Joelie Hancock reports that while most schools and education departments provide information for parents on how to support the learning of schoolchildren, similar details are not readily available to the carers of preschoolers, even though it is widely understood that these early years are when...
Suvi Mahonen writes about yoga practice in pregnancy. Like many childless women in their late thirties, I had achieved the illusion of having control over my life – from what I ate, to my social activities and daily work. Family planning was no exception. I knew...
Michelle Mitchell says parents should think of a young person’s life like a big gym session (with lots of squats), and a parent like a personal trainer. Just like a personal trainer, a parent needs to help their child develop a tolerance for ‘the burn’...
As a practising teacher-librarian, Megan Daley has some tips and tricks for how to make the most of your school library and teacher-librarian. As an ambassador for the MS Readathon, she has some thoughts on how it can help your child to develop empathy for...
Diane T writes about her twins, one of whom has Down syndrome. They have a unique bond and they complement each other so well. For a few hours, I was just like any other first-time mother – exhausted, elated, overwhelmed and very much in love with...
Today’s dads are eager to have a connection with their babies, and Richard Fletcher looks at how the bonding process works. Parents are often unaware how much babies want and actively seek a close connection with their fathers as well as their mothers. When talking to fathers-to-be...
This is one of the easiest and quickest pasta dishes you can make. The word “orecchiette” means “little ears”, a reference to the pasta shape. Lucio thinks they look more like tiny bowls, each one ready to hold a few drops of sauce. They originated...
Michelle Mitchell looks at ways you can help your child become more resilient when faced with the dramas and self-doubt of growing up. “Our poor little girl is being called dumb at school. She’s becoming really anxious about going to school and also being away from...
As the weather starts to warm up in Spring, we look at some ideas to keep kids away from their digital devices! Gardening gives children a sense of responsibility and accomplishment and makes learning about the environment and the connection between plants and people fun. By encouraging...
It’s not easy to accept that your baby must undergo surgery, writes Jennifer Hardy. At the 19-week scan of my pregnancy, the technician told us that our baby had an extra ureter. The ureter is the tube that connects the kidney to the bladder. There should...
