With university and secondary school students heading towards end of year exams, what are some key reading tips for study success? With university and secondary school students heading towards end of year exams, what are some key reading tips for study success? CEO of Spectrum Education Karen Boyes says pages and pages of text can seem overwhelming, but there are many ways to read different types of text. She says always approach fiction and non-fiction differently, and know that its okay to rea...
Sep 04, 2019•15 min•Ep. 106
Parenting commentator and educator Nathan Wallis with advice for parents worried that their kids are not making developmental milestones? When to be worried and seek help, and when to relax and let kids find their way. They say it takes a village to raise a child. But parents shouldn't be overly anxious about their kids not making developmental "milestones", says parenting commentator and neuroscience educator Nathan Wallis. In fact most of the milestones that parents worry about aren't really t...
Aug 28, 2019•13 min•Ep. 105
Dr Mohamed Alansari speaks with Kathryn Ryan about how devices have changed the way children relate to each other at school. He says while technology is expanding children's horizons in the classroom, it has changed the dynamics of human connection, learning and teaching. A research fellow at the University of Auckland's Faculty of Education and Social Work, with a doctoral degree in educational psychology, Dr Mohamed Alansari's teaching and research focuses on classroom practices and relationsh...
Aug 21, 2019•20 min•Ep. 104
John Marsden, Australian educator, principal and acclaimed author of more than 40 books for teenagers and children, talks about his new book The Art of Growing Up. A pandemic of "toxic parenting", where overprotective parents hover over their offspring, has been leading to unprecedented anxiety among young adults, an Australian educator says. John Marsden, who is a principal and acclaimed author of more than 40 books for teenagers and children, calls his latest book, The Art of Growing Up, a par...
Aug 14, 2019•27 min•Ep. 103
More young people than ever before are accessing pornography, and with more frequency, according to research by the Office of Film and Literature Classification. More young people than ever before are accessing pornography, and with more frequency, according to research by the Office of Film and Literature Classification. A survey of 14 to 17 year olds last year found 75% of boys and 58% of girls under 17 have seen porn, and a quarter of them had done so at 12 or younger. The Light Project is a ...
Aug 07, 2019•21 min•Ep. 102
Kathryn talks with Auckland writer and body positivity campaigner and educator Angela Barnett who says the number of teens manipulating their own images using smartphone apps is on the rise. The apps photos to be tweaked to achieve blemish free skin and model-like features. Angela is the founder of the website FABIK, and of the Pretty Smart talks which she delivers in schools to 11 to 15 year olds. Kathryn talks with Auckland writer and body positivity campaigner and educator Angela Barnett who ...
Jul 31, 2019•19 min•Ep. 101
Education consultant and parenting coach Joseph Driessen says it's understandable when parents give in to anger, frustration and even depression when dealing with difficult children. But he says over reacting, or responding by being either authoritarian or overly permissive are not the way forward. He shares his toolkit for breaking the cycle, and starting afresh in a new way. Education consultant and parenting coach Joseph Driessen says it's understandable when parents give in to anger, frustra...
Jul 24, 2019•19 min•Ep. 100
Helping children to reduce their screentime can be as simple as remembering what you did as a child - encouraging outdoor play. In the US, there is a growing demand for screen-free parenting coaches. Parents are hiring professionals to help come into their homes to help them wean their children from spending excessive time online staring at the screen of their tablets, phones and other devices. Here, the Ministry of Health guidelines for screen time usage is less than one hour each day for child...
Jul 24, 2019•11 min•Ep. 99
The past nine months have been a rollercoaster of emotions and change for Ashburton parents, Jo and Deane Taylor. Last year their 13 year old son Tom, was diagnosed with stage 4 hodgkin lymphoma. In our parenting slot this morning we are focusing on the realities and practicalities of looking after a sick child, the effect it has on family dynamics, and the sorts of things that can make a tough and worrying situation a little easier to bear. The past nine months have been a rollercoaster of emot...
Jul 04, 2019•26 min•Ep. 98
Ivana Mlinac speaks with Kathryn Ryan about helping children overcome stigma and separation anxiety when their parent is in prison. Ivana's research into parental incarceration inspired to her write children's book Stardust - we always share the same sky. It's a magical book encouraging children to explore their feelings about missing their mum or dad. In New Zealand 23,000 children have parents in prison, and are often living with financial hardship and bullying in addition to separation anxiet...
