1 00:00:03,520 --> 00:00:07,160 Speaker 1: It's the Happy Families podcast. It's the podcast for the 2 00:00:07,240 --> 00:00:10,160 Speaker 1: time poor parent who just wants answers. 3 00:00:10,280 --> 00:00:11,840 Speaker 2: Now, I don't understand smalls. 4 00:00:12,000 --> 00:00:14,560 Speaker 3: As soon as you melt your marshmallows, you just stick 5 00:00:14,600 --> 00:00:17,360 Speaker 3: them between the biscuits and the chocolate melts. You've got 6 00:00:17,640 --> 00:00:20,320 Speaker 3: gooey marshmallow and you've got this beautiful wheat biscuit. 7 00:00:20,360 --> 00:00:23,040 Speaker 2: It's amazing gross, just gross. 8 00:00:23,360 --> 00:00:26,599 Speaker 1: And now here's the stars of our show, my mom 9 00:00:26,640 --> 00:00:27,120 Speaker 1: and dad. 10 00:00:27,360 --> 00:00:29,600 Speaker 2: Hello, this is doctor Justin Colson. I'm the founder of 11 00:00:29,600 --> 00:00:33,120 Speaker 2: Having Families dot com dot au. I'm here with Kylie, 12 00:00:33,159 --> 00:00:36,720 Speaker 2: my wife from under our six kids, and we are, 13 00:00:37,360 --> 00:00:39,640 Speaker 2: like so many of you, struggling at the moment because 14 00:00:39,640 --> 00:00:41,520 Speaker 2: it's the middle of winter school holidays, or at least 15 00:00:41,520 --> 00:00:43,080 Speaker 2: it is in Queensland. I know that there's a couple 16 00:00:43,120 --> 00:00:45,280 Speaker 2: of states where school holidays are just around the corner. 17 00:00:45,960 --> 00:00:51,159 Speaker 2: But it's cold, the day's daylight hours are shorter, and frankly, 18 00:00:51,200 --> 00:00:52,479 Speaker 2: a lot of us have still got work to do. 19 00:00:52,600 --> 00:00:55,520 Speaker 2: We can't just stop work because the kids aren't at school, 20 00:00:55,920 --> 00:00:58,600 Speaker 2: and it gets kind of tricky. Kylie, I came across 21 00:00:58,680 --> 00:01:04,319 Speaker 2: as statch team spends between seven and nine hours each 22 00:01:04,720 --> 00:01:10,479 Speaker 2: day using electronics. Wow, seven to nine hours. So we're 23 00:01:10,480 --> 00:01:12,720 Speaker 2: talking school holidays, parents are working, the kids are like, well, 24 00:01:12,800 --> 00:01:15,399 Speaker 2: just figure it out for yourselves, kids, And so that's 25 00:01:15,400 --> 00:01:18,320 Speaker 2: what the kids are doing seven to nine hours for 26 00:01:18,360 --> 00:01:21,160 Speaker 2: the average team in front of a screen. That means 27 00:01:21,160 --> 00:01:23,720 Speaker 2: that they're likely not getting the recommended minimum sixty minutes 28 00:01:23,760 --> 00:01:25,559 Speaker 2: of exercise per day that they're supposed to be getting. 29 00:01:25,560 --> 00:01:28,400 Speaker 2: I know that a whole lot of Australian parents just 30 00:01:28,640 --> 00:01:31,240 Speaker 2: laughed into their cupa as I said, sixty minutes of 31 00:01:31,240 --> 00:01:35,960 Speaker 2: exercise per day for my teenager. So I thought, it's 32 00:01:36,080 --> 00:01:39,520 Speaker 2: tricky at the moment. It's really tricky to deal with 33 00:01:39,840 --> 00:01:44,160 Speaker 2: kids and school holidays and cold weather and being inside 34 00:01:44,160 --> 00:01:47,720 Speaker 2: more than outside. I just thought, let's have a fun conversation, 35 00:01:48,040 --> 00:01:50,560 Speaker 2: a brainstorming session. Let's just chuck a whole lot of 36 00:01:50,600 --> 00:01:52,480 Speaker 2: stuff out there about what we can do when it's 37 00:01:52,520 --> 00:01:54,960 Speaker 2: cold and we can't always be fully present for the kids, 38 00:01:55,240 --> 00:01:57,360 Speaker 2: so they don't climb the walls or stare at a 39 00:01:57,360 --> 00:01:59,360 Speaker 2: screen all day because we know that's not healthy for 40 00:01:59,400 --> 00:02:00,280 Speaker 2: them to. 41 00:02:00,240 --> 00:02:04,400 Speaker 3: Get into character. I'm sitting in our studio with a 42 00:02:04,440 --> 00:02:07,080 Speaker 3: blanket wrapped around me because I'm freezing. 43 00:02:07,320 --> 00:02:10,119 Speaker 2: I love that you called our studio. It's like it's 44 00:02:10,240 --> 00:02:13,200 Speaker 2: just a well, it's a room that doubles us with 45 00:02:13,320 --> 00:02:15,200 Speaker 2: concrete wall, multiple other things. 46 00:02:15,160 --> 00:02:16,960 Speaker 3: And it was warm when I got here, but it's 47 00:02:17,000 --> 00:02:18,720 Speaker 3: not so warm anymore. 