Parenting Central

Super Easy Broccoli and Cauliflower Soup! I was staying at a friend’s house recently and she cooked for me the most amazing – and simple – broccoli and cauliflower soup. I loved it so I asked for the recipe. Instead she told me the list of ingredients – broccoli, cauliflower,…

So, technically this sugar free banana cake has sugar in it, because there’s sugar in the bananas. You can’t take the sugar out of banana cake without also removing the bananas - completely defeating the whole point of a banana cake!

I’ve been back from bloggerland (aka Problogger) for a few days and I’m so lost and forlorn. I miss it so much. I want to go back. I want to go and live in bloggerland forever. My family can just come and visit me from time to time.

Is your newsfeed constantly flooded with “jokes” about how fathers need to be micromanaged to care for their own children? Or how men generally incapable of parenting, housework and keeping themselves alive? That men are irresponsible and essentially additional children?

WIN a BRAND NEW Pearl Grey Ergobaby Adapt! The Ergobaby Adapt is the ONLY carrier in the Ergobaby range that is suitable from birth* without the need for an infant insert! The Ergobaby Adapt retains all the comfort and versatility that the Ergobaby brand is known for, while being more…

Instead of a traditional egg hunt, add some clue cards to the mix. Write a series of clues for your child to follow to find their Easter Treats!

Highly recommend doing this activity outside with a hose nearby!. Step 1 -Print your child's or baby's foot onto a piece of paper. Brown for a reindeer, green for holly or green with red toes for a Christmas tree.

Step 1 Get a white square of paper Step 2 Fold in half into a triangle. Step 3 Keep folding 3 more times until you have folded your square into 16th

Cellophane Christmas Windows Fold paper into quarters. On the folded side cut out half of a Christmas tree. Open up and tape green cellophane on one side of the tree shaped hole. Fold back in half and tape together the edges. Display on a window or hang on Christmas tree.

Family Handprint Christmas Tree Step 1 Have the family print their hands on a large piece of white card. It’s easier to do the littlest family members first then fit the large prints around theirs. Leave to dry. Step 2 Cut out and glue to a large piece of coloured card. Step…

Cellaphane Window Christmas Card Step 1 - Fold in quarters. Step 2 - Fold one quarter in half. Cut out half the tree into the folded edge Cut a star and stand shape too. Step 3 - Open out the paper. Step 4 - Tape cellophane to one opening. Step…

Cut potato’s in half, cut shapes into the potato draw the desired shape and cut around 1/2cm deep. Put blobs of paint onto flat trays (or plates) and print onto butcher paper. Peeled potatoes can be cut with a butter knife so school aged children may want to make their…

You will need: Coloured paper (left over wrapping paper works well!) Scissors Sticky tape

Ingredients: 1 cup salt 1 cup flour 1/2 cup of water.

You will need: A collection of leaves and flowers. Two sheets of clear contact Two plastic bowls or plates

This activity is pretty self-explanatory. Combine toddlers, paint, brushes and a window, then clean up with the water and towels. The clean-up is as almost as much fun as the painting.

Buy a cardboard mask from a craft shop. Alternatively you can use a paper plate, just cut out the eyes and cut in half with a curve inwards for the nose. This is an activity you can do with your child, or to make a dress up mask for a…

Ingredients 1 tin of sweetened condensed milk. 3 cups of rolled oats. 1 cup of mixed dried fruit/Santanas/nuts.

Ingredients: Gingerbread Cookies 150 grams butter 1/2 cup firm packed brown sugar 1/2 cup honey 1 tablespoons of ground ginger 1 teaspoon of mixed spice 1 egg 3 cups self raising flour

Make your own chocolate in moulds with your kids. This recipe is SOOO simple, no heating involved so its great for children as they don't have to handle any hot ingredients.

This recipe is simple and easy for little helping hands.

These are a seasonal twist on an old favourite and make a good homemade gift for teachers, friends or family at Christmas time.

You will need: 1 cup Sr flour 1/2 cup of yoghurt. Mix together and knead on a floured bench until smooth

It’s a nice low-sugar recipe and it’s easy enough to get my 4 year old to help combine the ingredients

Ingredients 250Grams butter – softened 1 cup castor sugar 2 cups of self raising flour 2 eggs Optional – sprinkles, choc chips, jam, saltanas.

Step 1 : Cut up puff pastry sheet into 6 rectangles Step 2 : Lay slices of “processed cheese” on the pastry.

You Will Need: Very Riepe bananas Food processor Milk/soy milk/water (optional) Step 1 : Peel bananas, chop in 1-2cm wide pieces Place on a tray and cover firmly with cling wrap or in a snap lock container. Leave in freezer for several hours or overnight until fully frozen.

Taped up the lid of an old cereal box and cut a hole big enough for baby to reach in and pull things out. Then fill with toys and objects that are safe for baby to pull out and explore.

I believe while it’s important to have dangerous areas of the house properly gated or blocked off from little people, it’s also important to take time to familiarise your growing baby with these areas of the house, to eventually be able to be independent through all areas of the house

It never ceases to amaze me how quickly a grumpy, bored or unsettled baby can be calmed and settled by simply taking them outside. Nature provides a wide variety of different sensations and experiences.

