MIA – make sure you are up to date From January 2009, the Maternity Immunisation Allowance (MIA) (Family Assistance Office) is paid in two instalments for children aged 18-24 months and at 4 years who are fully immunised or have an approved exemption from immunization. Please note there have been changes to the National Due & overdue rules for Childhood Immunisation. Contact your local Medicare office for more details.

Medicare Healthy Kids Check The aim of the Healthy Kids Check is to ensure every four year old child in Australia has a basic health check to see if they are healthy, fit and ready to learn when they start school. The Healthy Kids Check will promote early detection of lifestyle risk factors, delayed development and illness, and introduce guidance for healthy lifestyles and early intervention strategies. The Healthy Kids Check will take place at or around the same time as the four year old immunization. Contact your local GP for more info.

kidstimes is a local online directory featuring kids’ activities, a calendar of upcoming family friendly events & places to go, children’s clubs & classes, childcare, parties, items for sale

OUR FUN LOCAL PARKS

Fagan Park 

 38-48 Arcadia Road, Galston

• Privately-run cafe service selling coffee and refreshments
• Gardens of Many Nations (10ha of gardens)
• Picnic and barbecue
• Netherby Cottage - the original Fagan family homestead
• Rural museums
• Children’s playgrounds
• Bushland with short bushwalking trail
• Large open areas for informal games and kite flying
• Unsealed paths for bicycle riding
• Arcadia Road (1 large picnic shelter) and Carrs Road (3 large picnic shelters) Picnic Areas. Arcadia Rd Shed 2 will also become available 16 August 2008. 
• Many small picnic shelters scattered throughout the park
• Eco Garden
• $5 Entry Fee per car

A FAMILY GET AWAY

Looking for a relaxing family get away? We have just been to Riverwood Downs with a couple of our friends, for a weekend break. Mum & Dad had a wonderful relaxing time & our kids were off on their bikes, running around, playing in the stream, pebble throwing in the river, playing with the dogs, horse riding, collecting firewood, roasting marshmellows & so much more. needless to say they came home exhausted, but I came home battteries fully recharged

Riverwood Downs is located on the banks of a mountain river in the foothills of the BARRINGTON TOPS - just 2.5 hours drive north of Sydney. It is located in a beautiful rural area known as the Monkerai Valley between the towns of Stroud and Gloucester. There is a great range of accomodation to choose from ie: camping ~ cabins ~ B&B

www.riverwooddowns.com.au

_____________________________________

KIDS FIRST DAY HOME, ON THE BUS! A new year means new exciting challenges & change. Beginning of school term my 8yr old as asked if she could start catching the bus home from school with her older sister (10yrs); "But you are both still very young and I am not sure if it is safe, you have to stop at Hornsby Station get off your bus & wait another 2minutes or so to board the Hornsby Heights bus, I just don’t know if you are ready" I tried to get my point across but it was me who was not ready to let go, I love picking my kids up every day from school, it’s the highlight of my day, I love to see their gleaming faces as they tell me about their active school day, I hear all their stories on the way home, I cherish this time with them. "Oh Please, Mum" replies Natasha in a cheeky tone: "We know what to do & how to be safe, besides our friends will be with us, come on Muúm" her tone becoming a nag. I give in & before I know it I am filling out the bus pass form in the School Office. Today is the day I will not be collecting my gorgeous girls from school, they will be making their own way home via 2 buses – Miss Independents. Well it’s 3pm and my stomach is in knots, I feel sick with worry & unneeded, a mix of emotions rushes through me – I am not quite sure how I should feel! I imagine them boarding their bus, outside school. Guess what, I am not at home waiting for them, oh no, I am across the road from the station spying on them – just to make sure all goes well – yeah right! I wait & wait & eventually their bus arrives at the station, I see them getting off & heading towards their 2nd bus, I want to run towards them with open arms & yell "mummy’s here, come I’ll take you home" but I don’t I stand quietly and my eyes filled with tears – I ‘d better get home before they do. Well they arrive home, feeling very proud of themselves; they loved their first true taste of freedom & independence. The next day goes better I stay at home, & actually feel ok, I have an hour extra in my day & I don’t have to worry about the afternoon school traffic "have to look on the bright side – life does go on"

$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$

• Delegate home chores to the children (my children have been unpacking the dish washer every morning since they were 3, I don’t mind chipped crockery")
• Plan your meals & always write a shopping list  (I know this sound simple but it really works ~ it’s up to you to stick to it)  
• buying groceries online & having them delivered is a fantastic time saver & you don’t buy unnecessary items
• Tell your children about your work & responsibilities you will be surprised at how helpful they can be if they know you have had a bad work day (ps: this only applies to children 7yrs+)
• Be realistic when setting your personal goals & targets
• Don’t over commit (learn to say no! ~ in a nice way of course)
• Take some time out for your self – re charge your batteries

• family relationships
• nutrition
• emotions and communication
• pampering workshop such as skin, hand and body
• relaxation and meditation techniques
• living with grief (see below for more details)

The morning tea is lead by experienced and qualified speakers, and is a complimentary service. Please feel free to contact Jane Frick for more info Founder and Co-Ordinator The Rainbow Room – "Walking Beside You" Mobile: 0407 918 689 Email: rainbowroom@nscc.org.au
Location: North Shore Christian Centre Chatswood Business Park 175 Lower Gibbes St (off Smith St) Chatswood (Morning tea is provided and children will be cared for by our dedicated volunteers. Please bring your child’s own food. Wheelchair and pram access.) www.rainbowroom.org.au
The Rainbow Room is sponsored by ShoreCare, a registered charity, caring for our community. Winner of 2007 Community Contribution of the Year Award the Government of New South Wales Community Service Award.

................................................................................................................

Berowra Toy Library

has been operating for over 25 years. We are a community run toy library catering to families with children aged from birth to eight years. We currently have over 1000 quality toys and games, including

• large outdoor toys such as ride-ons, slides, roller coasters, gyms
• puzzles and board games
• baby toys
• construction sets
• playsets from brands including Fisher Price®, Playmobil®, etc.
• additional roller coaster with two cars may be booked for parties
• and lots more

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Pancakes
Ingredients:
225 ml Flour
37.5 ml Cornflour
2.5 ml Salt
1 Egg
300 ml Milk
5ml oil

Sift together the flour, cornflour & salt. Beat the egg. Make a well in the flour & add the egg & some of the milk. Gradually mix together adding the rest of the milk. Beat well; consistency should be the same as thin cream. Add oil & allow batter to stand for 30 minutes. Then before using the batter beat again.
Brush oil over the bottom of a frying pan, heat pan over high heat. Pour sufficient batter to just cover bottom of pan. When the first side is brown, flip pancake to other side. Transfer to a plate when done & serve with your favourite filling (makes 6 to 8, you can double ingredient quantities if you want to make more)

Banana Bread
Ingredients:
3 - 4 Ripe Bananas (Mashed)
1/3 Cup melted butter
¾ Cup Sugar
1 Egg, beaten
5ml Vanilla essence
5ml Baking Soda
A pinch of salt
1 ½ Cup Flour

Preheat oven to 180^oC. Mix butter & mashed banana’s in a large bowl, add the sugar, egg & vanilla essence mix well. Sift the baking soda, salt & flour into banana mixture and mix well with a wooden spoon. Pour mixture into a grease a loaf pan & bake for aprox 1hr ( also suitable for muffin pans)

Play Dough
2 cups of plain flour
4 tablespoons of 'cream of tartar'
2 tablespoons of cooking oil
1 cup of salt
2 cups of boiling water
food colouring
Just pop it all in a mixing bowl and mix then throw it onto the bench & knead.