Kidding Around with … Octonauts Live! Operation Reef Shield

February 25, 2015February 25, 2015 | Kidding Around Australia

EXPLORE! RESCUE! PROTECT!

We were so excited to be invited* along to the preview of Octonauts Live! Operation Reef Shield at the Drum Theatre in Dandenong. (The Drum Theatre is an amazing venue and any seat would be a good seat. It’s perfect for kids shows!)

Octonauts Live! Operation Reef Shield was created and produced in Australia by Life Like Touring (who bought us Peppa Pig Live! Treasure Hunt, Elmo’s World Tour and Yo Gabba Gabba! Live! Australia to name a few). The show features 15 new songs, special effects and video animations.

The show is aimed at children 2-7 years old and follows Captain Barnacles and his trusty crew, (from the hit animated ABC4KIDS show Octonauts), who have joined forces with a host of colourful Australian reef dwellers on a mission to save the Great Barrier Reef and we were all invited to help!

We don’t want to ruin the plot, but when the Octonauts deploy a new undersea medical station to keep the reef clean and healthy, they discover a problem that threatens the reef dwellers and their home.

Georgina Says

The costumes are amazing, and whilst some of the adults around us found the plot confusing in the first act, the kids LOVED it!! And, let’s face it, that’s the main objective!! Isaac loved the bubbles (and he was in good company – all the kids loved the bubbles!).

The musical numbers are catchy, feel good, tap-your-feet type songs which Alegría was singing long after the show ended.

Alegría says

I didn’t like it, I LOVED it!

The show is split into two acts, and after a short intermission we find that an outbreak of spiky and very hungry Crown of Thorns Starfish are on their way to eat the reef! There is lots of audience interaction and the question is: Will the Octonauts be able to ward off the advancing starfish and save the Great Barrier Reef?

Well, you’ll have to go along and sea (do you like what we did there?) for yourself!

The live theatre production Octonauts Live! Operation Reef Shield is touring Australian capital cities from 25 February to 28 March 2015.

We loved it!

MORE INFORMATION

Website: www.lifeliketouring.com/octonautslive

For other live shows: http://lifeliketouring.com

* We were given tickets to the show by Life Like Touring at the Bloggers BBQ run by Kids Business, but as always, our opinions are honest and our own. Thank you to Life Like Touring and Kids Business – we really appreciated the tickets.

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).

{Sponsored Post} Kidding Around with … Cocobella Kids

February 18, 2015February 18, 2015 | Kidding Around Australia

Oh, how excited we were to be sent some Cocobella Kids coconut water with fruit juice to review! We were first introduced to Cocobella Kids at the Kids Business Bloggers BBQ in January and the kids have loved it ever since! Isaac ~~drank~~ guzzled down the entire drink box in one go. Something he would never do drinking water!

It has been well documented that coconut water is great for hydration and contains many natural electrolytes along with minerals such as potassium, calcium and magnesium.

Georgina Says

I was aware of the benefits of coconut water, however, I was never a fan of the taste of coconut water by itself. The added fruit juice in the Cocobella and Cocobella Kids ranges has fixed that and opened up a whole new coconut water world for me!

Cocobella Kids is Australia’s first range of coconut water for kids. Cocobella Kids is a lunch-box-friendly and healthy coconut water drink for kids made from 70% coconut water, 30% fruit juice and nothing else. Cocobella Kids is available in 200ml Tetra-Pak (BPA-free) and in two yummy fruit flavours (Apple Berry Breeze, Tropical Island). Cocobella Kids retails for $3.49 per 3-pack in Woolworths supermarkets nationally.

If you’re into reading labels like we are then the brand comparison chart makes for an interesting read. It shows just what is and, more importantly, isn’t added to Cocobella Kids coconut water and juice.

Alegría and Isaac love Cocobella Kids and what we loved most was that there are no added nasties. What do you think? Would you try coconut water as an alternative for your kids?

MORE INFORMATION

Website: www.cocobellakids.com.au

Cost: $3.49 per 3-pack in Woolworths supermarkets nationally.

Disclaimer: We were given samples of Cocobella Kids product to review. We were also given product to distribute to Alegría’s kindergarten class. We were not payed for this review and as always our opinions are honest and our own.

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.

