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BABIES

Popular Baby Names 2021

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Choices in Names change, shifting in and out of fashion and some stay constant.

There is a new movement for gender neutral names as parents see the benefits of naming their child without the gender attached.

Only 6% of names are gender neutral and according to names.org, who put the parameters to what makes a name gender neutral, when they dip below 95% of the social bureau’s data/statistics then it becomes gender neutral.

For instance, the name Leslie in 2016 dropped to 94.6% for the females it was given t and was thus consider gender neutral because it was below 95%.

2021 Gender-neutral baby names:

  1. Indigo
  2. Ash
  3. Darcy
    • Irish Origin, meaning dark
  4. Avalon
    • Celtic origin, meaning island of apples
  5. Echo
    • Greek origin, meaning reverberating sound
  • Billie
    • English origin, meaning resolute protection
  • Zephyr
  • Quinn
    • Celtic origin, meaning chief leader/intelligence
  • Kai
    • Welsh/German origin, meaning of the sea/keeper of the keys
  • Blake
    • English origin, meaning dark and attractive

Over the past 100 years the boy’s name, ‘James’ was given to over 4.5 million boys, whilst the girl’s name ‘Mary’ has been given to almost 3.5 million girls. Although they are staples in our supply for names their popularity has changed over the years.

Names from television and popular culture impact parents’ choices. Khaleesi or Arya were very popular names form the tremendously successful TV series Game of Thrones; 241 baby girls were named Khaleesi in 2012-2013 (when the series was at its peak) but is now ranked number 733 in the US.

2021 popular girl names:

  1. Charlotte
  2. Amelia
    • Latin origin, meaning work
  3. Olivia
  4. Isla
    • Scottish origin, meaning island
  5. Mia
    • Scandinavian origin, meaning beloved
  6. Ava
    • Hebrew origin, meanings life/serpent/bird
  7. Grace
    • Latin origin, meaning grace of God/charm
  8. Chloe
    • Greek origin, meaning young green shoot
  9. Willow
  10. Matilda
    • German origin, meaning battle mighty

Things to remember when choosing:

There will most likely be push back if parents float the name around family and friends. But this generally changes after the baby comes along with its new wonderful name.

Most name associations fade. If you love the name stick with it, don’t let who you know or pop-culture changing its connotations be bothersome.

2021 popular boy names:

  1. Oliver
  2. Noah
    • Hebrew origin, meaning rest, comfort and repose
  3. William
  4. Jack
    • English origin, meaning God is gracious (can be considered gender neutral)
  5. Leo
  6. Henry
    • German origin, meaning ruler of the home
  7. Charlie
    • German origin, meaning free man
  8. Thomas
    • Hebrew origin, meaning twin (biblical connections)
  9. Lucas
    • Latin origin, meaning bringer of light
  10. Elijah

 

Helpful hints of choosing a baby name:

Avoid passing trends; consider whether the future child could be teased for their name, and if the name will still sound great in ten years time.

Look into the family tree for inspiration.

There’s something special about a name in the family being used as if it respects and holds significance for the family.

Look up meanings: does this name inspire and not mean something that could be taken in the wrong way?

 

 

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FEATURED

How to begin eating for your gut

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Recent studies have shown eating foods that are considered healthy for your gut can be effective in solving a range of other medical issues.  

When my mum was 48, she began to eat a consistent gut-healthy diet. For as long as my mum could remember she always had problems with her skin. What started as childhood eczema, turned into rashes and sores she could no longer maintain.

Doctors could never provide a reason or cause for her skin disease, instead only offered a short-term cute in the form of steroid cream. And eventually even this began to fail and she was asked to take steroids in tablet form. That was when her immune system broke down and she developed shingles.

Finally, a doctor diagnosed her with leaky gut – a term my mum and the rest of our family had never heard before.

In an attempt to heal her gut, she cut out sugar and saturated fats out of her diet. Slowly, her skin began to heal and her immune system started to improve. We never realised the foods she was eating played such a large part on her health.

Gut health can be a huge factor in the health and wellbeing of our bodies, but this concept is still unknown and undiscussed to the wider population.

What does it mean to have a healthy gut?

A gut healthy diet means eating foods that help the good bacteria to remain in the gut. The ‘gut’ that’s being referred to here is the gastrointestinal tract which includes the mouth, oesophagus, stomach, pancreas, liver, gallbladder, small intestine, colon and rectum. Of most important are the micro-organisms that live in the large intestine.

Our bodies contain millions of microbes that are beneficial to our health. Our large intestines or gut contains the most microbes and therefore plays a huge role in our digestion and immune function. But we can damage these good microbes when we maintain a low-fibre, fat-filled diet.

healthy foods for your gut

Signs you should be eating healthier for your gut

Naturopathic Doctor, Rosia Parrish, says that there are a number of symptoms that our body produces to let us know we have an unhealthy gut. These can range from:

  • Stomach discomfort, like consistent gas, bloating, diarrhoea, constipation and abdominal pain
  • Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)
  • Fatigue or chronic fatigue syndrome
  • Food cravings (especially sugar)
  • Weight change
  • Skin irritation like acne, psoriasis and eczema
  • Food and skin allergies
  • Autoimmune conditions like rheumatoid arthritis, ulcerative colitis and multiple sclerosis
  • Mood issues such as anxiety and depression
  • Migraines

Following a gut healthy diet

A gut healthy diet is one that is fibre-rich and fibre-diverse filled with wholegrains, fruits, vegetables and other plant-based foods. Fibre is beneficial as it prevents and manages many common gut related disorders. Ideal fibre-rich foods:

  • Yoghurt (sugar-free and full-fat)
  • Vegetables such as artichokes, green peas, sweet potatoes and broccoli
  • Fruits such as bananas, raspberries and oranges
  • Legumes such as chickpeas, lentils and beans

Fermented foods are also considered ideal in order to maintain a gut-healthy diet. The process of fermenting converts the sugars in food to organic acids that are good for your body. Some fermented foods for gut health include:

  • Kimchi
  • Sauerkraut
  • Kefir
  • Kombucha

Many of the foods listed are rich in a type of bacteria called lactobacilli, a bacteria that benefits health. Eating a gut-healthy diet will increase the lactobacilli in our intestines and reduce the Enterobacteriaceae, a bacteria associated with inflammation and chronic diseases.

