Parental As Anything (ABC listen)

Getting up in the dead of night to change wet sheets — only for them to be wet again — can be frustrating and worrying. But having a child who regularly wets the bed is way more common than you think. Paediatric specialist Dr Megan Yap talks to Maggie Dent about ways to work through this passing phase.

Anxiety can be crippling for some kids. They can get terrified of the dark, or they don't want to go to school or the thought of exams makes them fall to pieces. And symptoms like a racing heart and negative thoughts can be really scary for little kids as well as teenagers. Maggie Dent talks to psychologist Karen Young from heysigmund.com about how to help your child tackle anxious moments and what you can do if you think your child has anxiety.

And here’s some other places you can find information and help:

Your GPYouth Beyond Blue 1300 22 4636Reach out https://au.reachout.com/Parent help line 1300 30 1300 Kids Helpline 1800 55 1800Lifeline 131114

There are challenges with raising boys that only the parents of sons will understand. Like why they bond using rough play and fart jokes; why your directions need a word limit; and why you can never get them to sit still. In the final episode of the season, Maggie Dent chats to family counsellor Dr Michael Gurian about what boys need, like positive role models, wrestling and classrooms that cater for their excess energy.

Being an only child or single parent can be hard when all your usual social outlets have disappeared into thin air. There is boredom and loneliness and if you're solo parenting, there can be a heavy load to carry. Maggie Dent and parenting author and educator Michelle Mitchell share some great ideas about how to lighten the load if you're parenting on your own, and what you can do if you've got an only child.

How can you stop your kids fighting over every little thing and turn down the volume at home? Maggie Dent shares what to do when your kids are running amok and you just want to go hide in a quiet place. When do you step in and when do you step away, and how can you keep your cool in the process?

Do you have a question for Maggie? Send a voice memo to parentalasanything@abc.net.au; and include your name and contact number.

The advice provided in this podcast is general in nature and does not take into account your personal situation. If you require further advice specific to your needs please consult a professional.

Remember family dinners growing up, sitting around the dinner table talking about your day while secretly feeding the dog pumpkin under the table? Eating together is an important family bonding experience, but what should you do when you can't even get your child off their device and to the dining table? Maggie Dent gives us a dinner-time reality check.

The advice provided in this podcast is general in nature and does not take into account your personal situation. If you require further advice specific to your needs please consult a professional.

Losing your cool and yelling at your kids feels awful. Everyone feels awful, particularly you. And you swear you will never do it again. And then you do. A mum going through one of the most stressful times ever, separation, finds herself desperate to find another way.

The advice provided in this podcast is general in nature and does no take into account your personal situation. If you require further advice specific to your needs please consult a professional.

The day after childcare is politely known in parenting circles as an utter sh*tshow. There are tears, tantrums, and tearing up the house. A mother-of-three seeks out advice on how to help reset her children, and get the week back on track!

Do you have a question for Maggie? Send a voice memo to parentalasanything@abc.net.au; and include your name and contact number.

The advice provided in this podcast is general in nature and does not take into account your personal situation. If you require further advice specific to your needs please consult a professional.

Technology can be captivating, but what happens when the real world dulls in comparison? A mum is desperate to understand and connect with her tween who seems disinterested in anything outside of screens. Maggie Dent has some ideas on where to begin.

The advice provided in this podcast is general in nature and does no take into account your personal situation. If you require further advice specific to your needs please consult a professional.

Got a burning question about parenting that you need answered? Looking for some calm, common sense solutions?

Maggie Dent is coming back to answer your sticky, tricky and everyday parenting dilemmas!

Take a deep breath, find a quiet spot, and record a voice memo. Then email it to us: parentalasanything@abc.net.au

Does your kid clam up and hide behind your legs when people try to talk to them? Is your teen too shy to socialize? Shyness can be really stressful and hard to understand if especially if you aren't shy! Maggie Dent tells how we can help our kids find their bravery in a gentle way.

Do you have a question for Maggie? Send a voice memo to parentalasanything@abc.net.au; and include your name and contact number.

The advice provided in this podcast is general in nature and does not take into account your personal situation. If you require further advice specific to your needs please consult a professional.

Resilience is a good attribute to encourage in our kids. But what if your child is a perfectionist who gives up at the slightest hint of failure? A laidback dad seeks out advice on his son's perfectionist tendencies. How can we teach our kids to fail, and fail often?

Do you have a question for Maggie? Send a voice memo to parentalasanything@abc.net.au; and include your name and contact number.

The advice provided in this podcast is general in nature and does not take into account your personal situation. If you require further advice specific to your needs please consult a professional.

When parenting styles clash, it's hard. Throw in a mother-in-law, and things get that little bit more complicated. With a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity at her fingertips, today's caller is choosing to hand over a large part of parenting to her mother-in-law. Only, her parenting style is very different. Suggestions on how to parent differently have fallen on deaf ears, so what's next?

Do you have a question for Maggie? Send a voice memo to parentalasanything@abc.net.au; and include your name and contact number.

