october—november 2014

OCTOBER—NOVEMBER 2014
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Editors Words... Inside this issue:
Now that Spring is properly here some
strange things have been happening. For
some me now my inner domes c
goddess has been figh ng to get out
despite my best efforts of lying down and
hoping she’ll go back to sleep.
Cu es and Cheekies
President’s Report
Self Directed Play
Crea ve Ways to Declu er
Homemade Cleaning Products
As these efforts have failed I’ve found
Beauty
myself with a strange urge to purge the
Teach Your Children
house of clu er and grime. You know—
Taupo PC No ce Board
wash the ceilings and walls, ditch the
outgrown toys and clothes and so on.
What’s on
Family Ac vites in Taupo Area
Hopefully it’s just a temporary problem
Paren ng Courses
that will go away shortly. But in case it
doesn’t I’ve gathered together some ps Calendar
on declu ering and info on making your
The Way Things Were
own natural and cheap cleaning products.
A Fabulous Day
If by any chance I act upon this urge and
Members Discounts
actually do some real cleaning using my
Membership and Volunteering
homemade cleaners I’ll let you know
For Sale
about it next issue.
Support Groups
In case you’re wondering about the front
Commi ee Contacts
cover image, it’s of me and my family in a
private cave on a friend’s farm in
Waitomo.
Our Mission Statement
Front Cover: Supplied by Caroline Sowerby Fingerprints Enquiries
E: [email protected]
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Positive birth experiences and
informed parenting in a community
where parents are supported and
highly valued in their role.
Taupo Parents Centre
AC Baths Avenue, PO Box 1009 , TAUPO 3351
p:07 378 4995 e:[email protected]
www.parentscentre.org.nz/taupo
Disclaimer – Opinions and ar cles in this magazine do not necessarily reflect Parents Centres NZ policy. Adver sing in this
magazine does not imply endorsement by Parents Centres NZ Inc. The views expressed in this magazine are not necessarily those held
by Taupo Parents Centre Inc. While every effort is made to be accurate, we cannot be held responsible for errors or omissions.
Original items in this magazine may generally be reproduced, provided their source is acknowledged. Taupo Parents Centre publishes
this magazine six mes per year.
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Cu es & Cheekies
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President’s Report...
It’s been a busy and exci ng month in our household with the arrival
of another li le person in late August. Spring has sprung on us very
quickly, I love this me of year with the daffodils and blossoms
sprinkling li le bits of colour here and there.
It was great to see so many people come along to the Big Latch On
and Dorothy Waide events in August. I hope those of you who made it
to our photography fundraiser with Deja Vu Photography enjoyed
your photo shoots I know a number of people struggled to know
which images to pick as there were so many great ones. Sadly we said
goodbye to Michelle our Music Host at the end of term three, she will
be missed by both the children and the mums. I hope by the me this
has gone to print we have a new host lined up to con nue the
Monday morning fun.
Coming up in October we have a Star ng Schools Seminar ‐ great for
anyone with a li le one star ng school in 2015. More details are in
here and on our Facebook page and website.
Remember all our antenatal or childbirth educa on classes are FREE
and not just for first me parents, so if you or a friend are pregnant
email or call us and leave a message and we will get back to you to
answer any ques ons and if you would like, book you in.
Un l next edi on, see you out and about and feel free to contact me
via our email [email protected] if there is anything you
would like to discuss.
Leah
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Self Directed Play...
By Fenella Tinworth, Head Teacher at Four Seasons Kindergarten
You hear the term self‐directed play regularly, especially when it’s
me for your child to enter into their early childhood educa on
environment. Some mes it can be called free‐play. What exactly does
this look like and what does it really mean?
This type of play is child ini ated with
minimal adult direc on or pre‐conceived
outcomes. The aim is for a child to be
able to explore and learn freely what
they are drawn to at any par cular
me. An adult is available as support in
conflict resolu on or redirec on, and to
give possible solu ons and to model ap‐
propriate language and behaviour.
to learn to create endless possibili es
out of what is available rather than need‐
ing more and more ‘stuff’ with which to
play. For example it would be desirable
to see that a child wants to play a farm
game because perhaps he or she has
been at Grandpa’s farm, and then looks
around and finds some generic wheeled
vehicle, and then needs to do some in‐
ternal work to imagine this into a tractor,
as opposed to seeing a ready‐ made trac‐
tor and then simply playing a tractor
game. The child can play with the same
vehicle the next day but it has become a
bulldozer at the quarry.
Self‐directed play is about the process of
play rather than the final product. For
example, the learning is in the placing
and balancing of the blocks in a tower
rather than the final tower itself. The
crea vity is in the transforming of a story
that the child has viewed into the perfor‐ Individual play is also important; o en a
child has the need for some quiet reflec‐
mance of the child’s own story.
With self‐directed play, the aim is for a ve me, or is watching the happenings
social play rather than an individual task around them. Even when a child says he
orientated ac vity. Therefore fewer toys or she is bored; this is great! It is at
are needed and play equipment has these mes that new ideas arrive.
Through self‐directed play children learn
to be flexible in their thinking and prob‐
lem solving. They become adaptable and
crea ve. Children learn to manage
themselves and their belongings whilst
retaining an openness and excitement
about learning. All of these aspects are
A note on toys; in a self‐directed play vital for future learning at school and
environment, you will find simple open further ahead in adult life, building a
ended play equipment to enable children strong and resilient young adult.
open ended possibili es so that the chil‐
dren need to work together, nego ate,
and be imagina ve in their play rather
than just comple ng a set task. In this
way a child learns to manage his or her
self without relying on adult interven‐
on.
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‘Tis the Season to Declu er... Hurray – Spring is here at last, and to welcome it in some of us,
including me, might actually decide to do some Spring cleaning.
However, now that I have kids and no money I’ve also become a
lot more aware of the chemicals in many everyday cleaning
products and the cost of them. So I’m keen to use more child‐,
eco‐, natural‐ and pocket‐friendly cleaning products. But before
I can even start cleaning I feel the need to declu er. Par cularly
a lot of the kids’ stuff that has accumulated over the past few
years.
