Parental As Anything

Adolescence, the gripping Netflix drama, has stopped parents, teachers and parenting experts in their tracks. Suddenly everyone’s talking about toxic masculinity, the gender divide and whether there’s a crisis of modern boyhood. Female teachers and students report being sworn at, sexually harassed and physically threatened in schools by male students, due in part to the influence of Andrew Tate and others like him in the “manosphere”. Why do these “manfluencers” have such a big impact on our boys? And what can we do to guide them away from hateful, misogynistic and extremist beliefs of the “red pill community” that’s being fed to them by online algorithms? Dr Stephanie Wescott is a former teacher who has studied Andrew Tate’s and other influencers' impact on teens. She joins Bec Sparrow and a teacher who shares what’s happening in your child’s classroom. The advice provided in this podcast is general in nature and does not take into account your personal situation. If you require further advice specific to your needs, please consult a professional. Guest: Dr Stephanie WescottProducers: Hannah Reich, Josie Sargent Supervising Producer: Tamar CranswickExecutive Producer: Alex LollbackSound design: Ann-Marie de Bettencor

Do you have a little one in an oversized backpack about to head through the school gates for the first time? It's an exciting and sometimes scary time for kids and parents alike, and Parental as Anything is here to help you get through this enormous milestone! Maggie Dent and child psychologist Dr Kaylene Henderson give you all the tips you need to help you and your child nail those first days and weeks of school. The advice provided in this podcast is general in nature and does not take into account your personal situation. If you require further advice specific to your needs, please consult a professional. For more help with building your children's resilience,check out our episode How to build your kids' (and your own) resilience

Starting high school is one of the most exciting and scariest transitions of childhood, for our tweens and for parents too! So how do we help our kids prepare for this milestone, and manage all the ups and downs of Year 7? Maggie Dent and youth coach Claire Eaton share their practical tips for the weeks before school starts, routines to keep your tween on track, and how to handle rough patches. The advice provided in this podcast is general in nature and does not take into account your personal situation. If you require further advice specific to your needs, please consult a professional. Looking for more advice on getting your kids through their teens?Check out our episodes Raising Teen Girls and Raising Teen Boys.

School resistance and school refusal are a growing concern for our kids and teens. While many kids will complain about school at some point along the way, for some kids the issues is much bigger. Some kids just can’t.Maggie Dent talks to education consultant and former principal Adam Voight about how to tackle school refusal head on. We explore the best ways to advocate for your child, to how to find support, plus families who went through it and came out the other side. And we ask the big question: When should you just change schools? The advice provided in this podcast is general in nature and does not take into account your personal situation. If you require further advice specific to your needs, please consult a professional. If you would like more ideas about how to help a kid with anxiety, check out our episode Do you have an anxious child?

Making friends is tough at any age, but for kids and teens, who are still mastering social skills, it can be an emotional rollercoaster. It can be so hard to watch your kids bump through the ups and downs of friendships, and even harder to know what to do to help them through the dramas of it all!Maggie Dent and Bec Sparrow come together in this episode, with parent educator Claire Orange, to give you advice on what you can do as a parent to help your kids navigate the often-tricky world of friendships. The advice provided in this podcast is general in nature and does not take into account your personal situation. If you require further advice specific to your needs, please consult a professional. If you have teenagers who are struggling with making the right kind of friends, check out our episode My teen's friends are bad news

Homework! Is there anything that causes more battles at the kitchen table? Whether you are for or against it, it can be a pain for kids and for parents, amidst the juggle of after school activities, struggles with learning, even just good old after-school burnout. Maggie Dent chats to Maria Cook, the founding principal of Honeywood Primary School in Perth, about how to manage homework if your kids are getting it, and why you shouldn’t worry if they are not! The advice provided in this podcast is general in nature and does not take into account your personal situation. If you require further advice specific to your needs, please consult a professional. If homework is just one of the struggles in the busy schedule at your house, check out our episode School, homework, sport – are your kids too busy?

