Toy libraries across Australia are booming as more families turn to borrowing toys to save money, reduce waste and reconnect with their communities after COVID-19. Memberships at Australia’s 380-plus toy libraries have surged over the past two years, with new figures showing that over 130,000 families...
Here's why International Women's Day is relevant to parents of boys, too, writes Danielle Dobson. International Women’s Day (March 8, 2023) presents an important narrative around raising strong girls and encouraging them to be part of a more inclusive future. And as an advocate and consultant...
Researchers Melissa Tham, Cynthia Leung and Peter Hurley report that 4 key challenges remain About 100 early childhood experts are meeting in Canberra today for a national summit on children who are five and under. This is part of the Albanese government’s work to develop an early...
Monica Wright struggled to find a diagnosis for her daughter’s unusual behaviours, but persistence paid off. I have a four-year-old daughter. When people first meet her, they usually describe her as lively, clever, outgoing, friendly, affectionate and talkative. As they get to know her better they’d...
Elizabeth Westrupp and Christiane Kehoe look at ways parents can help their children to share their feelings. Emotions are core to our human experience, but seeing “negative” emotions in our children – anger, fear, jealousy, envy, sadness, resentment – can make us uncomfortable. Strong emotions in our...
Leslie Loble looks at why we should all value the opportunities EdTech can provide and learn to understand it as a learning tool ChatGPT and its powerful capacity to generate original text has taken the education sector by surprise. Not only are universities hurrying to adapt...
Catherine Page Jeffery looks at the pros and the cons The surgeon general is the “nation’s doctor” in the United States. They are tasked with giving Americans the “best scientific information” about their health. Late last month, the current US surgeon general, Vivek Murthy, warned 13 is...
Early literacy doesn’t always equal an easy path at school, as Judith Ware’s son found to his detriment. No-one could have been prouder than I was when my son began to recognise his alphabet. I took it for granted, this being my first child, that this...
‘I had it first!’ All children argue, writes Amelia Church, and while this can be tedious for parents and carers, it’s not necessarily a problem. Conflict can help develop social skills, including learning to negotiate, and accommodate the needs of others. But if the conflict is physical, if...
Catherine Wade looks at what parents can do during their child's 'tweenage' years The teenage years can be among the trickiest times for a parent. You have been used to being your child’s voice of reason. Then, all of a sudden, your authority is challenged by...
