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Happy Halloween Happy nearly Halloween! I thought I’d get in early and offer some ideas you can try to help your children manage their candy consumption on , before and after spooky Halloween night. Too much candy and they can become little scary sugar-loaded monsters! Halloween is a fun time of year for kids (and adults). Getting dressed up, going out with friends and of course collecting candy. While a little candy is fine, and even a bit more than a little is OK on this one night of the year, a lot of candy is not so good for the body, mind or the spirit. So here are some simple strategies you can take to help children manage their sugar intake around Halloween. You know your children best so pick the strategies that will work for your family and lifestyle. Here’s some of the main ideas in this blog post: Keep the candy hidden away before Halloween Buy a ‘reasonable’ size container for candy collection on the night Fill the kids up with a healthy dinner before they go out trick or treating Help your children sort out, ration and throw out the candy with a variety of strategies. Most importantly, learn how you’re helping your kids to develop good life skills when you support them to be patient, decrease and delay their consumption of sugar as well as share their candy stash with others. That way you don’t feel guilty and know you’re being great parent!  Read on to learn more about helping your kids minimise sugar and develop important life skills... Before Halloween It’s tempting to start handing out the candy even before Halloween if you have a big stash of chocolates and sweets in the cupboards. Out of sight is out of mind, so put the candy in a hard-to-get-to place, hidden away in the far reaches of your cupboards. That way neither you nor your children will be tempted. The harder it is to get to the better – by placing candy high up in a cupboard where you need to lug a chair and to move things out of the way, the less likely you’ll be tempted to grab a little something for yourself or for your kids! It’s also really good to remember that you can help your children develop really valuable life skills like patience and delayed gratification by helping them to wait for Halloween and get the candy. This is such an important life skill nowadays with instant communication, fast food and access to almost anything on the internet in seconds. So, if you can remember that you are doing your child good by helping them to wait... building their ability to be patient ... just like you do for birthdays and other gift giving days, you are less likely to cave into their requests, pleading or demands for candy before Halloween! Also research shows that children who are able to delay gratification are less likely to be overweight and are more likely to stick to long term projects without giving up. So you can help your kids build that skill starting this Halloween! Selecting the right size container before the day Your children need candy collecting containers for Halloween. To restrict their candy collecting ‘capacity’, don’t send them out with a pillow case, select a reasonable size bag or small bucket and explain, “once it’s full (or half-full), we’re off home to sort you’re stash and enjoy some candy”. A small container has a number of advantages, first, children can’t load up on too much candy (that you might want to take away later). Second they can be selective when they get offered a choice of candy as they have limited space, so they won’t just grab handfuls of anything. Third, they can choose to take only 1 or 2 pieces from each house to make the time they are out trick or treating last longer. Win/Win! During Halloween Candy Collection Have a good dinner Before you send the kids out to collect their stash, make sure they’ve had a good dinner. Fill them up on protein, vegies and whole grains like brown rice and they’ll feel fuller for longer. Having a full tummy means your kids will be less likely to gorge on candy. It shouldn’t be too hard to get your children to eat their dinner if you say “as soon as dinner is done we get to go out trick or treating”! Boo ha ha ha (chuckle, cackle, giggle)... you hold all the cards on Halloween night! You might ask the kids not to eat candy until they are home so they get to eat the best ones or that they are only allowed to eat a limited number on the road. Save the wrappers so you can keep count. Sorting the Halloween candy This is an important part of the night (or next day if they are too tired... not a great idea to try and take candy away from a sugar-high-over-tired child - you simply can’t win without tears), so you need to navigate this time carefully. If you try to take too much, you’re likely to get resistance. Tread sensitively and you might find you have a cooperative child! Ask your child to sort their candy into piles of the ones they LOVE the most to the ones they don’t really like. Then if you have more than one child, you can let them do the swapping and exchanging process. This also builds life skills ... negotiation ... however, if they can’t manage their negotiations very well, perhaps you can step in a support them to learn to negotiate fairly. If squabbles arise, you get to help them to learn about conflict management. Who knew Halloween could be a great night for learning so many life skills! Once the candy is all sorted and exchanged and household peace has been restored, you can try one or more of the following strategies to reduce the overall candy intake. Pick the ones that work best for your family: It’s a good idea to allow children to have a little candy during the sorting / reducing process so they don’t feel like they aren’t able to enjoy the night. To restrict the amount, invite them to pick 1, 2 or 3 pieces of candy they want to eat while they are sorting. Then space the consumption out to make it last. Put the candy they don’t like in the trash or a container for giving away. Take them out of sight straight away so there can be no second thoughts. It’s not far between Halloween and gingerbread candy house building time. So, how about getting an air tight container and inviting the kids to choose which candies they’d like for their gingerbread house. Once they’re in the container... hide them away and you’re ready for a holiday project! “Sharing is caring”, so ask the children to share some of their candy with you. It’s important to help kids learn to be generous and caring of all members of your family – including you. Offer to buy or replace the candy with a special toy/book/activity they’d like. This way they get a real treat and you get to take the sugar away. Some dentists offer Halloween candy buy backs. Try an internet search and see if there is one in your local area.  