Page 9 - Dainfern_Precinct_Living_Issue_5_2025

ESTATE NEWS
ESTATE MATTERS
THE BIG PICTURE
HOME FRONT
a 1-hour “masterclass” for
younger siblings, cousins, or
neighbours. Builds confidence
and leadership.

Optional Support Roles:
If teens are helping at home or supporting
younger siblings:
• Recognise their effort. Even
small acts of maturity deserve
praise.
• Offer flexibility — e.g. if they
supervise a sibling’s afternoon
activity, they get screen time or
social time uninterrupted

FINAL THOUGHTS: IT DOESN’T
HAVE TO BE PERFECT
Not every day will run smoothly. Some
days will end in cereal for dinner and
screen marathons. That’s okay. The goal
isn’t perfection — it’s presence. A few
simple rhythms, some go-to resources,
(e.g. Canva, Tynker, BandLab) Holiday Toolkit Ideas: and a spirit of flexibility can shift the whole
• Library books, magazine • Access to creative software (e.g. energy of the holidays.
subscriptions, or e-reader access DaVinci Resolve, FL Studio,
• Access to low-risk tools (e.g. glue Notion) Whether you’re parenting solo, managing
gun, camera, kitchen basics) • Personal development books or work with kids underfoot, or coordinating
goal-setting templates with someone who helps care for them,
Engaging Activities: • Online platforms with free remember: small things count. One new
• Create a Podcast or Voice Note short courses (e.g. Coursera, idea a day. One moment of laughter.
Diary – they can interview Skillshare, FutureLearn) One memory made in the middle of the
mayhem.
Smart Ways to Keep Kids Busy at Home or in the Estate siblings, talk about their • Support to earn pocket money
favourite game, or explore a
through safe estate jobs (dog
weekly theme. walking, tutoring) Holiday sanity isn’t about doing more. It’s
• Run a “Kids Club” for younger about doing wisely — with whatever time,
siblings – with planning sheets, Engaging Activities: energy, and help you have.
posters, and a schedule of • The “Come Dine
events like puppet shows, story With Me” Challenge
readings, and games. – each teen cooks
• 30-Day Project Challenge – one family dinner
choose a focus (drawing, baking, a week, with
fitness, coding) and log progress. planning, budgeting,
Create a display board for the and presentation
fridge or WhatsApp updates for included. Bonus:
the family. judge it like a reality
• Estate Reporter – they can take show.
photos, interview neighbours • Mini Portfolio
(with permission), and create a Building – whether
weekly estate newsletter (real or it’s writing,
pretend). photography, digital
• art, or carpentry,
Optional Support Roles: help them create a
For tweens being guided by caregivers: digital record of their
• Help them choose 1–2 daily work — great for self-
focus tasks in the morning esteem and future
• Encourage journaling, planning CVs.
their own meals, or tidying their • Passion Project
play area — mini life skills in Month – encourage
action them to define
and pursue one
FOR TEENS (AGES 14–18) meaningful goal
Freedom + Mastery + Meaning over the holidays.
Teens may insist they want to be left Provide light touch “
alone — but too much unstructured accountability
time quickly turns into lethargy and without hovering.
disconnection. They need opportunities • Teen-Led Workshops
to lead, build something real, and feel – if they’re good
useful. The right challenge can reignite at something,
their spark. invite them to host

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