Separation Archives - Page 15 of 22

Would you leave your front and back door open whilst your kids are at home?

25/08/2014 by DO Leave a Comment

Keeping our kids safe from online predators is something we all must be aware of. Once upon a time we would keep our kids safe by simply making sure the front and back door of our house was locked before they went to bed. Today, if your kids have any public profiles on sites such as: Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, ooVoo, Snapchat, MSM Messenger, YouTube or Kick – to name a few, then your front and back door is open 24/7. If you have kids that are using computers then we need to be knowledge up and prepared to understand what the risks are! There is no excuse for not understanding social media and the danger that it can bring to your child.

This video has a very clear and simple message and should be watched with you kids…

http://youtu.be/_o8auwnJtqE

Here are some tips to keep your kids safe online and points for discussion

Don’t post any personal information online – like your address, email address or mobile number.
Think carefully about posting pictures or video’s of your self.
Keep your privacy settings as high as possible.
Never give out your passwords
Don’t befriend people you don’t know.
Don’t meet up with people you’ve met online, speak to your parents or a trusted adult about people who suggest you do.
Remember that everyone online is not who they say they are.
Think carefully about what you say before posting it online.
Respect other peoples views, if you don’t agree with someone else’s views doesn’t mean you need to be rude.
If you see something online that makes you feel uncomfortable, unsafe or worried: leave the website, turn off the computer if you want to and tell your parent or a trusted adult.

Some ideas to staying safe at home

Keep the family computer in an open area such as the lounge, kitchen or a room where it can be monitored.
Understand the sites and technology your kids use and know who they are talking to.
Create a list of online “rules” with the family e.g. time limits, list of ok sites to visit.
Educate your kids so they not to give out personal details without parental knowledge.
Make sure your kids know what to do and where to go if they encounter cyber -bullying.
Regularly sit with your kids when they are online and look over there shoulder. Let them know you are keeping track of there online activity.
Talk about online risks and what to watch out for and how you can be tricked.
Reinforce positive behaviors and values in the online world.
Install software or services that can restrict, block or filter offensive websites.
We cant ignore technology, kids and teens will use them, if they are not using it at home then they may use it at a friends house or in the school yard? so the best course of action is to discuss openly and educate.

Filed Under: Children, General posts & comments, Kids Health, Parenting

Where possible always choose to mediate

23/08/2014 by DO Leave a Comment

If you were in a relationship that has irretrievably broken down, you may have some questions…
How do you settle your affairs and move on with your life?
How do you make parenting arrangements with the best interests of your children in mind?
How do you divide the matrimonial property in a way that is just and equitable, that you can both live with?

The litigation trap
If you can’t negotiate these issues with your former partner, it’s tempting to file a family law application in Court.
If you make the decision to litigate, you will likely begin a process that is extremely costly, stressful, inconvenient and time consuming for both of you.

Flaming conflict
You should also remember that litigation usually adds to the conflict.
Where children are involved, you should consider it your personal duty to reduce conflict if at all possible… to minimise the risk of your adult issues affecting your children.
Another problem is that if you initiate litigation, it can make negotiation with your former partner much harder.
There is a real risk that they will stop thinking about how to solve the issues with you, and focus their attention to beating you in court.
That is a completely different mindset that can escalate the conflict.
Suddenly, they may stop talking to you and demand you only speak to them through their lawyers.

Best time to mediate
I think the best time to mediate is usually before you commence litigation… and for maximum chance of success, I encourage you to attend my mediations without legal representation.
If your matter is already in court, we can still mediate to try to get you out of the court process before you incur even more legal fees.

Keeping control
By filing in court, what you are really doing is taking the decision making power out of your hands and placing it in the hands of a Judge.
You may be lucky and everything goes your way in Court.
However, what often occurs is that the Court will make orders that both parties are unhappy with.
It’s my opinion that the Australian Family Law Judges do an excellent job managing a very heavy work load.
The Australian judiciary is truly outstanding.
But… that said… who is in a better position to understand the needs of your children?
Is it you and your former partner, the people who raised your children from birth… or is it a judicial officer who is working from a court file?
With proper guidance, you and your former partner can make the best decisions for your children.

Privacy
There is also the matter of your privacy… the court is a public place.
Do you really want to air your dirty laundry for the world to see?
Do you want your family, friends, community to know what happened inside your home… inside your bedroom?
Do you want everyone to know your most sensitive financial affairs?
If you keep control, you can also protect your privacy.

Costs
There is also the issue of cost.
In Australia, it is common for legal fees to exceed $20,000 or $30,000 to take a simple matter all the way to a final hearing in court.
Your former partner will likely spend a similar amount of money.
I’ve seen cases where a party has spent over $100,000 on their own legal fees.
Where is the sense in you and your former partner spending so much money on legal fees?
… with no guarantee that you’ll get an outcome you can live with?