You can also send your candy by post to Operation Gratitude which annually sends 100,000+ care packages filled with snacks, entertainment items and personal letters of appreciation addressed to individually named U.S. Service Members deployed in hostile regions, to their children left behind and to Veterans, First Responders, Wounded Warriors and their Care Givers. This way you can talk about caring, sharing and supporting others. A candy ‘tasting’ game is a fun way to try, but not gobble, too many candies. Have a trash can available and kids and adults alike get to take a small bite, throw the remainder in the trash and then describe the taste like a candy connoisseur as they slowly chew and savour the candy. Claps and cheers for the ‘best’ descriptions make it a fun time.   Have a number of small snack bags or small containers that children can put 2-3 candies in to save for later. This way the candy gets to last longer. In our home, we only have candy on the weekend, and Cameron calls it “weekend food”. We don’t usually keep weekend food in the house except for say Easter or Birthdays where he gets candy and chocolates. At those times we keep the weekend food at the back of the pantry where none of us can see it and Cameron gets to choose what he likes each weekend until it’s gone. Or You could put all of the candy into one container and allow the kids to have one per day, or one every few days or once per week... until they are all gone! I also read somewhere that you can do cool experiments with candy, that’s another way you can use up the candy without eating it and learn something ‘science-like’ at the same time! I hope these strategies help you and your children have a safe, happy and even educational Halloween. You’ll have many opportunities to help your kids develop important life skills. If you’d like to know more about how to help your children eat well, exercise and even help you tidy up around the home, have a look at my Inspired Children Health and Wellbeing Life Skills Home Activity eBook. There are twelve easy-to-follow life skills activities you can complete in just 15 minutes at a time. Here are just some of the skills and knowledge your child can learn: The fun 15 minute clean up technique; How to make a healthy snack; Getting kids to enjoy a variety in food as part of a healthy diet; Household cleanliness: doing the dishes with a difference; A before bed routine to prepare for the next day... no more rushing around in the morning; The benefits of stretching; Playing team sports – more than just good health; How to help your kids reduce their junk food intake by learning about ‘Treats’, ‘Weekend Food’ and ‘Sometimes Food’; Relaxation for general wellbeing; Chewing food correctly for improving digestion and getting good nutrition; and the many health benefits of being in nature. Remember each activity only takes around 15 minutes to complete and you can complete them at your own pace at a time that suits you and your family’s lifestyle... Most importantly, imagine how good you’ll feel about the huge difference you’re making as a parent to your child’s understanding about how to care of themselves by eating well and exercising. So many kids are suffering right now because they are overweight, others because they can’t manage stress. Learning how to be healthy as a child is a foundation for a long and happy life.

There are so many benefits for parents and kids alike of spending time writing. Writing does the heart, spirit, and body a lot of good. If you don’t have a special book or journals to write in why not buy one for yourself and your kids and take some time each day to write. It could be first thing in the morning to set a positive intention for the day or plan the day, or after school or even before bed to recount the wonderful achievements in the day. So here are some ways that parents and kids benefit from writing: 1. Alleviate stress: write down your worries. If your child is too young to write – write it for them. Writing a ‘to-do list’, taking action on just one thing and then crossing it off the list can greatly reduce stress and anxiety and increase a sense of accomplishment and wellbeing. 2. Get your creative juices going: being creative and getting in the flow is so good for our spirits through writing. You and your child can share this moment by truly being in the now and together writing something creatively together. Try it! 3. Nurtures your spirit. Finding time to be quiet, contemplative and writing anything that comes to you is good for your spirit. 4. Great for your relationships. Write your child a little note and pop it in their lunch box as a surprise! Write your partner a little love letter and see what happens! 5. Helps make your goals a reality. Imagine what you want to achieve and then write it down! There is something very powerful about writing down what you want, then writing the steps you could take to make your dream come true! 6. Recording your life: Take a few minutes a day to write down something special about your life and your time with your child. Encourage your child to take a few minutes every day to write in a journal or diary. This way you can always have a record of those treasured moments. There are so many ways parents can help their children develop key life skills that will help them sail through life. If you would like to help your child set goals, learn how to take action steps towards achieving their dreams then take a look at the Inspired Creativity Home Activity eBook. It has 12 activities that you can complete with your child in just 15 minutes at a time to get their creative juices flowing and into action on achieving goals.

