I have recently updated my blogroll. For those of you not familiar with that term it is the list of blogs that I frequent and is listed on the right hand side bar of this website. I thought I would share with you some of my recent finds. They are all Australian and are definitely worth checking out!

1. Childhood 101

Christie is an Early Childhood Teacher, lecturer, writer, consultant and mother! She has fantastic ideas that you can do with your preschooler and has a beautiful philosophy and respect for children that comes through in her writing.

An example of this was the poem that she published by Ruth Hulburt Hamilton called “Song for a Fifth Child”. (Very apt for me. ) Click here to read the whole poem at Childhood 101, but here is a taste of its loveliness:

The cleaning and scrubbing can wait till tomorrow,
But children grow up as I’ve learned to my sorrow.
So quiet down cobwebs; Dust go to sleep!
I’m rocking my baby and babies don’t keep.

2. Literacy, families and learning

Written by Trevor Cairney who is a Master of New College and Adjunct Professor of Education at the University of New South Wales in Sydney. He is also a parent and a grandparent. Literacy, families and learning is authoritative with out being preachy and incredibly informative. Check out his excellent post The dangers of television for young children- General research on the impact of new media .

3. Everyday Play

Written by Belinda Butler an experienced kindergarten teacher and mother of two. On Everyday Play you will find inspiration for play ideas with your child. The ideas generally use items you would have on hand – like this one with containers and lids.

4. Semantically Driven

This was actually one of the first blogs that I added to my reader, but for some reason when I did a blog roll update (moved it from a page to the sidebar) a few months ago, I missed it of my list. Sorry Jen. On Semantically Driven Jen writes about parenting, blogging and living in Australia. Her writing has a beautiful honesty to it, like in this post Happy single parent – can it be?.

5. SquiggleMum

Catherine is a mum of two, with a background as a primary school teacher and has a particular interest in literacy. SquiggleMum also writes with honesty that makes you reflect on your own situation. A recent post like that was Love Is A Verb. Catherine talks about why she helped out a new neighbour:

I did it because there is a passage in the bible about love that says we should share with people who are in need, and practice hospitality (Romans 12:13). I’ve been on the receiving end of that kind of love, and I want to pass it on. I also want to teach my kids about love. I want them to know what it truly means to love people, and I want to show them that love is a verb.

6. Australian Mother’s Online

Michelle writes on a broad range of issues on her blog, my favourites are the interviews with other bloggers and her weekly quotes like this one:

We worry about what a child will be tomorrow, yet we forgot that he is someone today. -Stacia Tauscher

7. Children’s Resources Galore – for children birth – eight years.

Carly_Grace has a Diploma of Children’s Services and is now at Macquarie University currently and am undertaking a Bachelor of Education [Early Childhood Education]. True to her blogs name, you will find lots of helpful info here like list great list of Children’s Books.

8. On The Sunny Road.

Sunnyroad Mum has had a turbulent last year and the blog details her returning to the sunny side of the road! Check out the flash images in her header which feature Sunny Road Mum’s photography – simply stunning.

9. Mumspace

A wonderful mixed bag!! From reviews, to craft, to fashion, and some more. My favourite posts are the “I spy” series which showcases great finds from the blogosphere. Like this post that highlighted activities you can do with your kids.

10. One Second

An incredibly powerful blog which is written by Alison, a mother to three beautiful girls. The aim of the blog is to raise safe driving awareness – Alison’s husband was killed by a drink driver when she was pregnant with their third child. Every parent should read her post One Second for Parents.

So what other Australian Blogs should I be reading?