Rnz: It Takes A Village

Advocate of outdoor nature education, Wendy Pirie says there are so many benefit of children running around outside and exploring their environment. She is the founder of an Early Learning Centre in Taradale, Hawkes Bay where children have 2 acres of natural play space.

With just over a month to go to the start of NCEA exams, there'll be more than a few nervous students around the country.

What's behind a rise in childhood allergies, and can anything be done to prevent it? Sydney-based gastroenterologist Dr Vincent Ho, has written a new book called The Healthy Baby Gut Guide which looks at what parents can do to help babies develop strong immune responses in their first 1000 days.

Senior Researcher at the New Zealand Council for Educational Research, Mohamed Alansari with what the learnings about learning at home during lockdown have been to date.

Speech and language therapist Christian Wright talks about two speech sound errors commonly heard in children's speech that can persist through adolescence and into adulthood - the R and Th sounds.

A Northland iwi is putting its own spin on the international Incredible Years parenting programme, localising it with input from kaumatua and kapa haka.

New research on the prevalence of bullying, and tips not just to help parents prevent it but to help them cope with it . Dr Cara Swit, from the University of Canterbury's School of Health Sciences, is one of a few researchers in New Zealand focusing on how we can react if a child is a bully, or is being bullied. Dr Swit is spending time with parents and teachers as part of a new three-year longitudinal study, gathering evidence on how young children's behaviour impacts on their health and wellbeing. Dr Swit tells Kathryn Ryan her work has been sparked by some worrying trends she has observed both in the classroom and pre-school.

We shouldn't fear a bit of messiness in our interactions with people we care about, says psychologist Dr Ed Tronick. He recently co-authored the book The Power of Discord: Why the Ups and Downs of Relationships Are the Secret to Building Intimacy, Resilience, and Trust with paediatrician Dr Claudia Gold.

Registered dietician, Professor Clare Wall talks to Kathryn about the importance of kai for babies and toddlers, simply put, choosing a chicken dinner over chicken nuggets. Professor Wall leads the nutrition and dietetic department at the University of Auckland's Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences. She's been involved in the Growing up in New Zealand longitudinal study which has followed children from birth to 11 years old. The research has provided a valuable snapshot of what Kiwi kids are consuming - including that 50 percent of nine month olds had eaten junk food.

As Aucklanders spend their first full day back in alert level 3, and the rest of the country in level 2 anxiety levels among many will be on the rise.

Psychologist Sarb Johal discusses how children are making sense of the Covid-19 pandemic and how parents are helping them, when they themselves may be feeling overwhelmed and unsure.

New research from the University of Otago shows that early bedtimes for pre-schoolers are not vital for healthy development, as long as they are getting enough sleep.

Brain researcher, parenting coach and founder of X-Factor Education, Nathan Wallis, explains how the brain develops from newborn to adult. Why do male and female brains grow differently, what hinders and promotes brain growth, and what are warning signs for parents if a child isn't developing normally?

How do you figure out what sort of career to work towards? How do you know what to study to get there? And what if you choose a course or job you don't like? Self-knowledge is the best prerequisite for figuring out a career path, says professional advisor Caroline Sandford.

Sleeping better in pregnancy - a guide to sleep health for NZ Women is the latest research from Massey University's internationally renowned Sleep/Wake Research Centre. It's a trimester-by-trimester guide to managing expectations about sleep, and a tool kit for getting a good night's rest. Sleep/Wake Associate Professor Leigh Signal and PhD student Clare Ladyman, who came up with the idea for the book, speak with Kathryn Ryan.

When a child is telling you about something that's bothering them, don't rush in with advice, says parenting consultant Joseph Driessen. It's a skill that can take some practise, but 'reflective listening' - in which you reflect back to your child what they're saying - is a better approach, he tells Lynn Freeman.

For parents of picky eaters, mealtimes can turn the kitchen table into more of a battleground.

How can parents find the delicate balance between helping a child with their homework, and overhelping - or even doing it for them! Kathryn speaks with Monash University education lecturer Melissa Barnes, who has analysed more than 400 research studies on the topic.

Wellington speech and language therapist Christian Wright joins Lynn to talk about question development in pre-schoolers as they try to understand the world around them.

Senior Researcher at the New Zealand Council for Educational Research, Mohamed Alansari with what parents can expect for their childrens' learning in modern classroom layouts.