Empathy is vital for social functioning. However, new research demonstrates that children who are particularly empathic are also more anxious, report Kate Bray and Associate Professor Sarah Whittle Empathy is our ability to share and understand the emotions of other people. Most experts agree that there are...
In the war of wills with her children, Gemma Rolleman has learnt to pick her battles. Last night, my seven-year-old daughter regurgitated a spoonful of my carefully prepared risotto back onto her plate. “Yuck,” she spluttered, her nose wrinkled, “that’s disgusting.” I half expected the reaction....
When I first became a mother in 2013, Carla Pascoe Leahy reports, I realised my experiences of motherhood did not match the kinds of messages circulating around me. As a society we talk about motherhood either in cheesy sentimentalities – think of gift catalogues for Mother’s...
Lost touch with friends during lockdown? Roger Patulny suggests how to reconnect (and let go of ‘toxic’ ones) As we resume our social lives after strict COVID restrictions have lifted, many of us are finding it’s time to take stock of our friendships. Recent research I’ve been...
In tough parenting moments, here’s what you can do, write Julia Caldwell, Koa Whittingham and Pamela Meredith. You walk into a room. You are going to play a game. Your competitors? Other parents. There will only be one winner. You aim is to survive. No, we’re not talking about Squid...
We’ve turned into an angry mob and it’s getting ugly, write Julian Savulescu and Alberto Giubilini Unvaccinated mother, 27, dies with coronavirus as her father calls for fines for people who refuse jab. This is the kind of headline you may have seen over the past year,...
Things are really jeffed up for Karens right now, write linguists Howard Manns and Kate Burridge The Miley (“coronavirus”) did a Melba (“made yet another a comeback”), and Joe and Jane Bloggs are being drongos. In the process, “Karen” has become the Bradman of ways for calling...
Gifting children books can be about more than just giving them something to read, writes Helen Joanne Adam. Books are portals to adventure, imagination and new experiences. Importantly, books can help children understand and appreciate themselves, and those around them. Sadly, books normalising racial, cultural, family...
The holiday season can be especially hard for separated families but experience says it doesn’t have to be. THE FAMILY LAWYER Greta Haywood, the director of Haywood Solicitors in Melbourne, says...
Queensland school students have reportedly been bullied after being diagnosed with COVID-19 and have struggled to return to school as a result, write Brian Moore and Stuart Woodcock The Queensland Department of Education stated it hasn’t heard of any bullying related to the COVID-19 outbreak. Given...
