How to Handle Motion Sickness

The holidays are nearly over, and you've had a great time. You'll be glad to get home and back into your normal routine.

But the one thing standing between you and the place you call home is that long car journey. And for so many parents, that can mean only one thing - car sick kids.

Motion sickness can be common in children. It's basically caused when your inner ear tells your brain you are moving, but your eyes tell your brain you body is still. The problem can be worsened by things like reading books or tablets whilst travelling (bang goes YOUR plans to keep them occupied on the return trip home!)

So here are our tips for getting home in one piece this coming weekend:-

1. Eat before you leave - and avoid heavy, greasy, fast food. It's an excuse to be healthy.
2. Take frequent rest stops so everyone can get out of the car and walk around a bit.
3. Encourage kids to look out the window - remember the car games we suggested at the beginning of the hols? "I spy" anyone.....?
4. Fresh air can really help, so switch off the aircon and open the windows instead. The whole family can benefit from this one, not just the car sick ones.
5. Why not use the time in the car to interact with one another, instead of everyone switching off and doing their own thing? Talk about what you enjoyed most about the holidays, or set some family goals for the next school term.

If all else fails, then medication may be the answer. But it's worth exploring the alternatives first.

Welcome home!

The Importance of Transitional Objects

As any parent knows, kids all have a favourite blanket, toy or teddy-bear, and if it gets lost, all hell breaks loose. And don't even try replacing it with something else, because replacements just don't cut the mustard. So why is that rag-bag of a teddy just so important to your child, and what's the significance of it? Here's the psychology behind the fascination:-

It's more important to your child than even you are

Researchers have found that a child's "transitional object", be it a teddy-bear, a blanket or a scrap of muslin they have been trailing behind them since the year dot can sometimes we more important to kids than even their parents.

It becomes their coping mechanism

In psychology, a transitional object is an object which the child uses to soothe itself and which functions as a substitute for their mother. It is basically a prop used by the child in early efforts to test reality. The transitional object helps kids deal with a whole myriad of emotions, like fear, absence, separation, and how to calm themselves when they are upset. The reason that teddy bear is permanently sticky and smelly is that your child never goes anywhere without it. And his or her reason for dragging it everywhere is that holding it, smelling it, and cuddling it makes your child feel better, and helps them to become self sufficient and confident. 

It's their link between you and the big bad world

So if you ever notice yourself thinking it's time for your kid to stop taking that scrap of muslin everywhere, remember this : that object is your child's link between you and the big bad world. Children should never be stigmatised for their scruffy teddy bear or square of old blanket. It's where they find comfort when things get tough, and in that knowledge, you should find comfort too.

Kids in the Kitchen

Here are some kitchen day ideas that won't break the budget, and will keep your kids and their friends amused for a morning or afternoon during these school holidays. Heck, if you're feeling brave, you might even manage to keep them amused all day!



Get them involved in making their own lunch
Be sure to cook something they are going to eat afterwards! Pizza is usually a safe choice. How about trying out these pizza pinwheels? Head to kidspot.com.au for some fantastic recipe ideas. They even have a recipe for play-dough.



Make your own play-dough
And once you've made it, why not pick a theme and get eveyone to make a character? From Pokemon, to dinosaurs, to mythical sea creatures - the possibilities are endless.



Don't forget the treats
Yes, we are suggesting baking cookies, and we know you're concerned about the amount of sugar your kids are consuming. So why not try coconut sugar? It can be used in almost any recipe where you would normally use white, refined sugar, and because it has a caramel-y taste, it's perfect for cookies and biscuits.

So why not have a kitchen day these school holidays at your place? We'd love to see some photos of the things you make!

Handy hints for travelling with kids

The holidays are here, your staircases are packed, and you're all ready to go. It's going to be pretty exciting when you get to your destination, but are you looking forward to the journey?

Probably not. Here are our handy hints for keeping kids amused while travelling:-

Pack Plenty of Toys - and makes sure each child has their own stash. No one wants a fight over who's turn it is to play with My Little Pony.






Play family games everyone can get involved with - "I spy..." is great, but can get old after a while. How about making a list of five things everyone has to try and spot on the journey and seeing who can get all five first? Examples might be a yellow car, a tractor, a palm tree, etc etc. Or you could be really naughty and put things on the list no-one is ever likely to spot!! (How about a clown, a koala or a hot air balloon?)



Pack a picnic for lunch - taking food for the journey avoids everyone eating junk food at service stations - and NOTE TO SELF: those places are going to be packed with other people's screaming kids this week! Plus, packing your own lunch means you can stop off and eat outdoors, and you keep control of what everyone is going to eat. There'll be plenty time for holiday treats when you reach your destination, so think healthy for the journey.



Think about the older ones - remember that older kids can get bored on long journeys too, and playing with a pink pony probably isn't going to cut the mustard. Why not get older kids involved in the lead up to the journey by showing them your route on the map and looking into interesting landmarks they can mark on their map and spot along the way?



So there you have it. Our hints for travelling with kids these school holidays. We hope you find them useful, and have the best time, wherever you're heading.

