They should be regular, reports Shane Rogers, not just a one‑off. Students’ mental health is one of the biggest challenges facing schools. In Australia, half of all adult mental health challenges emerge before the age of 14. It is also estimated that more than 50% of children...
All it takes is paint and pancakes, report Goutam Roy and Shukla Sikder Parents of young children will be aware of the need to encourage early reading and maths skills in their kids. They know it’s important to make time to read with their children. Or...
Is your child’s school, preschool or childcare centre getting ready for Book Week? A much-loved Australian book giveaway is back for 2026, helping children learn where their food and fibre come from through fun farming stories. In 2026, Book Week will run from Saturday 22 August...
Families with kids juggling full-time work may have been alarmed by media reporting this week, suggesting “too much” time in early childhood education and care could harm their child’s development....
At this time of the school year, many schools are asking families to pay fees. These are not private schools, but public schools, writes Emma Rowe. Why are public schools asking parents to pay fees? The fees are voluntary and go towards a range of items such...
Brendon Hyndman and Vaughan Cruickshank look at why some schools have stopped running camps as costs rise. What can we do instead? School camps have long been a rite of passage for many Australian students in both primary and high school. Typically, camps begin in primary school...
Australian students spend years learning handwriting, yet many receive little formal instruction in writing on computers. Researchers, Anabela Malpique and Deborah Pino Pasternak say digital writing skills are now essential for school, study and work — and classrooms need to catch up. Writing using computers is...
From smartwatches to AI-powered glasses, wearable tech is quietly entering classrooms. While these devices could support learning and wellbeing, experts warn they also raise big questions about privacy, pressure and fairness for students. AI wearables are already in classrooms—whether schools like it or not Could your child’s...
Active zones and mini retreats – Fatemeh Aminpour looks at how to build preschools suitable for neurodivergent kids An estimated 15–20% of children are neurodivergent, with diagnoses rising each year. They may have a neurodevelopmental condition such as autism or attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder. We know many neurodivergent children...
Families across Australia say children with disabilities are still being bullied, excluded and misunderstood at school. Some parents report teachers dismissing conditions such as ADHD, raising concerns about whether schools are truly equipped to support neurodivergent students, report Catherine Smith and Helen Dickinson One student was routinely...