Jun 26, 2019•19 min•Ep. 97
Every parent knows the difficulties in trying to discipline their children and the feeling it's not working properly. Clinical therapist Anna Martin's new book Listen to me! Taking the conflict out of child discipline aims to provide parents with some effective strategies that put the listening and wellbeing of children before lecturing. Every parent knows the difficulties of trying to discipline their children and the feeling it's not working properly. Clinical therapist Anna Martin's new book ...
Jun 20, 2019•17 min•Ep. 96
There's nothing wrong with taking pride in your looks, but being confident about the things you can do is what will really make you feel positively towards yourself, says Turia Pitt. The Australian author and motivational speaker talks to Kathryn Ryan about the advice in her new book for teens Good Selfie. There's nothing wrong with taking pride in your looks, but being confident about the things you can do is what will really make you feel positively towards yourself, says Turia Pitt. The Austr...
Jun 13, 2019•23 min•Ep. 95
Speech and Language Therapist Christian Wright with more tips and tricks for parents of five year olds with speech sound errors, such at 'tat' for cat, and 'hostible' for hospital. Speech and Language Therapist Christian Wright with more tips and tricks for parents of five year olds with speech sound errors, such at 'tat' for cat, and 'hostible' for hospital. Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details...
Jun 05, 2019•20 min•Ep. 94
Aaron Hendry has worked as a youth worker for a number of years and says fathers need to be particularly careful about the messages they give their sons. He says the "get hard" or "toughen up" message is literally killing young Kiwi men, because it's preventing them from seeking help when they're at their most vulnerable. Aaron Hendry has worked as a youth worker for a number of years and says fathers need to be particularly careful about the messages they give their sons. He says the "get hard"...
May 29, 2019•20 min•Ep. 93
CEO of Spectrum Education Karen Boyes says the job of mums and dads is to ensure that kids can parent themselves by age 18 - and that one day, they leave home! She says the path towards this starts as early as two years old. CEO of Spectrum Education Karen Boyes says the job of mums and dads is to ensure that kids can parent themselves by age 18 - and that one day, they leave home! She says the path towards this starts as early as two years old. Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details...
May 22, 2019•24 min•Ep. 92
Kiwi-born teacher-turned-author of the internationally well-received I Feel Brave book series, Avril McDonald, writes 'little stories about big feelings' for four to seven year olds. Additionally Avril has devised a couple of programmes which have been taken up in schools in New Zealand, to help primary school children learn to deal with difficult emotions like anxiety, and to have empathy for others, in a bid to guard against bullying. Avril tells Kathryn Ryan about the range of tools in her ar...
May 15, 2019•22 min•Ep. 91
A new survey of 1200 parents around the country finds three quarters are worried they don't spent enough time with their children. Parenting commentator, researcher and educator Nathan Wallis talks to Kathryn about this and other insights from the survey which asked parents about everything from sleep, diet, and digital devices to how much they spend on birthday parties. A new survey of 1200 parents around the country finds three quarters are worried they don't spent enough time with their child...
May 08, 2019•17 min•Ep. 90
Susan Sawyer is a Professor of Adolescent Health at the University of Melbourne and a practising paediatrician. She talks to Kathryn about whether the age range for adolescence is too narrowly defined. She believes adolescence should be up to 24 years old .Throughout the world, youth and health agencies differ on the the age group that qualifies as adolescence. Susan Sawyer is a Professor of Adolescent Health at the University of Melbourne and a practising paediatrician. She talks to Kathryn abo...
May 02, 2019•24 min•Ep. 89
Education and parenting consultant Joseph Driessen talks to Kathryn about how to parent children who struggle with underdeveloped executive skills, and who find living an organised life extremely demanding. Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details
Apr 17, 2019•22 min•Ep. 88
Speech and language therapist Christian Wright discuss the top five speech sound errors in five-year-olds and tips and tricks to fix them. Speech and language therapist Christian Wright discuss the top five speech sound errors in five-year-olds and tips and tricks to fix them. He recommends this summary for parents and caregivers Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details
Apr 10, 2019•26 min•Ep. 87
Can screen time for kids really be quality time ? Yes! says Jordan Shapiro the author of "The New Childhood: Raising Kids To Thrive In A Connected World". Can screen time for kids really be quality time? Yes! says Jordan Shapiro the author of The New Childhood: Raising Kids To Thrive In A Connected World. Listen to the full interview. Much of his research for the book included looking at the cultural history of technology. While many parents worry about the impact new technology will have on the...