The advice provided in this podcast is general in nature and does not take into account your personal situation. If you require further advice specific to your needs please consult a professional.

Party, party, party! A desperate call for help about an out-of-control teenager. She's sneaking out, drinking, and disappearing from where she's meant to be. What's normal, what's not…and what's a parent to do? It's the first question in this new special series Help Me Maggie — where Maggie turns parenting agony aunt.

(For great, balanced information to give to your teenager about drug and alcohol use, Maggie recommends DARTA, Reach Out, The Brave Program and headspace).

Do you have a question for Maggie? Send a voice memo to parentalasanything@abc.net.au; and include your name and contact number. The advice provided in this podcast is general in nature and does not take into account your personal situation. If you require further advice specific to your needs please consult a professional.

All kids lie. At first, their tiny pre-school attempts at manipulation and dishonesty are amusing. So, when does it start to tip over into concerning? And what can you do about it? A concerned mum-of-three is searching for the truth and wondering if it's actually karma….

Do you have a question for Maggie? Send a voice memo to parentalasanything@abc.net.au; and include your name and contact number.

The advice provided in this podcast is general in nature and does not take into account your personal situation. If you require further advice specific to your needs please consult a professional.

There are many stereotypes around only children; that they're too adult, too spoilt, and lonely. One mother is on a mission to rail against it and raise a happy, well-adjusted child. The only question is: how?

Do you have a question for Maggie? Send a voice memo to parentalasanything@abc.net.au; and include your name and contact number.

The advice provided in this podcast is general in nature and does not take into account your personal situation. If you require further advice specific to your needs please consult a professional.

Staying up late, whispering secrets, and eating too much sugar with your best mates. What's not to love about sleepovers? But how do we protect our kids from potential threats, and how do you know who to trust? Maggie Dent talks this worried mum through the need-to-knows of sleepovers.

The advice provided in this podcast is general in nature and does not take into account your personal situation. If you require further advice specific to your needs please consult a professional.

Child safety resources Maggie mentioned in this episode are the book Some Secrets Should Never Be Kept, by Jayneen Sanders and website Safe4Kids.

Telling a child someone they love has died will be one of the toughest things you'll ever have to do. Grief counsellor Karen Ferry explains why talking to kids honestly about death and helping them navigate their feelings will mean way more to them than putting on a happy face and pretending everything is fine. And you'll meet Maddie Cross, a mum who had to support her children while coping with her own unimaginable grief after her youngest son died.

This episode includes a discussion about how to talk to children about suicide. For support contact Lifeline Australia on 13 11 14 or visit https://www.beyondblue.org.au/

Have you ever Googled 'how to be a good parent'? You're not alone — it's the most Googled question parents have each year. We all put too much pressure on ourselves to be the best possible parents, but the truth is, all you need to be is good enough. Author and educator Dr Susie O'Brien tells Maggie Dent that it's OK for modern parents to lower their standards and let their kids — not to mention themselves — make a few mistakes.

Sometimes the hardest part about raising a child is the disagreements you have with your partner, or ex, about how to do it. Whether you're sharing custody, navigating the politics of a blended family or simply co-parenting in a stable relationship with your child's other parent, getting on the same page can be HARD. Maggie chats to author and family therapist Susan Stiffelman about how to keep the peace with a co-parent.

Have you been breaking up World War III between your kids? Are you and your partner getting on each other's nerves because you’ve spent more time together than you ever have? Maggie Dent and parenting author and educator Justin Coulson talk about ways you can resolve the niggles before they get out of control.

NOTE: This episode deals with arguments between siblings and partners. What we know is that in many homes, this conflict isn’t arguing, it’s family violence, and home is not the safest place. If you’re in immediate danger call 000. You can also call 1800RESPECTto talk to counsellors who are available 24 hours a day 7 days a week. Or go to their website for resources https://www.1800respect.org.au/

Threats, bribes, shouting, and time-outs can work in the heat of the moment but when it comes to teaching your children to listen, do as they’re told and make good choices, discipline is a long game. So how do you do it right? Maggie Dent talks to the author of Discipline Without Damage, Vanessa Lapointe, about the best way to discipline your child.

"How many times do I have to ask you to...?" Sound familiar? There are lots of reasons why parents don't make their kids do chores. Children can be bad at cleaning and the nagging to get them to do it is like torture. So why bother? Author of How to Raise an Adult, Julie Lythcott-Haims, and Maggie Dent make the case for why you should persist and give you great tips on how to get them to do it (without the nagging!)

For some kids and teenagers, making friends comes easily. But for others, it's really tough and it can be an emotional roller coaster for them and you. Podcaster and writer Rebecca Sparrow and parent educator Claire Orange are champions of positive child and teen friendships. Maggie Dent get tips on what you can do as a parent to help your kids navigate the often-tricky world of friendships.

Throwing a tantrum, being naughty and bawling their eyes out. Kids often react to situations that stress them in a way that's socially unacceptable.

A huge part of growing up though is learning how to regulate emotions. So what can parents do to help their kids spot what's going to tip them over the edge before it happens? Maggie Dent finds out from self-regulation expert, Dr Stuart Shanker.

