Leave kids in ABC childcare, union urges

>Parents should continue to take their children to ABC Learning centres to help stave off closures by the receiver assigned to the faltering company, the childcare union says.

The Liquor Hospitality and Miscellaneous Workers’ Union (LHMU) met Monday with receiver McGrathNicol to discuss the future of the childcare company that operates about 1,200 centres around Australia, staffed by more than 12,000 people.

ABC appointed voluntary administrators last week with its banks then appointing receivers, and the government has now stepped in with a short-term rescue package of $22 million to operate the centres until December 31.

LHMU national secretary Louise Tarrant said Monday’s meetings went well, but more information was needed because critical decisions for the childcare centres must be made before the end of the year.

She commented on previous estimates that up to 40 per cent of the centres could be closed.

“Clearly the discussions we had was that a lot more work needs to be done on identifying the basis for that 40 per cent,” Ms Tarrant told reporters outside the meeting.

“And part of the receiver’s clear comments to us was that’s the work that really now needs doing over the next few weeks.”

In the meantime, she urged parents who have children at an ABC centre not to panic.

“Ideally, we’d be trying to be able to say to parents ’stay with these centres, keep them viable, keep the operation in the centres alive in your communities’,” Ms Tarrant said.

She said there were many areas with an “under supply” of child care.

“To be talking about closing potentially 40 per cent of ABC centres is just counter-intuitive until we have a better sense of what is the basis of the problem,” she told reporters.

© 2008 AAP

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The number of overweight children and adults is increasing. About one quarter of children in Australia are now overweight. Encouraging children to eat healthy food and be physically active can be a challenge. It requires patience, practice and time.

Childhood is an important time to develop healthy patterns for life and prevent weight problems. Research shows that overweight children are more likely to become overweight adults.

Seek advice if you’re not sure
Sometimes it is hard to tell if a child is overweight. This is because children have different shapes at different ages. When there are more overweight children around, our view of what is ‘normal’ may also change. Your family doctor, school nurse or an experienced health professional will be able to check your child’s growth.

Why children become overweight
A diet high in energy and fat combined with little physical activity or exercise will lead to someone becoming overweight.

Your family’s eating habits and activity patterns will affect body weight. You also inherit body type and shape from your parents.

Possible problems for overweight children
Overweight children can have difficulties in several ways. Most often they may feel different from other children, which can affect their confidence.

They can also be subjected to bullying from other children. This may make parents feel worried about children taking part in everyday activity such as school sports. Unfortunately, this can make weight control more difficult.

Although health problems are less common in childhood, children who continue to be overweight into adulthood can develop:

• High blood fats with the risk of heart disease
• Type 2 diabetes
• High blood pressure
• Stroke
• Joint problems
• Breathing problems
• Some forms of cancer.

Overweight caused by medical conditions is rare, but always check with your doctor if you are concerned.

How to help your overweight child
If your child is overweight, the advice of a health professional is important.

Young children should not be on restrictive diets that severely limit food intake. You need to make permanent changes to your family’s lifestyle and eating habits. Everyone at home should be involved in any changes, regardless of body weight, so that no child feels singled out. Making the right changes will protect your children from developing eating and dieting problems later in life.

It may take a number of attempts before children are happy to change their food choices or become more active. This may be frustrating for parents. But don’t give up. Remember to stay positive. Children who are overweight need to know that they are loved and important, regardless of their weight.

How to make healthy food choices
A healthy diet is not only what your child eats, but how much. All children should eat regularly, including healthy snacks.

Good nutrition starts early in life. Wherever possible try to:

• Breastfeed and introduce solids at around six months.
• Encourage a wide variety of nutritious foods. No particular food should be forced or overly restricted.
• Consider using reduced fat dairy products after two years of age.
• Offer mostly cereals, grains and breads, vegetables and fruits, with moderate amounts of meat products and dairy foods.
• Limit added fats such as oil, margarine and butter.
• Offer fresh vegetables and fruit instead of processed snack foods.
• Include treats such as cakes, chips or takeaway foods occasionally (once or twice per week). Enjoy them as a family.
• Offer children water when they are thirsty. Sweet drinks including juices, cordial and fizzy drinks are not necessary and can contribute to tooth decay.

