Back to top EASY HEALTHY FAMILY RECIPES QUICK & EASY SOUPS Lamb and Barley Soup by Marj Ingredients 4 Lamb forequarter chops 1 onion ½ tablespoon olive oil 1 large tin tomato soup 1 handful of chopped parsley leaves (or ½ tablespoon mixed herbs if fresh unavailable) 2 Massel beef stock cubes 1 cup barley 2 kettles boiling water for soup and 1 kettle boiling water for soaking 2 large potatoes ½ butternut pumpkin 2 carrots handful of beans 2 bay leaves Optional: Parsnip, swede, turnip, 2 sticks celery, 2/3 cup frozen peas, mushrooms ​ ​HINT: This can be a great way of using up vegetables by adding other vegetables such as broccoli stalks, zucchini, mushrooms (which is what I did for the photograph.) Method Cook barley in microwave for about 15 mins on high after adding a kettle of boiling water. Soak for a remaining 10 minutes before adding to soup. HINT: I keep precooked barley in plastic containers in the freezer to make this a quicker meal Meanwhile fry diced onion in olive oil Add forequarter chops, boiling water and 2 stock cubes and cook for 15 minutes Add tin of tomato soup and pre-soaked barley along with bay leaves and mixed herbs Dice potatoes, pumpkin, carrots, (and any other vegetables you may wish to add to soup. Cook for further 10 minutes Cut beans into 2 cm pieces and add along with frozen peas cooking for additional 10 minutes Remove forequarter chops, cool and discard any bones and fat from chops then dice meat into small pieces. Return to soup and cook for further 10 minutes Remove bay leaves ​ Serve with buttered crusty rolls ​ HINT: This is a large quantity that can be also used for soup lunches or stored in freezer to be used at a later time. Although it is a soup, it makes a very substantial meal. Share this recipe with a friend For more Easy Healthy Recipes go to the following links: Easy Healthy Breakfasts Easy Healthy Breakfasts 10 Tips to Make Meals Kid Friendly 10 Tips to Make Meals Kid Friendly More Easy Healthy Soups Easy Healthy Soups Easy Healthy Fish Recipes Easy Healthy Fish Recipes Easy Healthy Chicken Recipes Yummy Drummies the healthy way Easy Healthy Lamb Recipes Easy Healthy Lamb Recipes Easy Healthy Beef Recipes Best Ever Corn Fritters Easy Pasta and Pizza Recipes Tuna Pesto Pasta Easy Healthy Rice Recipes Easy Healthy Rice Recipes Back to Top Best Parenting Advice.com is a high quality parenting website designed with child and family success in mind. This site provides free resources for busy parents who want best practical advice on: effective child rearing strategies, easy healthy family meals, self-care tips for time-poor parents and fun learning games to help best educate children while also encouraging positive relationships within the family. One of the best pieces of parenting advice to help support healthy cooperative families, is to provide regular nutritious meals, eaten together as a family as often as possible. Best parenting advice provides a range of quick and easy family dinner recipes supplied by busy working parents. These are the recipes asked for: because they taste great, they're quick and easy they're family friendly and they're foolproof. ​ This site provides examples of what worked for me over decades and you are welcome to use these ideas as you see fit but you do so at your own risk. This site does not provide any guarantee that this information will work in every circumstance with every family or every child. It is your responsibility as a user of this site to ensure that you adhere to any recommended safety suggestions either implicit or explicit on this site and supervise your children while playing any games suggested. Best Parenting Advice.com is not affiliated with any other groups, clubs, religious organizations or educational systems. Best parenting takes time. The best parenting advice ever is simple: Do your best, don't give up and love your children, no matter what.

Back to Top EASY TASTY RECIPES QUICK & EASY BREAKFASTS Timesaver for Old Fashioned Lemon Pancakes for a family of four Ingredients 1 ½ cups plain flour 1 ½ cups milk 3 eggs beaten Additional lemon cut into wedges. Sugar to taste Method Mix plain flour and eggs together Add milk Using a ½ cup measure, slowly pour batter onto a flat full sized sandwich maker griddle until it makes a circle approximately 6 inches across (15 cm) Close the sandwich maker Cook for approximately thirty seconds or until cooked Remove pancake using an egg flip and place it onto a dinner plate Serve: Add lemon wedges Sprinkle the top of the pancake with sugar and squeeze lemon juice over Eat immediately Repeat the process for subsequent pancakes ​ Variation: You can add a variety of nuts and berries to make the recipe more healthy ​ HINT: You can maintain the same ratio of twice as many eggs as you use for flour to milk to make smaller or larger quantities Share this recipe with a friend For more Easy Healthy Recipes go to the following links: Easy Healthy Breakfasts Best Ever Lunch Box Story Easy Healthy Soups Easy Healthy Fish Recipes Easy Healthy Chicken recipes Easy Healthy Lamb Recipes Easy Healthy Beef Recipes Easy Pasta and Pizza Recipes Easy Healthy Rice Recipes Back to Top Best Parenting Advice.com is a high quality parenting website designed with child and family success in mind. This site provides free resources for busy parents who want best practical advice on: effective child rearing strategies, easy healthy family meals, self-care tips for time-poor parents and fun learning games to help best educate children while also encouraging positive relationships within the family. One of the best pieces of parenting advice to help support healthy cooperative families, is to provide regular nutritious meals, eaten together as a family as often as possible. Best parenting advice provides a range of quick and easy family dinner recipes supplied by busy working parents. These are the recipes asked for: because they taste great, they're quick and easy they're family friendly and they're foolproof. ​ This site provides examples of what worked for me over decades and you are welcome to use these ideas as you see fit but you do so at your own risk. This site does not provide any guarantee that this information will work in every circumstance with every family or every child. It is your responsibility as a user of this site to ensure that you adhere to any recommended safety suggestions either implicit or explicit on this site and supervise your children while playing any games suggested. Best Parenting Advice.com is not affiliated with any other groups, clubs, religious organizations or educational systems. Best parenting takes time. The best parenting advice ever is simple: Do your best, don't give up and love your children, no matter what. Best parenting takes time. The best parenting advice ever is simple: Do your best, don't give up and love your children, no matter what.

