Parent Voice Autumn 09 blue.pmd - City of Darebin

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Tips for settingup diverse playspaces:Don’t forget to reflectdiversity in gender roles...The dress-up box:• collect a range of play andwork clothes including:suits, ties, uniforms, pants,dresses, hard hats, scarves,kimonos, saris (or largepieces of fabric, high heels,sandals, bootsAlternatives to thepretend kitchen:• try setting up a workbench, an office, shop,hospital for humans oranimals, or a building site.Music:• include musicalinstruments from aroundthe world:eg. castanets, woodenflutes, bongo drums,gourds, coconut shells• play a range of music CDsfrom different countriesThe sandpit:• include a range of cookingutensils, eg. a wok, asaucepan, chop sticks,pizza tray, biscuit cutters(in a range of shapes), teapots or a bamboo steamer.Parent voices...Local parents share theirIhave a six year old daughter in grade one and I calculated I will turn 49 twoweeks before my son starts school. I recently caught up with an old schoolfriend who has 2 children – her son is in his third year at University in Londonand her daughter started University this year in Southampton.My first experience of pregnancy and pending motherhood was a meetingwith an obstetrician who called me a geriatric progravita (I changed doctors).I was recommended a number of tests that wouldn’t be recommended had Ibeen 5 years younger. I did them and all was ok. I loved being pregnant Iworked up until 36 weeks with both babies. I had high blood pressuretowards the end of both pregnancies and diabetes in the second pregnancy.Due to the high blood pressure I had an emergency caesarean at the firstbirth and I opted for one at the second birth as my blood pressure increased.Mum and babies were fine both times.My school friend who was 25 at the time of her first pregnancy, hadproblems falling pregnant, once pregnant she was heavily monitored and hadto take life slowly, thankfully all went well. Her second pregnancy was abreeze, no complications and she was full of energy. I remember beingastounded seeing her at home 2 days after giving birth like nothing hadhappened.My friend has now been happily married for more than 25 years; she and herhusband have the opportunity to travel, party, do dinner and love life. 20 yearsago they didn’t go out for dinner, spent weekends at the side of footy fieldand washed dirty clothes after guide camp.25 years ago I was working in London, planning trips overseas, theatres,parties and crazy clothes. Now my husband and I juggle swimming and dancinglessons, school and childcare drop offs and pick ups. A night out togetherrequires careful planning of baby sitters, now often opting for nights out withfriends whilst the other stays home to look after the kids.When my friend and I meet we laugh about how our lives have takenopposite directions, if we lived in the same country her children would be mybabysitters.Both of us have done what suited us as people at the time, neither is right orwrong. When we meet we have lots to talk about even though the thingshave happened at different times in our lives.A Reservoir mumCycling unites people of all sorts of persuasions– left-wing, right-wing, young, old,professional and unemployed. Added to this aredifferences in cycling and there is a whole worldof difference there. I imagine the same applies toNew Parent Groups and sporting groups.Kathy (mother of 2)4
thoughts on diversityOur family is growing (as they do!) and we’re considering theoption of moving out of the local area to a larger home.So lately I’ve been giving some thought to the aspects of Darebinthat are most special to me.If we do move to a rural area, I’d really miss the vibrant PrestonMarket... what a colourful community hub. Fancy goat for anAfrican curry, some Asian greens, Mediterranean cheese, organicspuds, local wine, or just a yarn with a friendly trader? I love topark my trolley and sit alongside the ladies from Trieste (who’vemet regularly for years), to enjoy a chai while I watch the worldgo by. Dreadlocks, burquas and turbans; vibrant African fabricsand bold Japanese flouros; ugg boots, workboots and teeteringplatforms. Harried office workers wait for sushi beside suburbanmums with kids on their hips and time on their hands. And it alltakes place in such a low key, unpretentious and friendlyenvironment. Diverse?... you bet! I reckon it’s a local treasure.ElizabethEvery Friday about 15 children arrive ready to play with friendsand be part of our unique playgroup called Godstart.Godstart is a playgroup like many others where children play, sing,dance and interact with each other. What is different about ourplaygroup is that it has a religious focus. Godstart is part of StMary’s Parish and school in Thornbury. Members are from allover Darebin and not all are Catholic. We respect everyone’sbeliefs within our group and children and parents participate inthe religious component as they feel comfortable.Our playgroup is quite structured. We commence with play, thenwe have storytime which is a children’s version of a Bible story.Before we read the story we begin with the sign of the cross anda prayer. Storytime is followed by a craft activity which is linkedto the story. Children then share morning tea and continueplaying, singing and dancing. We conclude our time together witha prayer in which we thank God for each child in our group.Godstart aims to teach children about the Catholic faith. Weshare stories about our faith and we begin to teach childrenabout rituals and to name important times in our Churchcalendar such as Lent.Earlier this term we attended morning mass and Fr Gerry Mediciwelcomed and blessed the children.The religious element is a small but very important part of ourplaygroup.Tania (see page 6 for contact details)TabboulehThis tasty versatile salad is handy to taketo functions as it keeps well and can bemade some hours in advance. You mayeven have some of the ingredientsgrowing in the backyard.Ingredients:1 cup burghul (cracked wheat)2 large tomatoes (chopped)3 tablespoons shallots (finely chopped)salt and freshly ground black pepper1 ½ cups fresh parsley (chopped)½ cup fresh mint (chopped)lemon juiceMethod:Soak burghul in cold water to cover forabout 2 hours. Drain, squeeze out asmuch water as possible (use your handsto do this) and spread on a clean tea-towel to dry.Put burhgul in bowl. Add tomatoes andshallots. Season with salt and pepper.Add parsley, mint, oil and lemon juiceand mix well... it should taste fresh andlemony.Wicked wheatywonder drink- an easy to swallow recipeIngredients:1 breakfast wheat biscuit1 banana, chopped1 cup low-fat milk1/4 cup low-fat yoghurtMethod:Blend ingredients until smooth.NB: Full fat milk products are recommendedfor children up to 5 years. Children from 2years can drink reduced fat milk. Low fat milkshould only be taken by children under theguidance of a medical practitioner ordietician.Information gathered from these websites:www.goforyourlife.vic.gov.auwww.rch.org.au5
Page 1 and 2: AUTUMN2009Receive the Parent Voiceb
Page 3: Finding the right set-upWhen I gave
Page 7 and 8: What’s onPARENT EDUCATION: Darebi

Parent Voice Autumn 09 blue.pmd - City of Darebin

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