Babies and toddlers are smart little creatures and they can get into things you never thought they could get into. Even after you have childproofed your home, he or she can still get past the things you’ve done. Here are some tips to help you keep your children safe.

Children’s tantrums are bad enough at home, but they seem to have an in-built radar when it comes to behaving badly in public. They always choose the worst time to loose it, and leave you red-faced and mortified, hoping a hole will open up to swallow you and your screaming child.

The days of leaving teaching to the experts have gone and today, societies around the world recognise that families and teachers can work together, in partnership to help children learn. It is accepted that family has a big influence on children’s education.

The start of any school year heralds a flurry of activity for parents and a degree of nervousness for children. Both are heightened when the transition from home to school happens for the first time. Children are leaving the safe, secure environment of home, where they often have the undivided attention of a parent, to enter an environment where they are competing for time with many others. Parents who are new to the school scene naturally want to facilitate a smooth, positive transition for their child.

Reading underpins every subject in the curriculum. It plays a pivotal role in building confidence and self esteem. Children who are independent readers can easily process information and fully engage in the learning activities.

To give your children the best possible start arm yourself with tips that have been ‘tried and tested' and you'll be on track for progress in this vital area of the curriculum.

Starting school isn’t just about your child and their feelings. Sydney counsellor Nichola Bedos suggests mums need to do their own homework to prepare for the first few months of school.

Whether you are ecstatic about finally having time for yourself or horribly tearful over the thought of losing your ‘baby’, a child starting school is a demanding time for a mother both physically and emotionally.

As any mother of preschoolers knows, finding time for yourself is one of the greatest challenges. A survey confirmed what we already knew – that mothers have precious little 'me' time. But there are also some expert hints on how to find time out time.

A national poll found that half of all Australian mothers with children under five are lucky to find 20 minutes a day for themselves.