We know playing outside is great for kids' physical and mental wellbeing; that getting dirty, puffed and occasionally bruised supports healthy development and makes them happier and easier to get along with.

Just as each child has their own personality and character traits, how they approach homework will differ too. Some will take to it and do it with no fuss. Others will do it but make sure the whole house knows about it, and others will avoid doing it at all costs.

American comedian Phyllis Diller once observed "Cleaning the house while your kids are still growing is like shovelling the walk before it stops snowing." A sentiment most parents can sympathise with. But while it’s challenging to keep things shipshape with kids at home, there are a few strategies to make things easier on the orderly front.

Our kids learn far more from our actions on a daily basis than what they do from us telling them what the right thing to do is. Teaching kids about reducing waste is one area where this is especially true. We need to be doing the best we can within our means to reduce waste and having processes and systems set up to support our kids to do the same.