Wellington speech and language therapist Christian Wright explains childhood apraxia of speech, where some children have difficulty putting sounds and syllables together. Wellington speech and language therapist Christian Wright explains childhood apraxia of speech, where some children have difficulty putting sounds and syllables together. The condition is very rare he told Kathryn Ryan. And has three distinguishing features. The first, he says, is inconsistency. "These are the kids when they ar...
Sep 23, 2021•22 min•Ep. 196
Being a grandparent is a wonderful role. All care and no responsibility, as the saying goes. But these days many grandparents are involved in helping raise their grandchildren, to support working parents. Dr Tessa Grigg is the co-author of a new book for grandparents - a guide to helping bring up well rounded, emotionally balanced grandchildren - even if you only look after them a few hours a week. It's called Grandparenting Grandchildren: new knowledge and know-how for grandparenting the under ...
Sep 16, 2021•20 min•Ep. 195
Parenting tweens and teens can be difficult territory to navigate, even more so in a pandemic when a life lived online is accentuated. Clinical psychologist Jo Lamble and Family GP Ginni Mansberg are riding out Covid restrictions in New South Wales. They have combined their years of experience working with families to write a practical parenting guide - The New Teen Age - how to support today's tweens and teens to become healthy happy adults. It is specifically designed for parents, step-parents...
Aug 26, 2021•23 min•Ep. 194
As any parent of a new baby knows, sleep can be elusive and the abundance of advice about it can be overwhelming. Sleep specialist Dr Bronwyn Sweeney shares some insight. As any parent of a new baby knows, sleep can be elusive and the abundance of advice about it can be overwhelming. Sleep specialist Dr Bronwyn Sweeney shares some insight. Listen to the interview Parents put a lot of pressure on themselves to regulate their baby's sleep, Dr Sweeney tells Susie Ferguson. "You go into this new job...
Aug 19, 2021•19 min•Ep. 193
Imaginary friends - why do kids have them and what do they mean? We're still not quite sure, psychologist Sarb Johal tells Kathryn Ryan, but it's very common and usually nothing parents should worry about. Imaginary friends - why do kids have them and what do they mean? We're still not quite sure, psychologist Sarb Johal tells Kathryn Ryan, but it's very common and usually nothing parents should worry about. no caption Listen to Sarb Johal on Nine to Noon Up to 45 percent of children have an ima...
Aug 12, 2021•18 min•Ep. 192
All kids have angry reactions, and most parents can largely accept these when they can see the cause. But some kids seem to explode for no apparent reason. What's going on? And how can parents and caregivers respond? Such kids are often feeling a painful ambivalence about love and attachment, says parenting coach and educator Joseph Driessen. Parents of these kids need to upskill on how to help them heal, he tells Kathryn Ryan. All kids have angry reactions, and most parents can largely accept t...
Jul 28, 2021•25 min•Ep. 191
It's a trend on the rise around the world - in the UK research into the "boomerang" phenomenon found two thirds of childless single adults aged 20 - 34 had either never left or moved back into the family home due to a precarious job market and sky high rents. A Victoria University study last year into what happened during the main lockdown in New Zealand found 38 per cent of 18 - 24 year olds moved back in with one or both of their parents. So what happens when your kids have flown the nest - on...
Jul 15, 2021•23 min•Ep. 190
Closed borders in the last year or so have forced many people to have enforced long periods away from loved ones living overseas. Researcher, writer and anthropologist Helen Ellis knows all about having geographically scattered relatives. Three of her four children, and five of her six grandchildren, live in America, England and Scotland. In non-Covid restricted times it would be a 16 to 30 hour flight to visit them. Drawing on her personal whanau situation and research - her book Being a Distan...
Jul 08, 2021•21 min•Ep. 189
Research has underlined the importance of parents and teachers working together to help their children do well at school. The partnership is increasingly being emphasised in education policy, and by Māori, Pacific peoples, and parents of children who need learning support. Recent reports also show teachers want to connect more with parents, but lack the time and resources. Senior Researcher at the New Zealand Council for Educational Research, Mohamed Alansari joins Kathryn to discuss. Research h...
Jun 30, 2021•17 min•Ep. 188
Stuttering is a normal part of learning to speak, particularly when a pre-schooler's language abilities can't keep up with what they want to say. Most children outgrow this phase but for some, the struggle to get words out continues. Wellington Speech and Language Therapist Christian Wright has advice for parents and teachers. Stuttering is a normal part of learning to speak, particularly when a pre-schooler's language abilities can't keep up with what they want to say. Most children outgrow thi...