I had a squiz on the web looking for ideas and below and
overleaf are just some of the many ps out there.
10 Crea ve Ways to Declu er
Your Home
Consider this list of 10 crea ve ways to
declu er your home:
Wri en by Joshua Becker
1. Give yourself 5 solid minutes. Leo
Babauta at Zen Habits recommends 18
different 5‐minute declu ering ps. Pick
one today that sounds appealing. Or
be er yet, pick a random number 1‐18,
read the specific p, and commit 5
minutes to comple ng it.
“People rarely succeed unless they have
fun in what they are doing.” —Dale
Carnegie
The idea of living a simplified,
unclu ered life with less stuff sounds
a rac ve to many. They have considered
the benefits of owning fewer
possessions: less to clean, less debt, less
to organize, less stress, more money and
energy for their greatest passions. They
are ready to declu er but some get
quickly tripped up by the very next
ques on… where in the world do I
begin?
2. Give away one item each day. Colleen
Madsen at 365 Less Things gives away
one item each day. Over the past several
years, she has experienced quite a
transforma on simply reducing her stuff
one day at a me.
3. Fill one trash bag. Early in our journey
towards simplicity, one of my favorite
declu ering techniques was to grab a
Many begin to feel overwhelmed,
simple large trash bag and see how
anxious, and defeated around the idea of quickly I could fill it. While much of what
declu ering their homes. That’s too bad. I collected was trash, this could also be
The declu ering journey doesn’t need to used to fill a bag for Goodwill.
be as painful as some make it out to be.
In fact, there are a variety of people who 4. Try the Oprah Winfrey Closet Hanger
Experiment. While this idea didn’t
have come up with some pre y fun,
originate with Oprah, she was the one to
crea ve ways to get started.
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help give it notoriety. To iden fy
wardrobe pieces to clear out, hang all
your clothes with the hangers in the
reverse direc on. A er you wear an
item, return it to the closet with the
hanger facing the correct direc on. A er
six months, you’ll have a clear picture of
which clothes you can easily discard. This
experiment could also be applied to a
number of clu er areas in your home
(cleaners, toys, linens, tools, hobbies and
cra items).
5. Make a list. Dana Byers recommends
crea ng a list of places/areas in your
home to declu er beginning with the
easiest… which doesn’t sound all that
crea ve un l she adds this note, “When
you’re done with one area, STOP.” This
list could be made as easy or difficult as
you desire based upon what areas of
your home make up the list (drawers/
closets/rooms). And could easily fit into
any schedule.
their ideas: take photos of your house,
invite over a toddler, or ask the boss to
meet in your office. With all of the
examples, the hope is to cause you to
see your home in a new light.
8. Experiment with numbers. Courtney
Carver invented Project 333 to challenge
people to wear only 33 ar cles of
clothing for 3 months. If 33 ar cles of
clothing seems too li le, adjust the rules
as you need by picking a new number.
The important thing is to challenge
yourself to live with less and see what
you learn from the experiment.
9. Use your imagina on. Psychology
Today recommends using your
imagina on to help declu er objects
that may seem difficult to remove. Try
asking yourself unique ques ons like, “If I
was just buying this now, how much
would I pay?” These crea ve techniques
may prove to be very helpful for some
with difficul es removing unneeded
6. Take the 12‐12‐12 Challenge. A simple clu er.
task of loca ng 12 items to throw away,
10.The Four‐Box Method. As we first set
12 items to donate, and 12 items to be
out on our journey to minimalism, this
returned to their proper home can be a
was the technique most o en used in
really fun and exci ng way to quickly
our home. As I set out to declu er an
organize 36 things in your house. On
area, I brought four boxes: trash, give
more than one occasion, this challenge
away, keep, or relocate. Each item in
actually became a quick compe on
every room was placed into one of the
between my wife and I… and your kids
four categories. No item was passed
don’t have to be too old to par cipate as
over. Each was considered individually.
well.
Some projects took an hour… others
7. Change your perspec ve. Unclu erer took days or weeks. But the technique
offers a powerful approach to
and principles remained the same.
declu ering when they offer a number of
Source: www.becomingminimalist.com/
strategies to help you change your
crea ve‐ways‐to‐declu er/
perspec ve and begin to no ce some
clu er you may have missed. Among
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… And To Be Cleaning Simple Homemade 3‐in‐1 Household Cleaner tasks. My cabinets aren’t crowded with
spray bo les anymore; making them easier to
Do you want to rid your home of toxic
cleaners? Are you done paying high prices for organize and keep track of what I have.
natural/organic cleaners that might not be as
natural as they claim? Are your cabinets
overflowing with too many cleaning
solu ons? Then here is the answer for you:
white vinegar.
You can make a simple household cleaner
from white vinegar, liquid cas le soap and
essen al oils that will meet almost all your
cleaning needs.
White vinegar has become my favorite
cleaner over the last couple years. It is
inexpensive and non toxic, making it the
perfect cleaner to keep
around the house. I can
buy a gallon for about
US$2.00 at the local
market. It is safe to use
around your kiddos, safe
for you and for the
environment.
White vinegar disinfects
and deodorizers, killing
99 percent of bacteria,
80 percent of viruses
(germs) and 82 percent
of mold.
For an added
an bacterial and
cleaning power, I like to
add essen al oils. Some of my favorites to
use are a combina on of tea tree and
lavender, both of which are an bacterial, or
lemon which has disinfectant proper es.
If you use essen al oil be sure to exercise
some cau on around your children because
the oils can be toxic if consumed.
Simple 3‐in‐1 Household Cleaner
Spray bo le
1 cup White Vinegar
2 cups Water
1 Tbsp dish soap (op onal)
30 drops Essen al Oil
Combine everything in a spray bo le. Make a
pre y label or write on the bo le to
remember what it is. Shake before using.
How to Use: All‐Purpose Cleaner
I use it for cleaning in the kitchen, bathrooms
and just about any where. It does wonders on
grease build up in the oven.
For a ni y‐gri y job, like
mold in grout, spray on and
let sit for a few minutes. For
a li le extra cleaning power
you can use it in combina on
with baking soda (get ready
for the bubbles of a baking
soda & vinegar reac on!).