Foods to avoid

Just like how fibre-rich and fermented foods contribute to good gut bacteria, other foods can create bad gut bacteria. These are foods that are packed with sugar, are highly processed and artificially sweet.

These can all lead to inflammation in your gut. Medical News Today list some of the worst ones as:

  • Foods with fructose corn syrup or sorbitol
  • Fruit juice
  • Condiments such as jam, relish and hummus
  • Foods with antibiotics in them (including meat)
  • Fried foods

 Other aspects that affect gut health

Whilst the food we eat is the primary factor that affects our gut, there are also other factors that can damage it.

One of the most common is adequate sleep. Getting enough sleep is essential for the upkeep of gut health. It is recommended that those trying to maintain a healthy gut sleep before 12am and get at least seven and a half hours to eight hours.

In conjunction with getting enough sleep is maintaining regular exercise. Maintaining regular exercise can reduce stress levels and maintain a healthy weight. Both of which can have a positive effect on gut health.

people exercising

 The benefits of gut health

According to UC Davis Health, the gut is the centre of our bodies and by nurturing its healthy bacteria, our bodies’ immune cells can ward off infectious agents like bacteria, viruses and fungi. A healthy gut also communicates with the brain through our nerves and hormones which helps maintain our well-being.

New research conducted by the, Journal of Trends in Food Science and Technology, has shown that a healthy gut microflora can provide protection against gastrointestinal disorders, inflammatory bowel diseases and even cancer. In some cases, it can also prevent atopic diseases such as asthma and dermatitis or eczema.

 What to remember before beginning a gut healthy diet

When trying new diets for gut-health or even diets such as keto, begin by cutting certain foods out bit by bit. Pay attention to what foods bring negative change to your body and attempt at cutting it out. When trying recommended foods for your gut, also ensure that they are not playing a negative impact on your health. If you find that your body is not adjusting to a certain food, you might be intolerant to it and you should book an appointment with your GP.

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KIDS

Why That $5 T-Shirt Could Be Bad For Your Child

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Fast fashion children’s clothes are harming our environment and our kids.

thrown out clothes amongst landfill.

With their rapidly growing bodies, children can go through clothes quicker than any shopaholic.

Every year, 85% of textiles bought in Australia ends up in landfill. A key contributor? Children’s clothing.

A majority of these clothes are made in a process called Fast Fashion, the rapid production of garments by mass-market retailers.

Although affordable, this process is why Australians are consuming 400% more than they were two decades ago.Fast Fashion poses numerous problems to the natural environment and those living within, mainly because of the materials used in development.

Synthetic fabrics  such as polyester, nylon and acrylic are commonly used to make children’s clothes. These materials take up to 1,000 years to biodegrade and release microplastic fibres into the ocean when washed.

Marine animals consume these plastics and inevitably pass it up the food chain until the cycle leads back to us, effecting our bodies.

Currently, there are 5.25 trillion pieces of microplastics littering the ocean – more than all the stars in the galaxy!

Because of the cheap fabric, another issue with these garments is that they break down quicker than ethical clothing and are dangerous to make. On top of poorly paid wages, the workers who create the affordable clothing are also exposed to dangerous elements.

Women working to create cheap clothes.

During production, synthetic garments are treated with multiple toxic chemicals that are not only harmful to the health of workers but also to the children who wear the garments.

Chances are that that five-dollar child’s t-shirt, actually has a much greater, untold cost.

Plus, these poisonous chemicals rapidly increase the amount of Co2 in the air. With levels already exceeding safe human operating space by 20 per cent, it poses a significant problem.

But it’s not too late for change. There are many simple adjustments one can take to prevent these issues and benefit their children.

1.  Buy Sustainable Children’s Clothes.

Unlike fast-fashion garments, eco-friendly clothes are made from better quality materials (organic cotton) and they don’t contain toxic chemicals. Instead, the fabrics are naturally made and sourced.

Below is a list of a few stores you can check out for worthy and sustainable kids’ clothes:

Click photo to find out more.
Click photo to find out more.
Click the photo to find out more.

2.  Read The Label.

A simple solution to ensure you are getting good quality and non-harmful fabrics, is to check the label for what materials are used. You should stay clear of textiles like cotton, synthetic materials and animal fur and instead opt for natural fabrics such as organic cotton, linen, hemp and recycled fibre.

3.  Buy Second-Hand Clothing.

Second hand store

Without adding to the production of garments, second-hand clothes are a great alternative to buying new clothes and they cost a fraction of the price. Additionally, they also provide a great place to recycle outgrown children’s clothes.

4.  Be Mindful of How You Wash and Dry.

The way you clean clothes can reduce water usage and the risk to us.

The average household does 400 loads of laundry every year. You can reduce energy consumption by 90 per cent by simply doing full loads and using cold water only.

A great addition to reduce the amount of microplastics released when you wash clothes is a microfiber-catching laundry ball. Washing one cotton t-shirt releases almost 2,000 microplastic fibres but the laundry ball can slash this risk.

Microplastics in the environment

 

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KIDS

Creative and Cheap Ideas to Keep the Children Entertained At Home

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Brothers fighting

Creative and Cheap Ideas to Keep the Children Entertained at Home 

 

 

With school back in session, you may have run out of ideas to do with your kids, and due to last year,  maybe on a strict budget.
Well, here is a list of fun, creative, and fantastic ideas that are cheap, can be done in the comfort of your own home, that is sure to entertain the whole family!

