My Top 5 Baby Food Recipes by Samantha Spunner
My Top 5 Baby Food Recipes Making your own baby food is actually pretty simple and you don’t need to be a chef to do this. I thought I’d share with you my Top 5 Baby Food Recipes in hopes that this will help you to provide healthy vitamin and nutrient dense foods for your baby that often the commercial shop bought baby foods don’t have. When your baby is just starting solids around 4-6monhts old, you want to use really simple single ingredient purees so your baby can firstly develop the taste for single flavours and also so you can identify any allergies or sensitivities to foods. These are the easiest to make – I would puree and then I would freeze the food in ice-cube trays and once frozen transfer to my Sinchies wrap bags, all labelled with some masking tape and a permanent marker. I personally started with vegetables like Avocado mashed up & put through a sieve to make it smooth. Baked and then pureed sweet potato and pumpkin – Baking the sweet potato and pumpkin I find makes it a lot sweeter. And things like steamed apples as well as masjed up bananas and mashed up ripe pears – but do be careful as some babies get constipated on bananas and others go the other way with pears. Poonamies here we come! Moving on from single purees – at about 7 -8 months old – I started mixing fruit and vegetables together – adding some grains like quinoa & brown rice. At 9 months old I started adding – fish, poultry and meats. And only at 12 months did I introduce Greek yoghurt and cheese. This was for personal reasons. So here are my all time Top 5 Baby Food Recipes and my babies favourite ones too. Triple Berry and Pear Puree – I made a big batch up and stored it in my Sinchies 80ml reusable pouches Baby Vegetable Soup – I made this to suit the stage of my baby. So pureed it up for no chunks or kept it chunky when my little one could tolerate lumps Creamy Fruity Dessert Pasta – Such a favourite but then again I do have Pasta loving children. Baby Beef Stew Recipe – Another goody – nice and hearty and perfect for bulk cooking. Just remember to add a bit of water if it looks too thick. Avocado and Chocolate Mousse – Even adults like this. Samantha is the owner of Sinchies, the original, award-winning reusable food pouches voted #1 by Australian mums.
The Best Kid-Friendly Hotels on the Gold Coast
There is no better spot for a family vacation than the Gold Coast. With theme parks, gorgeous beaches, world-class restaurants and bars, whale watching, golf, nightlife, and shopping districts at your fingertips, the Gold Coast is bound to have something for every member of the family. It’s also home to awesome resorts, hotels, and accommodation that specialise in family stays. Here are our favourite kid-friendly hotels on the Gold Coast that both you and your family will love. Kid-Friendly Hotels on the Gold Coast Paradise Resort When we think of kid-friendly resorts on the Gold Coast, Paradise Resort is the first place that comes to mind. This resort is every kid’s dream accommodation, with its own water park, ice skating rink, laser tag, adventure park, rock climbing walls, games room, go-karting, jungle gym, and more. While the kids wear themselves out in supervised kids club sessions, you can relax at the poolside cafe and bar, cocktail in hand. Turtle Beach Resort Overlooking gorgeous gardens is the Turtle Beach Resort, boasting self-contained apartments with up to three bedrooms. One of the most kid-friendly hotels on the Gold Coast, Turtle Beach has four separate swimming areas as well as a waterpark, playground, kids club, putt-putt, arcade, tennis courts, cinema, and BBQ areas for family fun. For the grown-ups, there is even an adults-only retreat if you’re looking for some time to yourself. Enjoy saunas, a day spa, and woodfire pizza at The Deck Restaurant & Bar. Sea World Resort If you’re excited to visit the best theme parks in Australia, why not cut your travel time and stay inside a theme park itself? Sea World Resort gives you this option, being Australia’s only theme park resort. With multiple restaurants and access to Sea World, there is plenty to do. If you go with the Theme Parks Package you can even enjoy access to Sea World, Movie World, Paradise Country, and Wet’n’Wild throughout your stay. BIG4 Holiday Park Looking for a spot with family vibes that’s a little more down to earth? Check out BIG4 Holiday Park. Here you can camp or stay in one of their gorgeous bungalows or cabins, situated amongst the gorgeous Gold Coast greenery. The holiday park is located directly across from Movie World, Wet’n’Wild, Outback Spectacular, and Topgolf, and is just down the road from Dream World and White Water World. It also sports its own water park, restaurants, and family activities. The Breakers Beachside Apartments If all you’re looking for is a central spot that’s as close to the beach as possible, you can’t go past The Breakers Beachside Apartments. Located