Blogs

Life in foster care can be extremely difficult for some children, and Christmas time does have a way of bringing home the difficulties people are facing, so it would be fantastic if we could make bring these children that little bit of extra joy this Christmas by providing them each with a gift.

Queanbeyan Carers Support Group are holding a Christmas party for local children in care on 12 December. Until 9 December, you can donate a gift at the Christmas Wishing Tree at Brindabella Baby. All donations are appreciated, and we have tags here to show the gender and age range your gift is suited to.

Christmas Wishing Tree for Queanbeyan Carers Support Group

Tania McCartney, Canberra-based author of Riley and the Sleeping Dragon (as seen in the current issue of My Child magazine), is having a party. It's for the launch of her new book, Riley and the Dancing Lion. This free event is at Dalton's bookstore in Canberra on Sunday 6 December from 11:30am til 1pm. There will be balloons and goodie bags, prizes and yummy treats to eat, circus tricks by Kelly Sports, and you can get your copy signed by Tania. If you can't make it, pick up a signed copy of the Riley books at Brindabella Baby.

Thought I'd take the opportunity on World Toilet Day to kick off a couple of articles on toilet training for toddler. You'll find the first one, Toilet Readiness and Toilet Awareness, in the Health section. Toilet training is just like anything else a toddler needs to learn - the more matter-of-fact and calm you can be, the easier it will be.

MiniLaLa factory

Carli from MiniLaLa is an Australian designer who decided that she'd rather be making nappies than children's clothing. And it shows - quality fabrics in beautiful prints, and designed to give a trim fit from birth til toilet training. She is also careful to ensure her nappies are made in China under fair working conditions.

Workers are aged between 24 and 50 years, and earn above the government minimum pay rate - more than enough to provide a fair living wage. They work five days a week, with public holidays off, and an option to work a sixth day if they want to. Hours are 8:30am til 5:30pm, with a one and a half hour lunch break.

By choosing a manufacturer in China who provides safe, fair working conditions, Carli is helping put a stop to sweatshop labour in the textile garment manufacturing industry. When you next go shopping for clothes or nappies, ask who made them and whether they got a fair day's pay for their effort.

 If you're around Melbourne on November 27, head out to Moora Moora for a night of fun and fundraising to install solar lighting in a small community in East Timor. Should be lots of fun, and family friendly too!

Choosing fair trade when you're gift shopping this Christmas means you have the opportunity to make many children happy with a single toy. In Sri Lanka, there are seven different businesses where workers make wooden jigsaws, mobiles, people and animals for role play games, and soft cotton dolls and animals. The workers have fair pay and safe, clean working conditions. There are no long hours keeping working parents away from their children, and the workplaces are inspected weekly by Lanka Kade, a member of the British Association of Fair Trade Shops (BAFTS).

If you're in Canberra on Sunday the 15th, make sure you get to Mathilda's Market!
I'll be there with hand dyed Mandy Mac hemp nappies (not available in store or online), handmade bamboo velour breast pads, embroidered organic Ergo Baby Carriers that you won't find in the shops - and certainly not at this bargain price - and more.

If you've been thinking about getting a baby carrier while they're on sale at 20% off, be quick! They're selling out fast, and the discount is only available for in-stock carriers. So don't delay, order today and you'll have it in time for Christmas travels! Don't forget that anyone subscribed to my email newsletter at the end of November has the chance to win a copy of That's Not Junk by Nikki Slade-Robinson - tell your friends to sign up here so they've got a chance to win too!

You already know that fair trade chocolate and coffee are better than the regular kind. Or that there are sweatshops in China, Pakistan, India and elsewhere churning out mountains of cheap garments and shoes. But how much do you really know about slave labour in the modern world? Yes, it really does happen. People are cheaper to buy than they've ever been in history, in relative terms. Dr. Kevin Bales, President of Free the Slaves and a US university professor on Sociology, says:

It surprises people that there’s actually a very large number of slaves in the world today—our best estimate is 27 million. And that is defining a slave in a very narrow way; we’re not talking about sweatshop workers or people who are just poor, we’re talking about people who are controlled by violence, who cannot walk away, who are being held against their will, who are being paid nothing.

Had a great time unpacking new toys at the shop today. Christmas Nativity sets are now in stock - perfect for curious toddlers to imagine the original Christmas story. There's also over 60 different miniature animals and people characters to mix and match your child's favourite pretend games. Act out fairytales, farm scenes, home life, and lots more. I'll have to recharge the camera batteries to take photos, only a selection of the full set are online so far.

Just had pancakes with the kids, which is a great way to start off Family & Community Day - Canberra's public holiday to replace the union picnic day and because nobody gets any work done on Cup Day anyway. Which also means I'm not opening the shop today - come see me tomorrow instead. But if you're in the city and want something fun to do, check out the Family and Community Fun Day at Glebe Park from 12pm til 4pm.