GROWING SUNFLOWERS

September 20, 2023 | Kidding Around Australia

Growing Sunflowers From Seed : When to Plant & How to Care for Them

Growing sunflowers is a great way to brighten up your yard, most varieties start to bloom after around 80 – 95 days.

Sunflower Growth Timeline and Life Cycle - 8 Stages (With Pictures)

Growing Sunflowers: Where & When to Plant

Sunflowers will bloom at different times, even if they’re all planted at once!

Once you’re no longer at risk of frost, sow your seeds directly into the ground or your container.

If you can avoid it, try not to transplant a sunflower. Let it grow wherever you sowed the seeds – these flowers have a fussy root system and don’t like to be disturbed too much. You can use biodegradable paper pots to transplant as an option. The entire pot can be placed into the ground.

How to grow sunflowers – The Big Sunflower Project

Where to Plant

It goes without saying that you need to choose a bright and sunny location – they are called sunflowers for a reason!

Sunflowers don’t like to be waterlogged, so you’ll want to choose a location with well-draining soil. If you can find a spot with nutrient-rich soil your sunflowers will be even happier. Lots of manure and mulch will help!

When growing sunflowers, you’ll want to try to plant them up against a wall or fence for protection from the wind. Some varieties are quite top-heavy, and the wind can damage their heads.

Preparing the Location & Sowing the Seeds

Make sure to plant your sunflowers far enough apart.

Once you’ve found the ideal location for growing sunflowers, ideally you’ll need to do a bit of prep work to get the bed ready.

Turn over your soil to make it nice and lose for seed germination. Sunflowers develop long root systems and need room to grow.

Consider mixing in some organic matter or compost to ensure the sunflowers have enough nutrients to feed on. We use well composted manures from any garden store.

Sowing the Seeds

Plant your seeds approximately 5-6cm deep.

Because these plants need plenty of space to grow, plant your seeds about 30-50cm apart.

Don’t plant all your seeds at once. Consider staggering your planting days by a week or so in order to enjoy blooms all summer long.

Sunflowers Guide: How to Plant & Care for Sunflowers

Growing Sunflowers: Tips for Care

Sunflowers turn their heads towards the direction of the sun! If you watch throughout the day you can see this occurring.

Caring for sunflowers is generally quite simple, but there are a few things to keep in mind.

Sunflowers are very thirsty, so you’ll need to keep them well-watered. If larger varieties dry out, they’ll have a hard time recovering. Consider adding a layer of mulch to help maintain moisture levels. Sugar cane mulch or even bark will do the trick!

Taller varieties might need the assistance of a stake or trellis. We’ve even tied them to our fence!

Pinch side shoots to keep the plant’s energy concentrated in the flowers.

Companion Plants

Sunflowers make a great companion plant for many flowers, vegetables and herbs. There’s actually very little it won’t work well with. The one thing to steer clear of is potatoes – these two will not do well together.

Companion Herbs

lavender

garlic

basil

chives

rosemary

Companion Vegetables

zucchini

onion

kale

peppers

peas

beans

tomatoes

cucumbers

Companion Flowers

marigolds

nasturtiums

daisies

cornflowers

sweet pea

geraniums

lobelia

Harvesting & Using Sunflower Seeds

Sunflower seeds are an added bonus of growing sunflowers!

The easiest way to harvest sunflower seeds is by letting nature do it for you. Simply cover the head with a paper bag, piece of bird netting or stocking to keep birds from stealing your seeds and wait. Once they begin to loosen, they’re ready to harvest – you just need to pluck them by hand.

How to Grow, Harvest, and Roast Edible Sunflower Seeds - Growing In The Garden

Or you can simply leave the heads out for the birds to enjoy!

THE BUSH BUS TELEGRAPH

February 1, 2023 | Kidding Around Australia

FEBRUARY 2023 NEWSLETTER

the-bush-bus-telegraph-february-2023-1 Download

Christmas Gift Guide 2020

December 11, 2020December 15, 2020 | Kidding Around Australia

It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas and if you are anything like us, you LOVE the look on children’s faces when they open your gifts!

This year, we thought we would put together our top gift ideas for kids to help you spread some Christmas cheer! These are all toys or games that we have used as a family and we wouldn’t recommend anything that we didn’t enjoy!