back to top Testimonials & Awards It was an incredible privilege to be a teacher. I loved it; and the many people whose lives I shared. Included are some thank yous written from parents, student teachers & the students I taught. They've been recorded as written, however names have been changed for confidentiality. As evidenced by the comments below, I believe good teaching is built upon quality relationships. ​ I was also blessed to have my teaching expertise acknowledged by local, state & national awards. These include: N.S.W. Education Minister and The Australian College of Educators Quality Teaching Award Excellence By a Teacher Award: Outstanding National Achievement Contribution to the Hunter Community Through Education Award Fellowship: The Australian College of Educators My warmest thanks to you for your kindness, your care and your insight with Alice. At times this year you have steered me in the right direction with your valuable advice and knowledge. Through your program this year Alice has become the confident and relaxed girl we knew was within and I can never thank you enough. Maxine ​ ​ It has been a pleasure to have met you and I would like you to know that you are more than a teacher because you have entered our minds and souls as a friend & mentor and as a person we respect highly. ​ Thank you for all your hard work and dedication to our children. Eloise ​ ​ Thank you, thank you, thank you!!! You have given Xander and Yvonne the best start to their education. - I know Xander will come on with Young Starters._ Yvonne is reading at Reading Recovery Level 12 and counts to 100. Aren't these little creatures amazing. Wendy ​ Thank you. The milestones Jemima has achieved under your care are more than we could have hoped for. These are the seeds that will continue to grow throughout her life. ​ We thank you for your care and dedication towards our daughter and that you have given her such a positive start to her education. Angie Thanks again for being such a great teacher, leader and friend. Mrs Arthurs you are a pot of gold. Diannna We can't believe how much Peterson has grown both physically and intellectually. We are so proud of our happy little man and this is largely due to the time and effort you have put into growing him and extending him... along with us. We have enjoyed the feedback you have given us and have appreciated the tips you have provided about making learning as fun as possible. ​ Thank you, thank you, thank you for being the wonderful person that you are. Izzabelle Mrs Arthurs, Thank you. I feel confident that Brian will ease into school next year, thanks to all your hard work. The pre school is an amazing place and an absolute credit to you. You take the time with each and every child, and your programs and ability to teach overwhelm me. I can't say enough. Thank you. Thank you. Kaylene Dear Deb, The best way that I can express my thoughts and feelings concerning all matters concerning my son, my family, or myself for that matter is simply by writing it down. ​ Words cannot express my gratitude for everything that you have done. You may feel it is in your job description to help all parents, but you have definitely gone far and beyond. Y ou care for each child that you teach as passionately as if they were your own. ​ I am sure that I am not the only parent that you have helped throughout your brilliant teaching career. I know two heads are better than one, but without the guidance and gentle push in the right direction, we would definitely not have Walter on the right path. I hate to think what would have happened. ​ As you know our family has gone through some heartaches. These are meant to make us stronger. Sometimes it's very draining to be the main person to make sure all the pieces don't fracture. ​ I am also glad the school is getting used to me being a permanent fixture. It has been as much a learning curve for me, as it is for my son. It is quite therapeutic also. Although you say I am helping you, you are actually helping me. ​ I thank you from the bottom of my heart. ​ Your parent in training Adriana ​ ​ Deb, I just wanted to let you know what a special person I think you are. Love, peace and empathy seem to surround you. The little things you do for our family, and your thoughts and words mean a lot. I know you reach out to others and touch them in ways you are probably not even aware of. You really make a difference to the world. Having known you has made me a better person and mother. Penelope ​ Dear Mrs Arthurs, Thank you so very much for being so kind in sharing your experiences with me and for helping me get back on track. The book has been great to read and has helped me with my anxiety. I'm sure with time I will be doing a lot more adventurous and fun life experiences than I ever thought possible. Thank you for being so caring and thoughtful. You are a wonderful inspiration to all. Jenny ​ Thank you for making Wilson's start to school so positive and enjoyable for him (and for me as a parent.) You really have a way of letting kids experience the magic and excitement that comes with being 4 and 5 (before their minds are corrupted too much) but with structure and routines to get them ready for school. Wilson has loved having you as a teacher and Jason and I couldn't be happier with Wilson's development. You are a wonderful teacher! Adelaide Deb, It is hard to write all I have to say to you. You have been a wonderful teacher to both Anne and Walt, and such a support to me over the years. This year Anne couldn't have had a better preparation for school. Her first experience of teachers and school life has been such a positive experience and a joy to watch. I love that you see the potential in all children and expose them to quite complex concepts, realizing what sponges they are, while at the same time teaching them life skills. You are a really special person.Thank you for all your hard work. Glenda ​ Dear Deb, You have been a wonderful caring teacher to all the children and I know Tabor especially bonded with you. You made his year of preschool a very happy experience. I personally would like to thank you for your friendliness to me and for your support and advice to a 'paranoid' mum wanting to make just the right decisions concerning her son. Sarah ​ Dear Deb, Words cannot say how grateful I am for your help with Shane. The change in him has been just amazing and it's all thanks to you. He is now very confident and ready to start 'big school' next year. Your have helped him develop and mature. Thank you. Sarah ​ Dear Mrs Arthurs, Where do we start? We were looking for a shining star to help guide our wy - and by a miracle we found 'Mrs Arthurs.' You have personally helped