When you make a mistake, how do you experience it? Are you cross with yourself? Do you hear negative self-talk like “oh you idiot or you’re so stupid”? Do you fear being ridiculed by others?     OR Do you see mistakes and errors in a positive light - an experience that provides you with feedback and the opportunity to learn? Do you hear positive self-talk like “OK, I’m not there yet, I still need to learn more about that?” A few years back I heard Cameron say “silly me” to himself when the tower he was building fell down. I talked to him about this and suggested that saying “silly me” isn’t being kind to yourself and that it’s better to say something like “never mind, try again.” That seemed a lot more positive and enabling. I also wondered where he got “silly me” from. We are so fortunate that Cameron’s grandmother, Baba, takes care of Cameron a few days a week. A couple of days later my mother recounted a story from the day she’d spent with Cameron. She said “do you know what Cameron said to me today? Don’t say ‘silly me Baba, that’s not being kind to yourself’.” She chuckled at his remarks, as did I because I now realised where it had come from. I explained to mum, that the words silly me can seem harmless enough at first glance, however, when you think about it more we don’t want Cameron to say silly me to himself as a young child, as it sets up bad habits which could morph into “I’m stupid” or “I’m such an idiot” as he grows up. Take a moment to reflect upon what you role model for your child. Does your child see that you’re OK with mistakes or do they hear your negative self-talk. Now think about how your child experiences mistakes – is it in an encouraging or self-depreciating way? Take the time to talk about the advantages of seeing mistakes as feedback and an opportunity to learn with your child. This simple activity will support your child to develop key life skills and personal attributes like: 1. develop a positive attitude to making mistakes 2. view mistakes simply as feedback which is a key part of learning 3. be aware of the harmful effects of negative self-talk and the benefits of positive self-talk. Do you want to know more about developing your child’s Education Skills and how the Inspired Children Life Skills Home Activity Book can benefit them. There are twelve important life skills you can help your child to develop with the Inspired Children Education, Careers and Money eBook : A love of learning; planning and completing homework; a positive attitude towards making mistakes; understanding the value of money and household spending; learning about saving money; active learning versus passive learning; understanding why learning is important; the many different roles in life; exploring possible future life directions; investigating the health and medical professions; benefits of active listening for learning; understanding the concept of ‘value-for-money’. Each activity only takes around 15 minutes to complete and you can complete them at your own pace at a time that suits you and your family’s lifestyle... Most importantly, imagine how good you’ll feel about the huge difference you’re making as a parent to your child’s education, career and their financial literacy.

Every parent wants their children to grow up healthy and happy. Good health and order in life provide a strong foundation for wellbeing and a successful life. Getting more vegetables into your child’s diet helps them to grow healthy bodies and health brains. This will give them more energy to exercise and to learn. We all know the saying, “healthy body, healthy mind”, but unfortunately, statistics show an increasing number of children have ill health with rising numbers of children experiencing both physical and psychological disorders like obesity, diabetes, anxiety and depression. These all stem from poor diets. So how can you get your children to eat more healthy vegetables? First, kids need home cooking - there are very few vegetables in fast foods... you’ll be lucky if you get a piece of lettuce and slice of tomato in a burger or taco. So the key is to have your kids eat most of their meals at home and to get them involved in all stages of food preparation. Start with planning meals together and invite your children to tell you the vegetables they like, go out shopping together and invite the kids to pick one new vegetable a week or fortnight. Most importantly, allow them to help with food preparation. In the kitchen you can share recipes, hear about their day and take time to be together while you make the family meal. It is good for the body and for the heart. Our son is only 6 years old but he loves to help in the kitchen. While I am cutting the vegetables for dinner he likes to make a salad for the family and I prepare him a special plate to enjoy while he waits for dinner. Now you see it Now you don’t If you need some help in supporting your children to learn more about healthy eating, exercising, helping around the home and even making healthy snacks, please check out the Inspired Children Health and Wellbeing Life Skills Home Activity eBook.  The book has 12 easy-to-follow activities that only take 15 minutes to complete and are designed to help your children learn about the importance of exercise and good nutrition as well as personal and home cleanliness, providing a sound foundation for a happy and healthy life. Find out more about developing your child’s Health and Wellbeing and how the Health and Wellbeing Life Skills Home Activity eBook can benefit the whole family.

