Some children will struggle with the first days of kindergarten, and for others it will be a breeze, says Dr Elizabeth Reed - and the same could be said for parents.

"Few parents reach late January without some anxiety over how their children will settle in to the year ahead. And never more so than when their child is starting kindergarten and has had little time away from their parents.

"Children pass this milestone in myriad ways. Some can't wait to race off and finger-paint or climb on the monkey bars. The more social among them will delight in seeing new faces and having different people to share their chatter with. But for others there will be reluctance and tears and an unwillingness to let go of their parent's hand. ..."

Young Approach, Old Condition

Two WA programs are forging beneficial links between people with dementia and children, reports Dr Duncan Jefferson.

"I scarcely remember my maternal grandfather. What memories I do have are of a grumpy old man who sat by the fire, smoking cigarettes and wheezing. He died in his sixties and was mostly unlamented. My wife, on the other hand, grew up on a small family farm where her ‘Granda' also lived, as well as ‘Pappa' - a man who once helped out on the farm, but who stayed on well into old age. Both men lived into their eighties and are still talked of fondly by the family decades later.

"There is something special about healthy relationships between old and young people, where one gives wisdom and the other brings energy. Historically, families are groups of people of all ages where tradition and values are taught and passed on, with each generation refining and adding to them.

"One of the challenges Australia faces is an ageing population, and we need to work out how best to manage it. There has also been a significant rise in the number of people with dementia. The model-based forecaster Access Economics reported in 2003 that dementia was the "second-largest cause of disability burden in Australia after depression" and would become the largest by 2016. But the burden of dementia is not simply financial; it's a huge responsibility for carers. So when someone comes up with a way to enhance the lives of people with dementia and ease the burden of care, we should all take notice. ..."

Terms Of Friendship

Michelle MacFarlane had a best friend when she was at school, but she is noticing that friendships play out differently these days.

"... when my eldest son, Johnno, hit kindergarten, I was waiting to see who he'd pair up with. He played happily with many children, but especially liked a boy called Tim. Tim liked him back, and they became close. At some subconscious level, I felt we'd ticked the best-friend box for Johnno. Little did I know how wrong I was. ..."

Happy To Help

Volunteering mum Suzy Mills is delighted to find she's cool at school.

"I'm not sure who enjoys my weekly canteen duty more - my boys, or me. I get such a thrill when I see the grins on their faces as they rush to be first in line. Of course, they're happy to see me in the middle of their school day, but I suspect their enthusiasm may also have something to do with the ‘free' stuff they get (which they pay for with a kiss over the counter). ..."

NEW: Special Series - Country Views

For most of us, getting our kids to school entails a short drive, walk or bus trip. But for families in rural and remote communities, it can be a very different story, reports Genevieve Barlow.

"The first night Lexie Brownhall stayed at the hostel where she would board so she could attend high school, her parents Kylie and Brett were anxious. The graziers from Jandowae, three-and-a-half hours west of Brisbane, wanted to give their 12-year-old daughter the best education they could. Dalby High School was too far at an hour's bus ride away, and the local Prep-10 government school had just 13 students in Years 8 to 10. It wasn't enough for Lexie.

"They chose instead to send their bright daughter to a hostel where she could board during the week while attending Chinchilla State High School, also an hour away. At least she could come home on the weekends - boarding school was another option, but would have meant fewer visits home. The Brownhalls weren't ready for that. "I was anxious and had so many mixed emotions," says Kylie of her daughter's leaving. "I sobbed. I thought, ‘I can't believe we are doing this', but we didn't let her know how we were feeling, because we didn't want her to know we were sad."

"Many parents in rural Australia face this scenario each year after making sometimes painful decisions about education. ..."

Special Series - D3: Diversity, Difference & Diagnosis

Senses And Sensitivities

Monica Wright struggled to find a diagnosis for her daughter's unusual behaviours, but persistence paid off.

"I have a four-year-old daughter. When people first meet her, they usually describe her as lively, clever, outgoing, friendly, affectionate and talkative. As they get to know her better they'd probably like to add descriptors such as difficult, stubborn, irritable, impatient and volatile. Most people would put these traits down to a mix of personality and behaviour, but there's another reason, known only to those close to her.

"My daughter has a neurological condition called sensory processing disorder (SPD). SPD affects the way she receives and interprets sights, sounds, touch, tastes, smells and movement. People with SPD may feel overwhelmed by sensory information, or, conversely, seek out sensory experiences. ..."

Book Reviews

This month, David Witt reviews:

The Little Refugee written by Anh Do and Suzanne Do and illustrated by Bruce Whatley.

Bureau Of Mysteries written by H.J. Harper and illustrated by Nahum Ziersch.

And Veronicah Larkin reviews:

Edge Of The World written by Ian Trevaskis and illustrated by Wayne Harris.

Bush Bash! written by Sally Morgan and illustrated by Ambelin Kwaymullina.

Your Views

This month's letters to the editor relate to hyperemesis gravidarum (morning sickness), families sponsoring children in underprivileged countries, and a reminder to treasure our children.

Family Calendar

You can access our online calendar, which is full of wonderful activities and events for families occurring in Perth this month, at www.webchild.com.au, clicking on Calendar.