Curfews: Using Limits with Teens
By: Rachel Doherty
Curfews can be a useful way for parents to influence the behaviour of their teens. Especially when they’re making poor choices or hitting the party scene. Read more
How to Teach Your Kids to Be an Entrepreneur
By: Rachel Doherty
Parents can teach a child to be an entrepreneur by giving them a chance to develop business skills. That happens best through trial and error. Read more
How to Stop Feeling Like a Guilty Parent in the School Holidays
By: Rachel Doherty
The parent guilt of letting teenagers and children spend the school holidays glued to a screen is real. But what’s wrong with letting our kids be a little lazy? Read more
7 Tips For a Relaxing and Memorable Summer Holiday
Each year, when summer holidays roll around, I remind myself that I need a break. I remind myself that it is time to try to relax and enjoy the holidays with my children before the pressures of work and school start up again next year. I know how important it is to have time to just chill together as a family… but each year it seems to get harder and harder. Read more
Are Smart Toys Safe?
There is a toy revolution building. Kids toys are becoming smarter. It’s part of the “internet of things”, which basically means that every “thing” you can buy can be connected to the Internet. Read more
Six Top Tips For Reading To Kids
By: Anne Rinaudo
New research from Australian Catholic University finds that HOW you read to kids is very important. Learning Sciences and Teacher Education researcher Dr Ameneh Shahaeian has six tips for parents. Ameneh read a story to Stephen O’Doherty to demonstrate the how best to read a story. Read more
You Could Have Been: The Children’s Book Written For Grieving Parents
By: Clare Bruce
When Ann-Maree Imrie lost her first baby mid-pregnancy, her whole world crumbled. Read more
How to Motivate Kids – and Why Rewards aren’t the Answer
How do you motivate kids? It may be one of the biggest struggles parents and teachers experience. We remind them to clean their room or do their schoolwork. They reply that it’s too hard. Read more
Responding Well When Your Child’s Sexuality Is Not What You Thought
By: Amy Van Veen
Several times a week, our care and counselling department receives phone calls from parents whose child has just “come out” to them, either identifying as LGBT or revealing the fact that they are struggling with their attractions or sexuality. Read more
My Son Won’t Talk About His Day
“Hi Dr Justin
My son won’t talk when he comes home from school. I ask him how his day was and he just says, “Fine.” I ask him what he did and he says “Nothing”. I ask him who he spent time with and he shrugs or mentions a friend or two. That’s it. Why won’t he talk? Is he being bullied? How can I get him to open up? He’s 9 years old.” Read more