1. Pixies Crystal Flyers, 5+

The Pixies Crystal Flyers by Spin Masters are on the top of Alegria’s list (which is why it is still in the package!!) They are graceful and easy to fly with an in-built infrared sensor in the feet which allows you to guide your pixie with hand movements. How cool is that! It comes complete with a USB charger allowing “no batteries required” flight after flight.

Age: 5+; RRP $49.99 ~ Stockists: Big W, Kmart, Target and all good toy retailers

2. BANANAGRAMS, 7+

We have been playing Bananagrams by Moose Toys throughout isolation and remote learning (they were kind enough to send it to Alegria and Isaac as a gift). As we start venturing out into the wide world a little more, we are taking this quick and fun game with us. There are many variations that you can play, and our kiddos have made up their own games.

They don’t know it’s educational and they love it!
The tiles (and bag) are easy to clean – which makes it perfect for outdoor adventures.

Age: 7+; RRP $25.00 ~ Stockists: Big W, Kmart, Target and all good toy retailers

3. MECCANO JUNIOR OPEN ENDED BUCKET, 5+

The Meccano Junior 150-Piece free play bucket from Spin Masters enables unlimited creativity! Isaac hasn’t used Meccano before so this was ideal for him and other first-time builders. There is an easy-to-follow instruction booklet for three different builds or kids can construct and customise, snap nuts onto parts to make them lock; and use bolts to hold pieces together as they build whatever their hearts desire!

Age: 5+, RRP $49.99 ~ Stockists: Kmart, Toy World and independent toy retailers

4. SPACETALK, CHILDREN’S ALL-IN-ONE MOBILE PHONE, SMART WATCH AND GPS (Ages 4-12 years)

SPACETALK, a children’s all-in-one mobile phone, smart watch and GPS tracker that both parents and children will LOVE. We have been using it for 4 months and love it! With the SPACETALK we are able to keep connected with the kids without them having access to the internet and the nasties of social media.

SPACETALK’s enhanced school mode feature, enables parents to specifically select which
watch functions to disable during school hours, such as incoming and outgoing calls,
messaging, step counter, location and stopwatch.

RRP: $349

5. COOL MAKER GO GLAM NAIL STAMPER (Ages: 8 to 11)

The Cool Maker Go Glam Nail Stamper from Spin Masters has put the OMG in DIY! Alegria loved this all-in-one nail kit, which meant that she could easily stamp and style custom manicures in minutes. The kit comes with five patterns and two nail polish colours so she could mix n’ match to personalise looks with enough product to give at least 12 manicures. The nail polish formula is completely non-toxic and kid-safe.

Age: 8+; RRP $39.99 ~ Stockists: Big W, Kmart, Target and independent toy retailers

6. OLLYBALL (3+)

The Ollyball was designed for full-speed, full-force indoor play! The ball is super light and absorbs shock through a patented KrunchCOR® construction! We inflated ours in May and it is still up and going strong. We would definitely recommend it!

Available at Kmart and Catch.Com.Au

7. Cool Maker Hollywood Hair Studio 8+

Have you been wondering what to do with left over ribbon? Now your kids can design, customise and create their own hair extensions. Simply decorate one of the coloured or pattern hair ribbons with marker pens then at the press of a button, transforms it into a super cute hair extension.

I think this would be great for birthday parties and for sleepovers!

Age: 8+; RRP $39.99 ~ Stockists: Big W, Kmart, Target and independent toy retailers

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Please note all details quoted are correct at the time of publishing. All details are subject to change without notice and Kidding Around Australia takes no responsibility for information contained in this post. Please check the appropriate website to ensure that information is still correct and current.

ALL PHOTOGRAPHIC IMAGES ON THE KIDDING AROUND AUSTRALIA WEBSITE ARE THE EXCLUSIVE PROPERTY OF THE KIDDING AROUND AUSTRALIA AUTHORS (UNLESS CREDITED OTHERWISE). ALL IMAGES ARE SUBJECT TO COPYRIGHT AND CANNOT BE USED WITHOUT WRITTEN PERMISSION FROM KIDDING AROUND AUSTRALIA (OR ORIGINAL SOURCE AS CREDITED).

Bio DoUgh Review

May 25, 2020July 16, 2020 | Kidding Around Australia

We love playing with play dough! We use it everyday at The Bush Bus as it is a great sensory activity for improving fine motor skills, inspires imaginations and increases creativity.

