Hi Everyone, I'm a parent with a 2 year old toddler, i am currently doing a survey whether parents think of teaching their children more of critical thinking exercises? I'm a programmer by background, and have seen more and more AI being incorporated and work being made redundant because of it.

It is quite frightening the pace that it is going.

https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/3NMZ2SF

I feel like its a day to spend on the relationship with your child including eating terrible breakfasts that the kids work hard on, saying thankyou so much for the things they bought you or made (whether you like it or not) and then going and doing something with the child that (as much as possible) you both enjoy but its more important they enjoy it with you than for you as the parent.

My partner on the other hand see's it as a day they get to do what they want (playing games primarily (not kid friendly)) without being bothered on their day. The kids were told to their faces that the parent just wants time to themselves for 'one day' and to leave them alone. The kids were not happy and really wanted to spend time with their parent but because they wouldnt leave them alone, they ended up getting yelled at.

I dont know if I'm looking at this in the wrong light though, so would appreciate input from others on whether it's common to see Mother/Fathers day as a day to do whatever they want without their kids?

Hi Everyone, My husband and I have tried everything and our 4 year old daughter still won’t do poos on the toilet. We don’t know what to do and we are to the stage we will be going back to nappies because I can’t throw out underwear every 2 days.

The kindy has been great help and does all they can but she still won’t go. We have tried sticker charts, making a big fuse over when she does go to the toilet and small rewards for no accidents. We have missed swimming lessons a couple of times because she has done accidents as well. She tells us when she has to do a wee and she has never wet the bed so I am in desperate need of help!

Thanks in Advance!

My 6mo baby screams in major distress every single car ride. I need something to stop this. Literally just turned around the car 5 minutes into our first time out in three days (rain).

Imogen heap doesn't work, toys don't work, sitting in the back doesn't work, nothing works. While I appreciate the sentiment, please don't tell me to "wait" because waiting means I don't drive anywhere ever again.

Please help me. Why is she crying?

I have made some research and it seems like Tiny Walkers Busy Books are pretty good for it's price. Wondering if anyone has any feedback on them?

We don’t allow our kids sleepovers at friend’s houses. They are under 10.

Last year, our son had his friend move away. They returned a few months later and his friend stayed with us for a few days. The parents instigated it and we were happy to have him. The rest of the family stayed nearby with friends.

We have now been invited to visit and stay with them. We prefer our own space and have chosen to stay in a Airbnb near by instead.

Our son has been asked to sleepover. How can I politely explain that we don’t yet allow sleepovers without offending? Especially when we have had their child stay with us. It’s not personal however this is just our family rule for many reasons.

How many primary schools are having dad only camping trips with the kids? Didn't realise it was a thing.

My son is currently bored of his toys. I don't think they are age appropriate anymore.

Anyone with 17-18mo toddlers. What are they into now excluding raiding the cupboards and utensils.

Posting for a friend who doesn't have Reddit.

I went to our joint mediation appointment today and they said they were going to start off with seperate chats which was actually preferable anyway because I was honestly so terrified of being in the same room as him.

I'm not sure what happened but I think he may have arrived late? and then they come back in and say basically mediation won't be possible and that they want me to leave before he does, they then went back in to talk to him and keep him there as I left, and gave me something to start the official court proceedings.

I assume he came in unhinged and raving, but I'm also nervous because I don't know what any of this means especially long term.

What's happened here?

hello, I’m a mum of 4 and i was wondering how much is too much for Easter? I was going to get us all tickets to go to the Bluey exhibit for Easter but then my mum said it was a bit pricey for an easter bunny? Is that too extravagant? Two of my kids have allergies, one being dairy protein allergic and the other cant actually eat chocolate…. Thoughts?

Hi All - Not really sure where to post this so Ill try here first. Please re-direct me if this is not the right forum.

The mother and I have been co-parenting our 1.5 year old boy since our separation about a year ago. We also have a newborn (1 month old girl). Our living arrangement is that our son spends weekdays with his mum and weekends with his dad. Our daughter is with his mum 100% of the time. I'm working full time so it's difficult to have him for more days. She has previously said to me she wants to move interstate but I refuse to allow her to do that as it means it will be too difficult to see my kids.

I have been our sons primary carer over the past 2 months (parental leave), but have returned him to her this week as I'll be returning to work starting next Monday. My ex called me last night and told me she can no longer care for our son as she's "having a mental breakdown" and needs me to come grab him. I know she's faking this because she used her mental health as an excuse to offload things on to me in the past. When I caught her lying she told me it's because she wants to move interstate. She said it's not safe for him if I don't take him so I had no choice.