If someone in your family or
a visitor is ill, it is good for
spraying on plas c toys,
doorknobs and light
switches, to prevent illness
from spreading. If you spray
on any toys that li le ones
might put in their mouths,
rinse off a er a few minutes.
You can also spray 3‐in‐1 Household Cleaner
on cu ng boards and knives a er cu ng raw
meat. Be sure to rinse off if you use essen al
oils/soap.
Source: ww.frugalgranola.com
I love the beauty of simplifica on. That’s why Post by Contribu ng Writer, Ka e
I like having one cleaner to accomplish many
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Cleaning Recipes from Bin Inn
Floor Cleaner
¼ Cup Borax
2 litres Hot Water
Mix together in a large bucket to clean
floors and walls
Scouring Powder
½ Cup Borax
¼ Cup Baking Soda
1 ½ Cups Hot Water
Mix ingredients in a sealable
container.
Use as a scourer on sinks and
bathtubs.
Toilet Cleaner
1 Cup Baking Soda
1 Cup White Vinegar
Pour baking soda and vinegar into
toilet bowl. Leave for 10 minutes, then
clean with toilet brush and flush clean.
Shower Door Cleaner
1 Cup Water
1 Cup White Vinegar
Pour ingredients into a spray bo le
and spray onto shower
door. Leave for an hour
then wipe off.
Window Cleaner
1 Cup White Vinegar
2 Cups Water
Squirt of Dishwashing
Liquid
Couple of drops of tea
Tree Oil
Pour ingredients into a
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spray bo le. Spray on windows, wipe
clean with newspaper.
Oven Cleaner
1 Cup Baking Soda
Water
Sprinkle baking soda on base of oven.
Mix with enough water to make a
paste. Spread paste over oven walls
and door. Leave overnight and wipe
off the next day.
Ke le Lime Scale Cleaner
½ Cup White Vinegar
Fill ke le with water, add vinegar.
Leave
overnight then rinse thoroughly the
next day.
Auto Dish wash Powder
1 Cup Washing Soda
1 Cup Baking Soda
¼ Cup Citric Acid
¼ Cup Salt
Mix ingredients together, store in a
sealed container. Use 1 tablespoon
per load. Use white vinegar as
dishwasher rinse aid.
Fridge Cleaner
Baking Soda
½ Cup Water
Mix baking soda and water together
and use a sponge to wipe on the
insides of the fridge.
Leave a small container of baking soda
in the fridge to absorb odors.
Drain Cleaner
2 Cups Baking Soda
2 Cups Salt
½ Cup Cream of Tatar
Mix together and store in a container.
Pour ¼ cup of mixture down drain
followed by 1 litre of boiling water,
leave for 5 minutes, flush with tap
water for a few minutes.
Tile Grout Cleaner
3 Cups Baking Soda
1 Cup Warm Water
Mix to a smooth paste and scrub into
grout with a toothbrush. Rinse with
water.
Chopping Board Cleaner
2 Tbsps Baking Soda
¼ Cup White Wine Vinegar
To clean and deodorise wooden
chopping boards, sprinkle on baking
soda, spray with vinegar. Leave for
about 5 minutes and then rinse clean.
Source: www.bininn.co.nz
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Beauty Looking a er yourself is increasingly becoming both a science and an art.
Diamond Laser Medispa prides itself on its knowledge and exper se in the latest
beauty technology and great customer service.
Award winning beauty therapist Olivia Blakeney‐Williams has designed an
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aspects of Diamond Laser’s treatments have been developed with your comfort
and privacy in mind. Your me with them is simply that, "your me", and their
consistent focus is to make that special.
Olivia has over six years experience in the industry and is highly qualified. Along
with her background in advanced skin therapy, Olivia is fully trained and
experienced in laser treatments for hair removal and skin rejuvena on.
If its laser treatment, skin rejuvena on, eyebrow makeover, pedicure and
manicure, facials ,waxing or ta oo removal, they do it all. They have also
developed a package specifically for pregnant women. Visit their website or give
them a call to find out more.
LASER HAIR REMOVAL PREGNANCY DELIGHTS
Get ready for a hair free summer
with Diamond Laser Medispa.
The latest technology ensures
great, safe results. Prices start
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30 minute consulta on to assess
your skin for treatment.
Our specialist mummy facial and
relaxing back or full body
massages are the perfect
pregnancy treat to pamper
yourself and your skin. Or choose
our heavenly treatment for red
feet and swollen ankles.
97B KAIMANWA STREET, TAUPO
PH 07 378 4823
WWW.DIAMONDLASER.CO.NZ
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Teach Your Children...
The following is a con nua on from the September/October edi on of
Fingerprints Magazine. This ar cle by Beth Wicks for Nature and Health
Magazine website (23 September 2013) highlights some of the health
problems and stresses poten ally facing children today and ways to avoid or
combat them.
Problem 3: Stress and anxiety
If you think only adults get stressed,
think again. Kids of all ages suffer
headaches, have trouble sleeping
and experience panic a acks as a
result of worry and anxiety. Rita
Be enburg, former dean of
naturopathic medicine at the
Na onal College of Natural Medicine,
believes high levels of stress
experienced by children result from
'helicopter paren ng'.
“Kids are stressed because they
perceive themselves as powerless,”
explains Be enburg. “Parents have
been socialised to feel that they
shouldn't allow their children to feel
pain. Parents work so hard to
prevent frustra ons and failures that
they actually deny their children
valuable lessons and problem‐solving
skills. Kids have to get frustrated –
they need limits, and they need to be
allowed to fail in a suppor ve way.
They have no concept of how to
solve problems, so if it’s not the way
they want it, it’s scary.”
most of us tend to brush off or ignore
what our kids tell us, instead jumping
in with our own conclusions about
what they need. But at what cost? “A
child who is forever dismissed
eventually gives up or becomes
indifferent at best,” explains Michael
Ungar, family therapist and author of
The We Genera on: Raising Socially
Responsible Kids. “But when
children's thoughts, fears, hopes and
dreams are validated, they're
inspired to take responsibility for
their ac ons and make powerful,
valuable contribu ons.”
