Community Events
PLAY OUTSIDE DAY – MAY 7
It’s time to create a habit of outdoor play and activity for kids, families, adults and grandparents. What is National Play Outside Day? On the first Saturday of the month, everybody in the nation plays outside. There are no scheduled events or activities, just go outside and do something fun. Here are some ideas to get you started: Go for a bike ride, have a picnic, bring your toys outside. Explore new parts of your neighbourhood, go on a shell, leaf, flower, stick hunt, ask your kids to make up a game.
NATIONAL FAMILIES’ WEEK – MAY 15 – 21
Each year, over a hundred thousand people and hundreds of organisations celebrate National Families Week – Australia’s annual celebration of families. The aim of National Families Week is to celebrate the vital role that families play in Australian society. It is a time to celebrate the meaning of family and to make the most of family life.
Kids in the Kitchen
PUMPKIN MAC AND CHEESE
PREP 25 MIN | COOK 25 MIN | SERVES 12
INGREDIENTS
- 500 grams orecchiette pasta (or any small, shaped pasta)
- Pumpkin cheese sauce
- 4 tablespoons butter
- 4 tablespoons plain flour
- 2 cups (500 ml) milk
- 1 can (400 grams) pumpkin puree
- 1 teaspoon granulated garlic
- 1 teaspoon dry mustard
- 1/4 teaspoon cayenne white pepper, to season grating of fresh nutmeg
- 125 grams mozzarella &
- 100 grams parmesan, grated
- Panko topping: 1 1/4 cups panko style breadcrumbs 100 grams mozzarella, grated
METHOD:
Preheat oven to 200 C. To cook the pasta: Bring a large pot of water to the boil. Add salt and pasta and cook according to packet instructions. Drain and set aside.
To make the pumpkin cheese sauce: Place the butter into a large saucepan over medium heat and melt. Add flour and whisk to create a smooth paste. Slowly add milk, whisking continuously. Continue to whisk until slightly thickened, approx. 3 minutes or until the mixture coats the back of a spoon. Reduce the heat to low and whisk in the pumpkin puree, garlic, mustard, cayenne, and pepper. Add the cheeses and stir until melted. Take off the heat. Add cooked pasta to the pumpkin mac and cheese sauce and mix thoroughly to combine. Pour the pasta mixture into a large baking dish (approx. 45cm x 45cm). To make the panko topping: Sprinkle the panko breadcrumbs and mozzarella cheese evenly over the pasta. Bake for 20-25 minutes or until the cheese is melted and breadcrumbs are golden.
Recipe from mylovelylittlelunchbox.com & Image from twopeasandtheirpod.com
WELDON – EXPERT PARENT SUPPORT | Family Five Pty Ltd.
There is a lot of parenting advice out there. Weldon cuts through the noise by connecting you directly with professional parenting experts and evidence-based advice for any parenting challenge. The curated community of child development experts includes psychologists, therapists, licensed clinical social workers, and top parenting coaches.
KHAN ACADEMY KIDS | Khan Academy
Khan Academy is thoughtfully designed by experts in early childhood education to guide young learners on a delightful journey through key skills in math, reading, phonics, writing, social-emotional development, and more. It includes thousands of lessons, activities, books, and games that are age-appropriate for preschool through second grade. With catchy songs and yoga videos, your littles will also have fun moving, dancing, and getting the wiggles out.
GONOODLE GAMES | GoNoodle, INC.
Kids love the GoNoodle Games app because it’s a blast to play, and parents love it because it gets kids moving! Active Screen Time: The only way to play GoNoodle Games is to get off the couch and jump, stretch, and pose! Since every mini game requires movement, playing is a great opportunity for kids to wake up their bodies, engage their minds, and get active.
National Families Week 15th – 21st May
We challenge you to focus on one or two of these throughout the week and make some time for you and your family. These early years are such an important part of your children’s lives, and they go by so quickly! So have some fun and feel free to send us some photos of what you get up to!
- Take the time to have fun and play with your family
- Build connections with older relatives and community elders.
- Appreciate your family and community – everyone matters!
- Encourage each other and offer support.
- Participate in local events and get to know your community.
- Celebrate achievements, large and small.
- Be generous with your time in your family and in your community.
- Reduce your stress – remember you need time too!
- Do something with your family that helps others.
- Take time out from technology and enjoy family time together.
Good News Story - Say Cheese
A dog photographer who captures hilarious pictures of pooches trying to catch cubes of cheese has been busy raising money to buy pet food for food banks.
Carolyne Cowan recently snapped pictures of 41 dogs lunging for cheese at a charity ‘catchathon’ event. The event has been running since 2018 and has raised over $20,000.
Good News Network (2022, March 10). Photographer Takes Hilarious Pictures of Dogs Catching Cheese to Raise Money for Charity – LOOK Retrieved from goodnewsnetwork.org/carolynecowan-catchathon-dog-cheese-event/
Short simple activities to get some active minutes in the day.
HANDBALL
The much-loved school yard game is fun for all. Need a refresher? Find a piece of hard, smooth ground on which to draw your court. With a piece of chalk draw a 4×4 square with K,Q,J and D in the right places with a metre x metre perimeter. The person in Kings serves the ball by hitting it in their own square and then someone else’s. The receiving player must hit the ball in their own square and then someone else’s square. If the ball bounces twice or more times in someone’s square they are out and proceed to dunce or the end of the line of players waiting to join the game. If Kings gets out, they proceed to dunce and the new King serves. For younger players you can just practice hitting the ball to and from each other.
This month's recipe
Pumpkin Soup
PREP 5 MIN | COOK 10 MIN | SERVES 4-6
INGREDIENTS
- 1.2kg Pumpkin (any type)
- 1 Onion sliced
- 2 Garlic cloves whole
- 3 cups of vegetable or chicken broth/stock
- 1 cup of water
- Salt & Pepper
- Cream, milk or butter to taste
DIRECTIONS
- De-seed and peel the pumpkin, cutting it into cubes
- Place the onion, garlic, broth and water into a pot – the liquid won’t quite cover all of the pumpkin. Bring to the boil, uncovered, then reduce the heat and let simmer rapidly until pumpkin is tender (about 10 mins).
- Remove from the heat and use a stick blender to blend until smooth.
- Season to taste with salt and pepper, stir through cream.
- Ladle soup into bowls, drizzle over a bit of cream, and sprinkle with salt and pepper if desired.
- Serve with crusty bread!
CABOOLTURE CHRISTIAN CHILDREN’S CENTRE
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 07 5499 3466
