Kiddipedia Podcast

The ancient art of storytelling has been around since time began. As a tribal species, humans have relied on storytelling to help people connect, learn and communicate, with ourselves and others.

The voice of narration has always had a place and purpose in our lives. The evolution of storytelling goes way back to cave painting and primitive art, through to tribes of people sat around a open fire listening to an elder passing down life lessons from generations before. Over time through to the 21st century, the mediums of communication have changed to books, audio books, social media, feature films and subscription TV amongst many.

Throughout this time, the core concepts of using a sequence of events in an exciting nature has remained the same, so what are these core concepts? and how can children benefit from them?

Well we’re here to today to find out, with our special guest Emma Mactaggart, a mother and an award-winning author and publisher, and one of our partners here at Kiddipedia.

For the last 15 years Emma has been teaching the craft of writing and illustrating to children and adults via her Child Writes program.

Her publishing business Boogie Books is the largest publisher in the world on Amazon of children’s picture books written by children for children. For five years, these same books also flew with Jetstar as part of their in-flight entertainment system!

Emma is a regular guest on ABC Southern Queens-land Radio and she is also the Founder of International Read to Me! Day: a reimagined global event this year, encouraging readers to share the love of story via Facebook live.

We ask Emma questions including:

1. How do you think tales and storytelling can teach children basic life lessons?
2. How do books help children strengthen their imagination?
3. What do you love about teaching children how to write and illustrate their own books?
4. What are the seven plots used in storytelling?
5. How can books help children build resilience?
6. Do you think listening to stories can help children develop empathy? If so how?
7. How do you think books can children develop how to deal with their fears and insecurities?
8. How can parents use storybooks to help open conversations with their children to learn about how they view and experience the world around them?
9. How can you test if a child has high self-efficacy?
10. Do you think the idea of increasing self-efficacy can help create a child’s resilience? If so, how?
11. What’s your #1 book to help support your children’s fears and build adversity?

For Emma’s full article, please go to: https://kiddipedia.com.au/overcoming-the-monster/

For further details:

https://www.emmamactaggart.com.au/

https://www.facebook.com/ChildWrites/

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Evolution. By definition, biologically, is defined as ‘change in the gene pool of a population from generation to generation by such processes as mutation, natural selection, and genetic drift. 

The recent increase in climate change awareness has increased a global shift towards plant based diets which have become identified as critical in helping reduce and preventing climate breakdown. 

Did you know in January 2021 that high-profile international scientific journal EMBO Molecular Medicine published results from a recent study, which showed that Vegan diets are continually gaining in popularity especially among young adults, and through the choices of the families vegan diets are becoming more common in young children, too?

Through this, and recent challenges like COVID, have brought about a shift and lift in consciousness. One of the many changes includes that many of us, children included, are choosing to eat less or no meat and animal products as we become more sensitive to our environment and what it means when we eat animals. 

However the choices for families choosing vegetarian or vegan diets for their children have been rife with criticism which is what we’re here to discuss today with our special guest, Sarah Smith, Dietitian from Bayside Dietetics. 

Sarah works in private a practice in Bayside Melbourne after working for an extensive period within a Monash Children’s Hospital. 

We ask Sarah questions including:

1. What are some of the key findings from this study? 
2. What should parents make of these findings?
3. What should parents be aware of should they wish for their children to live on a vegan diet? 
4. Where do vegans get their protein from?
5. How can kids thrive on a vegan diet? No doubt this requires a lot of planning? 
6. Do you think that the more we have access to information and advice as to how we can eat healthily on plant-based diets the more people would be likely to give it a go? 

For the full article, please go to: https://kiddipedia.com.au/a-response-to-recent-reports-about-the-dangers-of-vegan-eating-for-infants-and-children/

References:

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/01/210121132300.htm

https://www.news.com.au/lifestyle/health/diet/a-new-study-looks-at-the-dangers-of-a-vegan-diet-for-infants/news-story/6a30cb922c79ed197334b488c7ff0e87

For further details: http://www.baysidedietetics.com.au/

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Have you ever thought, that as we sleep we are in our most vulnerable and defenseless state. For this reason, it’s no surprise that many children crave the companionship, support and comfort of their parents as they wind down for bedtime. For those with common sleep issues, it’s characteristics that many children will make their way in your bed by way of habit and or to simply help comfort their fears. 