Have an indoor picnic:

This is perfect for those scorching hot days when you don’t want to leave air-conditioned comfort or for those days when it is pouring outside. To make this activity a bit more unique, why not come up with a small menu that the kids can help out with.

Make a Fort:
Forts can be made out of just about everything, but if you want to get real creative try using cardboard boxes. The kids could draw on the of the cardboard boxes to replicate a castle or a garden.

Have a movie night:
Put sleeping bags in front of the television and cook microwave popcorn and hot chocolate. You can put on a marathon of movies like those from Disney or Christmas movies that the whole family will love.

Make your own Playdoh:
Making your own playdoh is always a great option as some store-bought play-doh may have toxic ingredients if accidentally eaten.  However, this particular recipe is safe and nontoxic!

Ingredients:

2 cups of flour.
½ cup of salt.
2 tablespoon of cream of tartar.
1 ¼ cup of boiling water.
1 ½ tablespoon of canola oil.
Sandwich bags.
Food colouring.

Directions:

Step 1:
In a bowl, mix all of the dry ingredients together.
Then, add the oil and boiling water to the mix.
Step 2:
With a spoon mix all of the ingredients in a bowl.
Once mixed thoroughly, and the mixture is warm (not hot), mix by hand.
Roll the playdough a few times on a flat surface using both hands (like pizza or bread though), until thoroughly mixed and soft.
Step 3:
Divide the playdough into 4 equal parts.
Press an indentation in the centre of each piece.
Step 4:
Place a few drops of food colouring in the indentations you made on each dough batch.
One by one, roll each playdough batch until the colour is thoroughly mixed into the playdough.

Scavenger Hunt:
Scavenger Hunts are an excellent and creative idea to entertain the kids at home. You can hide a few toys in the sandpit and send your kids on a hunt to find them. You could even go around the house and put together a list of items that are around the house and send the kids to find them. This is definitely a great indoor and outdoor activity, depending on the weather.

Build Something:
Building with blocks and Legos sparks the children’s imagination as well as their motor skills. You and the kids can come up with something to build, and you can have a competition trying to develop that idea.  A little healthy competition never hurt anyone.

Video Game Competition:
Have a competition with your child on their gaming console (Wii, Nintendo etc.). You can split the family into teams (girls vs boys; parents vs kids). This helps the children know what healthy competition is and how to deal with their emotions if they lose.

Play Dress Up:
Kids love to dress up as their favourited character, favourited princess, and even their parents. Maybe pick an outfit out of your closet and dress them up as if you were going to work. It will be fun for them and a cute picture for saving.

Dance Party:
Put on some of your child’s favourited music and dance with them. You can teach them dance moves that you learned from your parents. This can be anywhere from the waltz to the electric slide.

Learn to Juggle:
Try to learn how to juggle together. It will be fun to learn a new skill together and maybe a hobby you two can continue to learn and practice.

Paper Airplane Competition:
Make paper aeroplanes and see who has the one that can fly the furthest. There are many different plane design to follow, and you can test which one is the best option.

Create a Puppet Show:
Creating a puppet show will let the kids come up with the design of the puppets as well as the storyline of the puppet show. This can also include what the set, lighting, and script will be.

Backyard Picnic:
Pack up a healthy lunch or leftover. Grab a blanket and some pillows and set up a spot in the yard. While eating, you can set up an outdoor movie viewing of your favourite family film, or you can bring out books and read a chapter out loud to the whole family.

 

Bord Box Ideas:


Get the kids to decorate an empty tissue box. Write on pieces of paper various activities. This could include everything from playing a board game, reading a book, Skyping or calling a friend or watching a movie, to a chore like cleaning their room or washing the car. This tissue box then becomes the ‘I’m bored box’. If the kids say they don’t have anything to do, get them to choose a piece of paper from the box with a suggestion that they have to complete.



Educational:

Crash Course Kids

Crash Course Kids is a bi-weekly show educational Youtube from the producers of Crash courses all about grade school science, so if you have a science excited kid then this is sure to interest them.

 

Adventure Academy

This is a website is virtual games that incorporate learning into the. The kids can have fun but are mentally stimulated at the same time.

 



Virtual field trips for kids that like to learn:

Virtual field trips are fun and educational, and now you have the option to go places while in the comfort of your own home.

Google Arts and Culture Program:

This is an online program through Google that allows users to view images and videos of artworks and cultural artefacts from different museums from around the world.

Great Barrier Reef:

Now that Google has launched Google Street View, you can take a virtual dive of different Great Barrier Reef Dive Sites.

International Space Station:

This involves a live stream of the International Space Station that shows crews on duty, Earth views available from space and even audio conversations between the crew and mission control.


Arts and Craft:

Sensory activities differ from other types of play as the emphasis on the senses amplifies the activity. Sensory play is any activity that activates one or multiple senses, and all kinds of play have the potential to become a sensory activity.

Edible Fish Small World Sensory Play:

Materials:

Two Blue Jelly packages.

Colourful and edible fish.

Jumbo tweezers or any other fine motor tool.

Container.

Directions:

Follow the directions on the back of the jelly box.

Once the jelly is set, cut the jelly into cubes but leave it relatively untouched so the children can squish it up and create their own ocean all themselves. This is an excellent way to work in more fine motor practice.

Now it is time to add the fish. This is especially fun for a toddler as they love poking and squishing things, so burying the fish in the gelatin is loads of fun for them.

For older kids who are ready for more of a fine motor challenge, you can use tongs or tweezers for kids to go “fishing”. Those little fish are slippery, so it’s quite the task to catch them.

You  can extend the learning in this edible fish small world sensory play a bit more by:

  • incorporating counting as kids add or remove the fish from the sensory bin
  • working on sorting and having kids sort the fish by colour
  • practising patterning with the fish

And when you’re done have a refreshing squish snack!

