Exciting event and opportunity for Paeroa Children’s Carehouse programme participant

The International Childart Foundation (ICAF) hosts the World Children’s Festival in Washington DC. This is a three day free, public event which takes place every four years. It is hosted to honour the Arts Olympiad winners from each American state and from nearly 100 participating countries.

The festival attracts around 10,000 attendees and is an important celebration for everyone to demonstrate their support for children and a better future for all. The festival’s educational programming integrates the arts with science, sport and technology for the promotion of creative, peaceful and healthy cultures.

Drawing upon ICAF’s Peace through Art approach. the instruction on festival’s first day (Health + Environment Day) is informational, spotlighting common concerns shared by children. The educational framework on the second day (Creativity + Imagination Day) is participatory, kindling children’s inherent talents and potential. The training on the third day (Peace + Leadership Day) is inspirational, encouraging children to embrace lifelong creativity and empathy and dedicate themselves to building peaceful, prosperous and healthy communities.

The New Zealand Children’s Art House Foundation is participating in this exciting opportunity. Our national winner is Ripeka Te Teira from the Paeroa Children’s Art House programme. Ripeka will be traveling to Washington DC for the Olympiad event June 2011 – well done Ripeka!

Sally

Feel Better Instead of Blue

Everyone feels a bit 'blue' in the winter because the days are shorter and the weather is usually wet and cold.

I found these ten ways to beat the winter blues on the Suite 101 website, written by Sandra Williams.

Try out her ideas to beat your winter blues.
1. Get physical
2. Create something
3. Take a course
4. Have a neighborhood potluck meal
5. Meditate
6. Call an old friend
7. Go see a movie
8. Get a massage
9. Start a journal
10. Listen to uplifting music

Check these out in more detail

Tania

Welcome to National Youth Week.

How are you going in connecting with youth in your OSCAR community?

Youth are full of creativity, energy and drive, dreams and hopes. We need to make the most of our opportunities to foster, encourage and develop these traits in all youth, as the future of our neighbourhoods, communities and world lies in their hands and hearts.

I believe we are all born with limitless opportunity and as we grow we have dreams and we work on refining our skills and our abilities to realise some of these dreams. Far too many young people are denied opportunities either because they do not have access to them, sometimes financially, or because they are never made aware of all the possibilities.

What have we done lately to empower our young staff or youth in our programmes and sector to expand their horizons? What have we done to celebrate their special qualities and successes

Youth is not an issue, but a real asset in OSCAR.

Julie

The OSCAR Foundation National Conference

We are all on deck at The OSCAR Foundation National Conference so there will be no new posts until after Wednesday next week.

It is going to be a fantastic Conference in Wellington with lots of OSCAR providers coming from all over New Zealand, and some from Australia.

We are looking forward to catching up with everyone.

The OSCAR Foundation

High Tea Anyone?

I enjoy a good cup of tea every now and then. I must admit I am a serious coffee drinker but there is nothing quite like a cup of tea. I like my tea natural without sugar or milk occasionally with a nice cup of Darjeeling I’ll have a dash of lemon.

My first experiences with tea were of drinking a cup of heavily brewed tea with milk and two sugars with my grandmother. My most amazing experience of tea was in Bath UK when I sort of stumbled into a high tea at the famous Pumphouse. I just wanted something to eat but I had missed the lunch time service only to be greeted by a grand piano and little cucumber sandwiches no crusts alongside beautifully decorated cakes and slices. It was an amazing experience.

I think high tea or some version of it is back on the menu for me anyway. I have taken my children to a high tea and their eyes widen as they saw the gorgeous array of treats laid before them. Have you ever been for high tea yourself? If not then get out some nice old tea pots some beautiful china and some cake plates if you don’t have any ask around or check out some garage sales some beautiful table clothes also.

Yes you could also have a high tea at your OSCAR programme too this maybe best suited to your after school have some beautiful music playing some well dress wait staff and china tea cups and of course this is the time when you practice your manners too.

For children who may not like tea, try an iced fruit tea, such as a berry or orange flavor add 4 tea bags to a pot of tea mix in a heaped spoonful of honey and add plenty of ice allow to cool. For treats a simple sponge dusted with icing sugar and piled with strawberries is always a bit of a hit. The Edmonds cook book always has some traditional treats you can make for the children. Just remember to make them little versions as they may want to try a little of everything.

One more tea experience I have had one that may have changed my tea drinking habits is when the local Network sent around a tea bag with every copy of their Newsletter. A cup of Lady Grey for myself and my colleague. We enjoyed it very much and have become very close friends. So enjoy a nice cup of tea today.