Broken sleep patterns and sleep deprivation for parents is a very real health risk, for this reason and may others it is important that a healthy sleeping routine and guidelines are set in the entire family.

But what do you do when your child refuses to sleep in their bed alone and throughout the night? Well, our special guest, Deb Herdman, is here to tell us exactly what that is.

Deb Herdman is a mother, registered nurse, sleep practitioner with over 10 years experience and one our partners at Kiddipedia. She is also an author of 2 e-books, composer and developer of the Nigh Nigh Lullaby and ever growing nigh nigh brand. On a regular basis presents on radio and podcast, locally and internationally on how parents can get good quality sleep by providing sleep solutions that work. 

We ask Deb questions including:

1. How difficult can it be for parents to identify why their children won’t stay in their own bed?
2. How important is it for parents to set boundaries for children’s night time routine?
3. Can situations like this help build resilience in children?
4. It’s common when transitioning from a co-sleeping scenario that children may cry worried they are going to miss their parents. What should parents do in this instance?
5. How important is it to have nighttime routines structured? 
6. Should parents reduce the amount of choices for children and not ask too many questions before the children’s bedtime? 
7. Do you have any tips for children that have separation anxiety in extreme cases?
8. What about when siblings observe their brother or sister throwing a tantrum, how can we limit this to one child and prevent other children from getting upset also?
9. How can parents get children to cooperate? 
10. How would you best describe the dos and don’ts in this situation, starting with the don’ts? 

For Deb’s full article: https://kiddipedia.com.au/my-child-refuses-to-sleep-in-their-bed-i-need-help/

For further details: https://www.nighnigh.com.au/

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Discovering that you are expecting a baby is one of the most uplifting and thrilling experiences any couple could encounter.

Whilst a mother is carrying a baby, naturally, we focus on her health and wellbeing. With ongoing prenatal checkups and classes we are eager to know, almost daily, how she is feeling.

With the spotlight on the mother, sometimes her partner can feel a little like a third wheel, however, this shouldn’t be the case.

Dads are an equally important pillar in the development of a child’s cognitive, social and emotional wellbeing and development. This all starts as early as in utero.

Today we’re here to help break old stereotypes and discuss how dads can be equally involved as mothers in the preparation for their newborn baby’s arrival, and beyond.

So, what can Dads do now to help get ready for the baby’s arrival? Lucky for us our special guest is going to tell us what they are.

Today we welcome Keren Ludski, CEO of Red Nose Australia

Keren has over 30 years of clinical and business experience, having spent the last 18 years as Director of a counselling service specialising in the area of grief and loss. However, Keren’s life changed forever in 1998 when her third child Ben died from SIDS. Following this, Keren turned her professional energy to supporting other bereaved parents and families providing clinical supervision and educating other professionals in the field.

We ask Keren questions including:

1. Why do you think fathers are so important during a baby’s first year of life?
2. What benefits can be obtained when both father and mother take care of the baby equally?
3. Do you think that strengthening fathers confidence in the early stages, by showing them how they can help support the baby’ arrival and what activities they can do, that it could foster the father’s positive parenting skills?
4. Do you think the earlier the father is involved with the preparation of the babies arrival could possibly contribute to strengthening the bond the father has and the depth of connection with the baby?
5. How can Dads get ready for baby arrival? In your article you list your top 10, could you share them with us now?
6. A new Red Nose Australia poll of 120 dads has found that around 65% had not received any newborn safe sleep advice from a health professional. Tell us more about safe sleep advice?
7. How can they reach out for support
8. More broadly, tell us about Red Nose Day on Friday 13th of August, 2021
9. Why is it important to raise awareness about SIDS?
10. Why do you personally think that Red Nose Day is so important and why everyone should do their bit to help support parents living through the nightmare of losing a baby or child?