All FDRP's are qualified but not all FDRP's are experienced.

According to the Australian Government Attorney-General's website, a family dispute resolution (FDR) practitioner is an independent person who helps people affected by separation or divorce to resolve their parenting disputes.

To be called an FDR practitioner, an applicant must meet the accreditation standards in the Family Law ( Family Dispute Resolution Practitioners) Regulations 2008.

Once accredited, a practitioner is required to meet specific obligations under the Regulations.

As with all occupations, qualifications don't always equate to experience.

The ranks of FDR practioners contain a wide range of mediators with diverse backgrounds and experience.

Some, particularly those with a background in the social sciences and therapy have many years of client contact and experience over the full array of interpersonal disputes and conflict resolution.

Others offer many years of mediation experience and  understanding of the nuances and subtleties of relationships.

I am reminded of the answer I was once  given from the highly skilled wood turner when I asked how long it had taken him to make the magnificent cedar cabinet complete with multiple pieces of inlaid glass. Without hesitating, the craftsman responded, " forty hours and forty years".

The benefit of experience gives practitioners an insight into people and relationships that a less experienced practitioner cannot be expected to have. 

Experience also gives practitioners the confidence and perspective to "tell it as it is", rather than tell parties what they want to hear.

Parties are well advised to consider the experience and background of mediators when choosing a FDR Practioner.

At Brisbane Mediations, all of our FDRP's are not only qualified but offer a wide background of talent and experience.

What could be more important than working out the future arrangement for your children after separation. 

Meditation for Beginners

We all hear and read a lot these days about the benefits of meditation, but have you ever actually tried it? It's not easy, and that's why you've probably tried it a couple of times, and after the grand total of 18.26 seconds sitting with your eyes closed, given up.

Meditation is not easy. It takes practice, it takes determination, and you shouldn't expect to be any good at it at first. But here's the inside scoop - the more you practice, the better you get. And once you get better, you start to reap the benefits: increased mental focus, improved breathing, enhanced self-esteem, less worry - the benefits are endless.

We've pulled together some meditation basics to kick start your first week. Use these to get you started with just two minutes of meditation today and for the rest of this week. More importantly, you can use guide as a checklist to help you stick with meditation until the benefits are obvious, and meditation becomes part of your daily routine.

Download your copy of our Brisbane Mediations Guide to Meditation here. Stick it on the fridge and give it a go this week. Good luck!

Meditation for Beginners

We all hear and read a lot these days about the benefits of meditation, but have you ever actually tried it? It's not easy, and that's why you've probably tried it a couple of times, and after the grand total of 18.26 seconds sitting with your eyes closed, given up.

Meditation is not easy. It takes practice, it takes determination, and you shouldn't expect to be any good at it at first. But here's the inside scoop - the more you practice, the better you get. And once you get better, you start to reap the benefits: increased mental focus, improved breathing, enhanced self-esteem, less worry - the benefits are endless.

We've pulled together some meditation basics to kick start your first week. Use these to get you started with just two minutes of meditation today and for the rest of this week. More importantly, you can use guide as a checklist to help you stick with meditation until the benefits are obvious, and meditation becomes part of your daily routine.

Download your copy of our Brisbane Mediations Guide to Meditation here. Stick it on the fridge and give it a go this week. Good luck!

Sing like no one's listening

Did you know that singing is a great way of relieving stress? Research has shown that singing releases pain relieving endorphins which makes it great for your physical and mental health.

Here are some other great benefits of singing:-

1. Anyone can do it 
2. Its exercise for your lungs
3. It improves posture
4. It tones facial muscles - its a workout for your face!
5. It's energising

So go on - belt out some tunes this morning - you won't know if it works unless you try it.........................

Tuesday Tips for feeling awesome

Did you know it takes fewer muscles to smile than it does to frown? Smiling really does help switch your mood up a gear. Here are some other benefits :-

1. It's contagious
2. It releases endorphins
3. It makes you more attractive (honestly, trust us on this one!)
4. It makes you more approachable
5. And most importantly, it makes you feel better

So go on, lift your mood and the mood of everyone around you with a smile this morning. 

Pass it on!

3 Springtime Resolutions to Refresh your life

Enjoyment is the key to feeling renewed and re-energised, so why not "spring into Spring" with our 3 resolutions:-

1. Get outside - Spring is a great time to reconnect with the great Australian outdoors.  Take the dog for an early morning walk; spend some time at the park with the kids after school, or get into the fresh air for a ten minute stroll during your lunch break.

2. Get colourful - Spent the winter in dull and boring black, grey and brown clothes? Research shows that bright colours can help brighten your mood,  so why not try some punchy colours for an instant mood-boost? We're not suggesting you head to work in head to toe bright orange. Even a new nail polish will do the trick.

3. Get busy (but in a good way) -why not treat yourself by making time for something you've always wanted to do.  Like a dance class, painting lessons, or an early morning bootcamp? Try it once, and if you don't like it, ditch it. This Spring its all about finding something new you love to spend time doing.

So, those are the resolutions. Why not try them out this weekend? They're sure to put a spring in your step.