Coronavirus has meant parents across Australia have had to slip into a role they never signed up for being a teacher. So how do you make that work if you haven't the first clue about teaching? Maggie Dent talks to educator Dr Prue Salter about how to support high-schoolers as they learn from home. Maggie also shares her top tips for keeping primary school kids engaged while learning from home, and how to stop parents from pulling their hair out.

"I hate broccoli", "but the sauce is touching the carrot!", "Yuk! That's gross!" If you've ever heard this come out of your child's mouth at dinner time, we feel your pain. So, we've brought in chef Adam Liaw and Nutrition Australia's Leanne Elliston to help! They've cooked up some great tips with Maggie Dent on how to feed children healthy food and what you can do if your child is a fussy eater.

Wild. Defiant. Intense. LOUD. Spirited kids are called lots of things and when you meet one, you know it. Their superhuman levels of perseverance and need to win every argument means parenting them can be exhausting.

But handled the right way, these kids could well be tomorrow's leaders and change the world. Psychologist Angela Pruess has two spirited kids and she joins Maggie Dent to guide us through the intensity of these children, and how to parent these constantly challenging kids.

Six hours in the classroom, then music practice and sport. Daily homework is a pain for kids and parents, and while lots of primary schools have lightened the load, it's still something plenty of families have to juggle. So how do you help your kids manage their homework without a battle? 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're not.

You want your kids to be able to handle the unexpected challenges life throws at them. But how do you raise a resilient child when your gut feeling is to protect them from all the bad things? Maggie Dent chats to Lyn Worsley, Director of the Resilience Centre and author of The Resilience Doughnut books, about how letting kids fend for themselves and work out tricky situations on their own, is exactly what they need.

Maggie talks with Steve Biddulph — one of Australia's foremost experts on raising girls — about how parents can lead their daughters through childhood and the tumultuous teens to become strong, empowered, kind and self-assured women. No topic is left untouched: the pressure to be sexy in the age of social media; the big increase in anxiety among girls; the importance of dads and strong female role models; and how the internet has changed everything for girls from friendships to foreplay.

Sibling rivalry — situation normal, right? But how much is too much, and what can you change in your family dynamic to take the pressure down? Maggie Dent talks to psychologist and mum Michelle Chiang about when to call a truce on these daily battles and when to stay out of them.

Warning: this episode discusses suicide. Suicide is the leading cause of death in Australian young people — and there is no simple solution to this heartbreaking reality.

As a problem that thrives in silence, Maggie Dent wants to get you okay with discussing suicide and suicidal tendencies. She talks to Celina, a woman from her community whose son died by suicide, adolescent psychiatrist Mat Coleman, and Dr Claire Kelly from Mental Health First Aid Australia.

If you or your child needs help, you can call Lifeline on 13 11 14.

For youth mental health support contact headspace.org.au or reachout.com.

We've all been impacted by coronavirus. As parents, we're anxious, scared and stressed out about the future and what's going to happen. But we've never had such an important job to do - helping our children through this difficult time, while also looking after ourselves. In this special episode, Maggie Dent steers you through how you can talk to your children about coronavirus. She'll also give you ideas on what you can do to lower the stress in your home, which will not just help your children survive this period, but thrive.

Show Notes:

If you need some extra help:

Youth Beyond Blue 1300 22 4636 Reach Out https://au.reachout.com/ Parent help line 1300 30 1300 Kids Helpline 1800 55 1800 Lifeline 131114 

Behind the News is a great source of age appropriate information: 

https://www.abc.net.au/btn/

Here is a comic which explores coronavirus. https://www.npr.org/sections/goatsandsoda/2020/02/28/809580453/just-for-kids-a-comic-exploring-the-new-coronavirus

Miscarriage remains a taboo topic, with many women delaying the announcement of their pregnancy. So what impact does this so-called '12-week rule' have on parents and their kids if a pregnancy does end? Maggie Dent wants to get you comfortable with discussing miscarriage with your child. She talks to Amanda Bowles — CEO of pregnancy loss support organisation Bears of Hope — about how to do it in an open and honest way.

To hear Maggie's top tips on how to talk to kids about miscarriage, scroll to 20:05.

For miscarriage, stillbirth and newborn death support, contact bearsofhope.org.au or sands.org.au.

With bad news available 24/7, if it's hard for adults to stay optimistic, how are kids meant to do it? Is there ever a good time to watch the news with your children? And if you've got teenagers, how do you stop them getting down and stressed about the world? Maggie Dent talks to psychologist and stress reduction practitioner (yes, that's a thing!) Sean Panambalana about the dangers of 'doom scrolling' and how to help your child engage meaningfully in the news cycle.

To hear Maggie's top tips on how to talk to kids about news, scroll to 14:30.

If you don't talk to your children about sex, it won't be long before someone else does. But how honest should you be, when should you start explaining it and how much should you tell them? Maggie Dent talks to GP Dr Cindy Pan and sex educator Cath Hakanson about what to say and how to say it when it comes to sex, relationships, consent, pleasure, bodies and porn.

