It Takes A Village

Kathryn speaks with parenting coach Dayna Galloway about strategies for parents and caregivers. It's early on in the school year, but some children will still be feeling anxiety about returning to the classroom. Kathryn speaks with parenting coach Dayna Galloway about strategies for parents and caregivers. Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

The start of the school year can be an expensive time, not just for uniforms and stationery, but for devices too. And if you are the parent of a child with disabilities the costs are amplified. Workbridge Chief Executive and Assistive Technology consultant Jonathan Mosen says there's a complexity of choice for aids to help pupils with visual and hearing impairment - and with that can come high pri...

Getting a good night sleep can be tough on a sticky summer night. It can be even harder for young kids - and their parents! - whose sleep schedules have been put out of whack by holiday adventures and longer daylight hours. Should parents be concerned if their children aren't getting enough shut-eye? And as the end of the holidays approach and a return to school looms what are some of the ways to...

If you're the eldest child, the stereotype would have us believe you're responsible, conscientious and a bit bossy. Second born - more chilled out and creative and the youngest? Spoilt! But does birth order really influence personality? The evidence is not really there, says neuroscience educator Nathan Wallis, and personality is more to do with the circumstances into which we are born. If you&#x2...

If you've ever asked a young child how their day was, you might have got a couple of responses - either a blank stare, or a list of every single thing that had happened to them that day. Judith Hudson studies memory development in children and the development of children's understanding of time. Professor of Psychology at Rutgers University in New Jersey, she says the way parents interact and talk...

Speech and Language Therapist Christian Wright on what NOT to say to parents concerned about their child's speech and language development. And he'll share strategies for dealing with these questions if they do arise. Speech and Language Therapist Christian Wright on what NOT to say to parents concerned about their child's speech and language development. And he'll share strategies for d...

A new podcast that's helping parents of disabled children navigate the tricky issues of sexuality, sex and sexual harm. The Courage Club brings parents of medically disabled or neuro-divergent kids together with experts over five episodes, seeking to encourage conversations that might normally be taboo or down the pecking order in terms of things to worry about. It's designed as a resource to help...

Getting "jollied along" by a parent won't help an upset teenager learn how to deal with their own difficult feelings, says clinical psychologist Zara Mansoor. "One thing that's really challenging for parents - or just adults - is we want to get in, we want to fix things, we want to make things better. Actually, the most powerful thing we can often do is just sit with and keep ourselves calm," she...

Sextortion, kids being groomed online, nudes being sent around kids, who should be blamed for that? Sex therapist Jo Robertson has advice about how to have those tricky chats with children and teens. Sextortion, kids being groomed online, nudes being sent around kids, who should be blamed for that? Sex therapist Jo Robertson has advice about how to have those tricky chats with children and teens....

If you ever ask a teenager what they're going to do after high school, you may notice them recoil. For many students in their final years of school this is an anxiety-inducing question. Career Coach Tracey Beard says that if we really want to help, we need to re-think 'the career conversation'. Tracey is the CEO, what she calls 'the chief encouragement officer', at Career Matters, a coaching servi...

Bestselling author and psychologist Michael Carr-Gregg talks to Kathryn about creating and fostering the grandparent-grandchild relationship. Throughout time it has been a special relationship, but as lives get busier, retirement age stretches out and technology absorbs children - we're looking at key ways to navigate the complexities of connecting and staying in touch. Dr Carr-Gregg's latest book...

Parents often say they never stop worrying about their offspring. But how does parenting change as your children become adults? Are today's adult children more dependent on their elders for longer? What is the roadmap for parents here? Neuroplasticity educator and parenting expert, father and grandfather, Nathan Wallis joins Kathryn. Parents often say they never stop worrying about their offspring...

When a teen lacks confidence in studying for their exams, a "leadership nudge" from a supportive parent becomes essential, says parenting coach Joseph Driessen. When a teen lacks confidence in studying for their exams, a "leadership nudge" from a supportive parent becomes essential, says parenting coach Joseph Driessen. study Listen to the interview Show you're on their team Prepari...

Tweens may pull out "teenager moves" but they are not the new teenagers, says parenting educator Michelle Mitchell. As nine-to-twelve-year-olds learn how to respond to the world, they need strong guidance and supervision, she tells Kathryn Ryan. "They're very much looking to adults to give them practical tangible strategies to get them through the day." Tweens may pull out "teenager moves&quo...

Mohamed Alansari, senior researcher for the New Zealand Council for Educational Research joins Kathryn to talk about how to improve outcomes for growing Te Reo Maori in schools. Which schools are doing it well - and what practices could other schools learn from them? He highlights research from a new report. Mohamed Alansari, senior researcher for the New Zealand Council for Educational Research j...

Speech and language therapist Christian Wright talks to Kathryn about what parents can do to stimulate pre-schoolers language development. We'll also look at how to identify when there might be delays in development. Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

Are you struggling with your child's tantrums? Michael Hempseed is encouraging parents to rethink tantrums and anger, and instead of punishing a child for lashing out, he says it's vital to understand the root cause of the behaviour. Michael Hempseed is the director of Frontiers of Hope, a specialist mental health service in Christchurch, and has worked with Dame Sue Bagshaw for many years at Te T...

Susie discusses the the thorny issue of limiting screentime for children with Dave Atkinson from the Parenting Place, and how do deal with the fallout from that. Susie discusses the the thorny issue of limiting screentime for children with Dave Atkinson from the Parenting Place, and how do deal with the fallout from that. no caption Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

The Japanese bonsai - a "perfect little tree" that thrives only with lots and lots of care - is a good metaphor for children raised to be reliant on high levels of support, says clinical psychologist Judith Locke. Despite their parents' best intentions, 'Bonsai children' learn to expect that it's other people who'll make them happy and successful, she tells Susie Ferguson. The Japanese bonsai - a...

Learning to manage difficult feelings is the biggest job of childhood. says psychologist Angela North, and kids need a parent's help to do this. Along with Dr Steven Mackenzie, Angela has written the new book Mindfulness At Play - a guide to help adults be in the moment with a child's emotional experience. Learning to manage difficult feelings is the biggest job of childhood. says psychologist Ang...

Kathryn talks with parenting coach and education consultant Joseph Driessen about parents can help their children develop independent learning habits. Kathryn talks with parenting coach and education consultant Joseph Driessen about parents can help their children develop independent learning habits. Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

Declining regular school attendance has been the focus of a lot of political debate here, and in term one last year only 46 percent of students reached the benchmark for regular attendance. It's also a hot topic across the Tasman where a Senate inquiry is looking into the problem in Australian schools. Michael Hawton is an Australian registered psychologist, a former school teacher and the founder...

There's nothing wrong with dyslexic people, they just need help to navigate a world wired for language processors rather than visual thinkers, says retired psychologist Laughton King. He says parents and teachers need to focus on helping dyslexic kids rather than sabotaging their learning. Expecting a dyslexic child to thrive in a neurotypical education system is like filling a diesel engine with...

Watching your teenager get behind the wheel can be nerve-wracking for any parent, but neuroplasticity educator and parenting expert Nathan Wallis has some suggestions to make it slightly less scary for all concerned. Watching your teenager get behind the wheel can be nerve-wracking for any parent, but it doesn't have to be scary, says neuroplasticity educator and parenting expert Nathan Walli...

Māori academic Linda Tuhiwai Smith tells Kathryn Ryan she often cried while writing her new series of therapeutic storybooks for kids. Māori academic Linda Tuhiwai Smith says she often cried while writing her new series of therapeutic storybooks for kids. "Some of the biggest witnesses and victims of violence are children and yet we don't speak to them directly about these matters and we...