Spend quality me with your kids and
really listen to what they have to say.
Engage them in a relaxing ac vity,
such as cooking together, to make it
easier for them to share with you.
Resist the tendency to do all that you
can to guarantee con nual success.
Instead, support your child when
they don't make the grade, and help
them explore what they can learn
from the experience. At meal mes,
listen and share. “Meal mes give
children a sense of predictability and
Solu on: Open communica on is
iden ty, helping them feel more
key to relieving children's stress. Yet,
secure and confident,” says Chris ne
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Carter, sociologist and author of
Raising Happiness: 10 Steps for More
Joyful Kids and Happier Parents.
“Ea ng together ensures these kids
are more emo onally stable and less
likely to abuse drugs and alcohol,”
she adds.
Problem 4: Processed food
French fries, chicken nuggets and
tomato ketchup are just some of the
processed foods that have
unfortunately become staples in
most children's diets. Kids find them
hard to resist, and when me or
money is ght, it’s temp ng to fall
back on these processed
convenience foods. "Processed foods
have fewer essen al fats and B
vitamins and less zinc, vital for brain
func on and intellectual
development," explains nutri onist
Patrick Holford. Plus, processed
foods contain fast‐releasing
carbohydrates which lead to sugar
cravings, increasing the risk of
obesity, diabetes and heart disease.
High levels of sugar are also linked to
delinquency and behaviour problems
in children.
Solu on: Model healthy ea ng
habits by buying fresh organic
products instead of highly‐processed
convenience foods, and cooking with
the fewest and simplest ingredients
possible. Children need a well‐
balanced diet, with plenty of fresh
fruit and vegetables, whole grains,
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low fat or non‐fat dairy products,
beans, fish and lean meat. Those who
eat nutrient‐rich produce
demonstrate greater accuracy in
a en on‐based tasks, and improved
cogni on and mood. Fruit also
lowers kids' sugar intake. Plums and
bananas, for example, are slow‐
releasing carbohydrates, which help
prevent kids from developing a sweet
tooth and ensure that they do not
get such big blood sugar swings.
"Op mally nourished children are
brighter, calmer and more
adaptable," Holford says. "They look
and feel healthier, too."
Problem 5: Minimise medica on
Drugs may be necessary, even life‐
saving for some kids, but they’re not
always the answer and o en cause
side effects, including sleep
problems, mood swings and
gastrointes nal issues. It’s important
to obtain the right diagnosis.
Research shows that many kids put
on medica on for ADHD, for
example, are incorrectly diagnosed.
The drugs are unnecessary, and
therefore detrimental to their health.
Solu on: Family therapist Marilyn
Wedge suggests ruling out poten al
causes, such as food allergies or
vision problems, before giving
medica on to kids with behavioural
problems. She is one of many
healthcare professionals who
strongly advocate the use of natural
therapies and complementary
medicine – including acupuncture,
herbs, aromatherapy, homoeopathy
and flower remedies ‐ rather than
drugs, especially for pain relief.
Psychotherapy has been shown to be
just as effec ve than medica on, if
not more so. “For children’s physical
ailments that result from stress or
anxiety, family therapy, guided
imagery and medica on all really
help,” Wedge notes.
Problem 6: The chemical maze
Children's developing brains and
hormone systems are highly
vulnerable to environmental toxins,
especially:
* Formaldehyde: Furniture made
from plywood, laminated wood or
chipboard contains high levels of
formaldehyde which can cause
headaches, respiratory irrita on and
skin rashes. Furniture is also o en
coated in paint containing vola le
organic compounds (VOC) that is
harmful to the lungs.
* Flame retardants:
Carpet backing,
ma resses and foam
furniture all contain
flame retardant
chemicals, which at
high levels can
poten ally harm a
child's development.
Carpet also gives off
carcinogens which
trigger allergies and
respiratory
problems.
* Bisphenol A (BPA):
This petroleum‐
derived compound is
found in a wide
range of plas cs,
including kid's cups,
bo les and most
toys. It mimics
oestrogen in the
body and has been
linked to birth
15
defects, cancer, abnormal genital
development and early puberty.
* Skincare products: Shampoo, soap,
moisturiser and other scented
products commonly contain
chemicals that can cause health
problems ranging from skin irrita on
to cancer. The Na onal Eczema
Society has noted a remarkable rise
in the number of children suffering
from eczema ‐ from just three per
cent in the 1950s to one in five of
today's children.
Solu on: You'll never be able to
avoid these toxins altogether, but
you can limit your family's exposure
to them. Choose solid‐wood
16
furniture with low or no VOC paint.
Opt for hardwood floors instead of
carpet, or choose a vacuum with a
HEPA filter to minimise exposure to
allergens. Go for ma resses made
en rely from natural and organic raw
materials, such as coconut fibres,
lambswool or organic co on. Avoid
skin‐care or cleaning products
containing sulphates, preserva ves,
perfumes or petrochemicals. Choose
phthalate and BPA‐free bo les and
toys, or those made from wood or
organic co on.
Source:
h p://www.natureandhealth.com.au/
news/teach‐your‐children
17
No ce Board
We have some shoes to fill… Can you help us?
Taupo Parents Centre is a not‐for‐profit organisa on, run en rely by volunteers ‐
Mums and Dads who want to help other parents in their community and, because
our babies are growing up or more are coming along, some roles on our commi ee
are coming up for grabs…
Vice President—Are you a jack of all
trades and love working in a team? This
role includes a ending local community
mee ngs, nego a ng contracts, helping
out with fundraising , assis ng course hosts
and being another set of hands when
needed.
Treasurer—Are you great with numbers
and keeping track of money? We use Xero,
an online accountancy program, to crunch
the numbers. Someone with great
a en on to detail is perfect for this role.
Correspondence Secretary—If you have
super organisa onal skills and are good at
administra on and keeping people
informed this role could be ideal for you.
Membership Officer—A role easily done
from the comfort of home. This involves
inpu ng new members data into a
database, sending out welcome packs to
new members and reminders for
membership renewals.