between Surfers and Broadbeach, you couldn’t find a more convenient spot. This isn’t one of those kid-friendly hotels on the Gold Coast that has its own theme park, but it does have self-contained apartments and direct beach access for those families who want sea air and sandcastles every day. Looking for awesome things to do with your kids on the Gold Coast? Check out our Blog! Where to From Here? Coastal Babysitters is an Award-winning Babysitting Service throughout Brisbane, Gold Coast and Byron Bay. ’Children Love Us, Parents Trust Us’ Are you in need of some time without the kids? Why not let us look after your little ones so you can enjoy yourself without worry! You can be assured the children are having just as much fun as you are! Hand-selected and interviewed by me personally, all our babysitters are either mums themselves or have worked in child care for at least 3 years. We care for your children as if they were our own and make the whole experience easy and comfortable by: Our online or over the phone booking system You are emailed your babysitters profile and photo once assigned to your family. Your babysitter will phone you prior to the job, to say hello Your babysitter will bring activities for the kids Your babysitter will be engaging and have lots of fun with the kids. You will be sent photos so you can see your child is having fun. Your babysitter will leave a little note behind so you know what happened ‘while you were out’…. Have an awesome day and we look forward to meeting your family, Orly x
Kid-Friendly Accommodation in Brisbane
Booking your next family holiday? Finding the right kid-friendly accommodation in Brisbane for your family can be a chore, and sometimes, despite all your research, you end up in a completely unsuitable space for you and your family. We know these feelings all too well. To make your next family holiday easier, we have collected a few recommendations to follow when looking for kid-friendly accommodation in Brisbane. How to Find Kid-Friendly Accommodation in Brisbane When you’re looking for kid-friendly accommodation in Brisbane, the three things you want to keep in mind are location, activities, and the rooms themselves. You ideally want to find accommodation that is close by to attractions so that your kids don’t get worn out from travel. Next, you need to ensure that the kid’s resort in Brisbane has some inbuilt activities like pools to occupy your kids in case of a rainy day. Lastly, and most importantly, rooms with enough space for a family can be hard to come by. We have put together a shortlist of our favourite kid-friendly hotels in Brisbane that have all of the above. Royal On The Park If you want to stay in the heart of the city with spectacular views and accommodation for the whole family, Royal on the Park is a great choice. These hotel rooms and suites are located directly in front of the City Botanic Gardens, giving you stunning views as well as easy access for a day out with the kids. They pride themselves on being family-friendly, boasting a pool and spa as well as a bed and breakfast package. Pancakes anyone? Rydges South Bank South Bank Is the perfect destination in Brisbane for families with little kids. Between the parklands and man-made beach, your little ones will have an amazing time playing all day while you enjoy river views, markets, the theatre, and an impressive dining precinct. Rydges Hotel is smack bang in the middle of all the action with its own rooftop pool and river views. Emporium Hotel South Bank Another hotel in the centre of South Bank is the Emporium Hotel. Known for their amazing restaurant and bar, this stylish hotel also boasts an impressive rooftop infinity pool that your kids will love. While a swanky bar may not seem like the most kid-friendly option, you can always reach out to a Coastal Babysitter so that you can fully enjoy a night to yourself while the kids have their own fun. Meriton Serviced Apartments Right across from Roma Street Parkland is the towering Meriton Serviced Apartments. These sleek apartments are great for a flash weekend away. They come with a full kitchen and laundry in the apartments themselves – perfect for travelling with kids. What’s more, they are a quick walk away from the Roma Street transit hub, connecting you to pretty much everywhere in Brisbane. Oh, and they have an indoor pool. You’re welcome, kids! Airbnb Hotels are great, but there is no better place to stay than an actual home. That’s where Airbnb comes in. Airbnb makes it so easy to find kid-friendly accommodation in Brisbane in exactly the right area for an affordable price. This comes in handy if you’re visiting family in Brisbane and want to stay nearby. You can also find exactly what you’re looking for by selecting filters such as the number of beds, a pool, spa, and more. If you’re looking for more places to go with your kids in Brisbane, check out our Blog! Where to From Here? Coastal Babysitters is an Award-winning