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...
That leaves segregation on the table, writes Catherine Smith and Helen Dickinson The Royal Commission into Violence, Abuse, Neglect and Exploitation of People with Disability has shared its final report. In this series, we unpack what the commission’s 222 recommendations could mean for a more inclusive...
Parents make mistakes, writes Cher McGillivray. So, what does ‘good enough parenting’ look like? There is a huge amount of pressure on parents today – from feeding babies the “best organic purees” to making sure older children get all the developmental opportunities they could possibly need...
Parents can often find themselves staring in bewilderment at the little human they helped to create, write Wendy Goff, Anne Rohde and Bin Wu Sometimes, this bewilderment is centred around awe and amazement. Sometimes, it is firmly entrenched in shock and embarrassment about a specific behaviour...
If you have a baby, does this mean you can’t be friends with your child-free friends anymore? writes Catherine E Wood In a high-profile article for New Yorker magazine in September, journalist Allison Davis wrote about a “slow-rolling tectonic shift that neither side notices at first...
Simon Byrne has some advice and looks at the treatment options available Anxiety disorders are common among Australian children, affecting nearly 7% of those aged 4–11 years. Children’s fears can focus on areas such as being alone, talking to strangers or going to sleep. In small amounts,...
‘It’s not fair!’ Marg Rogers, Cassy Dittman and Govind Krishnamoorthy report. Parents have no doubt heard all the classic grumbles from children and teenagers. From “It’s not fair!” to “Not spinach again!” and our personal favourite, “Why do I have to do all the work?” All children are prone to...
Erika Penney looks at what you can do about it. Do you ever feel overwhelmed by the sight of clutter and mess in your home? Have you walked in the door only to feel overloaded by scattered papers, unwashed dishes and clothes in disarray? Maybe you’ve...
Fees keep climbing, and the Australian consumer watchdog is only halfway through an inquiry into childcare prices, reports Danielle Wood The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission’s interim report was released on Wednesday. It comes just days after the federal government’s increased childcare subsidies kicked in on...
