happychild - Helping Parents Raise Children With Emotional Intelligence - A happy child makes a world of difference

Evidence that Children are Brilliant, Encouraging and Amazing

YvetteVignando — Sun, 03 Jun 2012 22:03:24 +0000

This video shows that given the opportunity, children are supportive, kind, empathetic and brilliant. It's inspiring to see this young boy with cerebral palsy complete a running race but even more inspiring and uplifting is the support he gets from his peers - watch this video, cry, be inspired to give more today.

This video shows that given the opportunity, children are supportive, kind, empathetic and brilliant.

Moving Overseas with Children - the Big Adventure

SarahLiebetrau — Fri, 01 Jun 2012 04:56:45 +0000

In six weeks, my family and I will be moving to Toronto, Canada from Newcastle, Australia. My husband was offered the opportunity for a transfer with his job, and after much discussion, we decided to take it. The initial contract will last for two years, with the option for us to return home after that time. The two-year time frame makes it doable for me – who knows what will happen after that? We don’t have to decide right now ... I think I have some expectations to manage, as they say in corporate-speak! I know my children are resilient, but I’m also prepared for some tears as their world changes.

In six weeks, my family and I will be moving to Toronto, Canada from Newcastle, Australia.

I am a SAHM - My Experience of Depression

SusanWhelan — Wed, 30 May 2012 02:12:59 +0000

I found Yvette’s blog post last week about stay-at-home mothers and depression thought provoking. I am a stay-at-home mum and last year I was diagnosed with depression. It never occurred to me to link the two, however in the past few days I have given quite a bit of thought to the connection and the different pressures and expectations experienced by stay-at-home mothers compared with women who work outside the home.

I found Yvette’s blog post last week about stay-at-

Marvel Comics Helps Hearing Impaired Child Love his Hearing Aid - Video

Tue, 29 May 2012 03:10:41 +0000

We had to share this one: thanks to @AnIdleDad on Twitter for the heads up on this short and lovely video. A four year old boys is inspired by the generous people at Marvel Comics, who on hearing about his reluctance to wear his hearing aid, created a comic character called Blue Ear. Say no more, just watch this and smile.

We had to share this one: thanks to @AnIdleDad and @HowToBeADad on Twitter for the heads up on this short and lovely video.

Are You a Helicopter Parent? Here is Some Landing Gear.

YvetteVignando — Tue, 29 May 2012 01:28:26 +0000

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.

This was our topic of discussion on Channel 9 show Mornings to

The Night the POTUS Dined in Our Neighborhood

Michelle Higgins — Fri, 25 May 2012 12:10:51 +0000

Last night, after an epic afternoon of activities followed by an Open House at my oldest child’s middle school, we headed downtown for dinner ...Driving home from dinner I noticed an unusual number of police vehicles lining the main street. And then I remembered that President Obama was in town. Earlier in the day my big boy had begged me to take him to see Obama, not understanding that he was here to raise campaign funds not discuss policy issues with an enthusiastic 12-year-old.

Last night, after an epic afternoon of activities followed by an Open House at my oldest child’s middle school, we headed downtown for dinner.

Four Girls Who Have an Opinion - a Child Rights Case?

YvetteVignando — Fri, 25 May 2012 04:31:06 +0000

This week the rights of a child are in the news in Australia. What? You didn’t see all the media? Did you see the numerous television and news stories about four girls (aged 9, 10, 13 and 14) ‘on the run’, trying to avoid a court order that they return to Italy where their father lives (their mum is Australian)? Without knowing the details of those four girls’ experiences and knowing nothing about the mother or father, it’s a mistake for any of us to pass judgement on where those girls should be living right now. That’s a judgement for experts and the courts – but you know what, it’s also something about which each of those four children would have a strong view.

This week the rights of a child are in the news in Australia.

I Thought I Was Prepared for Parenting

Fri, 25 May 2012 01:09:58 +0000

No matter how much you try to prepare for motherhood, you really won’t know how you feel about it until you experience it. No matter how many books you read, you will never find that elusive recipe for how to look after your brand new baby, let alone a toddler, pre-schooler or teenager. I thought I was prepared. I had read the books and spent a great deal of my childhood and adolescence in the company of babies and young children. The reality was nothing like the books.

By Dorothy Krajewski: No matter how much you try to prepare for motherhood, you really won’t know how you feel about it until you experience it.

Why Stay at Home Mums Might be More Depressed - New Poll

YvetteVignando — Wed, 23 May 2012 03:40:18 +0000

A Gallup poll in the United States of over 60,000 women found that mothers who stay at home with their kids, when compared with working mums, experience - more worry: 41% compared to 34%; and - more depression: 28% compared to 17%, as well as slightly more anger, stress and sadness.Today, I discussed this in more detail on Channel 9 show, Mornings. View the short video here and join the discussion: What do you think about these figures? Do you think as a society we need to get better at valuing parents who stay at home?

A Gallup poll in the United States of over 60,000 women found that mothers who stay at home with their kids, when compared with working mums, experience

Competition - Win Tickets to Disney on Ice

MihiriUdabage — Tue, 22 May 2012 03:20:32 +0000

Thanks to Feld Entertainment and Disney we’re very excited to offer subscribers to our newsletter the chance to win tickets to Disney on Ice's new show Let's Celebrate! We are offering four tickets to each of the 6 tour cities!

My children and I recently had the pleasure of meeting Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse at Macquarie Ice Rink in Sydney.

May I say, no matter what your age, it’s alwa