Babysitting Service throughout Brisbane, Gold Coast and Byron Bay. ’Children Love Us, Parents Trust Us’ Are you in need of some time without the kids? Why not let us look after your little ones so you can enjoy yourself without worry! You can be assured the children are having just as much fun as you are! Hand-selected and interviewed by me personally, all our sitters are either mums themselves or have worked in child care for at least 3 years. We care for your children as if they were our own and make the whole experience easy and comfortable by: Our online or over the phone booking system You are emailed your babysitters profile and photo once assigned to your family. Your babysitter will phone you prior to the job, to say hello Your babysitter will bring activities for the kids Your babysitter will be engaging and have lots of fun with the kids. You will be sent photos so you can see your child is having fun. Your babysitter will leave a little note behind so you know what happened ‘while you were out’…. Have an awesome day and we look forward to meeting your family, Orly x
The Best Kids Playgrounds on the Gold Coast
Looking for an awesome kids playground on the Gold Coast to discover with your little one? We have put together the definitive list of all the best playgrounds you and your kids will love on the Gold coast. This list has something for every child, whether you’re looking for imaginative play, exciting features, or accessible equipment. Here are five kids playgrounds on the Gold Coast that make for the perfect day out. Kids Playgrounds on the Gold Coast You Have To Visit Image credit City of Gold Coast Pirate Treasure Island Playground For a day packed with swashbuckling play, head to Pirate Treasure Island Playground. Located at Palm Beach, this popular kids playground on the Gold Coast is the perfect spot for all wannabe pirates to act out their seaworthy adventures. The entire playground is pirate themed, with buried treasure, desert island caves, and circling crocodiles. There is also, of course, a pirate ship ready for your little one to step up as captain. Faerie Park If your kids love imaginative play, Faerie Park is an absolutely adorable picnic space that you need to check out. Less like your ordinary playground and more a whimsical imagination zone, Faerie Park is dotted with lush trees and magical features that make you feel like you’re in a fairytale. On top of the wishing well, troll bridge, a goblin cave, and toadstool houses, you’ll also find the usual playground fare of swings, slides, and play equipment. For extra fun at the park, download our Scavenger Hunt! Westfield Helensvale Playground When you need to get some shopping done with the kids, Westfield Helensvale Playground will add a dose of fun to their day. While shopping centre playgrounds are usually a little drab, this one has put in the effort where others are lacking. Located close to the bathrooms and food court for a conveniently supervised play, your little one can explore the giant treehouse, rope canopy, log swing, spiral slide, and more. Image Credit City of Gold Coast Broadwater Parklands For a full day of fun, make your way to Broadwater Parklands. This kids playground on the Gold Coast packs in so many activities that will put a smile on your kid’s face. Start off with a bounce on the shaded jumping pillow before you head to the playground which features all sorts of play equipment, from climbing equipment to swings, slides, and monkey bars. Move on to the pedal monorail and splash around in the shallow water park. In summer they even open a paid inflatable water park for all ages to enjoy. Kurrawa Park All Abilities Playground Lastly, we have an awesome playground that caters to all ages and all abilities, Kurrawa Park. This playground is specifically designed to be all-inclusive, incorporating all types of play for all children. Not only do they have accessible sand tables for wheelchair access and an epic sandcastle fort with ramp access, the park also highlights community artwork throughout. Looking for more activities to do with the kids? Check out our Blog! Where to From Here? Coastal Babysitters is an Award-winning Babysitting Service throughout Brisbane, Gold Coast and Byron Bay. ’Children Love Us, Parents Trust Us’ Are you in need of some time without the kids? Why not let us look after your little ones so you can enjoy yourself without worry! You can be assured the children are having just as much fun as you are! Hand-selected and interviewed by me personally, all our sitters are either mums themselves or have worked in child care for at least 3 years. We care for your children as if they were our own and make the whole experience easy and comfortable by: Our online or over the phone booking system You are emailed your babysitters profile and photo once assigned to your family. Your babysitter will phone you prior to the job, to say hello Your babysitter will bring activities for the kids Your babysitter will be engaging and have lots of fun with the kids. You will be sent photos so you can see your child is having fun. Your babysitter will leave a little note behind so you know what happened ‘while you were out’…. Have an awesome day and we look forward to meeting your family, Orly x
