Planning with Kids: A Guide to Organising the Chaos to Make More Time for Parenting

Planning with Kids: A Guide to Organising the Chaos to Make More Time for Parenting

by Nicole Avery
Released June 2011
Publisher(s): Wrightbooks
ISBN: 9780730375647

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Book description

The ultimate guide for parents who dream of having a little less chaos and a lot more time for the good things in life

Written by mother of five, Nicole Avery, this book shows harried parents how, with just a bit of planning, family life can become easier to manage, less stressful, and decidedly more fun. "Dream on," you say? "I might as well try to herd cats as to get my kids to follow a lot of arbitrary rules!" And Nicole would agree, which is why Planning with Kids isn't like any other parenting guide out there. It was inspired by Nicole's blog of the same name, which, over the past three years, has garnered a huge audience of likeminded parents who have achieved nothing short of miraculous results following her advice. While other prescriptive guides offer mums and dads cook-cutter solutions to the challenges of raising kids, this handbook focuses on one simple, straightforward idea: by implementing a few simple strategies for how you do things, you'll make more time for you to be you and your kids to be kids. You'll find strategies for streamlining and enhancing everything from the routines of daily life, to family relationships, to budgeting and finances, playtime and much more!

  • Contains a full section on menus and cooking, including recipes, supported online by a planning-with-family meal planner

  • Divided into sections so that readers can dip-in and dip-out for information as they need it as their family expands and grows up!

Table of contents

  1. Cover
  2. Table of Contents
  3. Title Page
  4. Acknowledgements
  5. Chapter 1: Routines
    1. Establishing routines
    2. Slotting cleaning into your routine
    3. Holding family meetings
    4. Taking action
  6. Chapter 2: Meals
    1. Menu planning
    2. Shopping for growing families
    3. Letting the family cook
    4. Family-friendly food
    5. School lunches
    6. Essential kitchen appliances
    7. Taking action
  7. Chapter 3: Family finances
    1. The family budget
    2. Managing pocket money
    3. Taking action
  8. Chapter 4: Navigating with a new baby
    1. Getting organised for the birth
    2. Preparing the kids for a new baby
    3. Preparing friends and family
    4. Preparing food
    5. Preparing for celebrations
    6. Preparing baby’s clothes
    7. Preparing the hospital bag
    8. When baby comes home
    9. Sleep (or lack thereof)
    10. Taking action
  9. Chapter 5: Tactics for toddlers
    1. Defining your discipline style
    2. Case study of a two and a half year old toddler
    3. Teaching independence skills
    4. Routines for toddlers
    5. A toddler-friendly everyday bag
    6. Taking action
  10. Chapter 6: Preparation for preschoolers
    1. Preparing for the kinder years
    2. Opportunities for learning
    3. Preschoolers and technology
    4. Taking action
  11. Chapter 7: Strategies for schoolchildren
    1. Preparing for school
    2. Coping with school paperwork
    3. Organising after-school activities
    4. Managing homework
    5. Organising the school gear
    6. Making schoolchildren independent
    7. Keeping track of things
    8. Taking action
  12. Chapter 8: You
    1. Defining your guiding principles
    2. Setting yearly goals
    3. Finding time for you
    4. Taking action
  13. Chapter 9: Your Partner
    1. Getting your partner involved
    2. Discussing expectations
    3. Teaching your partner the know-how
    4. Giving your partner space
    5. Creating solo time for your partner
    6. Taking action
  14. Chapter 10: The joys of parenting
    1. A planned approach to parenting
    2. Making time for your relationship
    3. Preparing for the evening peak hour
    4. Preparing for the morning peak hour
    5. Taking action
  15. Chapter 11: Making time for play
    1. Giving kids time alone
    2. Scheduling play
    3. Play time for different ages
    4. Organising the kids’ toys
    5. Taking action
  16. Chapter 12: Preparing for holidays
    1. Before you leave
    2. Driving with kids
    3. Flying with kids
    4. Staying home with kids
    5. Taking action
  17. Chapter 13: Stress-free birthday parties
    1. Planning a stay-at-home party
    2. Parties away from home
    3. Birthday presents
    4. Taking action
  18. Chapter 14: Avoiding Christmas chaos
    1. Christmas preparation in July
    2. A 10-week Christmas preparation plan
    3. A Christmas Day menu plan
    4. Taking action
  19. Final Thoughts

Product information

  • Title: Planning with Kids: A Guide to Organising the Chaos to Make More Time for Parenting
  • Author(s): Nicole Avery
  • Release date: June 2011
  • Publisher(s): Wrightbooks
  • ISBN: 9780730375647