48 00:02:18,280 --> 00:02:20,360 Speaker 2: And I'm wearing a jumper. In fact, it was so 49 00:02:20,400 --> 00:02:22,959 Speaker 2: cold when I came to work this morning. And they're 50 00:02:23,000 --> 00:02:25,000 Speaker 2: in mind, folks, we are on the Sunshine Coast right, 51 00:02:25,440 --> 00:02:28,560 Speaker 2: so we have a low tolerance for cold weather. In fact, 52 00:02:28,560 --> 00:02:31,520 Speaker 2: I was on call with a client just yesterday and 53 00:02:32,240 --> 00:02:34,280 Speaker 2: this is so embarrassing. I can't believe. I was complaining 54 00:02:34,280 --> 00:02:36,280 Speaker 2: about how cold it was. And then I remember that 55 00:02:36,320 --> 00:02:38,560 Speaker 2: I was speaking to some people in Melbourne and they 56 00:02:38,600 --> 00:02:41,480 Speaker 2: said it has been cold today and I said, I know, 57 00:02:41,840 --> 00:02:43,520 Speaker 2: and then I opened up my weather app. I said, 58 00:02:43,800 --> 00:02:45,800 Speaker 2: it's twenty degrees right now, but it says that it 59 00:02:45,800 --> 00:02:49,639 Speaker 2: feels like nineteen and it just cracked up. They're like, yeah, 60 00:02:49,680 --> 00:02:52,520 Speaker 2: it's five degrees right now here in Melbourne. I was, oh, sorry. 61 00:02:52,560 --> 00:02:54,960 Speaker 3: So I'm just a little bit like Sammy and Jason, 62 00:02:55,120 --> 00:02:58,600 Speaker 3: our Lighthouse parents on Parental Guidance, who when they got 63 00:02:58,680 --> 00:03:01,320 Speaker 3: to Glenworth Elly said, yeah, we don't really do much. 64 00:03:01,680 --> 00:03:03,600 Speaker 2: We don't do mud and cold and we don't do that. 65 00:03:03,800 --> 00:03:06,560 Speaker 2: So I've actually just put them on. I've got my gloves, 66 00:03:06,880 --> 00:03:10,919 Speaker 2: my cycling gloves that I wore to the office before 67 00:03:10,919 --> 00:03:15,239 Speaker 2: we recorded this, because I just don't I don't do cold. 68 00:03:15,360 --> 00:03:18,760 Speaker 2: I don't do cold anyway. So likely your kids only 69 00:03:18,840 --> 00:03:21,680 Speaker 2: that they like the heater. They like being indoors when 70 00:03:21,720 --> 00:03:23,440 Speaker 2: it was winter when you were a kid growing up, 71 00:03:23,600 --> 00:03:25,440 Speaker 2: before we do the brainstorm, and this is part of 72 00:03:25,440 --> 00:03:27,400 Speaker 2: the brainstorm, I guess what did you do? And I'm 73 00:03:27,440 --> 00:03:30,720 Speaker 2: talking about from the age of maybe twelve up. Let's 74 00:03:30,760 --> 00:03:32,600 Speaker 2: go with your adolescent years, because I can't remember what 75 00:03:32,639 --> 00:03:34,760 Speaker 2: I did before that. What did you do? 76 00:03:35,400 --> 00:03:37,320 Speaker 3: Well, I was going to say, if you were talking younger, 77 00:03:38,360 --> 00:03:40,000 Speaker 3: I grew up in New Zealand. 78 00:03:39,840 --> 00:03:42,040 Speaker 2: And that's cold. Yeah it was old. 79 00:03:42,400 --> 00:03:44,920 Speaker 3: Yeah, I didn't actually know it was cold. 80 00:03:45,720 --> 00:03:46,440 Speaker 2: I love that. 81 00:03:46,960 --> 00:03:50,320 Speaker 3: So I have vivid memories of me swinging on our 82 00:03:50,360 --> 00:03:52,840 Speaker 3: swing set in the backyard with the wind blowing in 83 00:03:52,920 --> 00:03:55,560 Speaker 3: my singlet top and little shorts in the middle of winter. 84 00:03:56,760 --> 00:03:58,520 Speaker 3: And it wasn't until we moved over to Australia and 85 00:03:58,560 --> 00:04:02,400 Speaker 3: then it was so hot. I'd never experienced heat like 86 00:04:02,600 --> 00:04:04,840 Speaker 3: I did when we moved to Brisbane. 87 00:04:04,440 --> 00:04:05,360 Speaker 2: Not in winter of course. 88 00:04:05,440 --> 00:04:09,200 Speaker 3: No, no, no, that the winters felt way colder. 89 00:04:09,680 --> 00:04:12,040 Speaker 2: Yeah yeah, yeah, interesting. Yeah, because we get such warm. 90 00:04:11,920 --> 00:04:15,040 Speaker 3: We kind of make a joke that Australian summers thinned 91 00:04:15,040 --> 00:04:18,440 Speaker 3: our blood. I just can't deal with the cold anymore. 92 00:04:18,560 --> 00:04:24,279 Speaker 3: So I would think in my teenage years, I just 93 00:04:24,400 --> 00:04:27,960 Speaker 3: hibernated inside under the blankets, did so much. 94 00:04:28,120 --> 00:04:29,680 Speaker 2: Didn't get that physical activity there. 