Kinderling Conversation

The south east coast of Australia has had a bit of rain lately, but those in the city would be mistaken for thinking it ends the drought. Farming families are doing it tough, and the summer ahead will get tougher. Wayne Thomson from Rural Aid explains why we need to keep supporting our farmers and how we can do it.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Childhood has changed a lot since we were kids.The concept of free outdoor play and exploration has been dramatically reduced. Griffin Longley from Nature Play WA says that nature-play gives children a chance to build resilience. He's on a mission to give kids back the best bits of childhood.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It's difficult to think about but what will happen to your family if you or your partner, or worse both of you, die? Less than half of Australians have a will, but UNICEF are hoping to change this, and help kids in poverty at the same time. The Good Will Project is bringing lawyers together with parents to prepare their wills in case of death. In the process of making sure your children will be cared and provided for, you can also help another child in need. Melanie Verges from UNICEF takes us through how it works.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Mothercraft nurse Chris Minogue gives advice on when you can stop sterilising bottles and boiling tap water for drinking, why a three-week-old would be breastfeeding for four hours at a time, how to teach a 13-month-old how to self-settle, how to stop a three-year-old acting out since weaning on bottles and dummies and much more.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Traditionally there is a lot of support for new mums. Dads, however, don't get as much of a look in. Grant Lyndon from Busy Dads is working to change that. He's started a "New Dads" group where dads can come together and share stories in a safe environment. And he's got a few ideas on how to get them there.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Paediatric nutritionist and founder of Wholesome Child Mandy Sacher knows that kids like to snack, but she's got some advice on how you can keep it under control. Sometimes it's all about where you put the snacks, and when you let them grab them.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Some parents worry that dummies can cause speech impediments. New research from the University of Sydney suggests otherwise. Dr Elise Baker is a Senior Lecturer in Speech Pathology at the university. She explains why dummies may not be the cause of speech difficulties for children, and what we should really be looking out for.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Confused about how to manage screen time with your kids? Early Childhood Australia have released a digital guideline called the Statement on young children and digital technologies with input from experts in technology, cyber-safety, children's development and health and welfare. Co-author of the report Professor Susan Edwards from the Australian Catholic University explains why not all digital interactions are bad, and Ruth Weinstein from Wee Care Early Learning in Sydney talks about their approach.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Dr Cath Keenan believes that every child has the right to learn the magic of storytelling. She's the co-founder of The Sydney Story Factory, a group that teaches children from all backgrounds how to create stories. She explains why she turned away from her own career as a arts writer and literary editor for Fairfax Media to found the non-profit group.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Acting in big blockbusters is not enough for Josh Lawson.The smitten godfather has decided to turn his hand to writing children's books. His first book is called Shoo Grumpers Shoo. Josh explains his inspiration behind the adorable story exploring emotions, and why everyone should try to dance their blues away.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Getting an autism diagnosis for a child can be a confusing and emotional process. Now The Cooperative Research Centre for Living with Autism (Autism CRC) has launched national guidelines that will make the process easier for everyone. Chief Research Officer Andrew Whitehouse takes us how the guidelines will work.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Mothercraft nurse Chris Minogue takes your parenting questions. She looks into ways to help a 1-year-old settle during the day, how to navigate the dreaded four month sleep regression, how to teach good sleep hygiene, ideal sleep routine for an 11-month-old and more.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We often watch what our kids put in their mouths, policing it whether it's covered in sugar or a small plastic object. But what about our own nutrition? It can be easy to prioritise what our kids eat and not spare a second thought for ourselves. Medical practitioner and nutritionist Julie Sladden from the Nutritional Therapy Association explains why we need to watch what we eat, and offers some practical suggestions on what we can swap out so we're eating better. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Travelling with kids can be like transplanting the chaos in your home, to chaos in a foreign location. But single mum and author Jacinta Tynan says it's all worth it. She's just back from a trip to the United States with her boys. She takes us through the highs and lows, and explains why it all works out in the end.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

With friend and producer Natasha Pizzica yogi, presenter and writer Rachael Coopes has launched a new production company to create content specifically for children; called Mini Productions.They talk about friendship, inspiration and the power of little people, and Rachael explains how she manages it all as a single mum.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Mum-of-four, parenting educator and (some would say) comedian Maggie Dent has released a book titled Mothering Our Boys. She explains why this is the book she was born to write, and shares some insights into successful parenting of boys (like why mothers should start farting around their sons). For more information, head to Maggie's website.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Smith Family have a program called iTrack, where an adult can mentor a student with similar interests in their final years of high school. Mother of two Miriam Raphael did it while on maternity leave. She talks about why she did it, and how she found the time while looking after a new baby. Lauren Stocker National Manager for Volunteers at The Smith Family joins her to explain the difference it can make to a young person's life.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

When Maxine Beneba-Clarke was a girl she experienced racism in the playground. In her beautiful new picture book Wide Big World she shows how words have the power to transform the world. Even words that can start out as hurtful and racist. Maxine shares the story behind the story, and how children can be taught the power and weight of words.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Mothercraft nurse Chris Minogue takes your parenting questions from why a 4-year-old might still be wetting the bed, how much sleep does a 15-month-old need, helping a 5-month old sleep when they're teething, what is the best way to wean a 6-month-old off night feeds, how to move a 12-month-old into the same bedroom as their 4-year-old brother and more.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Anne-Maree Polimeni and her husband Alan have been campaigning the Victorian Government to recognise Pregnancy and Infant Loss Remembrance Day on October 15. She says an official day will help to break down the silence around miscarriage and still birth. She shares her personal story with the loss of her third son Rafael, and how her greatest motivator is the fear that no one will remember her beautiful little boy.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.