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Playing make-believe is an important part of a child’s development. The reason for this is that young children learn by observing, imagining and doing. If you have ever seen your child do something like pick up a rock and pretend …

Owning a pet can be an extremely rewarding experience for any family. There are so many benefits that it becomes easy to get wrapped up in the idea of owning one. It’s not uncommon for a kid to think of …

While we love to encourage our kids to play outside to get some fresh air and sunshine, the weather doesn’t always agree with our plans. It doesn’t take a lot for kids to get cabin fever so it’s always good …

Mother’s Day provides the perfect opportunity to thank Mum for a job well done. If you are looking for a thoughtful gift from the kids that will show how much you care, here are some ideas that will bring a …

Celebrate Anzac Day with the kids by making these delicious chewy Anzac biscuits!

Ingredients:

• 1 cup Plain Flour
• 1 cup Rolled Oats
• 1 cup Brown Sugar
• 1/2 cup Coconut
• 125g Butter
• 2 tbs Golden Syrup
• 1 tbs Water
• 1/2 tsp

Since the rise of covid early last year the world has had to make some huge adjustments to the way we live. We have had to put measurements in place to protect ourselves, our families, and the people around us. …

Are you looking for a few different things to do this Australia Day? The way that things are currently going, it looks like Australia Day will most likely be spent at home with minimal public activities happening. So we have …

With numerous areas around Sydney, New South Wales, and Australia back under lockdown restrictions, it is super important to keep active. Not only for your children to be active, but for parents and carers as well; exercising is as good …

Christmas is traditionally all about overindulgence in the food department. But all that high calorie, rich food can play havoc with yours and your child’s diet. Here we have shared three yummy, fun, and healthy alternatives to help you enjoy …

The end of the school year for 2020 is now approaching. We have you covered with some information on hope to deal with the school holiday blues; for both primary care givers as well as children. We will also talk …

Originating in 1954, World Children’s Day is a day to reimagine and advocate for the better future of every child. Each year the United Nations celebrates November 20th to promote togetherness, improvement of children’s welfare, and awareness amongst children worldwide. …

Because of Covid-19, NAIDOC week was postponed this year from originally being held in July, to instead being held from 8th – 15th November. The theme for this year is “Alway was, always will be” which recognises that the First …

When you think of Halloween, it’s easy for your mind to jump to memories of trick-or-treating around the neighbourhood, picking out the best costume and dressing up, carving up creative pumpkin ideas, and, of course, making and eating the yummiest …

This Be Kind to Animals Week is a fantastic opportunity to teach our young ones how they can be kind to animals. This can be done in  various ways, but here we shall discuss activities you can enjoy with your …

Some children seem to be born with plenty of interests while others struggle just to find one. Here is how to help your child discover activities that truly inspire them.

Pick Two Activities. It is not unusual for people to …

With Fathe’s Day around the corner, it’s time to start thinking about ways to celebrate Dad. On a typical Father’s Day, the list of activities to do to celebrate his special day are endless. You can visit sports events, go …

Sparking your child’s imagination and creative thinking is easier than you might think. It’s not unusual for practical life skills to take precedence over teaching children how to get creative and use their imagination. Studies show that creative people generally …

Hosting a kids party can be a big job and with restrictions being eased we can start thinking about having parties again! Thinking up menu ideas that will appease both children and their parents can be tricky. Here is a …

“I’m BORED” Those two dreaded words. Keeping your children occupied at home can be a difficult task. Finding inspiration to keep your children engaged while helping them learn important skills can be one of the most satisfying aspects of being …

Our current times are unprecedented and it seems that our children are exposed to news of disasters and tragedies much more today than in the past.

Children can learn about these either by TV when parents are watching the news; …

In this lockdown environment tensions between kids can run high!

Here’s some tips to calm things down.

Sibling rivalry can begin right after the birth of the second child. It can be a stressful, frustrating experience for parents but learning …

With the federal and state governments requesting people stay at home due to the Covid-19 outbreak, Anzac Day in 2020 is going to look a little bit different for everyone. Traditionally serving as a day of commemoration and remembrance, every …

As we are all aware, recently both state and federal governments have requested that all non-essential workers please work from home in the hopes of containing this worldwide outbreak of Covid-19. While at the moment none of us know how …

Across the country this year, Easter is going to be considerably different. Unless living in a home with our entire extended families, there’s going to be limited options we have to celebrate. Of course there is the whole religious reason …

This month, let’s talk about food and how it helps fuel development in your child. Teaching your children and adolescents how to eat “properly” from an early age is really very important to promote healthy growth and development. Each food …

Names are a very personal to each person, from the moment you record it on your child’s birth certificate to screeching it to stop them climbing onto the roof. Whether you are Thomas, Tom or Tomo, no matter how old …

A healthy sleep is one of the most fundamental activities that aides a child’s development at any age; it is the time their body recovers from the physical activities of the day; it helps relieve mental stresses whilst also giving …

When Australia is such a rich multicultural country full of people from diverse backgrounds it’s easy to forget that not everyone celebrates the same events. For some, the new year does’t start until February.