Let’s face it everyone has faced the terrible “green-eyed monster” of jealousy at one time or another in their life, if not many times. So how do we help our kids learn to deal with jealously in a positive way so that they have the skill for life? The key is to teach them about keeping their personal power and not giving it away to a green-eyed monster or anyone else! Consider this. Does your child give their power away to other people or things outside them? Does your child say things like “I wish I was like _________ or I’m so jealous of ___________ or it’s not fair why can _________ have everything and I can’t” and in this way give their power away to people and things outside themselves? If you answered yes to any of these questions, then like most other parents, you have a typical child... jealously is a perfectly normal behaviour for kids and even adults at times too. But, jealousy is not a nice feeling and can lead to terrible behaviours if left unchecked, so being able to deal with it is such an important skill to have. What if you could help your child learn to claim and use their own personal power by looking inwards at their unique strengths and qualities rather than outwards at other? What if you could help your child to just be happy with who they are and to learn that they are responsible for their own feelings, thoughts and behaviours?  This would be empowering right? If your children are always comparing themselves to others or are jealous of other children and the things they have, then their focus is outside themselves and they have given away their personal power. Feeling jealous of others can make a child feel less than others and feel powerless because they can’t control things outside themselves, but they have the ability to control what they thing and feel if they know how. While it may take some time, helping your children understand that they can accept and love themselves and take responsibility for their thoughts, feelings and actions will mean they will have a happier life. Taking charge of their lives in this way allows them to claim their personal power. I know this is not an easy concept to grasp at first, but either was reading or maths or anyone thing your child has learned to do. But with patience and careful instruction by exploring and discussing your child’s personal power around jealousy you can really empower your child and help them to understand that they: 1. are responsible for creating their feelings of jealousy and so they can choose not to feel jealous and 2. can learn how to appreciate who they are and use their personal power to respond to life situations as they arise If your child needs a boost to their personal power, you can help them with 12 easy-to-complete activities in my Personal Power Life skills Home Activity eBook. The step-by-step activities only take 15 minutes at a time and help your child develop a positive attitude, healthy self-esteem and resilience.

Personal power relates to what a child believes about themselves. A child with healthy self-esteem and a ‘can-do’ attitude is more likely to try new activities and be more successful in life. We all know that life is filled with ‘ups’ and ‘downs’. How well do your children deal with challenges or adversity? Resilience is an important personal attribute that helps children pick themselves up when times are tough and keep going! The Inspired Children Program activities enhance your child’s attitude, self-esteem, and resilience developing their overall personal power. Does your child have healthy self-esteem or do they lack confidence? Do you hear your child say negative things about themselves like “I’m so dumb” or “I can’t do anything right” or “That’s OK for someone else but not for me”? Does your child give up easily or are they able to keep going even when life sends challenges their way? Does your child have a positive attitude or a negative attitude to life? If you would like to know how to help your child to build healthy self-esteem, have a positive attitude to life and be more resilient, then find out more about your child’s Personal Power and how the Inspired Children Life Skills for Children program can benefit your whole family.