The Best Kids Playgrounds in Brisbane
Who doesn’t love a good playground? They are the perfect place to fit in some active outdoor fun with your little one while they interact with other kids and stretch their imagination. While we believe that you can create your own fun in any playground, there are a few playgrounds in Brisbane that take playing to the next level. Here are the best kids playgrounds in Brisbane. The Best Kids Playgrounds in Brisbane That Your Kids Will Love Image credit Moreton Bay Regional Council Pine Rivers Park One of the most iconic north side playgrounds in Brisbane is without a doubt in Pine Rivers Park. This park has so much for kids to explore. Not only do they have the usual fun fare of climbing structures, slides, interactive play and swings, they also offer unique play experiences you won’t find anywhere else in Brisbane. Their star features are the flying fox and a pedal-powered monorail that circles an impressive children’s maze. Darlington Parklands Looking for something fun to do with the kids on a hot day? Darlington Parklands is one of the best kids playgrounds in Brisbane that will keep the kids cool and entertained for hours. Located on the south side, Darlington Parklands is a playground, waterpark, and an ideal picnic spot all in one. With a heavy focus on the natural surrounds, your little one can literally play amongst the trees and explore the fun water structures that make this playground so unique. Frew Park Looking for a park that’s close to the city? Check out Milton’s Frew Park. Located on the old site of the Milton Tennis Centre, Frew Park boasts gorgeous walking tracks and state of the art tennis courts. The park’s most popular attraction, however, is the futuristic playground. This playground is perfect for energetic kids who love their sports. It includes rock climbs, basketball nets, a giant slide, and of course a mini tennis court. The best part is the cafe overlooking the playground. Pick up a delicious coffee and treat yourself as you keep an eye on the kids. Download our Scavenger Hunt for something extra to do with your little one at the park! Image Credit Mustdo Brisbane Calamvale District Park For playtime up high, head to Calamvale District Park. This south side playground is not for the faint of heart, boasting impressive rope-bridge tunnels hanging high above the ground, leading to one of the biggest enclosed slides we’ve ever seen. There is also a 50-metre flying fox and a kiddies rope bridge playground with interactive play stations for the younger kids. Kidspace For kids who love a good game of hide and seek, Kidspace on the north side will make their day. Surrounded by parkland and perfect picnic spots, this is one of the best kids playgrounds in Brisbane that has something that every child will love. From a maze of bridges and towers to swings that cater for all ages and abilities and interactive, musical play stations, Kidspace will spark your kid’s imagination and give them hours of fun. For more awesome articles about raising kids in Brisbane and on the Gold Coast, check out our Blog. Where to From Here? Coastal Babysitters is an Award-winning Babysitting Service throughout Brisbane, Gold Coast and Byron Bay. ’Children Love Us, Parents Trust Us’ Are you in need of some time without the kids? Why not let us look after your little ones so you can enjoy yourself without worry! You can be assured the children are having just as much fun as you are! Hand-selected and interview by me personally, all our sitters are either mums themselves or have worked in child care for at least 3 years. We care for your children as if they were our own and make the whole experience easy and comfortable by: Our online or over the phone booking system You are emailed your babysitters profile and photo once assigned to your family. Your babysitter will phone you prior to the job, to say hello Your babysitter will bring activities for the kids Your babysitter will be engaging and have lots of fun with the kids. You will be sent photos so you can see your child is having fun. Your babysitter will leave a little note behind so you know what happened ‘while you were out’…. Have an awesome day and we look forward to meeting your family, Orly x
4 Tips For Surviving The School Term