How do you get any work done at home when the kids keep asking you for food, or to play with them, or to wipe their bottom? Maggie Dent talks to productivity researcher Dr Kristy Goodwin about her top strategies for working at home with kids around. They discuss planning activities to keep the kids out of your hair and how to set realistic expectations for what you can achieve in a so-called "workday".

Australia's favourite parenting expert and author Maggie Dent is back with a new series of Parental As Anything. She'll give you tips and answers to your real-world parenting problems — what to do if your child is anxious, helping kids deal with death and loss, making friends, and (gulp) how to talk to your kids about sex. Over 10 episodes, Maggie will give you a common sense, practical guide on how to raise kids of all ages. The first episode is about starting school and is out January 21.

The queen of common sense — aka parenting educator and author Maggie Dent — is back with series three of Parental As Anything. She has more practical tips and answers to your parenting dilemmas — promoting positive body image in the age of selfies, helping kids deal with death and loss, avoiding problematic video gaming habits and why making kids do chores is worth the hassle.

Over eight episodes, Maggie will give you practical advice to help raise kids of all ages. The first episode is about being a dad and is out on August 18.

One of Australia's favourite parenting authors and educators Maggie Dent gives you tips and answers to your real-world parenting dilemmas — screen time, tantrums, building resilience, homework and more. Over 10 episodes, Maggie will give you a common sense, relatable, practical guide on how to raise kids of all ages. The first episode launches May 28.

Do your kids hate school? Never sleep? Refuse to do anything without a reward? The queen of common-sense — Maggie Dent – is back. And she has more answers to your modern parenting dilemmas. Whether it's toddlers, or teens, join Maggie as she tracks down the world's experts and uncovers their advice. The first episode starts March 22nd, so subscribe, or follow, wherever you listen to your podcasts.

Is your house covered in reward charts for good behaviour? Are they working? While this quick-fix parenting hack can work for a while, it can actually cause more problems than it solves. And can make your child less, not more motivated to do the right thing.

So if rewards (or on the flipside, punishments) are off the table, how can we motivate our kids to be better, act nicer, wee in the toilet, and clean up after themselves?

Maggie Dent gets the hard truths from parenting and human behaviour expert Alfie Kohn, and practical advice from social psychologist Helen Street.

School is about to start for another year in Australia, and many parents will be waving their child off at the school gate for the first time. But how do you know they're ready to go? And what can you do to make their first day as stress and tear-free as possible? Maggie Dent talks to child and adolescent psychiatrist, Dr Kaylene Henderson, about how to prepare kids for their first day and how to ease older kids back into the school year. Maggie shares her top tips on a smooth transition to high school.

If your child told you they felt more like a boy than a girl, or more like a girl than a boy, would you know what to say or how to support them? When the parents of today were kids, very little was widely understood about gender identity and gender dysphoria. In this episode you’ll learn about gender and what it’s like to be a trans kid. Maggie Dent speaks with teenager Olivia Stewart who began transitioning at age 13 and Dr Vic Rawlings, whose research focuses on LGBTQ young people.  

If you need support for you or your child head to these websites: https://transcendaus.org/, https://www.pgdc.org.au/.There’s a good general explainer pitched at young people here:  https://kidshelpline.com.au/young-adults/issues/gender-identity

Online gaming is massive and if your child loves playing them, you'll know the struggle to get them to do anything else is real. Maggie talks to Good Game Spawn Point host Rad Yeo about how gaming isn't all bad. And she taps into the brain of addiction specialist Brad Marshall on how to find the right balance, and what to do if you think your kid has a gaming problem.

Your screaming three-year-old in the supermarket; your eight-year-old losing it over a board game; your surly teenager slamming a door in your face — we’ve all been there. Kids are prone to tantrums, especially the little ones, but what’s the right way to deal with them? Maggie Dent talks to podcaster and author of No Bad Kids: Toddler Discipline Without Shame, Janet Lansbury, about how to manage meltdowns in our children, especially once they’ve passed the point of no return. Maggie has some fantastic advice for you on how to pause, breathe and avoid getting angry at your children.

Scary fact: kids learn their money habits at home. So how do you help them avoid the mistakes you made? What's the going rate for pocket money, and how do you bring in ideas about spending and saving?

Maggie dusts off a classic episode of The Pineapple Project money season, in which presenter Claire Hooper finds out how to use glass jars to send subliminal money messages to her kids, and learns the one thing every teenager needs to tick off their money education list.

Maggie Dent is the queen of common-sense parenting — and her podcast is essential listening for all parents. She's now turned Parental As Anything into a book, a no-nonsense guide to raising happy, healthy kids — and it's as indispensable as the podcast.

The queen of common-sense parenting, Maggie Dent, is back with more tips and tricks on how you can nail this parenting caper. In this season of Parental As Anything Maggie will cover everything from bed wetting and sibling rivalry to how to cope with raising a surly teenager. The first episode is out March 16. Subscribe so you don't miss out.