95 00:04:29,560 --> 00:04:32,240 Speaker 3: No, definitely not. No. I used to love writing in 96 00:04:32,240 --> 00:04:34,520 Speaker 3: my journal and kind of doing craft and stuff, so 97 00:04:34,520 --> 00:04:35,960 Speaker 3: I would have spent a lot of time doing that. 98 00:04:36,000 --> 00:04:37,880 Speaker 2: How did we ever end up together? I don't know, 99 00:04:38,000 --> 00:04:42,719 Speaker 2: because my winters once I turned thirteen, I was thirteen 100 00:04:42,800 --> 00:04:45,800 Speaker 2: years old, I just started surfing, and my winters and summers, 101 00:04:45,800 --> 00:04:48,480 Speaker 2: my every weekend, my every school holiday was just I'm 102 00:04:48,480 --> 00:04:50,039 Speaker 2: going to catch a bus to the beach and I'm 103 00:04:50,040 --> 00:04:52,000 Speaker 2: going to go surfing. So I put on the wetsuit 104 00:04:52,120 --> 00:04:54,040 Speaker 2: and go surfing. And it didn't matter what the weather was, 105 00:04:54,200 --> 00:04:57,239 Speaker 2: I just surfed and that was literally it. There's nothing 106 00:04:57,279 --> 00:05:00,479 Speaker 2: else that I did. Maybe a bike ride now, and 107 00:05:00,520 --> 00:05:03,400 Speaker 2: I was totally outside and totally physical all the time. 108 00:05:03,720 --> 00:05:05,480 Speaker 3: So, you know, my favorite kind of weather. 109 00:05:06,240 --> 00:05:08,000 Speaker 2: Warm weather where we can be at the beach and 110 00:05:08,040 --> 00:05:08,440 Speaker 2: in the water. 111 00:05:08,480 --> 00:05:12,080 Speaker 3: No, I actually love this temperature right now, as long 112 00:05:12,120 --> 00:05:14,039 Speaker 3: as I'm moving my body right, yes, you're going to 113 00:05:14,080 --> 00:05:17,800 Speaker 3: get a warm body. I actually love the feel of 114 00:05:17,839 --> 00:05:19,919 Speaker 3: that crisp air touching my skin. 115 00:05:20,279 --> 00:05:23,400 Speaker 2: So there's a lot of parents that do not have 116 00:05:23,760 --> 00:05:26,800 Speaker 2: teenage sons who serve, and a lot of parents who 117 00:05:26,800 --> 00:05:29,680 Speaker 2: do not want their kids, male or female, to be 118 00:05:29,839 --> 00:05:31,560 Speaker 2: hanging out of the room just writing in their journal 119 00:05:31,640 --> 00:05:34,520 Speaker 2: or staring at a screen. So let's dive into a 120 00:05:34,520 --> 00:05:39,400 Speaker 2: whole lot of fun winter activities for our kids that 121 00:05:39,440 --> 00:05:42,400 Speaker 2: they can do either with or without us, to stay 122 00:05:42,480 --> 00:05:47,320 Speaker 2: sane through these holiday weeks. What have you got written 123 00:05:47,320 --> 00:05:48,880 Speaker 2: down on your list? I want to hear your listen, 124 00:05:48,920 --> 00:05:50,160 Speaker 2: then I'm going to share a couple of mine, or 125 00:05:50,160 --> 00:05:51,520 Speaker 2: maybe we'll sort of Well, you didn't. 126 00:05:51,320 --> 00:05:54,320 Speaker 3: Quit me very well because I kind of just assumed 127 00:05:54,360 --> 00:05:58,520 Speaker 3: that this was going to be parentally navigated. I didn't 128 00:05:58,560 --> 00:06:02,960 Speaker 3: know you about doing it on their own. So mine 129 00:06:03,000 --> 00:06:05,720 Speaker 3: probably require a little depending on the age of the kids. 130 00:06:05,720 --> 00:06:09,120 Speaker 3: Obviously mine require a little bit of supervision. But like 131 00:06:09,160 --> 00:06:12,040 Speaker 3: I said, I actually I actually think embracing the cold 132 00:06:12,240 --> 00:06:13,919 Speaker 3: can be so much fun. But you've got to be 133 00:06:13,960 --> 00:06:15,640 Speaker 3: prepped for it. You don't show up at the snow 134 00:06:15,880 --> 00:06:18,240 Speaker 3: in your sandals and singlet top. 135 00:06:18,400 --> 00:06:20,520 Speaker 2: Sure, so the more prepared. 136 00:06:20,080 --> 00:06:23,279 Speaker 3: You are, the more you can enjoy it. So, you know, 137 00:06:23,400 --> 00:06:25,680 Speaker 3: having a brazier or using a big wock in the 138 00:06:25,720 --> 00:06:29,320 Speaker 3: backyard and creating a little fire, all rugged up and 139 00:06:29,360 --> 00:06:30,320 Speaker 3: you wear your beanies. 140 00:06:30,560 --> 00:06:31,800 Speaker 2: That was the first thing I was going to say, 141 00:06:31,800 --> 00:06:34,080 Speaker 2: as well, it's a nighttime activity. But get your kids, 142 00:06:34,120 --> 00:06:37,159 Speaker 2: even if they're four, five, six seven, get the kids 143 00:06:37,160 --> 00:06:40,440 Speaker 2: to come over and stick some marshmallows on some sticks. 144 00:06:40,720 --> 00:06:43,400 Speaker 2: You can buy a cheap brazier from Bunnings or Kmart 145 00:06:44,040 --> 00:06:46,400 Speaker 2: and just toast the marshmallows. Let the kids have fun 146 00:06:46,400 --> 00:06:47,479 Speaker 2: for an hour or so in the backyard. 