Kieran (father of 3): My name’s Kieran. I’ve got 3 boys. When it comes to looking after my children, it’s a responsibility I take very seriously.

[to boys] You guys all right?

Boy 1: Yeah.

Kieran: My kids’ ages are 8, 6 and 3, so knowing that what they get up to and that they’re boys. So, quite often they like to climb, they like to jump, they like to play with things. Sometimes they like to, you know, poke things into wall sockets. Just making sure that I’m always, always watching them, always know what they’re up to.

When they’re a lot younger, there’s certain things to watch out for and as they get older there’s different behaviours that I’ve got to watch out for.

Yeah these ones, these locks are quite good. So, I know his big brothers can break into them, but the 3-year-old still hasn’t worked it out yet.

[to boys] Hey, hey, hey, can you take that out to your brothers, please?

The main thing for me is they’re my kids and they’re my responsibility.

[to boys] Boiled eggs.

Boy 2: No, no.

Kieran: [to boys] Come on, watch out guys.

And it’s just that constant awareness, so with my wife and I, we tag team and sometimes they can drive you crazy, you know, having 3 boisterous boys.

[to boys] Right now away, thanks. No, no, out of the kitchen thanks, come on guys. Come on.

It’s about having a line of sight.

[to boys] Wait there, we’re not crossing the road yet. Any cars?

But it’s also about knowing your children and knowing what their capabilities are.

[to boys] You hold my hand, thanks. Any cars?

Boys: No, no.

Kieran: [to boys] All right.

I think it’s important, especially when you’ve got the kids outside, roads around, other kids and adults. It’s just good to keep an eye on them. Quite often sometimes it’s just as much as doing a head count all the time, making sure there’s always 1, 2, 3.

[laughs].

My boys have got a lot of energy and if I’m not watching them or if I’m not on to them, they can get up to a lot of mischief. Lyndon is my 3-year-old. He’s just turned 3. Obviously being the youngest of 3 boys, he cops a bit from his big brothers, so it’s always about knowing, OK, keeping an ear out for tears and tantrums in the backyard and to get out there and deal with things before it gets too far.

There’s always going to be times where they fall over and bump themselves and break a tooth or doing something which can, you know, can cause you a bit of panic, but ultimately it’s about creating that environment for them and that good supervision that allows them to develop and at the same time, you know, keep them safe.

[reading to boys] He’s a dogfish, so now when I see everyone with their ordinary old dogs, I say, ‘Why would I need a dog when I have the best goldfish in the world? I like saying that’.

You know, it’s good to have family and friends who can, you know, who can help out from time to time, but ultimately they’re my responsibility.