Do you have a little one in an oversized backpack about to head through the school gates for the first time? It's an exciting and sometimes scary time for kids and parents alike, and Parental as Anything is here to help you get through this enormous milestone! Maggie Dent and child psychologist Dr Kaylene Henderson give you all the tips you need to help you and your child nail those first days and weeks of school. The advice provided in this podcast is general in nature and does not take into ac...
Jan 12, 2025•23 min•Transcript available on Metacast Starting high school is one of the most exciting and scariest transitions of childhood, for our tweens and for parents too! So how do we help our kids prepare for this milestone, and manage all the ups and downs of Year 7? Maggie Dent and youth coach Claire Eaton share their practical tips for the weeks before school starts, routines to keep your tween on track, and how to handle rough patches. The advice provided in this podcast is general in nature and does not take into account your personal ...
Jan 12, 2025•23 min•Transcript available on Metacast School resistance and school refusal are a growing concern for our kids and teens. While many kids will complain about school at some point along the way, for some kids the issues is much bigger. Some kids just can’t. Maggie Dent talks to education consultant and former principal Adam Voight about how to tackle school refusal head on. We explore the best ways to advocate for your child, to how to find support, plus families who went through it and came out the other side. And we ask the big ques...
Jan 12, 2025•26 min•Transcript available on Metacast Making friends is tough at any age, but for kids and teens, who are still mastering social skills, it can be an emotional rollercoaster. It can be so hard to watch your kids bump through the ups and downs of friendships, and even harder to know what to do to help them through the dramas of it all! Maggie Dent and Bec Sparrow come together in this episode, with parent educator Claire Orange, to give you advice on what you can do as a parent to help your kids navigate the often-tricky world of fri...
Jan 12, 2025•33 min•Transcript available on Metacast Homework! Is there anything that causes more battles at the kitchen table? Whether you are for or against it, it can be a pain for kids and for parents, amidst the juggle of after school activities, struggles with learning, even just good old after-school burnout. Maggie Dent chats to Maria Cook, the founding principal of Honeywood Primary School in Perth, about how to manage homework if your kids are getting it, and why you shouldn’t worry if they are not! The advice provided in this podcast is...
Jan 12, 2025•23 min•Transcript available on Metacast There is so much emphasis on the last two years of high school, and not all of it is good! Some teenagers become highly anxious and are weighed down by pressure to get top marks for university – while others create stress for us parents when they can’t seem to get motivated, stay organised or manage their time. Bec Sparrow is joined by Claire Eaton, a youth coach and author of Hello High School. Together they discuss strategies for getting study ready, planning, motivating teens and what to do w...
Jan 12, 2025•26 min•Transcript available on Metacast Hey parents! We see you there in your big sunglasses, hiding behind your summer read, trying to pretend January will last forever! But like it or not - the new school year is fast approaching. And here at Parental As Anything, we want to help you out. We've delved into our archives and pulled out all the best advice for our Back to School Special Series. Whether you are farewelling your baby for their first day of school, or shoving your giant teen out the door to begin their final year - there ...
Jan 05, 2025•3 min•Transcript available on Metacast It’s normal for teenagers to push away parents and think we’re totally embarrassing, so how can we keep connected to them? Parents from the Parental As Anything: Teens community have shared their best hacks on how they bond with their teenagers.
Sep 17, 2024•19 min•Transcript available on Metacast By the age of 15 more than 50 per cent of teenagers have looked at porn. For teenage boys, this can quickly become a habit. Research points to a link between porn use and sexual violence, with young men the most likely offenders. So how can we help our teens understand that curiosity around sex is normal but the violence and degradation depicted in porn is not? And how can we help set them up to have healthy, respectful relationships?
Sep 10, 2024•31 min•Transcript available on Metacast The last years of high school can be full of pressure and stress – but what do you do if your teenager just can’t seem to get organised or manage their time? Some teenagers become highly anxious and are weighed down by pressure to get top marks for university – while others just can’t seem to get motivated. Youth coach Claire Eaton joins Bec Sparrow to share strategies on getting study ready, planning, how to motivate teens and what to do when the pressure to achieve becomes too much....
Sep 03, 2024•25 min•Transcript available on Metacast Masturbation and self-pleasure are a normal part of exploring sexuality, but that doesn't mean it's not awkward to talk about with our teens. Bec Sparrow shares her advice on talking to teens and tweens about exploring their own bodies and what to do if there is social pressure to overshare.
Aug 27, 2024•8 min•Transcript available on Metacast There has been a huge rise in online bullying – and it can be subtle and sophisticated – with devastating impacts on victim’s mental health. These days bullies are on our teenager’s screens 24/7 via Snapchat, TikTok, Instagram and WhatsApp and there’s no escaping the torture. How do we protect our teens online? What steps should we take if we find out our child is a target of cyberbullying? And what should we do if we find out our child is a cyberbully?...
Aug 20, 2024•29 min•Transcript available on Metacast Vapes come in fun, fruity flavours and are easy to hide, part of the reason they’re so appealing to teenagers. But what should you do if you catch your teen vaping? And are they worse than the cigarettes of our hey-day? Bec Sparrow shares the steps to take if your teenager is secretly vaping, how to help your adolescent resist social pressure to inhale and the importance of busting myths around the health risks of vapes and e-cigarettes.