 

DIY Snow globe:
Select a focal point object to use in your simple DIY snow globe jar.  It is helpful to have several sizes of jars available. Perhaps save a variety of types and sizes of jars before doing this craft. Clear glassworks the best. Use hot-glue to glue the focal point object to the centre of the lid of your jar. You may glue down other small things to the top such as pebbles or beads as long as they are not close to the edge where they would be in the way of being able to screw the lid onto the jar. Fill the jar halfway full of distilled water. Squirt in some clear glue and stir it into the water. This will thicken the water and cause the glitter to fall more slowly when the kids shake the snow globe. The more glue you use, the thicker the water will become. For extra fun, add some glitter. When you are content with the amount of water in your jar, screw the lid tightly onto the jar. The focal point object should fit nicely inside. You can glue the lid on if you’re concerned the kids will try to open it later.

Active:

Leapfrog
Many of us played leapfrog as kids and could play for hours. This is a great idea to play outdoors and will definitely tire the kids out. You can make it even harder to add more people to the line-up.


Hot lava:
Hot lava is a game that everyone should know. The object of the game is to jump or climb on anything that is not the floor when anyone says, “The Floor is Lava”. This one works best indoors but can be quite creative when playing outside. You can even go as far as setting up an obstacle course that everyone has to follow.


Circuits:
This can be set up outside and can have several stations where the kids have to do a particular exercise at each place. When the time runs out, then they would have to switch to the next one until they complete the course. This one will definitely tire them out and may even get them to take an afternoon nap.


Red light, green light:
Well, everyone knows this game. One person is the caller, and they will either yell red light or green light. Red means stop and freeze, and the green light means to go forward. The first person to get to the caller wins. It is a great way to get their heart rate going.


Science Experiments:

Skittles rainbow:

 



Supplies needed:
· Plate
· Warm water
· Skittles (Try different colours and flavours!)

Directions:
Grab your plate and organise the Skittles in a circle around the edge of the container. Kids can try different colour patterns each time they do the experiment.
Gently pour water in the centre of the plate. Warm water works better than cold. Make sure there is enough water to go past the Skittles while filling the container.
Wait and watch the Skittles colours move towards the centre of the plate with beautiful rainbow streaks.
That is it. It is so quick and easy!

Elephant toothpaste:

 


Supplies Needed:

A clean 473 ml plastic soda or water bottle.
A 20-volume hydrogen peroxide.
1 tablespoon of dry yeast.
3 tablespoons of warm water.
Liquid dish soap.
Food colouring.
Small cup.
Funnel.
Safety goggles.
Adult supervision.

Directions:

Use the funnel to carefully pour ½ cup of the hydrogen peroxide liquid into the bottle.
Add about 10 drops of your favourited food colouring into the bottle and mix the bottle around.
In the separate small cup, combine the warm water and the yeast together and mix for around 30 seconds.
Use the funnel to pour the yeast-water mixture into the bottle and watch the fun begin.

Disappearing Eggshell:

 


Take a raw egg and put it in a cup.
You should see bubbles collect around the shell (a sign that a chemical reaction is taking place).
Leave for 4 to 5 days.
Go to observe.
You should now be able to see shell residue in the vinegar and the yolk whole in the egg white. If you still see white residue on the egg, you can rub this off lightly with your finger. I tried to lift the whole egg out of the vinegar but broke the membrane, but it is possible to lift it out whole.

Craft:

Bread and peanut butter bird feeder:

What you will need is bread, peanut butter, cookie cutters, birdseed and twine or string. First, we started by placing slices of bread on a cutting board. Next, you will put the cookie cutter on the centre of the bread, then had my daughter push down. You might have to help your child push the cookie cutter all the way through the bread, depending on how old your child is. After we cut out the shapes, I poked a small hole at the top of each cut out using a paper straw. This is where the twine will go through, so you can hang your feeders outside. Next, we let the cut-outs dry on the cutting board overnight. This allows the bread to harden. I flipped the bread over just once so that both sides of the bread would harden evenly. Once the bread has set, use a butter knife to spread the peanut butter on to the bread. After you have spread peanut butter on both sides of the bread cut-outs, roll the bread in birdseed until completely coated. I had to use the paper straw again to remove any peanut butter and birdseed that got inside the holes. Next, cut a piece of twine and tie in a knot.

Mason jar aquariums:

 



Supplies:

You will need a mason jar with a lid, blue food colouring, filtered water (tap is fine but come out a little cloudier). For extra fun, you can also get aquarium figurines, plastic plants, or rocks.

Step 1:

Add rocks, plants to the mason jar

Step 2:

Fill with water and add plastic sea creatures.

Step 3:

Add blue food colouring until you are satisfied with the colour.

Step 4:

Add glittering only if you want.

Step 5:

If you add glitter to make sure to add a few drops of glycerine if you want the water to flow more slowly.

Step 6:

Screw lid shut (at this point you can glue the lid with hot glue if you would like)

Step 7:

Gently swirl to see your sea creatures swim!

Cooking/Baking:

Get in the kitchen! Get the kids to help make brownies, decorate biscuits or for the festive season, make and decorate a gingerbread house. This is an excellent idea with the holidays fast approaching!


Frozen Yogurt Bark:

This recipe is not only quick but healthy and fun to make.

 



Ingredients:

Yoghurt of any kind, but plain will work best.
Sliced strawberries or chocolate chips.

Instructions:

Spread a layer of yoghurt onto a parchment-lined baking tray.
Top with the sliced strawberries or chocolate chips.
Freeze until firm, then crack into pieces.
Eat quickly, the bark melts fast.

4 Ingredients Energy Oatmeal Balls:

Ingredients:

3  cups of quick oats

1 cup peanut butter

1/2 cup of honey

1/2 chocolate chips

Directions:

Step 1:

Combine all the ingredients into a mixing bowl and stir together until well combined. Cover with a lid and put in the fridge for 20-30 minutes.