Whilst Australia has a large Chinese …

Stories have been told for Millennia, but when movies are made with flashy super heroes and scaly monsters, it’s hard for books to compete for attention. Reading and comprehension are important skills to learn and maintain at any age, whether …

It’s the summer holidays and your kids are excited to get out of the house without a second thought, until they are crying red, sunburnt and uncomfortable. Christmas presents have been opened, torn apart and now you finally have time …

Balloons have popped, streamers strewn across tables and your ears are ringing from horns. It’s New Years Day and you are reflecting on the year that has passed. From watching your kids grow taller and older, you get a little …

It’s December and day by day chocolates are being enjoyed as your kids work through their advent calendars. It’s a special time when your friends and family have a week or 2 free to relax and connect, but what can …

Spring is coming, which means a whole new batch of ripe fruits for the season. Here are a few of the best Spring fruit for your kids. 

Apples: There’s no way you can go wrong with apples; they’re full of …

Wishing all the Dad’s out there an absolutely fabulous Father’s Day.

Father’s are a special part of family life and we celebrate them all this weekend.

So, Father’s keep on fathering! 

And remember… “There is no way to be a …

Do you ever get a bit tired of bread-y sandwiches? This is a neat idea to try as an alternative to bread; AND it’s also coeliac friendly as lettuce is gluten free! I should note that, depending on what you …

As a community group, throughout all cultures in the world, telling stories is pretty much embedded in our human DNA. Traditionally storytelling was a way for us to explain things that we did not really understand, hence the old tales …

The modern world means being constantly on the run, a lot of screen time, mobile phones and social media. Not to mention the lack of a natural environment in suburbia. It’s constant stress, stress, stress. We know how it affects …

When explaining the importance of Anzac Day to our children, I have been told that the simplest explanation is this: “Anzac Day is important because it is a day to remember all of those people who never came back from …

Today is Good Friday, which means that Easter is on Sunday, what a fabulous time of year for getting creative! As it’s only a couple of days away from now, we have gotten together a few easy arts and crafts …

This Friday, 12th of April, is International Day of Human Space Flight, it’s a great opportunity to celebrate all things space related! 

In 2011 the United Nations declared that every year on the 12th of April would be used to …

This week Australia celebrates Harmony Week, culminating with Harmony Day on Thursday 21st March. 

What is Harmony Week?

Harmony Week celebrates the multicultural beauty that is Australia. This week leads to the celebration of Harmony Day, which has been  …

Thursday 07 March 2019 is World Book Day. This day celebrates authors, illustrators, books and reading and is observed in countries all over the world. It is the world’s BIGGEST campaign to make sure that every child in the world …

Making physical activity a normal part of your child’s everyday experience can start at an early age. When choosing these activities for your child, no matter how early you start, make sure they are FUN. If your child is enjoying …

It may seem a peculiar “holiday” to share as far as children are concerned, but trust us on this… Valentine’s Day is just an extra special day to show those who we love how much we love them. Now we …

With the entire country facing these awful heatwaves, repeating this Blog Entry seems more important than ever:

Any Aussie parent knows how important it is to protect their children’s skin in the harsh summer sun. 

Why use sun protection

The …

The planet is getting hotter, we have all experienced this ourselves in the last couple of months with the continual heatwaves. As this is being written, it is currently 34°C in Revesby, 37°C in Hinchinbrook, and 43°C in Wagga Wagga, …

I remember being a kid and LOVING to play in the dirt! What better an excuse than World Soil Day on 5th December??

The World Soil Day campaign aims to connect people with soils and raise awareness on their critical …

Children are ALWAYS growing, so much money is spent on clothes because they don’t even seem to last a season. So why not get some friends and family together and have a clothing swap meet?

