I get it, coming up with acceptable gift ideas for tween friends can be next to impossible. When the kids are younger and you say to them, "What should we get Eugene for his birthday?" they give you a mile-long list of all the things they know Eugene would love. Of...
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Easy decoupage activity for tweens that will keep them happy for hours
When my eldest was aged 9, she asked if we could spend more time together crafting. This easy decoupage activity for tweens seemed like the perfect way to spend some time together, so that's what we started with. It seemed that just like her Mum, she needed a bit of...
15+ actually useful life hacks we all need right now
While the term 'life hack' generally makes me switch straight off, I can see no other way to describe this collection. Rest assured, these are useful life hacks - not bleeding obvious things that you've probably already tried (no, internet, a complicated way to fold...
Creating a family playlist is remarkably bonding
We recently started a family playlist that we add to every other week. The idea of making a family playlist started as a way to fill up a few Friday nights during lockdown, but turned out to be something far more special. Everyone in our family (including my husband...
5 Australian books for teens that can help them understand their place in the world
It occurred to me that so many of the books we recommend here are not Australian books. They are generally the popular 'best seller' books that parents are keen to get a review on. So, I went searching for some Australian books for teens to recommend and found this...
7 reasons why gaming is good for kids (and a few things to look out for)
Video games tend to get a bad rap from media, parents and society as a whole as the world laments the impact they’ve had on a nostalgic world of books, board games and outside play. Yes, they can while away many hours from a child’s day, promote violent play and...
My 17 very favourite Netflix shows to binge watch
We love Netflix at our place. In fact, we haven't been able to get standard TV reception since a 2018 hailstorm took down our antennae, so it's pretty much Netflix or bust. Actually, we can stream tele via Fetch, so I still get my SBS Food binge in whenever I can...
TikTok and please stop
My daughter can't stop doing TikTok moves. From breakfast until bedtime, she's on the move. Little sequences from Renegade, Say So, and Number One Baby. We've renamed it 'tic tok' because I swear it looks like she's got some strange physical tics. All the twitching...
Making nature mandalas and art for kids
For a long time my girls have created little nature mandalas and art whenever we are in the bush or out for a walk. They gather collections of things as we wander and bring them together to make nature mandalas. They've been doing it since they were small, and it is...
Love, laughter, adventure and fantasy: a reading list for teens
While everyone is very keen to get back to 'normal' schooling, reduced classroom attendance can also offer a wonderful opportunity to catch up on some reading. Margot Hillel, Professor of Children's Literature at the Australian Catholic University, has prepared a...
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How to make the most of a 2021 Aussie gap year
Around 25% of graduating Year 12 students consider taking a gap year when they finish school. With international travel restrictions remaining for the foreseeable future, many may be wondering how they can quench their thirst for adventure via an Aussie gap year. The...
125 (not even remotely boring) things for tweens to do at home
It's the hooooolidays. Hello holidays! Cue head scratching to figure out some good things for tweens to do at home! I work from home which is a holiday blessing and a curse. A blessing because hello kids and a curse because hello kids. My kids are older now and...
Make the most of school holidays at home
I’ve seen a lot of articles around about ‘staying sane during school holidays at home' and I get it, I really, truly do. The holidays at home are hard work because they force us away from the everyday family routine that makes life easier for us. Holidays then have...
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