147 00:06:47,760 --> 00:06:50,239 Speaker 3: We found a cheap way of making smalls that doesn't 148 00:06:50,240 --> 00:06:51,360 Speaker 3: take any effort at all. 149 00:06:51,680 --> 00:06:53,960 Speaker 2: I don't understand smores. I know that we've got some 150 00:06:54,000 --> 00:06:56,520 Speaker 2: American friends and they're all about smalles. I think smores 151 00:06:56,520 --> 00:07:00,040 Speaker 2: are just disgusting. You love them away. You go just use. 152 00:07:00,160 --> 00:07:03,400 Speaker 3: Chocolate, wheat and biscuits. So as soon as you melt 153 00:07:03,440 --> 00:07:05,760 Speaker 3: your marshmallows, you just stick them between the biscuits and 154 00:07:05,800 --> 00:07:09,080 Speaker 3: the chocolate melts. You've got gooey marshmallow and you've got 155 00:07:09,080 --> 00:07:11,080 Speaker 3: this beautiful wheat biscuit. It's amazing. 156 00:07:11,200 --> 00:07:17,800 Speaker 2: Gross, just gross. What else is on your list? 157 00:07:18,120 --> 00:07:20,840 Speaker 3: I'm doing a camp out inside. So when we were 158 00:07:20,840 --> 00:07:24,080 Speaker 3: in Brisbane, we had very high ceilings in our laundry 159 00:07:24,120 --> 00:07:27,160 Speaker 3: and we actually put the tent up inside the living room. 160 00:07:27,280 --> 00:07:29,360 Speaker 2: We put literally like what is an eight or ten 161 00:07:29,400 --> 00:07:31,760 Speaker 2: man tent, and we just took up the whole living room. 162 00:07:31,800 --> 00:07:34,720 Speaker 2: It was really hard getting the tent pegs through the floorboards. No, 163 00:07:34,840 --> 00:07:35,440 Speaker 2: I'm just kidding. 164 00:07:35,480 --> 00:07:37,840 Speaker 3: We didn't do that, and one of those pop up 165 00:07:37,880 --> 00:07:39,400 Speaker 3: tents and it was great and the kids thought it 166 00:07:39,440 --> 00:07:40,200 Speaker 3: was amazing. 167 00:07:40,280 --> 00:07:42,040 Speaker 2: Yeah, we literally just camped in the living room with 168 00:07:42,080 --> 00:07:42,840 Speaker 2: the big, great ceilings. 169 00:07:42,880 --> 00:07:44,880 Speaker 3: Well most of us don't have the option of doing that, 170 00:07:44,920 --> 00:07:46,960 Speaker 3: and you know, moving our finitshry around that much. So 171 00:07:47,560 --> 00:07:49,560 Speaker 3: you know, having a camp out, you know when kids 172 00:07:49,640 --> 00:07:52,080 Speaker 3: used to make blanket forts. 173 00:07:52,200 --> 00:07:53,920 Speaker 2: Yeah, have a camp out like that. 174 00:07:54,080 --> 00:07:55,600 Speaker 3: You know, it doesn't matter how old you are. 175 00:07:55,760 --> 00:07:58,720 Speaker 2: There's nothing stopping there's literally nothing stopping you though, putting 176 00:07:58,760 --> 00:08:00,560 Speaker 2: up like your two men or your form tent in 177 00:08:00,600 --> 00:08:02,640 Speaker 2: the living room. Just push the lounge chairs back and 178 00:08:03,200 --> 00:08:04,960 Speaker 2: put the tent down and sleep on the air mattresses, 179 00:08:05,040 --> 00:08:06,680 Speaker 2: or drag the kids mattresses out of their beds and 180 00:08:06,680 --> 00:08:08,840 Speaker 2: stick them in the tent. It's a little bit of hassle, 181 00:08:09,160 --> 00:08:11,120 Speaker 2: but it's so much fun. And the tent isn't going 182 00:08:11,160 --> 00:08:13,040 Speaker 2: to buy away. You don't actually need ten pegs when 183 00:08:13,080 --> 00:08:14,240 Speaker 2: you're putting it up in the living room. 184 00:08:14,280 --> 00:08:16,760 Speaker 3: You can put their conditions, that's right, but. 185 00:08:16,720 --> 00:08:18,480 Speaker 2: It still feels like a campout. Or if you want 186 00:08:18,480 --> 00:08:20,920 Speaker 2: to be really brave and you're luckily lucky enough to 187 00:08:20,920 --> 00:08:23,080 Speaker 2: have enough space in the backyard, go on camp out 188 00:08:23,120 --> 00:08:24,760 Speaker 2: in the backyard, or let the kids camp out in 189 00:08:24,800 --> 00:08:28,120 Speaker 2: the backyard. It's one of my favorite school holiday things. 190 00:08:28,200 --> 00:08:30,200 Speaker 2: When I was I think I was probably about twelve, 191 00:08:30,920 --> 00:08:34,560 Speaker 2: maybe eleven, is we would literally put a tent up, 192 00:08:34,600 --> 00:08:36,240 Speaker 2: a two man tent up in the backyard. I'd do 193 00:08:36,280 --> 00:08:37,560 Speaker 2: it with one of my mates, and then we'd walk 194 00:08:37,640 --> 00:08:39,160 Speaker 2: down of the shops and we'd buy I don't know, 195 00:08:39,480 --> 00:08:42,400 Speaker 2: two dollars worth of hubber Bubba and some chocolate buds 196 00:08:42,440 --> 00:08:45,240 Speaker 2: and whatever other treats we wanted, and then we just 197 00:08:45,360 --> 00:08:49,080 Speaker 2: we'd camp out in the backyard tent chewing hubber Bubba 198 00:08:49,679 --> 00:08:53,280 Speaker 2: all my long and talking about life the universe and everything, 199 00:08:54,160 --> 00:08:56,640 Speaker 2: and I mean it was just so awesome and it 200 00:08:56,679 --> 00:08:58,840 Speaker 2: felt really safe as well because we were at and 201 00:08:58,880 --> 00:08:59,439 Speaker 2: the universe. 