Parental As Anything

"I hate broccoli", "but the sauce is touching the carrot!", "Yuk! That's gross!" If you've ever heard this come out of your child's mouth at dinner time, we feel your pain. So, we've brought in chef Adam Liaw and Nutrition Australia's Leanne Elliston to help! They've cooked up some great tips with Maggie Dent on how to feed children healthy food and what you can do if your child is a fussy eater.

Being an only child or single parent can be hard when all your usual social outlets have disappeared into thin air. There is boredom and loneliness and if you're solo parenting, there can be a heavy load to carry. Maggie Dent and parenting author and educator Michelle Mitchell share some great ideas about how to lighten the load if you're parenting on your own, and what you can do if you've got an...

Have you been breaking up World War III between your kids? Are you and your partner getting on each other's nerves because you’ve spent more time together than you ever have? Maggie Dent and parenting author and educator Justin Coulson talk about ways you can resolve the niggles before they get out of control. NOTE: This episode deals with arguments between siblings and partners. What we know is t...

How do you get any work done at home when the kids keep asking you for food, or to play with them, or to wipe their bottom? Maggie Dent talks to productivity researcher Dr Kristy Goodwin about her top strategies for working at home with kids around. They discuss planning activities to keep the kids out of your hair and how to set realistic expectations for what you can achieve in a so-called "work...

Coronavirus has meant parents across Australia have had to slip into a role they never signed up for being a teacher. So how do you make that work if you haven't the first clue about teaching? Maggie Dent talks to educator Dr Prue Salter about how to support high-schoolers as they learn from home. Maggie also shares her top tips for keeping primary school kids engaged while learning from home, and...

Coronavirus has meant the activities our kids love — playgrounds, sport, skate boarding with friends, going to the movies — have been shut down and cancelled. But guess what's still there for them? Nature. Even if it's the grass in your backyard or plants on your balcony, it's all around us — even during coronavirus. In an episode recorded well before coronavirus hit us, Maggie talks to nature pla...

We've all been impacted by coronavirus. As parents, we're anxious, scared and stressed out about the future and what's going to happen. But we've never had such an important job to do - helping our children through this difficult time, while also looking after ourselves. In this special episode, Maggie Dent steers you through how you can talk to your children about coronavirus. She'll also give yo...

Parenting teenagers when they’re moody, disrespectful and rebellious is tough. But even as they reach the age of slamming a door in your face and emotionally pushing you away, they actually need as much love and support as ever. Maggie Dent chats to teen champion and CEO of Enlighten Education Dannielle Miller about how parents can help their teens navigate hormones, break-ups and the pressure of...

For some kids and teenagers, making friends comes easily. But for others, it's really tough and it can be an emotional roller coaster for them and you. Podcaster and writer Rebecca Sparrow and parent educator Claire Orange are champions of positive child and teen friendships. Maggie Dent get tips on what you can do as a parent to help your kids navigate the often-tricky world of friendships.

Throwing a tantrum, being naughty and bawling their eyes out. Kids often react to situations that stress them in a way that's socially unacceptable. A huge part of growing up though is learning how to regulate emotions. So what can parents do to help their kids spot what's going to tip them over the edge before it happens? Maggie Dent finds out from self-regulation expert, Dr Stuart Shanker.

Anxiety can be crippling for some kids. They can get terrified of the dark, or they don't want to go to school or the thought of exams makes them fall to pieces. And symptoms like a racing heart and negative thoughts can be really scary for little kids as well as teenagers. Maggie Dent talks to psychologist Karen Young from heysigmund.com about how to help your child tackle anxious moments and wha...

School is about to start for another year in Australia, and many parents will be waving their child off at the school gate for the first time. But how do you know they're ready to go? And what can you do to make their first day as stress and tear-free as possible? Maggie Dent talks to child and adolescent psychiatrist, Dr Kaylene Henderson, about how to prepare kids for their first day and how to...

Australia's favourite parenting expert and author Maggie Dent is back with a new series of Parental As Anything. She'll give you tips and answers to your real-world parenting problems — what to do if your child is anxious, helping kids deal with death and loss, making friends, and (gulp) how to talk to your kids about sex. Over 10 episodes, Maggie will give you a common sense, practical guide on h...

There are challenges with raising boys that only the parents of sons will understand. Like why they bond using rough play and fart jokes; why your directions need a word limit; and why you can never get them to sit still. In the final episode of the season, Maggie Dent chats to family counsellor Dr Michael Gurian about what boys need, like positive role models, wrestling and classrooms that cater...

Maggie talks with Steve Biddulph — one of Australia's foremost experts on raising girls — about how parents can lead their daughters through childhood and the tumultuous teens to become strong, empowered, kind and self-assured women. No topic is left untouched: the pressure to be sexy in the age of social media; the big increase in anxiety among girls; the importance of dads and strong female role...

You want your kids to be able to handle the unexpected challenges life throws at them. But how do you raise a resilient child when your gut feeling is to protect them from all the bad things? Maggie Dent chats to Lyn Worsley, Director of the Resilience Centre and author of The Resilience Doughnut books, about how letting kids fend for themselves and work out tricky situations on their own, is exac...

Six hours in the classroom, then music practice and sport. Daily homework is a pain for kids and parents, and while lots of primary schools have lightened the load, it's still something plenty of families have to juggle. So how do you help your kids manage their homework without a battle? Maggie Dent chats to Maria Cook, the founding principal of Honeywood Primary School in Perth, about how to man...

Threats, bribes, shouting, and time-outs can work in the heat of the moment but when it comes to teaching your children to listen, do as they’re told and make good choices, discipline is a long game. So how do you do it right? Maggie Dent talks to the author of Discipline Without Damage, Vanessa Lapointe, about the best way to discipline your child.

Your screaming three-year-old in the supermarket; your eight-year-old losing it over a board game; your surly teenager slamming a door in your face — we’ve all been there. Kids are prone to tantrums, especially the little ones, but what’s the right way to deal with them? Maggie Dent talks to podcaster and author of No Bad Kids: Toddler Discipline Without Shame, Janet Lansbury, about how to manage...

Is your child on Snapchat, Instagram or Facebook? Ninety-one per cent of Australian teenagers use social media. And it has changed everything you know about how kids bully each other. Bullies used to torment their victims in the schoolyard. Now they can reach your kids any time of the day or night. They can even use anonymous accounts on platforms you’ve never even heard of. So how do you keep you...

Building cubbies, make-believe, dressing up - while it might just look like fun and games, play is actually crucial for your child's development. The problem is, as Australian kids spend more time at school, on their screens and in structured activities, they're not playing enough. Maggie Dent talks with expert Robyn Monro Miller about why kids of all ages need to play more. Plus, Bluey creator Jo...

Football, dance, art classes, karate and scouts. The extracurricular activities your kids can do are endless. But with so many on offer, are you getting the balance right? Maggie Dent talks with Positive Schools creator Dr Helen Street about the pros and cons of extracurricular activities for your children — when and why you should sign them up, what's the right amount and what are the signs you m...

Research shows Australian kids spend a third of their day in front of a screen. What's that doing to them? How much is too much? And how do we deal with a techno tantrum? Maggie talks to digital wellbeing expert Dr Kristy Goodwin to find out how we can best raise our kids in the digital age.

One of Australia's favourite parenting authors and educators Maggie Dent gives you tips and answers to your real-world parenting dilemmas — screen time, tantrums, building resilience, homework and more. Over 10 episodes, Maggie will give you a common sense, relatable, practical guide on how to raise kids of all ages. The first episode launches May 28.