Friends

Christmas tips for step families

Dolla S Merrillees Christmas Day for many families is an exercise in controlled chaos, for stepfamilies the demands of the holiday season can be doubled or tripled.

Preparing for a babysitter

When you hire a new babysitter, you'll want to make sure you give them all the information they need to care for your children. The more prepared you are, the more at ease you'll feel about going out.

Dads in Australia: Their changing role

Neil Jameson Not too long after man first walked on the Moon, I thumbed a ride with a tile salesman who couldn't wait to get home to spend time with his kid.

Kids belong in high rises (and everywhere else)

Carolyn Whitzman From Melbourne to Darwin, apartment buildings have sprung up in central cities. High rise living is assumed to be bad for children, despite – or because of – the fact that public...

The Shoe Princess’s Guide to the Galaxy

Emma Bowd Shoes, I am afraid to say, really do mean a lot to me. You know how men seem completely incapable of going down a street without eyeing every woman in a fox-like flash? Well, that’s me – but with...

Spoiling Christmas

Mindy Laube Australian parents intend to spend an average of $584 on Christmas gifts for their children this year according to this week's "Toy Treasure Trove" report from BankWest.

Online bullying: tips for parents

Click Whilst you've probably got a lot of outdoor activities planned for summer, it's likely your little ones will be spending time online too. Here are our cybersafety tips.

Support for Mum when Dad works away

Department of Communities (WA) Does your partner spend time away for work? More and more families are developing their own strategies to deal with the challenges of the home and away lifestyle and are making it work for them.

Lighten your load, win back your life

Kath Lockett Fathers can find better ways to balance their careers and home duties. Kath Lockett reports.

Space Invaders

Mia Freedman I reckon I've been alone for 10 minutes this entire week," I huffed to a girlfriend recently. I heard a sharp intake of breath before she went quiet. "And that includes bathroom time!"

Keep your road trip costs down

Sascha Jenkins With the current economic climate more Australian families are choosing to holiday locally and interstate. So bundle up the kids and read our tips on how to keep your road trip costs down.

The best fun on four wheels

Sascha Jenkins With planning and patience, a family road trip can be the best fun on four wheels.

Karen's story

Nicole Salinas "My 15-year-old son, Adam, has been in Westmead Childrens' Hospital since February 24 after being involved in an accident which left him with burns to 60% of his body.

A beautiful but broken heart

Nicole Salinas Scratch just below the surface and you will find a family who is grieving the loss of three children.

Homeschooling: Our story

Nicole Salinas We took our seven-year-old son out of school at the end of third term last year after seeing him becoming increasingly unhappy at school and his behavior disruptive and uninvolved.

Schooling through Steiner

Nicole Salinas In two years, my bouncy child had become withdrawn, clingy and competitive. She started comparing herself to others—a strategy common in schools focused on producing academic achievers.

When is Daddy coming home?

Kath Lockett Fathers are finding smarter ways to mix work and family life, writes Kath Lockett.

How children are affected by separation

Mensline When parents separate, kids also go through a grieving process as they may feel powerless and insecure.

The 'evil stepmother'

Alison Cameron You adore him, but when it comes to his children, you feel like the evil stepmother. Alison Cameron explores why admitting you don't love - or even like - your new charges is the ultimate taboo.