Ariana

OSCAR Conference

It is not long to go now before the 2010 OSCAR Conference kicks off so I thought I would take this opportunity to wish everyone a safe journey to, around and home from Wellington. If you are driving please remember to drive sensibly and stop regularly for breaks and if you are flying into the capital let’s all hope that it is not too windy!

As for the weather, the forecast predicts that it will be showers and southerlies so remember to pack plenty of warm clothes. (I am starting to sound like my mother now!)

It is gearing up to be an amazing, inspiring and fun-filled weekend and I look forward to seeing you there!

Safe travels.
Susannah

Wellington - Host of OSCAR Conference

I was visiting this website and found some interesting facts about Wellington, host of this year’s National OSCAR Foundation Conference.

Did you know that …

• Wellington is the world’s most Southern capital.
• It is also the only capital in the roaring forties!
• Nearly all of Wellington’s residents live within 3km of the sea.
• And the Wellington Airport is the busiest in the South Pacific – and because of the wind! Apparently it’s due to all the Aero Club flying.

See you all at this weekend’s Conference!

Anastasia

Pudding

We know about chocolate pudding in a mug but have you heard of bread pudding in a mug? It is great if you tend to overindulge as it is a single serve and because you can get creative you can add your own twist to the recipe.

Ingredients:
1 egg, beaten
1/2 cup milk
1 tsp. sugar (optional)
1 slice of bread
optional favourites added (raisin, chopped apple, cinnamon, vanilla, whatever you would like in it)

Directions:
Break the egg into a mug, and beat the egg with a fork. Add the milk and sugar to stir (also optional ingredients then too), and then tear up one piece of bread into the mug, and with the fork, press the bread pieces into the egg/milk mixture to moisten the bread, (if there are optional ingredients, bring those ingredients up in with the bread so they are all mixed).

It usually only takes about 2 minutes microwave, but, depending on what type of bread used microwave for one minute, and then add 30 seconds until you see the bread pudding raising up over the mug about 1/2 inch, and it looks like it's going to crawl out of the mug, then it is definitely done.

My son likes using larger mugs, because he likes putting sugar or honey and milk on the pudding.

Kelly

Every child needs to have a little laughter

I have just spent the last 30 minutes with my daughter having a laugh. Telling silly jokes, in silly voices, making faces and telling funny stories. We all need laughter in our lives.

On average, children laugh 200 times per day while adults laugh only 15 to 18. Laughter is good for a child’s mental and physical health. Encourage joy and laughter, tell jokes and silly stories, laugh at the crazy escapades and at yourself. Enjoy a little comedy either in your home or in your programme. You could include a joke of the day into your programme or hold an OSCAR comedy festival, hire a clown or even become clowns by having a clowning workshop. Have a laugh.

Our families favourite types of jokes are knock knock jokes and I have included some below.

Knock knock. Who’s there? Orange. Orange who?(Orange) Aren’t you glad I’m not a Banana.
Knock knock. Who’s there? BooBoo who? Don’t cry it’s only me.
Knock knock. Who's there? Sacha. Sacha who? Sacha lot of questions.
Knock knock. Who's there. Abba. Abba who? Abba banana.

Ariana

It's time to go home

Yeehah. It’s been raining in Northland for 4 days. At first we celebrated, excited that we’d have water in the tanks, that our garden’s would grow and the grass would grow for our farmers and their stock. It’s been a gentle rain, just what we asked for but this afternoon there’s a wee break, the sun is trying to push through the clouds at the end of the day, a hint of what might be a fine day tomorrow.

And in this break in the weather the children are out, running, walking, on bikes and with balls. A group pass with a large dog, almost as tall as they are. I heard them coming well before I saw them, giggling and shrieking. They carry sticks and hit seedpods back into the gardens from which they have fallen. They scuff their feet through the thick autumn leaves and kick them ahead. The dog is intrigued by new smells and pulls them into the trees. There’s a man on a bike so they step back and gaze at his “high viz” top. There’s a black bird signing off for the day. And it’s time to go home!

Odette

Kidsfest

Kidsfest is Winter Fun which began in 1992 and is still going strong in Christchurch. This year it is being held from Saturday 3rd July through to 16 July 2010, this is an annual event held here at various venues all over the region. This is also New Zealand’s biggest annual children’s festival aimed at children up to the age of 12 years.

This event is run by the Christchurch City Council on behalf of the Kids fest Charitable trust.
Kidsfest is where children can experience activities in areas such as Knowledge and Discovery, Art, Crafts, Creativity, Sports, Games, Adventure and Playing, Shows and Young Performers. A large range to suit a variety of children. My two children attended several different activities when they were younger and had a ball.

http://www.kidsfest.co.nz/

Amanda

Fundraising

Ever thought about fundraising for your programme? What about volunteers? Do you have any and are you giving them the recognition they deserve?

