Getting a good night sleep can be tough on a sticky summer night. It can be even harder for young kids - and their parents! - whose sleep schedules have been put out of whack by holiday adventures and longer daylight hours. Should parents be concerned if their children aren't getting enough shut-eye? And as the end of the holidays approach and a return to school looms what are some of the ways to get back into a good sleep routine? Professor Sarah Blunden is a clinical psychologist and Head of P...
Jan 23, 2024•20 min•Ep. 286
If you're the eldest child, the stereotype would have us believe you're responsible, conscientious and a bit bossy. Second born - more chilled out and creative and the youngest? Spoilt! But does birth order really influence personality? The evidence is not really there, says neuroscience educator Nathan Wallis, and personality is more to do with the circumstances into which we are born. If you're the eldest child, the stereotype would have us believe you're responsible, conscientious and a bit b...
Dec 20, 2023•15 min•Ep. 285
If you've ever asked a young child how their day was, you might have got a couple of responses - either a blank stare, or a list of every single thing that had happened to them that day. Judith Hudson studies memory development in children and the development of children's understanding of time. Professor of Psychology at Rutgers University in New Jersey, she says the way parents interact and talk to their children helps develop the child's memory for the past, and their ability to think about a...
Dec 13, 2023•24 min•Ep. 284
Speech and Language Therapist Christian Wright on what NOT to say to parents concerned about their child's speech and language development. And he'll share strategies for dealing with these questions if they do arise. Speech and Language Therapist Christian Wright on what NOT to say to parents concerned about their child's speech and language development. And he'll share strategies for dealing with these questions if they do arise. Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details...
Dec 06, 2023•18 min•Ep. 283
A new podcast that's helping parents of disabled children navigate the tricky issues of sexuality, sex and sexual harm. The Courage Club brings parents of medically disabled or neuro-divergent kids together with experts over five episodes, seeking to encourage conversations that might normally be taboo or down the pecking order in terms of things to worry about. It's designed as a resource to help keep disabled kids safe. Kathryn is joined by Emily Writes, the Courage Club's host and mother to t...
Nov 29, 2023•21 min•Ep. 282
Getting "jollied along" by a parent won't help an upset teenager learn how to deal with their own difficult feelings, says clinical psychologist Zara Mansoor. "One thing that's really challenging for parents - or just adults - is we want to get in, we want to fix things, we want to make things better. Actually, the most powerful thing we can often do is just sit with and keep ourselves calm," she tells Kathryn Ryan. Getting "jollied along" by a parent won't help an upset teenager learn how to de...
Nov 22, 2023•23 min•Ep. 281
Sextortion, kids being groomed online, nudes being sent around kids, who should be blamed for that? Sex therapist Jo Robertson has advice about how to have those tricky chats with children and teens. Sextortion, kids being groomed online, nudes being sent around kids, who should be blamed for that? Sex therapist Jo Robertson has advice about how to have those tricky chats with children and teens. Just last week police asked Taranaki intermediate and high schools to warn students about internet s...
Nov 15, 2023•15 min•Ep. 280
If you ever ask a teenager what they're going to do after high school, you may notice them recoil. For many students in their final years of school this is an anxiety-inducing question. Career Coach Tracey Beard says that if we really want to help, we need to re-think 'the career conversation'. Tracey is the CEO, what she calls 'the chief encouragement officer', at Career Matters, a coaching service for students and caregivers. If you ever ask a teenager what they're going to do after high schoo...
Nov 08, 2023•22 min•Ep. 279
Bestselling author and psychologist Michael Carr-Gregg talks to Kathryn about creating and fostering the grandparent-grandchild relationship. Throughout time it has been a special relationship, but as lives get busier, retirement age stretches out and technology absorbs children - we're looking at key ways to navigate the complexities of connecting and staying in touch. Dr Carr-Gregg's latest book Grandparents - is a practical guide to navigating being a Nana or Grandad. Parenting : Harmonious g...
Oct 25, 2023•24 min•Ep. 278
Parents often say they never stop worrying about their offspring. But how does parenting change as your children become adults? Are today's adult children more dependent on their elders for longer? What is the roadmap for parents here? Neuroplasticity educator and parenting expert, father and grandfather, Nathan Wallis joins Kathryn. Parents often say they never stop worrying about their offspring. But how does parenting change as your children become adults? Are today's adult children more depe...
