A social enterprise providing education and information to protect and enhance the mental health of young people
School will start on a somewhat sombre note this year. Some schools will still be shrouded in smog from the bushfires. Some students will be grieving the loss of property, animals or even family and friends. Some remain evacuated and others are part of the recovery effort. In recent days, Australia’s education minister Dan Tehan [...]
In a recent TED talk titled No Philosophy, No Humanity, author Roger Sutcliffe asked the audience whether a flagpole was a place. Around half the audience said yes, the other said no. He went on to describe the response a nine-year-old gave him to that question: to me a flagpole is not a place, but [...]
Australia was one of the first countries in the world to have more computers than students in schools. But as the numbers of computers and other technological devices increased, student performance did not. The days of cramming computers into classrooms and expecting improvements in learning are numbered. Some argue there’s little evidence to justify investment [...]
It can be a challenge to keep kids occupied over school holidays, especially if you have a limited budget and want to keep screen time to a minimum. This handy list of activities is good for hours of screen-free fun, and most are at low-to-no cost. It's a good mix of indoor and outdoor activities, [...]
“Participating in this event helped me see where my fellow peers sit in terms of different things that impact us in our teenage lives. Seeing the amount of people across the country who are thinking about the same things I am is encouraging and empowering” said a year 12 student from last year’s Generation Next [...]
My son, Aiden Dennis, was diagnosed with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) at age 5. He is now 11 years old and, with a little inspiration from a waffle, he’s also the author of an award winning book that aims to help other neurodiverse kids like himself. This is his story, but it’s also mine. [...]
Many people have probably heard the term “positive psychology”, but know little about what it means in practice. Positive psychology aims to find ways to make life better for people, and ensure they’re the most mentally healthy person they can be. Officially established in 1998, positive psychology is a relative new field. It has quickly [...]
A new study suggests that small acts of creativity in everyday life increase our overall sense of well-being. Many people consider creativity the realm of the tortured soul. Think of Sylvia Plath, Kurt Cobain, or Vincent Van Gogh. Though there is no doubt that Plath, Cobain, and Van Gogh created works of great art, science [...]
Irises by Vincent van Gogh. The new study suggests that the advantageous genes which confer creativity or intelligence may express themselves as illness when other risk factors are present. Photograph: Alamy Serious mood disorders such as bipolar may be the price humans have had to pay for our intelligence and creativity. That’s according [...]
The contribution made by parents and grandparents to a child or teen’s success in school and in life is enormous. When teachers and families work together the results that kids achieve are amazing. Here are some of the main things we can all do to give children and teenagers a boost in school success. 1. Be [...]