What we put into our play dough is very important to us, so we were thrilled that local Sydney mum Rana Semaan has created Bio DoUgh which is made from food-grade ingredients that are sourced from certified Australian suppliers.

Bio DoUgh smells AMAZING!!! It is a sensory feast that Alegria and Isaac LOVED!

There are 9 vibrant colours and scents to play with in the “Bio DoUgh – Rainbow in a Bag (RRP $29.95)” that contains 9 x 125g – White (Coconut), Pink (Fairy Floss), Red (Strawberry), Orange (Orange), Yellow (Pineapple), Green (Lime), Blue (Blueberry) Purple (Lavender) and Black (Blackberry).

We know you probably have some questions about Bio DoUgh so we thought we’d collate some FAQs for you!

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What’s the minimum age to use Bio Dough?

Bio Dough is recommended for kids 2 years up

Is Bio Dough gluten-free?

Bio Dough contains wheat, do not allow children with gluten sensitivities to use.

Is it safe for my kid to eat it?

Bio Dough testing shows that it is as safe as food, that said, Bio Dough is a toy and not supposed to be consumed. The salty taste wasn’t covered, to discourage consumption.

What is the best way to preserve Bio Dough once open?

Bio Dough can be stored in an airtight container or zip lock bag and should be kept it in a cool dry place.

If it was left in the open and dries do I have to throw it away?

Bio Dough is rehydratable, so if dries, simply add a few drops of water which will bring it back to its original state.

How can I clean Bio Dough?

-Leave it to dry and brush it off and then use a damp towel to remove any dirt or marks.

What’s the shelf life of Bio Dough?

Bio Dough can last up to 2 years in its original packaging.

How long does it last once open?

It is best to dispose of Bio Dough after 3 months from opening to avoid cross contamination.

For more information and to purchase visit:

https://biodough.com.au/

EASYREAD TIME TEACHER REVIEW

May 18, 2020July 21, 2020 | Kidding Around Australia

Let me set the scene. COVID-19. Lock down and Remote Learning. 2020.

As we began remote learning, we realised that we could turn this into an opportunity to see where our kids really stood academically.

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Telling time was something that we hadn’t really thought of but soon discovered that we did not have an analogue clock in our home. Yes, really. How could the kids learn to tell the time if we didn’t have clock for them on our walls?

We were introduced to the EasyRead Time Teacher and found that it is perfect for teaching children to tell the time.

The watch, clock and resources are available in two versions, the ‘past and to’ or a 24 hour, we opted for the past and to version for Alegria and Isaac. There is merit to both though and we have since found out that they need to understand both methods. Anyway, we have to start somewhere so here we are!

The EasyRead Time Teacher is an ideal teacher to help your child learn to tell the time. Its clear design and simple 3-step teaching system make it very easy for children to learn to read the time in terms of ‘minutes past’ and ‘minutes to’ the hour.

Step 1: Read the number at the end of the long hand.

Step 2: Say “minutes to” if it’s pointing to the red side of the watch, or say “minutes past” if it’s pointing to the green side (it’s written there if your child can read).

Step 3: Read the number at the end of the short hand. Like this: 10…minutes to…2.

WATCH

easyread-past-to-watches__45331.1573386704.1280.1280

This is the ideal first watch for children age 4+. The clear face design and simple teaching method make it really easy for children to learn to tell the time. The washable nylon strap fits wrists from 12 cm to 18 cm (child to adult).

The version we have is water resistant to splashes [no swimming or bath time!] they do have a water proof version and I would get that if you don’t want to feel panicked that you will forget and the kids will jump in the bath or the pool and ruin it!

CLOCK

Our family use this clock everyday! The EasyRead 2 or 3-step teaching method leads children through the process of learning to tell the time. The clear dial carries all the information children need to learn to tell the time.

RESOURCES

The cards can be used to play various games including snap, matching pairs, buddy-up and bingo. Each game will help in teaching your child to learn to tell the time. Each pack contains 60 playing cards showing 15 different times of the day (4 of each time), plus 2 double-sided game instruction cards.

The TwinTime Student Cards are a ‘hands on’ teaching resource for children learning the time elements of the primary school numeracy curriculum. The cards are double-sided and feature a Past & To dial on one side, and a 24 hour time dial on the other; with independently moveable hands on both sides. They are made from high gloss write on wipe off PVC sheet, and have a space below the clock to write the time displayed on the clock. These cards are useful for counting forwards and backwards from 30; for learning fractions; and counting in 5s and 10s.

