Education

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  Growing a Community

  From Caloundra to Collingwood, from Brisbane to Bega and over to Adelaide and Perth, community gardens are sprouting in Australia’s cities and towns. In some, the community gardeners work their own little plot of garden, their allotment. In others, they share whatever work needs doing and, at the end of the day, they divide the [...]

Teaching Children to be Friends, Not Bullies

March 15 Conscious Parenting, Education no comments

This year we’ve been hearing a lot about bullying. In Queensland, a 12-year-old boy was killed after being stabbed in the school toilets. The government commissioned a special report into how schools can better man...

Solving a Problem at School

January 9 Conscious Parenting, Education no comments

It happens to all of us at some time, we have a problem with the school and we don’t seem to be getting anywhere. This applies equally to public and private schools, as well as primary and secondary schools. It wou...

My Non-Educational Thoughts on Curriculum

November 5 Conscious Parenting, Education no comments

I’ve been a home school mum for over a year now. Something to be proud of, I know. Initially I was happy if I survived a month… then a term… and now with a little bit of hindsight I’m ki...

Growing a Community

June 4 Education, Environmental Justice, Healthy living, Sustainability no comments

From Caloundra to Collingwood, from Brisbane to Bega and over to Adelaide and Perth, community gardens are sprouting in Australia’s cities and towns. In some, the community gardeners work their own little plot of g...

Passion for the School Kitchen Garden

June 4 Conscious Parenting, Education, Environmental Justice, Sustainability no comments

The year our youngest child started at Foster Primary School in South Gippsland was my introduction to school kitchen gardens. I wanted to volunteer some of my time towards the school that our two youngest children were ...

When a Child Feels Shy

June 3 Child development, Conscious Parenting, Education no comments

Many young children are shy around new people, especially adults. Although the child may appear to be afraid, their response is less likely to be caused by fearfulness than by simple discomfort. Many children feel uncomf...

10 Tips for Talking with Kids about Tough Issues

June 3 Education, Media and Children, Relationships no comments

  Published In Kindred, Issue 24 as part of Teenagers and Sex: Are they ready? Raising a child is probably the most gratifying job any of us will ever have—and one of the toughest. In large part, that’s ...

Teenagers and Sex: Are they ready?

June 3 Education, Relationships, Wellbeing no comments

‘When should a person become sexually active?’ a fellow counsellor asked an audience of parents and middle school students. The question was meant to be rhetorical, a springboard from which to lecture on the ...

Grade Wool and Wheat, not Our Kids

June 3 Child development, Education no comments

All students are on their very own unique learning journey. Is it wise to compare and standardise their process? I am a schoolteacher. During the seven years I have taught children, I have not given any grades to my stud...

The Power of Green Time

December 13 Child development, Conscious Parenting, Education, Mothering, early years no comments

 Watch kids playing outside with no rules or coaches to govern their behaviour and you will see the magical unfolding of bodies swinging, stooping, throwing, racing, and twirling in space. A study of 452 parents of ...