{"componentChunkName":"component---src-templates-wp-blog-js","path":"/abetterkinderawesome/page/11","result":{"data":{"allWpPost":{"edges":[{"node":{"id":"cG9zdDo5MQ==","title":"Tootin Free","excerpt":"

‘Gourmet’ with ‘lunchbox’ should never be seen! To all the busy parents who think the same, we’re on Team You! If you’re not a hatted chef or skilled baker you probably don’t fancy spending your precious days or hours off prepping lunches. Why the hell should you?! One small hitch… you have a gluten intolerant… Continue reading Tootin Free

\n","uri":"/tootinfree/","content":"

‘Gourmet’ with ‘lunchbox’ should never be seen!

\n

To all the busy parents who think the same, we’re on Team You!

\n

If you’re not a hatted chef or skilled baker you probably don’t fancy spending your precious days or hours off prepping lunches. Why the hell should you?! One small hitch… you have a gluten intolerant child.

\n

Gluten Free Snacks don’t have to be tricky!

\n

Every parenting blog ever serves up 15 ingredient muesli bars, muffins and meatball recipes for a gluten free alternative. Who’s got time to be perfect? We’d like to celebrate a simpler approach that makes everyone happy.

\n

Gluten-free snacks don’t have to be tricky. To prove it’s true, we’ve found some ridiculously easy and tasty snack combos. Put these pantry staples together in a matter of minutes and your child will think you’re ace.

\n

Gluten free lunchbox treats for intolerant tummies

\n\n

Enjoy your pain-free lunchbox and snack making and from the team at Spencil. Hope it helps!

\n","author":{"node":{"name":"spencerbg","uri":"/author/spencerbg/","avatar":{"url":"https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/28069edc935e8b9ef465cc878f929d57b20e57e58feb6396c2ebd8a2622ec813?s=96&d=mm&r=g"}}},"date":"November 24, 2020","featuredImage":{"node":{"uri":"/anti-ok-campaign/artboard-9-100/","sourceUrl":"http://spencerbg.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/Artboard-9-100.jpg"}},"tags":{"nodes":[]},"categories":{"nodes":[{"name":"Better things","uri":"/category/better-things/","slug":"better-things"}]},"comments":{"nodes":[]},"databaseId":91}},{"node":{"id":"cG9zdDo4Mg==","title":"Teach your children to love their differences","excerpt":"

From the freckle on their nose, to their longer second toes… why would you ever want to blend in when you were born to stand out?

\n","uri":"/lovetheirdifferences/","content":"

Imagine a world where everything looked, smelt, tasted, sounded and felt the same.

\n

The unique qualities in each of us is what makes our world such a fascinating place. We’re on a mission to celebrate the differences that make your children their most wonderous and unique selves.

\n

From the freckle on your nose,
\nto your longer second toes…
\nWhy would you ever want to blend in
\nwhen you were born to stand out?

\n

So we congratulate you mums and dads (we call you MaDs) on the amazing effort you make every single day to nurture each little quirk your children possess and honour the quirks of others. Your efforts alone are helping us to create a kinder, better and more awesome world, where children can CELEBRATE THEIR DIFFERENCES and the differences of those around them.

\n

Because they notice

\n

Kids are curious and naive as they explore the world around them. We understand that by the age of five children can notice differences between themselves and others such as gender, race, physical attributes and visible expressions of culture or religious belief. Education and open conversation with children about difference at home and in the class room helps children learn to not fear or be confused by differences. Instead, they learn to understand, embrace and celebrate them.

\n

We don’t pretend to be experts so we were grateful to find Ellen Fraser-Barbour’s perspective so beautifully told from her own lived experience, particularly her instructive telling of her interaction with Jason. It might be as helpful to you as it has to us.

\n

These are tricky conversations. Maybe a cute perspective we use to think about diversity could help…

\n

The Animal Kingdom – The Greatest Diversity Show on Earth!

