It’s common for children to experiment with gender roles throughout childhood. However, up to two per cent of Australians identify as transgender or gender diverse. Being trans or gender diverse is part of the natural spectrum of human diversity. In this episode, we sit down with Associate Professor Michelle Telfer, Director the Gender Service at The Royal Children's Hospital, Melbourne. As well as understanding a little more about just what gender diversity is, we cover how parents can support ...
Sep 29, 2021•35 min•Season 3Ep. 4
The Royal Children's Hospital recently streamed a live webinar on our Facebook page - all about the physical effects of COVID-19 in children. The webinar received so much positive feedback from the community, we're replaying it here on the Kids Health Info podcast. What's more, it features two of our podcast hosts - Dr Anthea Rhodes and Associate Professor Margie Danchin! They're joined by Dr Sarah McNab, Professor Andrew Steer and Dr Shidan Tosif to discuss the Delta variant, COVID illness in c...
Sep 16, 2021•1 hr 3 min
Asthma is one of the most common childhood conditions, in fact one in four children in Australia will be diagnosed with asthma. But are all breathing concerns in children, including wheeze, asthma? For this episode we're joined by Dr Shivanthan Shanthikumar, a paediatric respiratory specialist at the RCH, who helps decipher what exactly asthma is, how it’s managed and how asthma can change over childhood. You can find more information on our Kids Health Info website including factsheets, informa...
Sep 13, 2021•28 min•Season 3Ep. 3
Anxiety is a normal response to situations, in fact one in four people will experience anxiety at some point in their lives. But what do you do when your child or teenager is suffering from anxiety, and it isn’t going away? How do you help them when they won’t talk to you about it? In this episode we do a deep dive into anxiety in our teens and children with special guest and psychologist Dr Zeffie Poulakis. We chat about how to recognise when the anxiety is becoming more than a response to a si...
Aug 23, 2021•56 min•Season 3Ep. 2
As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to dominate our lives, the focus has now shifted to the vaccine and its role in helping the world return to a new normal. On the back of the COVID-19 vaccine being approved in Australia for children aged 12 and over, right now is a timely opportunity to chat about the vaccine in kids. Is it safe? How does it work? Why do children need to be vaccinated? Host, paediatrician, and mother of four, Dr Anthea Rhodes sits down with Dr Margie Danchin. Margie is a paedia...
Aug 09, 2021•42 min•Season 3Ep. 1
With traditional cigarettes in decline, the e-cigarette or 'vape' has rapidly filled the void. Boasting attractive flavours and a promise of no harmful chemicals, vaping is sometimes perceived as a safe alternative to smoking. Is it? In this episode, Doctors Anthea Rhodes and Lexi Frydenberg are joined by Doctor Moya Vandeleur, a paediatric respiratory specialist, to get the facts on vaping and e-cigarettes. The discussion covers the health risks for developing bodies, the presence of addictive ...
Jun 21, 2021•27 min•Season 2Ep. 10
Changes in eating habits can be very common in childhood but in some instances these changes can be the early signs of disordered eating and eating disorders. In this podcast episode we sit down with Dr Michele Yeo, a paediatrician at the RCH who specialises in adolescent health, and in particular eating disorders. Michele discusses how parents can spot the signs of an eating disorder, what to do if you think your child has an eating disorder and how to tackle the societal norms of beauty standa...
Jun 08, 2021•35 min•Season 2Ep. 9
In this episode, hosts Dr Margie Danchin and Dr Lexi Frydenberg tackle the big topic of head injuries and concussion with special guest Professor Vicki Anderson, neuropsychologist and Head of Psychology at The Royal Children's Hospital, Melbourne. Our expert team discuss the signs and symptoms of head injury, how it should be treated, and break down some of the most common myths. With lots of media interest in this topic right now, we thought we'd give our listeners a chance to join in the discu...
May 26, 2021•31 min•Season 2Ep. 8
Did you know 15 per cent of primary school children have some difficulties with learning? In this episode hosts Dr Lexi Frydenberg and Dr Anthea Rhodes chat through what a learning difficulty is, if learning difficulties affect speech and language, and how to work with your child’s school to support their learning. Our special guest is Associate Professor Jill Sewell, a paediatrician who coaches parents through what to look out for at a young age and the pathways available to them. You can find ...
