Carol Soleymanbik has been a childcare centre director for 17 years. She believes the very best childcare centres are those which go over and above the basics to truly nurture each child’s early development. Here she shares her top five tips to help you choose...
Did you know that with every 1°C change in a thermostat setting on your air conditioner, it’s estimated that your heating or cooling bill rises by around 10%! So in the midst of a very hot, smoky summer, your air conditioner needs to be running to...
Historically, the process of egg freezing has been used for patients undergoing medical procedures where there is a significant risk to their fertility reports Dr Sonya Jessup, but now, there is a growing trend towards egg freezing for social reasons. Over the past several decades the...
Michelle Mitchell looks at self-harm, why teens do it, and what you can do to help. Self-harm is probably a lot more common than most research suggests The 2015 Mental Health Child and Adolescent Report tells us that approximately 10% of young people consciously experiment with self-harm...
Since when did adulthood equate to no fun, asks Kerry Littrich. I remembered having the same thought as a child; that when I became a grown-up I would do whatever I want, whenever I wanted to do it and there would be no-one to boss me...
Who doesn’t like chocolate or a triple-cheese pizza with extra cheese? Food is a joy, but eating is also serious business. When it comes to food, says Natalie Ritchie, do you eat for fun or fuel? Kids’ bodies and minds need the right intake to thrive,...
Katrina Germein wants her son to maintain a modicum of magic in his life. …it is the fairy questions that I continue to find the hardest, perhaps because I’ve never really grown out of fairies myself. Perhaps because I know how important fairies are to my...
Starting school for the first time is a major milestone for children and parents. Leading family relationship expert, Dr Karen Phillip, shares her tips to make the transition to school easy and fun. Have a few trial lunch days where you pack the child a...
What’s on at the movies for the Summer school holidays? Little Women Based on the classic Louisa May Alcott’ American Civil War (1861-1865) family drama this new movie adaptation mostly stays true to the original storyline. Set in a time when women’s roles were clearly defined,...
An illustrated book and a card game look at ways to engage kids in storytelling and critical thinking away from their devices! Take Heart, Take Action by Beci Orpin (Lothian Children’s Books, hardback $19.99) Age Group 4+ years This simply designed book for children is ‘a reminder for everyone,...
