Apps
Helping kids Connect and Chat Safely Online
These times of social distancing have meant that many kids are missing the all important connection the are so used to having with their friends
April 24, 2020 No Comments
connecting
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Behaviour
Why your teen won’t talk to you
Have you been frustrated by a grunt, a mumble or a tween or teen who won’t open up when you know something isn’t right? When
August 11, 2015 7 Comments
Anxiety
Using the movie ‘Inside Out’ to discuss emotions with kids
The latest movie from Pixar, ‘Inside Out’, does a great job of balancing the complex elements of neuroscience whilst remaining connected to a younger audience
July 15, 2015 1 Comment
Online Behaviour
5 ways to use technology to connect with your kids
We hear a lot about technology as the bad guy. As parents we love using it. But we also lament the additional strain it puts
March 9, 2015 3 Comments
Understanding their world
Connecting with kids to face the challenges of the modern world
Connecting with our kids, even when we think they don’t want us too, is one of the greatest ways we as parents can help our
February 9, 2015 22 Comments
Online Behaviour
What Parents Want
What do Parents want? I think we would be hard pressed to find a parent that didn’t think they could be a little more patient
January 13, 2015 1 Comment
Online Behaviour
2 Things Parents must do to Effectively Parent with Technology and the Online World
The rapid advances in technology have meant rapid changes to the way our children live their lives, and subsequently to the way we must parent.
February 3, 2014 27 Comments
Apps & Reviews
Kids on bikes in pyjamas: a weekend away at Big 4 Bellarine
Last week we were lucky enough to take a little ‘middle of 4th term, pre xmas craziness’ break down to the Peninsula to hang out
November 29, 2013 2 Comments
Online Behaviour
Adolescents, Cavemen and the Teenage Brain
I have written before about the teenage brain and the changes that are going on in those strangely wired little heads. I watched this week
October 21, 2013 16 Comments
Contracts / Tips
11 tips for Mobile Phone Etiquette
The technology of today and the future, and our increasing reliance on portable devices has led to the introduction of a whole new set of
October 1, 2013 13 Comments
Digital Trends
Can socialising online with your kids improve your relationship
Does socialising online with your kids improve your relationship with them? Does hanging out on social networking sites with mum or dad strengthen the connections
September 9, 2013 8 Comments
Digital Trends
Instagram and video sharing: Another worry for parents?
Is Video sharing another online danger for parents to worry about? This week the Facebook owned photo sharing app, Instagram, announced it would add 15
June 24, 2013 14 Comments
Parenting
Connecting with our kids: how do we keep it up?
What does it really take to connect with someone? We talk about quality time over quantity. We talk about the benefits of real life connections
June 17, 2013 17 Comments
I want my boys to be strong
I want my boys to be strong. I am not talking about the size of their biceps or the weight of their bench press. As
May 20, 2013 21 Comments
Parenting
How we survived being switched off technology as we disconnected to reconnect
We survived! Yes, 48 hours without technology. All switched off and disconnected in order to reconnect. In actual fact I didn’t find it too hard
May 14, 2013 26 Comments
4 reasons why we need to switch off the technology and disconnect to reconnect
I do love technology and the changes it has made to my life. I can do lots of work from home and still be around
May 6, 2013 11 Comments
30 Things to do without technology: Disconnecting our families to reconnect
Hearing the words whine “I’m bored…there’s nothing to do” is not really a new phenomena for kids either from my day or with todays ‘fix
April 29, 2013 14 Comments
Switching off the technology by default: my practice run to Disconnect to Reconnect
Easter this year saw us revisit our camping ground at Halls Gap for another fabulous long weekend of family, friends, fun, chocolate, wine, food and
April 23, 2013 15 Comments
A very important Mothers Day present: Disconnecting to Reconnect
I remember spending my first Mothers Day in the Royal Childrens Hospital with my new baby and I was given a little card with his
April 19, 2013 13 Comments
The downside to being socially switched on…all the time
The cyber world and the advancements in technology have resulted in many changes to the way we connect with others. Whilst many of the changes
February 25, 2013 21 Comments
Rights and Responsibilities Online: Safer Internet Day 2013
Its been a few years now since the internet waltzed into our lounge rooms and more recently into our pockets. Nearly 20 years in fact
February 5, 2013 12 Comments
Is the message in the medium? How does technology change the the meaning behind our communication?
