Child

Police swooped on the home of a Victorian woman last week, after she ‘jokingly’ offered her children for sale on eBay. The unnamed woman, who is in her early 30s and lives near Geelong, posted pictures of her son and daughter on the internet auction site alongside a “lengthy sales pitch”. In pictures: Ten things […]

When Angelina Jolie adopted an abandoned boy in Cambodia, no one realised she would go on to pour millions of dollars into his homeland and make a lasting difference to some of the world’s poorest people. As the town of Samlout in north-western Cambodia comes into view, naked children and crumbling shacks give way to […]

Dr Jane Aronson is a world authority on adoption. She has overseen the placement of thousands of children, including to celebrities Angelina Jolie and Mary-Louise Parker. Angelina credits her with saving her daughter Zahara’s life: “My daughter is one of those children whom Jane helped have a chance to live, and I am forever grateful.” […]

The Weekly's Editor-in-chief Helen McCabe on why the magazine is campaigning to change Australia's adoption laws.

Australia has the third-lowest adoption rate in the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) – but why? The OECD has 34 member countries, including the UK, US, Canada, France and Germany, as well as developing nations like Chile, Turkey and Mexico. Advocates say there are several reasons for this. 1. The system is haphazard […]

Inter-country adoption is a complicated issue – here are some facts and figures about Australian international adoptions. In 2010, 197 children from overseas were adopted by Australian families, down from 434 in 2004-05. At the end of the year, a total Australian 963 applications were waiting at overseas placement agencies . Of the 197 placements […]

Deborra-Lee Furness raises two adopted children with her husband Hugh Jackman. Here, she talks about why adoption is important. I was asked to write a short piece about why I think adoption is important. I can’t think of anything more important than ensuring that every child in this world has at least one person who […]

A 12-year-old US boy could be sentenced to life in prison after he was charged as an adult for his brother’s murder. Cristian Fernandez is alleged to have beaten his two-year-old brother David to death at their family home in Jacksonville, Florida, in March. Prosecutor Angela Corey decided to charge Fernandez as an adult in […]

Children as young as two are being prescribed anti-depressants. Elizabeth Burke looks at the arguments for and against medicating sad children. When anti-depressant drugs like Prozac and Zoloft became mainstream in the late 90s there was outcry against the desensitisation of people, a loss of dealing with human issues without drugging and sedating, and of […]

I need advice about my daughter who is 18 years old and won’t get up for work. She stays in bed all day and doesn’t get up until the late afternoon and then goes out all evening. I’m at my wits end about what to do. I’ve done pretty well for myself financially and my […]

The past five months have seen floods, tsunamis and earthquakes decimate towns and cities across the world. With rolling news coverage and live video streams bringing images of the despair and destruction into our homes, it is easy to forget the impact such things can have on children. Even if kids are thousands of kilometres […]

Please let me start by saying that I love my husband and kids. But the truth is I never had a yearning to be a parent. If I had not married Michael, who desperately wanted children, I doubt I would have become a mother. To complicate things, both my pregnancies were difficult, so I did […]

It’s not just padded bras and lipstick – girls are experimenting with sex way too soon and teen pregnancies are on the rise. Bryce Corbett reports on this disturbing new trend. It’s two o’clock on a Saturday afternoon in suburban Melbourne. A pink limousine pulls into a driveway and disgorges a gaggle of excited 10-year-olds. […]

I hate to say this, but I’m sick of the atmosphere at home which is mainly caused by the kids not getting on. You name it, they’ll bicker over it. It isn’t helped by my wife and I disagreeing over the best way to discipline them – she shouts and I prefer to ground them […]

They are big business in America – now they’ve hit our shores. JONICA BRAY goes behind the scenes to see what really goes on at child beauty pageants. They are real-life Barbie dolls… primped and preened with their eyes on the prized tiaras.But behind the scenes it’s not such a pretty scene, as I found […]

A million-dollar wardrobe, an adult attitude and a diva lifestyle … and she’s only four. Daddy knows his little girl rules the roost but wouldn’t change a thing. She has a wardrobe worth more than most people earn in their lifetime, is used to telling adults what to do, and is rarely challenged about her […]

Angelina Jolie is adopting a little boy from South Africa, according to multiple sources close to the actress. The move will bring the number of children in her rainbow family to seven. The star, who has previously adopted three children – Maddox, 8, from Cambodia, Pax, 6, from Vietnam and daughter Zahara, 5, from Ethiopia […]