One in 70 people in Australia is autistic, so chances are you've had an experience with Autism. As a spectrum, it's not a straight line — and no two children with Autism have the same characteristics. Autistic music therapist Allison Davies tells Maggie Dent the world can be challenging for autistic kids, but better understanding their panorama of strengths and aspirations will allow them to flourish.

To hear Maggie's top tips on parenting children with Autism, scroll to 16:44.

Is your child fidgety, impulsive or finds it hard to stay focused? Have you ever found yourself asking 'do they have ADHD?' or 'what exactly is ADHD?' Special education teacher Christina Keeble works with children who have ADHD — and she's a neurodivergent mother to two kids with ADHD. She talks to Maggie Dent about how we can turn their symptoms into superpowers. To hear Maggie's top tips on parenting children with ADHD, scroll to 17:14.

Building cubbies, make-believe, dressing up - while it might just look like fun and games, play is actually crucial for your child's development. The problem is, as Australian kids spend more time at school, on their screens and in structured activities, they're not playing enough. Maggie Dent talks with expert Robyn Monro Miller about why kids of all ages need to play more. Plus, Bluey creator Joe Brumm chats about why play is the key to the success of Australia's most loved family of cartoon dogs.

One minute your son is laughing about farts and driving you mad because he can't sit still. The next minute he's grumpy and never wants to leave his room. Adolescence can seem to come in an instant, so how do you prepare for it and help your son survive and thrive? Maggie Dent talks to adolescent expert and former ER Doctor Arne Rubinstein about the positive influences that can help shape a boy's journey to manhood.

Teenage girls — it can be a tricky time when you're not sure if your daughter likes or loathes you. But here's the thing, she needs you now more than ever. Join Maggie Dent as she gives you great tips on how to make the ride smoother. She talks to educator and parenting author Michelle Mitchell about what girls most need from their parents to thrive in the teen years.

Parenting teenagers when they’re moody, disrespectful and rebellious is tough. But even as they reach the age of slamming a door in your face and emotionally pushing you away, they actually need as much love and support as ever. Maggie Dent chats to teen champion and CEO of Enlighten Education Dannielle Miller about how parents can help their teens navigate hormones, break-ups and the pressure of high school. 

Football, dance, art classes, karate and scouts. The extracurricular activities your kids can do are endless. But with so many on offer, are you getting the balance right? Maggie Dent talks with Positive Schools creator Dr Helen Street about the pros and cons of extracurricular activities for your children — when and why you should sign them up, what's the right amount and what are the signs you might be overdoing it.

Research shows Australian kids spend a third of their day in front of a screen. What's that doing to them? How much is too much? And how do we deal with a techno tantrum? Maggie talks to digital wellbeing expert Dr Kristy Goodwin to find out how we can best raise our kids in the digital age.

Around 14 per cent of Australian families have a sole parent. Some parents planned it that way, while others never imagined they'd cope without a co-parent until they had to. Maggie chats with a solo mum with three children and a solo dad with one daughter, about their unexpected journeys to sole parenthood, their tips for survival and what they wish everyone else understood about raising kids alone.

Do you hate your thighs? Your skin? Your post-baby body? Around 80 per cent of women within the normal body mass index range are dissatisfied with their bodies and those rates are increasing in men too.

So how can we make sure our kids don’t develop the same negative body image we have? Maggie talks to Natasha Devon, a Body Image Campaigner, about how you can help your child love themselves just the way they are.

Teenagers love their phones. All day. Every day. Even at night. And while there are lots of really great things about smartphones, there are so many pitfalls — strangers, bullying, porn, sexting. How do you guide your teenager's digital life? Find out when Maggie Dent talks with Dr Ginni Mansberg, GP and co-author of The New Teen Age, a book which looks at what teenagers are up against on their devices.

In the next week or so parents across Australia will be waving their child off at the school gate, many for the first time. So, we're revisiting one of the most popular episodes of 2020 — how to get your kids to school without the stress and tears.

Maggie Dent and child and adolescent psychologist, Dr Kaylene Henderson, give you all the tips you need to help you and your child nail those first days and weeks at school.

Maggie is back with all new episodes in March.

Soon, parents across Australia will be waving their child off at the school gate, many for the first time.  

So, we’re revisiting one of our most popular episodes – how to get your kids to school without the stress.

Is your child kind of obnoxious... always wanting to be the centre of attention? Or are they so sensitive they're missing out on opportunities to shine?

These traits are part of a temperament spectrum that Maggie calls the Rooster and Lamb Continuum. She talks to parents about how to identify a rooster or a lamb, how to manage their most extreme traits like anxiousness or arrogance, and how to gently nudge them towards the middle of the continuum.

Coronavirus has meant the activities our kids love — playgrounds, sport, skate boarding with friends, going to the movies — have been shut down and cancelled. But guess what's still there for them? Nature. Even if it's the grass in your backyard or plants on your balcony, it's all around us — even during coronavirus. In an episode recorded well before coronavirus hit us, Maggie talks to nature play experts Gillian McAuliffe and Daniel Burton about the perfect places for growing bodies and minds to play.

