![Parents were shocked to see the pole dancing routine performed in front of kindergarten students.](http://web.archive.org./web/20181209031958im_/http://www.essentialkids.com.au/content/dam/images/h/1/4/w/9/u/image.related.landscape.380x253.p501jn.png/1536028793506.jpg)
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Lunchbox slices, biscuits, cookies
What can I bake for the kids school playlunch? Looking for a little sweet treat for after school snack? Here is a collection of yummy bickies, cookies, slices to pop into their lunchboxes.
![What one mother wishes she knew when she sent her son off to 'big' school last year ...](http://web.archive.org./web/20181209031958im_/http://www.essentialkids.com.au/content/dam/images/3/1/8/d/s/image.related.wideLandscape.460x259.3189h.gjzq8j.png/1485828670476.jpg)
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.
![Is your child school ready?](http://web.archive.org./web/20181209031958im_/http://www.essentialkids.com.au/content/dam/images/2/o/k/p/q/image.related.landscape.120x80.2okln.gjzq8j.png/1444103411520.jpg)
![hates-school-wide](http://web.archive.org./web/20181209031958im_/http://www.essentialkids.com.au/content/dam/images/3/1/v/v/q/image.related.landscape.120x80.31vvp.gjzq8j.png/1444103411520.jpg)
![Basic literacy knowledge is an important issue](http://web.archive.org./web/20181209031958im_/http://www.essentialkids.com.au/content/dam/images/8/8/l/5/image.related.landscape.120x80.88ki.gjzq8j.png/1444620307924.jpg)
![ek-lunchbox-savory-thumb](http://web.archive.org./web/20181209031958im_/http://www.essentialkids.com.au/content/dam/images/3/0/p/h/5/image.related.landscape.120x80.30lw7.gjzq8j.png/1444103411520.jpg)
Latest
![We're all lining up to head back to school.](http://web.archive.org./web/20181209031958im_/http://www.essentialkids.com.au/content/dam/images/g/i/o/x/s/m/image.related.landscape.300x200.h0msd9.png/1516672486807.jpg)
Life's lesson
There's more to be learned at school than how to conjugate verbs, writes Karen Hardy
![Photo: Shutterstock](http://web.archive.org./web/20181209031958im_/http://www.essentialkids.com.au/content/dam/images/g/y/z/9/8/g/image.related.landscape.300x200.gyxyyi.png/1514342004222.jpg)
Why I'm not sad my youngest child is starting school
It's time for me to chase my own life aspirations.
![Should they be in the same class, or separated?](http://web.archive.org./web/20181209031958im_/http://www.essentialkids.com.au/content/dam/images/h/0/4/c/9/r/image.related.landscape.300x200.h04clg.png/1513739199942.jpg)
Why I kept my twins in the same class at school
It's a big decision.
![A sample of the Aussie Legends alphabet.](http://web.archive.org./web/20181209031958im_/http://www.essentialkids.com.au/content/dam/images/g/v/7/8/s/9/image.related.landscape.300x200.gv5qbv.png/1490687190441.jpg)
How Aussie legends are teaching kids their ABCs
The are a bright, quirky, inclusive and meaningful tribute to some of our most beloved Australians - and they are also teaching kids their ABCs.
![Sharon Verghis and her twins.](http://web.archive.org./web/20181209031958im_/http://www.essentialkids.com.au/content/dam/images/g/v/1/m/u/s/image.related.landscape.300x200.guzn3d.png/1538967695431.jpg)
We sent our twins to school when they were four. This is why
"You sent them when?" It is the common attack query that mothers like me face on a regular basis.
![Matilda Quinn started kindergarten this year.](http://web.archive.org./web/20181209031958im_/http://www.essentialkids.com.au/content/dam/images/g/u/v/t/b/o/image.related.landscape.300x200.guuzvb.png/1489281654997.jpg)
To send or not? The best age to start school
For Ashley Quinn and his wife Katherine, the decision when to send their eldest daughter, Matilda, to school was never in question.
![The joy of covering school books](http://web.archive.org./web/20181209031958im_/http://www.essentialkids.com.au/content/dam/images/g/u/a/6/d/c/image.related.landscape.300x200.gua57y.png/1487098665414.jpg)
I've avoided having to cover my kid's school books - until now!
The green cover is printed on the front with the school's name so cutting it down makes it look silly. I don't know how my life came to this.
![Facebook: Melinda Tankard Reist](http://web.archive.org./web/20181209031958im_/http://www.essentialkids.com.au/content/dam/images/g/u/6/b/t/m/image.related.landscape.300x200.gu6bsv.png/1486346068446.jpg)
Preschooler's lunchbox treat prompts scathing note home
A South Australian mum of eight got a rude shock last week when she received a note home about a piece of home made chocolate slice she sent in her preschooler's lunchbox, opening up a lively discussion about healthy lunchboxes and communication between schools and parents.
![Starting school is a momentous occasion for both child and parent.](http://web.archive.org./web/20181209031958im_/http://www.essentialkids.com.au/content/dam/images/g/u/4/p/m/u/image.related.landscape.300x200.gu4njy.png/1486083670232.jpg)
Mum writes beautiful poem on the eve of her child starting school
It's a feeling parents of school-aged children know all too well. The night before, the morning of, or even just before pick up on the very first day; we don't know when the intense feelings are going to hit, but it's a given that they will. Our babies are off to school; the next big phase of life.
![One teacher gave her class a very special welcome.](http://web.archive.org./web/20181209031958im_/http://www.essentialkids.com.au/content/dam/images/g/u/1/d/4/r/image.related.landscape.300x200.gu1945.png/1485842898037.jpg)
How one teacher made her students feel extra welcome this year
A Year Four teacher at a Queensland primary school went above and beyond to ensure her students were ready to start their school year - giving them goodie bags full of meaningful items.
![Five-year-old Colton shares his shoelace tying hack in a viral tutorial.](http://web.archive.org./web/20181209031958im_/http://www.essentialkids.com.au/content/dam/images/g/t/y/8/c/n/image.related.landscape.300x200.gty7s9.png/1485305458856.png)
Boy, 5, shares shoelace tying tutorial and it's must see back-to-school viewing
If you have a little one starting school this year and they haven't quite mastered the tricky art of tying their own shoelaces, let us introduce you to five-year-old Colton.
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