Feb
12
2026
Why are 11% of Aussie students absent on a typical school day?
Is it only just an increase in sick days? How can Australia fix this? ask researchers Jordana Hunter, Amy Haywood and Molly Chapman On a typical school day in Australia last year, about 11% of students were absent. In 2014, the figure was 7%. Two...
12 February, 2026
Screen Smart Children: Helping Kids Thrive as Australia Limits Social Media for Under-16s
Australia introduced new rules on December 10th, 2025 requiring social media platforms to stop children under 16 from creating or maintaining accounts. This extract is from Screen Smart Children, which answers many of the burning questions parents might have. One reason for the new social...
05 February, 2026
Back to School 2026: Small Changes That Make a Big Difference for Kids
As the new school year approaches, many families feel the familiar mix of excitement, nerves and long to-do lists. From resetting routines to packing lunchboxes and navigating technology, the return to school can feel overwhelming — but experts say it’s often the small, practical changes...
29 January, 2026
Book Review: Do you know a youngster about to start school?
Do you know a youngster about to start school? There are some great new books available to help ease the introduction. Starting School All About Stating School by Felicity Brooks, illus. by Mar Ferrero, an Usborne Book, pub. HarperCollins, h/b RRP$19.99. Ages 3+ Usborne books...
22 January, 2026
What makes a good school for your child?
We often see lists of ‘top’ schools. But what makes a good school for your child? Nicole Brownlie and Renee Desmarchelier look behind what makes a good school for your child. Lists of Australia’s “top” schools regularly make headlines. We see this every year with...
15 January, 2026
Should kids at least do a little bit of school work over the holidays?
Sarah Jefferson asks could a little bit of school work over the holidays help? As the summer holidays progress, parents may feel concerned their children will “forget how to spell their own names” during the long school break. Or there may be worries about forgetting...
09 January, 2026
Celebrating Mothers
What Parents Are Googling Right Now (And Why We’re All Doing It)
If you’re anything like me, parenting (and pregnancy) has a habit of sending you down some very specific Google rabbit holes, writes Susie Williams From sleep and behaviour to screens and pregnancy worries, parents’ search histories offer a revealing snapshot of what’s really weighing on...
12 February, 2026
News of a ‘giant’ baby boy is all over TikTok.
News of a ‘giant’ baby boy is all over TikTok. Here’s what women really need to know, reports Hannah Dahlen Baby boy Cassian is an internet sensation. He was born earlier this year in the United States weighing 5.8 kilograms. But after his mum and...
05 February, 2026
When Starting School Is Harder on Parents Than Children
Starting school was a far bigger wrench for me than it was for my son, writes Cathy Watson “Sending my second child – my ‘soft’ son – into the ruthless world of school was a harsh concept and I struggled with it far more than...
22 January, 2026
The Beautiful Chaos of Raising Girls: Lessons From a Mum in the Middle
Kate Wattus ponders the nature of her relationships with her two girls. “But I don’t want my hair done today!” harrumphs my seven-year-old princess, arms folded and eyebrows pushed so low as to almost completely cover her eyes as well as half her face. “Well...
11 December, 2025
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