To pat or not to pat? asks Petra Edwards and Susan Hazel With dog attacks in the news over recent weeks, some parents may be wondering about how to keep interactions between kids and dogs safe – and how to keep everyone happy. A review of hospitalisations...
Alex Field’s stomach does somersaults when her daughter does gymnastics So often my role changes due to the varied needs of my five children. The very thought of taking on new after-school activities, or even changing the ones I have so carefully planned out, is fraught...
Fewer students are choosing language electives at school, writes researcher Stephanie Clayton, but contrary to popular perception, it isn’t purely a lack of interest causing the decline. My recent study suggests students want to study a language, but can’t. Language electives continue to have the lowest enrolments...
Researchers Katherine Wynn and Michelle Colgrave look at the new proteins of plant-based patties, lab-grown meat and insects As demand for alternative protein sources grows, Australians are increasingly looking for options that are healthy, sustainable and ethically made. At CSIRO, we have produced a “protein roadmap” to...
Much of the research about including children with autism in mainstream classrooms is focused on school-aged children.Writes Kristelle Hudry and Cathy Bent Growing numbers of children with autism are diagnosed in toddlerhood, so there is increasing relevance for the early-childhood sector. Our new research shows, with...
Up to 90% of brain development occurs in the first five years of life, report Nadia Wilson-Ali and Marianne Knaus. Early learning matters, and creates a solid foundation for future development. Philosophical underpinnings in early education matter too. They influence the interactions between teachers and children,...
Here are a few excellent books for school or family libraries, as we remember all those who have fought for our freedom especially at this point in time and on special days like Anzac Day. Books are available on line or through you local library. When The...
To push or not to push? That is the question when it comes to music lessons, writes Cathy Douglas. As a parent of three primary-school-aged children, I’ve agonised over music lessons. After all, it’s just not worth the effort if the child isn’t enjoying it. Is...
Just look a little closer and you’ll find it, write Erin Roger and Alice Motion. Thanks to technological advances, citizen science has experienced unprecedented global growth over the past decade. It’s enabled millions of people to get involved in science, whether by gathering data, sharing health...
Guilt has perhaps always been part of selecting and giving gifts for children, write Kate Renshaw and Judi Parson. However, in 2021, after two years of increased screen time for children thanks to COVID, parents may be experiencing even more uncertainty around what to buy. But...