Apr 03, 2019•18 min•Ep. 86
Psychologist and disaster mental health expert Sarb Johal discusses the likely lasting impacts of the Christchurch terror attacks on children and adolescents. How do children and young people who may have viewed the video of the attack process that? What might parents see and why do children sometimes keep their reactions hidden? Psychologist and disaster mental health expert Sarb Johal discusses the likely lasting impacts of the Christchurch terror attacks on children and adolescents. How do ch...
Mar 27, 2019•17 min•Ep. 85
Nathan Wallis talks with Kathryn about how parents and caregivers can help children cope with the horror of the Christchurch mosque shootings. He says there are simple things to help children move from victimisation feelings linked to trauma, to positive action mode. Nathan Wallis talks with Kathryn about how parents and caregivers can help children cope with the horror of the Christchurch mosque shootings. He says there are simple things to help children move from victimisation feelings linked ...
Mar 20, 2019•19 min•Ep. 84
Children do best with at least three hours active play every day, according to occupational therapist Angela Hanscom, and the many of today's kids who don't get that are weaker and less able to concentrate than previous generations. Children do best with at least three hours of active play every day, according to occupational therapist Angela Hanscom, and the many who get less than that are weaker and less able to concentrate than previous, more active generations. Listen to Angela Hanscom in co...
Mar 13, 2019•17 min•Ep. 83
Opening up children's minds to the philosophical questions we usually put aside in everyday life can help them learn better, concentrate longer, develop social skills and even minimise bullying, says "community philosopher" Dr Vanya Kovach. Opening up children's minds to the philosophical questions we usually put aside in everyday life can help them learn better, concentrate longer, develop social skills and even minimise bullying, says "community philosopher" Dr Vanya Kovach. Kovach co-ordinate...
Mar 06, 2019•21 min•Ep. 82
CEO of Spectrum Education Karen Tui Boyes on how best to develop your child as a thinker by modelling your own behaviour. CEO of Spectrum Education Karen Tui Boyes on how best to develop your child as a thinker by modelling your own behaviour. Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details
Feb 27, 2019•25 min•Ep. 81
The struggles of children who haven't yet developed 'executive skills' - and therefore are prone to being impulsive, chaotic, forgetful and inattentive - can exasperate parents and lead to dysfunction in a family. People need to identify this lack for what it is - a kind of developmental disability that needs some special attention, according to a parenting consultant. The struggles of children who haven't yet developed executive skills - and therefore are prone to being impulsive, chaotic, forg...
Feb 20, 2019•9 min•Ep. 80
What goes on in the anxious mind ? There's been a lot of talk lately about young people feeling overwhelmed, anxious and confused. So what's the best way of getting these feelings under control? Gwendoline Smith, a clinical psychologist and mental health expert, is especially well versed on dealing with youth anxiety. Her latest book on the topic is called The Book of Knowing. She also works closely with the University of Auckland's Faculty of Education to provide guidance to school counsellors ...
Feb 13, 2019•19 min•Ep. 79
UK psychotherapist Bob Withers has been in practice for more than 30 years.Late last year an opinion piece he wrote for a British newspaper attracted considerable attention. The headline was - In 20 years we'll look back on the rush to change our children's sex as one of the darkest chapters in medicine. The reaction was swift, support from many quarters, hostility from others. Bob Withers tells Kathryn why he wrote the article. UK psychotherapist Bob Withers has been in practice for more than 3...
Feb 06, 2019•24 min•Ep. 78
Want to be a happier parent? KJ Dell'Antonia is the former lead editor of the New York Times Motherlode blog, who over the years has asked and answered plenty of questions about parenting. She says the one she was most intrigued by was 'why isn't it any fun?' She has advice for looking after kids as they grow into their tweens and teens. Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details
Jan 30, 2019•18 min•Ep. 77