MORE INFORMATION

Price: EasyRead Watch – $39.95 ($59.95 for waterproof); EasyRead Wall Clock – from $39.95 Resources – from $9.95
More information or to purchase: EasyRead Time Teacher website

Back To Berry – Bushfire Recovery

March 13, 2020September 22, 2020 | Kidding Around Australia

We saw the glow of the flames during Black Saturday on the 7th February, 2009. Five years later, on February 9th, 2014, the property where I grew up and where my parent’s live burned in fires that spread over 22,900 hectares of land, destroyed over 20 homes and more than 2,000 kilometres of fencing, and killed more than 14,000 sheep and hundreds of cattle.

fire 4 fire 8

In January, 2020 the world watched as the South East coast of Australia burned. The statistics are horrifying. 18.6 million hectares destroyed along with 2,779 homes, more than 30 people and an estimated one billion animals killed. The cost of dealing with the bush fires is expected to exceed the A$4.4 billion of the 2009 Black Saturday fires and tourism sector revenues have fallen more than A$1 billion. Every day people are hurting. Physically, emotionally and financially.

fire 5 fire 6

It’s easy to feel overwhelmed and insignificant. To ask yourself “What can I do to help?” The answer is relatively simple. Volunteer, donate, buy and visit. Tim and I have been on a small business online spending spree. We have purchased clothing, sauce and soap. We’ve booked accommodation for the holidays and tickets to attractions. We are making a small but significant difference.

chocolate homewares

Towns like Berry on the NSW South Coast have told us that they are well and truly open for business and visitors are invited to come back for a visit, and soon!

country road

We are no strangers to the area having visited the NSW South Coast in 2016 and loved it! You can read our blog HERE and we can’t wait to get #backtoberry and explore everything that Berry has to offer. It looks pretty spectacular.

Grain Silo

Berry is just over two hours from Sydney and Canberra (so flying in makes it really accessible if you are from interstate and don’t want to drive the entire way).

Moo

Steeped in history and the first truly rural town south of Sydney, Berry effortlessly combines breathtaking countryside with boutique shopping and cafes that have something for everyone.

street 1 farmers markets

We love spending time outdoors and nature is at its finest in Berry no matter the season – in autumn the trees turn gold and amber, in winter the cool crisp air lures you to a welcoming fire, in spring the gardens are a feast for the senses and in summer it’s just ten minutes to spectacular Seven Mile Beach and the national park.

Beach Sunrise

Doesn’t it sound amazing? Communities across Australia like Berry need our support. They need us to visit. To buy from small businesses. To come back.

What are you waiting for? To find out more and plan your visit go to www.berry.org.au and follow @berrynsw on Instagram and Facebook.

#backtoberry #berrynsw #southcoastnsw #HolidayHereThisYear #shoalhaventourism
#rejuvenateshoalhaven #smallbreakBIGcontribution #visitshoalhaven #openforbusiness #berrymarkets #weekend #roadtrip #gowithemptyeskies #emptyeskies #spendwiththem #wedlovetoseeyou

This post is sponsored by BERRY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE & TOURISM INC

CHRISTMAS GIFT GUIDE 2019

November 25, 2019November 25, 2019 | Kidding Around Australia

It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas and if you are anything like us, you LOVE the look on children’s faces when they open your gifts!

1. LITTLE LIVE RAINGLOW UNICORN VET SET (Ages 4+)

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA Alegria loves the Rainglow Unicorn Vet Set which comes with five magical accessories to help treat your special patient. Alegria loves listening with the Sparkle Scope to hear the unicorn’s heart beat in tune with her horn. You can also use the Furmometer to take her temperature and hear her sigh! The Rainglow can be used in two modes – play mode where she is happy and healthy and vet mode where you can use your accessories to make her feel better.

RRP: $95.00 (We saw it for $69 at Target https://www.target.com.au/p/little-live-rainglow-unicorn-vet-set/62676144) Website: https://www.moosetoys.com/

2. SPACETALK, CHILDREN’S ALL-IN-ONE MOBILE PHONE, SMART WATCH AND GPS (Ages 4-12 years)

SPACETALK IMAGE 5 SPACETALK, a children’s all-in-one mobile phone, smart watch and GPS tracker that both parents and children will LOVE. We have been using it for 4 months and love it! With the SPACETALK we are able to keep connected with the kids without them having access to the internet and the nasties of social media.