Are your kids cooperative contributing members of your family or are you forever trying to get them to do the right thing and help out? A common way parents try to influence their child’s behaviour is through rewards and punishments. Rewards can include: praise, a sticker on a chart, TV or electronic games time or even financial rewards as an incentive to behave a certain way. Punishments can include: a stern talking to, time out, loss of privileges and even harsher punishments for really ‘bad’ behaviour. Are you stuck in a cycle of rewards and punishments? And, if so is this the way you want to relate to your child? Using a system of rewards or punishment, it basically goes like this: If you do ‘your homework’, then you will get ‘TV time’ or if don’t do ‘your chores’ you won’t get ‘to go out this weekend’! Wouldn’t it be fabulous if you could simply say “can please do your homework” and your child said “sure, no problem” because they want to not because they will either gain a privilege or lose one. Another name for reward/punishment parenting is ‘conditional’ or ‘transactional’ parenting. Now when you put it that way, it doesn’t sound so good does it? Transactional parenting sounds more like a business arrangement and is no fun for parents or children. It doesn’t feel like what a family is about. Let’s face it - what parents really want are children who are cooperative members of a family and contribute to all aspects of family life in a positive way because they want to. Right? So how can we achieve this? Up to now the main approach used in families is to punish and reward to get children to do the right thing. The down side is that kids see your love as conditional – you give love when they behave well in the form of positive attention and praise and then withdraw love when they behave in a way that is unacceptable to you. Now you and I both know that you LOVE them all the time – even when you send them to their room, give them a good talking too or walk away from them – but do your children know you love them? All they experience is your disappointment or anger and withdrawal of love. Doesn’t look or feel like love does it? BUT what if there was another way? What if there was a way that didn’t involve a focus on good/bad behaviour, punishment/rewards and giving and withdrawing love. I know that is an approach that interests me and I have been doing quite a bit of research on the topic since the day I realised that there is another way. VIDEO - DR ROSINA TALKING AT PARENTING 2.0 IN SAN DIEGO I presented at a parenting conference - P2.0 Talks - in San Diego, California. I met many wonderful parenting educators at the conference and I gave a talk about an incident with our son which transformed the way I saw my role as a parent - away from focussing on behaviours, rewards, punishments or disciplines to a life skills approach to parenting. This has been so empowering and liberating for me as a parent – to see myself as our son’s life skills coach! Basically, in one moment, I realised that our Cameron is learning to navigate the world and my job is to help and support him so he can learn all of the key life skills that will help him lead a great life and be a cooperative and loving member of our family. What a relief... how empowering... how loving... now I didn't need to see our son as having good behaviour or bad behaviour but simply needing support to acquire the skills to navigate life and to be the best person he can become. So instead of seeing his actions as a behavioural issue that needs reward/punishment... and let’s face it, who likes punishing /disciplining their child - this is no fun at all for anyone -  so I instead look for which life skills he’s missing and how I can best support him to develop them with … you know… ‘patience and love’ …well of course I try my best even though I don't always succeed first time. So that is another point, it's OK to make mistakes. You can’t always be the perfect parent! In the video, I also talk about how parents can show their kids that it’s OK to make mistakes as a parent. In this way I get to have a second chance and have 'a do-over' to try again in a more supportive way when I make parenting mistakes. Are you OK with making mistakes? If you can accept that you make mistakes … perhaps you can be more tolerant and forgiving when your child, partner, friends and family members make mistakes too. Because I readily model for my child that it is OK to make mistakes, my child learns another key life skill: that it is OK to make mistakes, to say sorry and to have another turn to do better. That is a process called 'learning' and ‘feedback’ as we all work towards life skills mastery – parents and children alike! Many people use rewards charts so perhaps we don’t have to ‘throw the baby out with the bath water’ and we can use ‘rewards’ charts in a supportive way. For example, what if a chart is used where the focus is not about rewards but instead it’s a chart to support and measure the effort and progress of a child when learning a new life skill (like self-discipline in completing homework; or being a loving, cooperative and contributing member of a family by doing chores; or learning about respectful communication with family and friends). If the chart is used to inspire, motivate and support a child’s learning, self-esteem and self-efficacy so they see themselves slowly mastering a life skill over time and if the chart recognises efforts as well as progress not just achievements - then this kind of chart sounds like a great tool as part of a loving family environment!

Do you want to be an inspired parent? Do you want to be the best parent you can be? Join Dr Robyn Mills her as she  interviews Dr Rosina McAlpine, parenting expert and empowered mother, wife and woman of the world.  Her passion, knowledge and wisdom will  inspire you. Dr Rosina McAlpine talks about her loving journey into parenthood and how being a mother  inspired her passion to support and empower all parents to be the best they can be. Join me as I interview Dr Rosina about her research into child development and parenting and how it has taken her from Australia to the US to create a TV show. You'll get loads of tips and advice about how to help your child develop key life skills like good self esteem, resilience, emotional intelligence and so much more so they can lead a happy, healthy and meaningful life.