create beautiful lasting memories for our much loved children. How do we begin to thank you. You are held in our hearts for life. The Anderwalls ​ Dear Deb, Just a note to thank you so much for your wonderful teaching and guidance through the year. Drake and Trent have really enjoyed working with you and I am so pleased with their development and progress. Please know that you have made an incredible difference to their education. Thank you aso for your care and concern during a difficult year for me. With love and thanks Janelle ​ Dear Mrs Arthurs, We would like to thank you for the wonderful year James has had with you. He has had a wonderful time and been keen to go every day. Your kindness and care of the class and each child is a real credit to you. Thank you also for being understanding and so accommodating to our beliefs. This has been much appreciated. Thank you! Tane, Gaeliad & Emanuel ​ Dear Mrs Arthurs, Thank you very much for the year teaching Leonard. Both of my children have thoroughly enjoyed the preschool & I have learnt so much.I will miss not coming here and seeing all of the children play and learn with so much enjoyment. It's an honor to have been here. Thank you Walter and Lynney Dear Mrs Arthurs, What a privilege to have my child exposed to such excellence in teaching - simply the best. What is it all about? An opportunity to learn and grow into the best little person that is him. Thanks to the amazing skills of teachers who care and know the potential of children. Willoughby Dear Deb, Thank you once again for all your help and support. I have always wanted to be a teacher but you are the reason I am definitely becoming a teacher. You are an inspiration! Love and Best Wishes Alesha Mrs Arthurs, If Karma is judged by caring, strength and a beautiful soul... Then we all owe you a debt which is impossible to fulfill. The Barlow Family ​ Just wanted to say thanks for all your help and understanding. You've done more for me than you'll ever imagine. I don't know what I would have done without you. Thank you, you'll be forever in my heart. Therese ​ Dear Deb, John and I would like to thank you for giving Linden such a great year. Linden has settled into school well and we believe this is largely due to his year with you. He arrived at school well prepared for learning and accustomed to many of the routines of school life. We have great memories from last year and would not hesitate to recommend your pre school to anyone. Gina ​ Dear Mrs Arthurs, Just a word of thanks for being so kind and thoughtful to our situation. Thank you from deep in my soul for helping Lawson find himself and teaching him, it's okay. ​ You taught children that have only felt a sky full of clouds, that when the wind blows the sky is full of sunshine. Thanks once again, Always grateful. Jasmine ​ Dear Mrs Arthurs, Thanks for a special year you have given Jamieson at pre-school. Your patience and encouragement have been wonderful for him. He's certainly come a long way this year thanks to your special magic. It's been a lovely experience being associated with you over the last four years. People like you are a pleasure to know. Steph ​ Dear Deb, Words can't convey the gratitude we feel for how you have helped Jane and Phillip prepare for school. Your talent and enthusiasm for teaching preschool is wonderful and it has been a privilege getting to know you. Robyn ​ Dear Mrs Arthurs, Thank you for your kindness and dedication to teaching. You are a wonderful teacher! We are privileged to of had you teach our three girls. Thank you! With love from The MacTavish Family ​ Dear Mrs Arthurs, I have been more than impressed. Georgina really enjoys going everyday and she has learnt so much. Thank you so much for providing Georgina with such a nurturing, stimulating and educational environment for her to attend each day. Every day is different and I can see Georgina's confidence building each week. I know so much effort is put into each day. It is greatly appreciated. Angelina Dear Deb, Thank you so much for having me over the last month. I have learnt sooo much from you. I really appreciate all your ideas, assistance and friendliness. You have made a difference to my life by convincing me to go to Uni. Thank you very much. Love May ​ DearMrs Arthurs, Cuddle. Cuddle. Kiss. Kiss. You are the best teacher in the whole wide world.. Ameline ​ About The Author: Next Back to Top

Back to Top BEST STARTS FOR KIDS Why Spend Positive Time Together Spending Positive Time Together Gives Us Credit Points to fall back on ​ Develop daily and weekly routines where your children know they will get to spend quality time with you ​ Find an activity you can enjoy doing together ​ When children speak to you, look at them as much as practically possible and listen ​ You can rephrase what your child is saying to check for clarity and to help them express exactly what they mean ​ Avoid using your phone where ever possible, if it involves ignoring your children ​ 1. Develop daily routines where your child knows they're going to get positive time with you, such as bedtimes or just after work. You can read together, discuss good things about your day, plan weekend activities, talk about things you're both grateful for. ​​​ ​ 3. Look for opportunities to include your children in your daily routines. Cooking is a great activity because young children love to cook. Gardening is another. Even things like sweeping or house-painting can be fun for a child. There are child-sized brooms you can get. Or you can give your child a paintbrush and a bucket of water to paint on pathways while you paint nearby (as long as you're not at height or if you'll be leaving the paint unattended.) ​​​ This page contains 6 simple tips for improving relationships with your children N.B. People in our lives have the equivalent of an emotional bank account. If they're in credit we view them more favourably and they do the same with us. But as parents it's really easy to fall into debit with your kids without even realizing it. Things as simple as saying: 'Tidy your room...' 'Hurry up, we need to go...' 'Have you finished your homework yet, it's time for bed...' all take tiny amounts out of our accounts. With teenagers especially, we can be in the red without even realizing it. So how do you stay out the red, considering many of your daily interactions could be perceived as negative (especially if someone wasn't giving you the benefit of the doubt?) ​​ ​ 2. Find an activity you can share together that you both enjoy. And be fully present. It could be painting, surfing, kicking a footy around the yard, cooking, reading together, gardening, building something together, playing hide and seek or catchies, etc. As your children mature the activity may change, or they may continue to cook, garden, surf with you through their entire life. ​​ ​ 4. Plan for fun family days, outings, weekends away or holidays together so that everyone has positive experiences together as a family. 