Dunedin mums transform traditional coffee mornings

MEDIA RELEASE FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 11 MAY 2009

Dunedin mums transform traditional coffee mornings with "Mind the Brain"

Four Dunedin mums are transforming the traditional coffee morning into "Mind The Brain", where parents are invited to bring along both "their brains and their babies" for an hour of fun.

The parents group "Mind The Brain" meets monthly from 9am-10am every third Tuesday of the month at the Croque-o-dile Cafe at the Dunedin Botanical Gardens, and is an opportunity to hear guest speakers on a range of topics with an inclusive and friendly group.

The brains behind the new concept are all new parents or expectant mums brought together by Sarah Martin, a Dunedin mum who heard about a similar group in Wellington and felt it was exactly what she was looking for.

When she suggested the idea to friends late last year, within weeks "Mind the Brain" had been established.

The four organizers are Sarah Martin, a policy advisor at the Ministry of Social Development, University of Otago academics Dr Karen Hartshorn and Jacinta Ruru, and freelance journalist Julie Howard.

Julie Howard says the group had felt like "misfit mums" who were interested in a range of issues but found it difficult as new or expectant mothers and parents to find a place and people to engage with.

"We wanted more than the traditional ante-natal get-together and felt other parents would too."

Ms Howard says Mind the Brain lets parents keep up with what's going on outside the world of nappies, while still being a "baby friendly zone".

"Babies cooing, pre-schoolers, toys and questions are all essential at Mind The Brain.”

Mind The Brain launched in February this year, and after an encouraging start organizers are keen to see more parents and their children attend the monthly talks and visit the new website.

Ms Howard says it's free, all parents are welcome and it is a great chance to hear some wonderful speakers.

"You can even ask tough questions if you want to, and Dads are welcome!"

This month's talk on Tuesday 19 May features Associate Professor Claire Freeman of the University of Otago. Associate Professor Freeman is Director of the Master of Planning Programme at the university and is based in the Geography Department.

Associate Professor Freeman featured in the Otago Daily Times earlier this year in an article on Dunedin's playgrounds, and has presented findings to local communities and councils on her project "Children's lives". Children from 10 local schools participated in a project which researched travel, social connection to the neighbourhood and city and environmental interactions in their day-to-day lives.

Her research interests are in the field of environmental planning and include planning for the natural environment, planning for children and sustainable settlements.

Future topics range from current affairs, health and social issues to fashion and design with winter speakers on social trends, and wellbeing.

Dr Caroline Horwath, a part-time Senior Lecturer at the University of Otago is a Behavioural Nutritionist with 24 years research experience investigating factors influencing eating behaviour, women's health, non-dieting approaches to weight, and healthy lifestyle change. In her role as health promotion practitioner, she facilitates group wellness programmes for women (for more information - www.mindbodywellbeing.co.nz).

Dr Horwath will talk about women's health promotion on 21 July.

For more information on Mind The Brain please visit our website – www.mindthebrain.info

ENDS

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