Oct 18, 2023•20 min•Ep. 277
When a teen lacks confidence in studying for their exams, a "leadership nudge" from a supportive parent becomes essential, says parenting coach Joseph Driessen. When a teen lacks confidence in studying for their exams, a "leadership nudge" from a supportive parent becomes essential, says parenting coach Joseph Driessen. study Listen to the interview Show you're on their team Preparing for exams is quite different to absorbing knowledge at school on a day-to-day basis, he tells Kathryn Ryan. The ...
Oct 04, 2023•20 min•Ep. 276
Tweens may pull out "teenager moves" but they are not the new teenagers, says parenting educator Michelle Mitchell. As nine-to-twelve-year-olds learn how to respond to the world, they need strong guidance and supervision, she tells Kathryn Ryan. "They're very much looking to adults to give them practical tangible strategies to get them through the day." Tweens may pull out "teenager moves" but they are not the new teenagers, says parenting educator Michelle Mitchell. As nine-to-twelve-year-olds ...
Sep 27, 2023•14 min•Ep. 275
Mohamed Alansari, senior researcher for the New Zealand Council for Educational Research joins Kathryn to talk about how to improve outcomes for growing Te Reo Maori in schools. Which schools are doing it well - and what practices could other schools learn from them? He highlights research from a new report. Mohamed Alansari, senior researcher for the New Zealand Council for Educational Research joins Kathryn to talk about how to improve outcomes for growing Te Reo Māori in schools. Which school...
Sep 20, 2023•9 min•Ep. 274
Speech and language therapist Christian Wright talks to Kathryn about what parents can do to stimulate pre-schoolers language development. We'll also look at how to identify when there might be delays in development. Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details
Sep 07, 2023•20 min•Ep. 273
Are you struggling with your child's tantrums? Michael Hempseed is encouraging parents to rethink tantrums and anger, and instead of punishing a child for lashing out, he says it's vital to understand the root cause of the behaviour. Michael Hempseed is the director of Frontiers of Hope, a specialist mental health service in Christchurch, and has worked with Dame Sue Bagshaw for many years at Te Tahi Youth, the youth health centre that she founded. Together they have written Calming Your Child: ...
Aug 31, 2023•20 min•Ep. 272
Susie discusses the the thorny issue of limiting screentime for children with Dave Atkinson from the Parenting Place, and how do deal with the fallout from that. Susie discusses the the thorny issue of limiting screentime for children with Dave Atkinson from the Parenting Place, and how do deal with the fallout from that. no caption Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details
Aug 16, 2023•16 min•Ep. 271
The Japanese bonsai - a "perfect little tree" that thrives only with lots and lots of care - is a good metaphor for children raised to be reliant on high levels of support, says clinical psychologist Judith Locke. Despite their parents' best intentions, 'Bonsai children' learn to expect that it's other people who'll make them happy and successful, she tells Susie Ferguson. The Japanese bonsai - a "perfect little tree" that thrives only with lots and lots of care - is a good metaphor for children...
Aug 10, 2023•21 min•Ep. 270
Learning to manage difficult feelings is the biggest job of childhood. says psychologist Angela North, and kids need a parent's help to do this. Along with Dr Steven Mackenzie, Angela has written the new book Mindfulness At Play - a guide to help adults be in the moment with a child's emotional experience. Learning to manage difficult feelings is the biggest job of childhood. says psychologist Angela North, and kids need a parent's help to do this. Along with Dr Steven Mackenzie, Angela has writ...
Aug 02, 2023•21 min•Ep. 269
Kathryn talks with parenting coach and education consultant Joseph Driessen about parents can help their children develop independent learning habits. Kathryn talks with parenting coach and education consultant Joseph Driessen about parents can help their children develop independent learning habits. Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details
Jul 13, 2023•18 min•Ep. 268
Declining regular school attendance has been the focus of a lot of political debate here, and in term one last year only 46 percent of students reached the benchmark for regular attendance. It's also a hot topic across the Tasman where a Senate inquiry is looking into the problem in Australian schools. Michael Hawton is an Australian registered psychologist, a former school teacher and the founder of Parentshop which is a resource hub for parents, educators and child family specialists. He says ...
