Professeur Nicolas Mathevon reports on why a baby’s cry is a simple, powerful alarm and why maternal instinct is a myth. The sound slices through the quiet of the night: a muffled sob, then a hiccup, quickly escalating into a high-pitched, frantic wail. For any parent...
So, what is it? asks Gemma McKibbin, and how should we respond appropriately Allegations of sexual abuse by early childhood educators have rocked Australia in recent months. Now, the ABC’s investigation into the childcare sector has revealed hundreds more cases – this time committed by children against...
New research reveals the surprising ways parents influence teen sleep patterns – and what you can do to help, with less guilt and conflict report Rosalind Ge and Vanessa Cropley It’s nearly midnight on a school night. Your teenager’s light is still on. Maybe they’re finishing...
Even the most mindful parents slip into old habits, explains Dr Amanda Mullin, When Old Voices Sneak In We all start out with the best intentions. I’ll be more patient, we promise. More understanding. More aware. And then one day—somewhere between the school run and a supermarket...
Don’t dismiss kids’ sadness or anger, writes Catherine Page Jeffery. And don't assume they are now 'safe' online. In just over a month, Australia’s social media ban will begin. From December 10, those under 16 will only be able to see publicly available content on platforms such...
Bethan Winn offers practical, playful strategies to keep those mental muscles in shape, with five practical tips any family can start to practice. We've all seen it: a child asking Alexa for homework answers instead of looking it up, or reaching for a calculator for times...
Disturbing new findings from ABC’s Four Corners expose how child predators have exploited weaknesses in Australia’s early learning system. Early childhood expert Dr Marg Rogers outlines the four conditions that let abuse thrive — and what needs to change to finally keep children safe. Yet more...
Author and journalist Virginia Tapscott, in her new book All Mothers Work, argues that to value care properly, we must start by changing the words we use. We often talk about mothers “returning to work” as if the countless hours spent feeding, cleaning, teaching, and comforting their children...
The recent Four Corners investigation into Australia’s childcare system has uncovered deeply troubling gaps in child safety. Experts say it’s a wake-up call for all of us — parents, carers and educators — to do more to protect children from harm. When Systems Fail, Communities Must...
Do kids cost more now? Asks expert, Ben Phillips. Calculating the cost of raising kids is complicated. Australians are having fewer children than ever. At 1.5 babies per woman, the fertility rate is at a record low. Many attribute this to the cost of having and...
