Ben Zunica and Bronwyn Reid O'Connor break down the reasons why boys seem to be outperforming girls in maths. A major international test has revealed a concerning gender gap in maths among Australian school students. In the 2023 Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS), Australia’s...
Her youngest child’s first day at school has an unexpected effect on Helen McKinnon. I thought I had been waiting for this day for the past seven years. My youngest trotted off to her first day of school. (At least I think it was her –...
Try asking them what they are looking forward to, writes Samantha Vlcek By next week, most schools will start to return for term 1. This can be a nervous time for some students, who might be anxious about new teachers, classes and routines. Returning to school after...
Kylie Ridder looks at how to handle it when your child doesn’t want you to go You’re doing daycare or school drop-off, you’re already late for work, and your child’s lip starts to quiver. A tremble turns into a wail, a wail into heart-rending cries as...
Emma Rowe looks at how families can end up paying hundreds of dollars in voluntary fees. As Australian families prepare for term 1, many will receive letters from their public schools asking them to pay fees. While public schools are supposed to be “free”, parents are regularly...
Tech can help kids to go outdoors, write Kellie Vella and Madeleine Dobson and here are some tips to make it work Young children’s lives are increasingly spent indoors. They have less access to green spaces, their parents are concerned about safety, and there’s also the...
Our Research shows they’re similar in ADHD and autism, write Adam Guastella and Kelsie Boulton Neurodevelopmental conditions such as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and autism affect about one in ten children. These conditions impact learning, behaviour and development. Executive function delays are core to challenges people...
Cate Macinnis-Ng reflects on the brief life of her first child as she contemplates the birth of her second. The responses we’ve received to “We’re pregnant again” have ranged from a gushing, “Oh that’s so fabulous, how wonderful!” to “Don’t eat sushi or brie”. I translate...
Nicola Allen finds that it’s the little things that often have the biggest impact on our lives. When I see such things I’m no longer sure that what’s important is more important than what’s not. –Wislawa Szymborska I am sitting now at a computer on the other side...
Researchers Francisco Perales, Janeen Baxter and Ruth Steinbring report how having a baby makes it more likely for Australian couples to rely on the man’s income. Australian women are better educated than men but still face poorer job prospects and lower incomes. We see this in Australia’s...