Lawyers
I have had the privilege of being briefed by some of the best Family Law solicitors in Australia.
You should find that most Australian solicitors are highly ethical and will do their very best for you…
But to provide you with high quality representation, they rightly need to charge proper fees for their professional time… and these fees will quickly add up.
No matter how hard they try to minimise your legal fees, they may have a hard time doing so where there is excessive conflict.
Let’s see if we can work together to reduce the conflict and minimise your legal fees.

My advice to you is to start the resolution process with mediation.
Don’t tangle yourself in litigation.
Don’t escalate the conflict with your former partner.
Keep control of the solution and don’t delegate your decision making power to the court lightly.
Defend your privacy.
Don’t spend huge amounts of money on legal fees … that is money which should go to you and your children.

Conclusion
As a family law barrister, I can assist you and your former partner to come to an agreement that you can both live with.
You will benefit from my experience in the Australian Family Law courts and benefit from the dispute resolution techniques I have developed in my practice.
My chambers are in Melbourne, however I will also mediate in Brisbane and Sydney.
Please contact my clerk, Patterson’s List, on 03 9225 7888.
Just tell my clerk that you would like to arrange a mediation with Emmanuel and we can make the arrangements.

Written by:
Emmanuel Samios LLB(Hons) LLM(QUT)
Barrister-at-Law
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=scciQLqghnk

Filed Under: Dads Health, Video

Do you know how to perform CPR?

11/07/2014 by DO 2 Comments

Do you know how to do CPR Knowing the basics of performing CPR can be the difference between life or death. It could be a friend or heaven forbid your child! Being able to jump in and help can keep blood flowing through their body and keep vital organs alive whilst the ambulance is on the way. I remember watching a women pull her child from the river in Merimbula NSW and she just didn’t know what to do and stood there crying? I was young and thought just DO something DO something! Luckily a person nearby jumped in and started mouth to mouth and CPR while we waited for the ambulance.

CPR (or cardiopulmonary resuscitation) is a combination of chest compressions and rescue breathing (mouth-to-mouth resuscitation). If someone isn’t circulating blood or breathing adequately, CPR can restore circulation of oxygen-rich blood to the brain. Without oxygen, permanent brain damage or death can occur in less than 8 minutes.

CPR might be necessary in many different emergencies, including accidents, near-drowning, suffocation, poisoning, smoke inhalation, electrocution injuries, and suspected sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS).

Reading about CPR and learning when it’s needed will give you a basic understanding of the concept and procedure, but it’s strongly recommended that you learn the details of how to perform CPR by taking a course. If CPR is needed, using the correct technique will give someone the best chance of survival.

CPR is most successful when started as quickly as possible, but you must first determine if it’s necessary. It should only be performed when a person isn’t breathing or circulating blood adequately.

First, determine that it’s safe to approach the person in trouble. For instance, if someone was injured in an accident on a busy highway, you’d have to be extremely careful about ongoing traffic as you try to help. Or if someone touched an exposed wire and was electrocuted, you’d have to be certain that he or she is no longer in contact with electricity before offering assistance to prevent becoming electrocuted yourself. (For instance, turn off the source of electricity, such as a light switch or a circuit breaker.)

Once you know that you can safely approach someone who needs help, quickly evaluate whether the person is responsive. Look for things such as eye opening, sounds from the mouth, chest movement, or other signs of life such as movement of the arms and legs.

In infants and younger kids, rubbing the chest (over the breastbone) can help determine if there is any level of responsiveness. In older kids and adults, this also can be done by gently tapping the shoulders and asking if they’re all right.

Whenever CPR is needed, remember to call for 000. Current CPR courses teach you that if you are alone with an unresponsive infant or child, you should perform CPR for about 2 minutes before calling for help.

Three Parts of CPR

The three basic parts of CPR are easily remembered as “CAB”: C for compressions, A for airway, and B for breathing.

C is for compressions. Chest compressions can sometimes restore the flow of blood to the heart, brain, and other organs. CPR begins with 30 chest compressions, followed by two rescue breaths. This cycle is immediately repeated and continued until the child recovers or help arrives. It is not necessary to check for signs of circulation to perform this technique. Rescuers doing compressions should “push hard, fast, and in the center of the chest.” A CPR course will teach you how to perform chest compressions in infants, kids, and adults, and how to coordinate the compressions with rescue breathing.
A is for airway. After 30 compressions have been completed, the victim’s airway must be open for breathing to be restored. The airway may be blocked by the tongue when someone loses consciousness or may be obstructed by food or another foreign object .In a CPR course, participants learn how to open the airway and position the person so the airway is ready for rescue breathing. The course will include what to do to clear the airway if you believe an infant or child has choked and the airway is blocked.
B is for breathing. Rescue breathing is begun after 30 compressions have been completed and the airway is open. Someone performing rescue breathing essentially breathes for the victim by forcing air into the lungs. This procedure includes breathing into the victim’s mouth at correct intervals and checking for signs of life. A CPR course will review correct techniques and procedures for rescuers to position themselves to give mouth-to-mouth resuscitation to infants, kids, and adults.

