Holding a conversation, working in a group, giving constructive feedback and dealing with conflict are vital interpersonal skills that contribute to an empowered and connected life, reports Dr Matthew Harrison While some people seem to acquire these skills effortlessly, others facing social challenges can require additional...
Dr Simon Coghlan and Lucy Sparrow look at why violence against animals in video games is ubiquitous. Players can kill or torture non-human animals in various popular games, including Minecraft and Grand Theft Auto V. The rise of this (increasingly realistic) trend in games – along with...
Michael Nagel looks at the effects of on-screen violence on young people’s brains. One of the questions that parents ask psychologists and educators is whether or not video games and television are ‘bad’ for children? In a rampantly advancing technological society, it seems that almost everyone...
Kids’ screen time rose by 50% during the pandemic. Joanne Orlando suggests a healthier way to balance it out for the whole family. Has your child’s screentime increased since COVID? If you were to estimate by how much would you say 20%, 30% or even a...
—and what time poor parents can do about it, suggest researchers Sumudu Mallawaarachchi and Sharon Horwood From learning numbers to learning how to brush your teeth, it seems there’s a kids’ app for everything. Recent US statistics indicate more than half of toddlers and three-quarters of preschoolers...
Australia has a new online-only private school. Rebecca English looks at the many options available. As of next year, a Melbourne private school will open to online-only enrolments for years five to 12. It will cost A$18,000 per year in fees, and parents will have to supervise...
Xinyu (Andy) Zhao and Sarah Healy ask—are you a ‘contract maker’ or an ‘access denier’ with your child? Screen time was a battle for parents before COVID and it continues to be a battle, long after lockdowns have ended. The Royal Children’s Hospital March 2021 child health poll...
Another school has banned mobile phones, writes Joanne Orlando, but research shows bans don’t stop bullying or improve student grades Recently, one Sydney high school made headlines for banning mobile phones during school hours. Phones can come to school but must stay in locked pouches allowing...
We are working from home and Libby (Elizabeth) Sander has some tips to help Telstra and Westpac are the latest companies to encourage staff to work from home, just a few months after some of them returned to the office. Working from home for extended periods can...
Greed, desire, wishful thinking and naivety are lucrative markets for scam artists – and their age-old hustles are increasingly being supplemented by digital chicanery, reports Paul Haskell-Dowland. In 2021 Australians lost an estimated $2 billion to fraudsters, more than double that of 2020, according to the...
