Parties and Alcohol – Do Parents Have Any Influence on Teens?
By: Collett Smart
Festivities can be so much fun, and parties provide opportunities for socialising and a little freedom for older teens. Read more
6 Tips on Young Teens, Sleepovers and Parties
By: Collett Smart
There is something both exhilarating and scary about the freedom that comes with being a teenager. Some of the teens I chat with mention how much they love going out with friends, but feel conflicted about the peer pressure around sleepovers, parties and alcohol. Read more
The Importance of Touch in Raising Teens – Tips for Parents
By: Collett Smart
A shortage of healthy touch can have detrimental effects on our health and wellbeing, even leading to psychologically damaging effects.
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Connecting with Teens – 6 Tips
By: Collett Smart
“I love teenagers!” Yet… I find that whenever I say this phrase people look at me and chuckle, as if waiting for the punchline. There is none. Read more
9 Ideas for Screen Time Balance
By: Collett Smart
Nature is known to provide cognitive benefits and enhance our overall physical and mental wellbeing. Yet, for some tweens, spending too much time on technology, sees them not getting enough exercise or spending enough time outdoors. So how do we help our young people create a healthy screen time balance? Read more
Traumatic Events in the News: 10 Tips for Supporting Young People
By: Collett Smart
Weekly news reports of traumatic images and stories of pain and destruction such as; natural disasters (bushfires, floods, volcanoes and earthquakes), the coronavirus, terrorist attacks, threats of war and shootings can cause great concern in children. Read more
Michelle McLaughlin: Finding Hope After Losing a Child
By: Georgia Free
January 6, 2014. Michelle McLaughlin was excited to be on holiday with her husband, children and parents-in-law, on NSW’s Central Coast. Little did Michelle know, an afternoon trip to the beach was about to become the worst day of her life. Read more
Preparing Your Child for “Big School”
By: Brendan Jaensch
There are often two extreme responses when it comes to children starting school for the first time: some excitedly run into school grounds, never looking back, while others cling to mum and dad for dear life. And it’s not just the children who experience a whirl of emotions, either. Some parents are also trying to hold it all together. Read more
The Most Influential People in the World
Think about the most influential men and women who have ever lived; those who have brought the most good into the world. I’m sure that a few names spring to mind. But perhaps they aren’t the most influential people in the world. Perhaps the most influential people in the world were their parents. Read more