Dr Karen Brooks wonders what lessons our kids are learning from modern adaptations of classic children’s stories. What lessons are these sumptuous, happily-ever-after tales of beautiful and very stereotyped boys and girls, ethnicity, love and romance really teaching our kids, if they’re teaching them anything at...
World Chocolate Day is celebrated annually on July 7th. This is a day to indulge in your favourite chocolate, whether it is chocolate milk, hot chocolate, a chocolate candy bar, chocolate cake, brownies or something covered in chocolate. Fermented beverages made from chocolate date back to 450 BCE...
Ingredients: 4 Tbsp raising flour 2 Tbsp sugar 2 Tbsp cocoa 1 egg 3 Tbsp milk 3 Tbsp vegetable oil 1/2 tsp vanilla essence 1 Tbsp chocolate chips Method: In a large mug, place all the dry ingredients and mix well with a spoon. Use the spoon to grind all the cocoa against the...
Elizabeth Bate is driven batty by cultural confusion over her son’s superhero party. When my husband, Martin, offered to dress up as Batman as a surprise for our son Sam’s fifth birthday party, I was enormously relieved. In this modern age of competition, children’s birthday parties...
We have put together some fun Easter gift ideas for kids that come without the sugar rush. ...
Dianne Krissansen lets the humble balloon become her party entertainer! Fortunes: Provide a balloon for each guest. Pour confetti into each deflated balloon. Write a ‘fortune’ or message on a small strip of paper and roll it up so it fits through the funnel too. Blow the...
Brooke Tasovac reflects on how the world of children’s parties has changed since she was a child. After celebrating my daughter’s first birthday six months ago, and with several of my friends planning their babies’ first-birthday parties, I’ve noticed how much children’s birthday parties have changed...
These cute little cupcakes from Donna Hay are ideal for a kids party or just fun for the weekend. Ingredients 1¾ cups (255g) self-raising (self-rising) flour, sifted ¾ cup (165g) caster (superfine) sugar 150g unsalted butter, softened 3 eggs ⅓ cup (80ml) milk 2 teaspoons...
It takes Cathy Watson a few years before she can look upon the absence of an invitation in her son’s hand with relief rather than despair. Mothers milled around the kindergarten door, waiting to collect their children. The party invitations sat brightly in the pigeonholes like...
It’s time to kill the outdated platitudes around what it takes to be the perfect mother. Or at least tune out their noise.
