Kinderling Conversation

The TGA has provisionally approved the use of Moderna for children aged six months to five years. This age group is the last to be protected with the vaccine - but what do we know about its safety and efficacy? Dr Daryl Cheng is a Consultant Paediatrician and the Medical Lead of Melbourne Vaccine Education Centre and Murdoch Children's Research Institute. He outlines what we know about the Moderna vaccine for the under 5s and why it will still be some time before we will be able to vaccinate our youngest kids.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What are the more awkward and tricky situations you've come across involving kids? I asked some friends and colleagues and came up with the following: When is it okay to tell off other people's kids? Can you tell your parents how to look after your own kids? Should you let children choose whether they go to church? How much should we help our kids with homework? Is it okay to tell kids white lies to protect them? Matt Beard is an ethicist and the resident philosopher at the ABC's podcast Short and Curly. He takes us through the ethical implications of all of these questions and gives us some rational ways forward.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The cost of living is rising across Australia and rent is one of the biggest costs for families. Leo Patterson Ross is the CEO of the Tenants Union NSW. Leo says that politicians need to change the way they look at housing, but while we wait for policy change, he gives us some tips on how to manage the latest price hike. Some resources that Leo mentions in this interview: https://www.tenants.org.au/factsheet-04-rent-increases https://www.tenants.org.au/resource/rent-tracker https://www.tenants.org.au/resource/financial-assistanceSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Growing up in the 80s chicken pox was fairly common. But when I had my own kids I thought it was a disease of the past. We have vaccines now and I hadn't heard of it for many years. Then my daughter woke up with some suspicious spots. Too many to be an attack of mosquitos in the middle of winter. Dr Deb Levy is a paediatrician and mum. She explains why chicken pox is still around, how to identify it and what to do about it.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Billy Black in an artist who grew up in care and a mum of two. Having experienced the powerlessness as a child growing up in out-of-home care, Billy wants to see kids having a greater say in what happens in their lives. She talks about her experience and why her book Roar helps kids to find their own voice. Roar is Kinderling Kids Radio's Story of the Week. You can listen to it here. https://www.kinderlingkids.com/shows/story-of-the-week/?d=140722 See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Mothers' groups aren't for everyone. You can be put into a group where your only common experience is having had a baby. Most of the focus in these groups is about how to nuture your baby. But imagine if you had a group of women who were coming together with the main objective of understanding and exploring what it means to be a mother? Nadine Richardson is the founder of She Births, a prenatal program that prepares women for birth. She also has a very special kind of mother's group called Soul Mama Circles. Nadine explains what makes this kind of group of women extra special.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What's your wardrobe looking like lately? How many tracksuit pants do you have vs how many clothes you could wear to work? Chances are if you've had a break from office-life, whether through having a baby or working from home through Covid, you might be ready for a bit of a wardrobe upgrade. Amelia McFarlane from Colour Me In Styling gives us some tips on how to dress well for the office and feel great at the same time.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Do you wish you could go to the bathroom without a child wandering in? Perhaps you need to understand the relationship between boundaries and discipline. Rachel Tomlinson is a psychologist at Toward Wellbeing . Rachel explains when you can start setting boundaries, and how to make sure your children understand them.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Healthy Harold has been a fixture in Australian primary schools since 1979. Now a revamped preschool programme is coming to a kindy near you. CEO of Life Education Australia Kellie Sloane talks about the evolution of Harold from a bleary eyed party giraffe of the 80s to an internet savvy, trusted figure of today.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In honour of NAIDOC week I am revisiting a selection of episodes that celebrate our First Nations peoples. In this episode I speak with Aunty Rhonda Collard-Spratt. If culture, tradition and knowledge is passed down to children in families, what happens when those children are removed, generation after generation? Aunty Rhonda has collaborated with her friend Jacki Ferro to write a book to connect children with the ancient history and wisdom of the First Nations people. Aunty Rhonda is a proud Yamatji-Noongar Elder who is a survivor of the Stolen Generations. She talks about the book Grandfather Emu and her belief in the future of reconciliation.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In honour of NAIDOC week I am revisiting a selection of episodes that celebrate our First Nations peoples. In this episode I speak with Lisa Kennedy, a community artist who works with Elders and communities to pass on stories, culture and knowledge. She collaborated with Aunty Joy for the book Welcome to Country calling on her connection to the land and culture to express the story through her art. Lisa talks about the inspiration of country and how she channels the wisdom of Elders past.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The practice of 'blessing' a baby is best known in western cultures as a Christening. But Darug woman Jasmine Seymour has created a picture book for children all about a different kind of baby blessing. Her book is called Baby Business and it's all about a baby smoking ceremony. Jasmine talks about what the ceremony involves and how it connects children to country.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In honour of NAIDOC week I am revisiting a selection of episodes that celebrate our First Nations peoples. In this episode producer Cinnamon Nippard speaks with Thomas Mayor, author of the children's book Finding Our Hearts - about the history of the Uluru Statement from the Heart and why we need our children to understand it properly.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Imagine if every primary school had a local First Nations teacher to talk about the history and cultural practices of the area. What would our future look like if children were given this kind of insight into the richness of Indigenous culture? Dr Scott Winch is the Senior Policy Advisor, First Nations at World Vision Australia and the co-chair of Know Your Country- an organisation that advocates for local First Nations teachers in every school. Scott talks about why local knowledge is so important and the difference it can make to children across Australia.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Once you have kids it can be difficult to commit to change, even when you want that change very much. Habits like meditation, exercise or other things that you know will make your life better can feel out of reach. Psychologist Rebecca Ray believes that there is a way to implement real and lasting change in our lives without increasing our guilt or "to do" list. Rebecca's latest books is Small Habits for a Big Life and in this interview she outlines how this approach can work for busy parents.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

One of the more excruciating parts of a kid's education is helping them learn how to read. Particularly when you consider the types of books they're reading, with titles like "Hair", "Trucks" and "Our Car". In an effort to laugh through the pain, illustrator Beck Feiner talks through some of the more painful books she's read.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jess Sanders is a social worker and children's book author. From her work with boys and young men in the justice system Jess saw all the ways that boys are getting toxic messages about what it means to be a man. Her book Be Your Own Man looks at what boys have been missing in conversations around feelings, their bodies and friendships. Jess talks about how her books seek to give kids back an authentic sense of self.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Clementine Ford, Em Ruschiano and Abbie Chatfield have all recently spoken about their adult diagnosis of ADHD. At the same time they have expressed relief, like the diagnosis was the final piece of a puzzle, making sense of their past behaviours. So how do we as parents recognise the symptoms of ADHD in our children? Mark Bellgrove is a Professor in Cognitive Neuroscience at Monash University and the President of the Australian ADHD Professionals Association. He explains what ADHD is, how it can be treated, and where to go for help.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

After many years of advocating for greater investment, the early learning sector is set for some significant changes. Executive Director of The Parenthood Georgie Dent was among others in the sector lobbying parties prior to the federal election. She joins the show to discuss the changes that have been promised, including the latest joint announcement from the NSW and Victorian Governments to provide universal access the year prior to school.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ella Fields (alias) writes roughly two books a year. When she first started she was writing around four books a year. She describes her books as 'steamy' romance and they are enormously popular. She's a USA Today and International best-selling author who started writing when her kids were just in primary school. What began as an experiment has ended up in a career that allows her to support her family. Ella talks about how she started and why she thinks her books are so popular.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.