Childcare
Parents to have more accurate picture of childcare centre vacancies
Stephanie Peatling Childcare centres will have to provide detailed information on vacancies as part of the Federal Government's push to make it easier for parents to find places.
Bridging the gap between home and childcare
Claire Gordon I’m sure it’s not a generalisation to say that the vast majority of children experience some degree of anxiety when starting daycare.
Childcare faces web of infamy
Alexandra Smith Preschools and child-care centres that breach regulations, such as failing to meet staff-to-child ratios or not implementing strict safety measures, will be named and shamed on the internet.
Children come first at new ABC, owners vow
Adele Horin Parents have been promised stability and higher quality care after a consortium of four charities won the bidding war for 678 ABC Learning Centres in a contest with a private equity firm.
Nannies can be a super option
Lisa Wachsmuth The nanny is not just limited to the wealthy anymore. With many families having both the mother and father working, hiring a nanny is becoming a more popular option, writes Lisa Wachsmuth.
Furnishing kids' rooms
Stephen Crafti Most people don't think about children's furniture, unless they have young children. Only when it's time to furnish a child's bedroom or playroom does the search begin.
Home alone: term break no holiday for children
Keeli Cambourne One-third of children aged five to 15 will be left at home alone during the school holidays while their parents have to work.
Making time for your partner
Kim Kind Sometimes we forget there is nothing more important to children than the quality of the relationship between their parents. Are you making enough time for each other?
Oh baby, the budget's blown
CAROLINE MARCUS Parents spend $57,000 raising a child to the age of five.
Baby boom in Britain
Tom Whitehead Britain is experiencing a baby boom that has contributed to the single largest population increase in almost half a century. The population rose by more than 400,000 last year to a record 61.
Working Mums: Getting a payrise
Gill South In her new book, Gill South found mothers made great employees but often sold themselves short. Here she looks at how they can get what they deserve.
Career Mums: give guilt the flick
Kim Kind Don't worry, career mothers, your children are on the right track, writes Kim Kind.
At last, a little vindication for busy mothers
Michelle Griffin There's a scene in Coraline, the new film adaptation of Neil Gaiman's creepy children's novel, that strikes a chord with any working parent: Coraline tries to gain the attention of her mother and...
Booklet a resource for single mothers
Farah Farouque It wasn't part of her life plan to raise a child alone, but that's the way motherhood worked out for Brenda Curran.
Blurring the role of Mum and Dad
Rachelle Unreich Stay-at-home dads, working mums: modern parents are slowly, sometimes uncomfortably, blurring the traditional lines between breadwinner and caregiver.
Busy parents put baby's nose to the grindstone
Michelle Epstein Are we a nation obsessed with educating our children? Do we really believe that a child should be subjected to formal learning during as many waking hours as possible?
Teaching your baby a foreign language
Teaching children a foreign language helps with brain development and lays the foundation for lifelong academic achievement, with the impact greatest the earlier the language is learnt.
Part 1: Self-esteem
John Bastick John Bastick tackles the issue of father-time and raising sons with self-esteem, whilst musing that a recent outing to McDonalds with his 18-month year old son probably wasn't such a good idea.
Toilet training - is your child ready?
Richie Young Toilet training is a major part of your child's development and it involves commitment! While that may sound daunting, the key is ensuring you stay supportive and offer encouragement.
Guards for the cyber playground
Lia Timson Protecting children online is now big business with the Federal Government spending more than $100 million to help families. Lia Timson reports.
