Interesting Facts - Parents Precinct

February 6th 2009 04:08

Major changes to the baby bonus scheme means parents of babies born after January 1st 2009 may not be eligible for the bonus. If your (joint) taxable income (ATI) is over $75000 for the six months AFTER the birth, you will not be eligible. However, if you are in a higher income bracket, there are ways to help improve your eligibility.

Let’s look at the facts. As of January 1st 2009, new parents (including those that adopt) will only receive a baby bonus if they earn $75,000 or less in the 6 months following birth, or after the child comes into your care. The $5000 payment will be paid in fortnightly instalments over 13 weeks, after eligibility has been satisfied.

The following are included in estimating income:

Taxable income – That is your salary less allowable deductions (charitable donations, income protection insurance etc. Check the ato website for more details PLUS

Employer provided fringe benefits over the value of $2000 (which must be declared) PLUS
Rental property gains/losses PLUS

Tax Free pensions or benefits PLUS

Targeted foreign Income MINUS

Child support payments paid to a third party.

Therefore, you may think if you have an annual taxable income less than $150k you should be ok, right. Well hopefully but you need to be aware of other sources of income. For example, someone with an annual income of $100k ($50000 in 6 months), who sells an investment property in the 6 months following the birth at a profit may be caught out.
The thing with the baby bonus is it is all or nothing. So if you earn $75,000, in the six months after the birth then you get it, if you earn $75,001 you miss out there is no gradual decline.
If you are borderline, there are ways you of reducing your taxable income, such as:

Salary Sacrifice – Put a lump sum into your super package, which will be win win, you boost your super, and get the bonus.

Pre pay some expenses such as income protection, which can be paid up to a year in advance.

Take a holiday – If you are going on maternity leave consider taking a holiday or leaving a bit earlier so that your holiday pay is not paid in a lump sum adding to your taxable income.

Sit down with an accountant and discuss your options. Good luck, if you cannot swing it, I am sure your little darling will be a big bonus in itself.

For more information check out the Family Assistance Website

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Posted By: Sara Dobson - Category: Interesting Facts

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Disposable Nappies Better for the Environment

December 31st 2008 04:24

I have always tried to look after the environment. I try not to use the air-conditioning (in fact we don’t have it any more). I hang my washing out all year round, and only use the dryer when I am desperate to finish stuff off in the winter. I never place a full load of washing straight from the washing machine to the dryer. I take public transport, using the car only when there is no other option.

My biggest environmental sin though is I love disposable nappies. I am constantly amazed by how much solid and liquid waste product they can hold, and they don’t leak. I love the fact that I never ever have to handle poo. Not only that, I do not have to spend the entire day doing laundry.

There was a time when parents such as me were shamed by society if they had admitted aloud that they think disposable nappies are one of the best inventions of all time, but not anymore. According to a study carried out by the UK government, reusable nappies actually do more damage to the environment than disposables.

According to the study, reusable nappies are more harmful to the environment unless parents take an extreme approach to washing them. That is nappies need to be washed in water less than 60C, they need to be line dried all year around, and kept for use on younger siblings.

The story, which was hushed by the British government because they were embarrassed by the findings, was leaked (ha ha) to the Times Online.

All I can say is thank goodness that disposables are now proven the more environmentally friendly option; it is such a relief to know that once I have changed that dirty nappy I will never have to see it again.

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Posted By: Sara Dobson - Category: Interesting Facts

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Why children Lie

November 24th 2008 10:53

“I touched a hippo,” my friends seven year old told her Aunt when she asked about his trip to the zoo.
“Really?” replied his Aunt.
“Er, I don’t think so,” replied my friend who had also been at the zoo the day before.
Why did he make up that story?
Because touching a hippo is very exciting, and maybe somewhere deep down he believes he really did. All children lie, it is part of pretend play, it starts at about three years of age and peaks around seven or eight years of age.

Why do they lie?
• There are several reasons children lie:
• Because it is more interesting in the truth, in the case of the hippo story.
• To protect themselves or somebody else from trouble, “no I didn’t get into a fight today.”
• For love and approval, either from their parents or among their peers, for example telling your parents, “I am the best runner in the class.” When the truth is you didn’t even get your gym gear out.

When do children start lying

According to Doctor Victoria Talwar, an assistant professor at Montreal’s McGill University, the ability to lie is linked to intelligence levels. In order to lie, a child needs to be aware of an alternate reality, and that you can manipulate someone else to believe in your reality, in a way that is favourable to you. Therefore, the bright side is, if your three year old is an accomplished liar, you may well have a genius on your hands.

Children can start lying from as early as 2-3 years of age and peak at around seven years. According to Talwar, by the time a child reaches four years old they will lie about once every two hours, while a six year old will lie every hour and a half.

Where do they learn such behaviour?

Children learn everything by watching their parents. So think very carefully next time you are on the phone to someone you do not want to talk to, and say “sorry I can’t talk I have got the baby in the bath,” children don’t distinguish between social and antisocial lies. It is not until they reach seven years old they can distinguish between the two.

We also teach our children to lie deliberately. If they are given a present they don’t like we tell them to smile and hide their disappointment. It is not surprising children may be confused when they are told off for lying, when they see their parents doing it.

What should you do about it?

There are a few things you can do to encourage your child to be a bit more honest such as:
Reward honesty rather than just punishing the transgression. So if they admit they hit their brother praise them for owning up. So they understand there are consequences for hitting someone but owning up is a good thing.

Explain to them why its better to be honest

Externalise it – tell them mummy will be proud of them telling the truth
Try not to cross examine them or grill them, it will only cause them to lie more to get out of the situation.

Do not set traps – for example if your child has hit their younger brother or sister and you know they did, don’t ask them “Did you hit her?” Just from the tone of your voice, they know they did wrong and immediately lie. Instead, just deal with the problem.

Talwar suggests that you do not over dramatise the problem. All children tell lies, just like my friends son, it sounds exciting to have touched a hippo, they just may need reminding sometimes about fantasy and reality.

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Posted By: Sara Dobson - Category: Interesting Facts

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Increase your IQ – Have a baby!

November 4th 2008 11:22

I have been trying to decide whether I should complete my masters’ degree next year, or have another baby. But after reading Katherine Ellison’s new book The Mommy Brain, I have realised that I would be better off doing both, because having a baby makes you smarter.

It is a myth that our brain cells die off after a certain age, and are not replaced. Brain cells continue to grow and flourish throughout our lifetimes. It is up to us to ensure these brain cells survive by constantly challenging them. What better way to challenge your brain cells than figuring out how to teach your toddler drink out of a sippy cup, or use the toilet. Or trying to remember everything that needs to be done in the morning, as you try to get everyone fed and off to day care or work

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Babie Love Classical Music

October 21st 2008 22:37

Whether or not you believe in the Mozart effect, a recent study has shown that children love classical music.

Researchers Brigham University in the US, conducted experiments on 96 infants aged between three and nine months of age. They found that by nine months, babies could distinguish between happy and sad pieces of music, in the way preschoolers and adults do

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Banana Milkshake for Babies

July 24th 2008 04:45

www.metro.co.uk

British women are being shown how to make a banana-flavoured milkshake using their breasts according to an article in the Metro Newspaper (a free tabloid given out on public transport). Really Long Link

It’s easy all they need to do is eat a banana less than an hour before breast feeding and hey presto banana milkshake for baby. The same theory works with other flavours such as such as menthol, caraway seeds and liquorice

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