'Fun Days' don't have to be expensive. Kids love playing at the park or going to the beach. Camping holidays can be heaps of fun. Children can learn to ride bikes in areas that aren't built up, or set up a tent, explore new places, interact with native or farm animals, play board games together or cards, or toast marshmallows by a fire (if supervised by a parent.) As a family you can even lay on your backs on a blanket by a lake and look up at the stars and discuss constellations. ​ ​ ​ 5. Stop what you're doing and really listen to your child when they talk to you whenever possible. If you're unsure of their emotion, rephrase what they've said and repeat it back. Child example: 'Mr Dobson said I can't go to the sports carnival.' Useful Phraseology: clarification You: 'You can't go to the sports carnival? Let them repeat their story and watch again for an emotional cue so you don't get it wrong, especially with a teenager. Look at their face and body language and say something like: Useful Phraseology: understanding 'You seem (a bit/ really) (happy/ sad/ annoyed/ frustrated/ frightened ) about that... Then really listen to their response. It's likely Mr Dobson has a good reason. It could be something like missing a trial exam for example but alternatively it could be something like your child had been missing Mr Dobson's class... And if that were the case, you might investigate why. Even if you can't always help your child solve their problem, at least they'll feel like you understand them. ​ 6. Turning off your phone shows your child they're more important than something on Facebook. I don't think we've come to terms with the negative impact of technology on our children's lives. For example: Is there any point having a meal together with your child if they're sitting at the table using an Ipad while you're texting on your phone. How important do you think this makes them feel they are to you? ​ Share this page with a friend How important would you feel if the friend you were out with, kept ignoring you, choosing instead to continually check their phone. 'Children spell love... T-I-M-E.' Dr A. Whitman ​ ​For more Behaviour Strategies go to the following links: Steps To Relationship Building 2: Next The Value of Routines The True Value of Routines for Children Managing Behaviour Well Managing Behaviour Well Boundaries Help Raise Good Kids Setting Boundaries Why Be Consistent? Consistency, Consistency, Consistency Choosing Gratitude Not Entitlement Fostering gratitude not entitlement Why Natural Consequences? The Value of Natural Consequences Back to Top Best Parenting Advice.com is a high quality parenting website designed with child and family success in mind. It highlights what successful parents do differently to those who struggle. Best Parenting advice.com provides free online resources for busy parents who want the best practical advice on: how to give kids a best start in life, better tips for parenting toddlers, effective child rearing strategies, behaviour management tips, successful goal setting and organizational strategies for successful families, easy family dinner recipes, self-care tips for time-poor parents and free kids learning games. The aim of Best Parenting Advice.com is to provide quality practical parenting tips and advice to best help children and families succeed, using the convenience of a website. ​ This website provides examples of what worked for me over decades and you are welcome to use these ideas as you see fit but you do so at your own risk. Best Parenting Advice.com does not provide any guarantee that this information will work in every circumstance with every family or with every child. It is your responsibility as a user of this website to ensure that you adhere to any recommended safety suggestions either implicit or explicit on this site and supervise your children while playing any games suggested. Similarly users of this website are advised to follow any recommendations for seeking professional advice as all information on this site is generic. Best Parenting Advice.com is an independent website and is not affiliated with any other groups, clubs, religious organizations or educational systems. Best parenting takes time. The best parenting advice ever is simple: Do your best, don't give up and love your children, no matter what.

back to top Best Ever Easy Healthy Lamb Recipes Every one of these lamb recipes is a winner. They're all easy to make and taste great. I hope you love them as much as my family and friends do. Lamb Stew and Parsley Dumplings Lamb stew and parsley dumplings Slow Cooker Lamb Shanks Slow cooker lamb shanks Easiest Ever Sweet Lamb Curry Easy Healthy Kibbeh recipe easy healthy baked kibbeh recipe Best Ever Slow Cooker Lamb best ever slow cooker lamb We're trialing lamb recipes for you Share these recipes with a friend Back to Top Best Parenting Advice.com is a high quality parenting website designed with child and family success in mind. This site provides free resources for busy parents who want best practical advice on: effective child rearing strategies, easy healthy family meals, self-care tips for time-poor parents and fun learning games to help best educate children while also encouraging positive relationships within the family. One of the best pieces of parenting advice to help support healthy cooperative families, is to provide regular nutritious meals, eaten together as a family as often as possible. Best parenting advice provides a range of quick and easy family dinner recipes supplied by busy working parents. These are the recipes asked for: because they taste great, they're quick and easy they're family friendly and they're foolproof. ​ This site provides examples of what worked for me over decades and you are welcome to use these ideas as you see fit but you do so at your own risk. This site does not provide any guarantee that this information will work in every circumstance with every family or every child. It is your responsibility as a user of this site to ensure that you adhere to any recommended safety suggestions either implicit or explicit on this site and supervise your children while playing any games suggested. Best Parenting Advice.com is not affiliated with any other groups, clubs, religious organizations or educational systems. Best parenting takes time. The best parenting advice ever is simple: Do your best, don't give up and love your children, no matter what.