There is so much emphasis on the last two years of high school, and not all of it is good! Some teenagers become highly anxious and are weighed down by pressure to get top marks for university – while others create stress for us parents when they can’t seem to get motivated, stay organised or manage their time. Bec Sparrow is joined by Claire Eaton, a youth coach and author of Hello High School. Together they discuss strategies for getting study ready, planning, motivating teens and what to do when the pressure to achieve becomes too much. The advice in this podcast is general and does not consider your personal situation. If you require further advice specific to your needs, please consult a professional. If the discussion around helping kids study when they have ADHD has resonated with you, we have a few different episodes you might like to listen to on supporting neurodiverse kids. Parenting children with ADHDHow to help children with dyslexiaParenting Autistic Kids

Hey parents! We see you there in your big sunglasses, hiding behind your summer read, trying to pretend January will last forever! But like it or not - the new school year is fast approaching. And here at Parental As Anything, we want to help you out. We've delved into our archives and pulled out all the best advice for our Back to School Special Series.Whether you are farewelling your baby for their first day of school, or shoving your giant teen out the door to begin their final year - there will be advice and handy tips on creating smooth transitions, managing anxiety, supporting new friendships, tackling homework battles and so much more! The Parental As Anything Back to School Special will drop Jan 13 in your podcast feed and on the ABC Listen App.

It’s normal for teenagers to push away parents and think we’re totally embarrassing, so how can we keep connected to them? Parents from the Parental As Anything: Teens community have shared their best hacks on how they bond with their teenagers.

By the age of 15 more than 50 per cent of teenagers have looked at porn. For teenage boys, this can quickly become a habit. Research points to a link between porn use and sexual violence, with young men the most likely offenders. So how can we help our teens understand that curiosity around sex is normal but the violence and degradation depicted in porn is not? And how can we help set them up to have healthy, respectful relationships?

The last years of high school can be full of pressure and stress – but what do you do if your teenager just can’t seem to get organised or manage their time? Some teenagers become highly anxious and are weighed down by pressure to get top marks for university – while others just can’t seem to get motivated. Youth coach Claire Eaton joins Bec Sparrow to share strategies on getting study ready, planning, how to motivate teens and what to do when the pressure to achieve becomes too much.

Masturbation and self-pleasure are a normal part of exploring sexuality, but that doesn't mean it's not awkward to talk about with our teens. Bec Sparrow shares her advice on talking to teens and tweens about exploring their own bodies and what to do if there is social pressure to overshare.

There has been a huge rise in online bullying – and it can be subtle and sophisticated – with devastating impacts on victim’s mental health. These days bullies are on our teenager’s screens 24/7 via Snapchat, TikTok, Instagram and WhatsApp and there’s no escaping the torture. How do we protect our teens online? What steps should we take if we find out our child is a target of cyberbullying? And what should we do if we find out our child is a cyberbully?

Vapes come in fun, fruity flavours and are easy to hide, part of the reason they’re so appealing to teenagers. But what should you do if you catch your teen vaping? And are they worse than the cigarettes of our hey-day? Bec Sparrow shares the steps to take if your teenager is secretly vaping, how to help your adolescent resist social pressure to inhale and the importance of busting myths around the health risks of vapes and e-cigarettes.

First loves can be all consuming – so what should you do if your teen wants to have their new boyfriend or girlfriend sleep over? From unwanted pregnancies and contraception to STDs and consent, there’s a lot to navigate– for parents and teenagers.

Adolescents and young people are most at risk of getting an eating disorder, with the average age of onset between 12 and 25. And eating disorders are on the rise, with a 21% increase in disordered eating in the past decade.What makes teens vulnerable to eating disorders? What can we do to protect them? And, how can we support them if they do?

Teenagers are spending more time than ever on their phones – they are on devices up to 8 hours a day. And that’s when they’re not at school! Of course, your teen won't see their excessive screentime as an issue. Phones are a way for teens to connect but they also distract and get in the way of sleep. So what can you do if your teenager is constantly attached to their phone?