Jun 29, 2023•21 min•Ep. 267
There's nothing wrong with dyslexic people, they just need help to navigate a world wired for language processors rather than visual thinkers, says retired psychologist Laughton King. He says parents and teachers need to focus on helping dyslexic kids rather than sabotaging their learning. Expecting a dyslexic child to thrive in a neurotypical education system is like filling a diesel engine with petrol, a retired psychologist says. Laughton King is on a personal crusade to help parents and teac...
May 25, 2023•22 min•Ep. 266
Watching your teenager get behind the wheel can be nerve-wracking for any parent, but neuroplasticity educator and parenting expert Nathan Wallis has some suggestions to make it slightly less scary for all concerned. Watching your teenager get behind the wheel can be nerve-wracking for any parent, but it doesn't have to be scary, says neuroplasticity educator and parenting expert Nathan Wallis. Wallis has recently teamed up with professional driver Greg Murphy and the vehicle safety and training...
May 18, 2023•20 min•Ep. 265
Māori academic Linda Tuhiwai Smith tells Kathryn Ryan she often cried while writing her new series of therapeutic storybooks for kids. Māori academic Linda Tuhiwai Smith says she often cried while writing her new series of therapeutic storybooks for kids. "Some of the biggest witnesses and victims of violence are children and yet we don't speak to them directly about these matters and we don't let them speak to us in a sense," she tells Kathryn Ryan. Listen to the interview The books, which are ...
May 10, 2023•15 min•Ep. 264
Parents determined to protect their children from life's everyday challenges can inadvertently stifle their emotional development, says clinical psychologist and mother of two Jacqui Maguire. Parents determined to protect their children from life's everyday challenges can inadvertently stifle their emotional development, says clinical psychologist and mother-of-two Jacqui Maguire, "If we remove obstacles, or we swoop into fix, our children never get to feel pain, they don't understand disappoint...
May 04, 2023•20 min•Ep. 263
The newly developed Common Practice Model is going to inform how literacy and maths is taught in primary and secondary schools in the coming years. But what does that mean, and what are the teaching principles behind it? Work carried out by the New Zealand Council for Educational Research was used by the Ministry of Education to develop the common-practice model. Kathryn speaks to Mohamed Alansari, a senior researcher at the New Zealand Council for Educational Research. The newly developed Commo...
Apr 27, 2023•16 min•Ep. 262
As the school holidays near an end and term 2 is about to begin, many children have their friend groups sorted, others are still finding their feet. Today we're talking about loneliness at school and how to survive lunchtime. Ellie Gwilliam is a content editor and presenter for Parenting Place and the mother of three daughters. Parenting Place is a charity sharing resources for parents, and offering family coaching and courses. no caption As the school holidays near an end and Term Two is about ...
Apr 20, 2023•17 min•Ep. 261
Author and parenting coach Maggie Dent shares advice for parents who are wondering what to do when their child only wants them or your co-parent to do things for them. Does your toddler suddenly prefer your co-parent? It's not you, it's them, says parenting guru Maggie Dent. She says young children are only capable of holding a complete attachment to one person at a time and it's "quite normal" for toddlers to suddenly decide that only one specific parent will do. Dent, who has four sons and sev...
Apr 13, 2023•19 min•Ep. 260
Advice for parents with children experiencing feeding challenges - when it's more than just "fussy eating". Rebecca Barnard is a Christchurch based Occupational Therapist whose private practice supports children who have a range of complications that impact their ability to eat, try new foods, and enjoy mealtimes. These could be phyiscal, sensory or psychological. How should parents identify they're in challenging territory - what are strategies to resolve feeding challenges, and what help is av...
Apr 06, 2023•19 min•Ep. 259
Parents can help their teenage children avoid patterns of emotional overreaction, says psychologist Michael Hawton. His new book The Anxiety Coach is a guide for parents on how to help young people manage their emotions and develop resilience. Parents can guide their teenage children away from patterns of emotional overreaction, says psychologist Michael Hawton. His new book The Anxiety Coach is a guide for helping young people manage their emotions and develop resilience. "We need to give kids ...
Mar 29, 2023•20 min•Ep. 258
The average Kiwi child first encounters internet porn at 12. To prevent the unsafe and unrealistic sex depicted in porn from being normalised for a child, therapist Jo Robertson recommends parents offer contrasting information a couple of years beforehand. When should parents start talking to kids about sex - and what do you actually say? With the average Kiwi child first seeing porn at 12, the old-fashioned idea that one "birds and the bees" talk will suffice as sex education is really problema...
Mar 22, 2023•23 min•Ep. 257