Is your child on Snapchat, Instagram or Facebook? Ninety-one per cent of Australian teenagers use social media. And it has changed everything you know about how kids bully each other. Bullies used to torment their victims in the schoolyard. Now they can reach your kids any time of the day or night. They can even use anonymous accounts on platforms you’ve never even heard of. So how do you keep your tweens and teens safe from the mean kids and what do you do if they’re bullied online? Maggie Dent talks with Rachel Downie, founder of the website Stymie which supports kids and students being bullied online.

WARNING: This episode includes strong language and discussions of youth suicide and self-harm.

For more information or support contact:

Lifeline 13 11 14https://www.lifeline.org.au/

Parentline 1300 30 1300https://www.parentline.com.au/

Kids Helpline 1800 55 1800https://kidshelpline.com.au/

Make an anonymous notification about a student being bullied or harmedhttps://stymie.com.au/

We get it dads. You're sick of people who say you're 'babysitting' when you look after your own kids; you feel like a fish out of water when you join parent groups full of mothers; and it's still too hard to find a change table in a men's bathroom. Apart from that, there's never been a better time to be a dad! Maggie Dent talks to TV presenter Osher Gunsberg, comedian Peter Helliar, musician Tim Rogers and parenting educator Clark Wight, about finding their feet, how they show their love, and what it's like being a dad in the 21st Century.

School refusal is a big issue, especially in the wake of the pandemic. While most kids will complain about school at some point along the way, what happens when it escalates into outright school refusal?

Maggie Dent talks to education consultant and former Principal Adam Voight about how to tackle it head on. From the best ways to advocate for your child, to how to find support, plus the families who went through it and came out the other side. And we ask the big question; should you just change schools?

For Rose's full story, listen on the ABC listen app.

It's painful, difficult and one of the biggest things that will ever happen to your kids. But although Divorce and separation is tough, it doesn't have to damage our kids in the long term. Maggie Dent talks to child psychologist Vincent Papaleo about what divorcing parents must do — and not — if you want to shield your kids from the fallout.

Remember sleep? Long, uninterrupted sleep, in your own bed? If you ping-pong around from room to room, hear the pitter patter of toddler feet at night, or wake up with a toe up your nose, you're not alone.

So, what can you do to save your sanity? And with so much conflicting advice, what is the best approach to get your little ones into their bed….and help them stay there? Because the knock-on effects can at this age can be huge; developmental, emotional, and mental.

Maggie Dent talks to sleep whisperer Dr Chris Seton, sleep researcher Dr Fallon Cook, gets advice from Carly Grubb from The Beyond Sleep Training Project, and learns a trick or two from the formerly very sleep deprived actor Noni Hazlehurst.

More info: Noni Hazlehurst reads Go the F*ck to Sleep by Adam Mansbach, 2011, Akashic Books.

This episode contains some strong language.

How long did it take for you to say (or shout) the worst thing your parents said to you? The thing you SWORE you'd never say to your own kids? Despite our best intentions one of the biggest influences on our parenting style, is the way we were raised.

Clinical psychologist and New York Times best-selling author Dr Shefali Tsabary walks us through conscious parenting, which focuses on transforming ourselves AND empowering our children. But she warns, it's not easy and it's not quick.

Dr Shefali Tsabary will be touring Australia in April and May 2022, talking about her conscious parenting philosophy. Details at https://www.flourishandco.com.au/

And Maggie’s reading was from Shefali’s book Out of Control: Why Disciplining Your Child Won’t Work and What Will.

Starting high school is a massive change for both you and your tween. How do you get them ready and help them through the ups and downs of Year 7?

Youth coach Claire Eaton and Maggie Dent share their practical tips for the weeks before they start, routines to keep them on track and handling the rough patches.

The advice provided in this podcast is general in nature and does not take into account your personal situation. If you require further advice specific to your needs, please consult a professional.

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 friendships. 

The advice provided in this podcast is general in nature and does not take into account your personal situation. If you require further advice specific to your needs, please consult a professional. 

If you have teenagers who are struggling with making the right kind of friends, check out our episode My teen's friends are bad news

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 when the pressure to achieve becomes too much.  

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 a professional. 

If the discussion around helping kids study when they have ADHD has resonated with you, we have a few different episodes you might like to listen to on supporting neurodiverse kids. 

Parenting children with ADHD

How to help children with dyslexia

Parenting Autistic Kids

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 will be advice and handy tips on creating smooth transitions, managing anxiety, supporting new friendships, tackling homework battles and so much more! 

The Parental As Anything Back to School Special will drop Jan 13 in your podcast feed and on the ABC Listen App. 

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 situation. If you require further advice specific to your needs, please consult a professional. Looking for more advice on getting your kids through their teens?Check out our episodes Raising Teen Girls and Raising Teen Boys.

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 general in nature and does not take into account your personal situation. If you require further advice specific to your needs, please consult a professional. 