Australian Red Cross and St Johns Ambulance all conduct courses around Australia and teach the latest techniques. They normally include general first aid training such as what to do when someone is choking?, burnt, stopped breathing, has a broken limb or faints.

Filed Under: Dads Health, Kids Health

If you going through a tough patch, make some time for your Body, Skin, Hair and Mind

28/06/2014 by DO Leave a Comment

make time for you body hair skin mind Spending time on your personal grooming can help you feel better – physically and emotionally. And feeling better can give you strength. Lets face it, there are many things that can put pebbles on your path – and we all know the occasional boulder 🙂

Don’t let them get you down or let them prevent you from getting out and enjoying life.

You might be invited to a family event, a friends BBQ, a date? or to the footy. Whatever you have on, don’t stay at home because you don’t feel good or quiet yourself. In fact, health experts agree that making an intentional effort to look after yourself will bring about both health and happiness if you just stick at it. Some tips to get you started and back on the happy are:

Body
Yes, that’s exercise. Working out can decrease stress, increase energy and definitely loose some weight. It’s always a great idea to check into your doctor for a chat about what your going to do and get all the regular tests done. That in itself can give you peace of mind.

Skin
Us blokes get into lifetime habits, if you have always washed with the same soap, maybe its time to change to something more sensitive to skin. If you were to ask around there are so many of us already onto it. We are using a gentle face wash, we don’t scrub like we are trying to take oil of the driveway. Treat your skin with respect. Remember skin loves moisturiser and hydration.

Hair
I started losing my hair in my twenties, I went from combing it every day and using “Uppercut” products made by Uppercut Deluxe Australia, I thought I was the coolest guy in my suburb to having it clipper-ed short every other week, i was still happy. I started with a number 3 a year later went No.2, then 1 and now its a full shave every 2 days. Lets face it, hair on your head (or without) or on your face represents who you are, its your trademark…it’s your brand! It gives you a look that people can make assumptions on. Are you Conservative, Formal, Rock star, Hipster or just however it falls? Take the hair quiz and find out a little more about what your hair really represents, click here: which facial hair style best sums your up?. Check out Uppercut deluxe video:

I recommend use a barber and get some of this product, it will make you feel good 🙂

Mind
You must find a way to relax your mind. Look for peaceful things to do, quiet times and times where you can be just on your own. Try massage therapy or even a simple head and shoulder massage at one of the many that are now located in our local markets around town. Unwind with some music or guided meditation. Other techniques such as yoga, deep breathing and meditation may also be useful: discuss the options with your doctor when you book that appointment.

Filed Under: Dads Health

Dads: Do you know when your Daughter will get her first period?

28/06/2014 by DO Leave a Comment

daughters getting first period In this contemporary setting a father has an equal role in parenting his children and in many cases is the primary or sole carer. Dads are striving to be better role models in their sons and daughters lives but don’t necessarily have the confidence or the skill to handle all the issues that arise.

Initiating the conversation about your daughters’ first period is incredibly daunting for many dads. Maybe this is an issue that you haven’t even thought of yet; do you know when she will start?
Do you know what products to buy? How will you handle this issue when it arises?

Our advice is to get the facts and be prepared. Start talking to your daughter about periods before it happens when she will most likely be more open, receptive and interested. Many girls will not want you to know when or after it has happened and you may not find out until she has blocked the toilet with a pad or tampons.

Many men have a negative view of a women’s menstrual cycle through experience. Often you only hear the complaints about pain and the emotional ups and downs of PMS. You may not want to know that many women do not experience any discomfort or mood swings.

Here’s some news dads – for most girls getting her first period is exciting if she knows all about it and frightening if she doesn’t!
A girl’s first period marks an important stage in her transformation from child to woman.

The most important thing you can do as a dad is to make sure your daughter feels reassured and not embarrassed, all girls get their period eventually.

Around the age of nine, is a great time to start having conversations about the topic. You don’t need to go into detail in the first instance, but once she starts getting to that age, have a casual chat about it in the car or an informal place where you both feel comfortable. Ask her if she knows what a period is, and if she has any questions about getting her period and let her know that she can ask you anything and at anytime. She’ll probably be far to self-conscious to discuss intimate details with a male but having made the offer will let her know that you care and are there for her, and that’s the most important thing.