Babies love faces. It’s no coincidence that at birth a newborn baby can focus approximately the distance from being held at their mother’s breast to their mothers face. Within a couple of days your baby will recognise your face and as they get older they’ll quickly learn the faces of…

Lay a large sheet of paper in the base of the activity centre. Put a blob of paint on the paper. Pop baby in and let them squish the paint between their toes to create their very own piece of art!

Collect a few items from your yard, or go on a walk. Try to gather some things that will float – such as leaves and feather, a few things that will sink – rocks and a few things that you aren’t sure about, such as tree bark or twigs, which…

This is very simple. You don’t necessarily need a low wide box as in the picture, any sized box will do as long as it has one surface large enough to attach a few burners to and opens up with a flap for an “oven”.

If you have old cardboard boxes why not turn them into a mini fridge for role playing fun.

Homemade play dough is cheap, easy to make, lasts ages and is made entirely from edible ingredients so is ideal for toddlers (though it tastes horrible, at least you know it's safe).

If your child is starting to retell and make up stories, ask them to tell you a story while you write it down. Make a book by folding a few A4 pieces of white paper together.

Coloured rice is fun to make and great to use for craft activities, sensory play, or you can put a handful into an empty plastic bottle for a quick and easy colourful baby shaker.

These bunny ears are quick and easy. Perfect for last minute Easter Hat parades!

One lucky winner will receive a Little Frog Ring Sling OF THEIR CHOICE.

Hippybottomus nappies have been the "Mother and Baby Magazine" Cloth nappy of the year for the last two years running! It's easy to see why - they simple to use, come in a range of bright colours and patterns and are a budget-friendly cloth nappy solution.

Enter for a chance to win The AngelSounds Fetal Doppler Heartbeat Monitor and Recorder supplied by The Parent Garden.

We are giving away complete box sets of Mr Men (47 books) or Little Miss (34 books) for two winners.

WIN Wooden Toddler Toys. These beautiful wooden toddler toys from Ikea would be great for developing fine motor skills, problem solving and logical thinking as well as learning to count and identify shapes and colours.

Want a Queens Birthday craft activity for the kids? Mr Maker has it covered!

WIN this beautiful Little Frog Sunny Agat II

Train sets are good for fine motor skills, problem solving and imaginative play and with 45 pieces in total this set should keep a little train enthusiast occupied for hours, with countless different track configurations and 9 trains and carriages to chug around with.

Win 3 Baby Beehinds Minkee Chocolate Magic-Alls Cloth Nappies. We're giving away 3 of these lovely cloth nappies by Baby Beehinds! 1 lucky winner will receive a small (4-7kgs), medium (6-11kgs) and a large (10-16kgs) (Sizing is a guide only)

Ingredients: (serves 4) 1 3/4 cup self raising flour 1/2 teaspoon of baking powder 2 eggs 1 teaspoon of vanilla essence 2 teaspoons sugar 1 cup of milk - add more or less as required.

A simple twist on the party favourite “Fairy Bread” Simply cut open small dinner rolls, leaving one side attached to form a Butterfly shape. Now simply spread with butter and cover in sprinkles. You can all add detail by using Milo or cocoa powder for the body.

This is intended as a general guide, for potential safety hazards in  child’s environment. Your home and risk factors might be different, so just take from this list what is relevant to you. If there is anything you would like us to add, please comment below. General Rule Always follow…

Foot Path Writing Do you walk your kids to and from daycare, preschool or school? On the way home, using their drink bottle, use the water to draw or write letter, numbers and shapes as you walk along. Ask your child what the shape or number you’ve drawn is, or…

This is simple and easy for a kids party of special occasion or as an activity to do at home with the kids.You will need Cupcakes Blue and white icing Candy rainbow straps Piping bag or zip lock bags

Butterfly Sock Puppet You will need An old sock Stiff card (or laminater and paper) Stapler or hot  glue gun Optional – pens, pencils, testers, glitter and glue, paint, stick on “googly eyes”, pipe cleaners (for antenna) Directions Step 1 –  Draw or ask your child to draw the outline…

You will need 3/4 cup sugar 125ml olive/vegetable oil 2 eggs 1 medium banana (mashed) 1 medium Carrot (grated) Handful of dates (roughly chopped) 60 ml milk 2 cups s/r flour 1/2 teaspoon baking powder 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon

There are several different types of cloth nappies, and countless brands. The benefits of using cloth are substantial if you consider the cost of using disposables to both your pocket and to the environment as well as being more convenient – yes you read correctly – if you running low…

The slogan is “Breast is best”, but more accurately “breast milk is best”. Because some mothers do experience genuine difficulties breastfeeding – breast is not best if for whatever reason your baby is not being sustained by breast feeding, or breastfeeding alone. However sometimes Doctors, Childrens Health Nurses, Midwifes do…

6 Easy steps on how to make a Rainbow Cake/Cupcake

There are many different types of baby carriers; they come in a range of types, brands, styles, sizes, prices and quality. This is just a brief overview of the different basic types of carriers to give you a rough idea of what you might want to look for.