Graphic Designer—This would suit
someone with a crea ve streak. Drumming
up the odd poster for events and ac vi es.
Access to Publisher a bonus but not a must.
Fundraising—Can you meet deadlines and
complete funding applica on forms as well
as keep a look out for funding
opportuni es and file reports?
Librarian—We have great books on
birthing and paren ng and need someone
to operate and administer our book loan
system.
What’s the Deal?
Taupo Parents Centre are a group of
people who work hard, but know how to
have fun. We meet the second Thursday
night of the month to complete the formal
requirements of the commi ee, at various
loca ons o en with cake, coffee and/or
wine. We also have a monthly social catch
up. Everything else is done from home via
phone, email and Facebook.
Marke ng—Do you like crea ve wri ng or If you have skills that would be useful in
are you a whiz on Facebook? Our
marke ng role includes wri ng press
releases, sending informa on out to
relevant groups via email and promo ng
our ac vi es on our Facebook page.
roles other than those described above or
you would just like to become a general
commi ee member before taking on a
specific job ‐ we’d love to hear from you.
WE LOVE IDEAS
We are about to do our strategic plan for 2015. If you have
feedback on things you have liked or did not like, or would
love to see us do, please let us know at
[email protected] or chat with a commi ee
member or message us on Facebook. This helps us to know
what your want. We are here for you and your family!
18
19
What’s on in Taupo… Free Children’s Ac vi es
School Holidays 29 Sept—11 Oct
Taupo, Turangi and Mangakino Libraries are
running a fantas c range of free ac vi es
each day for toddlers and children of all ages.
Visit: www.taupodc.govt.nz/our‐services/
libraries‐and‐museum/libraries/Pages/
Kids.aspx
Taupo Halloween Film Fes val
Fri 31 Oct, 8:15pm ‐ 10:15pm
Starlight Cinema
Peter Pan Musical
2 Oct—5 Oct, Ma nee & evening showings
Great Lake Centre
Starlight Cinema Fireworks Extraveganza
Fri 7 Nov, 5:30pm
Owen Delany Park
MiniMasters Golf Tournament, Under 13s
Sat 18 Oct, 10:00am ‐ 6:00pm
Sun 19 Oct, 10:00am ‐ 6:00pm
Wairakei Resort
Lake Taupo Cycle Challenge
29 November, All day
Taupo
NZV8 Pickup Roundup
Sun 26 Oct, 10:00am ‐ 3:00pm
Tongariro North Domain
Further details for many of these events and
more can be found at:
www.even inder.co.nz/2014
20
Taupo Kennel Assoc. Championship Show
Sat 1 Nov, 8:00am ‐ 6:00pm
Sun 2 Nov, 8:00am ‐ 6:00pm
Owen Delany Park
More Family Fun… AC Baths & Climbing Wall— Thermally heated
public swimming pools. 432 sqm of climbing area
with 30 climbing routes at Taupo Events Centre
Ac on World Taupo—Tight Ropes, Circus Swings,
Jungle Ropes
Ara a a Rapids—4 x a day in summer see the dam
‘let loose’
Big Rock Family Fun Park—Exci ng Ac vi es for
children of all ages and for the adults too. See their
ad opposite for 10% off your next visit.
Mountain Biking—There are a number of tracks
from easy to hard rides in the area
Lake Taupo Museum and Art Gallery—Visit the
Pure Ora Garden of Wellbeing, exhibi ons,
children’s corner, art and more
Orakei Korako—View Geysers, silica terraces, hot
springs, mud pools and the majes c Ruatapu Cave
in the Hidden Valley
Feeding the Ducks—At Taupo Boat Harbour. See if
you can spot some trout. Enjoy the busy marina
Botannical Gardens—Craters of the Moon fun
Starlight Cinema Centre—5 theatres, see local
ac vi es for all ages. (See their ad opposite for 10% paper or phone 378 7515 for viewing details
off your next visit.)
Taupo Quad Adventures
Day Walks—There are a number of day walks
Taupo De Bre s Hot Springs Spa—Mineral pools,
around the area from 30 minutes to a full day.
hydro slide and children’s interac ve playground.
Walks and hikes brochure available from the Taupo Massage and Day Spa
or Turangi i‐SITE Visitor Centres
Taupo Mini Golf—18 holes of lakrefront fun
Honey Hive—Watch bees in their glass viewing
hives and sample a myriad of honey products. Café Mind Junc on—Interac ve ac vi es for all the
family. Maze, Golf simulator, Model railway,
on site. Situated off SH1 north of Taupo in the
remote control boats, Electronic drum kit and
Wairakei Tourist Park
more. Café and puzzle shop on site
Horse Treks—Through pine forests with views of
Volcanic Ac vity Centre—Experience the
Craters of the Moon
earthquake simulator!!
Huka Prawn Park—NZ’s only prawn park where
Wairakei Terraces—Geothermal wonderland and
you can catch lunch.
tradi onal Maori village life set amidst a se ng of
Huka Falls River Cruise—Views of Huka Falls and
terraces, mud pools, geysers and sacred healing spa
the Waikato River
Tokaanu Thermal Pools—Thermally heated
Kayaking—Explore the Waikato River by kayak.
outdoor & private pools
This is a scenic, gentle, flat water paddle
Tongariro Na onal Trout Centre—View wild Taupo
Trout through the underwater window or feed
Lake Cruises—Various boats and yachts cruise
trout in the children’s pond. Lots of displays, bush
Taupo daily. View the Maori Rock Carvings
se ng, BBQ and picnic facili es.
Lilliput Farm—View animals and birds before
Playgrounds, Parks, Reserves—Plenty throughout
picnicking in the garden and playing in the play
Taupo and Turangi
huts, on wings etc. Pony rides available
Parents Rooms at the Superloos.
Lion Express Train—Children’s ride on a small
monorail. Runs from 10am public /school holidays. Public Toilets at the Supoerloos, Library &
Weekends during summer (weather permi ng)
Suncourt Shopping Centre
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Paren ng Classes
Baby and You
A FREE morning course over five
weeks for parents with babies up to
3 months old. The course covers
sleeping, crying, breas eeding/
feeding,
common
illnesses,
immunisa on, coping with change,
postnatal depression, childhood
development and lots more.
