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Fun at the show!
-Samantha Thompson

It's a Perth institution in the first week of the October school holidays - pack the kids into the car or onto the train and head off to spend an outrageous sum of money in a day of "fun". The sort of fun that involves spending exorbitant amounts on rides, food, showbags, parking...that sort of fun.

We are, of course, talking about a day at the Royal Agricultural Show. A day at the show is one of the highlights of the West Australian social calendar, as big as the Australia Day fireworks, Rally Australia and the beach on Christmas Day.

The Royal Show celebrates 100 years this year. As parents we can all remember our first time at the Show, as can our parents and their parents. The magic of the fireworks, the animals, the rides, the showbags and the people is something that lives on for a long time in a child's mind. This is something that is apparently very important to remember in WA's 175th Anniversary year.

There have been complaints in recent years, however, about the rising cost of a family day out at the Show. Thus the Western Australian Government devised a plan to help alleviate some of the financial sting of the event.

Last week, the Opposition slammed the Gallop Government over its plan to give $1.75 million of taxpayer funds to the Royal Agricultural Society so they could let children under 15 in for free. While I doubt any family with kids is going to be complaining (except perhaps those who bought their tickets beforehand), some have suggested that it's possibly an election year publicity stunt rather than a genuine attempt to keep the rising cost of the Show down.

The other suspicious aspect of this plan is that the deal is only available through the purchase of a particular newspaper.

Perhaps the money could have been better spent elsewhere - health, education, roads - but this is a WA institution we are talking about! So parents, enjoy the $9 per child saving - that's at least another two showbags!

Family Day Care pays off for Margaret 

"To me, Family Day Care is not just my job, but a great source of satisfaction." So says Margaret Borrett, a Family Day Care provider who has been caring for children in her own home since 1993.

Margaret's love of children began roughly 30 years ago as a ballet teacher, where she gained much knowledge and experience working with kids.

Those experiences convinced Margaret that child care was the next step for her, as it was an opportunity to continue working with and teaching children.

"I love kids," says Margaret with a smile.

"They keep me fit and young."

Since the inception of her Canning Vale-based Family Day Care business, TLC Childcare, Margaret has been a member of Communicare's nationally accredited Family Day Care Scheme.

Involvement in the Communicare Family Day Care Scheme is free, with no commission or fees to be paid.

It has been a successful partnership, and Margaret has seen many benefits for her own Family Day Care business.

"The Communicare Family Day Care Scheme Coordination Unit (at the organisation's Head Office) is there to back you up," says Margaret.

"When there is a problem, they come out straight away and are always available to offer their advice."

"When I go on holidays, the Scheme finds interim carers to look after the children I care for."

"I am not alone; you always have somebody to talk to."

Margaret talked to the Communicare Family Day Care Scheme Coordination Unit prior to her setting up TLC Childcare, and was given guidance as to how best to proceed, including suggesting the best possible area to set up her business.

Since opening, Margaret has been fully booked, and has a waiting list of families who wish to utilise her services.

Family Day Care is one of the most sought-after child care services in Australia.

As the demand for Family Day Care continues to grow, the constant need for Family Day Care providers has never been as evident as now.

The Communicare Family Day Care Scheme is currently searching for new carers to join their Scheme. The Communicare Family Day Care Scheme offers providers regular support and home visits from experienced support staff; a strong network of dedicated and supportive Family Day Care providers; playgroups; 24 hour telephone contact; advice on child development issues; and guidance on administration matters among other things.

However, one of the greatest benefits of being in the Communicare Family Day Care Scheme, says Margaret, is the opportunity to work from home and make a living from it.

"You are your own boss, it's your own business, and you choose your own hours," she says.

"And you can definitely make a good living from Family Day Care."

Family Day Care providers earn in accordance to their own availabilities.

Some choose to work only Monday to Friday, between 8am and 5pm, while many more offer weekend, school holiday and overnight care.

Family Day Care providers have the luxury of working hours that are best suited to their lifestyle and that of their families.

The Communicare Family Day Care Scheme is accredited by the National Childcare Accreditation Council.

The carers within the Scheme are Commonwealth-approved child care services and can therefore offer full Child Care Benefit subsidies to eligible families.

There are several steps involved in becoming a Family Day Care provider.

Communicare's friendly Family Day Care Scheme Coordination Unit staff are happy to advise and assist prospective Family Day Care providers in setting up their business.

