Food allergies continue to increase at alarming rates. One in 10 infants now has a food allergy. The most common food allergies in childhood are cow's milk, egg, peanut and tree nut. Risk cannot be removed but it can be managed. Children at risk of anaphylaxis and those caring for them must know how to reduce the possibility of a reaction, be able to recognise a reaction when it happens, and know how to respond. Have a look at the Food Allergy Week website to see what you can do to make your home and school more allergy aware. The website... Read more

Protecting the privacy of personal information is increasingly important at a time when we are sharing more details about ourselves online than ever before. While interacting online can be great for kids, it also makes them more vulnerable. To help reduce the risk of cyberbullying, unwanted attention or breaches of their privacy, you can: encourage them to keep their usernames and passwords safe and not share them with anyone take them through the privacy settings of sites they join to ensure they are careful about what information they share... Read more

Kids and families tend to run more smoothly when there is a clear plan. So the online parent resource School A to Z has created printable homework and study calendars for each month of the year. The School A to Z website and mobile app can also help with common assignment and homework questions. In the Homework and study section you'll find links to useful websites, maths and English glossaries, and help sheets to make homework time easier in your house. Print your homework and study calendar pages for the rest of 2013. If you have ideas for... Read more

Help create the right study conditions for your child in the lead-up to exams and know the warning signs if it's all getting too much. Kids who manage best in exams: maintain positive relationships with family and friends continue to allow some time for exercise and leisure get plenty of sleep eat sensibly have planned time for study are organised learn and practise simple techniques for relaxation. Read more on the School A to Z website.... Read more

Spelling is an important skill but one that can be a problem for many children. However, there are some simple strategies you can use to help your child develop confidence in their spelling ability. What you can do to help your child with spelling: Explain to your child that some words can be sounded out, but not all English words can be spelt correctly by ‘sounding out', eg the words ‘you' and ‘said'. Talk to your child about how you spell, and what you do when you don't know how to spell a word. Encourage your child to write at home on... Read more

A reminder to parents about the operation of school speed zones around the Easter holidays. School zones exist for the safety of children and families; they will operate on Thursday 28 March, then resume on Tuesday 2 April. Forty-kilometres-an-hour school speed zones operate across New South Wales at all school sites on gazetted school days, which are all days the school is open, even pupil-free days. Find out more... Read more

Writing essays is a skill many of us have forgotten. But don't worry – here are a few tips to help you and your child, even if you're not familiar with the essay topic. Key points: Determine 'what is the question asking?' Essays follow a specific formula Introduction – state your response to the question and mention the points to be made in the body of the essay. Body – expand on the points introduced in the introduction. Don't introduce new thoughts at this stage. Conclusion – summarise the points discussed in the body. One idea per... Read more

A panel of experts answers the most common questions parents have about how they can best support their kids' school life, study, wellbeing and development. In five brief segments, the experts share their tips on how parents can: help their kids reach their full potential at school and motivate them for learning support their child's social development and handle schoolyard conflict support kids through the teenage years. keep up with the technology their kids are using and how to keep them safe online. Watch the Great start videos... Read more

The safety and wellbeing of your child is of paramount importance to us, including where your child is diagnosed at risk of a severe allergic reaction.. It is important that parents notify the school if their child has an allergy. Anaphylaxis is a severe and sometimes sudden allergic reaction that is potentially life-threatening and always requires an emergency response. As with other serious health conditions, schools put in place strategies to support students at risk of anaphylaxis at school or while they are engaged in school related... Read more

Body image is the number one personal concern for young people aged 12 to 24, with research showing they feel under more pressure than ever to look a certain way. Butterfly Foundation's education manager, Danni Rowlands, goes into schools every week to talk to students about body image. In a revealing podcast, she explains to Rachel Friend what she finds when she talks to girls and young women, what's healthy behaviour and what parents should be concerned about. Listen to the podcast on the School A to Z website.... Read more