RRP: $349 (They have $50 off at the moment with the code SPACETALK299 and free shipping) Website https://www.spacetalkwatch.com/products/spacetalk

3. TREASURE X (Ages 5+)

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA Isaac loves digging through the wax smash and dig layer and discovering his Treasure X mini collectable! He also followed the treasure map to search for for Real Gold Dipped Treasure (or did he find a trap?) After searching through the Treasure X: King’s Gold – Mini Beast Pack, Isaac enjoys playing with the resusable magic rock!

RRP: $15.00 Website: https://www.moosetoys.com/au/our-toys/treasure-x/kings-gold-hunter-pack/

4. REALLY RAD ROBOTS MiBRO RADIO CONTROLLED ROBOT (Ages 5+)

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA Isaac is all over his MiBro robot! He loves it! He loves pranking us by sneaking the MiBro into a room and using the Really RAD Remote to speak through Mibro and add filters to his voice so we don’t realise that it is him!! He also loves spying with MiBro and use him to listen in on our conversations!

MiBro comes with a range of awesome accessories to keep your kids entertained! There is an attachable blaster to blast away enemies, or you can use his tray to deliver refreshments! The tray also transforms into a goal and can be used to score the winning goal with the included ball.

RRP: $70 Website https://www.moosetoys.com/au/brand/really-rad-robots/

5. MAGIC ADVENTURES GLOBE (Ages 5-10)

Alegria and Isaac LOVE the Magic Adventures Globe and they have no idea they are learning whilst they are playing! Using the stylus, children can tap on the 10″ interactive learning globe and experience new places, languages, cultures, animals, geography, habitats and more through high-quality BBC videos. Featuring a 2.7″ integrated video screen, animations and live-action videos fully immerse kids in the curriculum to provide a better understanding of the world through more than 5 hours of videos.

Alegria and Isaac loved playing the interactive games called Around the World, Quiz Show and Where in the World where they explored the globe, challenged each other (and us) and solved mysteries.

RRP $119 Website: https://store.leapfrog.com/en-au/store/p/magic-adventures-globe/_/A-prod80-605403

6. ROCKIT TWIST (Ages 4-10)

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA Both Alegria and Isaac love to twist, turn, play and learn with the RockIt Twist rotatable, single-player game system. It comes with three profiles if you want to buy one (we got one each for the kids because we wanted it for travel) and the four sides have colourful, light-up controls that include buttons, dials, a spinner, slider, switch and D-pad to provide a totally unique way to play exciting video games. During game play, one of the eight game controls will light up to indicate when each control is needed throughout a game.

There are 12 preloaded games across five game play categories that have three levels of difficulty that help kids learn skills including literacy, maths, problem-solving and creativity all while having fun! This is the perfect games for travel as there’s no need for Wi-Fi so kids can play anywhere (perfect for long car trips).

There are also game packs (sold separately) that include more games, plus a new RockIt Pets virtual pet and a RockIt Pets figure.

Rechargeable batteries are included (thank you Leapfrog!).

RRP: $89.00 (but prices vary depending on the stockist) Website https://www.leapfrog.com/en-au/products/rockit-twist

7. COOL MAKER GO GLAM NAIL STAMPER (Ages: 8 to 11)

GO Glam The Cool Maker Go Glam Nail Stamper has put the OMG in DIY! Alegria loved this all-in-one nail kit, which meant that she could easily stamp and style custom manicures in minutes. The kit comes with five patterns and two nail polish colours so she could mix n’ match to personalise looks with enough product to give at least 12 manicures. The nail polish formula is completely non-toxic and kid-safe.

RRP: $34.99 Website: https://www.spinmaster.com/product_detail.php?pid=p30733&bid=cat_coolmaker

8. KINETIC SAND SANDISFYING SET (Ages 3+)

sand Alegria and Isaac love to mix, shape and squish the Kinetic Sand in the Kinetic Sand Sandisfying Set! It’s mesmerising for everyone and we really enjoyed making sand effects using the handy tools and molds.