Step 2:

Roll into balls (slightly smaller than a golf ball). Then either eat right away or put back into the fridge for later. 




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FASHION

How to Use Food to Dye Your Clothes

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Next time you’re in the kitchen, save those avocado pits and cabbage stalks, because these natural ingredients can turn your clothes lovely shades of pink, blue, or purple. Using food as a natural clothes dye has been practised for thousands of years. Not only is it a sustainable and chemical-free process, it’s an excellent way to make use of veggie and fruit scraps. Plus, kids will get a kick out of watching their clothes go from a plain white to a whole host of colours, and it’s easy for them to do themselves (with parental supervision, of course!).

Pick a colour

Fruits and vegetables are a great source of natural dye, and some give off surprising colours. While there are definitive foods that will give certain colours, it’s always fun to experiment with different spices and foods and see what colours arise. Here’s some pantry items that will add some colour to your wardrobe.

Pink: avocado, red cabbage, beetroot

Orange: yellow onion skins, avocado, carrot

Yellow: ground turmeric, pomegranate skins, carrot

Green: spinach

Blue: black beans, blueberries, red cabbage

Purple: blueberries, red cabbage, beetroot

The colour of the dye is dependent on several factors, including the pH level of the water, and the variations in the fruit and vegetables used, and how ripe they are. For example, some blueberries will result in a bright blue dye while others will create more of a purple colour.

Prepare the fabric

Natural dye can be strong, but it isn’t as strong as chemical dyes, so a mordant, or fixant, is used to make sure the dye attaches to the fabric. Although some dye hobbyists use ammonia and other professional mordants, household items work just as well. For using fruits dyes, soak your fabric in four cups of water and add a quarter of a cup of salt. For vegetable dyes, add in a cup of vinegar instead. Once the fabric is prepped and ready to go, it’s time to get your dye ready.

Make the dye

Fill a large saucepan with enough water to dunk the fabric in and add the fruit or vegetable of your choice. The amount of each ingredient needed will differ, but as a general rule, a larger quantity will result in a stronger dye. Let the water come to a boil, and then let it simmer. Every now and then, give the pot a stir, and within twenty to thirty minutes the colour should start to appear in the water.

If the colour isn’t exactly what you’re after, you can give it a little help. Red cabbage gives a natural purple dye but adding a little vinegar can turn it a red/pink colour. Want to turn the fabric blue? Try adding a bit of baking soda instead. When the colour is strong and to your liking, scoop out the fruit or vegetable, or use a sieve to get the pure dye. Don’t be afraid to leave it a little longer – the stronger the colour, the more powerful the dye.

Add the fabric

Give it a good stir to ensure that every part is covered in the dye, and then put a lid over it and call it a day. It is recommended that the fabric sit in the dye pot overnight for the best result, but curious kids can check out the fabric before bedtime to see how much the colour has changed. The next morning, carefully tip the dye out of the pot and gently wash the fabric.

Caring for your dyed fabric

For extra staying power, wash the fabric in the same mixture previously used as a mordant. After that, your dyed clothing is ready to be dried and worn. The natural dye will fade over an extended amount of time, so it’s recommended that the clothing or fabric is handwashed and airdried.

The creative possibilities are endless; you could even try tie-dying the fabric, or painting designs using the dye.

 

 

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KIDS

The Day My Imaginary Friends and I Pushed Mum to the Edge.

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As a child who fought more with her two imaginary friends than laughed, I reflect on how real it was for those around me.

Amelia today as she remembers her childhood companions.

“Alright, that’s it!

Tom and Ellie get out of the car now, you’re not coming back home,” I remember my mum yelling.

It was a casual afternoon in mid-2001, I was two-and-a-half years old and the back seat of our forest green Subaru was filled with three children fighting over the last Twistie. I kicked and screamed, not happy with the designated chip outcome, begging the other children to give it to me.

However, I was the only physical child in the back seat. Tom and Ellie were “invisible” fragments of my imagination. Invisible fragments that I fought with so much, I forced Mum to throw them away.

This day was the tip of the iceberg for my mum, feeling like she was the mother to triplets instead of just me. Throwing these “friends” out of the car seemed like the only way to keep the peace and her sanity intact. She was beyond patient with my constant demands. Making sure these unseen beings were properly bathed, dressed, fed and securely buckled into the car before leaving home.

“It was really draining,” says Mum, when asked to reminisce on this stage of my childhood.

“I would have to give everyone a bath each night and when told I didn’t dry them properly, the process had to start all over again.

“As a mum, I knew it was my responsibility to remove a problem that was so obviously agitating my daughter, so ultimately that is what made me stop the car that day.”

Fast forward to the present and I cannot tell you what Tom and Ellie looked like, but when I was a child, they were so vivid within my imagination. They kept me company, forcing me to explore social situations at such an early age. There were plenty of times the three of us were the best of friends, but unfortunately, the fighting outweighed the calm. I knew the playmates I was bickering with over toys, food and personal space were fictional characters within this chapter of my life, however, they were still emotionally and intellectually alive.

My make-believe friends were most likely born out of boredom or the fundamental desire for company, as Tom and Ellie emerged into my life before my little sister was born. Even though we all drove mum crazy, these beings allowed my parents to gain an insight into the creations of my inner world. They noticed what made me shriek with both laughter and anger, my likes, dislikes and inventiveness.

Mum worried I had psychological problems or was meant to be a triplet and had separation anxiety. However, with copious research, she discovered having imaginary friends was a normal part of growing up and developing.

Studies show that imaginary friends are an extremely natural and healthy part of a child’s development. Up to two-thirds of children create make-believe playmates, usually between the ages of three and eight. Dr Psych Mum says these friends are more common amongst firstborn or only children, as they satisfy the need for friendship and companionship, notions in which many only children crave.

