Your toddler demands a Bluey-themed yoghurt and has a tantrum when offered something else. If it’s not a Nutella sandwich, your child’s lunchbox comes home uneaten. Researchers Juliet Bennett, Alex Broomand David Raubenheimer look at fussy eating and the food industry. And the dinner table can become...
On International Day of Play (June 11), early childhood experts say it may be time to rethink how families talk about technology, learning and screen time. For many parents, screens and play can feel like opposites. One is often seen as active, imaginative and social; the...
Worried about feeding your baby solid foods? Here’s what you should know, report Lillian Krikheli and Samantha Turner When you have a baby, mealtimes can be messy and stressful. If you’re a new parent you may be unsure what, when, and how to feed your little one....
Should surrogates be paid for carrying someone else's baby? Australia is reviewing its surrogacy laws, and the question of payment is dividing opinion. Here's what's being considered, and why it matters for families everywhere....
Teeth brushing can feel like one more daily battle for tired parents, especially when children wriggle, stall or clamp their mouths shut. But with the right approach, brushing can become calmer, quicker and more consistent — and help protect children’s teeth from early decay. Why kids...
Paediatrician Dr Scott Dunlop believes parents thinking of taking their baby or child to a chiropractor should ask two important questions first: is it safe, and is it effective? As a general paediatrician, I see children of all ages, including many newborns. It is not unusual...
Here’s what you need to know, report Amit Arora, Hannah Dahlen, Jessica Appleton and Lynn Kemp If you’ve ever taken your child to a maternal, child and family health nurse for a growth check, you might have felt a mix of curiosity and anxiety. As health professionals,...
From childcare and paid parental leave to child support, health costs and tax relief, the 2026–27 Federal Budget includes several measures that may affect parents, carers and children. Here’s what families need to know. The 2026–27 Federal Budget has put family cost-of-living pressure firmly in the...
An educational adjustment helps students participate on the same basis as their peers without a disability. Why are we seeing this growth? Asks Linda J. Graham and Callula Killingly New data shows 27.2% of Australian students are receiving an adjustment for disability at school. This is...
Alison Fogarty, Grace McMahon and Monique Seymour ask "Are you worried about your preschoolers’ anxiety?" Here’s how you can help. New research on a group of Australian preschoolers suggests more than 40% are dealing with an anxiety disorder. The study, led by Monash University and published in...