Apr 27, 2021•40 min•Season 2Ep. 7
When you're a parent or carer of a child or children in need of lots of medical care, the healthcare system can be both a saviour and a source of frustration. Kate Jones and Mandy Hose, hosts of the popular Too Peas in a Podcast, know just what it's like to deal with the trauma of diagnosis, being overloaded with medical information and being there for their children through it all. In this episode Kate and Mandy join Dr Lexi Frydenberg and Dr Anthea Rhodes, to share their journey of coping with...
Apr 08, 2021•31 min•Season 2Ep. 6
2021 Australian of the Year, Grace Tame, has helped start a national discussion about child grooming and sexual assault. While it's a difficult discussion to have, it is an incredibly important one for parents. In this episode, Anthea and Margie sit down with Associate Professor Anne Smith, a paediatrician at the RCH who has more than 30 years’ experience dealing with child abuse. What is grooming and how does it start? What are the warning signs to look out for? And what can parents do if they ...
Mar 16, 2021•28 min•Season 2Ep. 5
Is your child still not walking or talking? Are you worried this may be due an underlying problem? In this episode hosts Dr Margie Danchin and Dr Anthea Rhodes sit down with Associate Professor Gehan Roberts to understand how development varies in every single child and if there is an order in which development should occur. We also touch on myths around birth order and gender, and provide practical tips for parents on how they can support their child in reaching developmental milestones. You ca...
Mar 02, 2021•28 min•Season 2Ep. 4
Recognising Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) isn’t easy, and some parents may be wondering if their child’s behaviour or poor concentration is something to be concerned about. In this episode hosts Dr Margie and Dr Lexi sit down with Associate Professor Daryl Efron to go through the signs of ADHD and what it means for kids, both at home and school. There's an honest and insightful discussion about treatment, including medication. And this episode provides a message of hope and pos...
Feb 16, 2021•27 min•Season 2Ep. 3
In this episode, hosts Dr Lexi Frydenberg and Dr Anthea Rhodes chat all things puberty with endocrinologist Dr Michele O’Connell including how to have ‘the talk’ with your kids and what it means if your child may be going through puberty a little bit earlier, or even later than their friends. The team also discuss puberty in children with disabilities or differences. You can find more information about puberty on Raising Children Network, Amaze for children with autism, and Puberty and Special G...
Feb 02, 2021•30 min•Season 2Ep. 2
The year 2020 was challenging for most, particularly our younger generations with more children suffering from anxiety than ever before. In our first episode for the new year, we chat to Dr Ric Haslam, Director of Mental Health, about how to talk to teens, what signs to look out for in each age group and next steps if tools like meditation or exercise don’t work. You can find more information about mental health in infants and young children, and adolescents on our Kids Health Information websit...
Jan 19, 2021•26 min•Season 2Ep. 1
Headaches and tummy aches are never fun, and when your child has one it's normal to be worried about the cause, or wonder how to stop the pain. In this episode Dr Amanda Stock from our Emergency Department talks about the physical and non-physical causes of headaches and tummy aches, how to treat them at home and what you should do if you think something is not quite right. You can find more information about headaches and tummy aches on our Kids Health Information website. Don't forget to sign ...
Nov 10, 2020•26 min•Season 1Ep. 10
In this episode, Professor Sonia Grover, Gynaecology Director at the RCH sits down with hosts and paediatricians Margie Danchin and Anthea Rhodes to chat through all things gynae issues in young girls including tips for parents on how to treat vulvovaginitis at home, what to do if a child has vulval pain and what labial adhesions are. You can find more information about vulvovaginitis and vulval care in children and teenagers on our Kids Health Information website. Don't forget to sign up to the...
Oct 26, 2020•19 min•Season 1Ep. 9
Is my child’s eczema caused by allergies? Are molluscum contagious? What do you do if you think the rash is serious? These questions and more are answered as hosts Dr Lexi Frydenberg and Dr Margie Danchin sit down with Associate Professor David Orchard, Director of Dermatology at the RCH. You can find further information about eczema, molluscum, hives, rashes, hand, foot and mouth and slapped check on our Kids Health Info website. Enjoying the RCH Kids Health Info podcast? Don't forget to leave ...