Aug 13, 2024•6 min•Transcript available on Metacast First loves can be all consuming – so what should you do if your teen wants to have their new boyfriend or girlfriend sleep over? From unwanted pregnancies and contraception to STDs and consent, there’s a lot to navigate– for parents and teenagers.
Aug 06, 2024•26 min•Transcript available on Metacast Adolescents and young people are most at risk of getting an eating disorder, with the average age of onset between 12 and 25. And eating disorders are on the rise, with a 21% increase in disordered eating in the past decade. What makes teens vulnerable to eating disorders? What can we do to protect them? And, how can we support them if they do?
Jul 30, 2024•22 min•Transcript available on Metacast Teenagers are spending more time than ever on their phones – they are on devices up to 8 hours a day. And that’s when they’re not at school! Of course, your teen won't see their excessive screentime as an issue. Phones are a way for teens to connect but they also distract and get in the way of sleep. So what can you do if your teenager is constantly attached to their phone?
Jul 23, 2024•8 min•Transcript available on Metacast You find fresh cuts on your teenager’s body – what do you do next? Self-harm can be a way for teens to cope with big emotions, anxiety and distress and it's more common than parents might think.
Jul 16, 2024•25 min•Transcript available on Metacast Teen boys are being pumped fitness content on social media, pushing many to build bulk and get "jacked". Researchers are worried this 'gymfluencer' content is leading to a spike in body dysmorphia among young men. What can you do if your teenage son is worrying about how they look? And how can you help if they are developing worrying habits, like daily gym sessions and protein shakes?
Jul 09, 2024•7 min•Transcript available on Metacast Today's teens are the "anxious generation" and anxiety is on the rise. It impacts their mental health and their ability to cope with school, friendships and everyday tasks.
Jul 02, 2024•25 min•Transcript available on Metacast Does your teen love nothing more than slothing about on the sofa? And the mere idea of a walk, bike ride or jumping on the trampoline seems like too much effort? We know that movement and exercise is good for our mental and physical health, but knowing that, and getting our teen to muster the energy to do it are two different things. Bec Sparrow gives her tips on how to get your teen moving.
Jun 25, 2024•7 min•Transcript available on Metacast Female teachers are being sworn at, sexually harassed and physically threatened in high schools by male students. These young men are under the thrall of Andrew Tate and other online influencers and are taking his misogynist ideas into the classroom.
Jun 18, 2024•27 min•Transcript available on Metacast Your daughter asks you to buy her a vibrator. What should you do? Bec Sparrow on why sex positivity for our teens is important, why there’s still a taboo around female masturbation and the awkward, but important, conversations to have around pleasure.
Jun 11, 2024•5 min•Transcript available on Metacast When they’re little, our kids idolise us. Then, they become teenagers and start to push us away, refusing to chat and rolling their eyes. What can parents do to stay connected, when suddenly you're no longer the Taylor Swift or Drake of your teen's life? And why do they pull away from us in the first place? Dr Justin Coulson joins Bec Sparrow to explain what is going on, and gives tips on how to stay close to your teenager. (PS If you have a trick on how you have managed to stay connected, we’d ...
Jun 04, 2024•21 min•Transcript available on Metacast Has your tween bugged you to buy them fancy face cream or a Drunk Elephant serum? Younger and younger teenagers are lusting after super expensive — and age-inappropriate — beauty products that they’ve seen on social media. Bec Sparrow is here to help you know what to do if your tween or teen is breaking the bank with creams, make-up and serums. The advice in this podcast is general and does not consider your personal situation. If you require further advice specific to your needs, please consult...
May 28, 2024•7 min•Transcript available on Metacast What do you do when you don't like your teen's mates? Friends are so important for our teens, so how can you guide them to make good choices when it comes to buddies? Should you try and intervene, or will that only backfire?
May 21, 2024•22 min•Transcript available on Metacast How do you know when your teen’s gaming habit levels-up from hobby to obsession? Once teens are on their gaming consoles, it can be really tough to get them to press pause. Even to go to the toilet, eat dinner or go to sleep. Bec Sparrow uncovers the red flags to look for if your teenager’s gaming is becoming obsessive, and gives you practical tips on how to turbo boost your tech and gaming boundaries.
May 14, 2024•7 min•Transcript available on Metacast You pick up your teenager from a party, see wasted kids stumbling around, vomiting in bushes and you realise they’re no longer playing pin the tail on the donkey. How do we teach our kids to have a healthy relationship with alcohol? And is it ever okay to give your teen booze? In this Parental As Anything: Teens, Paul Dillon, the director of Drug and Alcohol Research and Training Australia, joins host Bec Sparrow to talk you through how to set boundaries, how to keep your child safe and what to ...
May 07, 2024•29 min•Transcript available on Metacast From fancy drink bottles to the latest tech, teenagers want lots of stuff they (and you) can’t afford and don’t need. So how can you push back from the constant barrage of demands? In this bite-sized Dear Bec episode, Bec Sparrow explains why giving teens what they want isn’t always good for them and that what they really crave, money can’t buy.
Apr 30, 2024•12 min•Transcript available on Metacast OMG. You catch your teen hassling for nude pics. What the hell do you do? How to have those awkward conversations with your teenagers about sexting, consent and protecting yourself online.
Apr 23, 2024•24 min•Transcript available on Metacast Teenage sex. Anxiety. Underage drinking. Porn. Phone addiction.
Apr 14, 2024•3 min•Transcript available on Metacast 
