Mouthguards are crucial for kids in sport to protect their teeth, jaw, and soft tissues With 100,000 sport-related concussions occurring in Australia each year, parents and young athletes are being urged to prioritise mouthguard protection as the 2025 junior and amateur AFL and rugby seasons kick off....
When it comes to deciding whether or not a child is ready to participate in organised sport, the ball is in the parents’ court, writes Rob Pegley. Many have seen footage of a young Tiger Woods swinging a golf club at age three. It’s a rudimentary...
Fit kids have better mental and physical health. Ben Singh and Grace McKeon look at the why, how and when for parents. The mental health benefits of exercise for adults are well known, easing depression and reducing anxiety. Now, emerging research highlights its rising importance for children’s...
For good health, write Vaughan Cruickshank, Brendon Hyndman, Matt Sharman and Tom Hartley. You should try to eat at least two serves of fruit every day. Eating oranges at half-time has been a popular and long-standing tradition at junior sports in countries such as Australia, the...
by Alberto Filgueiras, Children all over Australia have been watching the Olympics. At school and at home, they have seen athletes win medals, waving flags and doing victory dances. For many, this will be the first time they remember seeing the games. For some kids, this may...
How can you help if your child is struggling? Stuart Evans and Kane Middleton have some suggestions Apart from literacy and numeracy, throwing and catching are some of the most important skills children learn in primary school. These are considered “fundamental movement skills” because they underpin...
Why not try organising a sports day for the kids? And you never know. Some of the more unusual sports just might kindle your child's dream of being an Olympian! This year's Olympics in Paris will showcase 32 different sports, including skateboarding, weightlifting, equestrian, surfing, and—making...
Women need to be part of the picture, too, write researchers Kara Dadswell, Clare Hanlon and Stefan Sambol Ask your son or daughter, niece, or nephew to draw you a picture of a sport coach. They will most probably draw a man. Why? Our latest research published in the...
When it’s difficult to engage children in sports or active play, here are some ideas to help get kids moving, whatever their ability. “Come on, let’s go!” It’s a scenario that many parents have experienced - armed with enthusiasm and a sales pitch, you attempt to...
Mary Woessner, Alexandra Parker and Aurélie Pankowiak look at what it doesn’t tell us. In the Netflix documentary Beckham, the footballer is asked how he coped with the abuse of his entire country after the 1998 men’s football World Cup. David Beckham responds: I was able to...
