A social enterprise providing education and information to protect and enhance the mental health of young people
Jane Turner Goldsmith, University of Adelaide The oldest known library, dating back to the second millennium BC, in Thebes, Egypt, reportedly bore a sign above its portals in Greek: Psyches Iatreion, translated as “healing place of the soul”. The idea that reading may confer healing benefits is not new, but continues to intrigue readers [...]
Michael Good, Griffith University Group A streptococci, also known as “strep A”, were the first organisms ever identified to be the cause of a disease. In the mid-1800s, Hungarian physician Ignaz Semmelweis first noted the link between a lack of hygienic practices – such as handwashing – among medical staff and puerperal (or childbirth) [...]
Joshua Trigg, Flinders University and Billie Bonevski, Flinders University You’ve dropped your daughter off at her friend’s house and while cleaning the car, you find what looks like a USB drive on the passenger seat. It’s a disposable vape. You’ve seen the news. Vapes or e-cigarettes are harmful yet increasingly popular with people her age. [...]
Emma Beckett, University of Newcastle Parents of young children today were raised during some of the most damaging periods of diet culture. From diet and “lite” foods and drinks, to expensive “superfoods”, one constant across these changing trends has been the moralisation of food as “good” or “bad”. These diet movements have led to [...]
Amelia Church, The University of Melbourne All children argue. And while this can be tedious for parents and carers, it’s not necessarily a problem. Conflict can help develop social skills, including learning to negotiate, and accommodate the needs of others. But if the conflict is physical, if there is any distress, or if children [...]
Sanné Mestrom, University of Sydney One of the things kids love most about the beach is the chance to play with sand. Sand is an excellent material to play with. It is versatile, widely available, open-ended and cheap. Not only is it nature-based, but it involves manipulation, exploration, and construction with materials to create [...]
Sarah Wayland, University of New England The thought of her, as always, gave me a jolt of hope, and a burst of energy. And a stab of sorrow. Prince Harry’s reflection on his mother Princess Diana, who died unexpectedly when he was just 12 years old, appears in his memoir Spare, released officially this week. [...]
Sarah Blunden, CQUniversity Australia Summer holidays often mean sunshine, beach trips, mountain hikes, relaxation, catching up with family and friends, and the chance to sleep in. For many parents, the temptation is to loosen up on the kids’ bedtime routine, let them stay up late, and allow them to catch up on sleep with [...]
Rachael Sharman, University of the Sunshine Coast We all lie to our kids. Some lies – telling them their artwork is wonderful, or that Wiggles band-aids are infused with anaesthetic – benefit the child. Others are just a bit of fun. Take the Tiktok trend of telling your kids this weird little gnome is [...]
Amanda Watson, University of South Australia; Carol Maher, University of South Australia, and Tim Olds, University of South Australia Every parent knows kids spend their time differently when they’re on holidays. Our new research found out just how differently. During the school term, kids get up around 7am, get into their uniforms, make their [...]