You can even organise an …

With Spring upon us, here is a reblog of an article about gardening for children from a while ago…

Children love playing in dirt, learning how to garden can teach them self-confidence, co-operation, responsibility, discovery, and reasoning through learning. Let …

Odd Sock Day is a national mental health anti-stigma campaign intended to help reduce the stigma around mental health by pointing out that everyone has their odd days. What has this got to do with children? Well, mental illness impacts …

A cheeky look at the Australian Government’s Environment & Energy website tells us that, “Biodiversity Month is held in September each year and aims to promote the importance of protecting, conserving and improving biodiversity both within Australia and across the …

Teaching Children to care because “Within the Child lies the fate of the future” Dr. Maria Montessori

Here at Angel’s Paradise Learning Centres, like the rest of the country, we want to do our part for our farmers and their …

Here are 50 words and phrases that can help you foster a great connection with your child, encourage learning, behaviour, and let them know how you can see them trying so very hard.

1. You’re on the right track
2. You’ve worked

The National NAIDOC Committee has recently announced the the NAIDOC 2018 theme as – ‘Because of her, we can!’

The theme celebrates the essential role that women have played – and continue to play – as active and significant …

“National Thinking of You Week” was established by John Sands to harness the power of handwritten greeting cards when received by another person. It is said that, scientifically, it’s been proven that receiving a hand written card provides us with …

This one may sound a little like any parent’s nightmare, but children all get to that age where they want to dress themselves. Yes they want to wear that Alice in Wonderland costume with a Batman mask and red, spotty …

Working out effective ways to discipline your child can be nerve racking. Here we have complied a list of 10 ideas that may help you in the future.

• Time In: If you’ve found that “time outs” aren’t working, perhaps try

Sunday the 13th May is Mother’s Day this year. That can only mean one thing; helping your young child spoil the mummy or grandma in their lives!

One thought would be to, instead of presenting a bunch of flowers, help …

Is your child too young to do chores or jobs at home? Some people may say “yes”, whilst others say “no”. The trick is to find age appropriate jobs or chores for your children to complete that are rewarding, teach …

We all have a basic knowledge about Anzac Day and why it is important to the collective Australian psyche. After speaking with a few members of organisations who speak to children regarding the significance, what has been advised to speak …

As parents, or carers, adults often get caught in the embarrassing traps of their child’s antisocial behaviour. By this we are talking about biting, bullying, hitting, yelling, fighting, and those sorts of incidents!

So why do toddlers do these things? …

Today is the day that the 23rd Winter Olympics open for a two week winter wonderland of exciting sports. To celebrate this, let’s talk about children and sports.

What do sports inspire and encourage in Children? Teamwork, confidence, friendships, and …

When a child starts school, it can be a stressful time for parents as well as their child; but it’s also difficult for their younger siblings to come to terms with their big brother or sister not being around to …

Summer holidays are a FANTASTIC time for fun and adventure! We haven’t covered any food creation ideas recently, so here are a few delicious recipe ideas to fill tummies with yumminess!

Cheesy Vegemite Scrolls

Hawaiian Pizza Scrolls

Chicken Avocado Wraps…

“Christmas is a mix of the Christian celebration of the birth of Christ, combined with the time of year and concepts from earlier celebrations and beliefs such as the Norse Yule, the honouring of Odin in Germany, worship of Mithra, …

Any Aussie parent knows how important it is to protect their children’s skin in the harsh summer sun. 

Why use sun protection

The sun’s ultraviolet (UV) radiation is the main cause of skin cancer, sunburn, premature ageing, and eye damage. …

As a child grows, adults in their lives are responsible for teaching them manners and social skills. Here are 10 Social Skills that every child should know:

• Introducing Themselves: something as simple and brave as walking up to someone new

Red poppies have long been a symbol or remembrance, especially when commemorating Armistice Day (the end of the First World Ward), on the 11th November each year.

Over the past few years, additional colours have come to signify things such …

Learning an instrument from a young as, such as a small drum or a xylophone, has proven to be beneficial for both cognitive and motor skill development in infants and toddlers. Children also experience joy or pleasure from participating or …

The idea of this activity is to encourage your child to find objects of the same colour. Because there are infinite colours around us, you can do this activity more than once. But we suggest you begin with the primary …

Packing up the family and hitting the road may not seem like a typical tranquil holiday experience, but just think of those childhood memories; exploring nature, bike rides, meeting other families, making new friends, campfire dinners, telling stories around the …

With Father’s Day approaching, why not let your little ones show their creative side and make Daddy’s gift? Below is a list of different ideas for some lovely handmade Father’s Day creations which can be made with adult supervision.