For the Red Nose article, please go to: https://kiddipedia.com.au/10-things-dads-can-do-now-to-get-ready-for-babys-arrival/

For further details:

Website: https://www.rednoseday.org.au/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RedNoseAus

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rednoseaustralia/

Get silly for a serious cause and support Red Nose Day - Friday 13 August

Donate now rednoseday.org.au/donate

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If you’re a soon-to-be parent, with questions about baby bottles and teats, then you’re in the right place. 

Irrespective if you intend to breastfeed, use formula or a combination of both, it’s a great idea to learn as much as possible about the products available and how they will help benefit the health and well-being of your baby. 

The information we’ll share with you today is with the view of supporting you in what can be a steep learning curve for many parents.

To help share expert information and advice we enlist the wisdom of Belinda Joyce 

Belinda is a midwife, maternal & child health nurse with over 20 years of experience. 

She is also a mother of four and author of 'Survive and Enjoy Your Baby'. Her passion is in providing safe, evidence-based advice & options to parents so they can find their own path to parenthood.

We ask Belinda questions including:

1. How do parents know which bottle size is right for their baby?
2. What are the benefits of different baby bottle materials?
3. What’s the difference between ‘wide neck’ and ‘slim neck’ bottles and teats? 
4. When may a wide neck or slim neck bottle/teat might be more suited to a baby?
5. How do parents know which size of teat and opening is right for their baby? I understand there is the round and Y cut, why is this?
6. What features are very important for a parent to consider when deciding on a teat? Is it the shape? surface texture? air ventilation system? or all of the above? 
7. What other features are important when choosing a teat?
8. How do parents know when is the right time to change their baby's teat size? 
9. How do parents know when teats and bottles should be replaced?

For Pigeon’s full article, please go to: https://kiddipedia.com.au/baby-bottles-and-bottle-feeding-101-for-new-parents/

To prepare for the arrival of your little one or to enhance your current bottle-feeding experience, it’s worthwhile looking out for Pigeon, their range can be found on the

Pigeon website or at your local pharmacy or baby retailer.

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Undoubtedly, being a parent is the most honourable, righteous and wonderful role known to women or man. One that is filled with selfless sacrifices yet an undeniable, unconditional love that no words could ever describe. 

For that reason, it’s understandable that a parent puts the health and wellbeing of their newborn before anyone or anything else, especially their own. 

In order to give our chidren the life they deserve and a positive future, we must first be the best version of ourselves at all stages throughout our parenthood, in mind, body and spirit. The first and most common of these that we neglect is our mental health, which is what we are here to address today with our very special guest. 

We're honoured and thrilled to welcome Dr Harvey Karp, America’s No.1 Paediatrician and one of the world’s most trusted and renowned baby and sleep experts.

For the last 25 years Dr. Karp practiced paediatrics in Los Angeles for the likes of Madonna and Pierce Brosnan. He is on the faculty of the USC School of Medicine and a fellow of the American Academy of Paediatrics.

Dr Karp is the founder and CEO of Happiest Baby, an award winning smart-tech and parenting solutions company, author of several celebrated books including the Happiest Baby on the Block, and creator of the 5S’s.

Dr Karp is also the inventor of the SNOO baby bassinet that A-listers like Beyoncé, and Jay-Z, Natalie Portman, Dwayne Johnson – The Rock, Khloe Kardashian, Kate Hudson, Mila Kunis, Jessica Biel and Serena Williams have all used to help their newborn babies get a more restful sleep.

Dr. Karp has devoted his life to helping families raise healthy and happy children, we’re thrilled to ask him the following questions:  

1. As one of the world’s most renowned baby and sleep experts, and of all your achievements to date, what are you most proud achieving? 
2. What can you share with us from your 25+ years of research about the importance of quality sleep for babies and parents alike? 
3. What is the calming reflex in babies? 
4. How can we learn to trigger the calming reflex with your 5S’s method? Why are they so important? 
5. How does your 5S’ method relate to parents getting more sleep?
6. Through your research, what have you found about the causes of sleep deprivation and the importance of parents maintaining a healthy sleep routine? 
7. Why is it so important to look after your mental health as a new mum or parent?
8. Why is it so important for new parents to ask for help when they need it?
9. What are the causes of perinatal depression or anxiety? 
10. What are some tips to look after your own mental health as a new mum or parent?

