We have just survived another Christmas, and as usual, our little ones loved their presents, and loved their sisters presents even more. It can be quite costly at this time of the year, particularly with six girls who are all different, yet all the same. It occurred to me that sometimes we spend too much money on them at this time of the year.

I remember my childhood with some fond memories. Christmas was not a time of abundance, yet waking up on Christmas morning to find the bottom of the bed packed with new things to play with was always a thrill. I also remember that, while toys were great to play with, we also made our own fun.

These days we seem to have forgotten the simpler things in life. Here are five simple toys that every child should have, and they wont cost the earth. In fact, they'll hardly cost a cent.

DIRT

Yes, good old fashioned dirt. Some medicos even recommend a good play in the dirt. Research is showing that dirt helps a child build an immune system, and that children who do play in the dirt have fewer allergies in life. Besides, dirt is fun. You can build with it. Add a little water and you have mud. There is just so much that a child can do with dirt. I know mine love it, they even try to bring it inside - I do draw the line there, it's definitely an outside toy.

STICKS

Yes, I know a stick can be a weapon, however, it also has many other uses. In the good old days, you could tie some line and a hook and go fishing. These days, you can draw in the dirt, play sword fights, and knock the heads of long grass. A stick is the most useful toy a child can have - and they come in all shapes and sizes. I suggest another outside only toy.

STRING

String goes with stick, and many other things. Tie said string to stick, attach paper at other end of string, and you have a flying object. String can be used to tie things up (but not each other), it can be used to join to cans to make a telephone, it can even be used to raise and lower items if they have a cubby house.

BOXES

Be they cardboard or timber, boxes are always great to play with, or in if they are big enough. I know I get frustrated when my little ones open their toys, admire them for a moment, then spend the rest of the day playing with the packaging. There's a message their I think. Boxes can be used to hide treasures, carry things, make into boats, or homes to place in the dirt - possibly with the aid of string and sticks. I am sure you have a box or two at home somewhere.

TUBES

We go through toilet paper as quick as I can buy it. That's okay, the cardboard inner tube makes a great toy - the girls even fight over who gets the next one. It's not just toilet paper these days - cling wrap, alfoil, and many other kitchen and laundry products have cardboard inner tubes, and kids just love to play with them.

Not happy with those five free toys? Add some that nature provides. Pine cones, nuts, seeds, flowers, long grass stems - kids can always find uses for them. Add old clothing, old hats and shoes, even old sheets and blankets (they make a great cubby house apparantly) and they'll be in heaven. It helps to develop their imagination, it teaches them to be creative, and drives us parent crazy - but then, that's kids for you.

If your kids get bored over the Christmas holiday period, arm them with a few of those free toys, then watch them spend hours having fun.

Give a youngster a pencil, crayon or texta and leave them unsupervised for five minutes and I'll almost guarantee they will have drawn somewhere they shouldn't. The table, the floor or themselves are common areas, so too are walls. In fact, children and walls are probably the bane of my existence these days. My little ones (and not so little ones) have a bad habit of dragging their hands along walls as they walk, and of swinging around door frames instead of walking into a room.

The result is dirty walls, and it's darn hard to keep up with them. I'm not interested in having a spit polished home. However, I do like to have things reasonably clean. When it comes to walls and door frames (and doors for that matter), if you don't keep on top of the situation, that lovely white or light colour rapidly turns darker. Left alone, I'm sure it would turn black.

As parents, we all find solutions to some problems in the strangest places. When it comes to drawing on walls, and discolouring the walls and door frames, the easiest solution is a humble old nappy wipe - unused of course. I am not sure what's in them, but they seem to remove most marks from walls, especially pencil, crayon and texta. They are also good for removing same from a child's skin.

Nappy wipes, or baby wipes, are also good for removing grime from walls, doors and door frames. They quick and easy to use, and don't contain any nasty chemicals like most wall cleaners.