Tips For Surviving The School Term Picture this…it’s the final week of term. Those familiar feels of ‘limping through’ to the holidays haven’t surfaced. You’re in control. Your kids are in good spirits. You have the energy to tackle the holiday’s head on and you’ve stopped joking about needing a holiday AFTER the holidays. Can you relate? If not, don’t worry – you’re not alone! To help get you through the school term without the burn out, I’ve put together my top survival tips. Create routine and stick to it As parents we know too well how important routines are. A new school term is a great time to sit down with your kids and create a chart of their morning and after school routines. Use pictures or written words to create a visual reminder and keep it in a central area of your home so it’s always top of mind. Also make a conscious decision to have your kids start their routines at the end of the next holidays to make the back to school transition that bit easier. Communication is key Managing people effectively, let alone little people, all boils down to communication. It’s so important to come together with your partner, sitters or caregivers to plan out who is responsible for what and when. It can be as simple as using a calendar invite on your phone to remind yourself about drop-offs, pick ups, sport days etc, giving you piece of mind. It also helps to look at the entire term holistically and give your employer the heads ups about when you might need to adjust your hours so you can plan around it together. Information sharing is another key component of communicating and planning with your kids. Set some time aside each day to specifically talk about the information you need from them. Ask them to give you their school notices each day after dinner (for example) so you can get on top of it and action anything there and then. Don’t wait until the end of the week, deal with it now so you’re not facing last minute requests or risking notices being lost! If you’re not opposed to tech, check out the Life Sorted app to help keep your family organised. The app provides a ‘go-to’ place for the whole family, helping reduce the brain clutter and overwhelm that comes with modern life. You can set reminders, to-dos, shopping lists, birthdays and more, it’s easy to use and you can try it for free. Most importantly, remember to spend time talking and listening to your kids specifically about how their day was. Supporting them and showing compassion towards any issues they may be experiencing while settling back into school will show you’ve got their backs and help boost their confidence. Avoid the temptation to over commit Dear working parents, please don’t let feelings of guilt bully you into taking on more than you can handle. You are enough! While the urge to sign up to committee’s, coaching, baking, fete duties is tempting, don’t be afraid to say ‘no’ if you just don’t have time. You’re not doing yourself or you kids any favours by spreading yourself thin and taking on extra commitments. If you really want to get involved, try to limit your responsibilities to once per year or consider an alternative like donating instead. Help is all around Seeking help is a sign of strength, not weakness. It takes a lot more courage to ask for help rather than stewing in your current predicament. If you’re a working parent, think about who you can lean on to help juggle the school/work week load. Remember Coastal Babysitters have got your babysitting needs covered from Brisbane through to the Gold Coast and Byron Bay. Our online booking system is super simple for those busy times when you need someone to watch your kids, even if it’s just for a few hours. Last but not least don’t forget self-care! Because a household run by happy parents means happy kids (well, most of the time!). Make sure you set time aside for yourself at least once per month whether it be a spa or massage treatment, date night or a weekend away. Our experienced babysitters are available for overnight stays if you ever need time out to rest and reset, just give us a call or book online.
Importance of a Great Bedtime Routine
The Importance of a Great Bedtime Routine by Deb Hepplewhite, Infant and Child Sleep Consultant at Baby Slumberland My Name is Deb and I am a Certified Infant + Child Sleep Consultant and I am a Mum myself to two boys aged 3 and 4. I connected with Orly from Coastal Babysitters about writing a guest blog piece to provide some information to her followers on infant and child sleep. Now, the information that I could give you on this topic could keep you reading for some time, so I have chosen one of the most important elements to help with your child’s sleep, which is the importance of a great bedtime routine. I hope you enjoy reading the piece and that you are able to take this information and adapt it within your own household. Having a great consistent bedtime routine can help set the tone for great consolidated night-time sleep for your child. Each element within a bedtime routine will help relax your child for bed and gradually prepare them for sleep. In this post, I will go through each element of the bedtime routine, and why they are effective in each individual way. Timing is probably the most important part of a bedtime routine, the time in which your child goes to bed can make it so much easier for