Many men will find it hard to start the conversation about periods with their daughters and may try to avoid the topic until its necessary. We have created a solution that may help you start the conversation.

…it’s a Girl Thing! Have designed an Emergency Period Purse for parents to purchase for their daughters.
It’s contains an information booklet on periods and other essential items a girl will need to manage the situation discreetly. It should be kept in her school bag or any activity/sports bag as a security blanket. School camps are an ideal time to ensure that there is no emergencies or embarrassing accidents.

…it’s a Girl Thing! Has also developed an informative visual presentation for a girl aged 8+ called “Hey Girls have you started yet?” which is all about preparing for your first period.
For further details see our website

Information regarding …it’s a Girl Thing! Emergency Period Purse: www.peridonna.com.au
email: info@peridonna.com.au

Whether you are a single dad or not, talking openly with your daughter about her period will lay the groundwork for more discussions later on in life. Keep it honest, frank and natural.
Find ways today to be a part of her life and spend time together.

by Fotini Antoniou & Susan Brasch

Filed Under: Daughters, Fathering, Kids Health

STRIKE at anytime

22/06/2014 by DO Leave a Comment

Strike bowling friendly staff member

Whether its school holidays or you’re just looking for something to do with the kids, don’t look past Strike Bowling. Recently I visited Strike with my daughter and a couple of her friends.

We played a game of bowls, had lunch and then played Laser skirmish… they had so much fun 🙂 and the girls won both bowling and skirmish.

The minute we arrived we were greeted by a friendly staff member (that’s him in the photo) that didn’t seem to be annoyed by the girls not knowing there shoe size and he having to get a few different sizes to make a fit 🙂

We booked online as it gets pretty busy! and we didn’t need to wait to long because the booking was in the system and all paid for, here is the link to the booking page, you just need to click on the suburb you want to play and then click on “book a game” don’t to forget to check out there special offers in case its a better offer than just buying a straight game.

strike bowling lane We played 1 game, had gourmet pizza and soft drink for lunch, they had a bit to choose from the menu but the girls chose pizza as they don’t eat it much. The girls chose to have the automatic pop-up lane rails come up when it was there turn so that it helped guide the bowl down the bowling lane.

It’s so exciting playing at a Strike venue, the lighting is awesome, they play great music and it just makes everyone feel happy.
Strike Bowling lounge area We had lunch in the lounge area, there was plenty of room to sit and relax and congratulate the winners. The pizza were really good, better than what we thought they would be. The staff members said they make them fresh out in the kitchen.

We had our names down for 1 game of Laser Skirmish too. A little scary, exciting and fun all wrapped up into one. The main question from the girls was “If we need to get out in a hurry, which exit we we go to?”
Strike Laser Skirmish

Laser Skirmish is a maze of corridors and rooms, its dark and you are either on the blue team or the green team (it was them against me of course) there is a pre-game briefing whereby the staff showed us exactly what to do and how to play. Skirmish was easy and very safe, you do get warmed up from running around. We ran around like crazy people laughing and screaming. It didn’t feel like we were playing a war game, it was more about tagging your opponent – when you hit them with your laser beam, there lights go out and you have to wait 6 seconds before you can play again, a little like “hide and seek”.
You are guaranteed to have a good time together 🙂

I highly recommend Strike Bowling as a place that will tick all your boxes.
Check out Strike Bowling for a location near you.

Filed Under: Activities, Brisbane, Kids Activities, Kids Activities, Melbourne, Sydney

Watching The Footy: What to do when the boys come around

15/06/2014 by DO Leave a Comment

boys watching the footy The boys are coming over. What results is a football frenzy that may, or may not involve drinking, eating and possibly a little bit of raucous behaviour. When your team loses it could spoil the day but if you follow these tips, regardless of the results, you’ll always be a winner.

Food

You want something that’s easy to prepare so you’re not distracted from the business of watching the game. Rev up the BBQ and you can knock out some delicious and easily prepared food that will satisfy everyone. If you’re going for steaks and chops, make sure they’re in the marinade on the morning of the game. Overnight is even better. Throw them on the BBQ and away you go.

Snacks

Chips (hot and cold), dips, something healthy and something not so healthy. Know your friends and their dietary choices – you don’t want to exclude Keith the Vegan by laying on a meat-feast and forgetting to include some vegetables. Cover all your bases by supplying a wide range of snacks but remember that it might be a good idea to stagger the snack distribution; you don’t want everyone filling up before those chops and steaks come off the barbeque.

