American Children are Intelligent and Aussie Kids are Happy?
I am loving this – the most common description a sample of Australian parents used for their child is “happy”. How great is that!? I may be biased. But what about the Italians and the Americans? The Spanish, the Swedish, the Dutch?...Apparently American parents have a tendency to talk about their children in terms of their cognitive abilities – their intelligence... Read full article
Why Plain Talk in Sex Education is Best for Children
Opinion: In the fields of gender, sexuality, and sexual health research, it's a no-brainer that sex education should start early, and that sex should be discussed often - both in schools and at home. But instead we talk about storks, cabbage patches, and the birds and the bees. In fact, we have a million and one ways to avoid teaching or talking about sex and sexuality. Read full article
I Don't Think Children Should be Tagged
It can be scary watching your children grow up. Not needing you so much in one way but then needing you more in another. It can also be hard to get the balance right. For example your child wants to do more sleepovers or they want to have the freedom to walk to their friend’s house and then perhaps go onto another friend’s to hang out there. We want to control their movements, to be safe and more importantly, we want them to be where they say they are going to be and be home on time. And we want to drop them places and pick them up at agreed times but often it's not what they want us to do. They want to be responsible and they want to be trusted so do we let them? Read full article
Helicopter Parenting - Why Is It Still the Mother's Fault?
I live in a small town way out in the country where – it’s true – debates about helicopter parenting are pretty rare. Here packs of sunburned kids ride helmetless around our winding roads, the wind blowing through their sweaty hair, the sun reflecting off their freckled faces...When Catherine Deveny decries helicopter parents and all their associated neuroses, she avoids the very persistent reality for many mothers: that of an oppressive sense of responsibility. Read full article
Talking to Children about the Royal Prank
This morning, two things are on my mind: the mental health of the two young radio hosts at the centre of the prank; and how children are digesting and understanding the Royal Prank news story...how have your children reacted to the news? Has it prompted you to talk about suicide with your children? Or have you had conversations about culpability? Or the role of the international media in the Royal Prank? Or ethics? Read full article
Why Do So Many Teenagers Get Into Trouble?
Whether it be managing the unexpected behaviours of teenagers, a chronic disability, an acute illness, or mental health issues, Benison O'Reilly explores why teenagers get into trouble even with supportive parenting. Read full article
How to Silence the Parent's Inner Critic
Is your inner critic getting you down? You know: that little voice in the back of your head constantly telling you what a lousy parent you are. Every parent has one. It’s a stream of thoughts making up an endless real-time commentary on what you are thinking and doing, continuously pointing out and cataloging you deficiencies and weaknesses...So what do you do if your inner critic is getting out of hand? Read full article
Study Finds Children are Learning Persistence from Fathers
Can your children stick with a task? Can they finish a project? Can they set a goal and complete it? Researchers from Brigham Young University in Utah, United States, asked parents about their children’s persistence and found that fathers who use an authoritative parenting style are more likely to raise teenagers with a motivated and persistent approach to achieving their goals. Read full article
Confidence is Not Everything - Encouraging My Child
My daughter had an audition for a local youth orchestra and, not surprisingly, she was nervous. "You are playing your pieces beautifully," I told her after a particularly trying practice that ended in hot angry tears. No I'm not. I sound terrible." Yes she was looking for reassurance but it was more than that. Read full article
Why Don't Your Children Play Outside?
Do you find it difficult to get your children to go outside and play? Are they reluctant or has your lifestyle simply led to them spending more time indoors anyway? And what do you think is causing this? Last week school principals from public, Catholic and independent schools supported the release of "active" diaries by Nature Play WA suggesting that half an hour of outdoor play every day for primary school-aged children. Read full article
