Many teenagers today are sleep deprived. They should be getting between nine and 10 hours sleep each night, yet most get only seven or eight hours. Some get less.
Sleep deprivation is akin to jet lag. It causes young people not to function at their optimum. It can be the cause of poor behaviour, mental health problems and low functioning in the classroom.
Topics: Parenting, Teens, High School, Sleep
Twelve. It’s a glorious age of independence and new opportunities. In Queensland, 12 is the age your child can legally be left home unsupervised, walk to the shops on their own or take the bike to the beach without their parents in tow.
Topics: Parenting, Teens, School Leavers, High School, Primary School
Over-scheduled kids, exhausted parents, no family time? Feel like you're constantly trying to be in three places at once, chauffeuring children to clubs, training and rehearsals?
How much time should kids spend on extra-curricular activities? And how can families stay on top of it all?
Topics: Parenting, Teens, High School, Primary School, Homework, Planning, Sport
“It’s my room. I like it that way!”.
Fed up of nagging and battles over messy bedrooms? Should parents take a step back and give kids autonomy over their own space? Or is this setting them up for disaster later in life?
Topics: Parenting, Teens, High School, Boys
You wouldn't send your kid to a sleepover without telling the parents about your kid's allergies or bedtime bugaboos. Why not use the same logic with screen time rules?
We know it's hard to do. It can feel like you're being judgmental or don't trust the other person to take good care of your child. But if you have strong preferences about what and when your child consumes media, you need to speak up even when you're not around to supervise.
Topics: Parenting, High School, Internet, Primary School, Preschool, Prep, Toddlers
So your child’s doing just fine at school: No problems with grades or homework, seems happy with their friends, no complaints from any of the teaching staff. Do you really need to attend that parent teacher meeting?
Or maybe your child hates school, is always in trouble and you just can’t face seeing their teacher to hear all about it … Again!
Topics: Parenting, Teachers, High School, Primary School, Anxiety
