Kids’ Gymnastics

gym

Mel takes Reuben to check out the kids’ gymnastics class at Gymkidz.

Like any mum with an active toddler I am always looking for fun activities that will both stimulate Reuben, teach him some new skills and hopefully tire him out so he has a good nap! Reuben and I were lucky enough to recently try out Gymkidz at Newtown in Sydney’s Inner West which definitely fulfilled all these criteria. Reuben currently participates in soccer and swimming, but at Daycare he has taken a great interest in the past few weeks on balancing on high beams, climbing up ladders and jumping off beams onto mats. He spends a large part of the day doing these activities, so I thought a structured class where he can learn some more advanced gymnastics type skills could be great.

4 Questions To Find Out If You Are Over-parenting Your Child

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Are you over-parenting your child?

It’s something I thought about a lot before Cassie came into the world. As a nanny, I would see other parents hovering over their children at the playground, helicoptering them on the equipment and stopping them climbing on anything too tall or too tricky. It often made me cringe. I thought back to the broken arm I got when I was eight years old after diving off some play equipment and the amazing bike rides my brother and I used to take together, with no parents in tow. It was freedom at its best. Sure, times have definitely changed since then and it will be a long time before I give Cassie the freedom to head out on her own, but over-parenting is a real thing and seems to be happening far too often.

Why my nappy bag is an extension of me

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Why my nappy bag is an extension of me

Finding out you are expecting a new addition to your family is an incredibly exciting time. When it’s your first child, there is so much to think about buying. From the cot to the car seat, clothes, bottles, dummies, toys, play mat and so much more, but there was one thing I was particularly excited about – the nappy bag. Everything else in my eyes was for the baby, but the nappy bag was well and truly for me and me only. Sure, it would hold all the baby’s things, but I would be carrying it all day every day and needed to fall in love.

Protecting Your Bed

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protecting-your-bed There is nothing we love more in our house than a good night’s sleep – and I am sure everyone reading this longs after the same thing. Essentially, it is our parenting end goal – if the girls have a good night then I feel like I can accomplish anything for the day, and I have been lucky enough to be blessed with two angels who started sleeping through from an early age. But our bed is not the sanctuary it once used to be.

How To Secure Your Child’s Future

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how-to-secure-your-child's-future Even before they’re born, our children become our whole world. And once they arrive, we instinctively want to protect them and provide them with everything they possibly need. One of those things is a secure future, one in which they are healthy and capable of dealing with anything life throws at them. Here are some of the things you as a parent can do to help them be better prepared for the future.

December Kids Books

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Here are our top picks of December kids books.

Skip to the Loo by Sally Lloyd-Jones, illustrated by Antia Jeram
Walker Books
This whole business of potty training came around far too quickly for my liking, but before I knew it I had a kid in undies and this book was a great help. Cassie has always been a bit nervous about the potty, but what better way to introduce it than with a group of animals all sharing their love of it. From elephants in tutus to monsters and ghosts, this adorable board book will not only keep your little one entertained, but will have them ‘skipping to the loo’ in no time.