Many parents want social media platforms to do more to keep children safe online. But when safety tools involve scanning private messages, the question becomes more complicated: where does protection end and surveillance begin?...
New research suggests it can also help mental health, reports Fotini Vasilopoulos, Pretend play is a significant and often magical part of childhood. Children have huge imaginations and use these to turn rocks into spaceships, tables into forts or pens into fairies. They might pretend to be...
Parents are hearing louder calls to limit kids’ screen time, especially with platforms like TikTok, Snapchat and YouTube under scrutiny. But new Australian research suggests the answer may not be as simple as “less is best.”...
Music is a wonderful addition to your baby’s life from the earliest days, writes Emily Dollman. If your baby lights up at children’s songs but you’re quietly losing patience with the same tinkly tunes on repeat, you’re not alone. The good news? Babies don’t need “baby...
Bluey certainly thinks so, writes Sarah Lawson. Most of us are used to thinking of “religion” in terms of a belief in God or gods. Perhaps the big hitters of world belief systems come to mind – Judaism, Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, Sikhism, Buddhism or, in Australia,...
Parents are trying the viral “Jessica!” tantrum hack to stop meltdowns in seconds. But while experts say it can work short term, they also warn it shouldn’t replace helping kids understand big feelings....
Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a condition that develops during childhood and affects 6–10% of kids and 2–6% of adults, reports researcher Clare O'Toole. FatCamera/Getty Images People with ADHD have either mainly inattentive symptoms (such as lacking concentration), mainly hyperactive and impulsive symptoms (such as speaking or...
If you think your child might have developmental delays, having them assessed early can make a lasting difference. In this personal story, Helen Downs reflects on the moment her family stopped wondering — and started seeking support. “Thousands of young children have developmental delays, but it...
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...
Here’s what it means – and 9 tips for what to do, report researchers Nicole Rinehart, David Moseley and Simon Moss For some children, everyday demands such “brush your teeth” or “time to get off of your computer game”, can trigger intense anxiety and extreme resistance....
