2:39
Child development: 1-2 years
What do children need for healthy development at 1-2 years? Everyday interactions, talk, cuddles and play stimulate brains and build confidence and skills.
2:21
Child development: 2-3 years
What do children need for healthy development at 2-3 years? Everyday play, interactions, talking and positive attention help toddlers grow and learn.
3:12
Child development: the first eight years
Child development and learning in the first eight years lays foundations for life. Development happens through play and relationships, as this video shows.
3:44
Learning through play: babies 7-17 months
This short video is about babies learning through play. Playing games, reading and singing are great ways to play and help your baby learn and develop.
2:47
Learning through play: toddlers 18-35 months
This video is all about learning through play for toddlers. See how to help your child learn, with ideas for playing with others at playgroup and story time.
2:33
Connecting and communicating: 7-17 months
This video shows how communicating with babies helps them learn language. And listening and responding to your baby is also good for bonding together.
3:45
Connecting and communicating: 18-24 months
This video shows how communicating with toddlers helps them develop and learn language. Lots of talk is good for bonding with your child too.
1:49
Making the most of time with children: dads
In this video, dads explain how they make the most of time with their children. For example, they use bath time, playtime and story time for bonding.
2:11
Toilet training: tips and ideas
Watch this video for toilet training strategies and tips from parents, including how to know when your child is ready for toilet training and how to start.
4:55
Gifted children and talented children: signs and identification
In this video, parents describe signs of their child being gifted or talented. It can be good to have gifted children assessed before they start school.
3:30
Gifted children and talented children: supporting learning
In this video, parents share practical tips for supporting the learning of gifted and talented children. You can do this as part of everyday life.
5:09
Gifted children and talented children: working with schools
It’s important to keep gifted and talented children engaged at school. Working in partnership with teachers and finding extracurricular activities can help.
5:26
Gifted children and talented children: family life
Family life with gifted and talented children means balancing the needs of everyone in your family. In this video parents talk about how they make it work.
2:50
Bilingualism: speaking 2 languages at home
In this video about bilingualism, parents explain why it’s important to raise bilingual children who can speak English and their family’s first language.
8:47
Encouraging positive behaviour: tips in action
How can you get positive behaviour from children? See how role-modelling, praise, communication and connection help children learn to behave positively.
Special moments with children
In this video, hear parents describe how special moments together help children feel safe, secure and loved. This is important for children’s development.
1.10
Playgroups: why they’re good
Playgroups are great opportunities for children to play and learn together. They also give you the chance to meet new people, as this video explains.
2:01
Telling stories with children: Mook Mook the owl
Watch and listen as Anne E. Stewart tells the story of Mook Mook the owl. See how telling stories with actions can help your child develop language.
1:45
Puppet play: how it helps child development
Did you know puppet play can help child development? This video explains that children can use puppets to explore feelings, identity and relationships.
2:48
Risk in play: how it helps child development
Risk in play lets children test their limits and learn new skills, as experts explain in this video. This is why risky play is good for child development.
2:30
Telling stories with children: The crocodile
Watch and listen as Anne E. Stewart tells a story about a crocodile. See how telling fun stories with actions can help your child develop language.
1:08
Messy play: tips for parents
Messy play is fun for kids, but mess can mean stress for you. It’s easier if you use old clothes as smocks and limit materials. Get more tips in our video.
4:06
Telling stories with children
In this video hear a storyteller’s tips for making a fun story anytime, anywhere. Telling stories with children promotes literacy, language and reading.
1:22
Playing with balls: ideas for children
Balls are good for physical play, but balls can spark imagination too. Your child could even turn ping-pong balls into monster eyes! Get tips in our video.
3:19
Rough-and-tumble play: tips for dads
This short video is about rough-and-tumble play like chasing and wrestling. Rough play is good exercise and helps children learn how strong they are.
1:36
Free time to play: why it’s important for children
When children have time and space for play, imaginations soar. Just adding cardboard boxes to a space can inspire pretend play. Our video has more tips.
3:48
Playing with sound: how it helps child development
This video takes you through different ways children can play with sound, like listening, making sounds and playing with different melodies and rhythms.
Low-cost play ideas
Children’s play doesn’t have to cost a lot if you use open-ended objects and simple materials to encourage thinking and imagining. See how in this video.
1:39
Making simple puppets
Puppet-making can be as easy as drawing a face on your fingertips or putting your hand in a sock, as our video explains.
1:14
Sparking play ideas in children’s minds
Is your child ever unsure of what to do next during play? Simple things like looking at pictures or going outside can sometimes spark new play ideas.
1:13
Sound hunt: play ideas for children
We’re going on a sound hunt! This video explains that a sound hunt gets children listening for different sounds, like chirps, barks, squeaks and more.
1:44
Social development: children 1-5 years
Social development in children is central to overall development. This video has ideas for helping your child develop social skills and enjoy socialising.
2:44
The role of play in child development
The role of play in child development is physical, cognitive, social and emotional. When it comes to development, play is like ‘fireworks’ for the brain!
0:56
Boredom: how it helps children’s play and development
Boredom is great for play and child development. This video explains how children have to use problem-solving and creative thinking when they’re bored.
1:58
Stepping back from children’s play: why it’s good
Stepping back from children’s play can be good. Child-led play lets kids explore their own play ideas. You can get involved by following your child’s lead.
2:29
Outdoor play: easy ideas
This video has easy ideas for outdoor play. Try physical activities like balancing on walls or creative ones like making craft from natural materials.
2:09
Nature walk: play ideas for children
Why not head outside for a nature walk? You and your child can collect things like leaves and sticks, then use them for craft, pretend play and more.
