Parenting: 'I'm bored'
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
Dec 17, 2025•13 min•Ep. 378
It Takes A Village
Nine to Noon's Kathryn Ryan interviews parenting experts to help you navigate the trends, trials & tough calls of modern family life.
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Episodes
How to set boundaries for teens over the summer break
School's out - so what now for the kids? Let them run wild? Kristin Ward is a coach and presenter with Parenting Place. Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details
Dec 11, 2025•19 min•Ep. 377
Sibling rivalry: a normal part of growing up?
Is competition, jealousy, and conflict between brothers and sisters a normal part of growing up? While bickering and nitpicking can be hard for parents, can sibling rivalry also be a way for children to learn life skills? Kathryn talks with Clinical Psychologist and mum of three, Jacqui Maguire. Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details
Dec 04, 2025•17 min•Ep. 376
Understanding the adolescent brain
Wwhen puberty hits and suddenly you don't recognise your own child. Clinical Psychologist Kathryn Berkett on brain development in adolescence. Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details
Nov 27, 2025•19 min•Ep. 375
Things to consider before gifting a child a phone for Christmas
As we barrel toward Christmas, you might be about to make the most of this month's crazy sales days. Perhaps a phone or a gaming device for a young family member makes your shopping list. But before you look to leave one wrapped under the tree - my parenting expert is along with some things to consider before handing out the technical toys. Anna McKessar is an online course producer with Parenting Place and joins me with some tips about alternatives to smartphones for younger kids, key steps for...
Nov 19, 2025•20 min•Ep. 374
Can learning to swim make your child smarter?
Some studies have shown not only is swimming great exercise and an essential safety and lifesaving skill, swimming can also positively impact a child cognitively, emotionally, and socially. Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details
Nov 13, 2025•17 min•Ep. 373
"No one will play with me" - teaching kids about friendship
How to coach children on understanding and making good friendships. Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details
Nov 06, 2025•18 min•Ep. 372
How to keep your kids safe this Halloween
Love it or loathe it - it's that time of year when kids roam loose around neighbourhoods looking for fun and sweets. Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details
Oct 30, 2025•16 min•Ep. 371
Parents best role models for an active life
New research has shown children are far more likely to participate in play and sport when a parent is doing it themselves. Research from Sport NZ finds more than half of young people say spending time with family and friends is their top reason for being active - and those kids who like being active with whanau are more likely to meet recommended guidelines for physical activity. Scott MacKenzie is the play manager at Sport New Zealand talks with Kathryn about raising active kids. Go to this epi...
Oct 22, 2025•13 min•Ep. 370
When toddlers aren't talking yet
Speech and Language Therapist Christian Wright talks to Kathryn about what typical language development in pre-schoolers looks like, when parents should be concerned, and what they can do to help. Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details
Oct 16, 2025•16 min•Ep. 369
Growing Money Savvy Kids
Financial education will be embedded in the school curriculum for years 1 to 10 from next year. For younger children it'll be the basics like want vs need, and what is a bank account. More senior students will learn about budgeting, investment, interest, taxes, and insurance to help to build lifelong financial skills. Neil Edmond is the founder of MoneyTime, an online financial literacy program for children ages 10 to 14 which has just been awarded 'Best Primary Product' at the Global EdTech Awa...
Oct 09, 2025•21 min•Ep. 368
Why you shouldn't ask your kids what job they want when they leave school
How many teenagers know what they want to do when they leave school? Jane Kennelly, the Director of People for Skills Group, says in this era of fast-moving technological change it's hard for anyone to know exactly where the job market's going to go - let alone kids. Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details
Oct 01, 2025•22 min•Ep. 367
Parenting: Teenagers, anxiety & perfectionism
Clinical psychologist Polly Schaverien talks with Kathryn about helping teenagers with anxiety and unhealthy perfectionism. She says adolescence is a time of exponential growth and development, and the "job" of the teen is to establish their identity, develop socially and learn emotional regulation. She says parents play a big role - and the first thing they need to do is check their own perfectionism. In other words, are you getting joy out of your children's achievements? Or are you deriving y...
Sep 25, 2025•21 min•Ep. 366
Raising assertive children
How to help children to be more assertive and self confident, without being demanding and aggressive. Clinical psychologist and mum of 3, Jacqui Maguire says assertiveness is a life skill, not a personality trait. She says children can learn it with practice, encouragement, and role models. But often parents don't really have a handle on this skill either and assertiveness takes practice for everyone. Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details...
Sep 18, 2025•17 min•Ep. 365
Why cooking and baking with children is a good idea
Cooking and baking with children is a great idea - even if its makes a helluva mess, according to early childhood education research specialist Dr Vicki Hargraves. She's an early childhood teacher and mother, and ECE research specialist at The Education Hub, an organization that supports teachers with knowledge about best practice. She says spending time in the kitchen with your children is a great way to support their learning - from shapes, colours, comprehension, sequencing and creativity. An...
Sep 11, 2025•16 min•Ep. 364
The pros and cons of handing out awards to children
What are the pros and cons of handing out awards to children? From player of the day in sport, to winner of the spelling bee, to Dux of the school. Dr Elise Waghorn is a Lecturer at R-M-I-T University's School of Education in Melbourne. She says while awards can reward effort, they can also be unhelpful and lead to a fixed mind set in children. Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details...
