The Planning With Kids Book

Planning With Kids is a parenting book with a difference. Its emphasis is not on telling you how to parent, but to show ways you can become organised to leave more time for parenting. The book is published by Wright Books and will be available in book stores from May 1, 2011.

The philosophy is to streamline the known repetitive tasks of family life (eating, cleaning, getting ready for school etc), so you can then better manage the unpredictable but the inevitable (sick kids, fighting, tantrums etc).

In the book I share simple ways that you can plan your family life to take the stress out of parenting and running a household: just a little bit of planning can leave more time to spend having fun with the kids, having timeout for yourself, and having time for things to go wrong.

The book is written so you don’t need to read it in its entirety to derive any benefit, you can read one chapter, then work on the list of actions to take at the end and make a difference to the way your daily family life runs.

Planning With Kids is available from most bookstores and BIG W. If you order via the blog, you will receive a signed copy. International prices are higher than I would like unfortunately, but that is due to the postage costs.

Some info you might like to know about the book

The Back Cover Blurb
Family life can be chaotic — whether you have one child or five. No-one knows this better than Nicole Avery, mum of five, blogger extraordinaire and lover of spreadsheets. Nicole has discovered the secret to taking the stress out of parenting and running a household: a little bit of planning can leave you more time to have fun!

Planning with Kids will show you how to:

plan a month’s worth of evening meals in less than an hour
use routines to make mornings manageable, evenings easier and ‘me time’ a reality
organise your kids and partner to share in the housework without you nagging

Learn how to organise your family chaos and have time left over to actually enjoy being a parent.

Contents Page
Acknowledgements
Introduction

Part I: Organising your family
Chapter 1: Routines
Chapter 2: Meals
Chapter 3: Family ﬁnances

Part II: Ages and stages
Chapter 4: Navigating with a new baby
Chapter 5: Tactics for toddlers
Chapter 6: Preparation for preschoolers
Chapter 7: Strategies for school children

Part III: Enjoying parenthood
Chapter 8: You
Chapter 9: Your partner
Chapter 10: The joys of parenting

Part IV: Family fun times
Chapter 11: Making time for play
Chapter 12: Preparing for holidays
Chapter 13: Stress-free birthday parties
Chapter 14: Avoiding Christmas chaos

Final thoughts
Index

Send book to:

Planning with Kids at Kikki-K!

I am seriously beyond excited to announce that the Planning with Kids book can be found at the new kikki-K Studio at Chadstone. The studio is the first of its kind in the world, opening in Oct 2015. The store is nothing short of amazing and you can see more gorgeous pictures of the store here.

They have extended the range of books they stock at the studio and it is absolutely fabulous to see my book lined up with some of my favourite books of all time (The Power of Habit, Essentialism). The book is available at the kikki-K Chadstone for only $22.95. It is the same book, just with a kikki-K designed cover to match the other titles they are stocking.

What are readers saying about Planning With Kids?

Wow. And more Wow. I borrowed the book out from my library being a cheapskate who likes to read hundreds of books on marriage, parenting & life (and I’ve only got room in my tiny townhouse for one bookshelf, so I have to be choosey about what I buy!).

15 pages in and I’m already racing to your website to buy. I NEED this book! I’ve already tried out a few tips and my afternoon was a lot smoother.

Thanks for a really fantastic book and a really well done website.

Amy

Just a quick note to say how much I have enjoyed your book. I am not naturally very good at planning with my family, but over the years have HAD to learn how. Your book has loads and loads of good advice, great ideas, and a really warm, relaxed style of writing that is all about encouragement. Thanks x

Seana Smith

Hi Nicole

Just a quick note to say I am so excited to have discovered your website and book. I found out about it through Jodie Beneviste’s Parent Wellbeing Newsletter. I am participating in her online Parent Wellbeing book group.

I am a Children’s and Families Librarian in Adelaide, SA and I was curious about the Planning with kids book so I ordered for the library. The library’s copy arrived today and I fell in love with it instantly so I went online just then and purchased my very own maybe even signed copy!

Caroline

Hi Your book is a lifesaver i have read it twice and am starting to put your ideas into place. My anxiety levels were getting rather high before i discovered you. I have a 14mth and 3yr old and husband who does nothing at home or with the kids so i am trying my very best everyday to be superwoman and to remain happy and positive. Thank you for all the book suggestions – i borrow everyone from the library and read, and other bloggers (is that what they are called?) i click on all links and have found some i look at regularly. So a HUGE thank you for all your helpful tips and ideas it has helped me put into perspective how hard being a mum is (and that i really am doing well) and to live in the now not the past. I so look forward to reading your emails thats something for me each day.

Thanks once again, cant wait for your next book.
Name provided

Hi Nicole, Thanks for putting together such a great book and sending out great ideas in your newsletters. I began subscribing to your email newsletter when I read about you in the age a couple of years ago in an article about big families. I have 4 kids. I have found lots of your planning tips helpful in organising the family. The extra books are for presents. Thanks again,

Gillian (who purchased 3 extra copies of the book!)

Hi Nicole,

I love the book! I am sorry it has taken me a month to reply to you, but I wanted to read your book cover to cover first. Your book has helped me to make several key changes to the way our family is organised. Your monthly meal planning template is pinned to the notice board, with June’s meals penciled in! I really love that!

I especially loved the chapter that you have devoted to mums. I am very good at looking after the rest of the family, but I often fall off the to-do list myself (terrible case of the burnt chop!). I have felt inspired to make sure this stops happening and have blocked away time for me. I am now spending all day Thursday studying a Print & Graphic Arts Multimedia course – which I am loving!

I am also grateful for your words of wisdom around Christmas prep. I still can’t believe how tired I was on Christmas Day last year. I am planning to have a much more organized and rested Christmas this year! Better get to work in July!

Congratulations on your book – it is a tremendous achievement. Thank you for sharing details of your family life – your words have inspired me.

Kind regards,
Fleur

What to know more about the book before you buy?

You can find an extensive list of reviews of the book on this page – Planning With Kids Book Reviews.
You can read an extracts from the book and see the press on the book here – Media