LADYBIRDS & DRAGONFLIES CHILDMINDING SERVICE: In-home and accommodation childminding and parent helper service. Servicing Brisbane and surrounding areas. Telephone Tami on 07 5433 0575 (b/h), 0416 282 982 (a/h).

The Paradise Kids Way …
Based on the successful Paradise Kids programs running on the Gold Coast since 1996, Paradise Kids Brisbane aims to help heal the heartache where children and families are grieving from loss associated with death; illness; separation/divorce; moving house; bullying and friendship/self-esteem issues. This emphasis on ‘heart work’ offers valuable life-skills that allows children and young people to move forward and face the future with healthy living that includes: body awareness, understanding of feelings, happiness, and a developed sense of confidence which they will be able to maintain in times of change. We teach children and young people to understand that change, and its associated grief and loss, is a natural part of life.

How Paradise Kids Brisbane can help …
Parents and other carers may attempt to shield children from the pain of feelings associated with loss. In contrast, Paradise Kids Brisbane programs help them to acknowledge and express, in a safe way, the normal mixed emotions of grief, including: anger; hurt and sadness; guilt and fear in a supportive group environment.

Paradise Kids Brisbane helps:

• By supporting the grief and healing process of children, young people and parents/carers by normalizing the grief process though a group setting and peer sharing.
• By empowering parents/carers to support their children/young people who are grieving.
• By teaching children and young people life skills to sustain them through future life changes and losses.

How Paradise Kids Brisbane provides support …
The program is conducted in an atmosphere of peer support, with professionally trained and accredited counsellors overseeing the program and each child supported individually by a volunteer (Buddy) trained in the Paradise Kids way.
 Over seven (7) weekly sessions, each term, they learn to:

• Gain an understanding of the event as a loss.
• Tell the story to facilitate discussion about the loss.
• Grieve the loss and feel the feelings.
• Physically and creatively express strong feelings including anger – a natural response to loss – in a safe way.
• Deal with any ‘unfinished business’ around the loss.
• Affirm and commemorate the loss, and look forward to the future.
• Claim a new sense of self and feel empowered to move on.

For information on Paradise Kids Brisbane services

• Individual counselling for children, young people and their families.
• Children’s grief and loss support groups -
  7-week programs (6-11 years).
• Young people’s (12-17 years) 4-week support programs
• Support groups for parents and carers
• Grief counselling training programs for teachers, health professionals, students, pastors and other interested members of the community
• Special events for children and families

For more information please phone Madeleine Grimes: (07)  3847 9943
                  44 Newdegate Street, GREENSLOPES QLD 4120
Email: mgrimes@paradisekids.org.au , Website: www.paradisekids.org.au

BEREAVEMENT SUPPORT SERVICES

The death of a child is an unbelievable and unacceptable tragedy.  It is against the natural order of things.  No one expects to outlive their children.  The natural expectations, hopes, dreams and aspirations are shattered.

SIDS and Kids Queensland provide support to individuals, couples, families and children who have experienced the sudden and unexpected death of a child, regardless of cause.  This support involves:

• Face-to-face counselling
• Telephone counselling
• Free 24 Hour Bereavement Support Telephone Line 1800 628 648
• Monthly bereavement support groups
• Subsidized referral to mental health professionals outside of Brisbane
• Community education
• Debriefing for Emergency Service, Childcare and Allied Health workers
• Twice yearly publication, Enigma
• Monthly bereavement support e-newsletter, Contact
• Grief support literature
• An annual Memorial Service

Counselling
Grief is intensely unique and personal, it can be hard work.  A supportive counsellor can assist your insights as you make sense of your experience and face difficult situations.  Counselling is provided by two qualified counsellors utilizing an integrative, holistic framework and involving creative and expressive therapies.  From time to time the counselling team is joined by specialist counsellors and other health professionals to facilitate groups or to present at workshops. 

Bereavement Support Groups
Our group programs have been established to provide a safe and supportive environment where participants can explore and express their experience of their child’s death. Participants also learn about grief and loss and develop strategies that will assist them to live well with their grief.

