Amusing young ones during the Summer Holidays.

 

 Holidays are meant to be fun, but sometimes we can run out of steam trying to think of things to keep the kids amused.

We'd love to hear from you all about any cheap or easy activities you do with your kids over summer.

Here is a short list that might get you started.

 

A small container of coloured water and a cheap house paint brush from the Reject shop will amuse for hours on a hot day. Just add concrete, a fence, a brick wall or their bike to "paint".

 

Home made playdough. There a lots of recipes you can google, some you need to cook and some you don't. Even gluten free playdough for those with food allergies.  Keeps well in the fridge and can be used with lots of utensils or natural objects.

 

Big chalk to decorate your path.

 

Make a "busy box" with interesting lids, boxes and tape.

 

Go to the Ballan or Bacchus Marsh pools, take a picnic lunch and some friends to share the supervision.

 

If you have older kids, give them a couple of movie vouchers for xmas, and microwave popcorn.

 

 

Do you have a playgroup you would like to add to our website? Check out the playgroup page.

 

Looking for things to do in November?

Looking for things to do in November?

 

 

 

 

New MCH Centre for Moorabool an open drop in session, and New Community Garden project

The Ballan Literacy Trail

A literacy event for Moorabool's young people because
KIDS WHO READ SUCCEED!

Friday 6th September 10am - 1pm
Inglis St Ballan

This year the literacy trail will be celebrating Cultural Diversity.

Mums, dads and carers and their children are welcome to attend this free event.
Follow the trail to experience a variety of activities including stories from around the world, circus dogs, giant Chinaman on stilts, cartoonist, pantomime, fire juggling bullfighter, living statue, magic chef, activities for young children and lots more.

If you are coming from Bacchus Marsh with your kids, why not take the train and make a fun day of it. There are some great coffee shops in Ballan as well, and places to eat. Bring a friend, or your whole playgroup along.

WANTED  books  books  books

Any donations of pre-loved, gently used children's books, will be very much appreciated by all children during Ballan's Literacy Trail.
Donations Boxes are located in Maternal and Child Health waiting rooms.

1-2-3 Magic

The final 1-2-3 Magic behaviour management program ( for parents with children aged 2-12 years) for 2013 is being held in Bacchus Marsh on August 24. The program assists parents with strategies to deal with difficult behaviours, looks at positive reinforcement, and how to get children doing what we would like them to do. If you are dealing with tantrums, refusal, whining, agressive behaviour or any other behaviours you would like to nip in the bud, this program might be for you.

If you are interested you can call Moorabool Shire Council on 5366 7100.



Dads and Kids Imagination Magic
If you don't have your ticket for this special session on August 31, just for Dads and Kids (0-5 years), check out the flyer on the Moorabool Shire Website under Imagination Magic or call Moorabool Shire Council for your free ticket. For those of you who have experienced Jon Madin's workshops before and know how great they are, tell your friends.

want to contribute something to Moorabool for Mothers website?

If you have a group to promote or information that you would like to share with other parents in Moorabool Shire, send us your request to the email address on our contacts page.

MOORABOOL BREASTFEEDING SUPPORT SERVICE

A free service staffed by qualified and experienced lactation consultants.

The service operates each Monday, alternating between Ballan and Bacchus Marsh.

If you are experiencing difficulty with attachment, supply, sore nipples,

need help with breastfeeding and return to work strategies, need support with weaning or other issues

Contact Maternal and Child Health Admin on 53667100 to book an appointment.

Proudly supported by Moorabool Shire Council, Djerriwarrh Health Services

and the Best Start Program.

