A social enterprise providing education and information to protect and enhance the mental health of young people
Daryl Higgins, Australian Catholic University and Gabrielle Hunt, Australian Catholic University An ABC report on Monday revealed a concerning rise in peer-on-peer sexual abuse within Australian primary schools. Data on Victorian schools shows hundreds of such incidents were reported in 2022 and 2023, with many involving children under the age of ten. The Australian [...]
Steven Roberts, Monash University and Stephanie Wescott, Monash University Many parents are worried about their children using social media. But these concerns tend to focus on privacy, exposure to explicit material or contact with strangers. As researchers looking at sexism and misogyny in Australian schools and the influence of social media, we think it is [...]
Sara Goldstein, University of Delaware Curious Kids is a series for children of all ages. If you have a question you’d like an expert to answer, send it to curiouskidsus@theconversation.com. Why are bullies so mean? – Daisy, age 9, Lake Oswego, Oregon Being bullied can make your life miserable, and decades of research prove it: [...]
Nina Van Dyke, Victoria University and Fiona MacDonald, Victoria University As children return to classrooms for 2024, school communities will be confronting bullying in person and via technology. In-person bullying and cyberbullying affect significant numbers of children and young people in Australia and around the world. The eSafety Commission recently revealed a 40% jump in [...]
Emily Setty, University of Surrey Parents, teachers and politicians are worried about the appeal of so-called “online misogyny influencers” to boys and young men. These influencers post content to thousands of followers in videos and podcasts, offering advice about relationships, mental health and wellbeing, and achieving material success and status. They are believed to be [...]
Herb Marsh, Australian Catholic University and Johnmarshall Reeve, Australian Catholic University Your child comes home from school and tells you three classmates are teasing her constantly. One even put chewed gum in her hair as she was listening to the teacher. The other two smiled, laughed and whooped. Hearing this, you understand your child [...]
Corinna Jenkins Tucker, University of New Hampshire and Tanya Rouleau Whitworth, University of New Hampshire Nearly 80% of U.S. children grow up with a sibling. For many, brothers and sisters are life companions, close confidants and sharers of memories. But siblings also are natural competitors for parents’ attention. When brothers and sisters view parents’ love [...]
Ben Arnold Lohmeyer, Flinders University Content warning: this article contains explicit language. School bullying is a huge and distressing problem. In 2015, 43% of Australian year 8 students experienced bullying each month. A 2022 Mission Australia survey of Australians between 15 and 19 found 47% were “extremely” or “somewhat” concerned about bullying. The picture is [...]
Mandie Shean, Edith Cowan University Bullying is unfortunately a common problem in Australian schools, with surveys suggesting one in five teenagers are bullied. While schools are responsible for ensuring a safe environment, parents are likely to be distressed and unsure about what to do if their child is being bullied. What exactly is bullying? And [...]
Rebecca English, Queensland University of Technology An increasing number of Australian families are educating their children at home, either through homeschooling or distance education. My research highlights how some parents are not necessarily choosing to homeschool for religious reasons or because they want to hothouse their kids. Nor are they doing it as their first [...]
