• Breaking through the wall

    Feel like you’re fighting a losing battle with your stubborn child? Child psychologist Kimberley O’Brien tells you how to get their attention.

    Dealing with difficult teens.
  • Six years of Suri

    Six years ago today recently engaged superstars, Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes welcomed their first daughter together, Suri Cruise, into the world.

    Suri Cruise at six-years (left) and one-years (right) old.
  • Top 10 immunity boosters for kids

    Ward off those winter bugs with Dr Joanna McMillan’s top ten immunity booster super foods for kids.

    Ward off winter bugs with immune boosting super foods.
  • Families that cycle together

    If you want to make cycling your family pastime we have everything you need to know about riding with kids and where you can find a family-friendly track near you.

    Get on your bike ... Cycle your area with the kids.
  • Boosting their self-confidence

    Developing your child’s self-confidence doesn’t have to be a chore. In fact it can be as simple as giving them some spare time to play.

    Confidence ... Imagination and play can help them thrive.

Preschoolers Sponsored by

Fruit & vegetable categoriser

A fun colouring activity that teaches your kids the difference between fruit and vegetables.

Encouraging new experiences

nervous

Melanie Hearse Can you turn a naturally reluctant child into a spontaneous daredevil?

Killer role models

Autism: One family's journey

The age of intolerance

Sleep skiing the next big thing

Younger Kids Sponsored by

Good parenting or figure fascism?

Andrea Black There's a right way and a wrong way to help children lose weight.

Top 10 immunity boosters for kids

joanna mcmillan

Dr Joanna McMillan Ward off those winter bugs with Dr Joanna McMillan’s top ten immunity booster super foods for kids.

Subtraction challenge

Lesson for parents in public schools

Disney characters in real life

Her life inside the whirlwind

Older Kids Sponsored by

Breaking through the wall

Kimberley O’Brien Feel like you’re fighting a losing battle with your stubborn child? Child psychologist Kimberley O’Brien tells you how to get their attention.

Out of the box: TV better than childcare

annoying

Emma Macdonald Children who spend time in front of the television or computer may benefit cognitively more than if they were hanging out with friends, alone at home or in after-school care.

Comments

Antonia Kidman: Playing favourites

Soft drinks linked to child heart disease

Justine Davies: Rubbish for their minds?

Antonia Kidman: Home alone and other life milestones

Entertaining Kids Sponsored by

Top EK reads

Today is national Drop Everything and Read (D.E.A.R) day and to celebrate the Essential Kids team took a trip down memory lane to bring you our favourite childhood books.

Family Life Sponsored by

Six years of Suri

Six years ago today recently engaged superstars, Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes welcomed their first daughter together, Suri Cruise, into the world.

No winners in mummy wars debate

Jessica Irvine

Jessica Irvine Forget The Hunger Games. A much more brutal and devastating battle is raging - the mummy wars.

Comments

Family-friendly airlines

Happy campers opting for humble holidays

Family dinner planner: Week Two

Mum’s the word on stain removal

Recipes Sponsored by

Soda bread and lamb-neck stew

Soda bread is one of the easiest breads to make and it looks and tastes fantastic.

Baked spicy sausages with sweet potato

Photo: Marina Oliphant

An Italian friend inspired this recipe. Merguez sausages are perfect but any quality sausage will work just as well.

Tuna meatballs

Hummingbird cake

Liquid centre chocolate pudding