Parenting | Contemporary Living

Your rights: What are the changes to my Child Benefit?

Cecilia Smith, Development Manager at County Cavan Citizens Information Service answers a question on the recent changes to Child Benefit.

There is an extra payment for twins

Question: I have four children. The last two are twins. What Child Benefit payment I will get in 2012?

Answer: Child Benefit is payable to the parents or guardians of children under 16 years of age. It is also payable where a child is under 18 years of age if the child is in full-time education, FÁS Youthreach training or has a disability. It was announced in Budget 2012 that the rates of payment of Child Benefit will be standardised for all children at €140 per child per month over the next two years.

Unstructured play is important for your child

Do your kids seem to have busier lives than yours? Do they have a schedule packed with with dance, swimming and music lessons, football practice and drama classes? Then maybe it is time for some old-fashioned play.

You should try and make some time for your 'kids to just be kids'.

Play is important for your child’s emotional, social and intellectual development. Although, sport and music lessons have their part to play in forming a well-rounded young person, unstructured play is also vital in your child’s development.

Top toys for Christmas 2011

Santa can have a difficult time trying to keep up with the lastest fads. There’s spin-off characters from kids’ favourite TV programmes, the latest hand held devices as well as trusty old favourites to choose from. It is becoming increasingly difficult to know what children would like in their stockings. Thankfully the Toy Retailer Association (TRA) has put together a list of Dream Toys for Christmas 2011. Santa can now take a deep sign of relief…

Doggie Doo

It seems that kids will be hooked-up to hi-tech toys this Christmas if the TRA’s Dream Toys for Christmas are anything to go by. All of the top toys have some element of interactivity. From computer tablets for children to toy dolls that double up as bedroom lights, the Dream Toys for this year all seem to have a technological twist.

Gary Grant, Chairman of the TRA’s Dream Toys selection panel says, “This year we’ve seen some amazing technological advancements from the toy industry. This doesn’t mean to say that the toys are ‘techy’; rather that technology has been used to enrich the whole experience of play.

Stimulate your child through play

Playing with your child can stimulate your child’s creativity and imagination. And what’s more, it’s lots of fun too!

It is important to spend some time playing structured games with your child.

Although it is important for your toddler to learn to entertain himself through play; as a parent, you can stimulate your child’s creativity through some parent-led play.

In the early stages, play helps a toddler to improve his balance, co-ordination and motor skills. As a child gets older, it helps them to develop language, to express themselves and to gain an understanding of the world around them.

Parents play a key role in showing a toddler the world of ‘make believe’. For example, a sofa can become an aeroplane; a cardboard box can be transformed into a boat with a rug as a lake. Once you have given your child the tool of ‘make believe’, it gives them the freedom to develop games of their own.

Cottage pie and mince meat and veg pie recipe

It can be difficult to make healthy, family meals on a budget. So Contemporary Living has put together four different menu ideas that use seasonal ingredients to give you a helping hand.

Here is the first in the series.

It is actually two recipes in one. It shows you how you can use 1lb (450g) of mince beef to make two meals — cottage pie and a mince meat and veg pie. The total cost of the two meals is about €8.80. This means each meal only costs €4.40 — thats €1.10 per portion!

The mince meat and veg pie freezes very well. I recommend making the two meals together on a Sunday afternoon and then freezing the pie for a later date. It will actually save you time in the long run.

Choosing the right childcare

Entrusting your child to someone else other than a family member can be an agonising experience. However, if you follow these simple steps you can make the process as stress-free as possible…

Mixing with other children with help your child develop good social skills.

There are five main types of childcare available to you. These are: a private creche, a childminder, a playgroup, pre-school service, and a nanny. The suitability of each service will depend on the age of your child and also your individual family requirements.

It is vital to take time making your decision so that you are completely confident in the choice that you have made.

A creche

A creche is for children under the age of five. It is run by a team of staff and is designed to allow children to play and have fun in a safe environment. Simple activities will help your child to learn in an enjoyable way. Creches enable children to make friends, learn to socialise with others, play and try out new skills.