Our next course starts 7 Oct 2014.
Tuesdays 10am‐12 noon
Great for mee ng other mums!
Another course starts 18 Nov.
Tinies to Tots
For parents with children
aged between 10‐18 months old.
Learn about nutri on, safety, teeth,
communica on
development,
sleeping habits, behavior, and pre‐
school op ons.
Our next weekend course is 11 and
18 October 2014.
Saturday 9am‐1pm.
Moving, Munching
& First Aid
A three session course for parents
of 4 to 7 month olds. This
Wednesday morning course covers
language, intellectual and physical
development,
nutri on
and
introducing solids plus infant first
aid. (This course is currently being
updated so please visit our website
for info. on the new content.)
Our next course is on 19 Nov 2014.
Wednesdays 10am‐12 noon.
Toddlers Course
For parents with children
aged 18 months—3 years. Our four
session course covers nutri on,
sleeping, physical care, behaviour,
development and toilet training.
Our next course will be in 2015. and will
be announced in a future issue closer to
the time.
For details of course content please visit out website at
www.parentscentre.org.nz/taupo
Alterna vely for more informa on and bookings please contact: 378 4995 and
leave a message or email us at [email protected]
22
Paren ng Classes
Childbirth Educa on
Antenatal
Pregnancy, Birth and
Early Paren ng.
To help you and your partner
prepare for having a baby; led by
qualified childbirth educators.
Not just for first me parents. A
great opportunity to meet other
new parents. Support persons
welcomed. 7 weeks in the evening
from 7‐9pm. See our calendar
overleaf for course dates.
Rangiaatea
Waaenanga
Maori Pregnancy, Birth and
Early Paren ng.
The next one day course takes place
on Saturday 15 November, 2014.
Text Charlo e on 021 1875591 for
further informa on and/or to book a
place. Te Puawaitanga Kohanga Reo.
Music and
Movement
Introduce your children to the
enjoyment of movement and
music! A fun interac ve session to
provide children with a crea ve
outlet for energy and emo on.
Monday mornings at 10.00am
during school term with sandpit
me a erwards. Coffee and tea
provided. Please bring morning tea
for your child.
Hot Topics
STARTING SCHOOL
Seminar by Kylie Molloy &
Catriona Eagles
For parents and carers of any child
star ng school in 2015. See our ad
on page 17 for further informa on.
(We run one‐off seminars covering
toilet training, food allergies, first
aid, family budge ng. We welcome
any sugges ons of topics you would
Anonymous
"Children are great imitators. So give them
something great to imitate."
23
24
21 Baby & You (FREE)
28 Baby & You (FREE) 20 Music & Movement
Child Birth
Education 27 Labour Day No Music &
Movememnt
Child Birth
Education Child Birth
Education 29 Child Birth
Education 22 Child Birth
Education 15 Term 4 Outing 30 23 16 14 13 Baby & You (FREE) TPC Committee
Meeting La Leche
Breastfeeding
Baby & You (FREE)
Music & Movement
Child Birth
Education 9 8 7 Child Birth
Education Child Birth
Education
THURS
6 2 1 WED
TUES
MON
25 Tinies to Tots 18 31 SAT
Tinies to Tots 11 4 24 17 10 3 FRI
26 19
12 5 SUN
Taupo Parents Centre October 2014
Baby & You (FREE) Moving & Munching
Childbirth Education
Antenatal Music & Movement
Childbirth Education
Antenatal 26 25
24 Childbirth Education
Antenatal Baby & You (FREE) Moving & Munching
Childbirth Education
Antenatal 19 18
27 20 TPC Committee
Meeting La Leche
Breastfeeding
Childbirth Education
Antenatal 13 6
THURS
12 Music & Movement
11 17 Childbirth Education
Antenatal Music & Movement
10 Antenatal Baby & You (FREE) Childbirth Education
Childbirth Education
Antenatal Music & Movement
5
WED
4 TUES
3 MON
28 21
14 7
FRI
Moving & Munching
29 22 Rangiaatea
Waaenanga 15 8
1 SAT
30 23 16 9
2 SUN
Taupo Parents Centre November 2014
25
The Way Things Were cont... Parents Centre is over 60 years old. Since its incep on it has
successfully lobbied for many prac ces now considered
normal in modern day pregnancy care and childcare. Below is
a con nua on of a short introduc on by Emily Harrop‐Smith
as to why Parents Centre was set up. This ar cle is con nued
from the Fingerprints September—October 2014 issue.
(Reference: Dobbie, M. (1990). The trouble with women: The story of
Parents Centre New Zealand. NZ: Cape Catley Ltd.)
Parents Centre: Changing the face of
maternity care
hours and then endure two minutes of a
nurse scrubbing you, a jugful of
an sep c fluid for cleansing the
In the 1920s, New Zealand had the
perineum and numerous co on swabs
second highest maternal mortality rate in
for wiping it dry with the aid of forceps.
the world with 6.48 women per 1000
You could not hold or see or feed your
births dying of puerperal sepsis.
baby when you wanted ‐ babies were
However, the strict controls that were
also only fed on a strict four‐hourly
put in place for the next 35 years to
rou ne.
prevent women from dying, had the side
effect of profoundly disempowering
Medical staff were not sympathe c to
pregnant women and new parents.
women. Nursing at this me had a basis
Drugs, which had ini ally been
of military‐style, hierarchical training. It
introduced to reduce pain during child
was very inflexible, and as The Trouble
birth, were rou nely used (and
with Women reports “Matrons all too
some mes against the consent of the
o en were unmarried women of the no‐
mother) and the childbirth process
nonsense school, splendid in an
became very medicalised and
emergency, but s cklers for rules and
disempowering for parents.
metables and the proper distance to be
maintained between those in uniform
A er having a baby, you could expect to
and those in dressing gowns.”
spend the next ten days in bed, with your
baby in a nursery. You were not even
Parents Centre philosophies of a natural
allowed to get up to go to the toilet and childbirth – avoiding very heavy
instead had to use a bed pan every four medica on, when possible, and
26
encouraging exercise, movement and
relaxa on, as well as “rooming in” where
babies stay with mothers a er the birth,
rather than being removed into a
separate nursery, have changed the face
of maternity care in New Zealand.