 

For Dr Harvey’s full article, please go to: https://kiddipedia.com.au/5-tips-to-look-after-your-own-mental-health-as-a-new-mum-or-parent/

 

For further details:

Facebook: @thehappiestbaby

Instagram: @happiest_baby

Website: https://happiestbaby.com.au/

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Watching children, or a loved one experience challenging times and emotional hardship is extremely tough, especially when you don’t know how you can or should help them

A common self-destructive habit and behaviour that people find hard to support loved ones through are abnormal or disturbed eating habits. Eating disorders are complex and come in various forms. Today we’re here to chat about warning signs and offer tips to help you, help those you love.

Eating disorders affect people of all walks of life, however is becoming increasingly common in adolescents and young people. As a disclaimer this is assumed due to social pressures and stereotypes with the help of social media.

Despite that the term disordered eating refers to food, and is observed as a physical condition, eating disorders are in fact more commonly associated with complex mental health conditions.

It’s a very raw, and unpleasant topic to approach but necessary if we are truly committed to doing all we can to offer our support to those in need.

So if you think your child is showing signs of an eating disorder, or a loved one in your life, it’s important to seek support as soon as possible.

Today, to help show our support and address this challenging topic we welcome our special guest, and one of our partners here at Kiddipedia, Stel Coombe-Heath, a leading authority in binge and emotional eating recovery.

Stel leads various programs on changing mindsets around eating and healthy food choices. She supports her clients to cultivate healthy eating habits and to build trust with food.

We ask Stel questions including:

1. What are eating disorders and how may they start?
2. We usually assume an eating disorder is related to anorexia or bulimia, however it’s rarely spoken about the cases of emotional eaters that can lead to a disorder. Could you please expand on this for us now?
3. What can you share with us about your experiences?
4. As a holistic health coach, what are some of the some of the self-transformation health practices and techniques you apply to help your clients?
5. What is the difference between an eating disorder and disordered eating? 
6. What are the signs and dangers of disordered eating? 
7. How can we look for the warning signs?
8. How can anyone listening support someone with disordered eating?
9. Do you think the best way to avoid these problems getting out of hand is by early recognition and early treatment?
10. If we’re concerned about a loved one suffering with disordered eating, a child, adolescent, relative or friend, how should you best approach it?
11. Why is it important to talk about it?

For Stel’s full article, please go to: https://kiddipedia.com.au/how-to-support-someone-with-disordered-eating/

For further details:

https://wholesomelifestyleproject.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wholesomelifestyleproject/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WholesomeLifestyleProject

Podcast: https://kite.link/Beyond-Overeating-by-Wholesome-Lifestyle-project

Kids help line 1800 55 1800

https://kidshelpline.com.au/

Bufferly foundation help line 1800 33 4673

https://butterfly.org.au/

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Every parent, and caregiver, wants to give their children the best chance to succeed in life.

A crucial ingredient in experiencing a joyful happy life lies within the quality of our relationships, fuelled with emotion.

Many psychologists over time have confirmed that the ability to manage our emotions in a healthy way will determine the quality of our life, much more fundamentally than our IQ.

Psychologists call this ability EQ, or Emotional Intelligence Quotient, which is what we are here to discuss today.

To help we welcome our special guest Stephanie Pinto, a Certified Emotional Intelligence Coach and Trainer, Co-Founder at EQ Culture, and Emotional Intelligence trainer for Zen Tea Lounge Foundation

Her passion is helping parents and their children to have a more calm and connected life, and better relationships with those around them.