Cookies,

Playing with playdough can be really therapeutic for children, they enjoy exploring the smell, texture, squishiness and malleability of it. When a child is given some playdough. They instinctively squeeze it, poke it, squash it, pick it up and then …

Children love playing in dirt, learning how to garden can teach them self-confidence, co-operation, responsibility, discovery, and reasoning through learning. Let your child take the lead, allow them discover and experience the diversity and reward of gardening whilst you guide …

Because TVs these days are usually quite large, they can quickly dominate the family room – and our lives. Bright colours, sound and movement easily draw people’s attention, especially children. TV programs can be powerful and effective ways to teach …

Most children like dessert but many bought in the stores can contain more sweeteners than you might like. This simple dessert can be adapted as many ways as your imagination will allow. It is quick, easy with few ingredients. Leftovers …

A healthy imagination is fundamental to our development as humans and underpins many areas of work. It is associated with creativity and can enable people to see things in new ways and offer solutions to problems which others might miss. …

It is universally accepted that reading aloud to children (from newborn or even pre-born to older children) has great effect on the child’s cognitive and language development and can nurture your relationship  with your child.  When to start? As early …

As a parent, possibly one thing you want is for your child to know how to behave confidently and well in many different situations. Fundamental to a fine character is understanding about caring for oneself and others. Bullying is a …

Easter is the holiday that celebrates and commemorates the central event of the Christian faith: the resurrection of Jesus Christ three days after his death. This event of Christ’s dying and resurrection is known as the Paschal Mystery.  Easter is …

Not everyone has family nearby to help mind your children when you need it. While it is usually better to ask a trusted member of your family or a friend, sometimes it may be necessary to hire a babysitter. Like …

How a child understands truth and how we as adults see it can be quite different. Understanding truth and telling the truth is something your child will learn over the years; it is not something they innately know from birth. …

It is important for children to understand money in our society. The skills of budgeting, spending and saving can be introduced at an early age. Especially today, when children will often not see money involved in a transaction, it may …

A sense of humour can create a sense of well-being in the family. As the old adage says: Laughter is the best medicine! Laughter is a great way of connecting with your child and is great for their intellectual and …

There is much talk today about a universal skill set which is important to develop to be a successful person. This set of skills is not directed to work but to developing the whole person. The set assumes the basic …

For many of us, holiday time involves some car travel. Long trips especially can be hard for children and they can only watch so many videos or play on their devices for so long. There are also the children who …

Science skills for preschoolers are part of everyday activities. The skills they learn allow them to make sense of the world around them and how they fit into their environment. Children are natural scientists and encouraging these skills will benefit …

While Christmas is primarily a Christian celebration, as it is a public holiday in Australia it is important to understand its significance. Christians believe it is a celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ who they believe is the Son …

Art activities do more than just develop your child’s creativity; they also help your child to develop mentally, socially and emotionally.  Some people are reluctant to provide paint, play doh and glue and paper because the result can be messy, …

Nature has positive developmental effects on us all, and especially children. As many Western societies struggle with childhood obesity, research shows that our psychological, social, academic and physical health is impacted by daily contact with the natural environment. Benefits of …

Halloween has ancient roots in the Celtic tradition. The word ‘Halloween’ is shortened from ‘hallowed evening’ – the day before All Hallows Day, or All Saints Day, on 1st November. Halloween was believed by the Celts to be a time …

Children need time to play with others as well as by themselves but they also love to play with parents or other significant adults. While play is fun and relaxing, it is also a way for children to learn and …

Father’s Day is fast approaching and what better way to help the kids show Dad how much they love him than but making handmade gifts filled with love.

Craft ideas

• Father’s Day Craft Stick Roll-Up Card
• Great Father’s Day Gifts Kids Can

We live in a time when much is known and written about child behaviour and development and there is much information readily available to assist your as parents. As always as parents, you are the first educators of your child …

Most young children love water and water play is a central part of many Australians lives. However young children especially need careful supervision around water, even in a shallow bath. Babies can drown in as little as 5cm of water. …

“The fact that children can make beautiful music is less significant than the fact that music can make beautiful children.”

