Tales and trails in the Sunshine Coast Hinterland

Looking for a low-cost day blended with a little sneaky literacy? Pack a picnic rug and your library card for a scenic Hinterland trip your toddler will love. When planning a day trip with young children, a library might not be the first venue that comes to mind. Yet...

The swim school that’s been making waves for over 8 decades

Almost every detail at Shapland Swim School has been shaped by one simple question: what helps children learn best? From classes capped at just three children and purpose-built multi-depth pools to focused 20-minute lessons and warm 32°C magnesium mineral water, the...

Play Away on Carnival: Why a Cruise Holiday Is the Smartest Family Getaway You’ll Book This Year

If you've ever priced up a family holiday, you know the drill. The flights are one line item. Accommodation is another. Then there are meals for four (or five, or six) three times a day, plus whatever activities you've promised the kids to keep the peace. By the time...

The Caloundra indoor play space every parent needs to know

Looking for a stress-free kids' party option? This boutique indoor play space on the Sunshine Coast is the perfect balance of play, coffee and calm. Any parent of a toddler or preschooler knows the familiar chaos of traditional kids’ birthday parties. You arrive at a...

Pretend play: why ‘just playing’ is the most important work your child will ever do

If your living room looks like a coloured explosion of building blocks, dollhouse furniture, and dress-up clothes, consider it not a mess, but a highly sophisticated developmental laboratory. Play, and particularly pretend play, is a critical part of a child’s...

The Powerful Learning Hidden Inside Pretend Play

We all have fond memories of childhood — pretending to be someone or something else while playing with friends. Play was free, relaxed and enjoyable, yet we were acquiring valuable skills during those pretend games. Research shows that young children who regularly...
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