By: Collett SmartThere is something both exhilarating and scary about the freedom that comes with being a teenager. Some of the teens I chat with mention how much they love going out with friends, but feel conflicted about the peer pressure around sleepovers, parties and alcohol. While some see...
By: Collett SmartA shortage of healthy touch can have detrimental effects on our health and wellbeing, even leading to psychologically damaging effects. Of course, we’ve known for many years about the importance of touch for the healthy physical and psychological growth of...
By: Collett Smart“I love teenagers!” Yet… I find that whenever I say this phrase people look at me and chuckle, as if waiting for the punchline. There is none. It’s true! I really do love teenagers! Every year I get to spend a week in January with a few hundred teenagers...
By: Collett SmartNature is known to provide cognitive benefits and enhance our overall physical and mental wellbeing. Yet, for some tweens, spending too much time on technology, sees them not getting enough exercise or spending enough time outdoors. So how do we help our young people create a...
By: Collett SmartWeekly news reports of traumatic images and stories of pain and destruction such as; natural disasters (bushfires, floods, volcanoes and earthquakes), the coronavirus, terrorist attacks, threats of war and shootings can cause great concern in children. Adults can sometimes assume...
By: Dr Justin CoulsonMany of our children don’t like to admit this – and if they’re reading this article, they’ll say it’s not true – but until at least the age of 16, our children need us to be actively involved in a good portion of their lives. In reality, our...