Women now are encouraged to get
moving soon a er the baby, and the
importance of skin‐to‐skin contact for
newborns is widely known.
20, compared to 30 today, which meant
that many women had less life
experience, confidence and knowledge
to draw on when looking a er their
children. Changes in communi es meant
women o en did not have family close
by and communi es had fewer facili es
and services than today (e.g., most
women couldn’t just drive down to a
supermarket as there wasn’t a
supermarket and they didn’t have a car
or easy public transport). Gender roles
Informa on is power!
meant that men were o en less involved
In these days of the internet and shelves
in paren ng and there were many
and shelves of pregnancy and paren ng
expecta ons placed upon these young
books available in every library and book
women, o en without the support to
store, it seems strange to think that in
enable the expecta ons to be fulfilled.
the past that basic informa on about
When Parents Centre began to offer
reproduc on and pregnancy was not
only hard to come by, but banned from antenatal courses in 1952, this then was
a real new source of informa on for
being published or imported into New
Zealand, unless for medical purposes! In expectant parents. Parents Centre
the 1940s and 1950s this was indeed the libraries were a vital source of
informa on on health, pregnancy,
case. There was not much informa on
available to explain to women how their natural child birth, and children’s
development.
bodies worked or about pregnancy or
labour and it was not a polite topic of
Parents Centre also helped parents to
conversa on. As a result many women
understand that many of the ideas about
(and men) did not understand what to
what babies could be expected to do
expect and were frightened about the
(e.g., s ck to a rigid four hour feeding
whole process.
pa ern from birth, sleeping through the
night and po y training very early) were
Paren ng, too, was very hard for many
just myths and not based on reality for
women. The age of average age of
mothers was a lot younger than today – most parents. (Unfortunately they are
in 1950, the average age was just over
27
Parents Centre: Figh ng for the rights of and the pieces of nappy. She couldn’t
hospitalised children and their parents reach them and her doll was ‘a li le
worn for a hospital ward.” Mary Ann had
Imagine your child is very sick or badly
been four days without a single familiar
injured and has to go to into hospital for
thing let alone a familiar person as well
a number of months. Now imagine you
as suffering the pain of a third degree
can only visit for one hour a week.
burn to the upper part of her body. She
Helen Holmes wrote about her li le 26
was quiet and withdrawn, her voice was
month girl, Mary Ann, who had to go to crying but “Baby was doing well.” She
hospital a er being scalded by hot
didn’t even have a name.”
water:
This was a reality for many parents un l
“We carried her up to the ward where a 1974, when a er many years of
nurse took her and assured us we could advocacy and campaigning from Parents
see her again when she was ‘se led’. We Centre, the director of the Hospital
explained all this as best we could to
Division urged all hospital boards to
Mary Ann but the reality of the
introduce unrestricted visi ng for all
child
pa ents by their parents and
separa on was just too much. She
began to cry again, this me very loudly provide accommoda on for children
in protest. We watched her bewildered, aged under 5 to have their mothers stay
with them.
distressed li le face over the nurse’s
shoulder as Mary Ann was carried out of
sight. We waited, stunned, listening to
her fierce cries…un l the nurse returned
alone and told us that ‘baby’ would se le
soon and that it would be best for her if
she didn’t see us un l visi ng day with all
the others…The next day I took to the
ward (without being able to see her)
Mary Ann’s favourite toy, a red doll,
and a few clean pieces of old nappy she
loved to play with for the comfort of
their so ness. We came again three days
later, on visi ng day – the toy was
untouched in the drawer beside her bed,
28
A Fabulous Day... Some mes the best days out are the unplanned ones. As Catriona Eagles
discovered for herself.
I decided at the last minute to make
the most of a good weather forecast,
and dashed up to Mount Ruapehu
for the
morning. It
sounds crazy
driving 3 hours
for 2 hours of
fun but the
girls loved it.
We had to
take a carrot
to make a
snowman (called Olaf!) and all our
warm gear. Drove to Whakapapa
village, a loo stop and put on our
jerseys and hats. We managed to
make Carpark 7 by 10am and a er
pu ng on more warm clothes and
gloves, we catch the bus! Highlight
No.1!
We had a quick look into Happy
Valley and decided that was a great
spot. Now taking two kids on your
own up the mountain has its
challenges and going on the chairli
(with two sleds and a backpack) is
one of them. But a brave 5 year old
went on by herself with a li
operator. Highlight No.2!
We found the
sliding area and
had a go— fast
and furious, that
was us. Great
fun, par cularly
laughing at mum
running in front
and then behind
the girls. The walk back up the slope
made for hungry girls. A quick stop
to make Olaf the snowman (Highlight
No. 3) and have a juice and chips
then back to sliding again. Back up
the chair li with Miss 5 going
completely by herself. Highlight
No.4! A quick look at the big
chairli going further up the
mountain, back to the bus (Highlight
No.5) and back to the car exhausted
by 12.30pm. Not too long, not too
cold, just right. Quick sleep on the
way home and lots of happy
memories. Fabulous day!
29
Members Discounts...
The following retailers offer discounts to all Taupo Parents Centre members.
Please show your card prior to your purchase.
Sale goods, specials and special offers not included.
Coffee Plus
Horomatangi Street
15% Discount
Health 2000 Taupo
Horomatangi Street
10% excluding specials & some food
Mitre 10 Mega Taupo
Up to 10% discount except on non‐
discountable and promo onal items
Lake Engines & Auto Repairs
Waikato Street
10% off all repairs & parts
Living Yoga
021 063 9249
10% discount off all passes & membership
My Music
Tongariro Street
10% discount
Organic Baby
www.organicbaby.co.nz
10% discount use Coupon Code TAUPO
Plateau Restaurant
Tuwharetoa Street
20% off food, $1 off drinks, $5 off bo les of
wine
Pea Pods Reusable Nappies
h p://www.peapods.co.nz/
30
10% off all reusable nappies, liners & nursing
pads when ordering online. Enter code
TAUPOPC at checkout to receive discount.