RRP: $39.99 Website https://www.spinmaster.com/product_detail.php?pid=p30730&bid=

9. SOGGY DOGGY GAME (Ages 4+)

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA Soggy Doggy is a fun, family game that always ends in fits of giggles! You fill the tub with water and race around the board trying not to get splashed! Top tip, put the game on a towel for easy clean up!

RRP $29.99 Website: https://www.spinmaster.com/product_detail.php?pid=p21259&bid=

10. TRAVEL JOURNAL (Ages 5+)

Whether you enjoy occasional overnight stays or months of adventures on the road, weekends away or international adventures this travel journal is packed with 80 journal pages to document your daily experiences. The kids (and grown-ups) in your family will have a wonderful time documenting the highlights and happenings of each and every day (they can draw, write or attach a photo)and enjoy looking back on the memories in the months and years to come. Each journal has 80 days of journal pages, reusable Packing Checklist, reusable Address book, 6 pages of fun activities all spiral bound with a protective plastic sleeve.

RRP: $24.95 Website: Travelling With Kids

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SPACETALK, a children’s all-in-one mobile phone, smart watch and GPS – REVIEW

September 9, 2019September 9, 2019 | Kidding Around Australia

If your kids are anything like ours, there comes a time when they start asking for a phone of their own. That wasn’t going to be an option for Alegría and Isaac (#sorrynotsorry) but we couldn’t deny that there were times when being able to contact them would come in handy. However one thing was for sure – we didn’t want them to have access to the internet or social media and we wanted to control who was able to contact them.

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We started to research options and soon came across the amazing Australian designed SPACETALK All-in-one smartwatch, smartphone and GPS device for kids*.

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Let me say, this watch is a game changer in our house! So much so, that we asked the good people at SPACETALK if we could run a competition for you to win a SPACETALK of our own and they said “Yes!” We can’t wait to give away a SPACETALK to a very lucky Kidding Around Australia reader! Honestly, the SPACETALK gives parents peace of mind and kids freedom to explore – and that is what we are all about!

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Before we get into the competition nitty gritty, I want to let you know about the features of the SPACETALK and how we have found each feature whilst trialling the product for review.

GPS Tracking: The SPACETALK is connected directly to the AllMyTribe app (which is really easy to set up) so we can see in real time exactly where the kids are! It’s also handy if the SPACETALK gets lost – you can just go and pick it up.

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Safe Zones and Location on Demand – using the GPS feature we can set up ‘safe zones’ via the app which alerts us when the kids have (or haven’t) arrived at a particular location. We have been telling friends about this feature and they were excited to use it when their kids ride their bikes to school. With the ‘location on demand’ feature, we can simply request a child’s exact location and it updates us immediately or the kids can send us their location.

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Send and receive calls and messages: Peace of mind is paramount so it’s comforting to know that only the people that we have loaded into the app can contact the kids – we’ve added us, the grandparents and a couple of friends and family members. Any ‘unauthorised’ calls or texts are alerted to us via the app. Alegría and Isaac can call the pre-loaded contacts at any time (although we’ve made sure that they know they will run out of credit if they call for a chat and it really should be only if they really need to. So far so good, we haven’t run out of our PAYG credit yet!).

With the message feature – Alegría and Isaac can only reply back with pre-loaded messages that we’ve added in via the app. The app contains some suggestions and we have loaded things like “I’m leaving now”, “Call me please”, “Goodnight! I’m going to sleep now” (for sleepovers), “I’m running late” and “I love you”.

Also, all of our data is stored with high grade security in Australia under strict Australian privacy laws which is often not the case. In fact, SPACETALK is the safest and most secure device of its kind on the market and the only kids smartwatch that meets general data protection regulation (GDPR) requirements.

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School approved with School mode – this mode is fantastic! Listed technology company MGM Wireless (MWR) pre-empted the school mobile phone ban while designing and developing SPACETALK for children aged between four and 12. We are able to restrict features during school hours such as incoming and outgoing calls, messaging, step counter, location and the stopwatch by setting a timer on the app which switches off the features at 8.50am and reactivates the features at 3.15pm so the SPACETALK is literally a watch during the day and the kids aren’t distracted.

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Watch, step counter, set alarms/reminders weather report, torch and reward stars – Alegría and Isaac loved these features! It made them feel like they had a “real” phone with apps and we had peace of mind that they were safe from the dangers of internet and social media access. The app also keeps a history of their steps for the week which they loved seeing!