202 00:08:59,480 --> 00:09:01,400 Speaker 3: I just cut believe you just said that. Yeah, life 203 00:09:01,480 --> 00:09:03,079 Speaker 3: and the unifse you're talking about. 204 00:09:02,840 --> 00:09:09,240 Speaker 2: Girls probably almost certainly all night long, and so doing 205 00:09:09,559 --> 00:09:11,280 Speaker 2: that kind of thing, like the camp out inside or 206 00:09:11,280 --> 00:09:14,240 Speaker 2: in the backyard, it's totally safe, it's totally convenient, but 207 00:09:14,280 --> 00:09:17,760 Speaker 2: the kids feel so awesome. It's just so novel. 208 00:09:19,600 --> 00:09:22,120 Speaker 3: I also had, you know, having your own like private 209 00:09:22,120 --> 00:09:23,880 Speaker 3: little paint and sip sessions. 210 00:09:24,280 --> 00:09:25,240 Speaker 2: Paint and sip. 211 00:09:25,440 --> 00:09:27,560 Speaker 3: Yeah with the kids, I have a sip of a 212 00:09:27,600 --> 00:09:29,440 Speaker 3: hot chocolate okay in the cold. 213 00:09:29,520 --> 00:09:29,760 Speaker 2: Yeah. 214 00:09:29,800 --> 00:09:33,040 Speaker 3: Sure. There's just something really raw about being able to 215 00:09:33,040 --> 00:09:35,760 Speaker 3: do that and not have any expectations about the outcome 216 00:09:37,000 --> 00:09:39,760 Speaker 3: and just yeah, getting creative together. 217 00:09:40,480 --> 00:09:43,840 Speaker 2: So I'm going to add to that. Well, as you know, 218 00:09:43,880 --> 00:09:47,120 Speaker 2: I'm neither artistic nor into sitting still and sipping a 219 00:09:47,160 --> 00:09:51,120 Speaker 2: hot chocolate. But I don't think that there's anything wrong 220 00:09:51,160 --> 00:09:53,640 Speaker 2: with saying to the kids, depending on their age, hey 221 00:09:53,679 --> 00:09:56,360 Speaker 2: here's a couple of bucks, four or five bucks, go 222 00:09:56,400 --> 00:09:58,400 Speaker 2: down to the cafe and buy yourself a hot chocolate, 223 00:09:58,640 --> 00:10:00,400 Speaker 2: or why don't I walk with you, if you've got 224 00:10:00,400 --> 00:10:02,840 Speaker 2: the capacity, walk them down to the cafe and just 225 00:10:03,080 --> 00:10:07,959 Speaker 2: this is about time together. It's about getting out of 226 00:10:08,000 --> 00:10:11,760 Speaker 2: the house and moving your body. All right, let's talk 227 00:10:11,760 --> 00:10:14,280 Speaker 2: about some other ideas that we've got for getting through 228 00:10:14,320 --> 00:10:16,600 Speaker 2: the winter chill. When the kids are on holidays, you're 229 00:10:16,600 --> 00:10:18,480 Speaker 2: at work, you're busy, you've got stuff to do. The 230 00:10:18,559 --> 00:10:22,280 Speaker 2: kids are staring electronics or climbing the walls. What else 231 00:10:22,360 --> 00:10:24,440 Speaker 2: is on your list? Let's do some rapid fire. 232 00:10:24,800 --> 00:10:27,680 Speaker 3: So recently, my mom started a new hobby. She's making 233 00:10:27,720 --> 00:10:31,160 Speaker 3: beanies for cancer patients. And it's all done on a 234 00:10:31,280 --> 00:10:34,720 Speaker 3: ring loom and use the crochet hook, so it's very 235 00:10:34,840 --> 00:10:38,520 Speaker 3: very simple. It's pretty much winding wool around this loom 236 00:10:38,559 --> 00:10:40,600 Speaker 3: and then using the crochet hook to just kind of 237 00:10:40,640 --> 00:10:44,360 Speaker 3: pull off your threads. And the girls were watching her 238 00:10:44,400 --> 00:10:47,160 Speaker 3: do it and they decided they wanted to give it 239 00:10:47,160 --> 00:10:50,640 Speaker 3: a go. I was really shocked because it's not something 240 00:10:50,640 --> 00:10:54,320 Speaker 3: that you see kids doing these days. But Annie got 241 00:10:54,400 --> 00:10:58,080 Speaker 3: so excited about it. She's halfway through making her first beanie. Well, 242 00:10:58,160 --> 00:11:02,440 Speaker 3: and my mum also had this all pom pom maker, 243 00:11:03,040 --> 00:11:05,440 Speaker 3: so Lily got involved making the pompoms to go on 244 00:11:05,480 --> 00:11:08,440 Speaker 3: top of the beanies, and so it just got me 245 00:11:08,480 --> 00:11:11,240 Speaker 3: thinking about what's a new hobby that you can introduce 246 00:11:11,280 --> 00:11:15,800 Speaker 3: your children to, depending on their age, depending on their gender, Like, 247 00:11:15,960 --> 00:11:18,439 Speaker 3: what's something that they might enjoy doing that they've never 248 00:11:18,440 --> 00:11:18,960 Speaker 3: done before. 