You find fresh cuts on your teenager’s body – what do you do next? Self-harm can be a way for teens to cope with big emotions, anxiety and distress and it's more common than parents might think.

Teen boys are being pumped fitness content on social media, pushing many to build bulk and get "jacked". Researchers are worried this 'gymfluencer' content is leading to a spike in body dysmorphia among young men. What can you do if your teenage son is worrying about how they look? And how can you help if they are developing worrying habits, like daily gym sessions and protein shakes?

Today's teens are the "anxious generation" and anxiety is on the rise. It impacts their mental health and their ability to cope with school, friendships and everyday tasks.

Does your teen love nothing more than slothing about on the sofa? And the mere idea of a walk, bike ride or jumping on the trampoline seems like too much effort?We know that movement and exercise is good for our mental and physical health, but knowing that, and getting our teen to muster the energy to do it are two different things.Bec Sparrow gives her tips on how to get your teen moving.

Female teachers are being sworn at, sexually harassed and physically threatened in high schools by male students. These young men are under the thrall of Andrew Tate and other online influencers and are taking his misogynist ideas into the classroom.

Your daughter asks you to buy her a vibrator. What should you do? Bec Sparrow on why sex positivity for our teens is important, why there’s still a taboo around female masturbation and the awkward, but important, conversations to have around pleasure.

When they’re little, our kids idolise us. Then, they become teenagers and start to push us away, refusing to chat and rolling their eyes.What can parents do to stay connected, when suddenly you're no longer the Taylor Swift or Drake of your teen's life? And why do they pull away from us in the first place?Dr Justin Coulson joins Bec Sparrow to explain what is going on, and gives tips on how to stay close to your teenager.(PS If you have a trick on how you have managed to stay connected, we’d love to hear them for a special episode we’re working on. Send us a voice note or email us at [email protected])The advice in this podcast is general and does not consider your personal situation. If you require further advice specific to your needs, please consult a professional. Guest: Dr Justin CoulsonProducers: Hannah Reich, Josie Sargent Supervising Producer: Tamar CranswickExecutive Producer: Alex LollbackSound design: Ann-Marie de Bettencor

Has your tween bugged you to buy them fancy face cream or a Drunk Elephant serum? Younger and younger teenagers are lusting after super expensive — and age-inappropriate — beauty products that they’ve seen on social media.Bec Sparrow is here to help you know what to do if your tween or teen is breaking the bank with creams, make-up and serums. The advice in this podcast is general and does not consider your personal situation. If you require further advice specific to your needs, please consult a professional. Producers: Hannah Reich, Josie Sargent Supervising Producer: Tamar CranswickExecutive Producer: Alex LollbackSound design: Ann-Marie de Bettencor

What do you do when you don't like your teen's mates?Friends are so important for our teens, so how can you guide them to make good choices when it comes to buddies? Should you try and intervene, or will that only backfire?

How do you know when your teen’s gaming habit levels-up from hobby to obsession? Once teens are on their gaming consoles, it can be really tough to get them to press pause. Even to go to the toilet, eat dinner or go to sleep. Bec Sparrow uncovers the red flags to look for if your teenager’s gaming is becoming obsessive, and gives you practical tips on how to turbo boost your tech and gaming boundaries.

You pick up your teenager from a party, see wasted kids stumbling around, vomiting in bushes and you realise they’re no longer playing pin the tail on the donkey. How do we teach our kids to have a healthy relationship with alcohol? And is it ever okay to give your teen booze? In this Parental As Anything: Teens, Paul Dillon, the director of Drug and Alcohol Research and Training Australia, joins host Bec Sparrow to talk you through how to set boundaries, how to keep your child safe and what to do if your teen is asking for booze.