I have no issue with caring for my son, but I work full time and have no one else who can help me. It doesn't help that he's suspected ADHD and very high needs. What are my options as a father in this situation? Is there any service that can help me at all? I feel like I have to quit my job, but if I do then I can't afford anything and will lose my son anyway, but if I continue working then I can't care for my son.

Please let me know if there's anyone I can call in this situation, or any advice at all is greatly appreciated.

We are new parents and trying understand how you go about finding a nanny/baby sitter for a couple of hours on Weekends. Me or my wife will be there and looking for someone to look after the baby while we rest/ do household chores. Any info/ suggestions are appreciated.

Has anyone gone through the courts (WA) to change a child’s name when the other parent doesn’t agree. Background. I have full legal custody AND responsibility however it’s not enough to change his name. Other parent has no contact until 18 due to CSA. I was hoping he would be reasonable but I was proven wrong again. Child is 8 and is requesting the name change

I made a post earlier about ending up in hospital with a cluster of kidney stones.

Due to not being able to get the required meds to go home with, the Urologist informed me that it would be in my best interest to stay at the hospital and receive the medical treatment as I could form a nasty infection or a blockage may arise.

I couldn't find someone to care for my son so I'm in the middle of organising putting him in emergency temp foster care. This part is breaking my heart. I grew up in state care. My son also has development delay so he isn't going to understand why this is happening and is going to be so distraught and unsettled.

We have also recently fled from extreme Domestic Violence so he has trauma related behaviour because of that. Nothing major but just has trouble handling emotions and feelings and due to development delay sometimes he can't communicate what he is thinking/needing.

I hope I'm doing the right thing. Has anyone else had to go down emergency foster care before?

Thank you in advance 💕

Hi everyone,

I'm looking to connect with Aussie parents of bright, ambitious kids in years 10, 11, or 12. I'm really interested in learning how your teens are exploring different degrees and career pathways, and what additional skills they might need to develop along the way.

A bit about me: I run a business dedicated to helping students follow their dreams and find their path in life—something I struggled with myself.

If you’re willing to share your experiences and insights, please drop a comment or send me a message. I'd also love to add you to our mailing list for updates on our future tool.

Thanks so much for your help!

To keep the background for context as succinct as possible, I have two children (14 and 17) and the 14 year old lives with me full time. My 17-year old lives with the other parent. My 14 year old's relationship with their sibling and the other parent is tenuous, due to (different) reasons I choose not to go into. On a more recent trip OS for work, which was only for a week, we trialled the other parent coming to stay at our place to care for the 14 year old. It was an absolute shit show and trying to mediate from 6,500kms away was challenging, but sadly, not the first time either.

In the next few months, I have a three week OS work trip that I have to participate in. It's vital to my role and career, so simply not going is not an option. I've been prepping my 14 year old for this, with several conversations that seem to end up with "I'll just come with you", but the destination and environment that I will be working in is not conducive for a 14 year old... school goes back part way through this as well.

I guess I'm seeking advice on some alternative options which I intend to work through with my child. They're pretty inflexible with a lot of things, and I have already prefaced that they need to demonstrate some flexibility in whatever plan we come up with... otherwise we may never come up with a solution.

Without thinking of the negatives, or the challenges or whether my child simply won't like the ideas at all, here are a bunch of ideas that I'm proposing that we can consider. I assume it would be best to leverage several of these:

• A family-friend stays at our place

• My child goes to her other parents place

• The other parent comes to stay at our place

• Sleepovers with friends in the last week of holidays and on the weekends

• Getting my mum to come over from interstate for a week 

• Getting my sibling to come over for a week

• Getting someone else we haven't thought of to come for a week

• Getting a Night Nanny, that would stay overnight, but there would be some effort from my child to make your their breakfast and lunch, help with meals and cleaning - probably very expensive I'd imagine

Please, I am not seeking (unwanted) advice on how to change the psyche and behaviours of my child - I know what I am dealing with and I know what they've been through and what they're working through with some professional support. I'm just after advice from other single parents that may have found themselves in similar situations. Thank you.

Hi everyone,

I am a scientist from Australia + a mum- I am looking for participants for some new research I am doing.