Article published in Woman’s Day Magazine, 31 January 2011. Child development expert Dr Rosina McAlpine shows how to boost your child’s confidence and beat the back-to-school stress. STEP 1: Use Actions Not Words How often have you said, “Not now, I’m on the phone” or “I’m too busy”? “Most parents are very busy, which adds to the stress of dealing with children,” Dr Rosina McAlpine says. “But how would you feel if someone talked to you that way? It’s important to let your kids know you value their opinions as much as anyone else’s” Instead of hurting your child’s feelings, try these solutions On the phone  Ask the person to hold, then say to your child “I’m very interested in what you have to say but I can’t talk now. I’ll be off the phone in ten minutes and we’ll talk then. ” When busy  “Sorry darling I’m busy doing something for work. Let’s talk about it at dinner. ” When cooking “I can’t talk now because it’s dangerous with a hot stove and I don’t want you to get hurt.” STEP 2: Focus on the Behaviour Not the Child Biting. Hitting. Nose picking. Ignoring requests. Children do so many things adults find unacceptable and often our automatic reaction is to say “You’re so naughty” or “You’re so cheeky/rude/bad”. “Try focussing on their behaviour rather than them” Says Dr McAlpine. “For example say ‘biting hurts. It is not OK to bite/speak in that tone/be rude’. Children who feel good about themselves are more likely to try new things and are less likely to be defensive or insecure. Regularly telling a child they’re naughty might mean they believe it for life.” Child development expert Dr Rosina McAlpine shows how to boost your child’s confidence and beat the back-to-school stress. STEP 3: Teach your child Gratitude A grateful attitude can reduce depression and make children aware of what is important to their true happiness, research shows. Teach your child to be grateful by: Keeping a journal  Ask them to record the things they love about their life. They can use words, pictures, stickers - whatever they like. Bedtime thank-you  “Invite your child to share who and what they are grateful for. It’s a lovely way to go to sleep” says Dr McAlpine. For find out more about the benefits of a life skills approach to parenting please click here

Do your children understand the value of money? Do you buy your children everything they want? Most parents do this because they love their children and want to give them everything they can. However, in the long term, this strategy is potentially harmful to your children. Children who are used to getting everything they want will have a hard time valuing money and understanding the concept of budgeting, earning and saving for the things they want in life. This can lead to over spending, over use of credit cards and a lifetime of money problems. Explaining the value of money and setting a good example for your children can help them be responsible with money. Many parents don’t want to “burden” their children with the household finances or they feel they are too young to understand. However, another way to see it is that parents can actually “empower” their children if they are part of the household budgeting process. If your children understand the flow of money in your home, how money is earned, see you spending responsibly, they will get the right messages about money and learn lifelong skills around acting responsibly with their finances. Advantages include: 1. Helps children understand how money is earned and spent in their household 2. Helps children learn the value of money and gain lifelong skills around responsible spending. Education Skills  are on of the 7 key life skills in the Inspired Children Life Skills for Children program.

Comprehensive back-to-school guide for parents Are you worried about getting yourself and your child ready for back-to-school time?  Do you want more than just a few tips to get you started? Then simply following parenting expert Dr Rosina’s comprehensive 14-day back-to-school guide will inspire you to get into action and take the worry away! By including your child in the preparations and taking care of only one activity each day, you can still enjoy the last few weeks of the holidays and make sure you get the New Year off to a great start! Sound good? Well then … let’s go. First! Grab a notebook so you can keep everything together and make notes as you go. No more lost lists, numbers or bits of paper everywhere! Now you’re ready to get on your way to being organised! Day 1: Uniforms and shoes  If you already have school and sports uniforms as well as shoes from last year, then get your child to try them on to make sure they still fit. If they do, simply get everything ready with a wash, an iron and a polish and you’re done. If not, make a list of the purchases and alterations you need and then shop, shop, shop now! Make sure you leave enough lead time for uniforms to be made or altered for length. Day 2: School supplies Ask your child to help you collect in one place, all of the school supplies you already have. Throw away the items that are old or no longer working and make a list of all the things you need to replace including school bag, note pads, pens, easers etc. To save money, take advantage of the back-to-school sales, use the list you’ve prepared and don’t buy things you don’t need! Day 3: Contact and emergency information Create a contact list including your phone number and address, emergency numbers, doctor’s numbers and a ‘back-up’ contact number for when you can’t be reached. Place these numbers on the fridge at home in clear view, provide them to your child’s school, in your child’s school bag and help your child to memorise your contact number and their home address. Day 4: Organisation - calendars and routines Purchase a large calendar where you can write appointments and events.  