From fancy drink bottles to the latest tech, teenagers want lots of stuff they (and you) can’t afford and don’t need.So how can you push back from the constant barrage of demands? In this bite-sized Dear Bec episode, Bec Sparrow explains why giving teens what they want isn’t always good for them and that what they really crave, money can’t buy.

OMG. You catch your teen hassling for nude pics. What the hell do you do? How to have those awkward conversations with your teenagers about sexting, consent and protecting yourself online.

Teenage sex. Anxiety. Underage drinking. Porn. Phone addiction.

Nothing truly prepares you for becoming a parent, but some of the best advice comes from other mums or dads – even famous ones like Hamish Blake.In this special episode, Maggie Dent hands the reins over to the Parental As Anything community for you to share your best parenting hacks. Even comedian Hamish Blake shares his top tip for keeping kids entertained.The advice provided in this podcast is general in nature and does not take into account your personal situation. If you require further advice specific to your needs, please consult a professional.

Starting high school is a massive change for both you and your tween. How do you get them ready and help them through the ups and downs of Year 7?Youth coach Claire Eaton and Maggie Dent share their practical tips for the weeks before they start, routines to keep them on track and handling the rough patches.The advice provided in this podcast is general in nature and does not take into account your personal situation. If you require further advice specific to your needs, please consult a professional.

Like it or not, children will learn to swear from school, videos, even their parents. So what can you do to stop your child being a pottymouth? In this Help Me, Maggie episode Maggie Dent explains why children might swear, how to discourage them from using offensive words and what to say if you slip up and swear in front of them. The advice provided in this podcast is general in nature and does not take into account your personal situation. If you require further advice specific to your needs, please consult a professional. Host: Maggie Dent Producer: Josie Sargent Consulting Producer: Carmen Myler Executive Producer: Kim Lester Sound design: Isabella Tropiano

Sleep deprivation is a silent epidemic among our teenagers, according to paediatric and adolescent sleep specialist, Dr Chris Seton.With screen time, social media and gaming competing for our teenager's attention, sleep disruption is at an all-time high.Dr Seton tells Maggie Dent about the devastating effects sleep deprivation has on our teenagers. From social, emotional and mental health problems to declining academic performance, it is a wake-up call for parents to make sleep a priority.The advice provided in this podcast is general in nature and does not take into account your personal situation. If you require further advice specific to your needs, please consult a professional.CreditsPresenter: Maggie DentProducer: Maria TickleExecutive producer: Monique BowleyConsulting producer: Carmen MylerSound engineer: Nathan TurnbullField recordings: Rebecca McLaren

If your child is struggling to read or write, they may be among the 10 per cent of people who have dyslexia. What is it? How can it impact a child’s education, self-esteem and mental health? Maggie Dent speaks to Sarah Asome, a school principal and mum of dyslexic children, from advocacy group CodeREAD, and psychologist Dr Craig Wright from Understanding Minds. Together they discuss the signs of dyslexia, seeking a diagnosis and what parents can do to support their child at school and at home. The advice provided in this podcast is general in nature and does not take into account your personal situation. If you require further advice specific to your needs, please consult a professional. Host: Maggie Dent Producer: Josie Sargent Consulting Producer: Carmen Myler Executive Producer: Kim Lester Sound design: Isabella Tropiano Field recordings: Rebecca McLaren

Life with children means more stress, less sleep and less time for you. And when all of your energy goes to raising kids, what’s left for your spouse? In this Help Me, Maggie episode Maggie Dent gives tips on what adults can do to stay connected in the chaos, why effective communication is key and what to do when the bad moods of teenagers wear off on the whole household. The advice provided in this podcast is general in nature and does not take into account your personal situation. If you require further advice specific to your needs, please consult a professional. Host: Maggie Dent Producer: Josie Sargent Consulting Producer: Carmen Myler Executive Producer: Kim Lester Sound design: Isabella Tropiano

