge for future success is reading out loud to your child.

Pick the best time. Choose a time to read when you and your baby are happy and content and can enjoy this special time together. Any time when your baby is settled but not sleepy or tired is perfect.

Show your baby the book. Talk and read in a cheerful voice, point to the pictures as you read and talk about them (do this even with tiny babies). This adds to a baby’s vocabulary and shows them how conversation works back and forth.

Be aware of what your baby wants. Don't worry if your baby is restless and is not interested in the book – stop if they are upset.

Read aloud with your child every day. Choose books that you and your child enjoy. If your child chooses the same old favourite over and over again, this may be boring for you but it will please your child and they may even begin to recognise some words.

Take books with you when you go out. You might have to wait somewhere and have a few spare moments to read.

Have Fun! Sharing books together creates a special bond between parents and children.

Toddler Time at Busselton Library

Join Kate and her orangutan every four weeks at 10.00am on Friday for a fun workshop especially for toddlers.

Held at the Busselton Library on Stanley Street, each session lasts for around half an hour and includes songs and rhymes siutable for active little ones.

Participation is free, and bookings are not necessary.

The next Toddler Time session will be at 10.00am, Friday 1st April at the Busselton Public Library.

Visit our Parenting Programme Calendar for upcoming session dates, or phone the Busselton Library on (08) 9754 1588 for more information.

Busselton Family Centre

Located at 19 - 21 Kent St, the Busselton Family Centre provides information and activities for families in the Shire. Currently over 35 organisations use the family centre on a regular basis including the following:
                           

Belly Flower (infant massage/birth skills)					0417 186 679
Busselton Family Playgroup					0450 735 305
Busselton Toy Library					08 9753 1682
Fun Fours					08 9755 4440
Yoga 4 Kids					0420 933 729

For more information on the various programs ph: 08 9752 3550

Office hours 9.00am - 2.00pm Mon - Fri

Comprehensive brochures are also available from the Centre and the Busselton Public Library.

Positive Parenting Seminars

Managing children’s behaviour can be challenging at times for most parents. Parents are invited to attend free parenting seminars facilitated by a child health nurse to learn practical, positive and effective ways to manage common behavioural problems, and ways to help achieve their best at school and in the future.

Parents may choose to attend one, two or three of the seminars and is aimed at parents of children aged between 3-8 years.

The topics are: The power of Positive Parenting, Raising Confident Competent Children and Raising Resilient Children.

No cost. Bookings essential. Contact your Child health nurse on 9752 1935.

Programs dates are available for viewing on the Parenting Programme Calendar page.

Child Resuscitation Awareness

St. John Ambulance Busselton is looking for expressions of interest in the holding of a Child Resuscitation Awareness course. This very valuable skill is available at $35.00 and provides basic child life support skills for all child minders.

For enquires and registration ph: 08 9752 3866

Office hours: Mon to Thurs 8.30 to 12.00 noon

After the Emergency - Helping Kids Cope

As Christchurch deals with the aftermath of last week's earthquake, and Queensland recovers from their recent floods and cyclone it is apparent that many children who have been affected by these disasters will need ways of working through their experiences. The Red Cross produce an activity booklet for children titled ‘After the emergency’ which is a useful tool in helping children to think about what has happened and be aware of the feelings that they are experiencing as a result of these stressful situations.

For more information or to order these booklets you can contact:

Ray Wong
Supply Unit Manager
0451 111 480
0467 709 841

qldeocsupply@redcross.org.au

Red Cross QLD
49 Park Rd
Milton QLD 4064
Ph. (07) 3367 7222

Storytime at Busselton Library

Regular Story time sessions are held at 10.00am every second Wednesday at the Busselton Library.

The sessions usually run up to forty-five minutes, and contain stories, rhymes, songs and a craft activity, which is centred on a special theme chosen for each session.

Participation is free, and bookings are not necessary.

The next Storytime at the Busselton Library will be held on Wednesday the 2nd of March, and the theme will be... SHEEP!


Is your child one of the hundreds that count Where Is the Green Sheep? by Mem Fox as one of their favourites? Come along to the Busselton Library to hear this and other fantastic sheepy stories, followed by a wonderfully woolly craft activity, suitable for children 3 to 5 years of age.

Children love to read and be read to

Your public library is a great place for finding books to read for fun and pleasure. There is a strong link between community health and wellbeing and the use of libraries. Read to your children from a young age and see the benefits in their success in literacy and academic success.

Australian Breastfeeding Association

The Busselton branch is meeting at the Kent St Family Centre on Friday 25th February at 10.00am. Contact Janet on 9754 4461 for more details. For more information on breastfeeding support and a question forum you can view the Australian Breastfeeding Association website at http://www.breastfeeding.asn.au/.

Friday Tennis for Youth at Busselton

The Busselton Tennis Club is commencing its summer programme of youth tennis on Friday afternoons during the school term, starting at 4.30pm and catering for children  8 - 17 years of age. Contact the Busselton Tennis Club for further details.