Latest news with #Kidspot
Courier-Mail
3 hours ago
- Lifestyle
- Courier-Mail
ALDI has released its top 10 lunch box snacks of 2025
Don't miss out on the headlines from Lifestyle. Followed categories will be added to My News. One of ALDI's biggest assets is that you can find just about anything by just ducking into your local store - and so much of it is good. Now, fans of the supermarket are being asked to vote for the best of the best with the return of The People's Picks - with one category in particular having Aussie parents' names all over it. Want to join the family? Sign up to our Kidspot newsletter for more stories like this. Image: Supplied. RELATED: Aussie's shocking realisation about Macca's pricing They're back! It's official, The People's Picks are back, allowing ALDI devotees to curate their ultimate hauls, choosing their favourites across eight Good Different categories. 'The People's Picks Awards are not only for seasoned ALDI shoppers, it's like a 'cheat sheet' for new customers to ALDI's most amazing products. These awards are a celebration of our ALDI community's top picks, and every vote helps uncover the standout stars of our exclusive 1,800 core range of products,' said ALDI Australia's Shopping Expert, Kylie Warnke. This year's categories include The Best Newcomer, The BBQ Boss, and The Socialite, all of which (especially the latter) include a shortlist of some of ALDI's bestselling and most viral products. 'This year, it's been great to already see so many of our new shortlisted products celebrated on social, and now they'll be going toe-to-toe with some of my long-time favourites like the Urban Eats Greek Spinach & Cheese Spanakopita,' Warnke said. 'Thanks to our customers, the best-kept secrets don't stay secret for long!' Image: Supplied. RELATED: 'It's stunning!': Mums run to Kmart for new $20 must-have Which snack rules your lunch box? But, one of this year's most exciting categories is The Lunchbox Legend, featuring the best of the best of school snacks, that everybody wants to steal. The shortlist includes everything from sweet to savoury and sour - perfect for every age and taste buds - and they're all under $3.99. First up, we have the Belmont Biscuit Co. Choc Chip Teddy Tots - ALDI's iconic (and just as good) Tiny Teddy Dupe. If you're a fan of more savoury snacks, you can put the Sprinters Popcorn Multipack or Damora Thin & Crispy Rice Crackers on the top of your list. There are also plenty of cheesy options - in the best possible way - like the Snackers Market Tasty Cheese & Water Crackers, Snackers Market Gouda Cheese Bites, or Snackers Market Tasty Cheese & Pretzels. Also on the list are the Westcliffe Tropical Drink, Hillcrest Fruity Filled Bars, Hillcrest Oat Bars, and the Brooklea No Added Sugar Yogurt Pouch. Yum! So… how can I get involved? Last year, The People's Picks saw over a whopping 312 000 votes from Aussies who wanted their say in which buy would take home the prize, and thankfully, there's still some time to participate. Voting is open now and will close at 11:59pm 30 July 2025. Voters will also automatically go into the draw to win a share of $10,000 worth of ALDI gift cards by simply submitting their top picks in the eight categories. Head to to submit your picks, or wait until August, when all will be revealed! Originally published as ALDI has released its top 10 lunch box snacks of 2025
Herald Sun
3 hours ago
- Lifestyle
- Herald Sun
Dear shops, please stop shrinking girls' clothes as sizes go up
Don't miss out on the headlines from Lifestyle. Followed categories will be added to My News. No one warned me how dire it is shopping for an 8-year-old. We've grown out of the junior section and next aisle over is tiny, cropped, blah everything! The moment you birth a girl, you will not be able to escape the endless fashion options for your darling tot. Your favourite retailers have aisle after aisle of pink, tulle, and sparkles. Well-meaning friends throw adorable matching sets and sandals at you. And you'll thank the algorithm for showing you her new birthday outfit, before you even think about it. From newborn to Kindy, you're set. Want to join the family? Sign up to our Kidspot newsletter for more stories like this. The differences spotted at Target. Image: Supplied What's going on with tween girls' clothing? But something happens around the age of eight or nine. Your daughter, who is still young in mind and spirit, has outgrown the junior section and needs to shop from the 'youth' sizes, usually 8 to 16. I've just hit this stage. And why did no one warn me how dire it is? A quick browse at Westfield for winter basics for my daughter ended in zero dollars spent, which is no easy feat. Both senior girl sections