Four Babies Laughing - Can't Ask For More
I confess this was located by HuffPost Parents and I full acknowledge their cleverness in finding this. Surely this will go viral - an adorable one minute of video - quadruplet boys laughing at their dad. I still remember how beautiful and special it was when our three babies laughed at us. Read full article
Take a Seat - Make a Friend - Try this in a School?
A beautiful video from Soul Pancake called "Take a Seat - Make a Friend". We think this would be a brilliant exercise for a Primary or Elementary school to help children get to know each other, make friends, and appreciate diversity. This is great. Take 5 minutes and enjoy this. Read full article
Helicopter Parenting - Why Is It Still the Mother's Fault?
I live in a small town way out in the country where – it’s true – debates about helicopter parenting are pretty rare. Here packs of sunburned kids ride helmetless around our winding roads, the wind blowing through their sweaty hair, the sun reflecting off their freckled faces...When Catherine Deveny decries helicopter parents and all their associated neuroses, she avoids the very persistent reality for many mothers: that of an oppressive sense of responsibility. Read full article
Is Your Dad this Cool? Sending a Toy Train into Space
On Aug 24th 2012 Ron Fugelseth, Creative Director at Oxygen Productions Inc sent his son's favourite train 'Stanley' to space in a weather balloon with a HD camera and an old cell phone for GPS. He was recovered 27 miles away in a corn field and they filmed some great footage of the trip. This video documents the journey from liftoff to landing. Spotted by Carol Duncan - the video, not the train. Read full article
Four Year Old Boy Delightfully Upstages Bill Cosby
This four year old young man claims he will be a paleontologist and a rock star when he grows up - with lines like "That would be really, really, painful for the President" and "That venom could jump 40 feet above the ground" and so much more, you will want to watch all of this utterly delightful and hilarious video. Bill Cosby wisely keeps quiet through most of it! Read full article
We Are All Born Free
The most gorgeous hard back picture book for children about human rights.This beautiful commemorative edition of We Are All Born Free celebrates each declaration with an illustration by an internationally renowned artist or illustrator.A testament to freedom and the human spirit, it is a thoughtful gift for children and adults alike. Read full article
Twelve Year Old Interviews his 32 Year Old Self - Clever
32 year old Jeremiah McDonald interviews his 12 year old self, or is it the other way around? Watch and be enthralled. When Jeremiah was 12 he videoed himself asking questions of his older self. His "older self" has now made a short film (less than 4 minutes) participating in that interview. Suitable for all ages but the phrase "what the hell" does make one appearance. Read full article
Benefits of Teaching Positivity to Children
Follow the advice of "fake it 'til you make it" or just "be positive", and you may end up oozing a kind of "toxic insincerity" says Dr. Barbara Fredrickson, Professor of Psychology and specialist investigator of positive emotions and psychophysiology at the University of North Carolina. Dr. Fredrickson was speaking at a workshop that was part of the Young Minds conference held last week at Darling Harbour in Sydney. Teaching the benefits of positivity, Dr. Fredrickson says instead of ‘thinking positive’, we should aim to identify the experiences and contexts that give us a positive emotion, and then repeat them. Research indicates that experiencing positive and negative emotions in about a 3-to-1 ratio, has the potential to enhance your relationships, improve your health, relieve depression, and broaden your mind. Read full article
I Don't Have a Favourite Child - If I Did, I Wouldn't Tell You
The old chestnut - having a favourite child - was up for discussion today on Mornings on Channel 9. Journalist Paul Chai read Jeffrey Kluger's book The Sibling Bond and wrote an article admitting that while he loves both his kids, he finds one easier to relate to and easier to bond with. I had a chat about this with Paul and Mornings hosts David Campbell and Sonia Kluger. Depending on what you read, 100 %, 95%, 70%, 65% or 23% of parents admit to having a favourite child ... Read full article
Are You a Helicopter Parent? Here is Some Landing Gear.
Are you a helicopter parent? Please don't let this article give you anything else to be anxious about - instead use it to think about whether there are areas of your child's life where he or she could become more independent and more self-reliant. I am sharing brief ideas with you about signs you may be a helicopter parent and four simple tips to pull back a bit and build your child's confidence, self-esteem and independence. Read full article