Shouting? Time outs? Shaming? You don’t have to do any of this to effectively discipline your child. So how do you teach your kids right from wrong? We’re revisiting one of our most popular episodes. Vanessa Lapointe, the author of Discipline Without Damage, joins Maggie Dent to share the best way to discipline your child without punishing them, how to teach them to make good choices, and why discipline is a long game. The advice provided in this podcast is general in nature and does not take into account your personal situation. If you require further advice specific to your needs please consult a professional. Host: Maggie Dent Producer: Kim Lester Consulting Producer: Carmen Myler Executive Producer: Justine Kelly Sound design: Isabella Tropiano / Ann-Marie DebettencorField recordings: Anne-Marie Middlemast

What if your kid feels ready to walk to school alone before you feel ready to let them? Will they be safe, and how will it make them more independent? Maggie Dent has tips for parents who want to know when a child is ready, how to take the first steps to independence and how to head off potential danger. The advice provided in this podcast is general in nature and does not take into account your personal situation. If you require further advice specific to your needs, please consult a professional. Host: Maggie Dent Producer: Josie Sargent Consulting Producer: Carmen Myler Executive Producer: Kim Lester Sound design: Isabella Tropiano

Tweens and teens feel big emotions – and those turning to self-harm to cope is more common than you think. Professor Jo Robinson, who leads the youth suicide prevention group at Orygen, and teen expert Michelle Mitchell join Maggie Dent, host of Parental As Anything, to help parents understand why young people self-harm, how to have those initial conversations and how to help teens move away from self-harm. The advice provided in this podcast is general in nature and does not take into account your personal situation. If you require further advice specific to your needs, please consult a professional. This episode deals with the issues of self-harm and suicide.More information: Lifeline 13 11 14; headspace.org.auHost: Maggie Dent Producer: Josie Sargent Consulting Producer: Carmen Myler Executive Producer: Kim Lester Sound design: Isabella Tropiano Field recordings: Rebecca McLaren

Curious kids will ask questions about people who look or sound different to them. How do you talk to them about racism and inclusion? What if your child uses a racist slur? And how can you encourage them to be an ally? Ali Kadri, CEO of the Islamic College of Brisbane and host of The Swap, joins Maggie Dent to talk frankly about racism and encouraging children to learn about and embrace people’s differences. The advice provided in this podcast is general in nature and does not take into account your personal situation. If you require further advice specific to your needs, please consult a professional. Host: Maggie Dent Producer: Josie Sargent Consulting Producer: Carmen Myler Executive Producer: Kim Lester Sound design: Isabella Tropiano

Grandparents do so much for our kids. But not every family has a Nanny or Pop in their life. And even when they do, keeping the peace can be tricky. How do you celebrate the joy grandparents bring to your family, while still forging your own path as a parent? How do you ask them not to spoil your kids, or discipline them like it’s 1985? And do you rely too much on them for free childcare? Anne McLeish, director of Grandparents Australia, joins host of Parental As Anything Maggie Dent, to celebrate the benefits – but to also offer tips on how to foster relationships from afar, what to do if tensions arise over child rearing ideas and what to say if a grandparent is not in their life at all. They are joined by special grandparental guests ABC broadcaster and author Richard Glover and Larrakia elder Richard Fejo. The advice provided in this podcast is general in nature and does not take into account your personal situation. If you require further advice specific to your needs, please consult a professional. Host: Maggie Dent Producer: Josie Sargent Consulting Producer: Carmen Myler Executive Producer: Kim Lester Sound design: Isabella Tropiano Field recordings: Rebecca McLaren

Tweens want a phone so they aren’t left out and many parents like being able to contact their kids. But, when should kids have their own mobile?