\n

\"\"\"\"

\n

The amazingly unique characteristics of animals inspire wonder and awe in kids and adults alike and are helpful in talking about and celebrating the differences kids are observing in their own world. There are so many examples. The giraffe’s long neck means he can see further than most and reach the highest leaves. The monkey’s tail helps him swing from tree to tree. Australia’s unique wildlife have equally unique poos so wonderfully celebrated in Squiggle, Diddle, Pop!

\n

The point is, animals which are vastly different from each other don’t simply co-exist.
\nThey live and thrive together.

\n

Experts tell us there are three qualities that help kids become diversity champions – curiosity, supportiveness and pride. Talking about these traits in animals helps us demonstrate the value of subtle and big differences in making our world extraordinary.

\n

Be Curious, Like The Monkey

\n

\"\"\"\"

\n

Monkeys are naturally curious, always trialling and testing their environment to broaden their understanding of it. Echidnas are brave AND curious and will stick their noses in dark holes to feel what’s there. Dolphins will come up beside a boat to check out what you’re doing. Cats will scratch on a closed door to find what’s on the other side. Dogs sniff each other when they meet to work out if they are friend or foe.

\n

Kids’ natural curiosity can be instructive for us all.

\n

When a child knows that it’s more than okay to observe and speak about the differences they see, we all gain. If we never ask, we never learn and if we never learn, how can we appreciate?

\n

Be Supportive, Like The Otter

\n

\"\"

\n

Otters work in teams to build dams together and hold hands when they sleep so they don’t float away from each other. Wolves run and hunt for food in packs and share the spoils. A bee hive has millions of bees but every individual has a very important job to create the honey. Birds pick off insects or parasites to keep large animals like cows and buffalo from getting sick. Dung beetles clean up their poo.

\n

We want kids to support and celebrate one another, no matter how different they may be.

\n

Seeing others’ differences as positive encourages kids to be confident in being themselves.

\n

Which segues us nicely to ’the king‘ of the animal kingdom.

\n

Be Proud, Like The Lion

\n

\"\"

\n

Lions look different to every other animal. They have large manes but still they sit proud on the highest rock and roar loud for all to hear. Kookaburras have a laugh like no other but they call and sing so you can hear them for miles. Peacocks have to carry around so many enormous feathers but they do it with pride – strutting and fanning their glorious colourful display. Girl peacocks appreciate it but their magnificence may sadly be lost on other birds and animals!

\n

Pride in their differences allows children to be resilient, confident and passionate about being who they are.

\n

In the adult world we might call it ’letting your freak flag fly‘. Being proud of what makes you you and letting yourself be the amazingly unique person you were born to be is your gift to the world.

\n

Thank you for you

\n

Creating wondrous, unique, extraordinary individuals is no small feat. The world is a better place when unique individuals are being their best unique selves, together.

\n

Every difference is a gift.

\n

So from Spencil, thank you for giving us you and raising children who are themselves too.

\n","author":{"node":{"name":"spencerbg","uri":"/author/spencerbg/","avatar":{"url":"https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/28069edc935e8b9ef465cc878f929d57b20e57e58feb6396c2ebd8a2622ec813?s=96&d=mm&r=g"}}},"date":"November 19, 2020","featuredImage":{"node":{"uri":"/anti-ok-campaign/younique/","sourceUrl":"http://spencerbg.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/Younique.png"}},"tags":{"nodes":[{"uri":"/tag/confidence/","name":"Confidence ."},{"uri":"/tag/differences/","name":"Differences ."},{"uri":"/tag/diversity/","name":"Diversity ."},{"uri":"/tag/identity/","name":"Identity ."},{"uri":"/tag/personal-development/","name":"Personal development ."},{"uri":"/tag/self-esteem/","name":"Self Esteem ."},{"uri":"/tag/vulnerability/","name":"Vulnerability ."}]},"categories":{"nodes":[{"name":"Kinder things","uri":"/category/kinder-things/","slug":"kinder-things"}]},"comments":{"nodes":[]},"databaseId":82}},{"node":{"id":"cG9zdDozNg==","title":"10 Activities to Keep the Kids Entertained at Home","excerpt":"

\"House

\n

With all this time indoors at the moment – working from home, schooling from home and generally ‘doing-life’ at home, many of us are scratching our heads about just what to do to keep the littles entertained.

