5 things teachers REALLY want for Christmas
I’m a teacher, but now that I’m a parent and a blogger as well, all I see everywhere is ideas for things to give a child’s teacher. It got me thinking – so I took to the streets (and by that I mean...
View Article6 tips for raising an adventurous eater
Parents are under increasing pressure to feed their kids well-balanced meals, teaming with vegetables and variety. From social media feeds filled with animal-shaped sandwiches to the best sugar-free...
View Article10 awesome books for children aged 3-5 years
Reading to preschoolers plays a crucial part in developing their language and literacy skills. But with so many books on the market, finding something that will be a hit with your children can prove a...
View Article10 games to play in the car on a family road trip
Remember your own childhood family road trips? Instead of watching DVDs you watched the road go by. Instead of playing with an iPad you played games with your family – games like I Spy and Car Cricket!...
View Article5 ways to get your kids to help tidy up!
How do we get our kids to take responsibility for their things and get them to put their toys and clothes away, as opposed to stuffing them under the bed so you won’t find them? I’m always amazed that...
View ArticleNo distraction is worth a child’s life
You’re watching the children play in the pool. You’re doing the right thing and actively supervising them. Your baby is happy splashing in the shallows – within arms reach. She stands up and … yuck …...
View ArticleBuying school shoes online – size comparison chart
In this day and age, buying online can be much easier, quicker, less painful, and a cheaper way to buy anything – including school shoes. You can even buy from overseas websites and it doesn’t take an...
View Article2017 school term and holiday dates in Australia
So what exactly are you in for this year – what are the dates for school holidays and terms in your state? It is all here – our full list of term and school holiday dates for each state and territory...
View Article12 ways to make your morning routine less stressful
Do you spend most mornings yelling ‘hurry up!’ over and over again? Is anyone even listening or have you become background noise? It is easy to feel stressed in the mornings when everyone is trying to...
View ArticleHow to adjust your child’s sleep pattern in time for school
The school holidays can often mean later bedtimes and lazy sleep-ins. And it can take a little bit of time to get back into a good sleep routine once school starts. If you want to hit the ground...
View ArticleFirst day of school blues – why it’s OK and how to help
When I was in primary school I cried on the first day of school every day until Grade 3. It was always put down to the fact that I was shy, clingy to my mother and apprehensive due to my multicultural...
View ArticleWhy kids’ play needs to be unstructured and unhurried
I love the words that poet Wallace Stevens wrote about the imagination: “The imagination is the power of the mind over the possibilities of things.” To me, imagining possibilities is at the heart of...
View ArticleIs the secret to a better school year inside your kids’ lunchbox?
A new school year is just around the corner and parents are already mentally planning what needs to be organised and sorted before their kids – four in my case – begin Term 1. We wonder about who their...
View ArticleBut why should children have messy play?
Children fully immerse themselves in whatever they are doing and teach us what it is to live in the moment. The more they immerse themselves, the more neural pathways in the brain are made. This is...
View ArticleHow to be consistent – the key to effective parenting
Being consistent is the single most effective way of parenting. And you have to be consistently consistent in order for it to work. If you fail to be consistent just once you will have ruined some of...
View ArticleThe ultimate guide to baby and child car seats
In Australia, by law, all children up to the age of seven years should be seated in a suitable infant or child car restraint when travelling in a car. But child safety is more than just following the...
View Article5 ways to raise money smart kids
Most people would agree that being money smart is an important life skill. Like most skills worth having, it is not usually gained overnight. The following guidelines can help you encourage your...
View ArticleHow to influence the food culture of your school or sports club
If I asked your kids to choose three options for lunch from the following canteen menu, what do you think they would select? Sandwiches and sushi or meat pies and sausage rolls? Carrots and celery...
View Article6 tips for getting your child to do their homework
My advice regarding homework is to start when your child is one! This may sound odd but homework can be classed as any educational work done in the home. For a toddler ‘homework’ can be spending 30...
View Article4 ways to help a child overcome fear
There are many advantages to being on the introverted side of the personality scale. Children who are shy are often described as being more sensitive, empathic, and caring. In fact, countless famous...
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