The stigma surrounding imaginary friends used to be harsh. Up until the 1990s, people believed they were a psychological red flag, being a sign of loneliness within the child or a reluctance to accept reality. Others also thought these invisible companions were a sign of an evil demonic possession or early signs of mental illness.

However, developmental psychologist Marjorie Taylor said in an interview with The Globe and Mail, that children who manifest these beings grow up to be creative adults, with further links to higher developed social and verbal skills.

Psychologists from all around the world agree children with imaginary confidants – whether that be friends or personified objects – tend to engage more with their peers as they grow up. They also found that these children are more advanced in knowing how to react with imagining how someone else might think and behave in certain situations.

The inclusion of pretend friends within a child’s life fulfils three fundamental psychological needs: competence, relatedness and autonomy. Competence is met by the child assuming a leadership role towards the imaginary friend, an established invisible hierarchy. Relatedness is accomplished by teaching a child ways to connect socially with real-life human beings as they grow older. Autonomy is satisfied by a child gaining a sense of control over their parents, by demanding they complete tasks for their companion.

Imaginary friends inspire children to explore their curiosity in a make-believe world they constructed within their own minds. They provide a sense of comfort, freedom for life lessons and learning curves in the real world.

Looking back and laughing with Mum over these crazy antics with my treasured friends, I am grateful my two-year-old self could invent such precious company. They fulfilled my needs for companionship then, and maybe they fulfil my needs for creativity today.

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FOOD & NUTRITION

Vibrant, simple and delicious summer food

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One of the bests parts about summer is the food. Whether it’s the fresh fruits, vegetables, meats or cheeses, Summer’s all about stress-free entertaining.

These dishes are light, tasty and delicious and are sure to excite your tastebuds and there’s something for your breakfast lunch, dinner and dessert. Stay cool with an acai bowl for breakfast and keep things light with a delicious and easy Spinach, Walnut, Mint, Strawberry and Feta Salad. Let the flavours burst with the Seared Salmon with Asparagus, Pomegranate and Basil Oil for dinner and tantalise those tastebuds with a passionfruit semifreddo for dessert.

Cool down this summer with an Acai bowl. This popular super food smoothie bowl is packed with nutrients and will hit the spot this summer. The best thing is that you can add in the berries of your choice and change the toppings to your liking. These smoothie bowls are quick, easy and satisfying for breakfast or lunch. Delicious!

Ingredients (Serves 1)

  • 1 banana, frozen
  • 100g pack acai puree, frozen
  • 60 ml cold water                 

For garnish:

  • mint leaves
  • goji berries
  • chia seeds
  • shredded coconut
  • toasted muesli

Method

1 If you use a frozen pack of acai puree make sure you break it in a couple of places before you put it into a blender.

2 Add the frozen banana, acai puree and cold water into the blender and blend until smooth.

3 Pour out the smoothie mixture out into a bowl and garnish with mint, goji berries, chia seeds, shredded coconut and toasted muesli.

This vibrant summer salad is the perfect no cooking required meal. It can be an addition to your backyard barbeque grill party or simply served at home. This healthy salad is great for you to enjoy in the hot Australian summer.

Ingredients (Serves 4)

For the vinaigrette:

  • 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
  • 2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
  • 1/4 teaspoon sea salt
  • 1 tsp honey
  • 1/2 tsp Dijon mustard

For the salad:

  • 6 cups baby spinach
  • 1/2 cup walnuts, toasted
  • Small handful of mint, taken off stem
  • 2 cups of strawberries
  • 1/3 cup Greek Feta cheese

Method

1 To prepare the vinaigrette, combine the olive oil, balsamic vinegar, salt, honey and Dijon mustard in a jar and shake. Set aside.

2 For the salad, cut the strawberries into quarters and roughly chop the walnuts.

3 To assemble the salad put the spinach leaves, walnuts, mint and strawberries into a large bowl and then crumble over the feta cheese. Dress the salad with the vinaigrette just before you serve.

Impress your dinner guests this summer with this simple yet elegant meal, any night of the week. With the crispy skin of the salmon, the snap of the asparagus and pumping pomegranate this dish is sure to please. Quick and delicious.

Ingredients (Serves 2)

  • 1/2 red onion
  • 1 green onion
  • 1 pomegranate
  • 4 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
  • 6 asparagus spears
  • 2 salmon fillets

For basil oil:

  • 1/2 cup packed fresh basil leaves, stemmed and washed
  • 1 tablespoon water
  • 2 cloves garlic
  • 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 1/8 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
  • 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil

Method

1 To make the basil oil, place the basil, water, garlic, salt and red pepper flakes in a food processor and pulse a few times. Then add the olive oil and blend until smooth. Set aside.

2 Slice the red onion and the green onion thinly and set aside.

3 Cut the pomegranate in half. Hold each half over a bowl, seeds facing down and tap the skin with a wooden spoon, squeezing a little to release the seeds.

4 Heat a large pan with a tbsp of olive oil, add asparagus and cook for 5 minutes or until tender.

5 Using paper towel pat dry the salmon fillets then season with salt on both sides. Heat a pan over medium to high heat with 2 tablespoons of olive oil and put the salmon skin side down. Cook for about 2-3 minutes per side.

6 To serve, place three asparagus spears on a plate. Top with a piece of salmon skin side up and garnish with the red onion, green onion and pomegranate. Finish with a drizzle of the basil oil.

This frozen dessert is a fast and easy go-to summer dessert. With the texture of frozen mouse it is similar to an ice cream cake but without the fuss and preparation time. Just take it out from the freezer, slice and serve. Simple!