Does the medium we use when we connect with others change our message? Does it matter if we say something via text, Facebook, Skype or Twitter? As technology
November 26, 2012 9 Comments
Listening to our kids now to hear them later
I have often written and spoken about the need to form strong connections with your kids based on open, honest and available communication. We know
October 23, 2012 8 Comments
A Summary of Social Networking Sites and Settings for Parents: how to keep kids safe
Every day there seems to be a new app, social media site or forum for our kids to ‘hangout’ online. Last week I talked about
October 9, 2012 22 Comments
Babyweights, bonding and some exercise too
Getting exercise as a mum is something that some women seem to do really well, and others like me are rather sporadic in their dedication.
September 19, 2012 11 Comments
R u Ok?
Last night I asked someone I had never met “Are you ok?” What followed was a 30 minute conversation on grief and loss. This wasn’t
September 13, 2012 6 Comments
More than Facebook: Helping our kids stay safe online
Keeping an eye on all that our children are doing online is not only time consuming and tedious, but it is almost impossible. We can
September 11, 2012 28 Comments
Fathers Day Questions & a giveaway
Last year on Fathers Day I asked my 3 older boys some interview questions about their dad. It was interesting to see the things they
August 31, 2012 15 Comments
Not hearing, listening: learning to listen to connect with our kids
As parents it is our role to give advice, to solve problems to answer questions and to be a guiding light. But sometimes our kids
July 9, 2012 23 Comments
The positive role of technology: why parents should embrace the online world
Technology, the Internet and our children’s engagement with the online world have lead to many favourable advancements and developments for our children as well as
July 3, 2012 30 Comments
So many mean kids: why parents need to go back to basics
Why are some kids showing disregard for others, society and the laws? What is it that we are doing differently that allows children to think
June 11, 2012 10 Comments
Why we need to Say No To Bullying: an interview with Dylan
The thought of one of our children being bullied, either verbally, physically or covertly, is something that will always remain one of the greatest concerns
June 4, 2012 23 Comments
Risk Taking Behaviour: from the Toddler to the Teenager
At just 8 months of age my youngest boy has a few bruises and bumps to show for his dare devil antics as he tries
May 15, 2012 8 Comments
Public versus Private: Technology blurs the lines for our kids
The children of today are really no different to those of years gone by. They want to hang out with their mates, they want to
April 11, 2012 6 Comments
How we disCONNECTED to connect
So this week we endured, embraced, rallied and relished 48 hours of life that was technology free. Yes we had no television no internet, no
March 26, 2012 8 Comments
disCONNECT: can we really turn everything off?
Last week I week I got an email asking me to be an ambassador for the disCONNECT challenge. In light of my previous post on
March 19, 2012 13 Comments
Playing a new game: Why parents must keep up with technology
Why do we need to understand the technology that our kids are immersed in? The reason is simply that. It is their world, and like
March 13, 2012 26 Comments
5 Ways to build a connection with your child despite your busy lifestyle
After a busy week unpacking a house, preparing for a 10th birthday and recovering from my husbands 40th, it is now time to get back to
December 13, 2011 3 Comments
4 things I learnt from the Problogger Training Day to be used in real life
Last Friday, 300 or so bloggers and myself, descended on the city of Melbourne to attend a Bloggers Training Day organised by blogging guru Darren Rowse of
October 23, 2011 22 Comments
Football and family: 6 reasons why football makes me a better parent
As I bask in the glory of post Grand Final elation, I begin to wonder why football means so much to me and my family. (some
October 2, 2011 1 Comment