Drinks

Yes, beer and footy-watching go together like steak and chips but it may be the case that not all of your friends want to throw down booze and shout at the television. Maybe they’d like to shout at the television while drinking an orange juice or a non-alcoholic cocktail? Never pressure anyone to drink and always respect their choices. But for those who do want a beer, wine or rum and coke, be sure to keep the esky filled with ice and selections. Maybe suggest a pre-match kitty so everyone contributes?

Location of the TV

It’s no good having the barbeque outside and the television inside. How will you catch all the action if there’s a wall between you and the game? Hearing your mates screaming in excitement is no match for actually seeing what’s going on, so either move the TV to a spot that’s visible from the barbeque or move the barbeque to a spot where you can see the TV – even if it means bringing the barbeque inside the house. That’s a joke. Don’t do it.

Sore losers and bad winners

Everyone knows the terrible pain of watching a favourite team lose and most people know the exhilarating joy of watching their team come out victorious. No one likes a sore loser and no one likes a graceless winner. Rubbing your team’s victory in the face of a loser is not good form and will often result in the breaking down of a friendship. As winner, offer condolences such as Well played, old chap. Better luck next time. And extend your hand in a gesture of solidarity and love of the game. Or just yell Sucker and run away.

What pre-footy rituals do you have? How do you like to watch the action? Share your answers in the comment box below.

Filed Under: Activities, Adelaide, Brisbane, Celebrations, Dads Health, DIY, Hobart, Melbourne, Parties, Perth, Sons

OUT ON A LIMB

09/06/2014 by DO 2 Comments

dads out-on-a-limb A book written by Simon Turner, containing helpful and practical suggestions to navigate the journey of separation and divorce. It is not legal advice nor gospel, rather it is real insight and learning’s from his recent experiences and observations whilst working through family law in Australia.

We enter this journey blindly and are completely unaware of what lies ahead. Most of us are not solicitors and are completely ignorant to what is the correct way to go about it versus the wrong way, if you go forward without any advice or knowledge you will only learn lessons and those lessons come at a very dear price.

The book begins with some very clear and straightforward advice from a judge, which radically changed Simon’s understanding and ultimately his situation, the judge said…

You both think your right
Show me you have time
Show me you have a place

Separation &/ or Divorce whether you asked for it or not will frustrate you, sadden you, financially hurt you, emotionally drain you, distract you, challenge your logic and thoughts of what fair. Simon say’s “When everything appears to be spinning out of control, try standing still like a rock and see where things fall.”

There are ways and things that you can do to prepare yourself for a better outcome and keep your sanity along the way. This books provides an opportunity for you to be prepared, you are starting a journey that nothing you have ever done will prepare you for.

Simon has covered in good detail many topics and in his own words called some of them…

The 3 golden rules
Delaying the inevitable
Personal enemy number 1
Your guardian angle
The simple truth
Grizzly bear the cost of it all
You say, she say, hearsay
Sharing is caring
Deal or no deal
The big day
Abiding by the decision
No regrets
and many more….

During this time in your life, emotions will run high, you can be led down a road that you don’t know yourself any more and the decisions you make can alter your future for good or bad. We can be our own enemy and create damage for our self, our relationships and our children if our emotions are not in check. All our actions and behaviors are within our control, how we behave during this time is what we will be judged on. Take the time to grab a copy of Simon’s book and knowledge up. I assure you it will help.

You can buy a copy of this book by clicking here.

Best wishes for all the guys going through this.

Filed Under: Dads Health, Separation, Sons

How to entertain the kids (cheaply) during the winter school holidays

31/05/2014 by DO 1 Comment

top twelve tips from the nannies
School holidays often provide an excellent opportunity for dads to spend quality time with their children… nevertheless everyone can also go a little stir-crazy!

With their years of experience in entertaining children all day, the nannies (in-home childcarers) at Government-approved agency Placement Solutions have put together their top twelve tips to make the most of school holidays in Melbourne, without going broke.

ArtPlay
All at free or affordable prices, the kids can explore their creative side at ArtPlay, Birrarung Marr (behind Federation Square). Funded by the City of Melbourne and other partners, the centre runs more than 300 workshops, events and performances each year with children working with professional artists. Ensure you book ahead for special programs or alternatively check out the ‘free stuff to explore’ such at the ArtPlay Backyard. The Centre caters for babies through to children aged up to 12 years of age; Wednesday to Sunday, 10am to 4pm.
www.melbourne.vic.gov.au/artplay