Oct 13, 2020•26 min•Season 1Ep. 8
Do you know the most effective ways to treat nits and lice, what causes school sores and if you can catch worms from your household pet? Hosts Anthea Rhodes and Lexi Frydenberg sat down with infectious diseases expert Dr Josh Osowicki to chat through all of the gross things kids seem to get, why they're so common and importantly, how you can treat them at home. You can find further information on worms, school sores and ringworm on our Kids Health Information website. And check out the Better He...
Sep 28, 2020•26 min•Season 1Ep. 7
Penis and foreskin care regularly tops the list of most visited RCH Kids Health Information fact sheets. In this episode, hosts and paediatricians Margie Danchin and Anthea Rhodes speak with Mike O'Brien, Chief of Surgery and Director of Urology at The Royal Children's Hospital, Melbourne. Mike answers some of the common concerns that parents have and explains how boys should look after their penis. There's discussion on when treatment might be necessary and when to seek medical care. Plus, Mike...
Sep 14, 2020•22 min•Season 1Ep. 6
Recognising common respiratory issues in kids can be challenging. What could be causing your child's cough and can you tell the difference when you hear one? In this episode, hosts Lexi Frydenberg and Margie Danchin talk through the specifics of cough, croup and wheeze – what’s what and when to worry, with special guest Professor Sarath Ranganathan, Respiratory Physician at The Royal Children's Hospital, Melbourne. We've got helpful information on asthma, including some educational videos on the...
Aug 31, 2020•25 min•Season 1Ep. 5
Constipation is common in kids, in fact 30 per cent of children will experience it. But what is the best way to treat it? In this episode Anthea and Lexi are joined by Associate Professor Sebastian King, surgeon and bowel specialist at the RCH to talk through how to recognise if it’s a problem, how you can treat it at home and bust some myths about whether laxatives or stimulants can make a bowel lazy. You can view our RCH Kids Health Info fact sheet on constipation for more information. Don't f...
Aug 17, 2020•27 min•Season 1Ep. 4
In this episode Lexi and Margie are joined by Dr Susie Gibb, paediatrician and head of the continence service at the RCH, to find out why children wet the bed, where to go for help, and how families can overcome bedwetting. You can view our RCH Kids Health Info bedwetting fact sheet for more information. Don't forget to sign up to the Kids Health Info podcast newsletter to stay up-to-date with the latest podcast episodes about the health topics you want to hear about.
Aug 03, 2020•26 min•Season 1Ep. 3
Viral illnesses, like the common cold, seem to happen all the time in children. Why do they get a runny nose so often? Is it a sign of a weak immune system? Fever can be confusing for parents, too. What causes fever in children? Is it harming their body? When do you need to seek medical help? Anthea and Lexi put Associate Professor Mike Starr, paediatrician and infectious diseases expert, in the hot seat to find out. For more information, check out these RCH Kids Health Info fact sheets: Fever i...
Jul 20, 2020•23 min•Season 1Ep. 2
In this episode we're discussing COVID-19. What do parents need to watch for? When should children be tested? How can you prepare children for the test? Hosts Margie Danchin and Anthea Rhodes cover these topics and more with special guest Dr Sarah McNab, Director of General Medicine at The Royal Children's Hospital, Melbourne. Useful links: Australians can stay informed about the latest COVID-19 information through the Australian Government Department of Health website. Our Kids Health Info fact...
Jul 06, 2020•23 min•Season 1Ep. 1
The Royal Children's Hospital Kids Health Info podcast is here! In our brand new podcast we'll be discussing common health issues and concerns in children and adolescents, with expert guests from the RCH. Before we get into the health topics, we thought we should introduce the show's hosts: Margie Danchin, Lexi Frydenberg and Anthea Rhodes. In this get-to-know episode we put these three paediatricians on the spot to find out why they choose to work in children's health, share their experience of...
Jul 06, 2020•21 min