Ingredients (Serves 10)

  • 1 egg
  • 3 egg yolks
  • 150 gm caster sugar
  • 400ml thickened cream
  • juice of 1 lime
  • pulp of 3 passionfruit, plus extra to serve
  • 300ml whipping cream, whipped to serve

Method

1 Grease and line the base and sides of an 8cm x 22cm rectangular cake tin with plastic wrap.

2 Using an electric mixer, whisk the egg, egg yolks and sugar in a medium heatproof bowl until thick and creamy. While continually whisking, place the bowl over a saucepan of simmering water and whisk for 5 minutes or until mixture doubles in size. Remove from heat and set aside, allowing the mixture to cool.

3 Whisk the cream with an electric mixer in a bowl until soft peaks form. Add half the cream to the egg mixture and gently fold it in until just combined. Add the remaining cream, passionfruit pulp and lime juice and fold until just combined. Pour into the prepared pan and place in the freezer overnight until firm.

4 Turn the semifreddo out onto a serving platter. Drizzle with the fresh passionfruit pulp, cut into thick slices and serve immediately with a dollop of whipped cream.

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DADS

How far would you go? One dad’s journey to help thousands of kids

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Rick

Everyday, the kids walked barefoot amongst the broken glass and shrapnel covering the garbage dump where they lived, until one man intervened.

Rick gritted his teeth as the doctor began to lance his toes apart, one by one.

That old farmer on the side of the road had warned him. He’d taken one look at Rick’s bare feet crisping up in the summer sun and said, “Boy, I don’t let my donkey get out on the road in this heat ‘cause it’ll cripple him. I guess that makes you dumber than a jackass.”

It was Day One of ‘The Walk’. Rick was 32 miles in, with 308 miles left to go.

He managed a second glance at his feet, torn to shreds by the sun-scorched earth on which he had spent the last thirteen hours walking barefoot. It was the kind of burnt tarmac that would melt your thongs if you stood on it too long. Not only had his toes fused together, but his feet were all shades of red and blistered.

The worn-out preacher closed his eyes and sat back to let the doctor finish his work, thinking again about the promise he had made…

“Hey mister,” had come a small voice in Spanish, and a hand pulling on his sleeve. “Can I swap my toy for a pair of shoes?”

The source of the voice, a little boy maybe seven or eight years old, was barefoot amongst the broken glass and scraps of rusted tin that blanketed the garbage dump where they stood.

It was Christmas Day, and Rick and his elves had driven overnight with a carload of toys to reach the northern slums of Mexico. Following a vulture rather than a bright star, they had stumbled upon a dump filled with mountains of garbage that at first glance seemed to move.

But as they got closer, they realised the moving parts were actually people, dozens if not hundreds of ‘garbage pickers’ – men, women and children who rummaged through the trash for something to eat, wear or sell.

The boy stared intently up at him, a shiny green toy truck clutched in his outstretched hands, and at first Rick was surprised – why would any child give up a toy for some shoes? Especially at Christmas! But as he caught a glimpse of the boy’s feet, it made a lot of sense – cut to pieces by the unforgiving terrain, his little feet were bleeding, blistered, swollen and red.

But there had been no shoes left to give him, no money either. So with a broken heart, Rick gave him the only thing he could, “I give you my word – I’ll come back this summer and I’ll bring you some shoes.”

As a high school teacher and a minister, he and his wife could put together the money to buy those shoes, he thought. But fortune seemed to smile on him just a couple of short weeks later as he drove up to a church where he was booked to speak.

“There were so many Jaguars in the parking lot, you could have filmed a Tarzan movie,” Rick recalls. 

Wealthy though they were, the congregation was unmoved by his request for funding – just a few pairs of shoes for the boy and his family.

Finally he managed to convince them to sponsor him 10 pairs of shoes for every mile he walked across his home state of Alabama. There was just one catch – he’d have to do it without any shoes on.

That summer, on the 4th of July, Rick began what he calls his “pilgrimage of a promise” – 547km from east to west, the equivalent of walking across the entire state of Victoria, and he was going to walk it barefoot in the middle of summer, just like his friend down in the dumps in Mexico.

“I zigzagged here and there across the blazing hot ground and I remember burning my feet up, thinking what a dumb idea this is.” He laughs. “This was a dumb idea.”

It was at the end of that first day when Rick had to get his doctor to lance his toes apart after they had welded together in the scorching summer heat. They looked every bit as cut up as the feet of his little Mexican friend.

The next morning, Rick awoke to a nation stirred by the amazing story of a preacher walking barefoot across his home state. The story had been picked up by CNN, ESPN, ABC, NBC – pretty much every major news station in the country.

“My goal was to get 3,400 pairs of shoes for 340 miles,” Rick said. “I ended up that year with 60,000 pairs of shoes, and we went back to Mexico.”

After finding “the little rascal” and his family, they gave shoes to every person in that garbage dump, young and old.

Later, Rick’s organisation bought the dump and converted it into an orphanage, which has since been voted the top orphanage in Mexico.

Since that first year, Rick – often accompanied by his beautiful wife, Kim, and now with his shoes on – has diligently walked across one state every year, sometimes more than one if they’re small enough.

With the help of charitable organisations like Soles4Souls and Roma Boots, they have raised over one million pairs of shoes in the last three decades, and the 60-year-old preacher isn’t stopping anytime soon.

“There’s still one more kid that needs a pair of shoes. There’s still one more mother crying because she can’t put shoes on her children’s feet.”

This year he will walk across his 39th and 40th US states.

“I always ask people, how far will you go to keep your word? So far I’ve walked roughly 25,000 kilometres to keep mine.”

For reference, that’s like walking the entire coastline of Australia almost twice! However, as Rick likes to tell people, you don’t need to walk across the country or even the state to make a difference in your community.

“Just take a step and see where it takes you. You may take a step across the lunchroom and sit down next to the new kid at school. You may take a step at work and talk to somebody that you can tell is going through a tough time.”

He and his wife Kim instil this philosophy of compassion-in-action in their four children, RC, Winchester, Elliot and Dreamer, who regularly join them on the walk as well as their biannual trip to Mexico.