Library at the Dock
This new Library in Docklands only opened on 31 May 14 and as part of the Melbourne Library Service, it supports gaming culture. Library at the Dock offers the latest games and consoles free to the public to experience and learn about the many aspects of gaming. From 13 June to 8 July on Tuesdays and Thursdays, 11am to 1pm, the venue is hosting the 2014 Soccer World Cup Competition on PS4. Open to all ages, kids can get a team together, select their country and take part in this gaming challenge (and potentially win some prizes). Register online.
www.thatsmelbourne.com.au

Your local library
Check out your library for its calendar of events – which are usually free – such as storytelling, book discussions, and even children’s theatre. In the city, State Library of Victoria is holding the free exhibition ‘Once upon a time: a world of children’s picture book art’ until 31 August 2014. See classic characters like Blinky Bill and the Magic Pudding, as well as fun favourites such as Miffy. The kids can view original drawings, dummy books and videos about the artworks to discover the magic behind creating illustrated stories then create their own story with a free activity booklet.
www.slv.vic.gov.au

Belly Dancing at Fed Square
The whole family can shake their groove thing at The Atrium at Fed Square on the second and fourth Thursday of each month from 12.30 to 1pm. The free belly dancing lessons are led by professional instructor Trisnasari, no bookings are required and all ages are welcome.
www.fedsquare.com

Friday Night Fireworks at Docklands
Enjoy free music, entertainers and an incredible fireworks display at the Piazza at Docklands on 4 and 11 July. Festivities kick off at 6pm and the fireworks are at the family-friendly time of 7pm.
www.thatsmelbourne.com.au

Child-friendly cafés
For the price of a coffee, enjoy some priceless relaxation at one of the many child-friendly cafés around Melbourne. Some of our nannies’ favourites include: Miss Marmalade, Brunswick – as well as amazing food and beverages, Miss Marmalade has a kids’ menu, small play area and baby change facilities; Little Tommy Tucker, Bentleigh – with a shelf full of toys and a kids’ menu, this is a popular spot for locals; Birdy Num Nums, Carlton North – the large, covered courtyard at the rear features a sandpit and a variety of toys; Lulabelle’s, Camberwell – this gorgeous pastry shop and café features giftwares, babywares, toys to entertain the kids, and change facilities.

Victorian Farmers’ Markets
Enjoy the fresh air and ambience at one of many Victorian Farmers’ Markets held each weekend at different locations around Melbourne. Usually requiring a gold coin donation, the markets are a great opportunity to buy fresh produce and often provide a free petting farm as well as other attractions for children.
www.vicfarmersmarkets.org.au

MSO Family Jams
Anyone six years and over can jam with the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra (MSO) for free on 28 June at Federation Square. Bring your own instrument (or borrow one of MSO’s) and work together during the fun hour to develop an original piece of music. Each workshop culminates in a performance open to the general public. Bookings are necessary.
www.mso.com.au

City Circle Tram
For a free tour of Melbourne city, the City Circle Tram is a convenient way to see the sights of central Melbourne and Docklands while experiencing a ride on the charming, heritage trams. An audio commentary provides details of city landmarks and major attractions and you can hop on and off as you like. Trams operate between 10am and 6pm from Sunday to Wednesday and between 10am and 9pm every Thursday, Friday and Saturday. No bookings are required.
www.yarratrams.com.au

Port of Melbourne Boat Tours
A free boat tour of the Port of Melbourne will exhilarate the kids as they see massive ships and cranes up close, and the port’s most historic facilities. The tours usually run on the last Sunday of each month so spaces are limited and bookings are required. Round-trip tours leave from Gem Pier in Williamstown and Victoria Harbour in Docklands and last from 60 to 90 minutes.
www.portofmelbourne.com

Collingwood Children’s Farm
Open every day, this is your child’s perfect opportunity to get up, close, and personal with a range of fuzzy, feathery and furry creatures. Just $16 for the entire family (two adults and up to four children), the kids can also see cows being milked and enjoy a picturesque setting at the Collingwood Children’s Farm in Abbotsford.
www.farm.org.au

Heide Kitchen Gardens
The fifteen acres of spectacular gardens at Heide in Bulleen will give the kids plenty of space to run free and also learn about fresh produce through the amazing kitchen garden adjacent to the original farmhouse. The Gardens & Sculpture Park are open to the public and the kids can enjoy a range of free activities during the school holidays such as ‘Architecture Detective’ and ‘Art Detective’. Museum admission is free for children under 12; Tuesday to Sunday, 10am to 5pm.
www.heide.com.au

Placement Solutions is a Melbourne-based niche recruitment firm specialising in in-home childcare, also known as nannies and household management. The government-approved agency has been operating for 25 years and is a member of the International Nanny Association and the National In-home Childcare Association. www.placementsolutions.com.au

Filed Under: Children, Kids Activities, Kids Activities, Melbourne, Some Fun

How well do our children know us?