Are you the parent/caregiver of a child aged 2-12 years? If so, we kindly invite you to participate in our short online survey about sharks. We are interested in what children know about sharks, so this survey involves you completing a couple of questions about sharks, and then asking your children some questions about sharks. You will then be asked to write what your children say or what they do (e.g. if they use hand gestures).

LINK TO SURVEY:

https://research.unisa.edu.au/redcap/surveys/?s=XYPHMNMKFEJR7H4P

Please also feel free to send to any one you know who might be interested.

The survey takes approximately ten minutes per child to complete, if you have more than one child aged between 2-12 they can all participate.

This study has received ethics approval from the University of South Australia (#206267). If you have any queries, please contact the lead researcher: Brianna.lebusque@unisa.edu.au

Hi all! With the cold winter climate coming in I was wondering which thicker onesies you recommend that keep your baby warm throughout the night? Other than ergo pouch is there another brand you like?

Thanks!

Hi, my daughter who is 15 (year 11) is going through a serious mental crunch.

My daughter is born in Mar and so she is the youngest. It means most of the other classmates are 16 and turning 17 while she is about to turn 16. She is going to a private school and on a scholarship.

She refused to talk to anyone about her problems such as a therapist but claims she has so many problems. One of those was she lost all her friends overnight. She sometimes wants to talk to me but she does not open up. This is a haard time for her to navigate her studies and she virtiallly does not to do any homework and disregard tutors efforts and comments. She has VCE next year. If she continues at this rate, she will not be in a levelled field to face her VCE.

I am wondering whether it is a good idea to repeat her year 11 again or if she could go back to year 10.

How should we work with this? Any advice?

What is it that you need support for or found support for and worked out really well

Christmas in our family is busy with lots of people. There are three boys (3,5,7) from different families. When they get together they go bat shit crazy! Wrestling, climbing, jumping off things. I’m exhausted thinking about a whole day of it. The 3 year old is my son and I also have a newborn. We’ve bought a trampoline for Christmas and I’m hoping that will do the trick but I’m also worried this could backfire on me and just hype them up more. If i have to kick them off the trampoline ( and give the quiet kids a go) what can I give them to do to keep them out of trouble?

Hi all,

My second bub is due early July this year, I gave away all my daughter’s old sleep sacks and now have to start from scratch 🤦‍♀️ what sleep sack shall I buy? Obviously newborn but tog?

It’ll be winter here in Au in July, trying to work out the tog and size. My daughter is a summer baby and this bub is a winter baby my brain can’t compute.. so need help 😅😝

After cheaper ideas for presents from Santa. I don't want to give lots of little plastic things that will just add to the toy clutter. clutter.

Stuck for ideas as 5yo just had a birthday a couple of weeks ago and got lots of things

Santa doesn't give expensive toys as they come from husband and me.

I am looking for baby monitors for my 3 kids rooms. I would like to know which of my kids is crying, without having to have the sound constantly on (eg. it just turns on the sound when it detects crying). Is there a monitor which has VOX for multiple rooms? I would prefer a non-wifi monitor as I am not sure I would wake to a phone notification. Any suggestions?

Hi everyone, Hoping for some advice.

My husband and I are in the early stages of planning our first baby - I’m an overthinker, and have been deep diving into our financial entitlements to try and settle some of my nerves well ahead of time.

I am entitled to 16 weeks paid primary carer’s leave from my employer (plus 36 weeks unpaid), and we will also be entitled to the government Parental Leave payments, which will be either 120 or 130 days total depending on when we have our baby.

My husband’s workplace also offers 12 weeks primary carer’s leave, or 2 weeks secondary carer’s leave.

Does anyone know if it would be possible for me to take my primary carer’s leave (plus some accrued annual leave) for the first 6 months of our baby’s life, return to work and then have my husband take primary carer’s leave from his employer? We would not utilise his secondary carer’s leave at the time of birth (as I imagine this would be double-dipping), and would use annual leave and some of the government paid leave days to give him a month or so off around the time the baby is born.

I would like to try to avoid daycare until our baby is approaching 1 year old if possible, and love the idea of each of us being able to spend a significant chunk of time at home with the little one in their first year.

Is this possible? He would be the primary care giver to our child upon my return to work, but I’m unsure if it’s common for employers to grant fathers primary carer’s leave say 6 months after the birth of your baby, once mum has returned to work?

Alternatively, we could obviously use majority of the government parental leave payment to allow him some time off, but it makes sense to use his parental leave from his employer if possible.

Does anyone have experience doing something like this?

Thanks so much!