You want your kids to be resilient enough to handle life’s unexpected challenges – but as parents, it is hard to step back. Lyn Worsley, director of the Resilience Centre, joins Maggie Dent on this Parental As Anything to give tips on why it’s important to let kids fend for themselves, how to start building resilience and how parents can learn to let go. The advice provided in this podcast is general in nature and does not take into account your personal situation. If you require further advice specific to your needs please consult a professional. Host: Maggie Dent Producer: Kim Lester Consulting Producer: Carmen Myler Executive Producer: Justine KellySound design: Isabella Tropiano / Ann-Marie DebettencorField recordings: Anne-Marie Middlemast

Kids love the idea of a pet. But, for parents they mean more mess, expense and time. So, should you cave? A busy mum asks Maggie Dent, do the benefits of owning a dog outweigh the training, cleaning and poo collecting? Maggie, the host of Parental As Anything, shares what she thinks families should consider if they have children pestering them for a dog. The advice provided in this podcast is general in nature and does not take into account your personal situation. If you require further advice specific to your needs please consult a professional. Host: Maggie Dent Producer: Josie Sargent Consulting Producer: Carmen Myler Executive Producer: Kim Lester Sound design: Simon Branthwaite

How do you teach children the realities of what you can afford without stressing them out. And if money isn’t tight, how do we curb their entitlement?Maggie Dent asks finance author and mum Effie Zahos how and when to talk to kids honestly about your cashflow, the costs of running a family and what to say if you’re struggling to pay your bills and need to cut back on the fun stuff. The advice provided in this podcast is general in nature and does not take into account your personal situation. If you require further advice specific to your needs please consult a professional. Host: Maggie Dent Producer: Josie Sargent Consulting Producer: Carmen Myler Executive Producer: Kim Lester Sound design: Isabella Tropiano Field recordings: Rebecca McLaren

Has your child ever made a friend who dominates, bullies, or leads them astray? As a parent, what can you do if your kid’s BFF just isn’t good for them? Parenting author and host of Parental As Anything, Maggie Dent has some tips for mums and dads about being your child’s ‘friendship coach’. What to do if your child has a frenemy, ways to teach them about healthy friendships and why you SHOULDN’T approach the other child’s parents.The advice provided in this podcast is general in nature and does not take into account your personal situation. If you require further advice specific to your needs please consult a professional.Host: Maggie Dent Producer: Josie Sargent Consulting Producer: Carmen Myler Executive Producer: Kim Lester Sound design: Simon Branthwaite

You decorate, bake and plan the perfect birthday party – only for your child to have a complete meltdown on the day. So, how do you throw a celebration your kid will actually enjoy? Genevieve Muir, of Connected Parenting, joins Parental As Anything host Maggie Dent to share tips for parents on how to plan a party kids will love, what to do if kids become overstimulated and how to include neurodivergent children in big, noisy parties. The advice provided in this podcast is general in nature and does not take into account your personal situation. If you require further advice specific to your needs please consult a professional. Host: Maggie Dent Producer: Josie Sargent Consulting Producer: Carmen Myler Executive Producer: Kim Lester Sound design: Simon Branthwaite Field recordings: Rebecca McLaren

Some kids are shy. Others love nothing more than talking non-stop to anyone who’ll listen. What can you do if your child is a chatterbox? Maggie Dent, parenting author and host of Parental As Anything, gives tips on how you can help teach your talkative child to listen and even give mums and dads some moments of peace and quiet. The advice provided in this podcast is general in nature and does not take into account your personal situation. If you require further advice specific to your needs please consult a professional. Host: Maggie Dent Producer: Josie Sargent Consulting Producer: Carmen Myler Executive Producer: Kim Lester Sound design: Simon Branthwaite

Exhausted? Stressed? Angry? Sick of being a parent? Maybe it’s not typical fatigue from taking care of children – you could have parental burnout. Psychologist Hélène Gatland joins parenting author Maggie Dent to explain why parental burnout is on the rise, how it impacts mums and dads differently and what to do if you think you – or your partner - has it. The advice provided in this Parental As Anything podcast is general in nature and does not take into account your personal situation. If you require further advice specific to your needs please consult a professional. Host: Maggie Dent Producer: Josie Sargent Consulting Producer: Carmen Myler Executive Producer: Kim Lester Sound design: Simon Branthwaite Field recordings: Rebecca McLaren