A social enterprise providing education and information to protect and enhance the mental health of young people
Clare Collins, University of Newcastle Ever feel a bit stressed or need a concentration boost? Research suggests one remedy may be right under your nose. Chewing has benefits for brain function, stress, anxiety, exam performance, pain perception, as well as hunger and food intake. Here’s what the research about chewing more says, in experiments that [...]
Alina Morawska, The University of Queensland You’re running late for work, your eight-year-old can’t find the homework they were supposed to have put in their school bag last night, your four-year-old objects to the blue t-shirt you’d prepared and wants the other shade of blue, and then you step on a Lego piece that didn’t [...]
Helen Harper, University of New England; Bronwyn Parkin, University of Adelaide; Pauline Jones, University of Wollongong, and Susan Feez, University of New England Many children start school excited about learning to read. And parents too! After many years of reading and re-reading (seemingly ad nauseam) favourite picture books aloud, it’s thrilling to see your [...]
Lowri Dowthwaite-Walsh, University of Central Lancashire What makes you happy? Maybe it’s getting up early to see the sunrise, hanging out with family and friends on a weekend, or going for a dip in the sea. But what does science say about the things happy people do? We know that happy people tend to [...]
Catherine Page Jeffery, University of Sydney The surgeon general is the “nation’s doctor” in the United States. They are tasked with giving Americans the “best scientific information” about their health. Late last month, the current US surgeon general, Vivek Murthy, warned 13 is too young to join social media. He said it poses a risk [...]
Kate Anderson, Deakin University and Darryl Sellwood, Flinders University This month, Victoria became the latest Australian state to ban single-use plastics, including straws. While this is a win for the environment and marine life, it will come at a price for social inclusion. Disposable straws enable many people to safely enjoy drinks without prior planning [...]
Dr Alexander Crooke, Professor Jane Davidson and Trisnasari Fraser On 30 January 2023, the Australian Government launched its much-awaited cultural policy, Revive, which aims to support and enhance the role of arts and culture in our society.This is welcome after years of neglect and in the wake of the crisis experienced in the creative and [...]
Sarah Jefferson, Edith Cowan University The first signs were the half-eaten lunches coming home from high school. This was in stark contrast to the primary school years, where the box looked as if a demolition team had run through it with only a few crumbs left. The problem was finally disclosed over a quiet [...]
Christine Grové, Monash University and Alexandra Marinucci, Monash University School attendance levels in Australia are a massive issue according to Education Minister Jason Clare. As he told reporters last week, he hopes to talk to state colleagues about the issue at a meeting later this month. There’s evidence that school attendance rates have been [...]
Sarah Jefferson, Edith Cowan University Grit. Don’t quit. That’s the mantra many parents may have in mind when they, like me, spend what feels like years ferrying children to a seemingly endless variety of sports and activities. From enduring sheets of almost vertical icy rain while cheering them on a hockey pitch, to obscenely [...]
