It Takes A Village

Almost one in four teenagers in New Zealand reported feeling lonely, or as though they had no friends, in last year's Youth Health and Wellbeing Survey. Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

Coping with fussy eaters will be a challenge that many parents will be familiar with. Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

For the many New Zealand families currently in the middle of the school holidays, life might feel like an endless juggle of work and childcare. Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

Whether it's a formal after school activity, or an older student helping out, many children will have some form of tutoring outside of the classroom. Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

Spring is here and although it brings optimism for warmer weather heading into summer, it can also bring allergies as pollen season enters full swing. Children aren't exempt from seasonal allergies. So how can families best prepare, and what can be done to alleviate watery eyes and runny noses in our tamariki? Dr Amy Chan is an associate professor of pharmacy at Auckland University. Go to this epi...

Juliet Kennedy explains language learning for children and the benefits for brain development. Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

During the nine months of pregnancy, through all trimesters, a healthy balanced diet is important for both mother and child. But with a glut of information out there, understanding what foods to eat or avoid can be tricky. Palmerston North based midwife Emma Le Lievre shares her expertise. Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

Kids and screen time - it's one of those tricky areas where parents can feel like they're always two steps behind. But with the internet, smart phones and rapidly evolving tech being firm fixtures of modern living - how can parents best set up their kids for success? Maggie Dent is an author, educator and podcaster and her new book, is Digital Freedom: A guide to less screen time for safer, happie...

Friendships can be some of the most rewarding relationships in our live - but they can also be confusing, complicated and, especially for young people, deeply emotional. Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

Ready the orange slices and puffer jackets - winter sport is in full swing. But alongside the fun and team spirit, comes results, competition, team selections, winners and losers. Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

A sore tummy is a common childhood complaint. But how can you tell when is it just a mild bug or constipation, and what are the signs that it might be something more serious? Anna Richards is a registered and practicing dietitian. Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

Many devoted parents instinctively step in to protect and guide their children yet struggle to know when to step back. For 35 years, Dr Jenny Brown has researched child and adolescent mental health and parent's involvement. She says while "helicopter parenting" is widely discouraged, parents are often left without clear, practical alternatives. This is explored in her new book, The Parenting Parad...

Speech delays or difficulties can be concerning but there are a number of myths surrounding speech and language, so when should we be worried? Speech and language therapist Christian Wright. Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

"What were you thinking!?" - the exclamation many parents, caregivers or teachers can make, when trying to decipher what and why kids do what they do. Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

Getting children to eat their veggies, try new foods, and generally get a balanced diet are age-old parenting challenges. From the earliest introduction of solids, to picky toddlers, and growing teenagers, the trials are endless. So how do you deal with a fussy eater, and when does it become a more serious health issue? Registered dietitian Anna Richards has some tips. Go to this episode on rnz.co...

Why modern childhood's putting parenting to the test, and why a radical parenting approach is needed to help free kids from constantly responding to their defence system. Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

Who rules the roost in your household? And when can these accommodations become a problem? Jenny Hale is a senior parenting coach at the Parenting Place. Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

How do all the education changes affect students and what support might they need? Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

A leading researcher says New Zealand's official data systems fail to track the realities of co-parenting and shared care arrangements. Often unseen because they are not counted in the Census, these shared care arrangements are happening in one-in-five households, according to Motu Research's senior fellow Kate Prickett. Parents getting less informal support from the other parent for things like c...

The long-standing friction in parenting - who does the unpaid, administrative, load? The scheduling and the logistics of the kids' lives. Who signs the form for a school trip, who chooses and buys the birthday presents and then organises the party, who's in the group chat for after school activities? For the parent doing too much how can they step away, and do less? And for the parent not doing en...

Research by the Mental Health Foundation NZ suggests that half of bullying scenarios stop if a peer intervenes. But how can we teach our kids to be UPstanders - someone who intervenes when someone is being bullied - as opposed to BYstanders? Kylie Ryan has a clinical background in social work. Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

André Ngapo is learning designer and national coach at Brainwave Trust Aotearoa which focuses giving tamariki the best start in life. Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

FAFO parenting is all the hype online but what is it and is it the answer for exhausted parents moving on from gentle parenting? Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

The so-called 'manosphere' has been in the headlines following Louis Theroux's documentary into the network of influencers promoting hyper masculine viewpoints and spreading misogyny. These influencers, who were once fringe, are now very much in mainstream. And while Theroux's documentary focused on the personalities of these people themselves, others are interested in the real life impact on our...

In New Zealand, there is no age-verification system to prevent of young people viewing online pornography. Often, this content can be graphic, sometimes violent - including coercive or non-consensual behaviour. Therapist, educator and researcher Jo Robertson has called for better safeguards. She joins Kathryn to discuss what other countries are doing - and how parents and caregivers can navigate t...