It does make one think, however. If baby wipes are good for removing stains from walls, what chemicals are they using? More importantly, what are they doing to baby's bottom? Still, they do the job, both on baby and on walls, and for three or four bucks for a packet of 80, they're cheaper than most cleaners. If you find your child has drawn on a wall, don't pull out the heavy duty cleaners, try a baby wipe, you'll be surprised at the results.

If you're like me, you probably dread taking your kids on holidays. Of course, I have five kids so that does make life a little awkward. However, a holiday, on the Gold Coast, that's designed for both the parents and the kids certainly tweaked my interest. Once I saw it was at the Hilton Surfers Paradise, I started to have doubts. I mean, the Hilton - that's expensive, and do they really want kids?

I have to say I am very pleasantly surprised. Yes, it's the Hilton, but it's not going to cost you an arm and a leg. Do they want kids, most definitely. This is a holiday with them in mind. In fact, they haven't even balked at the idea of five of them (mind you, the youngest is only three).

So what is this holiday? It's called the Doing it for the kids package and it involves a ‘Mini-Hilton Passport’, which entitles the family to:

• a family pass to Skypoint Observation Deck,
• two games for the family at the nearby Strike Bowling
• two hours use of the hotel’s personal movie theatre and gaming system
• plus pop-corn, soft-drinks and milkshakes – surely enough to keep everyone satisfied

Still not happy, how about a full buffet breakfast for the family each morning and a complimentary upgrade to a two bedroom Deluxe Ocean Residence. The package will save you up to $260 per night and is available until 31st May 2012.

The Gold Cost has a lot to offer families to begin with. This package just puts the icing on the cake. First class accommodation that is affordable; activities that kids will enjoy (and so will the parents if you relax and become a kid again for a day or two); and the famous Surfers Paradise beach. Add some of the theme parks and you have a perfect holiday.

We've planned ours and I'll write more when we get back. For once, I am actually looking forward to a holiday for change. You can find more information on this holiday package at the Hilton Surfers Paradise website - just go to Special Offers, Packages, and scroll down until you find Doing It For The Kids. Can you believe it - the Hilton Hotel in the middle of Surfers Paradise welcoming kids.

The teenage years are often a time of rebellion. Many times, parents find themselves wondering if they will ever get through those oh so tough teenage years. If you are a parent in this situation, you are probably on the hunt for solutions to the problem. If you need help with your rebellious teenager, use the tips below to guide you.

1. Let your teenager know what is expected of them. Too many times, parents expect their teenagers not to rebel but haven’t really sat them down and explained what is expected of them. Have a nice long talk with your teenager about your expectations. Talking about the situation with your teenager rather than with others about the problem can be the solution. Getting on the same page is crucial. It may not fix all the problems but it can only help matters. You may find it useful to talk with him or her on a regular basis and constantly remind him of your expectations.
2. Get them involved in afterschool programs. Rebellious teens are often those who have nothing to do. Boredom is a very bad thing for teenagers. Find ways to get him or her involved. Choose an afterschool program that he will enjoy. To avoid confrontation, give your teenager the choice of what he would like to be involved in. It may cost you a little money, but the money will be an investment for his future and will keep him busy during times where he could be getting into trouble.
3. Have rules and consequences for their actions. No matter how much your teenager fights you on the issue, you must have rules. Remind them that they are not grown yet. Curfews and house rules will benefit them greatly. Have consequences for times when the rules are broken. Teenagers are often attached to their cell phones. Taking the cell phone away is a great consequence to get your point across to a rebellious teenager. You can also take away things such as allowance and opportunities to spend time with friends.
4. Watch out for bad influences from friends. You don’t want to control who your teenager is friends with, but there may come a time when you have no other choice. Many times, bad influences from friends are often the cause of rebelliousness. Don’t jump to conclusions when making the decision to try and end a friendship between two teenagers. Be sure that you have proof that the other teen is the problem.
5. Are you being a bad influence? How do you act? If you are rebellious, you teenager could just be following in your footsteps. You must be a good influence for your teenager. You still need to respect your teen regardless of if you are older or not. A little respect may go along way. Make sure your actions are being a good influence on your rebellious teen.
6. Is there more to the problem? You must strive to get to the root of the rebelliousness. Perhaps your teen is acting this way because he is having trouble at school. Do what you can to determine the root of the problem and offer to help in anyway. If your teen is not fitting in at school, consider transferring him. Let him know that you are willing to help in any way possible. This will help him know that he can trust you to help rather than just rebelling.
7. Don’t give in. Dealing with a rebellious teenager can be difficult. It is important for your to realize that this will pass. You must hold firm and stand strong. Your teenager may not understand why you do the things you do but he will in the long run. You are only doing what is in the best interest of your teenager. Stick to your decisions and do not waver in an attempt to avoid rebelliousness.