 The Communicare Family Day Care Scheme is looking for people with good communication skills and a great rapport with children; commitment to the wellbeing of children; experience in home management; the ability to provide a safe and hygienic physical environment for children in care; and the skills to provide a safe and stimulating environment that meets the individual needs of children in care.

To find out more information about becoming a Family Day Care provider, contact Eddie at Communicare's Family Day Care Scheme Coordination Unit on 9451 9777 or email fdc@communicare.org.au. 

Communicare Childrenís Services also offer Occasional Care, Before and After School Care and Vacation Care.

Communicare is a multifaceted, 100% Western Australian charity organisation, offering Family, Children's, and Employment and Training Services with the aim of developing a close and caring community.

Communicare: Leading the way in providing excellence in support services to the community.

ADD: Angry Disappointed Desperate? 

Enough is enough! It is time to stop this crazy approach and find out what these children really need!

In light of recent research the hard questions must now be asked. Exactly why do we have such a high rate of stimulant medication in Western Australia? Why have we turned to medication rather than searching for the cause?

These children are fed up and definitely show symptoms of Anger, Disappointment and Desperation! They are angry because they are not heard and not recognised as having their unique ways of learning and perception. We do not acknowledge their creativity and gifts they bring to the world.

They are disappointed because they can never please their teachers and their parents and face failure all day long every day. Their needs are not met. They are desperate for real help that is not simply a prescription for stimulant medication. They want to learn.

ICE has seen hundreds of these children over the last year. We have learned to stop, take time and listen to them. They have a lot to teach us about boundless energy, enthusiasm and creative approaches to education. These children can lead us to new approaches that may transform the very nature of Western education.

At ICE we now use Brain Gym, Tai Chi and Yoga to calm and help "ground" these children. We are also offering a new kinesiology-education course entitled: Brain Body Connection.

We have discovered that children have specific optimal learning times, so we have extended tuition times and now provide individual and group sessions in the mornings, after school and weekends. Above all we have learned to be flexible and take the time to find out what these children actually need!

Many schools are happy for children to be withdrawn and receive intensive assistance with ICE.

These children are here to stay - it is time we looked at their needs and met them!

If they don't fit into our schools - why not? What they need is a more multi-sensory approach. They cannot sit still for long and yet we make them

If they donít fit into our schools - why not? What they need is a more multi-sensory approach. They cannot sit still for long and yet we make them.

These children learn well with computers. They also need movement, colour and tactile learning. They need to be placed in small, friendly groups where they can discuss their ideas and get fast feedback about their performance.

They are often great artists and musically oriented and so need to have a rich, creative approach to the basic subjects. They need boundaries and clear directions.

Next term we are offering two workshops called ëHelping Children with ADDí for teachers and parents. Participants will be given free copies of our new publication:  Helping Sparky-Brain Kids. Please phone ICE for details.

These children need help. Even if medication is needed for a short time, they need to have access to teaching and parenting methods that will help them to focus and learn.

It is time to re-think our approaches to education. Schools must be adequately resourced to provide for these children. We need more teachers, more equipment and a more open approach to this problem.

These children are smart, creative and eager to show their gifts to the world.

Lets turn ADD to Active, Dynamic Developers!

For more information how ICE can help your child, or for any of their seminars or publications please contact 9478 3323 or 0409 911 135. 

Tell WA your story 

Kids in Perth - The Parents' Paper strives to give the parents of Perth a forum to share their ideas and experiences with others. Now we are giving our readers the chance to get their opinions and stories published.

The paper is looking for anecdotes both humorous and inspirational, handy tips or anything else you might think other parents would enjoy reading. Even if you are not a parent, but have worked with children, we want to hear from you.

We are looking for true stories. The competition is open to all - mums, dads, grandparents, teachers, childcare workers or anyone else who would like to write about their experience with children.

Stories can be as long or short as you like and can be about any subject of your choosing - happy, sad, inspirational, uplifting, cautionary, advisory, your concerns, your hopes - anything!

In addition to being considered for publication in Kids in Perth - The Parents' Paper, a compilation of the best of these stories will be published in book or magazine form in the future.

Please note that it is an expressed condition that ownership and copyright of all submissions to Kids in Perth - The Parents' Paper will revert to Lasso Media Pty. Ltd. as publishers of the paper and the authors of these submissions will have no further claims on these articles/stories, irrespective of whether the submission is published.

Email your submissions to mystory@kidsinperth.com or post them to PO box 1418 Morley BC, WA 6943

So get writing and let the people of Perth know your story.