Insta-Inspo List for Sydney Mums

Massive thanks to all the mums who took part in this questionnaire. It’s the first time I’ve ever tried anything like that using social media and I’m really pleased with the results. When I made a decision to share with my readership the struggles I’ve had with Xavier’s language delay, I made a quiet pledge to myself that I was only going to produce content thats real, useful and helpful to someone else. And I think this list is just that!

Below you’ll find a list of the questions I asked and the answers with links to suggestions as made by many mums who responded.

What are your favourite activities to do at home with your kids?

Dancing
Water table activities
Looking at picture books
Reading
Gardening
Arts and crafts
Hide and seek
Back yard obstacle courses
Puzzles
Charades
Board games
Bingo
Learning how to use a telescope

Cooking and baking - some suggestions include:
pizza scrolls, pie making, smores, easy cookies, fruit salad, cookie and cupcake decorating

Sensory play with ice water, sand, play dough, cold spaghetti, finger paints

Do you have special activities reserved for rainy days?
Visit museums
Visiting favourite take away places with indoor playgrounds
Painting and crafts
Movies and popcorn
Indoor bounce houses and playgrounds
Buiding forts and obstacle courses out of blankets, pillows and chairs
Baking cookies, cakes and cupcakes
Visiting the local library
Car rides to watch and listen to the rain
Dress ups
Making play dough
Sensory activities like playing with rice i a big bucket with funnels, scoops and spoons
Playing with kinetic sand

Best place in Sydney for kids to interract with animals…
Featherdale Wildlife Park
Taronga Zoo
Calmsley Hill Farm
Golden Ridge Farm, Dural
Wildlife Sydney Zoo
Symbio Zoo
Central Gardens Merrylands
Koala Park Santuary, West Pennant Hills
New Leaf Nursery, Ingleside (Best for little chickens and ducklings)
The Beaches Market - Petting zoo and ponies on Fridays

Best pools in Sydney for kids…

Putney Water Park
Cabarita Swim Center
Homebush Aquatic Center
Enfield Pools
Emerton Leisure Center
Steel Park Marrickville
Annette Kellerman Aquatic Center
Rock pools on the Northern Beaches
Andrew Boy Charlton Pool

What is your dream family holiday destination?
Hawaii, including Waikiki and Maui (Grand Wailea to be specific!)
Fiji
Noosa
Cancun and Tulum Mexico
Samoa
Japan
Disneyland, LA
Peppers, Palm Cove
USA
Bora Bora
Italy
Croatia

Your favourite beaches around Sydney…

Greenwich Baths
Palm Beach
Bondi
Bronte
Nielson Park
Camp Cove
North Bondi
Curl Curl
Balmoral
Parsley Bay
Little Bay
Cronulla
Freshwater

Best family friendly cafes and restaurants around Sydney…

Enzo Cucina, Gledswood Hill
Arthur’s Baulkham Hills
Parx Coffee House
Boathouse Palm beach
The Factoria + Grano
The Henson, Marrickville
Rubyniks, Miranda
Goodbye Horses, Summer Hill
Sideways, Dulwich Hill
Rashays (multiple locations)
Hogs Breath (multiple locations)
Hotel Pennant Hills
Mangia e Bevi, Rose Bay
Left of Field, Rhodes
Frateli & Co Concord
Grounds of Alexandria
Papas Patisserie, Haberfield
Acres Club, Greenacre
Bankstown Sports Club

Quick and easy lunch ideas for mums:

Salad with Tuna or Chicken
Avo on toast with goats cheese
Smoothies
Big Salads with all the seasonal veggies
Eggs - all ways! Boiled, scrambled, and curried in sandwiches
Uber Eats (thank Shayben)
Burgers
Cookies
Bean Salad
Tuna, rice, chilli avo bowl

Never fail, go-to meal for kids…
Mjaddra (Lebanese lentils and rice that kids seem to love)
Pasta with chickpeas
Mac and Cheese
Toasted Cheese Sandwiches
Boobie milk
Noodles, broccoli and steak
Spag bol
Kafta balls with Hummous
Tacos
Eggs all ways
Pesto pasta
Smashed avo
Meatballs
Fry’s vegan nuggets
Chicken Schnitzel
Chicken soup
Lasagne
Koussa (stuffed zucchini)
Chicken and corn soup
Veggie Frittata

Thanks again for taking part… I’m looking forward to doing this again!