Groups we offer presently at our premises at 68 Creek Road, Mt. Gravatt: 

• Early Grief
• Men’s Only Group
• Evening Group
• Creative Memories
• Grandparents’ Group
• Subsequent Pregnancy Workshops
• Friday Coffee Morning

Some common questions we address in our groups:  What is grief?  Do men and women grieve differently?  What can I expect when grieving?  How will I cope?  How will I deal with well-meaning friends and family? What about my other children?  How can I look after myself and others?  How has my life changed and what have I learnt from this experience?

Please phone (07) 3849 7122 if you would like further information.

It is great to have an arrangement with a friend or relative whereby you look after each other's children occasionally, but if you don't have anyone nearby or if you are looking for regular care, there are many options. The downside is that you may need to book well in advance, depending on your need and location. In any case, give yourself plenty of time to look at your options, meet the carer, and if it is care outside your home go and take a look, go several times if you like. Get a feel for the place and the people. A few things to look for are:

• Do you feel comfortable there? Does your child?
• Did the carer/staff welcome you when you arrived? Do they welcome other children when they arrive?
• Does the centre/carer have an 'open door' policy, ie can you drop in without giving any notice?
• Are the staff qualified and are they blue card holders?
• Is the carer/centre comfortable caring for your child if they have special needs such as allergies or disabilities? Is there training available for carers with special needs children?

Remember, these people are caring for your child and you need to feel comfortable about this arrangement. If your child is quite young it may take some time to get used to staying somewhere without their parents. While some children adapt well to a day care centre, other children are better placed in a family day care environment - and the reverse is often true!

CHURCHES OF CHRIST CARE

• EARLY CHILDHOOD CENTRES
  • Alexandra Hills Early Childhood Centre: 8 Buckingham St (entrance at McMillan Road), Alexandra Hills Qld 4161. Phone: (07) 3824 3709. Email: alexhillsecc@cofcqld.com.au .
  • Raceview Community Early Childhood Centre: 219 Whitehill Road, Raceview Qld 4305. Phone: (07) 3288 8772. Email: raceviewcecc@cofcqld.com.au .
  • Kallangur Community Early Childhood Centre: 116 Ann Street, Kallangur Qld 4503. Phone: (07) 3204 6000. Email: kallangurcecc@cofcqld.com.au .
  • Kiah Occasional Early Childhood Centre: 15-17 Intrepid Street, Jamboree Heights 4074. Phone: (07) 3279 1575. Email: kiahoecc@cofcqld.com.au .
  • Hawthorne Limited Hours Early Childhood Centre: 28 Malcolm Street, Hawthorne 4171. Phone: (07) 3399 6212. Email: hawthornelhecc@cofcqld.com.au .
• FAMILY DAY CARE :
  • Centenary Family Day Care: 15-17 Intrepid Street, Jamboree Heights 4074. Phone: (07) 3279 0117. Email: centenaryfdc@cofcqld.com.au .

LIST YOUR BUSINESS HERE FOR FREE : Nature of business (max 10 words), telephone number.

LIST YOUR CHURCH HERE FOR FREE :Advertising in this category is free of charge, subject to space and at the discretion of Footprints on the Net.

If you have older children, please see information about Sunday Schools on our Education page.

LIST YOUR BUSINESS HERE FOR FREE : Nature of business (max 10 words), telephone number.

SIDS and Kids Queensland are a not-for-profit organization who provide Education and Bereavement Support for parents and caregivers.

EDUCATION  We provide education for the public about safe sleeping for babies.  Our information is supported by the latest SIDS research.  Information can be found on our website at www.sidsandkids.org  or by ringing our helpline on 1300 308 307.  For safe sleeping information see the Health and Safety page on this website.

BEREAVEMENT SUPPORT   SIDS and Kids Queensland provide bereavement support to families, relatives, friends, children and anyone else affected by the sudden and unexpected death of a child, regardless of cause.  Support is provided by professional counsellors and peer support workers.  We offer Bereavement Counselling, a 24 Hour Bereavement Support Line, Workshops, Support Meetings, Memorial Service and a Memorial Garden. For more information go to the Bereavement section on this page.

