Kinderling Conversation

Ever got home at 7pm from the kids' soccor training and thought - what are we going to eat for dinner? I hate trying to work out what to cook, particularly when I haven't planned anything. But writer Allie Gaunt and nutritionist Jessica Beaton have been working on that for us. The women behind One Handed Cooks have been helping Feed Play Love listeners for years with their tips on how to get fussy eaters to eat and how to cook one meal for everyone. Now they've put their considerable problem-solving-food-loving heads together and come up with ways to make the most of every moment in the kitchen. I've already tried two super easy recipes and they were yum! (Plus: the kids ate them. WHAT? I know!) Listen to how Allie and Jess came up with the winning formula for making dinner easy and delicious. LINK TO BOOK: The Family Meal Solution https://bit.ly/3pjCxfh See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Once upon a time I was a young woman who believed that feminism had done its work. And then I became a mother. The inequality I discovered from pregnancy to birth and caring for my kids still astounds me. Fatherhood may have changed a lot in recent decades but women still bear the majority of the domestic and emotional labour at home and that has a huge impact on everything from our mental health to our superannuation. Rob Sturrock is a dad, feminist and author. His book Man Raises Boy delves into how dads can step into parenthood. In this episodes he outlines some very practical ways dads can be equal parents. LINK TO MAN RAISES BOY: https://bit.ly/3PpO4ED See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Social media can cop a lot of flak. And most times - I'd agree with it. But Mikhailla Fitzgerald's story has made me think twice. As an influencer Mikhailla was used to sharing her life online, so when she fell pregnant it was natural to document that journey. But then things went wrong, and showing up online became one of the hardest things she had to do. She was very generous to share her story on the show, and to explain how Instagram helped her through some of her darkest days. MIKHAILLA'S BOOKS: https://wholeheartedly.com.au/collections/childrens-books MIKHAILLA ON INSTAGRAM:  https://www.instagram.com/mikhailla/   See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Karen Young is a parenting educator and the brains behind the website Hey Sigmund where she offers lots of helpful advice about how to manage anxiety and other behavioural challenges for families. She's also written books for kids and her latest book Dear You, Love From Your Brain is all about teaching kids how to understand what's going on in their brain. Karen talks about how we can help kids manage their emotions and anxieties well. LINK TO THE BOOK: https://www.heysigmund.com/products/dear-you-love-from-your-brain/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Gen Muir is a parenting educator with a tonne of great advice and tips for how to raise kids well. And yet even Gen - a mum of four boys- feels like a failure some times. I've been hosting a parenting show for over SEVEN years and I also feel like a failure. So how can we throw away this idea that we're failing as parents, and where does it come from anyway? If you've ever felt like you're making a tonne of mistakes with parenting this conversation is going to make you feel a whole lot better. GEN'S WEBSITE: https://www.connectedparenting.com.au/ GEN ON INSTA: https://www.instagram.com/connectedparentingau/  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

After I became a mother I learnt about matrescence and how we change and evolve once we have our children. It made me look at my experience of motherhood in a whole new (and helpful) light. Then I started reading Alison Daddo's book Queen Menopause and I thought - here's another stage of life I really need to know about. Our education as women on how we change through life seems to stop after puberty, when really there's a whole lot we need to know now so that we're prepared for later. Alison talks about perimenopause, menopause, righteous anger and how self care now will save you later on. LINK TO BOOK: https://bit.ly/3Q0j7aT See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

If there's one thing I want my children to know is that they are enough. They are exactly all they need to be, exactly how they are. Now there's a new book by social worker and author Jess Sanders that aims to teach kids just this. It's called You are Enough and it's the first in a series of books she is releasing called Life Lessons for Little Ones. Jess talks about how a feeling of 'not enough-ness' is a product of our times and how parents can help their children avoid it. LINK TO THE BOOK: https://affirmpress.com.au/publishing/life-lessons-for-little-ones/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

When my daughter was about three she showed me a paper cut on her finger declaring that it was "the worst pain" she had ever felt. Which, for her, was probably true. How children experience pain is the subject of a new study from the University of South Australia. Dr Sarah Wallwork was the lead researcher in the study and is a Post Doctoral Research Fellow at the University of South Australia. Sarah explains why we need to teach our kids about pain and how to do it. LINK TO THE ORIGINAL STUDY: https://bit.ly/3brL38I See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It took three children before Lael Stone discovered Aware Parenting. A traumatic birth led Lael to search for a way to help her baby and herself process what had happened. Aware Parenting proved to be the key that unlocked everything. Lael talks about how the principals she found in this style helped her shift trauma, understand her older children better and create a more harmonious household.  FIND OUT MORE ABOUT LAEL HERE: https://laelstone.com.au/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