Jun 24, 2021•26 min•Ep. 187
How and when do children become left handers or right handers? Christchurch based educator, speaker, author and founder of Moving Smart, Gill Connell, says coordination in learning is vital to how the brain develops, determining how children think, feel, behave and learn. She talks to Kathryn about the physical activities that can help with coordination. How and when do children become left handers or right handers? Christchurch based educator, speaker, author and founder of Moving Smart, Gill C...
Jun 10, 2021•23 min•Ep. 186
When Jo Hayes came to New Zealand from the United Kingdom 18 years ago, she didn't intend to stay. But fast-forward a few years and she found herself living north of Auckland with two pre-schoolers and missing her family back home desperately. By chance she met Susan at her daughter's daycare - she was there picking up her grandson. The pair became friends, and Susan became "Granny Susan" to Jo's children. From that grew the idea for Grandfriends an organisation linking up families with no suppo...
Jun 03, 2021•16 min•Ep. 185
Katie Fitzpatrick is an associate professor of education at the University of Auckland and the lead writer of relationship and sexuality education curriculum policy. She says more emphasis and time needs to be devoted to the mental health, sexuality and wellbeing of students from primary to high school. Dr Fitzpatrick talks to Kathryn about why health education is the poor cousin of numeracy and literacy. Katie Fitzpatrick is an associate professor of education at the University of Auckland and ...
May 27, 2021•18 min•Ep. 184
Kathryn checks in on a parenting programme pilot in Nelson set up to help new fathers. The free 10 week course is available to all new dads, step dads and also includes men awaiting the birth of their first child. It is part of a Ministry of Social Development WhÄnau Resilience programme and is run by family violence specialists SVS - Living Safe in partnership with Perinatal Support Nelson. Aaron Agnew is the course facilitator. Kathryn checks in on a parenting programme pilot in Nelson set up ...
May 19, 2021•21 min•Ep. 183
Kathryn speaks with Dr Maysoon Salama, whose storybook for children Aya and the Butterfly is a new picture book to help young children come to terms with grief, cope with change, and build resilience. Dr Salama lost her son Atta Elayyan in the Al Noor mosque attack in Christchurch a little over two years ago. Dr Maysoon Salama lost her son Atta Elayyan in the Al Noor mosque attack in Christchurch a little over two years ago. Her storybook Aya and the Butterfly was written for Atta's daughter, he...
May 12, 2021•16 min•Ep. 182
Parenting coach and educator Joseph Driessen with guidance on how to build a secure attachment relationship with your child. He says a well functioning trusting bond between a primary caregiver and child is essential to healthy development. Children need emotional security before they can learn and a secure relationship with a reliable primary caregiver is the foundation of this, says parenting coach Joseph Driessen. Sometimes stress and overwhelm can make parents less reliable than their child ...
May 06, 2021•23 min•Ep. 181
Sue Blair has been working with families for nearly 20 years as a family coach and parenting skills educator and she is also the author of The Personality Puzzles. Her particular specialisation is understanding the personality dynamics within a family. This includes how siblings with the same upbringing can be vastly different to each other and react differently to situations. Lack of understanding can lead to a break down in communication with children of any age, but Sue Blair says teenage yea...
Apr 28, 2021•18 min•Ep. 180
Parents of teenagers often wonder what has happened to their child's brain. They may be moody, not understanding or appearing to care about consequences, they may struggle to maintain focus, and may be very self-absorbed! Neuroscience educator and parenting expert, Nathan Wallis says during adolescence, parts of the teenage brain are "shut for renovations". He says understanding the changes that are taking place for the adolescent will help parents successfully navigate these important and forma...
Apr 22, 2021•18 min•Ep. 179
The best way to empower young people is to give them tools to manage their own emotions says clinical psychologist Jacqui Maguire. She's written a children's book When the Wind Blew, which introduces a series of home-based, practical psychological tools designed to "turn down the dial on the fight or flight response". Emotional self-regulation has been recognised by scientists and academics as the most important thing for a child to learn - but how do we teach it? Clinical psychologist Jacqui Ma...
Apr 15, 2021•23 min•Ep. 178
Senior Researcher at the New Zealand Council for Educational Research Mohamed Alansari tells Lynn Freeman about a survey and research to support rainbow students and communities. As we come to the end of the Pride season with events around the country, Nine to Noon takes a look at how parents can better support LGBTQI children. Senior Researcher at the New Zealand Council for Educational Research Mohamed Alansari tells Lynn Freeman about a survey and research about rainbow students and communiti...