them to fall asleep or conversely if the timing isn’t quite right, it can make it quite difficult for them to settle. Naturally through our Circadian Rhythm babies and children have a melatonin rise which starts to happen at 6-7pm in the evening. Melatonin is the sleep hormone responsible for helping us get to sleep initially and then also get us into a restful and deep sleep. If we can aim to have our children in bed around 6-7pm you can catch this Melatonin ‘wave’ and it will make it so much easier for your babe to fall asleep. If we miss this melatonin wave and your child goes into the realm of overtiredness then several things happen that make it really difficult for them to fall asleep. Cortisol levels rise, their adrenals glads will be high functioning and their sensory system will be overloaded and they will seem very ‘hyper’. Once in this state, it makes it really difficult for them to switch off and get into a relaxed state for sleep to take over. There will be crying, they will seem unsettled, fidgety and they will often wake very upset between the hours of 6pm and 11pm. That is why timing is so important and if you can pop your child to bed before they have reached this overtired state, it will be much easier for them to settle initially and also get into a deep sleep. What time your child has dinner can help your timing or it can also make things a little harder. Making sure you give your child dinner at an appropriate time that also gives you plenty of space to have a nice relaxing bath is essential, ideally you don’t want that time to be rushed or hectic. The reason why we give a bath is to simulate the natural core body temperature drop that happens right before you go to sleep. This happens naturally within your body at the onset of sleep, so by giving a bath just before bedtime, this will help encourage this and simulate the effect it has at the onset of sleep. Once your child has had a lovely relaxing bath, taking them into their bedroom for the next part of the routine is really important. Keeping things calm and relaxed will help them wind down for sleep, so that means no tickle sessions Dad! I say Dad’s because they are usually the ones who decide to have a full on tickle fight and hype the kids up right before sleep. Or the well-meaning Grandparent, who at a family gathering decides to hype the kids up, right as they are saying goodnight. I love these interactions it really is so sweet, as long as it isn’t happening every night right before they go to sleep, keeping things calm and relaxed is key. Once you have changed your bub into some nice comfy Pyjamas, keep the lights dimmed and offer a feed (if this is age appropriate). Keeping this feed slightly separated from actually going to sleep will help babies understand that feeding isn’t directly related to the actual sleep onset, which will in turn help with any overnight re-settles. The next step can change to suit your child’s temperament and their age, if under 6 months some calming soft nursery rhymes can be great, or reading a story to older children. Reading is fantastic for a child’s development and is a great addition to your bedtime routine. I love listening to hubby read my boys a story before bed, Dr Suess is a favourite in our household and listening to my hubby get the tongue twisting Dr Suess tales out gives me a bit of a giggle. Also remembering to brush your child’s teeth around this time is quite crucial, whether that be whilst you read a story or in between books. Having milk sitting on a child’s teeth can be damaging to their developing mouth so brushing is always a must. For very small babies who don’t have teeth and aren’t brushing yet, you would obviously skip this step. For babies 6 months and up just letting them have a toothbrush to chew on while you read a story to instil that tooth brushing element (without toothpaste of course) is great too. Once the story is read and teeth are brushed, its time to sing a quiet song or say your sleepy phrase. Keeping this consistent is a great idea so that your child knows what is to come next. A simple “ok Harry it’s time for bed now” or Incy wincy spider is always a favourite. I’m
Guest Blog: Why Do Children Need to Exercise?
Why Do Children Need to Exercise? We are often told that kids need to spend less time on their computers/screens and get outside and exercise more. The Australian Government recommend that children aged between 5-12 years should perform at least 60 minutes of moderate to vigorous physical activity per day, and participate in resistance training at least three times a week. But do children really need to exercise? They may walk to school, play with their friends at break times, and have a particular sport they participate in on the week end … you may be thinking isn’t this enough? While this is a great starting point, there are several reasons why it is important for kids to engage in more structured moderate to vigorous exercise during childhood: 1- Decrease the risk of obesity and chronic health conditions. Promoting exercise in childhood lowers a child’s risk of developing chronic conditions, such as diabetes and heart disease later in life, as well as helping to develop healthy life long habits from a young age. 2- Develop strong bones and muscles. Resistance or strength training commenced early in life promotes improved bone density and lowers the risk of conditions, such as osteoporosis as children age. Importantly, strength training does not mean lifting heavy weights in a gym setting. Instead, children should be encouraged to participate in activities such as running, jumping and skipping which place increased pressure on the bones and muscles. 