By: Collett Smart
For parents and teachers alike, vaping, alcohol and other drugs are high on their radar right now, so I decided it was time to address it on the Raising Teenagers podcast, by chatting to Paul Dillon. Read more
By: Collett Smart
Festivities can be so much fun, and parties provide opportunities for socialising and a little freedom for older teens. Read more
By: Collett Smart
There is something both exhilarating and scary about the freedom that comes with being a teenager. Some of the teens I chat with mention how much they love going out with friends, but feel conflicted about the peer pressure around sleepovers, parties and alcohol. Read more
By: Collett Smart
A shortage of healthy touch can have detrimental effects on our health and wellbeing, even leading to psychologically damaging effects.
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By: Collett Smart
“I love teenagers!” Yet… I find that whenever I say this phrase people look at me and chuckle, as if waiting for the punchline. There is none. Read more
By: Collett Smart
Nature is known to provide cognitive benefits and enhance our overall physical and mental wellbeing. Yet, for some tweens, spending too much time on technology, sees them not getting enough exercise or spending enough time outdoors. So how do we help our young people create a healthy screen time balance? Read more
By: Collett Smart
Weekly news reports of traumatic images and stories of pain and destruction such as; natural disasters (bushfires, floods, volcanoes and earthquakes), the coronavirus, terrorist attacks, threats of war and shootings can cause great concern in children. Read more
By: Collett Smart
I’m regularly asked, “What is the secret to raising healthy teenagers?”
I think we often wonder if there’s some big secret to raising healthy teenagers. Something we are missing, that others know the answer to.
My answer is usually this, “There is no magic bullet, the small things ARE the big things!” Read more
By: Collett Smart
The Parenting Question this week is from Judy, on Sleep Deprivation: “How much sleep do our teens need?”
It has been said that we have a chronically sleep deprived generation. Read more