SIDS and Kids Queensland are at 68 Creek Rd, Mt Gravatt 4122.  Phone (07) 3849 7122.  24 Hour Bereavement Support Line 1800 628 648.

LIST YOUR ORGANISATION HERE FOR FREE : We are committed to supporting community organisations that offer help and support to families by providing free advertising.

LIST YOUR BUSINESS HERE FOR FREE : Nature of business (max 10 words), telephone number.

Freshness4U:  Fresh fruit and vegetables.  Delivering to Southern Brisbane and Beaudesert Shire.  Ph:  5543 5964 or 0407 435 964. (Note: Brisbane Kids recommends this service - a great range of fresh fruit and vegies and very reliable!)

LIST YOUR BUSINESS HERE FOR FREE : Nature of business (max 10 words), telephone number.

This section is under construction and will be available September 2007.

LIST YOUR BUSINESS HERE FOR FREE : Nature of business (max 10 words), telephone number.

MOTOR VEHICLES
These days most people are aware of the importance of wearing a seat belt. My children actually call out "seat belt, seat belt" if I dare to start the car without putting mine on - and they are only 2 and 5 years old! Every person in a vehicle should have a suitable restraint to ensure they are as safe as possible in case of an accident. If that doesn't make you 'belt up', then the fine you could receive if you or a passenger in your vehicle isn't properly restrained, might!

Your child's size and weight, rather than their age, are the most important factors when determining the correct restraint for your child. There is more information about infant restraints on our Just For Bubs page, but as a general guide, your baby should travel in an approved rear-facing infant restraint until their first birthday or up to 9kg weight and 70cm long. If you have a restraints which the manufacturer states can accommodate a heavier child, Queensland Transport recommends the child remain in a rear-facing restraint as long as is practicable.

The Queensland Ambulance Service has a baby capsule hire service for short or long term hire. A fee is payable for the cost of hire, installation and GST. For more information about this service please phone the QAS Community Contact Centre on 1300 369 003  or email desccc@smartservice.qld.gov.au . Their operating hours are: 8:00am - 6.00pm Monday to Friday.

There are many brands of restraints on the market today, many of which convert from infant to child restraint and can be used for several years. Choice On-Line is a great place to get more information about the models they tested and Queensland Transport has recommendations regarding the size and weight of a child and the appropriate restraint to use. Keep the instruction manual provided with the restraint you purchase and always adhere to the specifications provided by the manufacturer.

A booster seat is enables your child to use a lap-sash seat belt or a lap belt with a harness. They are available with a base only or with a base, back and sides which are great for those "please go to sleep in the car" trips. When using a booster seat with a lap-sash seatbelt, Queensland Transport advises that the sash part of the belt must not touch the child's neck. In the event of an crash, the back of the car seat provides protection for a child's head against whiplash. A child is too tall for a booster seat if, when sitting on the booster seat, their eye level is above the top of the back seat.

A child harness is a great idea if you have a vehicle with a lap seat belt that you need to use for you child and can also be used with a lap-sash seat belt. These offer greater protection and safety in the event of an accident and are suitable for a child weighing between 14 and 26kg with a booster seat or 14 and 32kg without a booster seat (please check manufacturer's recommendations).

One last word about buying any type of child or infant restraint. I have bought many baby products second-hand and would normally recommend it, but buying a second-hand restraint may not be the safest option for your child. If you choose to buy a second-hand restraint, do not purchase one that has ever been in an accident, or that shows signs of wear in the straps, shell and harness. Preferably purchase one from someone you know well - a friend or relative - to ensure you know the restraint's history.

Whatever you do, drive safely. Having a child in the vehicle with you can be terribly distracting, especially if they are distressed/ crying/ fighting/ nagging/ annoying - in which case it is probably as dangerous as drink driving. Try to take some emergency supplies in the car with you that are within your child's reach so you are not reaching back to give them a drink, food or toy. Plan your trips so that you have time to stop for a breather if you or the children need it. Getting out for even 15 minutes at a park where the children can run and you can calm down can make all the difference. Remember, it is better to be hours late than dead on time.