By: Robert GarrettIn several recent blogs I reference experts encouraging parents to keep the channels of communication open with their teens. From dads staying close to their daughters, to maintaining healthy parental dialogue around social media use, a positive outcome involves parents who...
By: Dr Justin CoulsonA friend of mine had an awful ‘sexting’ incident occur with her 11 year-old daughter. Her daughter was having an innocent conversation with a boy from school via text when he asked her to send “noodz” to him. I have two daughters and a son who are...
By: Clare BruceFor star Youtuber and maths teacher extraordinaire Eddie Woo, teaching in lockdown has come naturally.After all, creating lessons for the screen is something he’s been doing for years; it’s his wildly popular Youtube maths lessons that have made him a hit with students...
By: Clare BruceThe cancellation of Year 12 formals and graduation ceremonies has sparked an outpouring of emotion from parents and students, broken-hearted at the loss of yet another rite-of-passage in their final year of school.When adolescent psychologist Collett Smart asked parents in her...
By: Dr Justin Coulson‘Get up!’‘Hurry up! It’s time to go.’‘Do your homework now. You should have done it already!’‘You will study tonight.’Nobody likes to be told what to do. It gets our back up and makes us resistant to what’s being...
By: Jennie ScottOK, son. You’re in that weird stage right now where you’re technically not a teenager yet, but you’re not a little kid anymore, either. I know it’s super strange. Your body is changing, your voice is sounding different, and your brain is struggling to...
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...
By: Robert GarrettFrom the day our daughter was born, she’s always held a special place in my heart. From my experience talking to dads and reading numerous parenting books, there’s nothing unusual about that.But those same sources also tell us that it’s common for dads to step...
By: Collett SmartIt’s been a strange year for all students, but none more so than those in their final year of school.My daughter is my second child, so I have been here before. By ‘here’ I mean the last year of school. Yet, this time looks nothing like my son’s final year....
By: Robert GarrettIn Braving the Wilderness, author Brené Brown says, “In philosophy, “you’re either with us or against us” is considered a false dichotomy or a false dilemma. It’s a move to force people to take sides. [However] the ability to think past...
By: Laura BennettIn a time where thousands of voices are vying for our attention, Hillsong youth band Young & Free are cutting through the noise to draw people to God with their new singles Best Friends and Never Have I Ever.Recorded live at their annual Summer Camp, Best Friends is...
By: Laura BennettSocial media is a complex beast.On the one hand it’s a comparison trap and can really diminish our mental wellbeing, but on its best days, it offers a way to connect with friends and family from whom we’d otherwise be isolated.During the COVID crisis – where...