Place it in a location where it is easy to view and update. Enter in as many dates as you can at this stage and help your child to learn about using a calendar by referring to it every day and updating it together. This is a great life skill you can help your child develop! Next create routines for morning, after school and before bed and explain them to your child. For example, morning routine could include getting their lunch from the fridge and putting it in their bag, after-school routine could be change of clothes, time for snack, then homework, play and wash hands before dinner. Before bed routine could include preparing uniforms, shoes, socks, packing bag with books, homework, sports clothes etc. You can help children do this by themselves by having a checklist for them to tick off every night. Practise these routines before school starts until they are running smoothly ready for their first day back! Day 5: Sleep  Both you and your child need to be well rested to be productive and happy throughout the day. The week before school commences, decide on bedtimes and waking times, put them into place and stick to them.  Day 6: Homework area Prepare an area for your child to study and complete their homework after school. Ideally this is a quiet space with no access to internet or television so that they are not watching TV, updating Facebook or looking at YouTube videos when they should be finishing homework! Involve your child in the design so they feel part of the process and it is inviting to them. Day 7: Relieve back-to-school nerves and inspire your child Talking about the upcoming school year and the changes your child might experience can help reduce some of their back-to-school anxiety. You can also motivate and inspire your child by discussing the exciting new classes, activities and events they can participate in during the year. Day 8: Friends Studies have suggested that approximately 75% of your child’s time at school is spent in social interactions, so the quality of their friendships has a significant impact on their success at school. While you can’t pick your child’s friends, you can provide valuable knowledge that will help them select wisely. The idea of just one ‘best friend forever’ can lead to disappointment and unhappiness as conflict and change is inevitable. Being open to diversity in friendships and having multiple relationships is less likely to result in isolation when disagreements arise. Encouraging your child to be-friend different people some who share their own interests and personal strengths and others who do not, holds many advantages. Day 9: Exploring solutions to potential problems Can you remember back to your days at school and the difficulties you faced and all things that can go wrong? Imagine if you had discussed them with your parents before hand and  developed  and  practised  strategies to cope. Take the time to talk about topics like bullying, accidents, drugs and alcohol, strangers and peer pressure. Your child is more likely to cope better if they have discussed a situation and practised strategies before it actually occurs. Day 10: Transportation  Work out how your child will get to and from school and then organise the car pool, bus tickets, walking route or locations for drop off and pick ups. Explain the transport plan to your child in detail and then have a few practice runs so you both feel safe and confident.  Day 11: Meet the teachers As you get closer to the back-to-school date organise for a tour of the school with your child and to meet their teachers. Meeting the teacher can reduce your child’s back-to-school nerves. Opening the lines of communication and building a friendly relationship with your child’s teacher will support your child in many ways!  Day 12: Set a good example Children learn more from what their parents do than what they say. So set a great example and be the kind of person you’d like your child to become. You can’t expect them to be organised, tidy and thoughtful if you don’t display those characteristics and are messy and disorganised.  Day 13: Create a little surprise  Prepare a little surprise like a personal note or a photograph and place it in your child’s bag for them to find at some time during their first day … it will show you care, reassure your child they are loved and a inspire a big smile! Day 14: Meet your friends After all that’s done it’s time for a well-earned break and a catch-up with your friends. Remember a tired and grumpy parent is no fun for anyone and happy parents make a happy household. So don’t forget to take care of yourself as well as the family! You’re now ready to start a new school year organised and confident! Remember, your efforts will not only make the transition back to school easier, it will also help your child develop the key life skills they need to lead a happy and successful life.

An individual and a family can function much better and feel more positive in a clean environment, so knowing how to keep their home clean and tidy is a valuable life skill for your child to learn. Parents often think it will be quicker if “I do it myself” - and you are right - but only in the short term! In the long run, once your child learns the skills of cleaning - you will have help and  they will have  an important skill for life! Cleaning - enjoyable and fun? We all have to clean our home, so why not make it as enjoyable as possible! You can help your child understand that their ‘attitude’ to something is their choice - so they can go about cleaning in a resentful and grumbling way or make it fun, feel good about doing it and feel a sense of satisfaction once it is done. Children learn best when something is enjoyable and fun - actually so do adults - so give it a go! Put on some music and 1. Help your child learn about doing the dishes in a fun way 2. Allow the child to see the benefits of completing an activity together as a family