Rick encourages people to keep their donations local, to give to those that are doing good in their own backyard. However, if you would like to learn more about the ‘The Walk’ or make a contribution to their amazing work, you can do so here or on their website.

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FOOD & NUTRITION

Back to our roots: eating for a healthy gut and mind

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Veganism is a hotly contested diet and way of life. Many argue that the absence of dairy and meat from a child’s diet is a recipe for disaster, however, science has continually proven the health benefits of a balanced and well-planned vegan diet.

Fad diets have come and gone but veganism continues to take over the world as scientific evidence behind the health trend has changed the eating habits of millions of people. To be vegan is to maintain a diet without the consumption of animal products. This means no meat, dairy, cheese or eggs. For those who have enjoyed an omnivorous diet throughout their life, eating cake and a hearty steak without a care, this diet may seem extreme and overwhelming.

Why should I eat vegan?
A well-balanced vegan diet has shown to provide health benefits, such as the reduced risk of chronic diseases associated with high-sugar and high-preservative diets. This includes:

  • Obesity
  • Coronary artery disease (damage or disease to the heart’s
    major blood vessels)
  • Type 2 diabetes
  • Hypertension (high blood pressure)
  • Some types of cancer, specifically bowel cancer which can be
    caused by a high consumption of red or processed meat.

How?
The livestock industry produces 60 per cent of greenhouse gas emissions in farming, not to mention the global acidification of ocean water, and the impacts of eutrophication which is the build up of nutrients in water bodies that destroys wildlife.

Researchers estimated a vegan world would produce 49 per cent less greenhouse gas emissions from food, 50 per cent less acidification, and would reduce water use by 19 per cent.

Oxford University researcher Joseph Poore says that going vegan “is probably the single biggest way to reduce your impact on planet Earth.”

NEED TO KNOW!
Ensure a balanced diet so that children still receive adequate amounts of vitamin D, calcium, iron and vitamin B12. Vitamin B12 is hard to find in a vegan diet so a B12 supplement is recommended.

Can we get all the same nutrients on a vegan diet?
Yes, of course! However, it is recommended that vegans eat legumes and nuts every day to ensure enough daily nutrient intake.

Iron in a vegan diet is surprisingly, not hard to come by. The best sources of iron include cereals fortified with iron such as Weet-Bix and All-Bran, legumes, tofu, green leafy vegetables such as spinach and dried fruits. The most crucial times for a child raised on a vegan diet is under the age of five, and when girls hit puberty as that is when iron levels drop.

Zinc allows for the development of our immune system and so
they are vital in a healthy vegan diet. Zinc is commonly found in
nuts, miso, tofu, legumes and wholegrain foods. A lack of zinc can
make your child more susceptible to disease and illness.

Calcium is needed for a child to build strong bones and teeth.
It can be found in cereals fortified with calcium including Corn
Flakes and Raisin Bran, soymilk, Asian green vegetables, almonds
and Brazil nuts.

Protein is important for building bones, muscles, repairing
skin and blood. It is found in tofu, tempeh, lentils, chickpeas,
seeds, oats, soymilk and vegetables such as peas, sweet potatoes,
broccoli, potatoes and asparagus.

What goes into my child’s vegan lunchbox?
Dietitian Amber Sewell-Green, who specialises in plant-based
nutrition, suggests:

  • Wholegrain wraps with fillings such as hummus, avocado, tofu
    or tempeh
  •  Lentil or quinoa salads
  • Enchiladas with beany fillings
  • Homemade bliss balls
  • Homemade popcorn
  • Snack packs of crunchy fava beans.

While ensuring your child is attaining the necessary vitamins and nutrients that are essential for their healthy development, a vegan diet can be cleansing and even strengthening for a growing child. As a diet that separates itself from preserved meats and cheeses, a vegan diet can reduce the chances of several life-threatening illnesses while also having a positive impact on the environment.

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EDUCATION

Why our kids are taking action on climate change

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Children all around the world left the classroom to take to the streets in the School Strike for Climate, despite receiving criticism from teachers, parents and even our top politicians. So, why did our kids risk punishment to take action for the environment?

We recently saw school children around the world united in one common goal: save our planet. In over 112 countries, kids skipped school on Friday March 15 to take to the streets in the School Strike for Climate, demanding governments take action on an issue that will affect the course of their futures.

Many teachers, parents and politicians raised objection, insisting that the children stay in school instead. Prime Minister Scott Morrison told parliament, “We do not support our schools being turned into parliaments… what we want is more learning in schools and less activism.”

Despite drawing criticism, the school strike did make people take notice of the issue in a way that hasn’t before and forced many to beg the question: why are the kids coming together to take action on climate change?

Many teachers, parents and politicians raised objection, insisting that the children stay in school instead.

It was Greta Thunberg, a 16-year-old climate activist from Sweden who inspired the more than 1.4 million young people to campaign on climate action this month. Her solo protest outside Swedish parliament last August is what prompted the global movement. “We proved that it does matter what you do and that no one is too small to make a difference,” Thunberg says.

Citing a belief in equality and climate justice as their reason to skip school, those who took part in the march called for a dramatic reduction in greenhouse emissions from their respective countries.

“We proved that it does matter what you do and that no one is too small to make a difference”

Young people, it seems, are the ones taking to the streets due to the lack of action from world leaders. Many, like Swedish activist Greta Thunberg, are under the impression that the adults have left this environmental mess for the children to clean up. With a belief that the press and politicians seem to be ignoring the issue, the youth are taking action into their own hands.

Young people, it seems, are the ones taking to the streets due to the lack of action from world leaders.

Whether you agree with the actions of the climate strike or not, one thing is undeniably clear. The united action around the globe reveals the solidarity of young people that are concerned about the environment. If a united strike such as this created as much conversation and debate as it did, then perhaps the time has come to listen to the kids and start doing something to act when it comes to the future of our planet.

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