Ways to encourage healthy changes to your child’s eating
Suggestions include:

• Buy, prepare and offer the foods you would like your child to eat. Allow them to choose what and how much of these foods they will eat.
• Keep offering healthy foods even if they refuse them at first.
• Include your child’s food choices in the family menu sometimes.
• Involve children in simple food preparation, for example, making a salad.
• Let your child decide if they have had enough, even if food is left on their plate. This encourages children to better understand feelings of hunger and fullness. These habits may help to control appetite and prevent overeating as they grow.
• Encourage slow eating if yours is a family of fast eaters. Put your knife and fork down between mouthfuls. Offer crunchy foods that need chewing.
• Help your child recognise if he or she eats when bored, sad or lonely. Try to suggest another activity to help distract them.
• Try not to punish, reward or cheer your child up with food. It can be tempting to use food this way at times but it establishes an unhealthy relationship with food.

Fun family activity
An active lifestyle is important for the whole family, regardless of their age or weight. Physical activity helps to build skills, makes you feel better and helps to protect you from many lifestyle diseases.

Activity should be fun, without focusing only on competition or skills. To keep children active as they get older, they may need help from their parents to include physical activity in the family routine.

Tips to increase everyday activity at home
Suggestions include:

• Be active together. Let your child see you being active too.
• Encourage lots of free playtime outside.
• Try to use the car less. Walk or cycle to school, the shops or to a friends house.
• Help your child find a balance between organised sport, fun activities and individual sports like swimming and dancing.
• Find an activity that your child enjoys and that is fun, readily available, affordable and matches your child’s age and skill level. Ask your child’s physical education teacher, childcare worker, community centre or other parents about options.
• Be supportive and encouraging. Some children feel embarrassed and uncomfortable about their physical skills or appearance.
• Motivate your children to be active – even though it’s not always easy. Remember, if your child gets hot, puffed and sweaty when active, this is generally a good sign that they are working their bodies and getting some benefit from the exercise.

Television and screen viewing
Watching too much television is linked closely with overweight in children. When children watch TV, they are not being active and are more likely to see food advertisements that encourage them to eat whether they are hungry or not.

Suggestions include:

• Limit sedentary activity like TV watching, watching videos, playing personal screen games and using computers to no more than two hours a day.
• Avoid eating while the TV is on. This may be a distraction from family time together.

Getting started
Start slowly. It is best to manage one or two small changes before moving on to the next change. It doesn’t matter how long this takes. Find out what works for your family. Small setbacks may happen, but try to be patient and reward your child’s effort and progress with treats like books, stickers or special outings.

Where to get help

• Your doctor
• School nurse
• Maternal and child health nurse
• An accredited practising dietitian, contact the Dietitians Association of Australia
• Physical education teacher
• Childcare worker
• Local community centre
• ‘Go for your life’ Infoline Tel. 1300 739 899

Things to remember

• Involve the whole family in healthy eating and activity.
• Encourage active play and sport.
• Limit sedentary activities such as TV, screen games and computers to no more than two hours a day.

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Doing Dads Proud
7 September 2008

Fathers day event - first Sunday in September every year

‘DOING DADS PROUD’  PROMISES TO BE THE BIGGEST AND BEST YET!

“Doing Dads Proud” will once again take place at Cotton Tree Park on Father’s Day, Sunday, 7th September, and promises to be the biggest and best yet!

Last year, thousands attended this special celebration of fatherhood, which has become a popular annual award winning community event.

Festivities will take place from 10am to 4pm and the day will focus on the many different fathering roles that exist within families and the Sunshine Coast community.

Free entertainment, bands, rides, activities, “boys toys”, competitions, plus free entry to the Cotton Tree swimming pool, are all part of the day’s events.

Entertainment will be on stage throughout the day and include The Shake It Up Youth Choir, Brett Campbell, Kindred, the Barbershop Quartet, the Swing Band and Noosa District Pipe Band.

