2021 school term and holiday dates in Australia
Welcome to our full list of term and school holiday dates for each Australian state and territory for 2021. This list is based on the dates for government schools so if your child attends a...
View Article8 steps to stress-free family mealtimes
Mealtimes. Aren’t they wonderful? Children helping set the table. A family chatting and eating. A parent watching with pride as their children savour every mouthful of the delicious and nutritious meal...
View ArticleHow to develop mental toughness in primary school children
School is a fun and exiting time, but it is also full of countless challenges, setbacks, failures, and difficult situations. Just like adults, children have to deal with pressure, stress and challenges...
View Article10 tips for settling, bedtime routines and healthy sleep practices
Sleep plays a very important role in our development, physical health and mental wellbeing. It is so important, that on average, we sleep for one third of our lives! But, it is in our early years when...
View Article25 awesome Aussie picture books for children
There are so many brilliant picture books for children but I especially love reading Australian books to my three. We have an amazing amount of talented authors and incredible illustrators here in...
View Article6 indoor games for young children from UNICEF’s Child Development experts
Early moments matter in a child’s development. When young children play, they exercise their vibrant imaginations and boost their creativity. Even in the simplest of children’s games, there is much...
View Article7 easy ways to build numeracy skills in young kids
In our modern lives, numeracy is critical for understanding so much of what surrounds us. Being able to manage your finances, tally up a bill or understand a mortgage document is something many of us...
View ArticleHow to recognise a mental health issue in your child
Children can develop many of the same mental health difficulties as adults, but sometimes they can manifest in different ways, making them harder to recognise. If parents are unsure, there is no harm...
View ArticleHelp your child flourish through time in nature
What is your fondest childhood memory? In my developmental psychology class, I ask students about their favourite childhood memory. Each year, the same themes emerge — adventures in the natural world,...
View ArticleEye sore and more
I picked up my daughter this afternoon to find her right eye red, watery and swollen. I thought she had been crying but her other eye looked normal so I figured she must have rubbed and irritated it....
View Article5 lifesaving skills every child should know
As the weather heats up so too does the swimming season, but leading swim safety advocate Laurie Lawrence from Kids Alive, is urging parents to make sure their children have the necessary water safety...
View ArticleHow my daughter made her worries go away
When Charlotte was little I used to joke with my husband, Wade saying how could we—two introverted people create such a blithe and gregarious child? At only four years of age our daughter delighted in...
View ArticleStool withholding in school-aged children – when your child ‘isn’t toilet...
School. It is meant to be a word that evokes excitement, anticipation, a rite of passage and (dare I say?) a new freedom for dedicated, committed parents. But for children with chronic constipation,...
View ArticleDepositing into the emotional bank account of your child
Have you ever thought about the importance of demonstrating positive relationships to your child? We know how a regular bank account works: we make regular deposits (and withdrawals), and hopefully put...
View ArticleWhy it is OK for your child to be different
I love kids, in fact I love people. My passion is people. I have four fantastic children – who are no longer little – the first a boy and then three girls and I have to say they have grown into...
View Article3 ways to teach a child how to pay attention in school
Parents, when you saw your child’s most recent school report there may have been a few telling buzz words that crept in again and again: unfocussed, too social, easily distracted. And, if I’m honest,...
View Article5 positive ways to help your child’s challenging behaviour
Whether it’s attempting to stop the daily tantrums at daycare drop-off, or making bedtime a smooth process without hours of resistance, trying to improve a child’s behaviour can be a testing experience...
View ArticleChild water safety experts warn parents not to be complacent over winter
Water safety expert Laurie Lawrence is calling on parents to remain vigilant about water safety during Winter, especially with COVID-19 interrupting learn-to-swim lessons and water education. “Last...
View ArticleHow routine can help support your family’s mental health in uncertain times
Uncertainty is a fact of life, and yet, many of us have become pretty good at making a lot of things in our life as certain as possible. We know the term dates for the school year, we know our working...
View Article6 indoor games for young children from UNICEF’s Child Development experts
Early moments matter in a child’s development. When young children play, they exercise their vibrant imaginations and boost their creativity. Even in the simplest of children’s games, there is much...
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