23/03/2014 by DO Leave a Comment

Everyone of us has a story to tell. Our life is unique to us and our journey, experiences, feelings and memories to date have carved us into who we are today. These experiences can be shared with our children in a creative way. Below are many questions that often don’t get asked, you can go a lifetime and your children will not know the answers to any of these insights into your lifetime.

It can bring you closer &/or open up topics for further discussions. Answer the questions as if your child is asking them. Why don’t you copy and print them out – take your time to answer them carefully and honestly, include as many photos as possible then present it to your child/children as a gift. You could even get it published online as a book for little cost, simply Google “online publishing” and there are many to research and choose from 🙂

Questions to share:

Tell me about the time and place you were born
What are your earliest memories?
Tell me about your Mum and Dad
What do you think your parents thought of you as a child?
What interesting information do you know about other people in your family?
Detail what you know of our family tree?
Tell me some more about your family that may interest generations to come.
What do you remember about the places you lived when you were a child?
What were your favorite childhood toys or games?
Tell me about your best friends as a child.
What do you remember about holidays as a child?
What sort of pets did you have when you were a child and what was their names?
What were you best at when you were at school?
What did you want to do when you grew up?
Who was your best friend as a teenager and why?
What were your favorite hobbies when you were young?
Did you have a idol when you were young? tell me who and why.
What was the first piece of music you bought?
What would have been your top 10 favorite pieces of music when you were young?
Describe any family traditions you had when you were young? or maybe still have.
What age did you start work and tell me about the jobs you have had?
What was the first car you ever owned and tell me about the other vehicles you have had?
How did you meet my mother?
What were some of the things you would do on a night out with each other?
Describe a special day you had with my mother?
How did you feel when you found out you were going to be a father?
What did you think when you first saw me after I was born?
What were my statistics when I was born – time of birth, height and weight?
What did I look like when I was born?
Did you have a nickname when you were young? what was it and why?
Before I was born what other names were you thinking of calling me?
What was the first word or words you remember me saying?
Describe some of the favorite memories you have of me when I was a child?
What was I like when I was a child?
What attributes did I have as a child and still have now?
What were you most proud of me when I was at school?
Describe what you like about me?
Is there anything you would like to change about me?
What are the happiest memories of your life so far?
What are a few of your favorite things?
Tell me about the tings that make you laugh?
Describe your memory of a major world event that has happened in your life.
Describe the greatest change that you have seen in your lifetime so far.
Describe something you still want to achieve in your life.
Tell me about the dream you have for your life.
If you were an animal what type of animal would you be and why?
If you won the lottery what would you do with the money?
What have you found most difficult in your life?
What is your biggest regret in your life and can you do anything about it now?
With hindsight what would you do differently?
Tell me something you think I wont know about you.
What would you like your epitaph to say?
Is there anything you would like to say sorry for?
What piece of advise would you like to offer me?
Is there anything else you would like to say that hasn’t been mentioned?
And now for the record…
- Your full name?
- DOB
- What colour are your eyes?
- How tall are you?
- How much do you weigh?
- What blood group are you?
- What was the date you completed this journal for me?

Create a treasured family keepsake, share you life, your journey, your memories, your laughs and even your challenges.

Filed Under: Children, Dads Health, Kids Health, Parenting

Simple DIY tasks to keep your bike on the road

04/02/2014 by DO Leave a Comment

bicycle rides Let’s be real; maintenance is such an ugly word. Whether it be the lawnmower, gutters, chainsaw or pool, each weekend is consumed by something that needs to be maintained. While there are no shortcuts if you want things to be in perfect working order, there are simpler ways of making sure you don’t spend your leisurely weekend couped up in the shed. One apparatus you can apply these tips to is your trusty bicycle. Contrary to popular belief, you’re bike doesn’t demand hours of tinkering nor an expensive trip to the specialist every other week. By giving your two-wheeler a measly ten minutes of TLC every week, you’ll be saving yourself from trying to find a few hours (let’s face it: half a day) every couple of months. Assuming you are a regular rider, this simple DIY guide will encourage a long-lasting bicycle without extended downtime at the shop.

Washing Your Bike

You’re car gets the special treatment every month, clearing it of leaves, bird droppings and that coffee you accidently left on the roof. So why wouldn’t you do the same for your bike? Unlike a car, cleaning your bike doesn’t take nearly as long, and with the right tools, you can head back to that midday lifetime repeat in no time. While you can invest in a bike cleaning brush and a chain scrubber, a toothbrush works just as well to get into those hard-to-reach places. Strapped with a bottle of degreasing solvent, a hose and a rag, your bike should be as good as new in only a few minutes.