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SOS Feature: This is another very clever and helpful feature. If Alegría and Isaac are ever in a situation where they feel unsafe they just need to press the SOS button on the side of the watch and anyone that is on the ‘Emergency Contact’ list will be called or notified in the order of the list. We can access the app and track their location and of course speak to them or text them to make sure they are okay.

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Battery life: The SPACETALK comes with a magnetic charger which attaches to the back of the watch. Your child should charge it every night ready for the next day and you are sent a reminder on the App if it isn’t being charged (it also notifies you if the watch is switched on and off). To extend battery life, you should change the GPS updates to hour intervals instead of every 15 minutes. This makes safe zones less effective but you can change it if there is movement you are anticipating. Everything can be altered quickly and easily.

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Easy Set Up: Using the SPACETALK is really easy, simply download the AllMyTribe app and sign up for your subscription. You set your kids up in 6 easy steps and then you can spend your time customising the SPACETALK. The app is only $5.99/month for 2 devices or up to 5 devices for $8.99/month. You will also need a sim card, we got one from Aldi for $5 and have set it up on as a Pay As You Go plan (we put $15 on and haven’t run out after 3 weeks).

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There are a few cool little features too – like customising individual photos to contacts names and the wallpaper as well as changing the watch face (a traditional analogue clock for Alegría and digital for Isaac) at any time. They love this feature! It’s also splash proof, dust proof and built for kids (they come with a screen protector and you can buy additional packs from the website – which we had to do because Alegría’s got caught on her jumper and fell off. They are $8.95 for 2).

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ENTER TO WIN!

We are giving away a SPACETALK All-in-one smartwatch, smartphone and GPS device for kids (worth $349) in the colour of your choice (Grey, Pink, Blue or Red) to one lucky Kidding Around Australia reader!

FIRSTLY:

Make sure you LIKE the Kidding Around Australia and SPACETALK pages on Facebook and Kidding Around Australia and SPACETALK pages on Instagram to keep up to date with all that we do. This is really important!

FOR YOUR CHANCE TO WIN SIMPLY:

Fill in this form and tell us what your favourite SPACETALK feature is!

IF YOU CAN’T SEE THE ENTRY FORM PLEASE GO TO OUR WEBSITE AS SOME PHONES AND MEDIA DO NOT SUPPORT THIS APPLICATION.

Entries close: 23 September, 2019 at 11.59pm AEST. GOOD LUCK!

TERMS AND CONDITIONS:

OPEN TO RESIDENTS OF AUSTRALIA ONLY. BY ENTERING THIS COMPETITION, YOU AGREE TO SUBSCRIBE TO THE KIDDING AROUND AUSTRALIA MAILING LIST, IF YOU ARE NOT ALREADY SUBSCRIBED. YOUR PRIVACY IS PROTECTED AND YOU CAN UNSUBSCRIBE AT ANY TIME.

BY ENTERING THIS COMPETITION, YOU ARE ALSO AGREEING TO ALL OTHER TERMS AND CONDITIONS.

THIS IS A GAME OF SKILL NOT A GAME OF CHANCE. ENTRIES NOT FILLING IN ALL THE REQUIRED FIELDS AND ANSWERING THE QUESTION WILL BE DEEMED INVALID. THE WINNER WILL BE CHOSEN BY ORIGINALITY AND CREATIVE MERIT, BY A NON INVOLVED PARTY. THE JUDGE’S DECISION IS FINAL AND NO CORRESPONDENCE WILL BE ENTERED INTO.

ENTRIES CLOSE 23 SEPTEMBER 2019 AT 11.59PM AEST. THE WINNER WILL BE DRAWN 26/9/2019 AT 9AM AEST AND ANNOUNCED ON THIS WEBSITE. THE WINNER WILL ALSO BE CONTACTED VIA EMAIL.

ONE ENTRY PER HOUSEHOLD. PRIZES ARE NOT TRANSFERABLE, CHANGEABLE OR REDEEMABLE FOR CASH. KIDDING AROUND AUSTRALIA WILL NOT BE HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY LOSS, INJURY OR DAMAGE THAT OCCURS IN CONNECTION WITH THE PRIZE OR THE WINNER’S PARTICIPATION IN THE PROMOTION.

MORE INFORMATION

Visit AllMyTribe to purchase or for more information about the SPACETALK.

