Reading to premature babies for brain development

Reading to premature babies every day supports development, not only in a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU), but also going into early infancy and childhood. Babies enjoy hearing their parent’s voice over any other sound, but what’s more important is that it’s an activity that parents can do every day for their baby during a time where many can feel helpless in an intense and stressful environment. International children’s book author, Michelle Worthington, is mother to three premature babies and knows what it’s like to go through NICU not being able to touch or take home your baby. Sometimes premmie baby may be sleepy or lethargic due to medications or illness. If the baby is awake and making eye contact with you, that’s the best time to read to them. Reading is also linked to improved language and writing abilities at school age, so it’s never too early to start. 

Support Life's Little Treasures Foundation

https://lifeslittletreasures.org.au/

Christmas can be overwhelming for kids with Sensory Processing Disorder

Do you have a kid with SPD?  I do, I have 3!

Sensory overstimulation is common among kids who were premmie babies. Light and sound are the most common triggers, but they can be overstimulated by movement, scents, touch, taste, vibrations and electromagnetic fields.

For some kids, taking a few minutes time out will reset their system. For others, it doesn’t work that way. It can range from uncomfortable and intolerable. 

Sudden strong overstimulation triggers an immediate surge of adrenaline, anxiety and sometimes nausea. Lower levels can creep up and the consequences can last a couple of days. 

Now, imagine if this was you...at Christmas. The lights, sounds and busy crowds start way before the 1st of December these days. Christmas is meant to be the most wonderful time of the year, but for some kids, it’s a constant battle to process the world around them.

What can we do to help?

It’s difficult to avoid, and really not fair to miss out on the fun of Christmas. Gradual increase in tolerance often comes with exposure and age, in a sensory friendly environment. This Christmas, if you are having an event at your work or home, maybe provide a tent or quiet corner for kids to retreat and reset. 

If you see a child having a meltdown, don’t always assume it’s bad behaviour. It could be the world is just too bright or too loud at that moment. Respect a parent who is limited in what they can do to stop it.

We will be hosting a book launch on the 1st of December at Little Gnome for my latest picture book, Little Gnome’s Christmas Wish, a book about a little gnome with sensory processing disorder who loves Christmas but struggles with the lights, noise and crowds. 

Children of all abilities are welcome to come and share an inclusive sensory friendly experience of the real meaning of Christmas, spending time with friends and family who love you and accepts you for who you are.

https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/sensory-friendly-christmas-book-launch-tickets-73523888931?ref=eios

My Brother Tom by Michelle Worthington at Mater Little Miracles Day in the Park

Please join us on Sunday February 26th, 2017, 9am - 4pm at Pelican Park, Clontarf in order to help raise money for Mater little Miracles in support of premature babies.

This event is open to the public. Please feel free to invite whomever you think might be interested :)

If you can't make it to the event and would still like to help out by donating, please check out our online donations page, which is set up through Mater:

https://give.everydayhero.com/au/candice-cassie-s-mater-little-miracles-day-in-the-park

We are planning a fun family day. There will be free entry and some free live entertainment.

I will be reading and signing copies of My Brother Tom, a book for older siblings of premature babies to help them understand and cope with a stressful time. I will also have my other books for sale with a portion of proceeds going to the event.

In fact, we have just confirmed we will have famous YouTube children's entertainer Debbie Doo flying up ...from Melbourne to perform throughout the day. What an incredible woman! The kids are going to go nuts :)

We will also have characters from your kids' favourite tv shows and movies making appearances, such as Marshall from Paw Patrol and Peppa Pig, Goku from Dragon Ball Z, and Superman.

There will be face painting, jumping castles, a petting zoo, crazy hair stand, disco tent, and a few other fun things for the kids, all for a $2-$5 donation each towards the charity.

We'll have a couple of professional photographers doing themed photoshoots for a great price. So bring your little ones down to capture some great pics, and donate to an amazing cause :)
We will have superheros, princesses, and pop stars themed shoots.

These shoots will need to be booked in, so please contact us for more details.

There will be food and market vendors there on the day so don't forget to bring some extra cash if you would like to do some shopping and eating. These vendors have made generous donations towards the charity in order to be at our event so we'd love to give them lots of business as thanks :)

Please invite your friends and join us for what will not only be a fun-filled day for the kids, but also helping towards an extremely worthy cause :)

My Brother Tom a finalist in the International Book Excellence Awards

So proud that My Brother Tom by Michelle Worthington and Ann-Marie Finn was a finalist in the Book Excellence Awards

My Brother Tom is a picture book for older siblings of a baby born prematurely and who is in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit to facilitate discussion with caregivers and help them understand what is going on. Royalties from the sale of My Brother Tom go to Life's Little Treasures Foundation with helps families in Australia who are affected by premature birth.

Copies of My Brother Tom are available through their website

https://lifeslittletreasures.org.au/