Parental As Anything

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 teens@abc.net.au) 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 Coulson Producers: Hannah Reich, Josie Sargent Supervising Producer: Tamar Cranswick Executive Producer: Alex Lollback Sound 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 Cranswick Executive Producer: Alex Lollback Sound 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. Credits Presenter: Maggie Dent Producer: Maria Tickle Executive producer: Monique Bowley Consulting producer: Carmen Myler Sound engineer: Nathan Turnbull Field 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 Debettencor Field 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