Rnz: It Takes A Village

Speech and language therapist Christian Wright on some of the most effective evidence based-strategies to build preschoolers language across the day.

The social aspect of school can be a minefield for some kids. Parents and caregivers can help them navigate the fickle world of friendship by asking questions that aren't the "nervous" kind, says Life Education Trust educator Ingrid Kemp.

School refusal is a different kettle of fish than a child simply wanting to stay home for a day. It's a situation where they become so anxious or fearful - and it can be for a variety of reasons - that they refuse to go, repeatedly. While it's difficult to measure how many kids experience this, Dr Rosina McAlpine, founder of the Win Win Parenting program in Australia, says it could be up to five percent. Dr Rosina founded the parenting wellness workshop, which has been run across Australia and New Zealand, when through her work she realised many working parents were lacking support on how to balance their home life. Dr Rosina has completed a Masters of Higher Education and an education-focused PhD and joins Kathryn Ryan from Sydney to discuss school refusal.

It is a vexed issue for many parents, how to navigate the social media tightrope with their children and be aware of the dangers.

Boston-based psychologist Laurie Kramer has built a career out of helping children to get along. Her work focuses on the experiences of kids aged three to five - an age where many become siblings for the first time, and are also making friends at preschool and kindergarten. Her work began in the '90s, when as a fresh graduate she became interested in what childrens' interactions were actually like, when no adult was around. Kramer, a professor of applied psychology at Northeastern University, was one of the first to adopt the technique of videotaping preschoolers, to observe their relationship forming skills - and how they navigated arguments. She joins Kathryn Ryan to share some insights into the workings of little minds, when no one is there to watch. Laurie Kramer has developed a tool for parents, to help them navigate their children through conflict - you can find it here.

Neuroscience educator and parenting coach Nathan Wallis discusses the incredible development of the human brain - particularly in the early months and years. He talks about research which identifies critical or sensitive periods in early childhood which can impact brain development. What are these "windows"? And once closed, can they ever be re-opened?

Kathryn speaks with parenting coach Dayna Galloway about strategies for parents and caregivers.

The start of the school year can be an expensive time, not just for uniforms and stationery, but for devices too. And if you are the parent of a child with disabilities the costs are amplified. Workbridge Chief Executive and Assistive Technology consultant Jonathan Mosen says there's a complexity of choice for aids to help pupils with visual and hearing impairment - and with that can come high price tags.

Getting a good night sleep can be tough on a sticky summer night. It can be even harder for young kids - and their parents! - whose sleep schedules have been put out of whack by holiday adventures and longer daylight hours. Should parents be concerned if their children aren't getting enough shut-eye? And as the end of the holidays approach and a return to school looms what are some of the ways to get back into a good sleep routine? Professor Sarah Blunden is a clinical psychologist and Head of Paediatric Sleep Research at Central Queensland University in Australia.

If you're the eldest child, the stereotype would have us believe you're responsible, conscientious and a bit bossy. Second born - more chilled out and creative and the youngest? Spoilt! But does birth order really influence personality? The evidence is not really there, says neuroscience educator Nathan Wallis, and personality is more to do with the circumstances into which we are born.

If you've ever asked a young child how their day was, you might have got a couple of responses - either a blank stare, or a list of every single thing that had happened to them that day. Judith Hudson studies memory development in children and the development of children's understanding of time. Professor of Psychology at Rutgers University in New Jersey, she says the way parents interact and talk to their children helps develop the child's memory for the past, and their ability to think about and plan for future events.

Speech and Language Therapist Christian Wright on what NOT to say to parents concerned about their child's speech and language development. And he'll share strategies for dealing with these questions if they do arise.

A new podcast that's helping parents of disabled children navigate the tricky issues of sexuality, sex and sexual harm. The Courage Club brings parents of medically disabled or neuro-divergent kids together with experts over five episodes, seeking to encourage conversations that might normally be taboo or down the pecking order in terms of things to worry about. It's designed as a resource to help keep disabled kids safe. Kathryn is joined by Emily Writes, the Courage Club's host and mother to two high needs children. Also with me is Kathryn McPhillips, from Help - an organisation that supports Aucklanders who have been sexually abused and is one of the podcast's partners.

Getting "jollied along" by a parent won't help an upset teenager learn how to deal with their own difficult feelings, says clinical psychologist Zara Mansoor. "One thing that's really challenging for parents - or just adults - is we want to get in, we want to fix things, we want to make things better. Actually, the most powerful thing we can often do is just sit with and keep ourselves calm," she tells Kathryn Ryan.

Sextortion, kids being groomed online, nudes being sent around kids, who should be blamed for that? Sex therapist Jo Robertson has advice about how to have those tricky chats with children and teens.

If you ever ask a teenager what they're going to do after high school, you may notice them recoil. For many students in their final years of school this is an anxiety-inducing question. Career Coach Tracey Beard says that if we really want to help, we need to re-think 'the career conversation'. Tracey is the CEO, what she calls 'the chief encouragement officer', at Career Matters, a coaching service for students and caregivers.

Bestselling author and psychologist Michael Carr-Gregg talks to Kathryn about creating and fostering the grandparent-grandchild relationship. Throughout time it has been a special relationship, but as lives get busier, retirement age stretches out and technology absorbs children - we're looking at key ways to navigate the complexities of connecting and staying in touch. Dr Carr-Gregg's latest book Grandparents - is a practical guide to navigating being a Nana or Grandad.

Parents often say they never stop worrying about their offspring. But how does parenting change as your children become adults? Are today's adult children more dependent on their elders for longer? What is the roadmap for parents here? Neuroplasticity educator and parenting expert, father and grandfather, Nathan Wallis joins Kathryn.

When a teen lacks confidence in studying for their exams, a "leadership nudge" from a supportive parent becomes essential, says parenting coach Joseph Driessen.

Tweens may pull out "teenager moves" but they are not the new teenagers, says parenting educator Michelle Mitchell. As nine-to-twelve-year-olds learn how to respond to the world, they need strong guidance and supervision, she tells Kathryn Ryan. "They're very much looking to adults to give them practical tangible strategies to get them through the day."