Kinderling Conversation

As parents and carers, we want the best for our children but even with the best of intentions, there are times when we’ll slip up. So, how can we recover when we make mistakes? And how can we accept that at the end of the day, we’re human and bound to fail at least some of the time?   In the final episode of Parenting the Parent, Dr Rebecca Ray and Shevonne Hunt discuss why it’s important for kids to see their parents slip up and the lessons that can be learnt in the recovery.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Compassion is a quality that most of us would like our children to have. But how does practicing compassion as parents help us raise healthy, happy kids?  James Kirby is a clinical psychologist and senior lecturer at the University of Queensland.  He’s written a book called Choose Compassion: Why it Matters and How it Works.  https://www.uqp.com.au/books/choose-compassion See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Do you listen to music with your kids? Who gets to decide whether it's Frank Zappa or Baby Shark on high rotation?  Sharing music together can be a powerful way for parents and children to connect. From lullabies at bedtime, to a high-energy tune to start the day, or a family favourite to cool the temperature when emotions are high.  Featured in this episode: Liz Giuffre  https://www.routledge.com/Popular-Music-and-Parenting/Brunt-Giuffre/p/book/9780367367138   See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Many parents, especially those with young children, find ourselves so caught up in the day-to-day that the other parts of our identity are subsumed. This can have a big impact on how we see ourselves outside the role of carer: as a sibling, a friend, a daughter, an employee or a lover. We might not have the time or the energy to devote to these relationships that we once did and feel less connected to our former, pre-parent selves.   Dr Rebecca Ray and Shevonne Hunt talk about the shifting sense of self that parenthood inevitably brings and how we can reclaim what’s most important to us.    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It's school holiday time, which means lots of hours to fill with the kids. Luckily, there's plenty of great shows to watch together as a family. Justin Hill, host of The Streaming Service gives the low-down on the best viewing this month.  https://www.listnr.com/podcasts/the-streaming-service-with-justin-hill        See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Andy Day is Mick Jagger of children's entertainers. He's been the presenter for wildly popular CBeebies shows for 15 years, garnering fans all over the world. Andy is in Australia touring Andy's Amazing Adventures. https://www.ticketmaster.com.au/andy-s-amazing-adventures-tickets/artist/2653111 See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Stepparents have a unique role to play in the life of a family but finding how to fit into this dynamic is not always easy.   Getting to know children, adjusting to new expectations and where to set boundaries can all throw up challenges. At the end of the day, it’s a role like no other that can be incredibly rewarding.    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

With covid cases on the rise, how can you tell if your child has the virus or another common illness? Especially seeing the symptoms of covid: runny nose, sore throat and a fever, can look like other respiratory infections. GP, Dr Sneha Wadhwani explains what to be on the lookout for and how best to help your child if they do get covid.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Christmas is around the corner, but for many families Santa will be cutting back. Budgets are stretched to the limit and there's no relief in sight.  Scott Pape is famous for his Barefoot Investor books, but he is also a not-for-profit financial counsellor helping people under financial stress. He says that even the smallest changes can make the biggest difference.  National Debt Helpline: https://ndh.org.au/  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Being a solo parent, whether by choice, or by circumstance, means that the buck stops with you. There's no other adult to turn to in the middle of the night about the big decisions of parenting, or to share the domestic load. On the flip side, you can raise your kids how you see fit, without having to check in with anyone else.  Dr Rebecca Ray and Shevonne Hunt discuss the challenges and the upsides to single parenthood.   See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Do you feel confident that you can keep your child safe online?  Sometimes as a parent the inherent dangers of the internet can feel overwhelming, but there are ways that we can protect our kids while allowing them to be digital citizens. Featured in this episode: Julie Inman Grant, Australia’s eSafety Commissionerhttps://www.esafety.gov.au/  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Not content with winning The Voice, representing Australia at Eurovision and starting one of the most successful change.org petitions to date, Isaiah Firebrace has now added author to his list of achievements.  The book is called Come Together: Things Every Aussie Kid Should Know about the First Peoples.  https://www.hardiegrant.com/au/publishing/bookfinder/book/come-together-by-isaiah-firebrace/9781741178166See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Whether you’re parenting in a couple or sharing custody with an ex, it can be challenging.   You might decide that you want to be a parent and plan for that, but how to raise your kids, that’s a whole other ball game, and one in which you and your partner might not always be on the same team.   Dr Rebecca Ray and Shevonne Hunt discuss how to parent together, even when you’re not on the same page.    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

"Attention seeking" in children gets a bad rap. Whether they're acting out, being clingy, or loud, this sort of behaviour is often dismissed frustrating and something to ignore.  But this attention seeking is just one of the ways kids try and seek connection with their parents and understanding this can help build better habits and stronger bonds.  Featured in this episode: Gen Muir, educator at Connected Parenting https://www.connectedparenting.com.au/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The silly season is here! With the long days of school holidays stretching ahead, there's plenty of time to settle for some great movies and series with the kids.  Justin Hill from The Streaming service gives his picks for what to watch in December.  https://www.listnr.com/podcasts/the-streaming-service-with-justin-hill See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Grandparents can perform a central and cherished role in a family – helping out parents and showering love, (and sugar) on their grandchildren. But what if, as a parent, you disagree with the way they look after your kids? Maybe you don’t see eye-to-eye on discipline, or technology, or perhaps they overstep your boundaries.   Shevonne Hunt and clinical psychologist, Dr Rebecca Ray discuss how to navigate disagreements with grandparents and the unique joy that the relationship can bring.    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We’ve all been there. Standing in the middle of a supermarket/park/busy intersection while our toddler has a meltdown and strangers stare with a mixture of pity and disgust.   Toddler tantrums are a force to be reckoned with and can take their toll on the adults trying to calm the storm as well.   Now, a new toolkit has been developed to help parents deal with tantrums. And it starts with us.  The toolkit was developed by paediatrician Dr Daniel Golshevsky and paediatric psychologist, Amanda Abel. https://drgolly.com/toddler-toolkit/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

For some kids, the idea of going to school can be overwhelming. They might be worried about being separated, struggling academically or distressed about other children.  Whatever the case, unless you plan on home-schooling them, they can't stay home forever. So how can you help your child get over school refusal?  Featured in this episode: Dr Sarah Hughes https://www.drsarahhughes.com/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Do you ever tell your kids to take a time-out?  How about you? Do you ever think of taking a break, so that you can gather your thoughts and just breathe?   Dr Rebecca Ray and Shevonne Hunt discuss the benefits of time-outs for adults and what kids can learn from watching us take space to cool down when things reach boiling point.    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Sally Rippin is one of Australia’s most popular children’s book authors.  When she realised her son was having trouble reading, she assumed that it would pass.  But it didn’t, leading to years of trying to find answers.  Now, Sally has written her first book for adults. It’s called Wild Things: how we learn to read and what can happen if we don’t. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.