Lubricating Your Bike

In the world of bicycle maintenance, lubricant is your best friend. If you’re unsure of which sections need attention, a good rule of thumb is: If it moves, you need to lube it. Lubricant is a magical sticky potion that prevents your two-wheeler from becoming a victim of excessive wear, stiffening and rust. While lube is great, overdoing it will do as much damage as leaving it alone. If you’ve gotten too enthusiastic with the lubricant, wipe it away before it dries.

Assessing Your Tyres

Checking your tyres before you hit the road while decrease the likelihood of being stuck walking your bike roadside while a million cars zoom past. Before you jump on the seat and take off into the sunset check the surface tread and sidewall of the tyre ensuring there are no cuts, bulges or debris lodged in the rubber. If you do find any glass or nails piercing the rubber, you will need to replace the tube. Any specialty parts can be found at places like 99 Bikes, click here to view their range.

Evaluating Your Brakes

Newsflash: it’s not a good thing if you are dragging your feet along the ground to stop your bike. It’s an issue commonly ignored by the average rider that can be easily assessed and fixed. To do this, simply hop on your bike and give the levers a good squeeze to ensure it comes to a halt with stretching or fraying the brake cables. Then take a look at the brake pads. Are they hitting the rims evenly? Any unevenness means you will need to replace them.

Avid riders, do you have any simple maintenance tips? Let us know in the comments below.

Filed Under: Activities, Adelaide, Brisbane, Children, DIY, Hobart, Kids Activities, Kids Activities, Melbourne, Perth, Sydney

Tips to keeping your car clean when you have the kids

30/12/2013 by DO 1 Comment

keeping your car clean If your family are anything like mine, more often than not the inside of your car will look more like a semi full skip after a house clearance rather than a clean, tidy and comfortable method of transport. Crisp wrappers litter the glove box, sticky sweets and crumbs can be found lurking between seats and half empty drink bottles roll aimlessly around in the foot wells. Add to this the smell of sweaty sneakers that have been in the trunk for the past six months, and travelling anywhere of any length of time suddenly becomes more health hazard than relaxing getaway.

School holidays tend to be the worst time. When the car is regularly taken to the pool, the park and the beach. No matter how hard I try, most of the beach seems to travel home with us including a couple of buckets of semi dead marine life that my daughter thought she could resuscitate once home. Needless to say they didn’t make the journey!

It doesn’t have to be this way. It is possible to create a clean, mean driving machine with very little effort and just a bit of organisation. In fact it’s almost as easy to get your car kiddie friendly, as it is to compare australian car insurance! Here are our top 5 secrets for doing just that:

1. Get organised and start as you mean to go on

The very first step to dirty car rehabilitation is to just get stuck in there and spend a couple of hours removing EVERYTHING from the interior that isn’t firmly attached, or part of the car itself. This includes car seats, floor mats, cushions, blankets and cuddly toys. Once empty, spend time cleaning the car from top to bottom remembering to vacuum between seats, clean sticky handprints from windows and check the roof and seat fabric for stains or marks. Replace car seats and in-car essentials tidily into the vehicle and throw everything else into the trash.

This is now the blueprint from which you should work. Remember this moment, and how good it feels!

If they’re old enough, show your children the new and improved car and explain to them that this is the standard you expect it to be from now on, explaining that it’s everyone’s responsibility to keep it this way.

2. Invest in a hand-held rechargeable vacuum cleaner

A small hand-held vacuum cleaner is likely to become your new best friend, and should be given a special home in your garage or shed (pick the closest place to where you park your car that has an electric point for charging) ready to whip out following any journey that involved crumbs, mud or sand.

Try to get into the habit of giving the car a very quick once over after every couple of journeys, and you’ll be amazed at how long the car stays fresh and clean. Consider incentivising an older child to do this as one of their chores.

3. Keep a stash of wipes and tissues in your glove compartment

If you already have children, I won’t need to explain how essential a ready supply of moist wipes and tissues is. From wiping up sticky hands to cleaning muddy shoes before they enter the car, you must NEVER be without these!

4. Become a bag lady

Before any journey of longer than an hour or so, remember to take a few disposable plastic or paper bags with you. Crucial for easy disposal of litter, but can also double up as a makeshift laundry bag for soiled or wet clothes.

5. Store in car entertainment in plastic containers

Keep your children’s favourite CD’s, DVD’s, reading books and games in plastic containers that can be stored in the boot or under seats. Encourage your children to replace everything into their box after each journey, and add little surprises to each child box before each journey – like a new colouring book or set of pens. Not only will your car remain spick and span, long journeys become a source of excitement rather than one long chore.

Filed Under: Children, Parenting