We ask Stephanie questions including:

1. How important do you think it is to train EQ skills early on in life?
2. Are we born with EQ or does it have to be taught?
3. Would you say a child’s EQ starts with their relationship with their parents?
4. What are the 4 core areas that makeup EQ? I believe the first two are related to our awareness of our and others' emotions? And the second area of EQ relates to how we manage emotions, both our own and others.
5. What are the benefits of teaching children EQ?
6. How can I teach my children emotional intelligence?
7. Did this impact your schooling as a child, and or your adult life at all, if so, how?

For Stephanie’s full article, please go to: https://kiddipedia.com.au/how-teaching-our-kids-eq-can-lead-to-better-individual-and-societal-outcomes/

For further details: https://www.stephaniepinto.com/

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The first gift we give a newborn baby is a cherished and loving symbol of welcoming them into the world and our lives.

It is very rare for a baby gift to stand the test of time, 60 years to be exact, whilst continuously growing in popularity loved and adored by millions of families, with over 70 million units sold, in over 85 countries, right around the world.

The emotional bond children develop with this toy last a lifetime - far beyond their newborn years

And for so many of us, gifting her to friends and family who are expecting a baby becomes our own tradition as we wish to pass her joy on and for them also to experience the love and priceless moments only she can give

If you haven’t guessed already who I’m speaking about, it’s none other than Sophie The Giraffe

To share with us today the rich history and story of Sophie The Giraffe as we celebrate her 60th Birthday, we welcome our special guests, the passionate duo who have brought the french flair to Australia, and who are responsible Sophie's distribution, and other Vulli products, here in Australia none other than French entrepreneurs Isabelle Gardy and Cecile Boston

We ask Isabelle and Cecile questions including:

1. What do you think has contributed to Sophie's success for so long? Why do you think people love her so much?
2. Tell us the story about how you came to distribute Sophie out here in Australia?
3. How and when was Sophie created?
4. How has Sophie changed over the 60 years, or not? Has she remained the same?
5. Why is Sophie so unique?
6. What are Sophie’s developmental benefits?
7. How to look after Sophie?
8. How does Sophie provide parents with environmental peace of mind as a pioneering toymaker?
9. I understand Sophie has made a commitment to help giraffe conservation, what can you tell us about this?

For the full article, please go to: https://kiddipedia.com.au/5-reasons-to-celebrate-the-iconic-sophie-la-girafe-toy-on-her-60th-anniversary/

For further details:

https://www.lesfolies.com.au/

https://www.facebook.com/sophielagirafe.officialAUSTRALIA

https://www.instagram.com/sophiethegiraffeaustralia

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Salt: as a natural resource it’s found everywhere from our tears, perspiration to the ocean

Would you believe the earliest evidence of humans producing salt dates back to 6000 BC in northern China? So, it’s been part of our lives for thousands of years.

Much like sugar, however, salt is also hidden in so many of our everyday foods. Without knowing it, three-quarters of the salt we eat is already in everyday foods such as bread, breakfast cereal, and ready meals, so for this reason, it’s very easy for us to exceed our daily intake without knowing it

For better health, we all need to limit our daily salt intake to the recommended amount, because as we know, the side effects of too much salt are detrimental to adults, but we also need to take into consideration the impacts it has on children and babies

To help talk to us about some tasty and healthy salt alternatives we welcome back our special guest Siobhan Boyle, CEO of Jamie The Good Foundation

We ask Siobhan questions including:

1. How important is it for parents to reduce salt content in their household diets and home-cooked meals to the recommended amount?
2. How much salt is the right amount?
3. Is it true that some foods with a high salt content won't taste very salty at all?
4. Why is too much salt bad for both an adult and a child’s diet?
5. What are some easy alternatives to ensure meals still taste delicious?
6. What are your go-to herbs that every parent should have in their kitchen to flavour up meals?

For Siobhan’s full article, please go to: https://kiddipedia.com.au/salt-alternatives/

For further information, please go to: https://www.jamiesministryoffood.com.au/

You can visit the Heart Foundation and VicHealth’s website

Unpack The Salt

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