It Takes A Village

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...

Repeating mental pathways, giving time to emotions and being a good debater are all key parts of learning to think critically, says an expert in teaching the important skill. Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

how do you know what information to trust, where to turn, and how to cut through the noise. Dr Natalie Flynn is a registered clinical psychologist, the author of Smart Mothering - where she dubbed this - "bombardment syndrome", and the co-founder of Parentland, alongside her late husband Nigel Latta. Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

Social media is brimming with advice about how to get make money in a hurry - and that can be very attractive to young people. So how best to get teens interested in their money - and how to manage it wisely? Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

Speech and language therapist Christian Wright discusses the difficulty of asking children what they did at school that day and why often they'll simply say "nothing". Christian and Kathryn explore why this question is so hard for children to answer and how can parents turn it into a back-and-forth interaction, all while building a child's language and conversation skills Go to this episode on rnz...

As children get older and take more responsibility for their teeth, what can parents and caregivers do to ensure good habits through to adulthood? Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

Do you have to video call grandchildren living overseas? Or perhaps you email your grandparents who are abroad? In the modern world it's common for families to be split over countries and continents. Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

Dr Niraj Lal is a Melbourne-based researcher and writer whose new book is aimed at getting kids thinking about how they use the internet, who they interact with and what data is being gathered about them. Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

Remember the days when children would roam free, playing with friends around the neighbourhood. How can parents encourage their offspring back to outdoor free play? Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

Elana Cohen is an occupational therapist who has two decades experience working with children of all ages and abilities - and their families. She's Nelson based - working for Health NZ's Child Development Service, as well as in private practice. Elana says parents and caregivers need lots of support to help neurodivergent children flourish. Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

Return-to-school nerves can be a normal reaction after the long summer break, but when should parents be concerned and what can they do about it? Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

Otago University's Dr Johanna Reidy researches the impact of school uniform design and policy on health and educational outcomes. Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

Summer holidays come with plenty of opportunities for children to utter 'I'm bored'. Parenting expert Zhenlin Wang on whether that's a bad thing. Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details