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.