This quote from master music educator and composer, Cheryl Lavender, encompasses the power of music, not just for children but …

Friendships will become increasingly important to your child as they grow and they are very significant factors in your child liking school and in his/her learning and overall development. It can be hard for a parent to see a child …

Something most children don’t need to learn is how to get dirty. When this happens, it’s an opportune time to teach them about hygiene – healthy living.  Whether you are bathing your child, washing his/her hands or preparing food, explain …

Colds can make any of us, especially children, miserable and once our children are in close contact with other children, there is more likelihood of them sharing germs, viruses or bacteria. This is even more of a problem as many …

The media bombards us with being healthy these days and there are many different ideas about the best way to care for your family’s health. Sometimes this can get confusing and lead to us ignoring all the advice on offer.…

People are vegetarians for a number of reasons. These can include ethics, health, culture, faith or environment. There are different types of vegetarians and these are determined by the types of food a person does not eat. Most vegetarian diets …

For you, shopping may be a pleasurable activity, but for many children it can quickly become a chore. Once that happens, the whole operation can quickly turn into a very stressful experience. Remember, toddlers are very powerful people with a …

Easter is a good family event no matter how religious or secular you make it.

Remember we have our Easter Hat Parade the Thursday before Easter!

Easter Hats

Ideas to make your Easter parade hat…

• 6 simple Easter parade hats

In some ways, being a toddler is a challenging stage of life. They are experiencing change daily in almost every facet of their young lives: physically their bodies are growing at a great pace and their minds are keeping up …

Reading is a very important skill to teach your child and it starts from when you first speak to your child. Once learned, your child can teach him/herself many things and be a lifelong learner. The first step is the …

Multimedia means specifically presenting information in digital format. Your children have been born into a very different age from their parents or their educators. Multimedia allows information to be presented in a variety of formats, which can enhance user experience …

Many parents share their experiences of ‘the terrible twos’ at length with friends and family. It is a wonderfully challenging stage of parenting which can offer parents many opportunities to determine how they want to interact and communicate with their …

Ahhh Valentine’s Day… a day of love for young and old… for new love and established relationships… for couples AND families?

While Valentine’s Day is often seen as a day for blossoming love to declare itself, children also get value …

This topic needs sensitive and careful handling with your child as you want them to be safe and aware, but not fearful. It’s important during this process you emphasise that most adults are caring, loving and responsible. Protective behaviour is …

Your decision to study is a great opportunity for your children and for your relationship with them.

Below are some things to consider.

• If your children are old enough, it is a good time to explain why you are studying

Many parents who have done it would say that studying along with parenting is a tight-rope walk requiring much balancing, negotiating, some letting-go and a lot of keeping your vision ahead of you.

The following tips have been gleaned from …

Welcome to our 3 Part series on Parents who are studying. 

Parenting requires 100% effort; study requires 100% commitment. When you are a parent and studying how does this add up to a sane person at the end? Committing to …

The separation of a mum and her baby can be difficult for both parties. Worries about her baby’s health and well-being surface for the mother, as well as sometimes feelings of guilt about not looking after her baby herself.

Concerns …

Any list of qualities of a child carer would risk ending up a dream as parents often hope for someone more concerned about their child than they are themselves. Educationalists and accreditors look for certain traits or qualities. So such …

At Angel’s Paradise, we recognise the importance of creating a bridge between the day care centre and the school environment and encouraging the ideal of a learning continuum. We encourage the development of important social, self-help and school readiness skills …

There are as many reactions to going to Child Care as there are children. Some children may feel upset or anxious as it might be the first time they have been left in the care of someone who is not …

An excellent child care system is important to foster the development of children and enable parents to balance work and family life. It is not necessarily the shiniest equipment or the newest building which indicates a good child care centre. …

Culture is a complex issue and it is not always easy for young children to understand differences between people and other cultures. “Why is that person’s skin brown/white/black?” “Why is that person wearing ‘funny’ clothes?

These questions don’t mean your …

Of the tomes of research written on this topic, the consistent thing which has been made evident is the amazing capacity and enthusiasm preschoolers have for learning.

A well-known Psychologist and Philosopher, Jean Piaget, says about learning: Knowledge arises neither …

As our world struggles to find peace, it is vital that we plant the seeds of peace in our homes and our everyday encounters. The following ideas may help you in your own home.

1. Reflect on the word peace and

With so many commercial learning activities provided in communities for children, we can feel guilty if they are not constantly busy and engaged in learning. Like so much of parenting, it is important to take our cue from the individual …

When is a worry not a worry? Never, in a child’s mind. They cannot always understand their own anxieties and it’s up to us as parents to model the ways we deal with our worries, stresses, concerns or anxieties. Most …

Sudden Infant Death Syndrome, which used to be known as ‘cot death’ is, unfortunately, a very real experience for some parents, leaving them in deep grief and even guilt that somehow, perhaps, their baby’s death could have been prevented.
The …

Ingredients

• 2 cups self-raising flour
• 30g butter, chilled, chopped
• 3/4 cup reduced-fat milk
• 1 tablespoon Vegemite
• 3/4 cup grated reduced-fat tasty cheese
• Reduced-fat milk, to glaze.

