Development
Study finds firstborns are smarter - and there's a logical reason why
A new study has demonstrated what us first-borns have always suspected - eldest kids are the smartest. And it's all down to the different way we were parented.
Another reason to love naps: they may help preschoolers learn!
Parents aren't the only ones who benefit from their kids' daytime nap (hello brief respite!). According to a new study, naps may actually help preschoolers learn. Talk about a win-win!
Study reveals true terror of raising daughters
A study this week was a terrifying reminder that we have far less control over the development of our children than we think.
My child's transition became routine rather than dramatic
The change experienced by Laurie Frankel’s six-year-old was certainly momentous, but at the same time it was remarkably straightforward.
Video games are more addictive than ever; this is what happens when kids can't turn them off
Byrne's parents knew it was their last option. If this new plan couldn't save their son, maybe nothing could.
The reasons why you should let your kids get dirty
Is society's total aversion to dirt responsible for the surge in diseases such as asthma, allergies, autoimmune diseases, and even obesity and coeliac disease?
Advice
Latest YouTube craze leaves 8-year-old boy with second degree burns
A mother has taken to social media to warn parents about the latest social media stunt after her eight-year-old son sustained second degree burns when he attempted to recreate the dangerous "fire bending" trick.
Think before you post those pics of your kids online
You might think it's cute to snap a photo of your toddler running around in a playground or having a temper tantrum, and then posting it on social media. But did you ever think it might be a mistake, or even illegal?
Behaviour and Discipline
A restaurant is offering discounts to patrons with well-behaved children
A restaurant owner in Italy fed-up with unruly children has come up with a novel idea to help curb bad behaviour - he's giving patrons with well-behaved kids a discount on their bill.
This mum's post about the way we raise our boys is a must-read
When a US mum was accused of "babying" her eight-year-old son when he was injured playing basketball, it made her realise that there's still a fundamental problem with the way we're raising our little boys.
Life lesson: even if you're really good, you still can't get everything you want
It's important to ask nicely, because we should all try to be good people, but asking nicely won't guarantee a good outcome.
Puberty
What I said when my daughter asked me how many sexual partners I've had
I recently sat down to watch Mamma Mia! with my 12 year old daughter. A perfect family movie for a Sunday afternoon, or so I thought. And, not to mention, a brilliant introduction for a young woman to start to appreciate the body of work of Meryl Streep.
Dear men, it's not OK to comment on a pre-teen girl's looks
She is 10 years old. How dare he sexualise my daughter, says Tracey Spicer.
Special Needs
Boy's traumatic haircut prompts act of kindness from stranger, who didn't know he has autism
As a parent, there are days it can feel like the whole world is against you.
Smart earbuds promise relief for kids struggling in classroom
Nuheara's earbuds were designed to cancel outside noise while listening to music, but the company is now exploring how they might help people distinguish voices in noisy environments as well.
Teacher creates special "sensory" chair and it goes spectacularly viral
A teacher in the US has been praised for creating ingenious "sensory" chairs that might help children with special needs.
How a pet chicken helped me understand my son's autism
When my son was in kindergarten in the mid '90s, my husband and I joined a parenting class for "spirited children".
Eight things siblings of children with special needs struggle with
Having a sibling with special needs is a reality many children are born into, including my three typically developing children. Of all the things my children experience that I never did, their experience of growing up with a sister with significant disabilities is something I struggle to understand, even as I watch it unfold daily.
Australia's disabled children could be denied funding because of counting stuff-up
Students with disabilities could miss out on hundreds of millions of dollars in extra funding a year because of serious concerns about the reliability of a landmark national audit into the number of school children with special needs.