249 00:11:19,040 --> 00:11:20,719 Speaker 2: Now there's a challenge with this because if you say 250 00:11:20,760 --> 00:11:22,240 Speaker 2: to your kids, can you think of a new hobby 251 00:11:22,240 --> 00:11:24,160 Speaker 2: you'd like to try, They're not going to have any 252 00:11:24,200 --> 00:11:25,760 Speaker 2: ideas at all. So you probably need to do a 253 00:11:25,800 --> 00:11:28,520 Speaker 2: bit of legwork around this. But the resource that you've 254 00:11:28,520 --> 00:11:32,840 Speaker 2: just highlighted that is perhaps most valuable here is grandparents. 255 00:11:33,280 --> 00:11:37,200 Speaker 2: Like school, holidays are tricky, it's cold, you're gonna have 256 00:11:37,200 --> 00:11:38,800 Speaker 2: to be indoorsed for some of the time. But if 257 00:11:38,880 --> 00:11:41,680 Speaker 2: grandparents can be involved, especially if they're teaching the kids 258 00:11:41,679 --> 00:11:45,040 Speaker 2: some art, or if they're teaching them some card tricks, 259 00:11:45,120 --> 00:11:47,800 Speaker 2: or they're teaching them a new craft, or they're teaching 260 00:11:47,840 --> 00:11:50,640 Speaker 2: them something, maybe they're just reading to them. Just doing 261 00:11:50,640 --> 00:11:54,880 Speaker 2: those kinds of activities with grandparents awesome, awesome stuff. I 262 00:11:54,920 --> 00:11:55,240 Speaker 2: love it. 263 00:11:55,679 --> 00:11:58,679 Speaker 3: A couple of terms ago, Emily started doing beads at 264 00:11:58,760 --> 00:12:01,120 Speaker 3: bead club at school in the lunch break, and she 265 00:12:01,200 --> 00:12:03,360 Speaker 3: started bringing home all of these little trinkets. She was 266 00:12:03,360 --> 00:12:06,199 Speaker 3: making mostly key rings and things, and so when her 267 00:12:06,200 --> 00:12:08,559 Speaker 3: birthday came around, I thought, you know what, she's actually 268 00:12:08,600 --> 00:12:11,360 Speaker 3: really enjoying this. I'll get her some beads. So I 269 00:12:11,360 --> 00:12:15,240 Speaker 3: spent twenty dollars on this box of beads, and I 270 00:12:15,280 --> 00:12:19,079 Speaker 3: think she's made probably I don't know, sixty seventy dollars 271 00:12:19,120 --> 00:12:22,000 Speaker 3: from this one box of beads because she's been so 272 00:12:22,160 --> 00:12:24,920 Speaker 3: intent on making her own little creations. And then she 273 00:12:24,960 --> 00:12:28,439 Speaker 3: goes down to our streak corner and she bugs all 274 00:12:28,480 --> 00:12:30,480 Speaker 3: of the neighbors that are walking their animals. 275 00:12:30,480 --> 00:12:32,480 Speaker 2: Whoever walks past, would you like to buy one of 276 00:12:32,480 --> 00:12:33,880 Speaker 2: my necklaces of bracelets? 277 00:12:34,080 --> 00:12:35,960 Speaker 3: And she's got it all worked out. These ones are 278 00:12:35,960 --> 00:12:38,719 Speaker 3: two dollars and these ones are three dollars, and our 279 00:12:38,760 --> 00:12:40,480 Speaker 3: beautiful neighbors. 280 00:12:40,080 --> 00:12:42,000 Speaker 2: And getting taken to the cleaner is by a nine 281 00:12:42,080 --> 00:12:43,200 Speaker 2: year old with a sweet smile. 282 00:12:43,440 --> 00:12:45,000 Speaker 3: Keep buying her things. 283 00:12:45,520 --> 00:12:46,800 Speaker 2: They just can't say no. 284 00:12:47,160 --> 00:12:49,079 Speaker 3: But what I love about it? And this kind of 285 00:12:49,120 --> 00:12:52,679 Speaker 3: I guess it's twofold. She's been introduced to a new 286 00:12:52,720 --> 00:12:55,520 Speaker 3: craft that she loves, but now she's utilizing it to 287 00:12:55,520 --> 00:12:58,079 Speaker 3: be industrious in other ways. And so what's something that 288 00:12:58,120 --> 00:13:00,680 Speaker 3: your kids can do. Do they like baking, and is 289 00:13:00,720 --> 00:13:03,040 Speaker 3: baking something that they can then go around and sell. 290 00:13:03,480 --> 00:13:05,200 Speaker 2: There's so many ideas. I'm going to share a couple 291 00:13:05,240 --> 00:13:07,840 Speaker 2: of other quick ones as well. We've already talked about 292 00:13:07,880 --> 00:13:10,160 Speaker 2: the sleepovers, but I love the idea of a slumber party, 293 00:13:10,160 --> 00:13:12,360 Speaker 2: whether it's inside or outside, whether it's a tent or not. 294 00:13:13,040 --> 00:13:15,360 Speaker 2: Obviously some parents will have some concerns about that. You 295 00:13:15,440 --> 00:13:17,240 Speaker 2: want to make sure that you're satisfied with the safety. 