Homes

Young children can learn to knit more easily if you teach them using two crochet hooks instead of knitting needles. Use the hook end as the point and they won’t lose the stitches, or their patience, so often.

Try using jelly instead of fruit juice when making iceblocks at home. Make up a packet of jelly crystals as directed, pour into iceblock moulds and freeze. They’re delicious and not as “drippy” as regular ice blocks.

To avoid iron-on and sew-on labels coming off children’s clothing, buy some fabric paint and use it to write their names on everything instead. The paint is permanent after drying for 24 hours and doesn’t fade.

Faded felt pens can be rejuvenated by removing the ends and pouring a few drops of water into their stems. Replace the ends, stand them upside down for a short time, and you’ll double their life.

Make a photograph album especially for the children. Fill it with duplicates of your favourite shots of family, pets, outings and so on, and they’ll get hours of fun from it.

Quickly cool a bowl of soup for a toddler by breaking a slice of frozen bread into it. As the bread defrosts, it cools the soup and adds bulk to the meal.

A plastic bucket is an excellent way to carry around baby and toddler toys when out visiting, or just for moving them to a new play area around the house. It’s the right size, easy to carry and costs only a few dollars.

For children going on school camps or holidays, pack full sets of clothing in separate plastic shopping bags marked with the days of the week. This keeps clean clothes separated from dirty ones and gives them something to bring the dirty washing home in.

Use marshmallows as candle holders on birthday cakes – they prevent wax running onto the cake.

Don’t throw away leftover soft drinks that have gone flat – they make great ice blocks.