back to top BEST STARTS FOR KIDS Dressing Up Some Social Skills Linked to Creative Play turn taking sharing space and resources experimenting with style self-esteem and confidence building social skills: cooperating to play a game enjoyment an opportunity to act in different roles and explore different perspectives an opportunity to make sense of the world exploring fears in a safe environment learning to accept differences ​ A variety of shoes: Kids love walking around in mum or dads shoes. Old adult clothing: shawls, necklaces, glasses, skirts provide an opportunity to experiment in role play. Fairy costumes: pretend wings, tutus, fairy dust, letters from fairies, fairy trails in the garden. Police: a pretend car can easily be made out of a box with straps over the arms. Your child could paint it, you could help add a number plate and signage. If they have handcuffs and a gun, be prepared to be arrested. Making a restaurant: plastic plates and cutlery, pretend food, a menu. This is a great way of adding literacy to a play setting, especially in the words on the menu match the words on the food. For more Creative Ideas go to the following links: Regardless of age, dressing up allows for all of us to act in a different role to the one we usually have. ​ Even as adults costume parties provide a great way to break the ice between people who may not know one another. ​ But as children, we loved it. And although there are many ready made costumes available (like the child below is wearing) improvisation can also be just as readily accepted by children. Dress Ups and Creative Play Ideas Pirates: build a pretend pirate ship in the back yard. All you need is a sail (a sheet hanging from clothes line,) a steering wheel (hoola hoop,) a pirate patch over one eye and a rolled up newspaper for a sword. Fireman: A fireman hat, a piece of hose. If you have small chairs make a fire engine for your child to sit in. a plastic plate will do for the steering wheel. Super heroes: Often all a super hero needs is a cape (Although you need to be aware that anything that ties around the neck can pose a safety hazard.) Shops: Some form of cash register, fake money, items to sell: This can be a great way of increasing you child's understanding of literacy and numeracy. Simple: Your child can pay for food with the correct number of taps on your hand. Complex: You can write a shopping list and children find the items with the same labeling, then pay the appropriate amount using money with numerals on them. Creating Strength Based Kids Developing a Love of Learning Proximal Development is Importantant Back to Things to Do With Kids Back to Top Best Parenting Advice.com is a high quality parenting website designed with child and family success in mind. It highlights what successful parents do differently to those who struggle. Best Parenting advice.com provides free online resources for busy parents who want the best practical advice on: how to give kids a best start in life, better tips for parenting toddlers, effective child rearing strategies, behaviour management tips, successful goal setting and organizational strategies for successful families, easy family dinner recipes, self-care tips for time-poor parents and free kids learning games. The aim of Best Parenting Advice.com is to provide quality practical parenting tips and advice to best help children and families succeed, using the convenience of a website. ​ This website provides examples of what worked for me over decades and you are welcome to use these ideas as you see fit but you do so at your own risk. Best Parenting Advice.com does not provide any guarantee that this information will work in every circumstance with every family or with every child. It is your responsibility as a user of this website to ensure that you adhere to any recommended safety suggestions either implicit or explicit on this site and supervise your children while playing any games suggested. Similarly users of this website are advised to follow any recommendations for seeking professional advice as all information on this site is generic. Best Parenting Advice.com is an independent website and is not affiliated with any other groups, clubs, religious organizations or educational systems. Best parenting takes time. The best parenting advice ever is simple: Do your best, don't give up and love your children, no matter what.

back to top BEST STARTS FOR KIDS Animal Fur Inspired Artworks ​ ​Some of the skills they will likely develop are: increased hand eye coordination increased hand strength and technique mathematical language linked to colour mixing and shades: lighter and darker increased knowledge of colour blending (making grey) creativity and the joy associated with creativity perseverance refining & trial and error processes the ability to plan then create or not plan and create self-esteem & confidence building ​ Some Mathematical Language: blend light lighter lightest dark darker darkest white black primary colour secondary colour Some Language Linked to Materials and Technique collage: paste, stick, piece, cut, trim, straight, curved paint: line, solid, swish, press, hold, acrylic, oil, water pastels: blend, rub, shade Share this page with a friend Refer to Google Images to see different types of animal fur to inspire artworks. ​ ​Draw attention to and discuss different patterns on animal fur Discuss lines as opposed to blocks of colour Discuss colours in patterns and how to create them Substitute different colours yet maintain the same patterns Repeat portions of the pattern to create yet another different pattern ​ N.B. This activity can be done either with acrylic paints and brushes onto any surface or using paper to cut and collage a design ​ Go Back to Activities Gallery Back to Top Best Parenting Advice.com is a high quality parenting website designed with child and family success in mind. It highlights what successful parents do differently to those who struggle. Best Parenting advice.com provides free online resources for busy parents who want the best practical advice on: how to give kids a best start in life, better tips for parenting toddlers, effective child rearing strategies, behaviour management tips, successful goal setting and organizational strategies for successful families, easy family dinner recipes, self-care tips for time-poor parents and free kids learning games. The aim of Best Parenting Advice.com is to provide quality practical parenting tips and advice to best help children and families succeed, using the convenience of a website. ​ This website provides examples of what worked for me over decades and you are welcome to use these ideas as you see fit but you do so at your own risk. Best Parenting Advice.com does not provide any guarantee that this information will work in every circumstance with every family or with every child. It is your responsibility as a user of this website to ensure that you adhere to any recommended safety suggestions either implicit or explicit on this site and supervise your children while playing any games suggested. Similarly users of this website are advised to follow any recommendations for seeking professional advice as all information on this site is generic. Best Parenting Advice.com is an independent website and is not affiliated with any other groups, clubs, religious organizations or educational systems. Best parenting takes time. The best parenting advice ever is simple: Do your best, don't give up and love your children, no matter what.