If homework is just one of the struggles in the busy schedule at your house, check out our episode School, homework, sport – are your kids too busy? 

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 question: When should you just change schools? 

The advice provided in this podcast is general in nature and does not take into account your personal situation. If you require further advice specific to your needs, please consult a professional. 

If you would like more ideas about how to help a kid with anxiety, check out our episode Do you have an anxious child?

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 account your personal situation. If you require further advice specific to your needs, please consult a professional. For more help with building your children's resilience,check out our episode How to build your kids' (and your own) resilience

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 a professional. 

• Producers: Hannah Reich, Josie Sargent 
• Supervising Producer: Tamar Cranswick
• Executive Producer: Alex Lollback
• Sound design: Ann-Marie de Bettencor

Shouting? Time outs? Shaming? You don’t have to do any of this to effectively discipline your child. So how do you teach your kids right from wrong? 

We’re revisiting one of our most popular episodes. Vanessa Lapointe, the author of Discipline Without Damage, joins Maggie Dent to share the best way to discipline your child without punishing them, how to teach them to make good choices, and why discipline is a long game. 

The advice provided in this podcast is general in nature and does not take into account your personal situation. If you require further advice specific to your needs please consult a professional.     

• Host: Maggie Dent 
• Producer: Kim Lester 
• Consulting Producer: Carmen Myler 
• Executive Producer: Justine Kelly 
• Sound design: Isabella Tropiano / Ann-Marie Debettencor
• Field recordings: Anne-Marie Middlemast 

Grandparents do so much for our kids. But not every family has a Nanny or Pop in their life. And even when they do, keeping the peace can be tricky. 

How do you celebrate the joy grandparents bring to your family, while still forging your own path as a parent? How do you ask them not to spoil your kids, or discipline them like it’s 1985? And do you rely too much on them for free childcare?  

Anne McLeish, director of Grandparents Australia, joins host of Parental As Anything Maggie Dent, to celebrate the benefits – but to also offer tips on how to foster relationships from afar, what to do if tensions arise over child rearing ideas and what to say if a grandparent is not in their life at all. 

They are joined by special grandparental guests ABC broadcaster and author Richard Glover and Larrakia elder Richard Fejo. 

The advice provided in this podcast is general in nature and does not take into account your personal situation. If you require further advice specific to your needs, please consult a professional. 

• Host: Maggie Dent 
• Producer: Josie Sargent 
• Consulting Producer: Carmen Myler 
• Executive Producer: Kim Lester 
• Sound design: Isabella Tropiano 
• Field recordings: Rebecca McLaren 

Curious kids will ask questions about people who look or sound different to them. How do you talk to them about racism and inclusion? What if your child uses a racist slur? And how can you encourage them to be an ally? 

Ali Kadri, CEO of the Islamic College of Brisbane and host of The Swap, joins Maggie Dent to talk frankly about racism and encouraging children to learn about and embrace people’s differences. 

The advice provided in this podcast is general in nature and does not take into account your personal situation. If you require further advice specific to your needs, please consult a professional. 

• Host: Maggie Dent 
• Producer: Josie Sargent 
• Consulting Producer: Carmen Myler 
• Executive Producer: Kim Lester 
• Sound design: Isabella Tropiano 

Ever tried to tie a shoelace, wipe a bum or fasten a seat belt only to hear “NO! MUMMY DO IT!”? Why do kids prefer one parent over the other? And how can you get them to accept help from both of you?  

If you’re parent number two in the eyes of your child, but you’re desperate to do just as much as your partner does, parenting author Maggie Dent has some tips for you. 

The advice provided in this podcast is general in nature and does not take into account your personal situation. If you require further advice specific to your needs please consult a professional. 

• Host: Maggie Dent 
• Producer: Josie Sargent 
• Consulting Producer: Carmen Myler 
• Executive Producer: Kim Lester 
• Sound design: Simon Branthwaite 
• Field recordings: Rebecca McLaren 

Life with children means more stress, less sleep and less time for you. And when all of your energy goes to raising kids, what’s left for your spouse?  

In this Help Me, Maggie episode Maggie Dent gives tips on what adults can do to stay connected in the chaos, why effective communication is key and what to do when the bad moods of teenagers wear off on the whole household. 

The advice provided in this podcast is general in nature and does not take into account your personal situation. If you require further advice specific to your needs, please consult a professional. 

• Host: Maggie Dent 
• Producer: Josie Sargent 
• Consulting Producer: Carmen Myler 
• Executive Producer: Kim Lester 
• Sound design: Isabella Tropiano 

Has your child ever made a friend who dominates, bullies, or leads them astray? As a parent, what can you do if your kid’s BFF just isn’t good for them? 

Parenting author and host of Parental As Anything, Maggie Dent has some tips for mums and dads about being your child’s ‘friendship coach’. What to do if your child has a frenemy, ways to teach them about healthy friendships and why you SHOULDN’T approach the other child’s parents.

The advice provided in this podcast is general in nature and does not take into account your personal situation. If you require further advice specific to your needs please consult a professional.