Please note code cannot be used on sale stock
Polished
Suncourt Shopping Centre
10% discount
Soap Bubble
Tongariro Street
10% discount
STAK everyday stuff
Tamamutu Street
10% discount
Tank Taupo
Horomatangi St
10% discount
Taupo Toy Library
Phone: 378 1606
10% off Annual Membership
Village Squire Menswear
Heu Heu St
10% discount
Weepals
www.weepals.co.nz
10% off all products on our website. Please
contact TPC for code.
Become a Parents Centre Member or renew your membership!
A full year is $60 or $20 with your Community Services Card
Membership to Taupo Parents Centre gives you:
Annual subscription to KiwiParent Magazine (6 issues, worth $30)
Six issues of Fingerprints - our centre's local parenting magazine
Members discount shopping at local stores
Discounted rates for parenting courses
Discounted movement to music class
Free access to our library for books, dvds and videos
Social events, activities and lots of fun outings
Meeting new people and making new friends
Come on what are you waiting for??
BECOME A VOLUNTEER
Want to exercise the brain as well as chasing your toddler
around the house whilst reading up on healthy snacks!
Training is provided and support from the rest of
Commi ee is fabulous. These posi ons are a
great way to develop new skills and stay in
touch with adults during your nonpaid work
period of your life. Please contact us if you are
interested. Commi ee mee ngs are monthly and there are a
range of projects to get involved in from course development
and fundraising as well.
Phone: 07 378 4995
31
For Sale...
‘BUGALUGS’
reversible capsule
cover - $20.00
Wellchild Plunket
Book Covers $20.00
‘Safe T Sleep’
Sleepwrap
$95.00 – members
$105.00 – non-members
Wheat Bags
$20.00
Taupo Parents
Centre Recipe
Book $5.00
‘ZestBaby’ Amber
Teething Necklaces
$30.00
For Hire...
Bubble Machine for hire at $25 + $60 bond
2 Tables + 12 Chairs $30 + $60 bond OR
with Bubble Machine $45 + $100 bond
*Machine will vary
from one shown
32
TAUPO PARENTS CENTRE PH 07 376 5583 or 0274 226 785 [email protected] www.parentscentre.org.nz/taupo Support Groups ...
Allergy New Zealand
www.allergy.org.nz
Maori Women’s Refuge
378 5204
Asthma
www.asthma.org.nz
Mul ple Birth Club
0800 489 467 or 07 377 8123
Birthright Taupo
377 0399
Na onal Poisons Centre
0800 POISON/ 0800 764 744
CAFE for Youth Health
378 3895
Parents as First Teachers (PAFT)
378 8109 ext 107
Crippled Children’s Society
377 2452
Parent to Parent
0800 22 1211
Child Youth & Family
0508 326 459
Plunket Taupo
378 6550
Ci zens Advice Bureau
378 4253
Plunket Line
0800 933 922
Family Start
376 5961
Pregnancy Help
377 6071
Family Works
378 6480
Rela onship Services
378 2018
Growing Through Grief
378 6059
Special Educa on
378 9252
Healthline (24 hours)
0800 611 116
Strengthening Families
376 5359
Hear 4 Kidz Trust
[email protected]
Taupo Hospital
376 1000
Homebirth Support Group
0278137199
Taupo Women’s Refuge
377 1055
IHC Lakeland
378 1328
Tuwharetoa Health
Taupo 377 4060
Turangi 386 6587
La Leche League
Kris na 378 7967
Rosemary 378 8044
Dee Houia 376 1030
Work and Income (WINZ)
0800 257 477
027 222 519
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Commi ee Contacts...
President
Leah White
027 946 9864
Vice President
VACANCY
Treasurer
Jane McAuley (Leaving shortly)
Correspondence Secretary
VACANY
Minutes Secretary
Hayley Hathaway
Marke ng
VACANCY
Past President
Catriona Eagles
Membership Officer
Helen Brosnan (Leaving shortly)
Database Coordinator
Rain Ruin
Resources Coordinator
Rachel Helme
Fingerprints Editor
Caroline Sowerby
027 348 2296
Adver sing
Kate Knox
0221 734 429
Fingerprints / Kiwiparents Distribu on
Michelle Burden
Discount Stores
Merenea Hurae
Website Admin
Ka e McLean
Graphics/Posters
VACANCY
Librarian
VACANCY
Funding
VACANCY
Music Coordinator
Marindi Mar n
Baby & You Host / Liason
Alana Delich
Baby & You Host
Trani Duffy
Moving & Munching Coordinator/Host
Zala Ha ul
Tinies to Tots Coordinator/Host
Traceylee Hooton
Toddlers Coordinator/Host
Kate Bowron
CBE Convener
Charlo e Worthington 377 2517
Childbirth Educator/Carseat Coordinator
Michelle Marshall
Taupo Parents Centre Rooms
[email protected]
378 4995
376 5583
376 9060
378 5958
General Commi ee Members
Sarah Ers ch, Louise Chambers
Friends of the Commi ee
Rachel Thompson, Caroline Sowerby, Michelle Thomas, Michelle Davies
Marie White, Kate Bowron, Rain Ruin, Joan Hay, Ke e McLean, Bridget Simpkin
34
Local stockists of 9 Marama Arcade, Taupo
p: 07 376 5660
e: [email protected]
www.thelinenroom.co.nz
Cotton & Merino Babywear
Safe T Sleep
Kaloo Soft Toys
Muslin Wraps
Merino Kids Go-Go Bags & Swaddles
35
About to Have a BABY?
Would you like:
A natural, drug-free birth?
To feel in control in labour?
To manage your labour with confidence?
To have your partner involved in your care?
To have a deeply rewarding and satisfying experience?
Acupuncture and acupressure can help you
achieve all of the above.
Phone, Kate O’Connor, 027 306 5967
ACC treatment provider, NZDipAcup,
36
Printed by Quality Print Taupo 07 377 0103