1:20
Asking questions that spark play and imagination
Asking open-ended questions during play gets children imagining and thinking about new ways to do things. Try questions like ‘What can you use that for?’
Telling stories with children: The old lady and the mosquito
Watch and listen as Anne E. Stewart tells the story of ‘The old lady and the mosquito’. See how telling stories can help your child develop language.
Treasure boxes: play ideas for children
Treasure boxes are filled with everyday items and natural materials. Kids love discovering what’s inside! Treasure boxes are good for sparking play ideas.
2:18
How messy play helps child development
Messy play has many benefits for child development, as our expert explains in this video. It can build fine motor skills and spark ideas for pretend play.
1:03
Playing outside in all types of weather
Playing outside in all weather teaches children about how their environment feels and how their body responds. This video explains.
1:04
Play materials to spark children’s imagination and exploration
Simple play materials can spark children’s imagination, as this video explains. Try materials like cardboard boxes and natural materials from outside.
3:22
Helping toddlers learn about feelings
You can help your toddler understand and express feelings. Get close, help to solve the problem, reassure your toddler, label feelings, and offer comfort.
4:00
Helping toddlers explore and learn safely
Toddlers need help to explore safely. Try these tips: make the environment safe, guide behaviour in a positive way, and help your toddler with transitions.
3:02
Connecting with toddlers through play
Playing with you is good for toddler development, because it helps you connect. Choose interesting toys and activities, and then let your toddler lead play.
2:36
Growing and choosing herbs for cooking
The children in this video choose herbs from their garden for dinner. It’s a great way to get cooking with kids and start a lifelong love for fresh food.
1:26
Sharing healthy snacks with children
Grapes for me, grapes for you. In this video on healthy snacks for kids, a mother leads by example as she and her children have healthy snacks after school.
Nutrition: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander parents
In this video, a father explains that involving children in preparing meals encourages them to eat well and get the nutrition and healthy food they need.
1:35
Shopping for healthy food together
This video shows how shopping for healthy food as a family gives kids a fun opportunity to learn about colours, maths, money and social interaction.
1:06
Is your child eating enough: how to tell
Is your child eating enough? More than likely! In this video, parents say it’s common for children’s appetites and food intake to change all the time.
3:01
Where food comes from: talking with children
Get kids interested in healthy fresh food by talking about where it comes from. The family in this video shows how food shopping gets a conversation going.
2:45
Preparing healthy lunches ahead: wraps
Watch this video for easy healthy lunch ideas. This family plans ahead and makes a few days worth of healthy food and wraps for lunch boxes.
3:40
Preparing healthy lunch boxes together
In this video, you can watch a family prepare healthy school lunch boxes together. Children learn about healthy food choices by helping make sandwiches.
1:37
Healthy shopping list: getting children to help
If you run out of something, why not ask your child to add it to a shopping list? In this video, children help with healthy food planning by making a list.
Making a healthy meal plan and shopping list
Plans and shopping lists for quick easy meals help you save money. This video shows how kids can help with healthy food planning – and learn along the way.
0:53
Making healthy foods fun
Turning food into something ‘precious’ can make healthy foods fun. Watch how these children love eating broccoli after Dad says, ‘It’s only for grown-ups!’
3:11
Shopping for fresh and healthy food with children
Shopping for healthy food with children helps them learn about making good food choices. See how as the family in this video takes us fresh food shopping.
3:28
Cooking together: children making pancakes
Cooking with kids is a fun way for them to learn about healthy food. It also builds literacy and numeracy skills. See how to make pancakes with children.
Preparing healthy lunches ahead: mealtimes
Why not do tomorrow’s lunches tonight? This family does vegies for dinner and extras for lunch boxes. Watch this video for more easy healthy lunch ideas.
2:57
Cooking together: children making tzatziki
Cooking with kids is a fun way for children to learn about healthy food and build literacy and numeracy skills. See how, as this family makes tzatziki.
3:13
Preparing healthy lunches before school
Making lunch before school can run smoothly – even with 3 kids in the kitchen! This video shows children helping to pack healthy lunches for school.
2:55
Preparing healthy lunches ahead: sandwiches and leftovers
Planning lunches ahead makes busy school mornings easy. This video has easy healthy lunch ideas for children, including sandwiches, leftovers and pancakes.
Raising children in a digital world
Digital technology is part of life for most families. Using digital technology with children can be fun and lets you model a healthy approach to screen time.
Beyond ‘screen time’: children in a digital world
To help kids make the most of digital technology, we need to go beyond ‘screen time’ and think about helping kids use technology to learn, create and play.
2:14
Healthy digital technology use: parents as role models
You can role model healthy digital technology use for kids. Try asking for photo consent, waiting to check messages, and using tech to connect with others.
2:17
Using digital technology with children: tips
Using digital technology with your child has many benefits. To get started, try sharing videos, playing apps, or getting your child to teach you something.
2:25
Play in a digital world: ideas and tips
Children learn through play, and it’s OK for some play to be digital and online. Get tips for sparking play with phone calculator and camera apps and more.
1:29
Digital technology and physical activity: tips for families
Physical activity is good for children, and digital technology can help get kids moving. Try dancing to a video, planning a walk with a digital map and more.
1:46
A family technology plan: what is it?
A family technology plan helps everyone in your family balance and manage technology use. It might cover where and when you use tech and what you use it for.
1:21
A family technology plan: how to make one
If you work with your children on your family technology plan, you can develop a plan that you all agree on. Look at who is using technology, where and when.
Online safety: how parent-child relationships protect children
Online safety for children goes beyond security settings. Trusting parent-child relationships encourage children to talk with parents about online worries.