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*We were sent two SPACETALK’s from All My Tribe for the purpose of this review. Our opinions are our own and honest.

ALL PHOTOGRAPHIC IMAGES ON THE KIDDING AROUND AUSTRALIA WEBSITE ARE THE EXCLUSIVE PROPERTY OF THE KIDDING AROUND AUSTRALIA AUTHORS. ALL IMAGES ARE SUBJECT TO COPYRIGHT AND CANNOT BE USED WITHOUT WRITTEN PERMISSION FROM KIDDING AROUND AUSTRALIA.

Victorian State Schools Spectacular Ticket Giveaway

August 26, 2019September 7, 2019 | Kidding Around Australia

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The 2019 Victorian State Schools Spectacular (VSSS) will bring together 3000 young performers from more than 200 government schools across Victoria, for two shows on Saturday 14 September at Melbourne Arena. Students dedicate many hours across many months preparing for the three-hour, live Spectacular. This opportunity of a lifetime gives them the chance to perform to an audience of around 12,000 people at Melbourne Arena and a TV audience later in the year on Network Seven.

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The theme for this year’s Spectacular is ‘Made of Stars’. With a talented 80-piece orchestra and some of the best vocalists and dancers from Victorian state schools, the show will feature a galaxy of out-of-this-world performances from a top musical line-up of songs from artists including, Justin Timberlake and Madonna, David Bowie, Lady Gaga, Daft Punk, Blur, Bruno Mars and Rhianna to Imagine Dragons, Stevie Wonder, Yothu Yindi, Sheppard, Paul McCartney and Eric Clapton.

Expect to see athleticism at its finest when for the first time the Spectacular meets the X Games at Melbourne Arena with dare-devil BMX riders, skaters and scooter riders. And the audience will get a front row seat at a fashion parade inspired dance featuring glitterati – a fun take on a tongue-in-cheek look at the world of fashion featuring dancers dressed as paparazzi and multiple Anna Wintour’s all trying to get on to the red carpet to be seen by the TV cameras!

GIVEAWAY

We are giving you a chance to win a family pass (four tickets) to the Victorian State Schools Spectacular at Melbourne Arena on Saturday 14th September 2019 at 1pm valued at $160!

To enter, simply fill out the form below:

Entries close 11.59pm Tuesday September 10, 2019. Good luck!

MORE INFORMATION

The Victorian State Schools Spectacular – ‘Made Of Stars’
Venue: Melbourne Arena
Date: Saturday 14 September
Time: 1pm & 6:30pm
Adult: $40.00 + BF
Concession: $30.00 + BF
Junior (U15): $20.00 + BF
Ticketek: www.ticketek.com.au/spectacular or call 132 849

TERMS AND CONDITIONS:

OPEN TO RESIDENTS OF VICTORIA, AUSTRALIA ONLY. BY ENTERING THIS COMPETITION, YOU AGREE TO SUBSCRIBE TO THE KIDDING AROUND AUSTRALIA MAILING LIST, IF YOU ARE NOT ALREADY SUBSCRIBED. YOUR PRIVACY IS PROTECTED AND YOU CAN UNSUBSCRIBE AT ANY TIME.

BY ENTERING THIS COMPETITION, YOU ARE ALSO AGREEING TO ALL OTHER TERMS AND CONDITIONS.

THIS IS A GAME OF SKILL NOT A GAME OF CHANCE. ENTRIES NOT FILLING IN ALL THE REQUIRED FIELDS AND ANSWERING THE QUESTION WILL BE DEEMED INVALID. THE WINNER WILL BE CHOSEN BY ORIGINALITY AND CREATIVE MERIT, BY A NON INVOLVED PARTY. THE JUDGE’S DECISION IS FINAL AND NO CORRESPONDENCE WILL BE ENTERED INTO.

ENTRIES CLOSE FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 16 2019 AT 11.59pm AEST. THE WINNER WILL BE CONTACTED VIA EMAIL.

ONE ENTRY PER HOUSEHOLD. PRIZES ARE NOT TRANSFERABLE, CHANGEABLE OR REDEEMABLE FOR CASH. KIDDING AROUND AUSTRALIA WILL NOT BE HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY LOSS, INJURY OR DAMAGE THAT OCCURS IN CONNECTION WITH THE PRIZE OR THE WINNER’S PARTICIPATION IN THE PROMOTION.