Unlock Peak Dad Mode with Man of Many’s ‘Brilliant Moments Kit’

There’s nothing more rewarding than cheering your kids on as they thrive and grow, knowing you’ll always be there to catch them when they need it. With you by their side, they’re free to make the most of every milestone, whether that’s feeling the frenzied excitement of early birthday celebrations, the hint of promise that comes with the first day of school, the unforgettable memories you make together during family holidays, or their growing sense of self as they discover their passions and interests. 

Of course, everyone has their own parenting style throughout all of this, and there’s no singular way to ensure you’re doing right by your kids. However, one thing connecting all parents is that no matter the approach you take, everyone can do with a little support now and then. That’s why Man of Many has developed the Brilliant Moments Kit. This checklist of must-haves helps you ensure that even when your child encounters a hurdle, they can be back to their brilliant self in no time, flying high during life’s most memorable milestones, as well as throughout all the quiet moments in between.

This kit will stand you in good stead throughout your rugrats’ younger years, and some items, like Children’s Panadol, will provide essential support long after they’ve graduated from their nappies. Read on to ensure you’re covering all bases, but first, let’s compare notes on approaches to parenting with some of the doting dads from the Man of Many office. 

Doing it Dad-Style

There are several fathers in the small Man of Many team, so we asked them if they could provide any insight into how they approach parenting and the importance of preparedness—via essential supplies like medication, first aid, and an industrial supply of wipes—when it comes to raising their kids. 

“My wife describes my parenting style as kind and loving, but firm. That feels pretty spot on,” chuckles Alex, one of Man of Many’s sales gurus and a father of one with a second on the way. 

“My daughter, Luna, is two-and-a-half years old, and I aim to challenge and empower her. If she’s capable of doing something, I encourage her to take the lead, whether it’s packing away toys, throwing rubbish in the bin, or turning off the lights. If she asks me to grab her toy or bunny, I’ll often say, ‘You can do that!’ in a positive, supportive tone. The goal is to help her grow into a self-reliant person who believes in her abilities.”

This empowering approach is a method Alex shares with the other dads in the office. Man of Many’s Head of Social, John, is a father of three who takes a consciously different parenting approach to the one he grew up with: “My parenting style aims to focus on building meaningful connections with each of my kids, taking the time to understand their individual personalities and communication styles, while still providing firmness and clear boundaries.

“Leading by example is important to me; modelling behaviours I want my kids to learn, like kindness, patience, and resilience. I aim to be flexible but consistent, as kids thrive on structure and routine. Of course, adaptability is key as they also throw a lot of curveballs!”

According to Frank, one of Man of Many’s co-founders, nourishing the creativity of his two kids is core to his approach as a dad: “Creativity is a muscle that’s too often lost after childhood. My wife and I encourage artistic play, drawing, building, storytelling, and song and dance to cultivate an ‘outside‑the‑box’ mindset.

“I’m also learning every day to name and validate emotions, both theirs and my own. Their mum models this beautifully, and together we guide our kids in recognising feelings, expressing them healthily, and empathising with others. We want to instil empathy, resilience, perseverance, ambition, and a lifelong love of learning.”

The Power of Preparation 

While it’s clear that each of our Man of Many dads has their own unique and equally valid approach, they all agree that being as prepared as possible at all times is an essential part of dad duty. This is where the Brilliant Moments Kit comes in, and while the precise kind of preparation needed evolves as your kids grow, that just means you can take the kit as a blueprint and adapt it to your child’s changing needs. 

“Physical preparedness is huge for us,” reveals Alex. “The more prepared you are with the bag, the more scenarios you can handle and the happier and healthier your child will be. During the mad rush that comes with leaving the house for daycare, staying with our parents, swimming lessons, or anything else, you’ll always see baby bags stuffed to the brim to cover any scenario.”

With his kids being slightly older, John has moved into a phase in which the need to have a bag of supplies in tow isn’t as essential as it is for Alex, although planning ahead still provides many benefits: “As the kids get older, it’s less about being physically prepared with nappy bags, wipes, and the like. Having said that, obviously some supplies remain essential, and being prepared means less last-minute stressing about what could go wrong, freeing you up to be more present in the moment.”

As for Frank’s approach, being prepared is a multi-faceted endeavour: “Preparedness means having the right tools, the right supplies, and the right mindset to support our children’s unique journeys. They aren’t mini‑me’s (as much as we like to think they are). They have their own likes, dislikes, and temperaments, and the right preparation needs to take all of these elements into account.”

