TALK ABOUT TOWN

Fremantle fiesta time - cool for kids

The coolest place for kids on Sunday, April 3, will be in the shade of the beautiful Samson Park for the 2005 Fremantle Children's Fiesta, a day packed with FREE activities.
Following in the wake of last year's fabulous fiesta, children aged up to 12 are invited to Fremantle to take part in circus skills, a climbing wall, drumming lessons, craft workshops, music, an animal farm and other entertainment.
Samson Park, located on McCombe Avenue, features an idyllic bushland setting with tall trees providing plenty of shade and beautiful bushwalks.
There will be a concert by Danumba, who will take kids and parents through a wonderful African musical experience. Other local dancers, musicians, singers and martial arts experts will ensure a day full of entertainment.
Entry to the fiesta, along with all activities, is free. Food and drinks (including the best coffee!) will be available, with proceeds going to local schools, PCYC, Community Midwifery and the Scouts of Australia. The fiesta will run from 10am to 4pm.
The fiesta will also see the culmination of the Samson Trek Bush Forever environmental project with an exhibition, showcasing school artwork.
The 2005 Fremantle Children's Fiesta is a City Of Fremantle initiative, supported by community groups and local schools.

Playways Workshop 5: The Importance of Construction Play

Educational toys offer a variety of play experiences and develop a wide range of skills. Choosing your child's toy is very important. Toys that require interaction and problem solving can only help them in their development; toys that switch on and are used for entertainment are not stimulating or benefiting your child's development.
Construction play involves putting pieces together and manipulating objects to create things. Find out more from paediatric occupational therapist, Marie Yuncken, about how both girls and boys can enjoy the large variety of these toys. Share her extensive knowledge in the next Playways' workshop. Space is limited, so book early.
The workshop will be held on Wednesday, 30 March, at 7.15 pm (registration 6.50 pm) and will last approximately 2 hours. Refreshments will be provided. The cost is $7.00 per person or couple. 
For information on any Playways' products phone 9381 3368, email info@playwayswa.com.au or visit their new website: www.playwayswa.com.au

Children & loss - their grief is different
Frankie Needham, Counsellor & Play Therapist

Children coming to terms with the death of a family member, friend or even a pet, experience very real grief. This grief may be experienced in a variety of ways, with behaviour problems and mood changes common. 
Similar changes can be seen in separation and in divorce. For some there is no apparent change in behaviour or moods, in fact some children become better behaved and put themselves under great pressure. School can be stressful following a major loss; schoolwork and concentration are often difficult.
The belief that children are too young to understand or don't know what is going on is common. An understanding of the normal range of behaviours and other expressions of grief can assist in the provision of parental/guardian support to encourage healthy adaptive responses following a loss.
If you would like to understand more about what is happening to your child call Frankie on 08 9480 9429 for an appointment.

Museum of Childhood relocating
The Museum of Childhood is closed for relocation but the Museum's shop will be open until the end of February, from 10am to 4pm, Monday to Friday, to sell off all remaining stock at half-price. So get along and grab a bargain!
As well as packing up the thousands of items in the collection, the staff is also busy developing exciting new outreach programs for families, schools and community groups. As they develop these new interactive products, they're keen to keep readers in the know about the new opportunities for children - young and old - to enjoy. 
If you'd like the museum to let you know where and when they are moving, send your details to Virginia Giles at the Museum of Childhood, ECU Claremont campus, Bay Road, Claremont WA 6010. Other options are to send an email to v.giles@ecu.edu.au or log on to their website at www.ecu.edu.au/ses/museum and fill out the 'Contact Details' form. For further information call 9442 1373 Monday to Friday.

Childhood fears - Should I be worried?
Carol Smith Clinical Psychologist Child and Adolescent Specialist

 
Separation Anxiety, Phobias, Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, Social Anxiety, and Panic Attacks are all first evident in childhood. Indeed anxiety conditions are thought to be the most common psychological problem in children and adolescents. Some studies suggest two in every ten children will experience anxiety.
If you wonder whether your child has a problem with worry, the bottom line is to ask yourself if the worry is reducing your child's opportunities. Clinical anxiety impacts on children's lives in many areas. They suffer socially, personally and academically. 
Anxiety may interfere with starting and maintaining friendships. Some children have trouble going to school. They need constant reassurance (which doesn't seem to help), and are typically tearful and clingy upon being separated from their main carer. This can last for months or years.
Some children are obsessive, making sure things are being done 'right', in the right order and/or right place. They develop unusual routines and may check and re-check things. Typically these children are overly dependent on their parents, usually very well behaved with others, but may have extreme tantrums in the privacy of their own home.
Don't wait for these problems to become an accepted part of your child's life. Seek professional assistance from a child psychologist, it may only take a few sessions and will set your children up for life. For information, contact Carol on 0407 828 944.

Help for childhood speech & language difficulties

Children's difficulties with communication, social interaction, literacy development, behaviour and learning in school can often be attributed to underlying weaknesses in their speech and language skills. 
You may be looking for help in this area, and wondering whether Speech Pathology services would benefit your child. Specialist Speech Pathologists at Ballajura Speech Pathology Clinic provide assessment and therapy services in the areas of:
- Speech delay and Dyspraxia
- Language delay
- Reading and Writing difficulties
- Stuttering
- Autistic Spectrum Disorders
- Learning difficulties
From a thorough assessment the therapist can determine your child's strengths and weaknesses, identify areas that need to be developed and design a therapy programme specific to your child's needs. During therapy your child will develop skills that will maximize their true learning and communicative potential.
You may have further questions so please call us on 9248 1353 and an experienced therapist will be happy to discuss any of your queries.

A simple solution to lost property

Make it easier for children to take responsibility for their belongings and avoid the lost property box by naming them with eye-catching labels from Design a Name.
Design a Name make great personalised name stickers for lunch boxes, drink containers, bags, booksŠ anything with a clean smooth surface. No need to worry about reapplying marker pen that has washed off! Also available are iron-on clothing labels, shoe labels, bag tags, schoolbook labels and more.
As their customers tell them, not all labels are the same. Design a Name guarantee their clothing labels will not come off in the wash when correctly applied and their name stickers are made from a high-grade vinyl with superior adhesive qualities.
Design a Name is run by mums for mums - and they know how to provide friendly, efficient service. The product range is also great for fundraising with minimal effort. To find out more phone 0500 529 018 or log on to www.designaname.com.au to order securely on-line.

Aqua-Net saves lives and water


The Aqua-Net swimming pool safety net has been custom-fitted to hundreds of pools, spas and fishponds in Perth since 1988, with a 100 per cent safety record. The safety net is a barrier to stop pre-schoolers, who unfortunately make up most of the drowning statistics, from getting to the water.
The weave of the safety net creates 100mm square spaces, which makes it impossible for children to walk on and so they avoid it. If, however, they do fall on the net (or 'kiddie catcher' as staff at Aqua-Net like to call it), it will contain them at the water's edge and they can clamber off out of harm's way.
How does Aqua-Net save your pool water? They also supply solar pool blankets that lie in direct contact with the water and prevent up to 97 per cent of water evaporation. For more details about their products call Rodger on 9335 6986, seven days a week, at Aqua-Net Pty Ltd (est. 1988).