Sep 04, 2025•18 min•Ep. 363
How to help 'covid babies' as they start school
Babies born during Covid-19 lockdowns developed and moved through early milestones under challenging and unique circumstances. Whānau Āwhina Plunket Chief Nurse Zoe Tipa talks about what families can do to help their 4 and 5 year olds as they start or prepare to start school. Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details
Aug 28, 2025•17 min•Ep. 362
The 'emotional gym': growing your child's resilience muscle
In parenting today, how to raise resilient children who don't wilt at the first hurdle they face. Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details
Aug 21, 2025•19 min•Ep. 361
Parenting: the balance between good cop and boundaries
Neuroscience educator and parenting coach Nathan Wallis discusses finding the balance with boundaries for children and teens while maintaining an open trusting relationship. He says boundaries give children an edge to their world, and teach them what's acceptable. Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details
Aug 14, 2025•17 min•Ep. 359
Helping children (and young adults) with big feelings
Sadness, nerves, jealousy, anger and frustration - just like adults, children feel these emotions, but sometimes don't have the words or skills to deal with them. Gen Muir is a social worker, parent educator, author, founder of Connected Parenting and mum of four boys. Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details
Aug 07, 2025•25 min•Ep. 357
How to be a good parent when you're struggling with your own mental health
Parenting can be a challenge at the best of times - but what about when mum or dad are experiencing low mood ? - Clinical Psychologist Ben Sedley with strategies to help Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details
Jul 31, 2025•18 min•Ep. 356
Kids and screens - tips for parents
Owning a smartphone before age 13 is associated with poorer mind health and wellbeing in early adulthood, according to a global study of more than 100,000 young people. The study was published earlier this week in the peer-reviewed Journal of Human Development and Capabilities, and found that 18- to 24-year-olds who had received their first smartphone at age 12 or younger were more likely to report suicidal thoughts, aggression, detachment from reality, poorer emotional regulation, and low self-...
Jul 24, 2025•18 min•Ep. 355
What's it like being a grandparent in your 30s?
At 37, many people are still getting to grips with being a parent. Matty Acton was learning how to be a grandparent. He and his wife Esther have two kids, aged 8 and 11, and he's also stepdad to Esther's 23 year old son Ethan - who became a dad himself last year. Esther and Matty, who's also a breakfast radio host on Brisbane's B105 radio station, have been documenting their journey on their podcast called Underaged Grandparents. In it they explore the unexpected challenges of becoming grandies ...
Jul 17, 2025•21 min•Ep. 354
Parenting: Turning experiences into lessons
Sara Segar discusses how parents help turn experiences into learning for their children. She runs the Experiential Learning Depot in Minnesota and developed a range of resources for teachers and families, when she realised there was a desire for hands-on, authentic learning at home and in the classroom, but no material to help. Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details
Jul 10, 2025•16 min•Ep. 353
How to look after your children's teeth
The costs - and pain - associated with poor oral health care has become a huge burden on families and the health system, so how can parents get it right for their kids, and encourage good dental habits that last into their later years? Basic dental care is free in New Zealand for children from birth until they turn 18. But there are thousands of children currrently on waiting lists for dental treatment, we're talking serious surgeries which require them to go under general anaesthetic, with suga...
Jul 03, 2025•18 min•Ep. 352
How to talk to your children about conflict and war
It can be hard to avoid what's going on in the world right now, including for children. How can parents help their kids make sense of what's going on, without scaring them? Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details
Jun 27, 2025•20 min•Ep. 351
How to talk to children about death
Whether it is a close family member, pet or someone they don't personally know, like a famous person who has died, children experience death and parents will be asked about it. Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details
Jun 19, 2025•24 min•Ep. 350
Bedtime: how to get your kids to bed without nightly drama
Parenting educator Michelle Mitchell talks about how to avoid drama at bedtime. She says sleep is the cornerstone of kids' (and adults') health and she shares practical strategies to take the battle out of bedtime. Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details
Jun 12, 2025•20 min•Ep. 349
How pre-schoolers can misunderstand adults - and how to help
In parenting today - we've all seen a full pre-schooler in full meltdown mode. Sometimes that's because they're tired or hungry - or even hangry. But it can also be because they've misunderstood what adults are saying. Wellington speech and language therapist Christian Wright says there are common ways the pre-schoolers can misunderstand what grown-ups are saying. He joins Kathryn to explain how parents can make it easier - for everyone. Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details...
Jun 05, 2025•20 min•Ep. 348
Raising literacy among boys - one principal's secret
New Zealand isn't the only country to be concerned about falling student literacy rates and the gender gap in academic performance. New Australian research suggests that boys are twice as likely to be at the bottom in literacy and more likely to fall behind once they reach secondary school. But one boys' high school in North Sydney has defied those odds. Once one of the lowest ranked schools in the state, it is now one of the top for English. Principal Paul Sheather explains to Kathryn how a dif...
May 29, 2025•18 min•Ep. 347
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