\n

Now is an opportunity in disguise, to break out of your usual activities (and screen-time!) and try some new fun activities.

\n

We have listed some ideas that are sure to be a hit with the kids (and Mum and Dad will get a giggle out of some of these too!)

\n","uri":"/10-activities-to-keep-the-kids-entertained/","content":"

With all this time indoors at the moment – working from home, schooling from home and generally ‘doing-life’ at home, many of us are scratching our heads about just what to do to keep the littles entertained.

\n

Now is an opportunity in disguise, to break out of your usual activities (and screen-time!) and try some new fun activities.

\n

We have listed some ideas that are sure to be a hit with the kids (and Mum and Dad will get a giggle out of some of these too!)

\n

1. Don your favourite dress-ups (hats and wigs mandatory!), put on some favourite tunes, and have a lounge-room dance party

\n

2. Get your bake on! Pick out some yummy recipes and get the kids involved to whip up some tasty treats everyone can enjoy- like these ones from BBC Good Food

\n

\"\"

\n

3. Teach your kids an old-school game, such as elastics, hand-ball or Shops!

\n

4. Camp in the backyard, eat s’mores and drink hot chocolate, and pick out constellations. If you don’t have a backyard, camp out in a fort in the loungeroom

\n

5. Have a craft-ernoon!  Here are some great ideas to inspire you from Good Housekeeping

\n

6. Dress up and have a lounge-room fashion parade, where the kids can wear their craziest outfits!

\n

\"\"\"\"

\n

7. Get imaginative with a story writing afternoon- these journals are a good place to start to get writing creatively

\n

8. Get your green-thumb on! Start an herb garden with the kids, or plant some flowers and create a fairy garden

\n

9. Have a themed dinner party with cuisine from a faraway country- you can even dress-up, play music from that country and learn some words in a new language. Bellisimo!

\n

10. Send letters to pen-pals! Get started with these pretty writing kits to connect with BFFs near and far

\n

And an extra one just for fun!

\n

Snuggle up on the couch and have a movie night with freshly popped popcorn. Bliss.

\n

Now off to find our PJs…

\n","author":{"node":{"name":"spencerbg","uri":"/author/spencerbg/","avatar":{"url":"https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/28069edc935e8b9ef465cc878f929d57b20e57e58feb6396c2ebd8a2622ec813?s=96&d=mm&r=g"}}},"date":"November 19, 2020","featuredImage":{"node":{"uri":"/10-activities-to-keep-the-kids-entertained/additional_posts-23/","sourceUrl":"http://spencerbg.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/Additional_Posts-23.jpg"}},"tags":{"nodes":[{"uri":"/tag/activities/","name":"Activities"},{"uri":"/tag/blog/","name":"Blog"},{"uri":"/tag/games/","name":"Games"},{"uri":"/tag/ideas/","name":"Ideas"},{"uri":"/tag/kids/","name":"Kids"},{"uri":"/tag/play/","name":"Play"},{"uri":"/tag/spencil/","name":"Spencil"},{"uri":"/tag/stationery/","name":"Stationery"}]},"categories":{"nodes":[{"name":"Better things","uri":"/category/better-things/","slug":"better-things"}]},"comments":{"nodes":[]},"databaseId":36}},{"node":{"id":"cG9zdDo0OQ==","title":"The Anti-OK Campaign: 35 Questions to Ask Your Children Besides “How Was Your Day?”","excerpt":"

\"Spencil

\n

We all have been on the receiving end of a closed answers such as ‘OK’, ‘Fine’ and ‘Good’ when asking our little ones the questions ‘How was Your Day?’.