If you have a child in an early education service right now you are probably experiencing the unending hell of winter lurgies. Dr Deb Levy is a paediatrician and mum who understands how challenging this never-ending cycle of illnesses can be. Deb de-mystifies the contagious vs non-contagious colour of snot and gives some tips on how you can build up your child's immunity. DR DEB LEVY'S WEBSITE: https://www.drdeblevy.com/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ever been in a situation where you just couldn't find the right words to say? Maybe your friend's dog died, you made a big mistake at work or you're visiting someone who is really unwell. Everyone - adults and children- sometimes struggle to find the right words. In Davina Bell's new picture book What to Say When You Don't Know What to Say she grapples with some awkward situations that every kid will struggle with, and provides eloquent and simple solutions.  LINK TO THE BOOK: https://bit.ly/3zpwv1g See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

When you become a new parent you're told a number of things to help you look after your new baby. You're taught how to bathe them, feed them, watch for signs of illness. But Ruby Matley says that one of the most important things to teach mums is how to look after themselves. Her book Self Care for New Mums outlines all the reasons why new mums need to take time for themselves and how you can start today.  Link for the book: https://www.panmacmillan.com.au/9781760987916/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Justin Hill from The Streaming Service joins us to outline the best shows coming up for kids this August.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Confidence can be the key to moving forward. If you're feeling like you don't know what you're doing with a new baby or starting work again after a break, believing in yourself can make everything feel easier. My example is handstands. While I have wanted to do them for years I just don't have the confidence. In this interview psychologist and author Rebecca Ray kindly runs with the metaphor of a handstand to explain how we can find the confidence we need in life. As always Beck gives clear and realistic advice to finding a way forward. Beck's latest book is called Small Habits for A Big Life. https://www.booktopia.com.au/small-habits-for-a-big-life-rebecca-ray/book/9781761260735.html?source=pla&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIz6LXyaiL-QIVmp1LBR3m1gFoEAQYASABEgIDLPD_BwE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

When was the last time you spent the whole day outside? To be fair, it's the middle of winter in Australia, and not the best time to traipsing through nature. But Linda Drummond says that even if we get out in our gumboots and raincoats we're doing something good for our kids. Linda has written a book for every parent struggling to get their kids off screens and outside, it's called How to Raise Outdoor Kids. The book is packed with ideas for parents on how to spend more time outside and she shares some ideas in this episode. LINK TO BOOK: https://www.australiangeographic.com.au/product/how-to-raise-outdoor-kids/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

If you have young kids, chances are you've been experiencing what seems like a never-ending series of illnesses this winter. Chief Paediatrician of NSW Dr Matthew O' Meara can explain why seasonal illnesses have been on the rise, and joins me to answer questions from our audience about COVID-19 and flu vaccines for children. We talk through current case numbers, vaccine side effects and efficacy, and how to talk to kids who are nervous about needles.   This episode is brought to you by the NSW Government.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

How do you feel when you fight with your partner? I feel awful. In fact, nothing feels right when we're fighting, which is why I was drawn to relationship counsellor Lissy Abrahams' book Relationship Reset. Lissy believes that conflict is normal. She explains why and how we fight in a way I've never heard before. It has changed my mind on how I look at conflict and given me a way to deal with it better. Lissy gives us a new way to look at conflict and some tips on how to manage it better. LINK TO THE BOOK: https://www.booktopia.com.au/relationship-reset-lissy-abrahams/book/9781760989781.html See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

I am completely in awe of the cultural history of our First Nations people. While so much knowledge was lost through colonisation, some wisdom and learnings remain. Melanie Briggs is a midwife at Waminda, a centre that supports birthing on country. Through connecting to country and the wisdom of Elders past, Melanie works with First Nations women to have the best possible birth they can - and it's delivering results.  LINK TO WAMINDA: https://waminda.org.au/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

And if you do, how would you react if your obstetrician encouraged you to have surgery on your intersex baby? Simone-Lisa Anderson is an advocate for the intersex community who gave birth to an intersex child. Simone-Lisa explains what it means to be intersex and why surgery on babies and children incapable of consent must be made illegal across Australia. Resources mentioned in this episode include: Intersex Peer Support Australia - https://isupport.org.au/ Intersex Human Rights Australia - https://ihra.org.au/youth/ ACT - A Gender Agenda - https://genderrights.org.au/ TAS - Working it Out - https://www.workingitout.org.au/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

When it comes to streaming services there are so many options to choose from. So how do you decide the best option for a family - where the smallest humans may be the biggest consumers of content? Justin Hill is the host of LiSTNR podcast The Streaming Service and knows how to choose the best streaming service for families. He goes through how to pick the service that best suits your needs.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.