Why Teens are increasingly turning to AI companions

And it could be harming them, write researchers Liz Spry and Craig Olsson Teenagers are increasingly turning to AI companions for friendship, support, and even romance. But these apps could be changing how young people connect to others, both online and off. New research by Common Sense Media, a US-based non-profit organisation that reviews various media and...

EDITOR’S PICKS

Social Media Ban for Under-16s: What Parents Need to Know to Keep Kids Safe Online
Australia’s new social media laws start in December – but experts say mums, dads and carers are still the most important line of defence when it comes to online safety. New Social Media Laws Begin in December From 10 December 2025, TikTok, Snapchat, Instagram, Facebook,...
Editor
28 August, 2025
Should I limit how much fruit my child eats because it contains sugar?
Parents are often told fruit is “bad” because it contains sugar, writes Nick Fuller, prompting concerns about how much fruit they should allow their child to eat. This message has been fuelled by the “sugar-free” movement, which demonises sugar with claims it’s fattening and causes...
Editor
21 August, 2025
5 phrases parents should never use with a tween
The teenage years are great, aren’t they? writes clinical psychologist Jari Evertsz Just as we feel that we’ve got the hang of managing our primary school-aged kids with all their different sporting activities, their quirky food preferences and their love of sofa cuddle-time, along comes...
Editor
14 August, 2025
Science Week 9-17 August 2025: Top Family-Friendly Events
From dinosaurs to chocolate science, rocket launches to virtual spacewalks, discover the best family science events near you this August. Australia’s biggest science festival is splashing into real schools, school-at-home, and virtual classrooms. In-person events, virtual tours, webcasts, talks, DIY experiments, quizzes, citizen science and...
Editor
07 August, 2025
Why Learning a Second Language Is a Smart Move for Kids
Virginia Prior writes that helping your child learn another language does more than expand their vocabulary – it boosts brainpower, emotional well-being, and future career prospects. From improved memory to long-term cognitive benefits, here’s why raising a bilingual child is one of the best investments...
Editor
31 July, 2025
Energy-Saving Tips for Families: How to Cut Bills and Stay Warm This Winter
Discover practical energy-saving tips for families. From heating hacks to smart laundry habits, here’s how to reduce your power bills—especially during winter. Warm Smarter, Not Harder Winter heating can be one of the biggest energy drains for households. To stay warm without blowing your budget,...
Editor
24 July, 2025

Celebrating Mothers

Remembering the ‘Baby Blues’
Barbara Fraser recalls how desperate she felt after the birth of her son… some 40 years ago. The Crying That Never Stopped From birth, he cried, drawing his little legs up in agony. Medical checks showed nothing wrong, and our GP put it down to...
Editor
04 September, 2025
Why fetal monitoring can be essential during labour
Many women don’t realise they have choices, write researchers Kate Levett, Deborah Fox and Vanessa Scarf So, you’re about to have a baby. You’ve been to the birth classes – you learned how being upright and moving around can help you be as comfortable as...
Editor
04 September, 2025
What should I eat (and avoid) while breastfeeding?
Therese O’Sullivan looks at how a mother’s diet affects her baby’s milk and suggests four tips for breastfeeding mums. Many people are familiar with the saying that a woman is “eating for two” during pregnancy. Although this is an exaggeration, nutritional needs do certainly increase...
Editor
04 September, 2025
Midwives Could Soon Offer Contraceptive Care at Home
New research from Monash University suggests Australian midwives may one day provide contraception during postnatal home visits—a move that could make life easier for new parents. The study, published in Women and Birth, explored midwives’ views on offering services such as the contraceptive implant (Implanon NXT)...
Editor
25 August, 2025