Catriona Rowntree returns to Getaway this week. But as she tells Clare Rigden, while travelling the world with baby Andrew tucked into her backpack was fabulous, it made filming a little difficult. She’d looked forward to returning to work for months, counting the days until she’d pack her son Andrew in the BabyBjörn and hit […]

In an exclusive interview, the star reveals the secret she kept during the toughest months of her life: she’s become a proud new mum by J.D. Heyman and Alexis Chiu. Sandra Bullock has been the subject of many headlines lately, but today there’s only one newsflash she cares about. “Louis rolled over—twice!” she gushes on […]

Glenn McGrath’s new love, Sara Leonardi, tells Jonica Bray why they want children…soon. She’s only 28, but her relationship with cricket great Glenn McGrath means Sara Leonardi has walked into a ready-made family – and she can’t wait to add to it. Sara has quickly become part of the McGrath household, made up of Glenn […]

Greg Page has found his smile again, he tells Jacqui Lang, thanks to two of the girls in his life. Meet the two lovely females who’ve put the spring back in the step of former Wiggle Greg Page: beloved new wife Vanessa, and adorable baby daughter Lara. For the first time, a very private Greg […]

The man with “nine lives” tells Rose Fydler he never thought he’d live to see little Matilda – the newest star in a family of sporting thoroughbreds. Grandfather is a title that can’t be won with a set of clubs – but as golfing legend Jack Newton smiles down at little Matilda Ann Dixon, it […]

Keen to smooth the waters with Brad, Ange goes all out to show she’s willing to spend some quality time with their children. Angelina Jolie looked every inch the devoted mum posing on her Venice balcony with 20-month-old twins Knox and Vivienne last week. The scene follows tension between Ange and Brad Pitt over her […]

Australia’s bravest kids: Bindi and Bob Irwin’s fairytale surprise for Sophie Delezio Sophie Delezio, the little girl who touched Australia’s heart after she suffered burns to 85 per cent of her body in a pre-Christmas accident five years ago, has joined another national sweetheart Bindi Irwin and her younger brother Robert in a special Christmas […]

Follow our patterns to create the five gorgeous garments worn by TV host Karl Stefanovic and his family [pictured, left to right: Karl, Ava, Jackson, Cassandra, River]. Abbreviations alt = alternate; beg = begin, beginning; cm = centimetres; cont = continue; dec = decrease, decreasing; foll = follows, following; inc = increase, increasing; K = […]

These gorgeous bunny pants are suitable for a two-year-old. Download the pattern. Pattern pieces are shown at 25 percent of original size, so please enlarge by 400 percent. MATERIALS 60cm x 150cm-wide polar fleece in cinnamon, for pants 40cm x 150cm-wide lightweight polar fleece in cream, for bunny Matching machine threads DMC Perle thread #8 […]

MATERIALS Kunin rainbow shaggy plush felt in antique white Kunin rainbow plush felt in smoky brown 25cm x 20mm ribbon Small quantity polyester wadding Sewing cotton to match felt colours, plus basic sewing patterns Anchor stranded cotton colour 905 – Very dark brown INSTRUCTIONS Pre-wash felt following manufacturer’s instructions before cutting. Download and print pattern […]

You will need: 2 x 1 litre (1¾ pint) milk cartons foil coloured cardboard cylinder pen cotton wool chenille sticks adhesive tape scissors Step 1 Seal the open end of a milk carton with tape. Cut a piece of foil to fit around entire carton. Carefully cover milk carton with foil lengthways, so that the […]

Santa Kid by James Patterson (Headline $29.95) Best selling thriller writer James Patterson turns his hand to writing for...

You will need: pencil cardboard coloured and uncoloured pasta shapes gold or silver spray paint, if desired newspaper, if desired ribbon PVA...

These craft ideas come from The Best of Children's Art & Crafts.

These recipes and craft ideas come from The Best of Children's Art & Crafts.

These recipes and craft ideas come from The Best of Children's Art & Crafts.

These recipes and craft ideas come from The Best of Children's Art & Crafts.

These recipes and craft ideas come from The Best of Children's Art & Crafts.

These recipes and craft ideas come from The Best of Children's Art & Crafts.

These recipes and craft ideas come from The Best of Children's Art & Crafts.

