Words: Zhangjing LUO, Hildy ROSS, Michal PERLMAN & Nina HOWE A mother wondered about her two-year-old child Oliver’s socialisation with peers when he played at his friend’s house, or when he was at his childcare centre. Since Oliver is still learning to talk, he cannot describe his social experiences. This is a fictional situation, but

Words: Dr Rajgopal NIDAMBOOR We all know that TV, the eternal baby-sitter, or surrogate mother, is magic potion. Yet, there’s also a huge dark side to TV. TV has not only battered our values, it has also marginalised old-fashioned conversations, at home, and outside of it, including good habits like reading, or watching a stage-play.

Words: Prof Lea WATERS Parenting can be a difficult business and what often draws parents’ attention is children’s weaknesses — their faults, flaws and the tasks at which they struggle. Perhaps, your child isn’t good at being patient, or they find it difficult to make new friends and keep up in maths class. While there’s

Words: Drs Libby RICHARDS, Melissa FRANKS & Rosie SHROUT The new year is traditionally a time when many people feel a renewed commitment to create healthy habits, such as exercising regularly, drinking more water, or eating more healthfully. It turns out that when it comes to health, married people have an edge, especially married men. But,

Words: Dr Rajgopal NIDAMBOOR It’s Valentine Day. Yet again. The philosopher Socrates articulated that love is not lacking in anything — it is much more than approximation, also proximal to yearning and, therefore, not fixated with itself. He expressed, no less, that love does not possess, notwithstanding its plethora of beautiful things, including wisdom, and

Words: Dr Jennifer CROYLE Friendship and love, and more broadly, the relationships that people cultivate in their lives, are some of the most valuable treasures a person can own. This module explores ways in which we try to understand how friendships form, what attracts one person to another, and how love develops. It also explores

Words: Harriet DEMPSEY-JONES Children do it, but so do adults. Researchers have some theories on why we fidget. Hand-held toys known as ‘fidget spinners’ — marketed as ‘stress relievers’ — have become so popular and distracting in classrooms that they are now being banned in many schools. And it’s not just kids who like to fidget.

Words: Dr David J HAWES Anyone who has raised children, or grown up with siblings knows there are some bumpy times in a child’s life. When the smallest upset causes a major tantrum. Or, when it’s close to impossible to get them out the door on time for school. Or, when your adorable angel acts

Words: Sharon GARRO When you instil mindfulness to the challenges of children it can help parents to better enjoy the precious early years. Parents can struggle to enjoy the present. Children fill parental minds with lists of things to do and challenges to overcome. Many mums and dads struggle to enjoy the moment they are

Words: Dr Michael CARR-GREGG  Social media can offer many benefits to adolescents, connecting them with friends. We often hear, or read, about the dangers of young people logging on to social media platforms, such as Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat and Twitter, and other online spaces where they can socially interact, including YouTube, virtual worlds and gaming