Mar 31, 2021•16 min•Ep. 177
As a society, we expect any meal served to automatically be eaten. But that's not logical to a child with any sort of sensory discomfort around food, says nutritional therapist Judith Yeabsley. As a society, we expect any meal served to automatically be eaten. But that's not logical to a child with any sort of sensory discomfort around food, says nutritional therapist Judith Yeabsley. The self-described "picky eating consultant' has followed up her first book Creating Confident Eaters with a new...
Mar 24, 2021•20 min•Ep. 176
Parenting coach and educator Joseph Driessen with tips for helping children manage themselves and control their impulsivity. Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details
Mar 17, 2021•21 min•Ep. 175
After eighteen years of parenting, for some parents at least it might be hard to let go. So when your now young adult leaves home for tertiary education and an independent life how do you adjust and how can you support your young person during the first part of their first time living away from home? After 18 years of parenting, for some parents at least it might be hard to let go when their child is ready to go to university. So when your now young adult leaves home for tertiary education and a...
Mar 10, 2021•22 min•Ep. 174
Kathryn talks with educator, speaker and author Gill Connell about the importance of movement in getting young children ready for the classroom and learning. She says kids are born to move, and in the early years it is the body actually teaching the brain how to accept, assimilate, process, and use information. Gill's books include A Moving Child Is a Learning Child and Move Play and Learn with Smart Steps. Educator, speaker and author Gill Connell says we shouldn't stress about ABCs and instead...
Mar 03, 2021•19 min•Ep. 173
Separation is often a process of pain and grief, particularly when children are involved. Writer Katrina Smithson found out about New Zealand's Family Court system the hard way - via a four-year custody case. She's written The New Zealand Family Court Survival Guide to give other people the insights she wishes she'd had about making the process more efficient and less costly. Separation is often a process of pain and grief, particularly when children are involved. Writer Katrina Smithson found o...
Mar 01, 2021•21 min•Ep. 172
Maggie Dent talks with Kathryn about how to "unstick" unmotivated sons. She is the mother of four boys, a former teacher and counsellor who has become one of Australia's foremost parenting experts - and self described "boy champion". Her latest book is called From Boys to Men, and she is also the host of the ABC podcast Parental as Anything. She is about to run a webinar series based on her book From Boys to Men. Anyone with teenage sons knows that getting them to move off the couch can be akin ...
Feb 24, 2021•20 min•Ep. 171
In our parenting slot today, Kathryn talks to Australian Clinical Psychologist, Georgie Fleming about how online observations of families dealing with challenging behaviour can help diffuse situations. Dr Fleming is a lecturer at UNSW School of Psychology and a Parent-Child Interaction Therapy Therapist. She led a trial involving families in regional and rural NSW, They were given virtual parenting support through a live zoom trial led by researchers at UNSW Sydney. In our parenting slot today, ...
Feb 17, 2021•21 min•Ep. 170
What can families and schools do to help children and young people overcome fear and anxiety about climate change? New work from the New Zealand Council for Educational Research looks at how to give young people the knowledge, values, skills and opportunities to help ensure a more sustainable future. Kathryn speaks with Rachel Bolstad, senior researcher on the project. What can families and schools do to help children and young people overcome fear and anxiety about climate change? New work from...
Feb 10, 2021•17 min•Ep. 169
Adventurer and educator Sash Nukada believes saying 'be careful' to children at play is counter-productive and can induce fear and make them risk averse. He says it's more beneficial to explain what to look out for and how to avoid hazards Sash works for Sir Edmund Hillary Outdoors Education,Tongariro Centre, as the Tertiary Programme Manager. Adventurer and educator Sash Nukada believes saying 'be careful' to children at play is counter-productive and can induce fear and make them risk averse. ...
Feb 03, 2021•21 min•Ep. 168
Author of the My Big Moments series of personalised books for young children Hannah Davison talks to Kathryn Ryan about her picture book Ready For School which doubles as a guide for parents to help tamariki prepare for starting school or change schools. It's back to school next week for kids around the country, some for the first time ever. Author of the My Big Moments series of personalised books for young children Hannah Davison has written a picture book Ready For School which doubles as a g...
Jan 27, 2021•13 min•Ep. 167