Exult Fundraising is a great organisation that helps not for profit and community groups to glean ways in which to raise funds for your programmes, they also have workshops for working with Volunteers and other such ways to make raising money for projects easy.

Their website is http://www.exult.co.nz/ Check it out and have fun next time you have a fundraiser or hire volunteers.

Tania

On The Case

I am not sure how many of you would have read books Michael Bond’s books based on Paddington Bear, a wonderful bear who loves marmalade and came with a suitcase from Brazil ,to a family in England where he causes loveable drama.

I did when younger and I have discovered we have a few things in common. I am round and cuddly, bear shaped, I love and make marmalade and I have a real interest in suitcases and all sorts of adventures you can hold in a suitcase.

Taking time to go to garage sales has gifted me a few different suitcases over time and each of these were revamped from dusty and mouldy smelling cases to a mobile adventure or resource for my children, but could be easily be used for OSCAR children and tamariki.

There is literally now a massive rainbow range of paint colours in test pots, stickers and glossy, colourful magazines that can give your cases a new and fresh skin, ready for you to fill with treasures.

Some interest my children had that gave me ideas for the contents were dress ups and scarves, with three favourite music Cd’s which brings out the dancer in everyone. In another one, dull and unshiny coins, metal dishes, a genie style lamp, small sculptures along with some soft rubbing clothes and polish. What magic it was rubbing away the age and discovering a lot of treasure and knowledge hidden just beneath the dull surface.

We also had a pull it apart case that had small clocks, calculators, discarded small machines, a range of screwdrivers, small hammers, safety goggles and an old army blanket. There was a lot of pull apart discovery in this case.

So get on the case today and share your ideas on the blog or on our Facebook page, or twitter me anytime.

Julie

What's In A Name?

I have a real fascination with different people’s names and the meanings and origins behind them! It is quite amazing how someone can take on the characteristics of their name, sometimes before even knowing what it means.

The meaning behind the name is a fun activity that I would sometimes do with the children at my old programme. I would pull out a “baby name” book or look the names up on the internet and share with the children what their name meant. They loved it!

You can always take it one step further and encourage the children to make bookmarks or a canvas with the information on it for the children to take home. Some great websites for name meanings are:

http://www.babynames.com/ http://www.mybabyname.com/ http://www.babynamescountry.com/

Just for fun, I have found the names, origins and meanings of the OSCAR Advisors below!
Anastasia - Greek, Resurrection
Susannah - Hebrew, Lily
Amanda - Latin, Worthy of love
Ariana - Greek, Holy
Julie - Latin, Soft aired, youthful
Odette - French, Ode, melodic
Sally - Hebrew, Princess, form of Sarah
Tania - Slavic, A fairy queen
Kelly - Celtic/Gaelic, Warrior/defender

Susannah

Icebreakers

There will always be new students and/or staff coming into our programmes, especially at the beginning of a term and/or year. It is a really great idea to play some icebreaker games so everybody can get to know each other it is also great for creating more of a team atmosphere, break down social barriers and help people to relax.

There are some fantastic websites with loads of games and activitiy ideas, try these websites for some ideas:

http://wilderdom.com/games/Icebreakers.html

http://www.icebreakers.ws/get-to-know-you

One of my personal favourites are balloon games like trying to keep a balloon up between different body parts without popping eg. knees, tummy, little fingers.

Don't forget that the children would love to get to know you also so don't be afraid to have some fun and join in.

Kelly

Sexual Harassment and Bullying of Youth

I was watching the TV last week and saw an interesting employment case in the States where a young teenage woman was suing her ex-employer, for not protecting her from sexual harassment in the work place. In short, she was working in an environment where the staff were mainly youth and early twenties and the manager/s were only young adults themselves.

The piece went onto talk about how youth and even young adults were still learning appropriate social behaviours in the work place and emphasised the need for employers who hire youth and young adults to have policies in place to protect them from sexual harassment, bullying and inappropriate sexual relationships, which may eventuate from the work place.

Certainly something to think about. We all have policies in place to protect our children but what about our staff? Think about what you are doing to ensure both safety and wellbeing of all employees.

Take a look at these links from the Department of Labour’s website and arm yourself with knowledge.

http://osh.dol.govt.nz/publications/factsheets/bullying.html
http://www.ers.dol.govt.nz/factsheets/youngemployee.html
http://ers.govt.nz/factsheets/employingchildren.html

and for more info look at …
http://osh.dol.govt.nz/order/catalogue/index.shtml#yo

Anastasia