296 00:13:17,400 --> 00:13:19,800 Speaker 3: I think a family sleepover it doesn't have to be. 297 00:13:19,800 --> 00:13:21,640 Speaker 2: And we've done that. We've just filed all the mattresses 298 00:13:22,000 --> 00:13:24,280 Speaker 2: into the rumpus room and all slept in the same room. 299 00:13:24,640 --> 00:13:27,720 Speaker 2: You were talking before about the bracelets and the bake 300 00:13:27,800 --> 00:13:29,760 Speaker 2: sale and that sort of stuff. You can actually create 301 00:13:30,360 --> 00:13:33,720 Speaker 2: a fundraiser, get the kids to do stuff to raise funds, 302 00:13:33,880 --> 00:13:36,960 Speaker 2: or you can get the kids to bake stuff and 303 00:13:36,960 --> 00:13:39,520 Speaker 2: then take it down to the local fire fieries or 304 00:13:39,559 --> 00:13:43,040 Speaker 2: the local ambos or the local whatever it is, people 305 00:13:43,080 --> 00:13:44,960 Speaker 2: who are serving the community of the local surf club 306 00:13:45,000 --> 00:13:46,920 Speaker 2: and just say hey, we care about you, we really 307 00:13:46,920 --> 00:13:49,560 Speaker 2: appreciate what you're doing, and get them involved in that. 308 00:13:49,640 --> 00:13:51,680 Speaker 3: We don't even have to go to that extentee. I 309 00:13:51,720 --> 00:13:54,280 Speaker 3: was just thinking about the things that Emily likes doing. 310 00:13:54,600 --> 00:13:57,560 Speaker 3: We've got a whole street of elderly people and I 311 00:13:57,600 --> 00:13:59,800 Speaker 3: can't believe a whole term's gone by, and for the 312 00:13:59,800 --> 00:14:02,839 Speaker 3: most I haven't managed to see them. So what can 313 00:14:02,880 --> 00:14:05,320 Speaker 3: the kids do. Bake some cupcakes, bake some slices, and 314 00:14:05,360 --> 00:14:06,800 Speaker 3: just go and knock on their door. They don't get 315 00:14:06,800 --> 00:14:09,720 Speaker 3: a lot of visitors often, and especially in the cold, 316 00:14:10,120 --> 00:14:13,160 Speaker 3: they're often shut in. So just a really nice something 317 00:14:13,160 --> 00:14:15,240 Speaker 3: that can get the kids out of the house, but 318 00:14:15,320 --> 00:14:17,080 Speaker 3: making a difference in people's lives as well. 319 00:14:17,120 --> 00:14:18,880 Speaker 2: So I feel like we've shared probably ten to fifteen 320 00:14:18,920 --> 00:14:22,720 Speaker 2: ideas for being active and doing things, either together or 321 00:14:22,920 --> 00:14:26,520 Speaker 2: the kids working solo on stuff. But lastly, I know 322 00:14:26,560 --> 00:14:28,600 Speaker 2: that this is all about keeping the kids off screens 323 00:14:29,080 --> 00:14:31,240 Speaker 2: during the school holidays, but there are some pretty cool 324 00:14:31,280 --> 00:14:33,360 Speaker 2: things that you can do on screens, and I just 325 00:14:33,360 --> 00:14:35,640 Speaker 2: want to highlight some of those. So we've got a 326 00:14:35,680 --> 00:14:37,880 Speaker 2: daughter who is great at guitar, and she's been thinking 327 00:14:37,880 --> 00:14:42,359 Speaker 2: about guitar lessons for kids in the neighborhood. So maybe 328 00:14:42,720 --> 00:14:44,720 Speaker 2: you could get your kids to build themselves a website. 329 00:14:45,360 --> 00:14:47,960 Speaker 2: Like websites are so easy to build nowadays compared to 330 00:14:48,040 --> 00:14:49,880 Speaker 2: what they used to be so much a it's just 331 00:14:50,120 --> 00:14:52,920 Speaker 2: drag and drop, plug and play. So the kids could 332 00:14:52,920 --> 00:14:56,800 Speaker 2: maybe build a website. Maybe if you wanted to be 333 00:14:56,840 --> 00:14:59,560 Speaker 2: one of those really proactive parents, you could see if 334 00:14:59,600 --> 00:15:02,240 Speaker 2: they wanted to go and shadow somebody at work, maybe 335 00:15:02,240 --> 00:15:04,240 Speaker 2: there's somebody who they can follow around for a couple 336 00:15:04,280 --> 00:15:06,360 Speaker 2: of hours at work one day and not be a pain, 337 00:15:06,440 --> 00:15:08,640 Speaker 2: but actually watch Now, they have to be teenagers for that. 338 00:15:08,680 --> 00:15:09,880 Speaker 2: You're not going to send you eight year old to 339 