back to top EASY HEALTHY RECIPES QUICK & EASY FISH DINNERS Tuna Pesto Pasta by Deb Best Parenting Advice includes only great home cooks' BEST recipes, of which Tuna Pesto Pasta is one. ​ It's one of the best because the recipe: is super quick & easy, works every time, is family friendly, is inexpensive uses common ingredients. is absolutely delicious. For heaps of new quick & easy family favourites, check out the rest of the recipes on Best Parenting Advice.com. Or go straight to 'My Favourite Recipes' for the best of the best. Tuna Pesto Pasta is delicious. It's an easy, kid friendly dinner recipe the whole family will enjoy. At busy times we were having Tuna Pesto Pasta at least once a fortnight because the kids loved it so much. And best of all, I could put it together within minutes of walking through the door. It's great with a salad or on its own. For a super easy, inexpensive family dinner, you can't go past Tuna Pesto Pasta. ​ The tried and true recipes on Best Parenting Advice.com are included on the site because they're quick, easy & family friendly. Most recipes are inexpensive, they're delicious and best of all they work for busy parents. So if you're time poor, or just want an easy healthy dinner your kids will love, these recipes are real winners. ​ Ingredients 1 onion 20 grams butter 1 large tin tuna (crushed with a fork) 1 bottle pesto sauce 1 small pack pine nuts ½ packet parmesan cheese 1/2 punnet of grape tomatoes (cut into halves lengthwise) 1 packet of pasta bows or penne salt and pepper to taste boiling water basil to garnish ​ Method Cook pasta according to directions on packet and drain Dice onion Melt butter in saucepan and add diced onion. Cook until onion is transparent Drain and add tuna to onion. Then add pesto sauce and pine nuts. Mix together, cooking for 2 minutes (If you want to make it kid friendly leave adding pine nuts until after you've removed theirs) Add cooked pasta and mix through ensuring that bows/penne are covered Remove from heat and sprinkle Parmesan cheese over mixture while stirring it through. (If you want to make it more kid friendly maybe substitute grated cheddar for Parmesan cheese, just on the children's meals) Garnish with basil and grape tomatoes (add to children's if they like it. Otherwise omit) ​ Serve immediately ​HINT: If you have an electric stove (rather than gas) boil water in the kettle, then add it to the pot so pasta cooking is quicker. My Favourite Recipes 1: Next My Favourite Recipes include some of the best, quick & easy recipes on Best Parenting Advice.com. Over decades they're the best ones I've collected from friends, or devised myself. People ask for them again and again. I hope you enjoy them. If you're already checking them out, just continue. Otherwise go to My Favourite Recipes 1 to see them all. My Favourite Recipes 8: Next Share this recipe with a friend For more tried and true Easy Family Recipes check out the following links: Easy Family Beef Recipes Easy Healthy Chicken Recipes Easy Healthy Chicken Recipes 10 Tips to Make Dinners Kid Friendly 10 tips to make dinners kid friendly The Best Lunchbox Story Ever The Best Lunchbox Story Ever Easy Healthy Soups Easy Family Lamb Recipes Easy Pizza and Pasta Easy Healthy Rice Recipes Easy Healthy Breakfasts Back to Top Best Parenting Advice.com is a high quality parenting website designed with child and family success in mind. This site provides free resources for busy parents who want best practical advice on: effective child rearing strategies, easy healthy family meals, self-care tips for time-poor parents and fun learning games to help best educate children while also encouraging positive relationships within the family. One of the best pieces of parenting advice to help support healthy cooperative families, is to provide regular nutritious meals, eaten together as a family as often as possible. Best parenting advice provides a range of quick and easy family dinner recipes supplied by busy working parents. These are the recipes asked for: because they taste great, they're quick and easy they're family friendly and they're foolproof. ​ This site provides examples of what worked for me over decades and you are welcome to use these ideas as you see fit but you do so at your own risk. This site does not provide any guarantee that this information will work in every circumstance with every family or every child. It is your responsibility as a user of this site to ensure that you adhere to any recommended safety suggestions either implicit or explicit on this site and supervise your children while playing any games suggested. Best Parenting Advice.com is not affiliated with any other groups, clubs, religious organizations or educational systems. Best parenting takes time. The best parenting advice ever is simple: Do your best, don't give up and love your children, no matter what.

Back to Top BEST STARTS FOR KIDS Learning Maths Incidentally There are many maths learning opportunities available in routine daily life. This page contains the following information: How to link Mathematical Language to Mathematical Concepts in real life situations during cooking, gardening or building activities Mathematical Language can easily be introduced while cooking: ​ Full, empty, more, less, half, quarters, same, how many left, take away, equals, how many altogether, lots of, etc. ​ And as my children got older I introduced even more specific terminology such as: plus, minus, increase, decrease, times, multiply, solution, divide, total, remainder, etc ​ ​ If you're cooking a meal with children, you have many opportunities to teach maths concepts, because you're using real things to reinforce any new mathematical language. And the best thing is... You're doing it anyway. ​ You can increase the difficulty of concepts, and the language used, as your child becomes more capable. For example children can cut beans into two equal pieces with a butter knife (if you're supervising them.) Again you can reinforce this with mathematical terminology. "You cut it in half. But if you put it back together you have a whole bean again..." ​ Something as simple as dividing up pizza can be a great way of introducing mathematical language. Mathematical Language Development : Division Half, quarters and eighths are really easy to illustrate and show the concepts of parts of a whole and also equivalent fractions. ​ For example: "First of all we're going to cut our pizza in half. See there are two pieces. But that's no use because there are four of us. So let's cut each piece in half again. Now that's four pieces and they're all the same so it's fair. We call each of those pieces a quarter. But the pieces are still too big. Let's cut the pieces in half again. How many is that? Now we've cut our pizza into eight pieces. Each one of these parts is called an eighth. And if we put all eight pieces back together, it's one whole pizza again. And the pieces are all the same so it's fair." ​ And you can show the way the text is recorded on the page reinforcing to your child that text contains meaning. And you can identify some of the numerals used in a recipe. Including your children while cooking, gardening, or building, maximizes the use of your time and can: ​ expose children to the language of mathematics and mathematical concepts in meaningful ways ​ reinforce new knowledge, with real items, making it more likely to be retained ​ give you insight into what they already know so you can pitch language and activities accurately ​ ​ Let's look at preparing a simple meal of meat and five types of vegetables, to see how mathematics can be included. While preparing meals you can provide simple opportunities for comparison of size, counting, multiplication, division and fractions. E.g: Mathematical Language : Size "Altogether we need four middle-sized potatoes to cut up." You and your child can work out which are the middle-sized ones. This creates an interesting discussion in itself about smaller, longer, wider, shorter, bigger, biggest, smallest, etc Mathematical Language : Fractions Continuing on: "I'm going to cut a potato in half... But if I put them back together there is a whole one again. What if I cut these halves in half? Each piece is now called a quarter, but if I put them all back together they make a whole potato again." Reinforce the concepts with real items ​ Mathematical Language : Multiplication "Dad wants three pieces of potato and I want three pieces of potato too." Make the examples. "That means 2 lots of three potatoes for us... That equals how many altogether?" Put the two amounts of potatoes together. "There are some left over." Point to the remaining two pieces of potato. That means there is one piece of potato for you and one for your brother. Is that enough for you or do you need more?" ​ Mathematical Language Development : Whole and fractions of a whole Take one half of the bean. "Now if you cut each piece in half again then you'll have quarters." Now two of those quarters equals half a bean. And four quarters equals a whole bean again. Can you make it look like a whole bean again?" ​ Looking at the concept of fairness is a great one to underpin the concept of equal division because children are very good at picking discrepancies; especially if they're the one receiving less. Mathematical Language Development: E quivalent Fractions Arrange the pieces " Now if Daddy