Homes

Toys with many small parts can be kept in transparent hosiery wash bags, which cost a few dollars in supermarkets. Children can see what’s inside without having to tip all the parts out onto the floor.

To disguise ballpoint pen scribbles on wallpaper, use correction fluid. Lightly tint it with a colour from a child’s paint set that matches the wallpaper, and the marks will be practically invisible.

To entertain children indoors, put a tennis ball inside an old stocking, hang it from a hook in the ceiling and give them room to hit the ball with tennis racquets. They’ll have fun for hours. And for a night-light that won’t keep your toddler awake, try using a 25-watt blue globe in the overhead […]

Stick a bunch of lollypops into an orange to make an attractive centrepiece for a birthday party table. Attach a balloon with the child’s name written on it to the back of each chair so they can find their places.

When kids are playing at the end of the day, set a timer bell to remind them that teatime or bedtime is near. When the bell rings, they know they have 10 minutes to finish their activity and pack up. A 15-minute buzzer may better suit older children.

Take the sting out of sandfly bites by rubbing them with Vegemite. The vitamin B content stops the itch, so the child is less likely to scratch and infect the bite. It’s especially good for small children.

Occupy children on a rainy day by having them cut out large coloured letters from headings in magazines. When new schoolbooks need covering, glue the letters onto plain covers to form their name, grade and subject in an individual and easily recognised way.

Paint your children’s names on their school lunch boxes and drink containers with vividly coloured nail polish. It will stay on through countless washes and can be touched up easily when it chips or wears off.

Put a wading pool under the rotary clothes hoist, then peg a bed sheet over the lines to protect children from the sun while they play.

Keep children’s paintings in a large, two-ring binder when you run out of space on the fridge. Name and on them as they get older.