00:15:09,920 --> 00:15:12,320 Speaker 2: shadow the local lawyer in town or something like that. 340 00:15:12,400 --> 00:15:15,640 Speaker 2: But you can do that. There's things like movie marathons, 341 00:15:15,760 --> 00:15:18,040 Speaker 2: like I don't actually, as much as I don't like screens, 342 00:15:18,040 --> 00:15:19,440 Speaker 2: I don't have a problem with saying, hey, we're going 343 00:15:19,520 --> 00:15:22,680 Speaker 2: to do a movie marathon, or we're gonna spread our 344 00:15:22,680 --> 00:15:25,000 Speaker 2: movie marathon. We're gonna watch every Harry Potter movie over 345 00:15:25,040 --> 00:15:27,760 Speaker 2: the next seven days or something like that. You've got 346 00:15:27,800 --> 00:15:31,600 Speaker 2: these opportunities where you can just get involved, to take 347 00:15:31,720 --> 00:15:35,440 Speaker 2: classes online. Maybe maybe the kids can just go and 348 00:15:35,480 --> 00:15:37,040 Speaker 2: be active. Go and be active with you, Go and 349 00:15:37,040 --> 00:15:39,520 Speaker 2: be active with friends. They're the other ideas that I 350 00:15:39,560 --> 00:15:40,640 Speaker 2: had what visit. 351 00:15:40,440 --> 00:15:44,720 Speaker 3: The local library to books that you've never introduced them 352 00:15:44,720 --> 00:15:46,920 Speaker 3: to before. I didn't think of that, or like have 353 00:15:47,240 --> 00:15:51,239 Speaker 3: a puzzle out on the table. You know, it's interesting 354 00:15:51,600 --> 00:15:57,040 Speaker 3: how hard it feels to actually initiate something. But if 355 00:15:57,080 --> 00:15:59,240 Speaker 3: you've started a puzzle and it's just sitting on the table, 356 00:15:59,680 --> 00:16:01,480 Speaker 3: es as kids are going to come along and pick 357 00:16:01,560 --> 00:16:02,440 Speaker 3: up a piece and put it in. 358 00:16:02,560 --> 00:16:04,600 Speaker 2: Yeah, getting lift off is hard. Once you've got momentum, 359 00:16:04,640 --> 00:16:06,080 Speaker 2: it's really easy to keep things going. 360 00:16:06,360 --> 00:16:08,480 Speaker 3: So there's always your favorite board games card. 361 00:16:08,560 --> 00:16:11,640 Speaker 2: Oh don't even start me, goly gosh, gee whiz. You 362 00:16:11,720 --> 00:16:13,080 Speaker 2: had to bring that up, and we're not even going 363 00:16:13,120 --> 00:16:16,080 Speaker 2: to talk about that one. Let's wrap this up. Our 364 00:16:16,120 --> 00:16:19,800 Speaker 2: time is fast spent. Loads of ideas requires effort. I 365 00:16:19,800 --> 00:16:21,600 Speaker 2: think that's the main thing, and that's why so many 366 00:16:21,640 --> 00:16:22,360 Speaker 2: people get stuck. 367 00:16:22,440 --> 00:16:24,640 Speaker 3: You know the one that we haven't said. No playdates. 368 00:16:24,920 --> 00:16:28,120 Speaker 2: Oh yeah, all the time, and do as many as 369 00:16:28,120 --> 00:16:30,840 Speaker 2: you can. It's so good for the kids. But we 370 00:16:30,880 --> 00:16:32,600 Speaker 2: really hope that these ideas are a little bit of 371 00:16:32,680 --> 00:16:36,640 Speaker 2: inspo to help you get going with the school. All days. 372 00:16:36,640 --> 00:16:38,560 Speaker 2: If the weather's a little bit cold and everything's a 373 00:16:38,560 --> 00:16:41,560 Speaker 2: bit daunting and everything feels hard, there's lots to do. 374 00:16:41,680 --> 00:16:44,560 Speaker 2: It just requires some time, some efforts, some intention and 375 00:16:45,000 --> 00:16:47,800 Speaker 2: a good thought start so hopefully and a jumper. That's 376 00:16:47,800 --> 00:16:49,360 Speaker 2: what we've given you. Yeah, there's no such thing as 377 00:16:49,360 --> 00:16:51,600 Speaker 2: bad weather. There's just a lack of preparation for the 378 00:16:51,640 --> 00:16:54,720 Speaker 2: bad weather. We really hope there's been a useful and 379 00:16:54,760 --> 00:16:57,440 Speaker 2: inspiring way for you to find some winter activities for 380 00:16:57,520 --> 00:16:59,920 Speaker 2: your kids during the school holidays. Thank you so much 381 00:17:00,000 --> 00:17:02,120 Speaker 2: for listening to The Happy Family's podcast is produced by 382 00:17:02,200 --> 00:17:05,440 Speaker 2: Justin Roland from Bridge Media. Craig Bruce is our executive producer. 383 00:17:06,160 --> 00:17:08,680 Speaker 2: For more information about making your family happier, visit happy 384 00:17:08,720 --> 00:17:10,520 Speaker 2: families dot com dot you, or grab a copy of 385 00:17:10,520 --> 00:17:14,280 Speaker 2: my brand new book, The Parenting Revolution, in stores now.