A fun friend to hang around with – our Charlie the Chimp soft toy will be a hit with children of all ages.

We present a range of gorgeous handmade gifts to make for baby -from a cute knitted hat with pompom trim to a wrist rattle (designed to amuse a little one the go) and a fabulous playmat. Click here for pattern Materials Scraps of pink and purple felt Water soluble pen Stranded embroidery thread in pink, […]

A cute teddy-bed sleeping bag is perfect for sleepovers! DIAGRAMS: Teddy Grid Mattress Pocket, Cover Lining and Pillow Pocket Back and Cover MATERIALS: 3.1m x 150cm cotton or woollen fabric 30cm x 40cm fur fabric 30cm x 40cm press-on interfacing 108cm x 75cm polyester padding sewing thread 4 press studs 104cm x 65cm rubber or […]

Use an old sock to make this charming soft doll – perfectly soft for newborn babies to grab and squeeze. MATERIALS Scissors One child’s white sock (size 9-12) Polyester fibre filling White thread Blue and pink stranded embroidery thread 50cm x 6mm ribbon METHOD STEP 1 Cut off the top of the sock, about 5cm […]

Our peg dolls are perfect to sell at fetes and fundraisers and children of all ages will enjoy making and personalising their dolls. MATERIALS (for each mother and baby doll) Two wooden doll pegs, one large and one small (available at craft outlets) Fabric scrap, for skirt (approx 6cm x 27cm) Scrap of broderie anglaise […]

Destined to be favourite toys, these colourful knitted dolls make an ideal gift for a new baby or a child’s birthday. METHOD MATERIALS Patons Tasman 8ply (100g balls): C1 (navy for girl or red for boy): 1 ball C2 (flesh for both): 1 ball C3 (royal blue for both): 1 ball C4 (white for both): […]

Click here for pattern Materials DMC stranded cotton in the following colours: 1 skein 553 violet, 2 skeins 704 Bright Chartreuse, I skein 740 Tangerine, 1 skein 3806 Light Cyclamen Pink, 1 skein 3607 Light Plum Size 24 chenille needle Tailor’s chalk Five small butterfly buttons in purple, mauve and orange (ours came from All […]

Materials: 50cm x 150cm-wide fabric (we used soft, thin imitation leather); thread; polyester fibre filling; 12mm pair of brown eyes; 50cm ribbon for the neck bow or a bandanna. Finished size.: Approximately 24cm high and 36cm long. Method. Enlarge pattern by placing on a photocopier set at 400 per cent; repeat using the copy. Place […]

Measurements Approximately 35cm x 40cm Materials 0.4m x 112cm novelty fur fabric 1.1m x 2cmw-de grosgrain ribbon 25cm square contrast felt, for star 25cm square transparent plastic, for star Glitter Craft glue Cutting From fur fabric, cut two rectangles, each 35cm x 40cm Method 1. STAR Star outline is printed on pattern sheet in black. […]

For ages. 4 years + Materials Coloured cardboard white paper pencil safety scissors craft glue felt pens Step 1 Enlarge our animal templates on a photocopier to the desired size. Trace and cut out to form patterns for your bookmarks. Step 2 Trace the patterns onto the cardboard in the colours of your choice and […]

For ages. 8 years + Materials Small wooden beads beading wire (available at selected craft outlets and beading stores) key ring attachment (available at craft stores) Step 1 Cut a length of beading wire about 20cm long. Using the pliers, form a 1cm wide coil in one end of the wire. Step 2 Thread 36 […]

Young children love small, inexpensive novelty items that they can buy with their own money – this trio of decorated pencils is just the sort of thing (and they’d also make perfect little prizes in a lucky dip). To make the Pompom Pencils spread the end of a new pencil with craft glue and wrap […]

Whether it’s a rainy day, a pending party or you and your child are looking to use some creative expression, you can’t go past a dress up. This month we help you get a brilliant “troll look” from head to toe. BODY Trolls These spectacular little garbage bag trolls are from the minimum-effort-maximum-effect school of […]

Diagrams Back (Step 1) Front (Step 1) Sides (x 2) (Step 1) Wall joints – detail (Step 4) Floor plan (Step 5) Brick foundation layout (Step 6) Roof – front and back elevations (Step 9) Roof joints – side elevation detail (Step 9) Roof: side-view – elevation (Step 9) Roof plan (Step 10) Roof joints […]