Australian parents shed a tear this morning as their little ones turned away and headed into class for their first day at ‘big school’. Watching this groundbreaking moment occur at the public school my daughter attends, I noticed a familiar face at the monkey bars. Playing joyfully with his son was Russell Crowe. How refreshing to see a man with such means and profile opting to embrace normality and send his beloved son to a public school. Russ gave a performance worthy of an Oscar nomination, smiling and encouraging his son before the dreaded goodbye without so much as a whimper. We all know as parents exactly how that moment feels, regardless of occupation, profile, financial status, it is the same for all. So to all the kids starting Kindy today, Parenting Australia wishes you a great day, Mums and Dads rest assured they will be in good hands and have plenty to tell you when they get home...

Jane King

Founder of www.parentingaustralia.com.au

Sweet Dreams, The latest production to be staged by The Baby Proms at The Sydney Opera House promises to be an unforgettable experience your kids will love, the season is short, so book now to avoid missing out.

If you’d rather perform brain surgery than turn on a sewing machine then add www.kidscostumestudio.com.au to your favourites, they have the cutest range of costumes to hire for all occasions...

We've recently come across the New Internationalist, a registered Fair Trade Organisation that’s run as a not-for-profit co-operative and with a section dedicated to children’s clothing, it is well worth checking out. We’ve arranged a special $15 discount voucher to encourage you to give them a try. Your discount voucher code is PANEWS0901 and you can redeem it at www.newint.com.au/voucher

The New Internationalist Co-op also sells a fascinating range of books, including Parenting for a Peaceful World and a fine selection of Children’s Books that are great for kids with inquiring minds and for households with a global outlook.