I started writing about travel with children as a consequence of a journey I took when my first son was still a young baby. The profound, profound sleep deprivation I suffered as a result of my son’s jet lag led me to my lowest moments as a mother. Rather than giving up on travel the…
In 2009 my husband, seven month old son and I moved to Cairns in far north Queensland. Our arrival corresponded with the largest outbreak of dengue fever (a potentially fatal mosquito spread infection) the far north had ever seen. Dengue is not always present in Cairns and the authorities instituted emergency procedures in response to…
Temperatures are heating up in Australia, and with the school holidays here families are spending more time in the sun. Parents of babies and small children often receive conflicting advice about how best to protect their children from the damaging affects of the sun. With that in mind I would like to share this…
Some of you will have read a version of this post previously. It was removed from the blog as a result of hacking and I am re-posting. Although I am not a single parent I frequently travel as a lone parent between my home in Cairns and Australia’s southern cities with my two and four…
Apologies to readers that have seen this article before. It was lost as a result of blog disruption and I am re-posting it. For those traveling internationally, an essential issue to discuss with your doctor at your pre-travel medical visit is vaccination. Vaccination often divides opinion, inciting strong emotional responses from parents and health carers…
Our four year old has asthma. His illness, as well as the disruption it causes to our daily lives, influences decisions we make about travel. For example, we will only travel to places that have access to both an emergency department and hospital ward capable of looking after him if he becomes unwell as he…
Jack Barnes Bicentennial Mangrove Boardwalk, Cairns[/caption] I admit it. My children get far too much screen time. The reason? My eldest son is particularly high drive, requiring stimulation round the clock as well as demonstrating a persistent resistance to independent play. If it were not for the TV I would not be left in…
Gone are the days when I could throw a few items in a bag and make do at my destination. Modern parenting involves furnishings, toys and devices which help both to keep our children safe and our days running smoother. We can’t of course take everything we use at home. Good packing is therefore one…
I know where my strengths lie and they include an ability to inform and to motivate. I have recruited someone more gifted than I at the craft of writing to share her travel story. Published author Nicki Gill shares her “Great Barrier Reef with a toddler” experience in this post. Her writing also features in…
Many thanks to Sarah Pye, the author of the fabulous guidebook for traveling families: “Kids Welcome to Queensland” for this useful post. All over Australia, each school holidays, families hitch their wagons and head out into the great outdoors. I should know, I am one of them! My daughter Amber and I travel around…