The Department of Community Services has prepared a kit for parents of toddlers, having received an increase in calls on its Helpline about two-year-olds' tantrums. The booklet illustrates the most common situations and give tips on avoiding them. The kit can be downloaded at www.com munity.nsw.gov.au or from the Parentline, 132055.

Learn the Ropes

Ropes Crossing housing estate will be abuzz this month for the Delfin Summer Buzz festival with free entertainment and activities for all ages from wine tasting and gardening to landscaping to interior design.

Project director Natalie Jones said: "January will be an exciting time as more and more Sydneysiders call Ropes Crossing home. We have plenty of things to celebrate so I invite everyone to help us welcome 2008."

Kids will love the Bob the Builder and Fireman Sam visits, while parents can enjoy wine, beer and honey tasting and workshops on gardening and interior design.

The community day and country music festival will be for the whole family. More information on the activities is available by calling the sales centre on 1800182211.

Skate park delay

Penrith Council has taken the first steps toward turning a section of Claremont Meadows into an active and passive recreation park. It will be built on the bank of South Creek between the M4 and the railway line and would link Claremont Meadows and St Marys.

The council's environmental health manager, Wayne Mitchell, said the plan is for four full-sized and two mini sports fields, a two-way road around the site with a number of car parks, a bridge access across South Creek, a playground, amenities building and picnic areas. It will be built over three stages, with the southern sports fields, half of the loop road and the amenities building possibly completed during stage one.

Mr Mitchell said that all major elements had been factored into section 94 contributions but that some, such as a BMX track and skate park, were not. These would have to be paid for through grants in the future.