has two eights and I have two eighths. That means half of the pizza is gone already. How much is left for you and your brother? If it's going to be fair how many pieces will you each get? That's right you'll each get two eights. So if we take yours away how much is left for your brother. Its two eighths or a quarter. So two eights and a quarter are the same thing.' ​ You can adapt the language you use according to the age and interest of your children. But if you're dividing a popular food equally your child's interest is naturally going to be high. ​ ​ The biggest advantage of incorporating mathematics into your meal preparation is that you're doing it anyway. And you do it regularly. The division of chocolate is another great way of illustrating fractions and because they have to be fair amounts, you're teaching equivalent fractions at the same time. For example: One strip of chocolate can be divided into two equal parts or four smaller ones. Yet if you put them back together, they make one strip again. See if your child can divide the parts fairly and use the appropriate terminology. The possibilities are endless. And as your children grow you can extend this with written recipes where you are using fractions as an integral part of the process. Here again you can extend your child's language of comparison. There are also many mathematical opportunities available for a child while working on a building project with mum or dad. Or while working in the garden. You'll need to pitch your questions according to your child's abilities. Then stage them over years beginning with simple counting activities to five, then ten... twenty... thirty... one hundred, then one thousand. ​ To make maths meaningful, reinforce new concepts using real things, and in real life situations. "Can you please pass me three of the longest nails..." Comparison ​ "How many nails do I have left?" Subtraction ​ "I need fifteen screws, do I have enough?" Real Counting ​ "Do I have more nails or more screws left?" Conservation of Number Share this page with a friend For more mathematical ideas and fun learning maths games go to: "How many pots/ seeds do I have?" Counting "We need to plant four seeds in each pot. How many lots of four are there?" Extension example: "That means five lots of four equals twenty." Multiplication ​ "I have twenty seeds. If I put two seeds in each pot. How many pots can I fill? Let's see." Division ​ ​ Did you know when helping children learn pitching activities to their levels of proximal development is important: The Importance of Proximal Development Fun Maths Games 3-5 Year Olds Fun Maths Games for 5-7 Year Olds Fun Maths Games 7-8 Year Olds Beginning Mathematics Children learn incidentally The Importance of Counting Tuna Pesto Pasta The True Value of Routines Dad providing a role model for brushing his teeth Back to Top Best Parenting Advice.com is a high quality parenting website designed with child and family success in mind. It highlights what successful parents do differently to those who struggle. Best Parenting advice.com provides free online resources for busy parents who want the best practical advice on: how to give kids a best start in life, better tips for parenting toddlers, effective child rearing strategies, behaviour management tips, successful goal setting and organizational strategies for successful families, easy family dinner recipes, self-care tips for time-poor parents and free kids learning games. The aim of Best Parenting Advice.com is to provide quality practical parenting tips and advice to best help children and families succeed, using the convenience of a website. ​ This website provides examples of what worked for me over decades and you are welcome to use these ideas as you see fit but you do so at your own risk. Best Parenting Advice.com does not provide any guarantee that this information will work in every circumstance with every family or with every child. It is your responsibility as a user of this website to ensure that you adhere to any recommended safety suggestions either implicit or explicit on this site and supervise your children while playing any games suggested. Similarly users of this website are advised to follow any recommendations for seeking professional advice as all information on this site is generic. Best Parenting Advice.com is an independent website and is not affiliated with any other groups, clubs, religious organizations or educational systems. Best parenting takes time. The best parenting advice ever is simple: Do your best, don't give up and love your children, no matter what.

back to top BEST STARTS FOR KIDS Visiting the Art Gallery: Stage 2 If you haven't already done so check out the Things To Do Section: Open Ended Art Materials. ​ Visiting the Art Gallery (stage 2) is designed as an extension to further develop children's interest and artistic ability. Unfortunately due to COVID 19 visiting the art gallery has become difficult. ​ I suggest typing each of the following names into google, click images to search: ​ Vincent van Gogh Raphael Claude Monet Henri Matisse Andy Warhol Salvadore Dali Michelangelo Gustav Klimt Leonardo da Vinci Rembrandt Sandro Boticelli Pablo Picasso Donatello Frida Kahlo Jackson Pollock Paul Cezzane ​ You can choose specific paintings to highlight (that maybe don't contain nudes, depending upon the age of your child) and compare and contrast the styles of the artists. ​ ​ Go to the local art gallery and examine different artists and examine the techniques they use Locate a series of frames for your child's artworks to be displayed in Look up different artists on the computer and discuss different art techniques used Look at a specific artist your child likes and investigate them in detail. Let your child experiment using their style as an input Thought Inspiring Links For The Arts For Older Children ​ Vatican Museum http://www.museivaticani.va/content/museivaticani/en/collezioni/musei/tour-virtuali-elenco.html ​ High Museum of Art, Atlanta: Civil Rights Photography https://artsandculture.google.com/exhibit/civil-rights-photography/9wISPkiyouv-Lw?hl=en ​ 11 Dramatic Virtual Tours of Stages Around the World https://artsandculture.google.com/story/11-dramatic-virtual-tours-of-stages-around-the-world/1gJiszMqltReJA?hl=en ​ Museum of Fine Arts Boston https://artsandculture.google.com/partner/museum-of-fine-arts-boston?hl=en ​ ​ If your child is interested in art, the following extension ideas could span years : ​ Go to the library and get out books on artworks... (You may need to vet these as many contain nudes) Go to your state art gallery and look at visiting exhibitions. Follow up learning more about the featured artists Get your child to save pocket money. Go to a specialist art supply store and look at the variety of media available. They could purchase items to develop a new area of interest or refine existing skills enrol your child in an art class designed for children to extend a particular area of interest For more Creative Ideas go to the following links: But over time... learn how to access images of artworks produced: famous artworks, famous artists, innovative techniques, specific painting styles developing a liking for specific artists work and styles a knowledge of geography linked to painting masters, specific time periods and painting styles a knowledge of art and how it reflects history across all countries of the world (some of which may have ceased to exist) how religion and art are often intertwined and why Creating Strength Based Kids Developing a Love of Learning Proximal Development is Importantant Back to Things to Do With Kids Back to Top Best Parenting Advice.com is a high quality parenting website designed with child and family success in mind. It highlights what successful parents do differently to those who struggle. Best Parenting advice.com provides free online resources for busy parents who want the best practical advice on: how to give kids a best start in life, better tips for parenting toddlers, effective child rearing strategies, behaviour management tips, successful goal setting and organizational strategies for successful families, easy family dinner recipes, self-care tips for time-poor parents and free kids learning games. The aim of Best Parenting Advice.com is to provide quality practical parenting tips and advice to best help children and families succeed, using the convenience of a website. ​ This website provides examples of what worked for me over decades and you are welcome to use these ideas as you see fit but you do so at your own risk. Best Parenting Advice.com does not provide any guarantee that this information will work in every circumstance with every family or with every child. It is your responsibility as a user of this website to ensure that you adhere to any recommended safety suggestions either implicit or explicit on this site and supervise your children while playing any games suggested. Similarly users of this website are advised to follow any recommendations for seeking professional advice as all information on this site is generic. Best Parenting Advice.com is an independent website and is not affiliated with any other groups, clubs, religious organizations or educational systems. Best parenting takes time. The best parenting advice ever is simple: Do your best, don't give up and love your children, no matter what.