Keep a positive mindset that your teenager will overcome this time in his life. Use the tips above to help you get through those times when nothing else seems to work. Begin by talking with your teenager and working together on the problem. You don’t want to be his enemy. Let him know that you truly do care.

Marina is Mom of 2 kids and co-owner of specialty websites like – cheval mirrors, tiffany floor lamp, corner etageres and lot more.

Kids love bunk beds and no wonder, there is just something plain fun about sleeping in them. Parents also love these beds and why wouldn’t they? When it comes to furnishing your child’s bedroom, they can be great space savers while at the same time keeping the family budget on track.

Although, bunk beds have come a long way from the stack able cot days it is still wise to make safety a key consideration in your choice. There is no arguing that kids love to play and to their vivid imaginations a bunk bed can become a castle in the air or the worlds most awesome tree house. Kids being kids, jumping, climbing and general shenanigans are apt to abound. Sadly, this can result in accidents and sometimes-serious injury. The good news is that injuries and accidents are preventable when you apply a little knowledge and common sense.

In order to prevent accidents it is essential to look at the new bed from two standpoints.

First, make sure the bed is safe. You can use this checklist as safety test.

• Ensure that it meets all requirements of ASTM International bunk beds standard. The bed should have a label indicating this.
• Make sure that it comes with complete assembly instructions and use guidelines. Always read these and follow the instructions carefully. Look for a label with safety warnings
• Conduct regular safety checks; be certain that the frame is sturdy and in the case of metal bunks check for any cracks in the welds. Never buy or use a bunk bed that does not measure up to this standard.
• The upper bunk should have guardrails on every side.
• Guardrails need to be spaced close enough together that a child cannot slip through.
• Corner posts and ladder uprights should not extend 5mm (0.2 inches) past the upper rim of the bed
• The mattress should fit tightly on all sides, and sit 127mm (5 inches) lower than the guardrails and end panels.
• Inspect the ladder to be certain it is tightly secured to the bed and in good condition. Never remove the ladder on a bunk bed for any reason.
• It is a good idea to check for any recalls. You can do this by contacting the retailer or the manufacturer.

Second, teach your children to use their bunk beds safely, establish and enforce some basic ground rules.

• Do not allow more than one child at a time on the top bunk
• Insist that they always use the ladder when climbing up or down from the top bunk
• Do not place a bunk bed near your windows. Children can strangle themselves on loose curtain cords and window blinds. Also, do not allow them to tie belts, cords or ropes to the bed.
• Restrict children from playing under a bunk bed unless it has been specifically designed for this kind of use.
• Never allow children less than 6 years of age to use the top bunk.

Parents will agree that the safety of our children is always at the forefront of our minds. By following these simple safety guidelines, you can protect your children from needless injury and give them years of fun. Even cooler yet is the fact that there are many great bunk beds to choose from that will make saying yes easy when your child asks for one. As a parent, isn’t it nice to have both peace of mind and an easy yes occasionally?