of Target and Kmart were a confused mesh of mini teen outfits, jumpers chopped in half and turtlenecks better fitting for a dog than a second grader. The sizes were outrageously small Not only were the styles for this early tween stage, around eight to ten years, unappealing by her standards, but the sizes were tiny. And not by a little bit. Jumpers, button cardigans and shirts, all cut to skim belly buttons. My daughter is sizing out of an 8 in the junior section, but a 9 or 10 in the senior size looked more suited to a toddler Thinking my eyes were deceiving me, I grabbed shirts from both sections to compare. Finding similar styles was difficult because nearly every senior style – even plain black and white T-shirts – were midriffs. In Kmart, a cropped size 10 T-shirt was shorter than a size 7. While a size 6 long-sleeve was bigger in every way than an 8. It was worse at Target. In one style, a size 16 T-shirt was identical to an 8. Two ribbed styles side by side showed an 8, nearly 10cm longer than a size 10. I understand tweens and teens want cropped everything - but can't there be options for kids who want to play without the bellies freezing? Or can't children who want short and tight, go down a size? What is going on here? The smaller sizes are for OLDER girls. Image: Supplied It's not me who isn't a fan I know, I know. I sound like my grandma who never understood my iconic ripped denim 20 years ago. ('Why do you have so many holes in your pants?') I think crops are cute. My daughter doesn't. She has dressed herself since she was three. She doesn't care for my fashion opinions. She's an eight-year-old who loves a maxi skirt moment, or a Mary Jane and tights look for a pub lunch. She asked for long sleeves that don't creep up. I couldn't find one. I'm aware winter stock is being pushed for a new season – but from what was available – few options screamed 'wear me for a handstand, dance or monkey barrace'. It's a privileged, first-person problem for sure, adding to a kid's wardrobe. But as parents of primary kids, do we really need to be digging through tables, and running between shops for a cheap full-length shirt for Harmony Day or a Colour Run? RELATED: Mums confused over Big W's change to kids' clothes Target size 7 vs size 10. Image: Supplied Are the younger tweens being catered to? Sharing on my social media, my DMs flooded with mums relating to the same dilemma. 'Someone needs to start an 8-12 girl clothing range. I can't find anything for my 12-year-old who still wants to dress in cute dresses, and still be a little girl,' one mum wrote. Another replied saying, 'Isn't it ridiculous? I buy my daughter one or two sizes up in everything because they're all so short.' I understand the demand for kids' fast fashion means the same style is being pumped out by Aussie retailers in massive quantities and sizes. But there needs to be more thought for the nine-year-old girl shopping in the same section as the 15-year-old. Or for even younger girls who are taller than their peers. Pre-tween girls might barely be out of the princess stage, and many want clothes that fit them comfortably, without digging or riding up, as they run, skate, and twirl. H&M (left) and Ghanda (right) has the older girls sorted. Image: Supplied RELATED: Mum slams Kmart girls' clothing Your favourite shops for young girls Asking school mums and my DMs, for their favourite kids' brands – the same names were repeated, but disappointingly, most are not Australian. Swedish brand, H&M, was mentioned the most, as having the best range for this 8 to 12-year group at an affordable price. The brand ships within Australia. A tip for mums who can never find a shirt for a colour day – they have a 5-pack of Tees for $40. Another popular choice was British label, Next, for quality girls' clothes. It has a lot of dress choices for girls who like a 'going out outfit' but want more choice than tulle or slinky silk. Locally, Ghanda and Cotton On Kids were in the most replies - especially for the active girls who like clothes that move with them, or a casual or beachy vibe. Kidspot has contacted Target and Kmart for comment. Originally published as Dear shops, please stop shrinking girls' clothes as sizes go up
Mercury
4 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Mercury
'Who approved this?' Parents shocked over 'dangerous' playground equipment