 

 

 

How to talk with your kids about
alcohol and other drugs
Don’t miss this great opportunity to attend an informative and
entertaining evening with our two guest speakers
Marcus is a medical doctor and popular motivational
speaker, who educates about the frank dangers of
alcohol abuse, smoking and illicit drugs. His
presentation will inform parents about the latest up to
date information

Mark is a Clinical Psychologist who works in Melton
helping individuals and families affected by substance
use issues. His presentation will focus on navigating this
difficult topic with your teen, tips for effective
communication, and strategies to reduce the risks and
harm

www.melton.vic.gov.au
P: 9747 7200
WHEN: Thursday 29 August 2013
TIME: 7.00 – 9.00pm (Doors open 6.30)
WHERE: Melton City Council Youth Services
193 Barries Road, Melton
COST: FREE
RSVP: Monday 26 August
Carmel Cataldo
CarmelC@djhs.org.au/Phone: 8746 1180 or
Kiri Herekuiha
kirih@melton.vic.gov.au/Phone: 9747 5373

 

New Occasional Care and School Holiday Activities

click on the image to enlarge

Kindergarten

IS YOUR CHILD TURNING 3 OR 4 IN 2014

KINDERGARTEN ENROLMENT DATES AND PROCEDURES ARE DIFFERENT FOR EACH MOORABOOL KINDERGARTEN. CONTACT YOUR PREFERRED KINDERGARTEN TO FIND OUT THE DATE FOR ENROLMENT FOR 2014. 

If your playgroup would like to have their details added to our playgroup page, please email information to m4m11@optusnet.com.au

 

   
   
       

Follow M4M by email

The M4M website now gives you the option of subscribing to updates by email.
Just enter your email address into the box on the right hand side of this page to receive updates when we post any new information. We promise you won't receive too many emails, and if you want to unsubscribe at any time you can unsubscribe at the bottom of the email you receive.
For busy parents, this is an easy way for us to get current information to you, and also gives you a reminder to check out the website and view our other pages.
Don't forget to mention the website to other parents in Moorabool.
To be added to our email address list to receive our full newsletters when they are published, or to send us requests to include information on the website or newsletters, please email m4m11@optusnet.com.au

Dance & Drum Saturdays In Ballan

Post Separation Cooperative Parenting Program

Post Separation Cooperative Parenting Program

· Group workshops

· Counselling and support

· Information and referral for separated parents



The workshop aims to:

· Assist parents to understand the effects of ongoing parental conflict on their children

· Helps parents understand their children’s needs, following separation

· Help separated parents to manage parenting arrangements in a child focused manner

· Improve communication skills in order to change the ongoing cycle of conflict in their relationship

· Assist parents to support their child and/or children’s relationship with the other parent



For more information regarding this program please contact CAFS ( Child and Family Services Ballarat)

on 5337 3333

cafs.org.au

To Freerange Or Not…

Photo Credit: Karin Calvert

by Nichole

I have just recently subscribed to receive two emails from websites dedicated to childhood. With common threads, the sites discuss a range of childhood issues, and highlight some of the restrictions that parents and society now place on children.

What I remember as a child, walking to school, playing in the street, riding my bike until dark, playing on the monkey bars, investigating the natural environment including creeks and tadpole puddles, and taking risks, is for many children something they have never, and may never experience.

Bubble wrapping kids and sanitizing their childhood experiences is like an epidemic. Fear of what might happen is pushing many parents to restrict their children’s experiences to those they feel they can control, and to inside, sedentary activities.

Without allowing our children a degree of risk taking, natural consequences, problem solving, success and failure, navigating life and learning from their experiences, what skills and messages are we arming our children with to meet the wide world as they grow? How do our children incrementally learn to navigate their way, if we don’t incrementally allow them freedom to try, make mistakes, and learn?

As I write this on the day before school goes back, I wonder, why is the park empty at 3pm, and where are the kids? The answer may well be in front of a large screen TV with an electronic device.

So if you lean more towards being a free range parent, the websites below might speak to you too, or if not they may challenge your way of thinking. And if you have an opinion on the subject, let us know too. How do you feel about your town and how child friendly you would like your community to be?

Free range kids

rethinking childhood