Judith Kirkwood has mixed feelings about her 18-year-old son becoming a father. I didn’t know what to say when my teenage son, Robin, told me one winter afternoon that he was going to be a father. That didn’t stop me from mumbling something like, “I hope...
This Starlight Day (Tuesday, 20 May), the Starlight Children’s Foundation is calling on Australians to help raise $1.3 million to bring happiness to seriously ill kids just like Alice. When three-year-old Alice was diagnosed with a rare and aggressive cancer behind her right eye, her family’s...
Research uncovers overlap with ultra-processed foods, sugary drinks, mental health, screen time, smoking and alcohol The Hidden Health Struggles Affecting Our Teens Nearly one in two Australian teenagers is living with a chronic illness or developmental condition like ADHD, autism, asthma, or food allergies, according to new...
Marian O’Connell finds that her response to her son’s bedtime demands turns from severe frustration to serene reflection. There is an almost imperceptible change in breathing and a certain weightlessness that overcomes a child when they finally fall asleep. This is detectable only to the indulgent...
The shocking 2020 murders of Hannah Clarke and her three children—Trey, Laianah, and Aaliyah—left us searching for answers. Tragically, domestic violence (DV) continues to claim lives and traumatise families. Despite growing awareness and public discussion, the numbers tell a grim story: violence isn’t slowing down. Here...
What can parents do? Jacquelyn Harverson, Louise Paatsch and Sharon Horwood look at the links between digital technology use and young children’s well-being. Once upon a time, children fought for control of the remote to the sole family television. Now, the choice of screen-based content available to kids...
Researchers Adam Guastella, Kelsie Boulton and Natalie Silove find it can also help them thrive after an ADHD or autism diagnosis. When parents are concerned about their child’s development, they often seek an assessment to address concerns and identify any conditions, such as autism, attention-deficit hyperactivity...
Experts, Gabrielle Meagher and Marianne Fenech, investigate why many Australian childcare centres are not meeting regulatory standards for early childhood education services. Recently, an ABC’s Four Corners investigation reported shocking cases of abuse and neglect in Australian childcare centres. This included examples of children being sexually...
The Federal Government has announced a major funding boost for children with speech disorders—but there's a glaring omission that has parents and experts deeply concerned. Funding Boost Leaves Out One in 14 Kids While children with conditions like stutters, cleft lip/palate and speech sound disorders will soon...
Babies as young as 4 months can tell how the sounds of different languages are made, reports Eylem Altuntas Babies are like little detectives, constantly piecing together clues about the world around them. If you’ve ever noticed your baby staring at you while you talk, it’s...