Taking your kids to the playground is always a win. Letting them be rowdy outside instead of inside the house? Yes please! But, there comes a point when fun, age-appropriate equipment becomes too dangerous, and parents think one Brisbane playground potentially crosses the line. Want to join the family? Sign up to our Kidspot newsletter for more stories like this. Image: TikTok / @laurenkurup. RELATED: Aussie parents concerned over new playground location 'Who approved this [death] trap?' Brisbane mum Lauren Kurup has taken to TikTok this week, sharing a video of herself and her family attempting to use a piece of playground equipment at Ipswich's Outlook Park. 'I'm sorry but who approved this [death] trap,' she wrote in the video. 'Honestly, who's designing these parks! It was so high up too!' The piece of equipment requires users to step off a still platform and onto a moving one, which forms the shape of an arc before dropping the user on the other side. Lauren confirmed in the comments that there was also a larger version, and that while she thought the safety aspect was questionable, they did have a good time using it. 'Not gonna lie tho, we had SO much fun,' she said in the caption. 'Sorry, is this the park or Survivor?' The majority of commenters on the post were just as shocked about the equipment, calling it a 'free trip to the hospital'. 'Sorry, is this the park or Survivor?' one person said. 'Okay so parks are designed to challenge kids' thinking and safety so they can learn and develop but that's just too much hahahahaha,' another said. 'The way I remember the council taking away the monkey bars and the flying fox because they were too dangerous and now kids have this…' said a third. 'There's one of these at the park near me, I'm a 30 year old woman and it frightens me. Ain't no way my 3 year old is going up there,' another agreed. 'Looks like it worked perfectly!' However, others thought the poster was being dramatic, instead commending the 'dangerous' piece of equipment for encouraging supervised play. 'But look at you all challenging yourself safely on it! AND it got parents playing with kids. Looks like it worked perfectly,' said one commenter. 'Teaching kids risk management. You have to apply yourself from beginning to end,' another agreed. 'This looks great. Teaches age appropriate kids about risk assessment, momentum, balance,' another suggested. 'Supervised play is incredibly important so things like this at parks are downright good for kids,' said a fourth. Kidspot has contacted Ipswich City Council for comment. Originally published as 'Who approved this?' Parents shocked over 'dangerous' playground equipment
New York Post
18 hours ago
- Health
- New York Post
My 10-year-old daughter refuses to go to school — the ‘stressful' diagnosis that keeps her at home
Every day started out the same. Sarah would wake up, get dressed in her uniform, and pack her lunch. But by the time she reached the stairs, she'd collapse. Advertisement The 10-year-old's body would shut down, physically unable to walk out the door. 'I didn't realize how traumatic it was for her to keep going to school,' her mom, Lauren, told Kidspot. 'She wants to be like everybody else, but she's constantly going into fight-or-flight.' 'We're made to feel like it's our fault' 3 The 10-year-old's body would shut down, physically unable to walk out the door. fizkes – Advertisement Sarah has been diagnosed with level two autism and has a PDA (Pathological Demand Avoidance) profile. Her struggle with school began in Term 2, 2024. What started as anxiety and sensory overload quickly escalated into daily meltdowns and explosive behaviors. Sarah hasn't set foot in a classroom since May. In the month leading up to that, she only managed six school days. Each one following hours of emotional turmoil. 'She was sometimes okay once she got to school, but gradually over the year the mask did sort of slip,' she said. Advertisement 'You don't really realize what's happened until they get home and they're throwing school bags and throwing shoes and all of that stress kind of builds up and accumulates in the nervous system.' Sarah was triggered by unpredictable changes, sensory overwhelm from noise and busyness, and the pressure to meet a strict schedule. Even her uniform could bring on stress. 'If the plans change… like it might just be because the teacher's out sick and then you've got a substitute that you don't know about—like things like that are really stressful,' Lauren explained. They attempted a school that claimed to cater for children with autism, but things didn't go the way the single mom had hoped. Advertisement Despite reduced classes, a relaxed uniform policy, and a modified attendance plan allowing Sarah to attend just two days a week, it was still too overwhelming. 3 Sarah has been diagnosed with level two autism and has a PDA (Pathological Demand Avoidance) profile. Evgeniya Sheydt – 'Some weeks she just couldn't do it,' Lauren said. 'Even though we agreed to the plan, it didn't mean we could actually make it happen.' Then came the formal warning. 