\n

 

\n

We want to say goodbye to ‘OK’ and hello to deeper and more meaningful conversations!

\n","uri":"/anti-ok-campaign/","content":"

We all have been on the receiving end of a closed answers such as ‘OK’, ‘Fine’ and ‘Good’ when asking our little ones the questions ‘How was Your Day?’.

\n

We want to say goodbye to ‘OK’ and hello to deeper and more meaningful conversations!

\n

\"\"

\n

Encouraging and cultivating emotional intelligence with your child will help them to create healthy ways of communicating and expressing themselves as they grow and change.

\n

Here is a list of questions to get you started:

\n
    \n
  1.  What was the best part of your day?
    2. \n
  2. Is there anything that made you worry today?
    3. \n
  3. Did you receive any good news today?
    4. \n
  4. What are you grateful for today?
    5. \n
  5. What songs did you listen to today?
    6. \n
  6. Did you read anything interesting today?
    7. \n
  7. What’s the best conversation you had today?
    8. \n
  8. What are you most proud of today?
    9. \n
  9. What made you laugh today?
    10. \n
  10. Who inspired you today?
    11. \n
  11. What did you learn today that you didn’t know yesterday?
    12. \n
  12. What is something that challenged you today?
    13. \n
  13. Tell us your top three things from the day
    14. \n
  14. If you could change one thing about your day, what would it be?
    15. \n
  15. What was your first thought when you woke up today?
    16. \n
  16. What do you want to accomplish by your next birthday?
    17. \n
  17. If you could be famous for one thing, what would it be?
    18. \n
  18. What’s the best thing about your life?
    19. \n
  19. What makes you feel loved?
    20. \n
  20. What will you be doing in 10 years?
    21. \n
  21. If you could only eat one food for the next month, what would it be?
    22. \n
  22. If you could have one superpower, what would it be?
    23. \n
  23. What are you most proud of?
    24. \n
  24. Tell us three ways to describe yourself
    25. \n
  25. What do you worry about the most?
    26. \n
  26. What’s something you’re looking forward to?
    27. \n
  27. When do you feel happiest?
    28. \n
  28. Tell me a joke I don’t know
    29. \n
  29. What is one thing you want to learn how to do?
    30. \n
  30. What’s your favourite thing to do as a family?
    31. \n
  31. What’s your favourite thing to do with your friends?
    32. \n
  32. What’s the funniest thing somebody did or said today?
    33. \n
  33. Twenty years from now, where do you think you’ll live?
    34. \n
  34. If you could learn any language, which language would you choose?
    35. \n
  35. Which country would you like to live, if you could live anywhere in the world?
    36. \n
\n

We hope these questions help to encourage your little ones to get in touch with their emotions, share their feelings are create healthy emotional strategies that will serve them well into the future.

\n","author":{"node":{"name":"spencerbg","uri":"/author/spencerbg/","avatar":{"url":"https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/28069edc935e8b9ef465cc878f929d57b20e57e58feb6396c2ebd8a2622ec813?s=96&d=mm&r=g"}}},"date":"November 05, 2020","featuredImage":{"node":{"uri":"/anti-ok-campaign/artboard-12-100/","sourceUrl":"http://spencerbg.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/Artboard-12-100.jpg"}},"tags":{"nodes":[{"uri":"/tag/blog/","name":"Blog"},{"uri":"/tag/coversations/","name":"Coversations"},{"uri":"/tag/kids/","name":"Kids"},{"uri":"/tag/parenting/","name":"Parenting"},{"uri":"/tag/spencil/","name":"Spencil"}]},"categories":{"nodes":[{"name":"Kinder things","uri":"/category/kinder-things/","slug":"kinder-things"}]},"comments":{"nodes":[]},"databaseId":49}},{"node":{"id":"cG9zdDo2NQ==","title":"Our Creative Writing Competition 2020 Winners!","excerpt":"

\"Spencil

\n

This is the very first year we have run the Spencil Creative Writing Competition and to say we were blown away by the entries is an understatement!

