Maxine Clark’s son begins to ponder the more obvious markers of his Jamaican heritage. “Your mum’s brown,” a little girl at my son’s childcare centre announced matter-of-factly to him when I arrived to pick him up last week. It wasn’t a criticism; it wasn’t an insult....
Even more kitchen and garden goodness in the Stephanie Alexander Kitchen Garden Program for Early Childhood Perfect for little hands and curious minds, the Kitchen Garden Program for Early Childhood is a play-based, hands-on program that helps teach children about fresh, seasonal, delicious food. Setting up the program is...
Researchers Anthea Lindquist and Stephen Tong report that vaginal birth after caesarean increases the risk of serious perineal tear by 20%, their large-scale review shows Pregnant women who previously birthed by caesarean section are presented with a choice: whether to try for a vaginal birth, or...
Adrian R. Camilleri, looks at what to expect in 2022 and beyond COVID-19 has dramatically changed how businesses and consumers behave. We’ve seen panic buying, the rise of the “homebody economy” and a strong shift towards contactless shopping. As we emerge from the worst of the pandemic,...
Staff and children in preschool and childcare aren’t being protected like in schools. We need a national plan, writes Thea van de Mortel By late January, more than 400 early learning centres were closed across the country due to the Omicron wave, and many more were...
Lea Waters reports how positive psychology can unlock your child’s potential and enhance their well-being It’s widely accepted in today’s culture that good parenting requires a balance of warmth and control. Research shows that parents who respond to the needs of children in loving ways, whilst...
‘Welcome to our world’: families of children with cancer say the pandemic has helped them feel seen, while putting them in peril, writes Jenny Davies. For billions of people across the world, life as we knew it stopped in 2020. Families and friends were separated. Masks mandated....
5 things research from twins taught us about health, behaviour and what makes us unique, reports Jeffrey Craig Researchers often compare the differences between identical and fraternal twins to better understand health and behaviour. The first major insight is that genes and environments almost always combine to...
Once a form of ‘social camouflage’, school uniforms have become impractical and unfair, writes Johanna Reidy As the start of a new school year looms, school uniforms are being dusted off or new ones bought. At the same time, age-old debates about the pros and cons...
Far from being a quiet time, a child’s middle years - between ages eight and 12 – can be transformative. But according to Dr Lisa Mundy we need to better understand those changes. I’ve always been fascinated by what happens during childhood. I’m really interested...
