Like most parents I try and limit the exposure my kids have to violence on television and other media forms. Of course they don’t live in a bubble, but I don’t think they need to see all the graphic images that we are exposed to during the evening news programs.
With Anzac Day celebrations this week, it seemed like the right time to have the first discussions about war. Of course my five year old bought home some lovely craft and attended the schools ANZAC Day assembly. So he had lots of questions - some really big ones.
“Why do countries go to war? What are they fighting about? Do they kill each other with guns? Are they dead forever?” As most of us do, I tried to keep things pretty simple in my explanations. . .
The Easter Bunny has been and gone and the uniform is hanging back in the wardrobe. Ahhh school holidays. No lunch boxes to pack, no school drop offs and no rushing to after-school activities. It’s no wonder we all seem to be breathing a big sigh of relief.
Those shiny little eggs have been glimmering at us from the supermarket shelves since New Year’s Day. I can’t believe how early they start the egg push. Finally, Easter is almost here.
The first year of school is not only about reading, counting and writing. It’s also about learning important social skills, making new friends and coping with those that you may not get along with. Relationships of all kinds are so important. Mostly they are enjoyable, and sometimes they can be challenging.