3- Reduce the chance of injury. Regular movement and activity decreases the chance of injuries related to sedentary and sustained postures (e.g. from sitting at a computer), as well as improving muscle strength to protect joints and ligaments. 4- Improved self-esteem and body image. Regular exercise and participation in team sports has been shown to result in an increased sense of self-esteem, body image and the development of long lasting friendships. How do I Encourage my Child to be Active? Place an emphasis on fun, and find an activity that your child enjoys. Some sports / activities that you may not have thought of include taekwondo, gymnastics, surf life saving / nippers, and indoor rock climbing and trampolining. Get creative and become active with your child, whether it is playing in the park, taking them to the pool or dancing to music. Find ways to include incidental exercise in to your everyday life. For example, leave the car at home and walk to school with your child, or ride your bike to the park. When the time is right consider introducing your child to a sport or structured activity to build friendships and teamwork skills. If you have any questions on ways to get your child active, or on how much / what type of exercise they should be performing please email [email protected]. Jay is a Physiotherapist and the Co-Owner and Director at Gecko Sports Gold Coast Central. Find more information about Gecko Sports at www.geckosports.com.au You can reach out to Jay by email at [email protected]
Whats on…. Australia Day on The Gold Coast and Northern NSW
Are you on the Gold Coast or Northern New South Wales and looking for something to do this Australia Day? We have compiled a list of celebrations below: Happy Australia Day! NORTHERN GOLD COAST The Gathering Feel Good Festival What: Inaugural music festival with 12 international DJs and Tee Pee Village. Licensed 18+ When & Where: From Midday to 10pm at Country Paradise Parklands on Beaudesert-Nerang Rd, Nerang Australia Day Golf Event at Links Hope Island What: Pie eating competition, sausage sizzle, thong throwing and a round of golf. Prizes for best dressed golf cart When & Where: 7.30am to 6pm at Hope Island Road, Hope Island. One Nation Broadwater Australia Day Barbecue What: Free sausage sizzle and open discussion with members of the party When & Where: 8.30am to 11.30am at Paradise Point Parklands Celebrate Aussie Day at the Boardwalk Tavern What: Mud crab racing from 2pm, food specials and live music When & Where: 10am to 10pm at 8 Santa Barbara Rd, Hope Island Guanaba Country Music Club Australia Day Party What: Come dressed in ‘Okker’ fashion, trivia quiz, other games, music, kid friendly When & Where: 11am to 4pm at The Fire station at Heritage Park — 193 Rifle Range Road, Pimpama Zumba What: Australia-themes dress up Zumba class When & Where: 6.30pm at Upper Coomera Community Centre, Abraham Rd Upper Coomera Runaway Bay Tavern Australia Day Event What: Pig racing with proceeds to Variety children’s charity, live music, cold drinks and a barbecue When & Where: 12pm to 10pm at 10-12 Lae Drive, Runaway Bay SOUTHERN GOLD COAST Burleigh Swim Run What: Community fitness event for kids to adults at Burleigh beach When & Where: 6am to 10am at Burleigh Heads Lifeguard Tower Currumbin RSL Australia Day Creekside What: Live music, face painting, trivia, totem tennis, and native tucker (kid friendly) When & Where: 10am onwards at 165 Duringan Street, Currumbin North Burleigh SLSC BBQ in the Park What: Free event with food stalls, music and games for the kids. When & Where: 11am — 3pm at Ed Hardy Park, The Esplanade, Miami. Dog and Parrot Tavern Australia Day What: Triple J’s Hottest 100, games for the kids, free sausage sizzle and comedy at 7.30pm When & Where: 11am to 10pm at 2 Scottsdale Drive, Robina Australia Day at the Coolangatta Hotel What: Live music, food and drink specials, giveaways and more When & Where: 9am to 11pm at Cnr Warner Street & Marine Parade, Coolangatta Burleigh Pro Surf Comp What: First day of four-day surfing event, part of the World Surf League and attracting some of Australia’s best surfers When & Where: 8am to 4pm at Goodwin Terrace, Burleigh Heads BBQ, Brews and Bites What: Live DJs, delicious