{Giveaway Time}

February 18, 2015 | Kidding Around Australia

To celebrate reaching 200 likes on our Facebook page we are giving away two prizes to help you go Kidding Around your own backyard! 1st prize is a $50 Bunnings gift card and 2nd prize is a selection of goodies (including bulbs, gloves, trowel, fertilizer etc.) to get you gardening!

To win you must LIKE our Facebook page, SHARE our page and then COMMENT on the picture answering the following question “I want to go Kidding Around my backyard because …” We will choose 2 winners which we believe to be the …most interesting and creative.

To enter head to www.facebook.com/kiddingaroundaustralia

Entries close at midday AEST on Sunday 22 February 2015. Good luck!

*Open to Australian Residents Only. This competition is not run or endorsed by Facebook or Bunnings.

Kidding Around … Flowerdale Estate

February 12, 2015February 12, 2015 | Kidding Around Australia

Last Sunday, we jumped in the car and headed for a drive! Our destination was Flowerdale Estate and we were definitely impressed. Georgina swanned around the grounds like the Lady of the Manor she was born to be, Tim was interested in the facilities and the kids loved the wide open spaces and fresh country air.

Built in 1838, Flowerdale Estate was originally a 10,000 acre sheep and cattle station. Through the years the Victorian and Edwardian Homestead has been lovingly and extensively refurbished and now operates as a conference centre, wedding venue and weekend getaway destination with 28 guest bedrooms.

As we wandered around the manicured lawns and gorgeous flower gardens we spoke with other day visitors and everyone was having a fantastic afternoon. Flowerdale Estate encourages everyone who comes for High Tea on Sundays to use the on-site facilities. They are very child friendly and will do everything they can to make everyone welcome!

There is an undercover tennis court, rotunda, indoor solar heated swimming pool (it took all of our will power not to jump in, and we will definitely be bringing our bathers next time!) and plenty of seating under the shade of impressive oak trees.

Other activities include:

table tennis / billiards room
guest lounge w/open fire and library
lawn games
walking/jogging track
fishing
bike riding
platypus spotting by the creek
relaxation and healing massages (by appointment only)

There is a large dam where you can go fishing, yabbying and use the kayaks for a leisurely paddle. Obviously, care needs to be taken when around water, there are no lifeguards and the use of the kayaks is at your own risk. There are two lifejackets which were slightly too big for our kids, so if you have any at home pop them in the boot. A word of warning – you will get a wet bum so keep that in mind if you don’t want to spend the rest of the day feeling like you have wet your pants!

Gracies Restaurant offers seating for up to 50 people in the main dining room as well as seating on the veranda (perfect for us with children!). We each had a Devonshire Tea and the scones were delicious! Gracies Restaurant offers a seasonal menu and are open on Friday and Saturday evenings and for Breakfast and High Tea on Sunday.

Flowerdale Estate are excited to have Russell Morris play in their last concert for the summer season on March 8th. Their accommodation is all booked our for the night and tickets are selling fast. The entry fee of $75 includes their famous barbeque! The gates open 5pm and Russell comes on at dusk. Bookings are via Flowerdale Estate 03 5784 9280. Keep an eye on their website for more concerts next summer.

We were so glad we visited Flowerdale Estate! We had such a fantastic afternoon and we are really looking forward to visiting again.

MORE INFORMATION

Days: Friday, Saturday evening and Sunday.

Location: 2285 Broadford-Flowerdale Road, Strath Creek, Victoria 3658

Cost: Traditional High Tea $40 per person. Royal High Tea $55 per person. Devonshire Tea available upon request $12.50 per person. For dinner and breakfast please refer to menu.

Website: http://www.flowerdaleestate.com.au

Kidding Around with … Ballarat Tramway Museum

February 4, 2015February 4, 2015 | Kidding Around Australia

A visit to historic Ballarat in Victoria would not be complete without travelling back in time! This time we travelled by tram with the Ballarat Tramway Museum and its staff of enthusiastic and knowledgeable volunteers.

The vintage tram ride covers 1.3 kilometres of original line through the picturesque Botanical Gardens situated by the western side of Lake Wendouree.

We travelled on Tram No. 28 which was built in Adelaide in 1916. It was sent to Ballarat in 1930 and travelled 1,651,746 kilometres until it was retired in 1971.