Eleven varied food vendors will be on site and activities and exhibitors include Old MacDonald’s Farm, a martial arts exhibition, slides, rides, jumping castle, giant slide, kids’ carpentry, face painting, as well as “boys toys” displays and a mock rescue from the Energex Rescue Helicopter.

“Doing Dads Proud” is organised by Lifeline on the Sunshine Coast with the theme “Anyone can be a father…but it’s special to be a Dad!”

Downloadable: Doing Dads Proud Event Flyer
Downloadable: Doing Dads Proud Volunteer Flyer
Downloadable: Doing Dads Proud Volunteer Availability Form

Venue: Cotton Tree Park
Date: 07 September 2008

For further information:
Lifeline Maroochydore
Ph: 07 5443 5366
Fax: 07 5443 8642

4 September 2005

Australia’s biggest Fathers Day Celebration!
“Doing Dads Proud”

Queensland’s largest Father’s Day celebration - “Doing Dads Proud” - will take place at Cotton Tree Park on Father’s Day, Sunday, September 4th!! In 2004, more than 15,000 people attended this celebration of fatherhood, making this free community event the largest Father’s Day celebration in Australia!  It also won an Australia Day Award for Best Community Event in 2003 and The Fisher Community Australia Day Award for 2004!!

Festivities will take place from 10.00am to 4.00pm on September 4, and the event will focus on the many different fathering roles that exist in families and community on the Sunshine Coast. Families from across the region can take advantage of this celebration by simply relaxing with the family or taking part in the many activities available including free rides for the young and the young at heart!

So whether you’re a young dad, old dad, new dad, community dad, part-time dad, foster dad, step dad or grand dad, there will be something for every kind of dad, from Boys Toys to an interactive craft tent and free entry to Cotton Tree Pool!

A community stage will host a variety of regional acts like Mishelle Bradford-Jones, Adrian Ross and Stoked in a programme that will be filled with six hours of free family entertainment. More than 40 performing artists will showcase the diverse talents of the region on the bank of the beautiful Maroochy River. Volunteers from various community groups and regional organisations will assist on the day. These groups provide valuable information at several locations on site. Information about these groups and the services they provide will be an integral part of the celebration.

“Doing Dads Proud” is a non-profit event produced by Lifeline Sunshine Coast. Any profits incurred on the day will be directly injected into the Men and Family Relationships Project, providing relationship support for men in the Sunshine Coast and Cooloola regions. “Doing Dads Proud” - it’s on again, its celebrating fatherhood and it’s going to be BIG!

Where: Cotton Tree Park
Time:  10.00am to 4.00pm
When: Sunday, September 4th, 2005

Further information:
Mark Simon-Green
Lifeline Sunshine Coast
Ph: 5443 536

Kids to parents: get out of my face(book)

More mum and dads are signing onto Facebook and receiving mixed reactions from their kids. Lori Aratani reports on this growing trend

Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg.
Photo: Reuters

WHEN Matt Florian signed onto his Facebook account recently to check the status of his 400-plus friends, he had a friend request. It was from his dad.

The junior at Sherwood High School, Montgomery County, Merryland, US, didn’t panic. He simply took a deep breath and pondered his options - “what are the social implications of ‘friending’ your folks?”

He could accept it or ignore it. If he accepted it, he had the option of limiting parts of his Facebook profile that his dad could see.

Facebook users around the world are contemplating similar questions when they log onto their accounts. More parents are signing onto Facebook to keep up with their offspring. Not only are they friending (or attempting to friend) their children, they’re also friending their children’s friends.

Some, like Matt, take the requests in their stride. He ultimately friended his dad. Others are less sanguine, voicing their dismay via online groups that decry parental intrusion and offer tips on how to screen them out. Even parenting experts are offering their own tips on Facebook etiquette.

When Facebook was launched by Mark Zuckerberg in 2004, it was designed as a way for college students to connect with each other. Users created a personal page and were able to accept or send out electronic ‘friend’ requests for people to be included in their networks. People who were ‘friends’ were able to keep tabs on people in their network, send messages and even connect with friends of friends. It was like an exclusive club, since it was open only to those with certain email addresses.

