Homes

Make the littlies their own “grocery shop”. Trim to size the labels from smaller-size canned foods and glue them onto empty film containers, making miniatures of the products. Small cereal packets and juice boxes can be added to the mini-supermarket.

Renew the features on old, faded dolls’ faces by using a cream foundation and blending in blusher (works best on matt surfaces). Nail polish is excellent for lipstick, and waterproof mascara can be used for eyelashes.

Encourage kids to eat their lunch sandwiches by using a teddy bear or gingerbread man biscuit cutter to cut them into shapes. Add currants or sultanas for eyes.

Tracksuits that become too short in the arms and legs as children grow can be lengthened by inserting bands of contrasting fabrics.

Putting names on kids’ school pencils is quicker and easier if you shave off a strip of wood with a potato peeler instead of a knife.

Use a laundry marker to make a matching symbol or number on each pair of white socks in the wash so that they’re easy to match at putting away time.

Help your baby to sit by putting a blow-up swim ring around her waist instead of propping her up with pillows. It will save a lot of toppling over and bruising.

When children are inclined to compete over portions and are reluctant to share, allow one to cut the “share” and the other to choose.

Make a photo album with snaps of close family or friends who live interstate or overseas and give it to your children. This way, they’ll know them by sight and, when visits are made, less “warm-up’ time should be needed.

Here’s a tip for the new mum. When you are bathing your very young baby, wear a cotton glove on the hand you use to support your baby. This enables you to keep a firm hold on the slippery little body.