back to top EASY TASTY RECIPES Party Food & Entertaining ​ N.B. This part of the site is continuing to be developed. And I've only included it because I've been asked many times for the cheese ball recipe during the past month. Best Ever Cheese Ball by Kay Sally's Salmon Ball developing Multi Layered Dip developing Back to Top Best Parenting Advice.com is a high quality parenting website designed with child and family success in mind. This site provides free resources for busy parents who want best practical advice on: effective child rearing strategies, easy healthy family meals, self-care tips for time-poor parents and fun learning games to help best educate children while also encouraging positive relationships within the family. One of the best pieces of parenting advice to help support healthy cooperative families, is to provide regular nutritious meals, eaten together as a family as often as possible. Best parenting advice provides a range of quick and easy family dinner recipes supplied by busy working parents. These are the recipes asked for: because they taste great, they're quick and easy they're family friendly and they're foolproof. ​ This site provides examples of what worked for me over decades and you are welcome to use these ideas as you see fit but you do so at your own risk. This site does not provide any guarantee that this information will work in every circumstance with every family or every child. It is your responsibility as a user of this site to ensure that you adhere to any recommended safety suggestions either implicit or explicit on this site and supervise your children while playing any games suggested. Best Parenting Advice.com is not affiliated with any other groups, clubs, religious organizations or educational systems. Best parenting takes time. The best parenting advice ever is simple: Do your best, don't give up and love your children, no matter what.

back to top EASY HEALTHY RECIPES QUICK AND EASY DINNER RECIPES: VEGETABLES Quick Stuffed Potatoes by Debbie Quick stuffed potatoes is one of my all time favourite standbys for if guests are coming. My children loved it and it's been popular with their friends as well over the years. ​ You could substitute sour cream and beans for the bacon filling or just add it to the existing recipe. Ingredients 4 large potatoes 5 rashers bacon 4 spring onions 1 cup cheese 1 cup water ​ ​ Method 1. Cut potatoes into halves 2. Put them into an overproof dish cut side down in the water to cook for ten minutes on high in the microwave 3. Meanwhile dice rashers of bacon and spring onions 4. Remove the potatoes from the microwave and test with a skewer to see they're cooked before proceeding to the next step 5. Cook bacon and onion on high in microwave for 3-4 minutes 6. Remove most of the potato from the centre of the potato and mash 7.Mix the bacon, onion and grated cheese into the mashed potato 8.Put the mixture back into each potato 9. Bake in a hot oven (180 degrees fan forced) for 20 -30 minutes or until the tops of the potatoes goes brown ​ Serve with grilled meats and steamed vegetables HINT: You can instead return the potatoes to the microwave for a quicker option although the tops of the potatoes will not brown Share this recipe with a friend For more Easy Healthy Recipes go to the following links: Easy Tasty Cakes and Desserts easy tasty cakes and desserts lemon slice delicious Easy Healthy Soups East Healthy Fish Recipes easy healthy fish dinner recipe salmon mornay Easy Healthy Chicken Recipes yummy drummy easy healthy chicken dinner recipe Easy Healthy Beef Recipes Easy Pasta and Pizza Recipes Easy Healthy Rice Recipes Easy Healthy Breakfasts Easy Healthy Lamb Recipes Back to Top Best Parenting Advice.com is a high quality parenting website designed with child and family success in mind. This site provides free resources for busy parents who want best practical advice on: effective child rearing strategies, easy healthy family meals, self-care tips for time-poor parents and fun learning games to help best educate children while also encouraging positive relationships within the family. One of the best pieces of parenting advice to help support healthy cooperative families, is to provide regular nutritious meals, eaten together as a family as often as possible. Best parenting advice provides a range of quick and easy family dinner recipes supplied by busy working parents. These are the recipes asked for: because they taste great, they're quick and easy they're family friendly and they're foolproof. ​ This site provides examples of what worked for me over decades and you are welcome to use these ideas as you see fit but you do so at your own risk. This site does not provide any guarantee that this information will work in every circumstance with every family or every child. It is your responsibility as a user of this site to ensure that you adhere to any recommended safety suggestions either implicit or explicit on this site and supervise your children while playing any games suggested. Best Parenting Advice.com is not affiliated with any other groups, clubs, religious organizations or educational systems. Best parenting takes time. The best parenting advice ever is simple: Do your best, don't give up and love your children, no matter what.