Method

Step 1

Preheat oven to 220°C/200°C fan-forced. Line a baking tray with baking …

Ingredients

• Melted low-fat dairy spread to grease
• 1 ¼ cups self-raising flour
• ½ cup plain flour
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 2/3 cups skim milk
• 2 eggs, lightly whisked
• 2 overripe bananas mashed

Method

Step1: Preheat oven to 1180’C. Brush an …

Sometimes the hardest job in a parent’s day is what food to provide your child for dinner or lunch. Some children will quite happily eat the same lunch every day for ages and then suddenly announce that they no longer …

In our technological age, it can be easy to overlook the benefits and sheer pleasure of reading a book. It’s important for your child to be a good reader as they are then able to educate themselves over their lifetime. …

Family rituals are activities or behaviours involving most or all members of your family which happen periodically and have meaning for members. Rituals may be how you celebrate, the holidays you go on, the routines or traditions you follow. A …

Many books have been written, and fortunes made, about ‘toddler taming’ so there is no one right way forward to assist a child in their transition to independence. If you find the see-sawing emotions and behaviours of your toddler difficult …

Some children naturally seem to prefer grazing to 3 square meals a day but either way, children will often look for snacks in between meals. It can be easy to but ready-made, packaged snacks but usually, fresh is best. Many …

 No-one likes a biter! And no-one wants their child to be considered a menace, or worse yet, excluded from a child care centre. While many toddlers bite and while there are many reasons for that behaviour, there are some wise …

Learning to share is a vital life skill which is important for children to learn in their younger years. When children see something they want, they can become so focused they can only think about that. This becomes a problem …

Allergies are a commonly-discussed topic today. The most common allergies today are food, eczema and hay fever. Allergy symptoms can be very mild to impacting on your child’s and your life in a big way. Allergies occur when a person’s …

Mealtimes can become battlegrounds and most of us probably have some bad memories of having to eat food which we didn’t ‘like’. Some parents worry constantly about their child’s eating habits and overcoming their ‘fussiness’ can take a lot of …

Like so much about parenting, it is the skilling of the adults which is as important as teaching the children. Toddlers are learning new things constantly and experience big changes in their lives as they grow and change. One hot …

Live so that when your children think of fairness, caring and integrity they think of you. Anon

Children Learn What They Live By Dorothy Law Nolte, Ph.D.

If children live with criticism, they learn to condemn.
If children live …

There is a saying: In the morning, eat like a king; at lunch time, eat like a prince; and at dinnertime, eat like a pauper. Hence, a good breakfast is a vital part of healthy eating. Healthy eating is essential …

Maths is a language and the more you can equip your child with its vocabulary, the easier formal schooling might be. Maths is all around us so it is easy with young children to introduce counting, measuring, volume, weight and …

The quick answer is ‘Of course!’ As a parent you have a right to be supported in breastfeeding your child. You can do it on the premises or supply expressed milk to the caregiver. It’s important to discuss this with …

Children have feelings of grief over many situations, not just death. The way children express grief depends on many things:

• What the loss it and how it happened;
• The child’s prior relationship to the person or thing that is lost;

Writing is a complex activity involving many aspects. It takes years and much effort to become proficient. So, be patient with your child’s efforts, offering encouragement and constructive help.

Here are some suggestions to develop a love of writing in …

Many schools help children during their transition to school. They arrange programs which may include:

• visits to the school over several weeks
• walks around the school to see where things are, eg. playgrounds, toilets
• spending time in a classroom with

The move to place your child in day care is a big step for you as parents and for your child. All of us have seen children crying outside a day care and stressed, time-pressured parents trying to coax them …

The basis for the tips below is ‘Do to others as you would have them do to you’. It’s hard to imagine many adults thriving in an environment of highly emotional communication, as it is so easy to interpret other …

Dinner time can on occasions be a great learning time as your child learns the art of cooking and the etiquette of eating. This time can be an opportunity to use family words associated with cooking – recipes, ingredients, utensils, …

Yet another big life change is looming as your child prepares to transition to School. Very few of us welcome change and can be hesitant around new things and people we don’t know. Your main task is to develop in …

Babies are great people-watchers and usually are interested in what those around them are putting into their mouths. Usually by around 6 months, babies are ready for this change in their diet which happens about the same time as they …