Most of the trams in the collection are over 90 years old, and the collection includes Ballarat Horse Tram No. 1, dating from 1887, which along with eight other trams is housed at the Ballarat Tramway Museum depot.

Tim Says

There is a display of photographs and tramway memorabilia at the depot which is interesting. You can also see the tramcar fleet and workshops or have a chat to one of the volunteers. Souvenirs can be purchased at the depot and also on board the trams.

After the 20 minute ride, we stopped at the Tramway food van for some fairy floss (as you do) and a play at the adventure playground. At the playground there are also barbeques and picnic facilities so if you want to make an afternoon of outdoor fun Lake Wendouree and the Ballarat Botanical Gardens will tick all the boxes!

The Vintage Tram ride and Tramway Museum is well worth the visit and will be enjoyed by all ages.

MORE INFORMATION

Days and Times: Every Saturday, Sunday, public holiday and during the Victorian school holidays between 12.30pm and 5pm.

Location: Wendouree Parade beside Lake Wendouree in the Ballarat Botanic Gardens

Cost: Adult $4 Child $2 per ride (An all day ticket is $8)

Website: http://www.btm.org.au

{Sponsored Post} Kidding Around with … ASG

February 2, 2015February 8, 2015 | Kidding Around Australia

When ASG asked us to review their Little Learner Pack we said yes because education is important to us and we were interested to see what ASG offers families. ASG is focused on supporting children’s education – it’s all they do. They’re typically known for their educational funds, however this pack is an example of the educational resources they provide.

ASG’s Little Learner Pack comprises of:

The Cat in the Hat DVD (Volume 1), with four fun episodes from one of Dr Seuss’ beloved characters.
Set of five hard-cover story books from You Can Do It! Education, with stories on how to get along, confidence, resilience, being organised, and persistence.
Access to special offers such as Parenting Ideas Club, Australian Unity MediGUARD Health Cover, and Marcom Projects (educational DVDs).
Membership to MY ASG, which provides access to the Member website and an ever-expanding range including exclusive e-guides and ASG’s Member newsletter—ASG’s Scholastic.

When we received our pack we sat down and read the books. The books use rhyming sentences with words that are probably too advanced for Alegría (who is 4), even though she has an excellent vocabulary, the wording did require some explanation.

Alegría Says
(On the book ‘A Girl Called Sally – A story about getting along) Sally is not a very nice friend. She is sad when no one will play with her, so she has a little think and then she is nice and people like her.

The books are great as a conversation starter with your children, especially school aged children. We thought that they were probably too “old” for our children, however, Alegría has really taken to them. The books include many teachable moments and have entered our nightly rotation for bedtime stories.

Georgina Says
The Cat in the Hat DVD is educational and is perfect for quiet time. It has 4 episodes that explain different animal behaviours such as how bees make honey, bird migration, nocturnal animals and hermit crab shells.

ASG’s Little Learner Pack is valued at over $180 (and normally retails at $49.95).
If you are interested in owning ASG’s Little Learner Pack and experiencing it with your children it can be purchased online at http://www.asg.com.au/little-learner

Competition:

“Win a share of $15,000 towards your child’s education competition”

To be in the running for three major prizes, as well as 10 Little Learner Packs and 10 Subscriptions to MY ASG (ASG’s member website with fantastic educational information and special member offers and discounts).

You can enter here: www.asg.com.au/win

MORE INFORMATION

ASG provides a range of products, information and resources to support children’s education from their early learning stage right through to post-secondary studies.

Their education programs are as follows:

The Education Fund (TEF) is designed to assist with basic secondary and post-secondary education costs.
The Supplementary Education Program (SEP) is designed for those who have specific education goals in mind, such as private schooling, or those who want to know that their child’s future education has been carefully planned.

The Future Education Program (FEP) offers parents the ability to plan for the education costs of their future children or for grandparents and relatives wanting to help a future grandchild, niece or nephew.

They also provide other education services that include:

a range of educational resources that support parents and their children through MY ASG, our member only website
ASG School Plan, an annual school fee payment service that spreads school fees out into manageable monthly or fortnightly instalments
ASG Marcom Projects, distributor of more than 5000 DVD and CD titles that are designed specifically to support the Australian curriculum
You Can Do It! Education (YCDI!), a resource kit that helps children build social and emotional resilience.

Website: http://www.asg.com.au