It Takes A Village

Perfectionism can prevent children from taking risks but parents can help relieve the pressure, says Australian parenting expert Justin Coulson. Perfectionism can prevent children from taking risks but parents can help relieve the pressure, says Justin Coulson. "We become more perfect through our failures," the Australian parenting expert tells Kathryn Ryan. Listen to the full conversati...

US psychologist, Dr Becky Kennedy and author of Good Inside trouble shoots a range of scenarios facing parents, including sibling rivalry, separation anxiety and tantrums. She has 1.6 million followers on Instagram @drbeckyatgoodinside We've been fed a model of parenting that feels awful and doesn't work, says a US psychologist. Dr Becky Kennedy is the author of Good Inside which looks a...

The National Survey of Schools' latest findings show teachers are happiest working in schools that support their growth and development. It also highlights the importance of continuing to improve digital resources and facilities in schools. It's all part of the New Zealand Council for Educational Research's Te Pae Tawhiti programme of research. Kathryn is joined by senior researcher Mohamed Alansa...

Kathryn talks with parenting coach and education consultant Joseph Driessen about how to protect teenagers from the dangers of using drugs and excess alcohol. Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

How do children develop social skills and how best can parents support this? Wellington speech and language therapist Christian Wright has some strategies and he'll take your questions Social skills such as turn-taking and eye contact are an important part of learning to communicate. How can parents best support their kids to develop them? Wellington speech and language therapist Christian Wright...

Neuroplasticity educator and parenting expert Nathan Wallis talks with Susie about different parenting styles. Are you a brick wall, jellyfish or a backbone parent? And what is best for children, according to the research. Neuroplasticity educator and parenting expert Nathan Wallis talks with Susie about different parenting styles. Are you a brick wall, jellyfish or a backbone parent? And what is...

Counsellor Cat Levine talks about the risk factors that predispose children to anxiety - and what parents can do to help. Many New Zealand kids are anxious and teachers are calling for more training on how to support them. Counsellor Cat Levine runs online workshops for teachers about the risk factors for anxiety and how to help kids become more resilient to it. Listen to the full interview Cat Le...

For many new parents, getting out of the house can be a mission with nappies, change of clothes, food, buggy or front pack. Ceana Priest says - don't be daunted by that. She's mum to six year old Finn, and she's been taking him on adventures since he was a baby. Ceana Priest spent her summers in rivers and the beach forest near Mt Ruapehu and wanted her son Finn to experience the same kind of adve...

According to the World Health Organisation, children under 5 need 180 minutes of physical activity every day. To help early childhood teachers give pre-schoolers the physical activity they need to succeed, health science researcher Wendy Pirie has developed a programme called MAPP - Movement Active Physical Play. According to the World Health Organisation, children under 5 need to be active for 18...

The teenage years are difficult enough, without adding the challenges of social media and the impact it has on growing brains. We put a fence children when they're toddlers, so do we need to put a virtual fence around teens' social media use? Kathryn is joined by Kathryn Gray, Head of Middle School at St Margaret's College. The teenage years are difficult enough, without adding the challenges of s...

Registered nutritionist and specialist in infant, child and maternal nourishment, Vanessa A Clarkson's new book Motherfood has over 40 recipes to help expectant and new mums rise to the task. They're plant-based, wholefood recipes for drinks, meals, breakfasts, snacks, and desserts (all low in refined sugars). Vanessa is an advocate for healthier food systems. She has worked with Australian superm...

Teacher, author, public speaker and CEO of Spectrum Education Karen Boyes says study skills can also teach life skills. She shares tips for students and parents. NCEA students up and down the country are in study mode right now - with final assignments looming after the school holidays, then into the exam period. Teacher, author, public speaker and CEO of Spectrum Education Karen Boyes says study...

New research reveals ways teachers are challenging students to be the best they can be. For what the Teaching, School and Principal Leadership Practices Survey reveals about strengths and needs in our schools, and also where teacher morale is at, Kathryn is joined by New Zealand Council for Educational Research Senior Researcher Mohamed Alansari. New research reveals ways teachers are challenging...

