A new insightful report by mental health service ReachOut has been released, highlighting the key concerns and challenges faced by parents and carers regarding the wellbeing of young people.  Top Concerns of Parents and Carers: The report reveals a spectrum of concerns dominating parental thoughts. Topping the list is the pervasive influence of social media, identified as a worry by 59% of respondents. This digital realm, while enriching in many ways, also raises significant anxieties regarding its impact on young minds. Additionally, loneliness emerged as a leading negative influence, wi ..read more

New research by Dr Ana Gamarra Rondinel and Dr Anna MH Price finds that the birth of a first child reduces household income and increases the risk of disadvantage Australia is a high-income country with universal health, education and social services. But, like many countries around the world, Australia is in the midst of a cost-of-living crisis. In fact, at least one in three families with children experience deprivation, missing out on essential items like food, stable housing and healthcare. And this is something that’s more pronounced for families with children under five years of age. Eve ..read more

It’s always hard to find interesting books for older readers because as they grow, they develop different interests and reading levels. It’s also important to keep them interested and enjoying reading, particularly for older boys. Birdyby Sharon Kernot, pub. Text Publishing, p/b RRP$ 22.99. Ages 13+ Maddy is mute, brought about by ‘an incident’ which is not revealed until page 52. Until that point, you wonder what has happened and why she, her mother and her brother have moved into an isolated farmhouse ‘to recover’. From what exactly? When you do find out, it is shocking, and you can underst ..read more

Children’s parties are the number-one method used by competitive parents to outdo each other. Philippa Macken finds that you don’t need to be flashy to be fun. Harry was beside himself. I held his tiny hand as he hopped alongside me, barely able to contain his excitement. We were on our way to a birthday party for a little friend, and Harry’s enthusiasm was matched only by my trepidation. As we entered the birthday boy’s backyard, my worst fears were confirmed. Harry squealed his delight and ran to join the fray as I surveyed the scene. Forget balloons and streamers. This backyard had been com ..read more

From viral social media ‘pranks’ to hooning, writes Kathryn Daley, they are bored and looking for entertainment. Two teens were arrested in Melbourne last month after horrific video footage of them pushing an unsuspecting elderly fisherman off a pier went viral. The “prank” appeared to have been undertaken and filmed for the purpose of social media content. The man had to be rescued by good samaritans and the teens have been charged. Soon after this, a schoolboy made headlines after being filmed on a footbridge pouring a whole bottle of milk on women enjoying a boat ride on Melbourne’s Yarra R ..read more

  Elise Waghorn looks at how to get the balance right on extracurricular activities for your child. It’s a weeknight, parents rush through the door from work, grab a snack, and then speed off in various directions to children’s extracurricular activities. As they do, they are managing tired and hungry kids as they all move from one thing to the next. Sound familiar? As of 2022–23, almost 50% of Australian children under 14 participated in extracurricular sport. According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, 19% of Australian children aged five to 14 did music out of school hours in 202 ..read more

Experts remind everyone to watch out for early signs of invasive meningococcal disease as we enter peak season Invasive Meningococcal Disease (IMD) is a rare but serious bacterial infection that can progress quickly, causing severe complications and even death if not detected and treated early. As we enter the peak season for infectious diseases, it’s essential for parents to be vigilant and aware of the warning signs of IMD to protect their children’s health. Here’s a straightforward guide to help you understand the signs and what you should do if you suspect meningococcal disease: What is Me ..read more

News for New Parents: Australian Government Calls for Stronger Regulation of Infant Formula Marketing The government released a report about how infant formula is marketed here, and it’s a big deal for families with babies and toddlers. You might not have heard of it, but there’s a voluntary code called the Marketing in Australia of Infant Formula Agreement (MAIF Agreement). It’s supposed to regulate how formula companies advertise their products, but the report says it’s not doing enough to protect families with very young children. The report suggests Australia needs stronger rules to stop f ..read more

It’s Saturday afternoon, and the kids are all connected to separate devices. So are the parents. Sound familiar? Asks Elise Waghorn. Many families want to set ground rules to help them reduce their screen time – and have time to connect with each other without devices. But it can be difficult to know where to start and how to make a plan that suits your family. Space_Cat/Shutterstock First, look at your own screen time Before telling children to “hop off the tech”, it’s important for parents to understand how much they are using screens themselves. Globally, the average person spends an averag ..read more

What is Anzac Day? Anzac Day, 25 April, is one of Australia’s most important occasions. Anzac Day is our day of national commemoration. It marks the anniversary of the first major military action fought by Australian and New Zealand forces during the First World War. ANZAC stands for Australian and New Zealand Army Corps. The soldiers in those forces quickly became known as Anzacs, and the pride they took in that name endures to this day. Why is this day special to Australians? When war broke out in 1914 Australia had been a federated nation for only 13 years, and its government was eager to e ..read more