After enduring the uncertainties of how to respond to her son’s illness, it is another family’s plight that provides a lasting lesson to Cathy Watson. It’s a strange, twilight zone, the Emergency Department at night. It is full of interrupted lives and children in dressing gowns,...
Business owner and single mother Kate Heussler talks about how vital financial planning is, as she prepared to became a solo mother. Pregnancy: Preparing for the Unexpected Money conversations matter If you have a partner, discussing finances before pregnancy is essential—covering expenses, parental leave, emergency savings, shared domestic...
Hannah Dahlen, Hazel Keedle and Lilian Peters give the answers to a common question about what is a ‘vaginal birth after caesarean’ or VBAC? A vaginal birth after caesarean (known as a VBAC) is when a woman who has had a caesarean has a vaginal birth...
Karley Beckman and Tiffani Apps report on why this is important and 3 questions you should ask before you say yes If you are a parent of a school student, you may have received a form seeking permission to use your child’s image on school social...
Clinical Trials Director Nick Fuller has some tips on how to stop ‘weight creep’. As we enter a new year armed with resolutions to improve our lives, there’s a good chance we’ll also be carrying something less helpful: extra kilos. At least half a kilogram, to...
Megan Boyd offers practical strategies and key tips to help parents ease the back-to-school transition. The first weeks back at school after the holidays can be a challenging adjustment for students as they transition from relaxed routines to structured school days. Parents play an important role...
Katharine Clifton has a less-than-enthusiastic response to her daughter being assessed as gifted. Almost six months ago, my daughter was diagnosed as gifted. It came about when she performed well beyond expectations in a vocabulary test at her three-and-a-half-year check-up and the maternal health nurse suggested...
Jennifer Aberhart recalls what homework meant when she was a child and wonders what today’s version is really teaching children. The Evolution of Homework Most grandparents would agree that the concept of homework has undergone a complete transformation. Naturally, parenting styles and socioeconomic factors influence child-rearing, but...
Daryl Higgins and Gabrielle Hunt report on why sleepovers can be a fun part of childhood, and can foster independence, friendship, and resilience. Feeling unsure about your child going to a sleepover is completely normal. You might be worried about how well you know the host family,...
A new school year can see friendships change – this is tough on kids, but parents can help, writes Karyn Healy The start of the school year means new classes, routines, after-school activities and sometimes even a new school. This can be a really exciting time for...