But as Facebook’s popularity soared, its founders sought to expand its audience. In 2005, it allowed high school students to sign on. But it was the 2006 decision to open it up to the general public that drew howls from its original audience - and opened the door for the parental invasion.

In protest, several ‘abolish parent’ groups have sprung up on the site.

Yeamans and a few of his friends started “What Happens in College Stays in College: Keep Parents Off Facebook!” in 2007. They meant it partly as a joke but were stunned when more than 500 people signed on, each with a tale of parental intrusion.

Lily Goldberg, 17, a junior at Gaithersburg High School in Montgomery County, Md., said having parents on Facebook just seems weird.

“It’s like having them walk into my room,” she said.

Today, the fastest-growing segment of Facebook’s estimated 66 million users are people 25 and older. More than half of the site’s users are out of college. Whether that will have an impact on Facebook’s coolness remains to be seen.

For a generation accustomed to sharing everything online, it might seem odd that two more pairs of eye would raise such concern. But Steve Jones, a professor of communication at the University of Illinois at Chicago who has studied digital culture extensively, said there’s a difference between the world and your parents. “What they want to keep most private is not something they wish to keep from strangers, it’s the things they want to keep from people that know them,” he said. “It’s ‘I don’t care what someone who doesn’t know me finds out. But I do care about what someone I know intimately (does).’ ”

Larry Rosen, a professor of psychology at California State University at Dominguez Hills and author of the book Me, MySpace, and I: Parenting the Net Generation said parents should be upfront about wanting to know what their children are doing online but shouldn’t be upset if their friend request is ignored. He recommended that parents and their children set up rules - not necessarily for the young people’s behaviour, but for mom and dad’s behaviour once they’re online.

Join in the 5km run, jog or stroll and Family Festival

This Fathers Day - September 7th, Men’s health is proud to sponsor the 5 km fun run and family festival returns to Sydney Olympic Park and to Melbourne’s Albert Park raising awareness about prostate cancer with the general public and communities.

This years exciting new program will feature 5 hours of entertainment and activities for the whole family to enjoy. Anyone who loves the dragon warrior ‘Po’ from Kung Fu Panda, is encouraged to arrive for the early morning Kung Fu warm up with Po and his Kung Fu master, followed by activities with Po in the festival.

Runners, Walkers and Joggers will experience plenty of on track entertainment to cheer them along the way. The race has prizes for the serious athlete and is also a healthy walk for the whole family to do together.

Around the festival, kids of all ages will be entertained with an animal farm that will be showcasing cuddly guinea pigs, rabbits, chicks, kid goats and their mums. Some of the bigger animals will include Alpacas and the cutest calves.

Children under 6 years of age will be given free access to face painting, pony rides and a giant adventure play jumping castle. If you are over 6 and participate in the 5km fun walk or run you will have full access to all entertainment (just save your race bib for entry).

There will be plenty of main stage entertainment including bands. Food stalls for lunch and plenty of tents and marquees to stroll around. Get your hands on a show guide when you arrive so that you don’t miss out on the scheduled entertainment.

This year the Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia has partnered with Everyday Hero to make it even easier to contribute to this worthwhile cause by giving participants the opportunity to create their own online fundraising page. Each donation is recorded on your page, along with messages of encouragement from your supporters.

Date: Sunday 7th September

Venue: Sydney Olympic Park and Melbourne’s Albert Park

For more information about Everyday Hero and to register for the Fathers Day 5 km fun walk or run, visit www.FathersDay5.com.au

Respect is something we need to encourage in our children.

Politeness to others is usually born out of respect for the individual, which you learn as a child. When you are treated with respect by other members of the family, you learn to respect them as well.

The self-esteem that results from being recognized as a unique person by the people who matter most to you helps you develop the confidence necessary to succeed later in life. Politeness and consideration for others are habits that-once developed-usually stay with you for a lifetime.

While common courtesy may seem relatively insignificant in the grand scheme of things, it is a reflection of more basic values.

More important, if you develop the habit of respecting others, you are likely to command respect from them.

This positive message is brought to you by the Napoleon Hill Foundation. Visit us at http://www.naphill.org.