'They sent me a letter saying, 'You haven't been able to stick to this modified attendance plan… the next step is to report you,'' she explained. 'It was really unkind and unhelpful.' She felt a deep sense of blame. Advertisement 'We're made to feel like it's our fault. That we're doing something wrong. That it's our parenting,' she pointed out. 'By blaming us you're just making the situation worse. You're just stressing out parents more when we're already stressed.' School refusal isn't a new issue, but it's getting worse for families across Australia. Psychologist Tanya Forster has seen it often across the 15 years of her career. Advertisement 'We know that the traditional school system has not always kept up with the inclusive needs of students today. Maybe it is time for a rethink?' Tanya told Kidspot. 'The good news is that there are so many practical strategies that families can use. The first step is really understanding what is happening for your child and what factors might be contributing so you can figure out the best response.' 'School wasn't accessible to her' 3 She hopes that Sarah can use the period of homeschooling to reconnect with herself and her interests. fizkes – Lauren made the decision that home school was the best option going forward. Advertisement 'My daughter wasn't feeling comfortable at school. She was feeling stressed and overwhelmed. School wasn't accessible to her,' Lauren said. She hopes that Sarah can use the period of homeschooling to reconnect with herself and her interests. 'This period of homeschooling or being at home is really about letting her discover who she is and what she's drawn to and what she's interested in,' Lauren explained. Advertisement Lauren hasn't completely dashed her hopes on seeing Sarah back in a school class setting. 'I would like her to attempt to go back to school or attempt to go to high school. We just need that to be navigated in the right way,' Lauren said.
Courier-Mail
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Courier-Mail
'That's insane?!' Aussies divided over StarTrack delivery effort
Don't miss out on the headlines from Lifestyle. Followed categories will be added to My News. Receiving an online delivery can sometimes be a bit of a journey. But, no matter how frustrating it is, it's all worth it if your items come in one piece - right? For one Aussie, even this may not have been possible. Want to join the family? Sign up to our Kidspot newsletter for more stories like this. Image: Reddit. RELATED: Amazon under fire over suspected scam 'At least he actually delivered it?' An Aussie package recipient has taken to Reddit to expose a concerning act by a delivery driver. The poster shared a video of the driver, who he said was from StarTrack, lobbing their package over the fence - thankfully it wasn't fragile. 'From a couple weeks ago…' the poster said. 'I mean at least he actually delivered it and didn't leave a card.' 'This is the best AusPost delivery I've seen' Some commenters agreed with the poster, saying that while the situation wasn't ideal, at least the package arrived dry and in one piece. 'Kept it out of the rain too. Bang up service,' one person said. 'Trust me, your parcel has been through a lot worst through the sorting facility, this is nothing,' another pointed out. 'Wow, a parcel not delivered to the post office but [to your] actual home? This is the best AusPost delivery I've seen,' a third added sarcastically. 'Honestly I wish they would do this with my deliveries instead of another failed delivery. Hope your stuff was ok though,' another agreed. RELATED: Aussie's shock after receiving little-known delivery fee 'That's insane?!' But, for others, it wasn't enough. 'The companies have a lot to answer for, we're paying for our shit to be delivered, not for you to squeeze every last micro efficiency out of the process. Anybody caught yeeting a package across the floor should be kicked out, not given an award for efficiency. No respect,' one person said. 'That's insane?! Imagine if it had been glass or something,' said another. 'Other than the throwing and not attempting to open the gate, the issues I have are, one, its technically exposed to weather even though it landed in non wet area from rain, and [two,] it's visible through the gate which if isn't locked, is visible to footpath/road which isn't right,' a third pointed out. In a statement to Kidspot, Australia Post encouraged the customer to reach out. "We are keen to look into this matter further and encourage the customer to get in touch with us directly via our website or calling 13 POST (13 7678)," the spokesperson said. Originally published as 'That's insane?!' Aussies divided over StarTrack delivery effort