Parties are part and parcel of teenage social life and help mark the move from childhood to adulthood. While most parties go off without a hitch, celebrations can go wrong and get out of hand – particularly if the party is unplanned. If you are hosting a party here are some tips to help to ensure your teenager and their friends have fun but remain safe. Communication and careful planning are the keys to hosting a successful party. While the internet and social media channels such as Facebook and Twitter are great tools which can be used to... Read more

What is the best way to prepare kids for high school and make the move less daunting for them – and you, their parents and caregivers? Sometimes parents think that when their child goes to high school they need to take a step back but teachers involved in the transition say it is more about a change of focus. Here are some tips: In Year 5 start thinking about which high school your child should attend. Help them become more responsible by encouraging independence and responsibility. Get into a homework and study routine. Put their school... Read more

Growing up can be tough. Things don't always go to plan. So how can you help your child to develop resilience? Research shows children with good resilience perform better at school and are less likely to take part in risky behaviour, particularly as they enter the teenage years. The education department's principal psychologist, Ron Balderston, describes resilience as a shock absorber for the potholes of life. "Resilient children know how to cope and have developed skills that enable them to flex so they can manage life's blows when they... Read more

While the statistics around cyberbullying are sketchy, we do know that the likelihood of children being bullied online or over the phone increases as they get older and use technology more frequently. The Australian Communications and Media Authority has created tips for parents to help keep their kids safe online and to give some direction for those who think their child may already be experiencing online bullying. They include: Talk to your child about cyberbullying before it happens. Work out strategies to address cyberbullying that both... Read more

Looking for a great way to help your child practise their spelling? To coincide with the launch of the wordlist for the 2012 Premier's Spelling Bee, a companion app is now available for download. The app features almost 3,000 words and sentences used in the spelling bee initiative, which is aimed at primary school-aged children. The free Premier's Spelling Bee app has junior and senior primary categories with levels of spelling words that increase in difficulty. The game, which features Australian accents, randomly selects words from the... Read more

Starting school is such a big step. How do I know if my child is ready? The parent website School A to Z has spoken to a range of teachers about how to make the right decision for your child. Here are some of the key points and questions to ask: Children may enrol in Kindergarten at the beginning of the school year if they turn five years of age on or before 31 July in that year. All children must be enrolled in school by their sixth birthday. Are they physically ready? Are they socially and emotionally ready? Kids don't need to read or write... Read more

The period leading up to the HSC can be a difficult time for parents as they try to help their teen manage the study load and stress. The parent website School A to Z has spoken to teachers about the challenges parents and students face. Here are some of the key points: You don't need to be a subject expert to help your child prepare for the HSC. Make sure your teen is getting enough sleep. Good nutrition is vital. They can reduce stress by balancing study with physical activity, social life and other interests. Part-time work shouldn't be... Read more

School A to Z has just released an exciting, new maths game app, taking kid-friendly learning to the next level. Maths Monkey's Quest was created by the NSW Department of Education and Communities and designed for kids from Year 3 to Year 8. This new release engages children (and adults) with addition, subtraction, ratios and percentages, as they unlock new levels and strengthen their mathematical skills. At each level the Maths Monkey enters a new world of mathematical challenges, starting at the Jungle level (aimed at Years 3 and 4 students)... Read more

There's nothing like a series to inspire the bookworm in your child. Just think of the way kids reacted to the Harry Potter novels. Establishing a good relationship with the first book in a series means children can generally be confident they will feel the same way about the rest of the series. The books in a series often become easier to read as time goes on. Once your child is familiar with the first book's characters, the landscape, style and the author's voice, they can simply sit back and enjoy all the subsequent tales. Another benefit... Read more

Should Year 10 subject selections be an opportunity for your child to get a head start on their career, or to simply to choose the electives they most enjoy? This month, School A to Z features two articles with expert advice on how to help your child choose subjects that will give them the most options later on, regardless of whether they want to go to university, or they see themselves pursuing a trade or apprenticeship . Year 10 subject selection looks at what subjects your child is most likely to succeed in, and how to help them choose the... Read more