While the 'Elf on the Shelf' has been criticised, it's meant to be light-hearted and to encourage kids to be kind at a time of the year when anxiety is high. The Elf on the Shelf is a new Christmas tradition that originated from a children's...
Here’s what to expect next, report Kayleen Manwaring and Siddharth Narrain In the United States, 41 states have filed lawsuits against Meta for allegedly driving social media addiction in its young users (under the age of 18), amid growing concerns about the negative effects of platforms. The...
Miniature-sized parks could help insert more public recreational spaces into our cities. In growing cities, where we need to squeeze the most out of every parcel of land, where do we find the space for new parks and other outdoor recreational areas? Some inner-city councils are turning...
Researcher Liam Burke looks at why Australian parents want locally made TV for their kids Australian kids today have greater access to screen entertainment than any generation before. Across smartphones, tablets, laptops and the old-school TV set, streaming services mean there is an endless supply of...
And what do you do with the leftover lollies? ask Clare Dix and Stella Boyd-Ford Halloween is a very exciting time for children and let’s face it, for many adults, too. The costumes, decorations and of course the treats all contribute to the thrill of this spooky...
That’s getting a bit wild, kids! Why don’t you play something quieter? How often have you found yourself saying something like this to your children as they’re rolling around on the lounge room floor? asks researcher Emily Freeman? Even if they are smiling and clearly having fun,...
Parents are spending considerable amounts of energy thinking about and mitigating the risks associated with their kids using mobile phones and the internet. The impacts of too much screen time on children’s physical and mental health, development and education are common concerns among parents. New research by...
Oh My! writes Shannon Wong-Nizic. Halloween Craft is Great for Spooking up Kids’ Imaginations From dressing up to trick-or-treating, there’s no doubt about it: kids love Halloween. Craft expert Shannon, who runs parenting hub Oh Creative Day, says that creating and making Halloween costumes and decorations...
Nearly 500,000 Australian kids go to after-school care. Researchers Alyssa Clare Milton, Ian Hickie, Karen Thorpe and Tom McClean report that it needs to be more than a babysitting service. Outside school hours care – also known as “school-aged care”, “OOSH”, or “afters” – is booming. As of 2020,...
Researchers Tonia Gray, Jaydene Barnes and Marion Sturges write that you should stand back and avoid saying ‘be careful!’ There is ongoing concern about the impact of “helicopter parenting” on children’s growth and development. Keen to ensure the best outcomes for their children, helicopter parents tend to...
