It Takes A Village

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...

Many listeners may already have had time at home with Covid and other winter ills. So what's the best way to get through the time together? Ellie Gwilliam is with the Parenting Place, and has just gone through it with her family. She joins Kathryn to talk survival tips. Many listeners may already have had time at home with Covid and other winter ills, and some may be having to do isolation with th...

Neuroplasticity educator and parenting expert Nathan Wallis talks with Kathryn about the advantages of children starting school at six years old. He says while it goes against the norm in New Zealand, in most countries across the world, the starting age is six, often seven. He says those children who start school when they are older than five may be doubly advantaged - by having more free play whe...

Engaging with a baby in their first three years of life can help set them up with communication skills, says speech-language therapist Emma Quigan. Once you trust that very young children are learning from every interaction, you see time spent with them as a significant opportunity, she tells Kathryn Ryan. Engaging with a baby in their first three years of life can help set them up with communicat...

New research from the New Zealand Council for Educational Research looks at what gives Maori and Pasifika students the best chance of success at school. Through four studies, the Conceptualising Maori and Pasifika Aspirations and Striving for Success COMPASS project has identified critical factors that serve as important punga/anchors in the educational journeys of akonga/students. Senior Research...

Clinical psychologist Jacqui Maguire first spoke Nine to Noon about highly sensitive children back in March. In part two of the conversation, she tells Kathryn Ryan these children are more prone to feeling guilt and shame - and parents should keep this in mind. Clinical psychologist Jacqui Maguire first spoke Nine to Noon about highly sensitive children back in March. In part two of the conversati...

Neuroscience educator Deb Rewiri says it has never been so important to get on board with traditional Māori parenting practices. Help is at hand to take whanau back to when a village raised the children. Deb tells Kathryn about a whanau support initiative called Tākai which embraces mātauranga Māori and indigenous parenting approaches. It has never been so important to get on board with traditiona...

Kathryn talks with parenting coach and education consultant Joseph Driessen about parenting skills for blended families. When a marriage or partnership breaks up, many families consist of a recombination of two different families with two sets of children living with parents. While these families can be happy and thriving, some parents find the situation difficult to navigate with different family...

Lynn speaks to Garth Wynne, who's been involved in educating teenage boys for decades and is now executive principal of Christ's College in Christchurch. Being a teenager is hard enough, even before the problems of the modern era are thrown into the mix. Lynn speaks to Garth Wynne, who's been involved in educating teenage boys for decades and is now executive principal of Christ's Colleg...

Primary school teacher-turned writer Aaron Topp talks about his latest Young Adult book and shares tips on how to coax reluctant readers to pick up a book. Primary school teacher-turned writer Aaron Topp talks about his latest Young Adult novel and shares tips on how to coax reluctant readers to pick up a book. Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

How can parents best develop their children to become great learners? Kathryn speaks with father and son educators John and Kyle Hattie, who've co-authored a book setting out ten steps for encouraging curiosity and intellectual ambition. They say it all starts with parents demonstrating to their child an openness to new ideas and thinking - and not to be afraid of failure. How can parents best dev...

How often do you hear your mum or dad's words come out of your mouth when you talk to (or shout at) your kids? Words you swore you would never say to your own child. One of Australia's foremost parenting experts, Maggie Dent says no matter how many parenting books you read, the biggest influence on your parenting style will be your own upbringing. Maggie is the mother of four boys, a former teache...

Russia's war in Ukraine is dominating the headlines, so what can parents, grandparents or educators do to help children understand what they're seeing? And how can that message be delivered in an appropriate way to various age groups - from pre-schoolers to teenagers? Lynn is joined by Dr Nicole Racine, a clinical pyschologist and expert in paediatric mental health based at the Centre for Addictio...