Waffles and Jaffles, Coonalpyn January 2016 Every year my family drive from Melbourne to the Fleurieu Peninsula near Adelaide. Over the past 10 years we’ve made this trip with children growing in size and number and we’ve found ways to make the trip fun(ish) for every(some?)one. I considered writing a guide reviewing every stopping point… Read Post »

When I was a kid I liked experimenting with food, primarily checking what things taste like frozen. Now I have my own kids I’m figuratively regurgitating some of my favorite childhood snacks for them as well as watching them discover their own recipes. Kids are a lot more capable than we give them credit for,… Read Post »

Are you spending more time than usual at home with your children? Do you have an uncluttered surface? Or a cluttered surface that could stand another layer? I have prepared some craft ideas for you. Playdough/ playsand/ playclouds/ playfilth Playdough can easily be made with flour, water, salt, cream of tartar and oil. It is… Read Post »

A poem inspired by the Women’s Weekly Birthday Cake Book This clock we’re putting on the list. Not that clock because I had that cake before. Yes the moon cake. Maybe the cat cake. Not the gingerbread cake. Yes let’s put Humpty Dumpty on the list. Piggy cake – put that on the list. Maybe… Read Post »

I think we can all agree that today’s children are the worst ever. Equally, we all know this is the fault of the parents. However, do not despair! There are some simple steps parents can take to lessen the likelihood of their children becoming terrible adults who ruin human civilization. Pass-the-parcel These days, every layer… Read Post »

I’ve written before about what not to do when visiting new parents. But sometimes saying things is a kind of doing too. So, here’s what not to say to a new parent. 1. What’s that smell? I don’t know. Pick an orifice, they’ve all got problems. Surveys show that 90% of new parents, like me,… Read Post »

Enid Blyton lived before the age of the blog, internet article or listicle. She wrote narrative fiction for children with paragraphs and no headings, except for chapters. Who has the attention span for that? Not me really, but I’ve come up with some article ideas to impart Blyton’s wisdom in a more accessible modern form.… Read Post »

I’m very busy and important, but that doesn’t mean I don’t make time for hobbies. Here are some of my faves. 1. Sticky taping the flaps back onto lift the flap books I often delay delving into this hobby, but once I start it’s very satisfying. There are usually a number of flaps scattered around my… Read Post »

                    1. Poo on the carpet Yes, their carpet will almost certainly be pooed on in the next two years, but that doesn’t mean you should be an early adopter. The last thing new parents want to do in their sleep-deprived state is to dab at… Read Post »

(Picture shows the first Barbie wearing a black and white striped swimsuit with white sunglasses on her head.) This week a child showed me her Barbie doll. Quick as a flash I said, ‘That’s nice. What job does she do?’ Child looked confused but eventually agreed Barbie is an engineer. The child then wandered off… Read Post »