Essential Kids: Information for parents of preschoolers and school-age children

What to expect from the first year of school

What one mother wishes she knew when she sent her son off to 'big' school last year.
Beachside Bondi staycation for families

It’s never too late to take a holiday in your own backyard. Sheriden Rhodes takes her mum and five-year-old daughter on a multi-generational ‘staycation’ in their capital city.
Surrogate grandparents are as real as they come

The bond between grandparents and grandchildren is a special one but what do you do if your child doesn't have any in their life?
Watch 7-year-old, Elias Phoenix's, impressive piano performance on Ellen

From the moment he walked on stage, the smooth-talking prodigy was all complements and hugs for his favourite talk show host.
Is middle child syndrome a real thing?

If you have a middle child, chances are this 'syndrome' has crossed your mind at some stage. But is it a 'real' thing and what does it mean for those stuck-in-the-middle kids if it is?

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When your child's best friend starts school without them

CATHERINE RODIE Is your child feeling left behind? Here is how to help them through the sadness of not seeing their best friend at preschool each day.

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When your child won't stop lying

Rashida Tayabali Has your child developed a lying habit? Here is why they lie and how to encourage honesty instead.

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Bringing children up vegetarian

Stepfather creates children's book to propose to his childhood pen pal

Childcare workers asked to hand back wage rise

Childcare costs: families spending 9% of income after subsidies

What to expect from the first year of school

Lisa Almond What one mother wishes she knew when she sent her son off to 'big' school last year.

Watch 7-year-old, Elias Phoenix's, impressive piano performance on Ellen

LIVIA GAMBLE From the moment he walked on stage, the smooth-talking prodigy was all complements and hugs for his favourite talk show host.

Comments

Is middle child syndrome a real thing?

Disney and Harrods delivering princess dream for $1700 a session

Why I am glad my child plays alone

Politics have no place in curriculum review: Christopher Pyne

Surrogate grandparents are as real as they come

Alana Schetzer The bond between grandparents and grandchildren is a special one but what do you do if your child doesn't have any in their life?

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Giving girls the code to a life in computing and engineering

Matthew Hall An organisation encouraging young girls to develop an interest in computer science and engineering aims to bridge the gap in the number of women and men employed in computing fields, whether as engineers or developers.

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Teenager creates slam poem to deliver powerful message for girls the world over

EXCLUSIVE: Selective school fees five times higher than at other public schools

Half of teens outgrow depression and anxiety

Parents find letter addressed to their deceased daughter's future self

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Entertaining Kids

The possible reality behind those emoticons your child is receiving online.

How this image is meant to help keep your child safe online

Staff writers A new ad campaign aimed at keeping kids safe online is using images of human faces distorted into giant Emojis to ask parents a very important question.

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New app allows parents to 'Ghost Call' their kids into submission

KERRI SACKVILLE - ESSENTIAL KIDS Nagging your children into submission can be a thing of the past thanks to a new app that claims to make children listen.

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Why Flowers in the Attic still haunts us

Jolie good fun at Sydney's Luna Park

Sasha and Malia Obama: becoming young women in the White House

I screen, you screen: the rise of children using technology

Family Life

A big-hearted police officer took 2 minutes to make this kid's day

Annie Colbert Sgt. Ariel Soltura of the Rosenberg Police Department in Texas spotted 10-year-old Jermaine Ford tossing a football by himself in a parking lot while on patrol Saturday afternoon. Rather than roll by, the police officer pulled over and joined Ford for a quick game of catch.

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