Australia Day specialties from Fish Lab, Pure Meats and Coming Home Co and plenty of games for the kids. When & Where: 11am — 7pm, outside The Kitchens, Robina CENTRAL GOLD COAST Australia Day at the Broadwater Parklands What: Largest ever firework display on the Gold Coast, food trucks, live music and sporting zone When & Where: 4pm to 8pm at Southport Broadwater Parklands, Marine Pde at Southport on the Great Lawn Australia Day at Southport Sharks What: Face painting, dance show, reptile show and lunch at Frenzy Food Court When & Where: 1pm onwards at Cnr Musgrave and Olsen Ave, Southport Australia Day at Benowa Tavern What: Aussie-themed dishes on special as well as a barbecue, a thong throwing competition and a lamington eating event held after lunch. When & Where: 10am to 5pm at 117 Ashmore Road, Benowa Australia Day celebrations at RSL Club Southport What: Aussie tucker, Aussie trivia, face painting, music and giveaways When & Where: 10am to 1.30am at 36 Scarborough Street, Southport Australia Day by Nobby’s Beach Surf Lifesaving Club What: Thong pong, hermit crab racing and a pie eating competition When & Where: 10am to 6pm at 25 Albatross Avenue, Nobby Beach Cabana Bar & Lounge Presents Australia Day! What: Toad races, Triple J’s Hottest 100, sausage sizzle and Aussie-themed cocktails When & Where: 12pm to 11pm at Southport Sharks, Cnr Musgrave & Olsen aves, Southport Aussie Day BBQ At Hard Rock Cafe Surfers Paradise What: Drinks and barbecue on the deck, Aussie hot dogs. $24.95 per ticket When & Where: 12pm — 10pm at Cnr Cavill Ave & Surfers Bvd, Surfers Paradise Australia Day at Southport Yacht Club What: Raffles, prizes for best dressed and lunch looking over the water When & Where: 12pm — 4pm at 1 Macarthur Parade, Main Beach The Wallaby Hotel What: Live music, a pie eating competition, a thong throwing event and a free barbecue When & Where: From 10 at 45 Railway St, Mudgeeraba HINTERLAND Advancetown Tavern Aussie Day Event What: Face painting, balloon artist, jumping castles, pig races to raise money for the rural fire brigade and live music When: 10am — 10pm Where: 402 Nerang Murwillumbah Road, Advancetown The Grumpies Rock Australia Day What: Live music by The Grumpies, pig racing, jumping castle and more When: 11am — 11pm Where: Tamborine Mountain Memorial Sports Centre, 6-12 Beacon Rd, Tamborine North Bearded Dragon’s Australia Day Weekend What: Australian-themed activity tent, colouring competition, thong throwing, Aussie tucker, live music, reptile show, cane toad racing, lamington scoffing, prizes for best dressed and much more When & Where: From 11.30am at Cnr Tamborine Mountain Rd & Beenleigh-Beaudesert Rd Tamborine NORTHERN NSW Tweed Shire Awards and Citizenship Ceremony What: 50 new citizens pledging citizenship and the annual shire awards When & Where: 11am to 12.30pm Twin Towns Clubs and Resorts Tumbulgum Community Australia Day Celebration What: Free community barbecue breakfast, awards, music, craft workshops, cricket challenge When & Where: 8am to 4pm at Brian Breckenridge, Bawden St, Tumbulgum Kingscliff Lions Australia Day Breakfast What: Breakfast, flag-raising ceremony and Aussie games When & Where: From 7am at Lions Park, Marine Parade Kingscliff Australia Day Paddle What: Paddle from Wategos to Main Beach When & Where: 8am registration and 10am paddle Aussie Barbecue What: Free sausage sizzle,
Christmas Toy Drive
Christmas Toy Drive for Radio Lollipop and ACT for Kids Christmas for me is my favourite time of the year. Bright lights, Christmas trees up, Santa everywhere, it brings with it, a happy feel. But… Christmas isn’t happy for everyone, there are children out there that are sick, from struggling families, children without parents and for many other reasons will go without happiness this Christmas. Christmas is a time for giving. There is nothing better than seeing a child smiling and that is why Coastal Babysitters is doing a Christmas Toy Drive where we will be collecting donations of Brand New Toys and toys in excellent condition to donate to children in need. We have 2 drop off points on the Gold Coast which are: Beach Food Cafe in Burleigh Heads. Fuji International Kindergarten in Robina. All our Brand New Toys will be donated to the following charities: Radio Lollipop – A children’s charity providing care, comfort, play and entertainment to children in hospital. ACT for kids – Provide free therapeutic support for thousands of kids and families that have been abused or neglected. Coastal Babysitters would like to donate our used toys that are in excellent condition to local members of the Gold Coast community that are in need. It can be for various reasons, but if you know a family that is in need or you are a family yourself that is in need, please reach out to us as we would love to help you.. Please phone myself, Orly on 0479 087 595 I look forward to hearing from you all and I hope we can make a different to many, many children this Christmas. Orly xx