\n

The short stories, poems and graphic novels moved us, inspired us and had us in awe of the creativity and heart shown by all of the entrants.

\n

We were so excited when our lovely judges Andy Geppert and Sue Wright came on board to lend their expertise in children’s writing and help us pick the winners!

\n","uri":"/our-creative-writing-competition-2020-winners/","content":"

This is the very first year we have run the Spencil Creative Writing Competition and to say we were blown away by the entries is an understatement!

\n

The short stories, poems and graphic novels moved us, inspired us and had us in awe of the creativity and heart shown by all of the entrants.

\n

We were so excited when our lovely judges Andy Geppert and Sue Wright came on board to lend their expertise in children’s writing and help us pick the winners!

\n

Andy Geppert- Award-winning picture book artist and author

\n

Sue Wright- Director of Brisbane-based micro-press Tiny Owl Workshop

\n

Both Andy and Sue were delighted with the number of creative, funny and well put together entries for the creative writing competition.

\n

Sue particularly enjoyed the well-crafted and considered poems.
\nWhile Andy was drawn to the wild and unfiltered ideas expressed throughout the entries.

\n

We are thrilled to share the winning entries with you- they are absolutely fabulous!

\n

WINNER – 9 YEARS & OLDER

\n
Abdullah Dawood – “Eagle”
\n

Judges’ comments: The winner for the older group was Abdullah Dawood for the exquisite poem the ‘Eagle’.

\n

WINNER – 8 YEARS & YOUNGER

\n
Liam Nouws – “Lonely Baboon”
\n

Judges Comments: In the younger group, our winner is Liam Nouws – Lonely Baboon.
\nLiam’s story took us on a fun adventure, supported by beautiful illustrations and creative text.

\n

Thank you to everyone who entered.

\n

You are all Spencil Stars!

\n","author":{"node":{"name":"spencerbg","uri":"/author/spencerbg/","avatar":{"url":"https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/28069edc935e8b9ef465cc878f929d57b20e57e58feb6396c2ebd8a2622ec813?s=96&d=mm&r=g"}}},"date":"July 17, 2020","featuredImage":{"node":{"uri":"/10-activities-to-keep-the-kids-entertained/additional_posts-23/","sourceUrl":"http://spencerbg.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/Additional_Posts-23.jpg"}},"tags":{"nodes":[{"uri":"/tag/blog/","name":"Blog"},{"uri":"/tag/competition/","name":"competition"},{"uri":"/tag/creative/","name":"creative"},{"uri":"/tag/spencil/","name":"Spencil"},{"uri":"/tag/winners/","name":"winners"},{"uri":"/tag/writing/","name":"writing"}]},"categories":{"nodes":[{"name":"Kinder things","uri":"/category/kinder-things/","slug":"kinder-things"}]},"comments":{"nodes":[]},"databaseId":65}}]},"allWpCategory":{"nodes":[{"id":"dGVybTozNA==","uri":"/category/awesome-things/","name":"Awesome things","description":null},{"id":"dGVybToyNw==","uri":"/category/better-things/","name":"Better things","description":null},{"id":"dGVybTozMQ==","uri":"/category/kinder-things/","name":"Kinder things","description":null},{"id":"dGVybToyMDc2","uri":"/category/news/","name":"News","description":null},{"id":"dGVybTox","uri":"/category/uncategorized/","name":"Uncategorized","description":null}]}},"pageContext":{"pageNumber":10,"humanPageNumber":11,"skip":120,"limit":12,"numberOfPages":11,"previousPagePath":"/abetterkinderawesome/page/10","nextPagePath":""}},"staticQueryHashes":["1065420345","1667017983","1667017983","2663529620","2730219034","308229843","4157830696","552603835","552603835","610568352","707063319","707063319","737710311","758865052"]}