To ensure you’re as prepared as possible for whatever parenthood throws at you next, let’s dive into the Brilliant Moments Kit and tick off our checklist.

Brilliant Moments Kit

As mentioned, the kit in its current form is more aligned with the needs of Alex and Frank’s younglings, but as your sprouts grow a few years older and enter the age range occupied by John’s kids, you can easily adapt and update.

1. Children’s Panadol

When it comes to providing relief from symptoms like pain, fever, and discomfort associated with immunisation, earaches, cold and flu symptoms, teething, and headaches, Children’s Panadol can help. It can start to reduce fever in 15 minutes* and relieve pain fast, plus it’s gentle on little tummies and suitable for kids from one month old. 

Ideal for fussy kids, Panadol Children 1-5 Years or 5-12 Years suspensions comes in both Strawberry and Orange flavours, includes an easy-to-dose syringe in the pack, and is colour-free. Remember to always read the label and follow the directions for use. 

When your kids are under the weather, Children’s Panadol is your partner for pain and fever relief to help them get back to being brilliant.   

2. First Aid

Whenever you’re out and about with the kids, it’s only a matter of time before there are bumps and scrapes that need to be attended to. There’s always a certain amount of guilt when this happens, but it’s important to remember that these minor incidents are a part of growing up and exploring the world. Instead of overly protecting them, allowing kids to experience and learn from these moments can help them develop resilience and confidence. 

Instead, it’s best to just be prepared with a liberal supply of adhesive bandages, some anti-bacterial wipes or wash, a few cotton balls for dabbing grazed knees, and a splinter probe for any insistently nasty little shards.  

3. Wipes and Tissues

Even outside of the first-aid kit, wipes are an absolute essential. The one time you find yourself without is the one time they’ll smear themselves in chocolate—it’ll be that if you’re lucky—while simultaneously boasting a nose that has inexplicably started running like a faucet. 

It’s a simple parenting rule that you can never have enough of these things because as much as you love your kids, the last thing you want to do is try to wipe up their mess with your bare hand or the shirt off your back. 

4. Snacks and Drinks

There are few things more of a handful than a small child who’s hungry, thirsty, or—terror of terrors—both. To ensure the apple of your eye doesn’t transform into some kind of beastie, it’s absolutely essential to have snacks and a drink on hand at all times. 

If you can keep them happy while sticking to healthy options like water, fruit (bananas, grapes, apple slices), vegetables (carrots, celery, cucumber), whole-grain crackers, and a little cheese, more power to you.

5. Sun Protection

The strongest instinct any parent has is to protect their kids and one of the most important ways of doing so is to guard against the blazing hot Aussie sun. Even with winter underway, it’s essential to remain vigilant, and while your kids may whinge in the moment, they’ll thank you in the long run.

Sunscreen application before and during an outing is key, as is having a hat and sunglasses on hand for further protection. The latter will likely end up being thrown on the ground before too long, but they remain an absolute must. 

6. Entertainment

This might seem like it stands apart from other inclusions on this list, but it’s no less essential. A bored child is almost as formidable as a hungry and thirsty one. Having a way to keep them occupied is an invaluable addition to any travel pack. 

While many older kids might demand some form of digital entertainment, you probably don’t want that to be the default for younger ones, so having a selection of toys and games to play together can be a real lifesaver. 

7. Change of Clothes

Carrying a change of clothes around can be a nuisance, but when the moment no one wants to face finally arrives, you’ll be glad you came prepared. Parents already know what we’re talking about here, but don’t let yourself slip into a false sense of security. It can happen at any time, so be ready. 

Obviously, depending on the age, this includes carrying either a backup nappy or two and sets of underwear as well. The moment you neglect to do so is the moment you’ll face the worst. 

8. Comforter

Our final inclusion is a comforter. You always want to ensure you have a way to settle the kids after a big day, so a soft toy, blanket, or anything your child is attached to that’s capable of soothing them is an essential inclusion in any parental survival package.

Getting Them Back on Track

And that’s it! By checking off everything contained within the Brilliant Moments Kit the next time you and the kids head out for another adventure (or maybe just a trip to the shops), you can rest assured you’re well prepared for everything the day is about to throw at you.

Then, in the inevitable event that your little ones should at some point take a turn for the worse, you can feel confident you have the necessary tools (and a little help from Children’s Panadol) to get them back on track, all while enabling yourself to, as John says, “be more present in the moment”.

*Temple, A.R. et al. Clin. Ther. 2013; 35:1361-75.
Always read the label and follow the directions for use. Incorrect use could be harmful.