• Host: Maggie Dent 
• Producer: Josie Sargent 
• Consulting Producer: Carmen Myler 
• Executive Producer: Kim Lester 
• Sound design: Simon Branthwaite 

Some kids are shy. Others love nothing more than talking non-stop to anyone who’ll listen. What can you do if your child is a chatterbox?  

Maggie Dent, parenting author and host of Parental As Anything, gives tips on how you can help teach your talkative child to listen and even give mums and dads some moments of peace and quiet. 

The advice provided in this podcast is general in nature and does not take into account your personal situation. If you require further advice specific to your needs please consult a professional.   

• Host: Maggie Dent 
• Producer: Josie Sargent 
• Consulting Producer: Carmen Myler 
• Executive Producer: Kim Lester 
• Sound design: Simon Branthwaite 

Like it or not, children will learn to swear from school, videos, even their parents. So what can you do to stop your child being a pottymouth? 

In this Help Me, Maggie episode Maggie Dent explains why children might swear, how to discourage them from using offensive words and what to say if you slip up and swear in front of them. 

The advice provided in this podcast is general in nature and does not take into account your personal situation. If you require further advice specific to your needs, please consult a professional. 

• Host: Maggie Dent 
• Producer: Josie Sargent 
• Consulting Producer: Carmen Myler 
• Executive Producer: Kim Lester 
• Sound design: Isabella Tropiano 

Kids love the idea of a pet. But, for parents they mean more mess, expense and time. So, should you cave? 

A busy mum asks Maggie Dent, do the benefits of owning a dog outweigh the training, cleaning and poo collecting? 

Maggie, the host of Parental As Anything, shares what she thinks families should consider if they have children pestering them for a dog. 

The advice provided in this podcast is general in nature and does not take into account your personal situation. If you require further advice specific to your needs please consult a professional. 

• Host: Maggie Dent 
• Producer: Josie Sargent 
• Consulting Producer: Carmen Myler 
• Executive Producer: Kim Lester 
• Sound design: Simon Branthwaite

Tweens want a phone so they aren’t left out and many parents like being able to contact their kids. But, when should kids have their own mobile? 

What if your kid feels ready to walk to school alone before you feel ready to let them? Will they be safe, and how will it make them more independent? 

Maggie Dent has tips for parents who want to know when a child is ready, how to take the first steps to independence and how to head off potential danger. 

The advice provided in this podcast is general in nature and does not take into account your personal situation. If you require further advice specific to your needs, please consult a professional. 

• Host: Maggie Dent 
• Producer: Josie Sargent 
• Consulting Producer: Carmen Myler 
• Executive Producer: Kim Lester 
• Sound design: Isabella Tropiano 

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.

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. 

You want your kids to be resilient enough to handle life’s unexpected challenges – but as parents, it is hard to step back. 

Lyn Worsley, director of the Resilience Centre, joins Maggie Dent on this Parental As Anything to give tips on why it’s important to let kids fend for themselves, how to start building resilience and how parents can learn to let go. 

The advice provided in this podcast is general in nature and does not take into account your personal situation. If you require further advice specific to your needs please consult a professional.     

• Host: Maggie Dent 
• Producer: Kim Lester 
• Consulting Producer: Carmen Myler 
• Executive Producer: Justine Kelly
• Sound design: Isabella Tropiano / Ann-Marie Debettencor
• Field recordings: Anne-Marie Middlemast

If your child is struggling to read or write, they may be among the 10 per cent of people who have dyslexia. What is it? How can it impact a child’s education, self-esteem and mental health? 

Maggie Dent speaks to Sarah Asome, a school principal and mum of dyslexic children, from advocacy group CodeREAD, and psychologist Dr Craig Wright from Understanding Minds. Together they discuss the signs of dyslexia, seeking a diagnosis and what parents can do to support their child at school and at home. 

The advice provided in this podcast is general in nature and does not take into account your personal situation. If you require further advice specific to your needs, please consult a professional. 

• Host: Maggie Dent 
• Producer: Josie Sargent 
• Consulting Producer: Carmen Myler 
• Executive Producer: Kim Lester 
• Sound design: Isabella Tropiano 
• Field recordings: Rebecca McLaren 

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.  

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?  

You decorate, bake and plan the perfect birthday party – only for your child to have a complete meltdown on the day. So, how do you throw a celebration your kid will actually enjoy? 

Genevieve Muir, of Connected Parenting, joins Parental As Anything host Maggie Dent to share tips for parents on how to plan a party kids will love, what to do if kids become overstimulated and how to include neurodivergent children in big, noisy parties. 

The advice provided in this podcast is general in nature and does not take into account your personal situation. If you require further advice specific to your needs please consult a professional.    

• Host: Maggie Dent 
• Producer: Josie Sargent 
• Consulting Producer: Carmen Myler 
• Executive Producer: Kim Lester 
• Sound design: Simon Branthwaite 
• Field recordings: Rebecca McLaren 

Teenage sex. Anxiety. Underage drinking. Porn. Phone addiction.  

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 do if your teen is asking for booze.