Snoring in Children – Is it Time to See Your Doctor?
There is a well-established connection between children’s breathing disorders during sleep and behavioural problems but recently published research from the University of Arizona has again highlighted the need for parents to identify their children’s sleep breathing problems as early as possible...The Arizona study found there was a four to five times greater risk of children with sleep apnea having behavioural issues. Read full article
Australia Gets a B Minus on Report Card - Health and Wellbeing of Young Australians
This morning at Parliament House Canberra, Ms Elaine Henry OAM, Chairperson of the Australian Research Alliance for Children and Youth (ARACY) launched ARACY's second Report Card on the Wellbeing of Young Australians. Describing Australia as "middle of the road" when it comes to children's health and wellbeing in Australia, the Report Card identifies areas of concern in areas such as child poverty, infant mortality, and youth participation in education and employment. Speaking at the launch, Dr Norman Swan, also a board member of ARACY highglighted income inequality and early childhood education as significant areas of deficit in Australia's policy and practice. Read full article
Sticks and Stones do Hurt - To This Day Video
This video is poetry, art, music - a performance piece powerfully demonstrating the lasting effects of bullying on a child. Take the time ... think what actions you can take ... to reduce bullying, to support children, and to just be there for the kids that need you. Read full article
Sticks and Stones do Hurt - To This Day Video
This video is poetry, art, music - a peformance piece powerfully demonstrating the lasting effects of bullying on a child. Take the time ... think what actions you can take ... to reduce bullying, to support children, and to just be there for the kids that need you. Read full article
UNICEF Kit Helps Children Talk about Natural Disasters
Floods, fire and earthquakes are events that many Australian and New Zealand children experience in their lifetime. And children all over the developing world also frequently experience trauma as a result of natural disasters. UNICEF Australia's chief executive officer, Dr Norman Gillespie, spoke about the recent Queensland and NSW floods and Tasmanian bushfires when releasing UNICEF's new information kit on talking to children about natural disasters. The kit can be downloaded for free. Read full article
New Smartphone App to Help Find Missing Children
This information will be of interest to so many parents. We are sharing a media release issued today by Australian Federal Police about a new smartphone application that would assist in locating missing children. Developed with the FBI the Australian Police Child ID application allows families to store photographs and vital information about their children on their mobile phone. In the devastating event that a child goes missing, this information can be immediately provided to authorities. Read full article
My Son Doesn't Want Surprise Gifts This Christmas
This year, there will be no surprises at Christmas time for my six year old son. No, he hasn’t been a ‘naughty boy’ and therefore undeserving of Santa’s generosity. The reason my son will have no surprises is that he will choose all of his presents and be with us when we buy them, in November. They will then be wrapped and put under the Christmas tree. Read full article
Effective Strategies to Prevent Teen Depression and Suicide
Untreated depression is one of the leading causes of teen suicide, and signs of depression can also be a warning that a teenager is contemplating suicide. In an article published this week in the quarterly journal, The Prevention Researcher, University of Cincinnati researchers described how positive connections can help offset these tragedies...The authors state that teen suicidal warning signs encompass three specific categories ... Read full article
Children’s Rights vs Freedom of Religion and the Confessional Seal
Opinion: In response to the ongoing cascade of accusations and evidence of systemic and decades long child abuse, the federal government finally announced a Royal Commission into institutional responses to child sexual abuse on Monday. One possible recommendation is already being mooted, that priests be obliged to report any knowledge of child sex abuse to police. Such an obligation would undoubtedly enhance protection of the rights of children. It would also interfere with the freedom of religion of priests if they are compelled to reveal information conveyed during formal 'confessions'. In this clash of rights, which should prevail? Read full article
How Parents With Anxiety Can Help Their Children
“For parents who experience excessive worry and anxiety, their worry can often extend to worrying about their children or worrying about what other people think of their parenting or their child,” says Associate Professor Jennifer Hudson, from the Centre for Emotional Health and Department of Psychology Macquarie University. And because anxious parents often have anxious children, if you’re a parent and have been diagnosed with a social anxiety disorder, it’s a good idea to ask your therapist and doctor about your child’s risk of developing anxiety...reassurance comes from evidence that if parents are aware of their anxiety- related behaviours and participate in family therapy sessions, the potential for their children to develop anxiety may be reduced. Read full article
