Kids on the coast

by Sarah Hindle

Research has linked a rise in obesity, depression and even eyesight problems with the trend towards the indoors, and a decline in accessing green spaces. Why have we retreated inside, and can we break free from our cloistered indoor environments?

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by Kim Lahey

They surround us. They protect us. There’s a mind-numbing amount of them. And one was once traded ounce-for-ounce for gold.

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by Katharine Bogard

We all know the importance of teaching our children to eat veggies so they grow strong and healthy, but many parents are not aware that how the vegetables are grown is just as important.

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AVOID THE JUNK FOOD
by Katharine Bogard

Kids love to eat snack food in the afternoon. The problem for parents is finding healthy options that will not exceed their child’s daily energy requirements. Queensland Health’s chief health officer’s report says consistently consuming more than their necessary energy intake potentially leads to future health problems. “Poor diet is estimated to have a major effect on the health of Queenslanders, similar to that of cancer... and about double that of smoking,” it says.

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by Kim Lahey

“The boy on the piebald pony – shoulders back and chin up!” When those words were exclaimed I was too busy smarting from being mistaken for a boy, than listening to the pony club’s posture lesson. But have we become a little blasé about kid’s carriage now the world is trotting along at such a pace?

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GETTING THE KIDS TO EAT FRESH

by Frances Maguire

How many days a week do you manage your two serves of fruit and five of vegies recommended by the Government’s 2+5 campaign? If it’s difficult for you as an adult to meet your quota every day, how much harder is it to get your kids to meet theirs?

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by Connie Page

It’s that time of year again…runny noses; hacking coughs; up all night, trying to find that magic cure for the toddler’s earache. Even though most flu symptoms are usually mild, it is still the leading cause of doctor visits and missed days from school. Read more

Teaching kids to think about their purchases

by Kim Lahey

Kids are fresh-eyed consumers, so how do we help them see buying is not just about money, it’s about responsibility? Our desire to support public good presents itself daily in our purchasing habits but it’s tricky to know what’s an ethically better buy when you’re staring at labels.
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In past decades, psychologists believed that psychological resilience in children to various forms of stress was somehow inborn. But more recent evidence shows that psychological and emotional resilience can be taught, enabling even the most vulnerable children to learn how to deal with life’s stresses.
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by Mariel Dawson

If you look up ‘sleep’ in any medical text book or journal it is guaranteed you will find one common message - sleep is vital to human health and well being. Although experts will argue different theories as to why humans need to rest, many do agree that sleep, especially in children, is fundamental for growth and development.
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