Kathryn discusses developmental language disorder with speech and language therapist Christian Wright. He says in every primary school classroom there will be around two children affected by the condition. Developmental language disorder (DLD) is a brain-based condition that affects around two children in every primary school. Diagnosis is important because if untreated this condition can lead to...

School avoidance that stems from anxiety is very different to truancy and requires careful management, says psychologist Dr Emma Woodward. School avoidance that stems from anxiety is very different to truancy and requires careful management, says psychologist Dr Emma Woodward. Listen to the interview Not wanting to go to school is common for children and can be a response to many different things,...

Kathryn talks with parenting coach and education consultant Joseph Driessen about helping children overcome the effects of the Covid epidemic, at home, at school, and with their friends. Kathryn talks with parenting coach and education consultant Joseph Driessen about helping children overcome the effects of the Covid epidemic, at home, at school, and with their friends. Go to this episode on rnz....

'Helicopter' parenting is a term often used pejoratively to describe an overprotective way of raising kids. Although this approach to parenting is coming from a good place, it can interfere with a child's development, says psychologist Sarb Johal. 'Helicopter' parenting is a term often used pejoratively to describe an overprotective way of raising kids. Although this approach to parentin...

It can drive parents mad, but psychologist Dr Rachael Sharman of the University of the Sunshine Coast says sibling rivalry is a perfectly normal - and in fact, even necessary part of the developmental process. So how can parents guide their kids through the conflict process? Siblings scrapping over who did what to who and who's really to blame can drive parents mad but these spats are normal...

Paediatric dietician Jenny Douglas talks to Susie about how to best nourish infants and young children. Jenny runs her own private practice, Jump Start Nutrition in Dunedin. She specialises in infant feeding, food allergies and intolerance, fussy eating and gut health. She has contributed to Nadia Lim's new book Yum which focuses of recipes and nutrition for the whole family. Creating a relaxed en...

Mother-daughter duo Robyn and Molly Fausett have collaborated on writing a guide to raising teenagers, their book is called The Kids Will Be All Right. Robyn is a nurse and educator and is a programme writer for health and wellbeing in school education. The book covers off a range of subjects including body image, cyber safety, sexuality, puberty and having respectful relationships. Her daughter M...

Clinical Psychologist Karen Nimmo says teenagers and young adults have had a hard time through the pandemic, disruption at school and university, having to do a lot of learning online. She discusses how best to help teenagers through this stage and how to recognise when they are struggling. For nearly three years, teenagers and young adults have taken a psychological hit at a time when they should...

Psychologist Sarb Johal say ambivalence about parenting can strike at any time - even in the lead up to parenting. He says it's totally normal but because few parents ever voice these feelings, it's easy to feel guilty. It's a tricky subject, but there are times for all parents when they just don't like parenthood. They love their child, but the actual experience of being a parent at tha...

One in ten children suffer from a sleep disorder but most of us - including GPs and paediatricians - know very little about the signs and symptoms, says Dr Chris Winter. In his new book The Rested Child, the American neurologist talks about why the "tired, wired, or irritable child" may actually have a sleep disorder. One in ten children suffer from a sleep disorder but most of us - including GPs...

Senior Researcher at the New Zealand Council for Educational Research Mohamed Alansari with some new research out today, highlighting how most secondary school teachers have changed something about the way they teach because of Covid-19. Senior Researcher at the New Zealand Council for Educational Research Mohamed Alansari with some new research out today, highlighting how most secondary school te...

Author and parenting coach, Maggie Dent, talks to Kathryn about her new book Girlhood: raising our little girls to be healthy, happy and heard. She says it is vital that parents enable young girls' voices to be heard, and help girls navigate the challenges of modern times. Maggie is the mother of four boys, and the proud grandmother of four girls. She's a former teacher and counsellor, the host of...