Juggling Shiftwork and Parenting

Working shifts and raising a family can be a struggle, but there are ways it can be managed....

05 February, 2020

How do we know when a child is ‘ready for school’?

Professors in education Sue Dockett and Bob Perry outline the factors that lead to a successful transition to school. Children start school in Australia at different ages and at different times, depending on which State or Territory they happen to inhabit. For example, in NSW and...

20 January, 2020

The Purpose of Praise

Summer holidays are the perfect chance for parents to try more positive reinforcement, says Clinical psychologist Renee Mill as she considers how it affects children’s self-esteem. Being realistic is often hard for parents because they truly want to boost their child’s ego, and worry that being...

04 January, 2020

A Life Less Serious

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...

30 December, 2019

Limiting screen time for quality family time

Dr Lauren Arundell, from Deakin University, Melbourne, is urging parents to take the time during the holidays to enforce screen time limits with children. A staggering 85 per cent of parents said they would reduce their child's screen time upon hearing that the risks include...

19 December, 2019

Checkmate: the age-old game of chess

In this tech-riddled era, an age-old board game still rules. A two-and-a-half-thousand-year-old board game holds out the promise of getting the kids off screens: chess. A lot of principles are built into the game, explains current South Australian chess champion and Adelaide dad to three children, 25,...

04 December, 2019

Pet Therapy For Children With Autism

A highly trained dog is best therapy and best friend for Clare Timmins’ son, Liam, who has autism....

27 November, 2019

The Power of Xpression

Mental ill-health affects one in seven 4 to 17 year olds, reports Margo Ward. The cost of not supporting these children before their challenges grow with them into adulthood, is significant. When Sarah* found herself homeless with two young children following a domestic violence situation, she...

27 November, 2019

Eliminating Self Doubt after a Career Hiatus

Many women experience doubt when they return to work after maternity leave. But there is light at the end of the tunnel, reports Carina O'Brien, after returning to work herself. Take a few moments to think about how much has changed in your workplace in the...

19 November, 2019

Natural disasters: 8 ways to help kids cope

Helping kids recover in the aftermath of bush fires, cyclones, floods or other natural disasters is a challenge for the whole family. The Salvation Army have put together some tips for helping your children after a natural disaster. Kids can be particularly vulnerable following a natural...

19 November, 2019