Sibling relationships are some of the longest-lasting relationships we have in our lives, report researchers Marissa Nivison and Sheri Madigan Half of Canadians and around 80 per cent of people worldwide have at least one sibling. Sibling relationships are unique from all other relationships because siblings...
Jennifer Fergus reflects on her relationship with her grandchildren, who live overseas. As I was introducing myself to my granddaughter’s teacher, a voice yelled out from across the playground: “Her real name is Grandma!” The teacher and I paused, looked at each other, and smiled. She...
Wendy James considers the lifetime commitment that is parenthood. When the receptionist asks for my daughter’s date of birth I am slow to respond. Is it the 23rd or the 24th? May or June? The woman laughs, shakes her head and clucks: “How could Mummy forget...
After a parent is killed due to domestic violence, writes Hannah Morrice, children aren’t given enough opportunity to express their opinions on decisions that directly affect their lives In Australia, children’s rights – as outlined in the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child...
Here’s why they do it, writes Michael Nagel As someone who has spent most of his professional life studying how children develop, I’m often asked by parents (especially mums) why children (especially boys) are prone to pick up the nearest stick, pencil, soft toy or even...
Researchers Susan M. Sawyer and Nandi Vijayakumar look at what brain science tells us. The age at which a child can be arrested, charged and jailed in Australia is back in the spotlight. Last year, the Northern Territory became the first jurisdiction to raise the age of...
The latest figures from the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) highlight some key trends in marriage and divorce in 2023. While marriages are dipping after a post-pandemic high, divorce rates remain relatively stable. For parents, these statistics offer a glimpse into the changing dynamics of...
Susan White writes about the strain having kids can place upon relationships. James and Anna have been together for eight years. For six years, they both had successful careers in business and travelled overseas at least annually. Two years ago, Anna decided she wanted a child....
It’s more diverse than you think, report researchers Yuvisthi Naidoo, Ilan Katz and Megan Blaxland When we think of the concept of the family, a specific version often springs to mind: a mother, a father and children, usually two or three. It’s the version of society...
Kylie Ladd writes about family responses to chronic illness in grandparents. When Julie Anderson’s mother was diagnosed with early Alzheimer’s disease, one of Julie’s first thoughts was of her own daughter. “Mum had been forgetting things and getting a bit muddled for a while, so the...
