Parental As Anything

Adolescence, the gripping Netflix drama, has stopped parents, teachers and parenting experts in their tracks. Suddenly everyone’s talking about toxic masculinity, the gender divide and whether there’s a crisis of modern boyhood. Female teachers and students report being sworn at, sexually harassed and physically threatened in schools by male students, due in part to the influence of Andrew Tate and others like him in the “manosphere”. Why do these “manfluencers” have such a big impact on our boys? And what can we do to guide them away from hateful, misogynistic and extremist beliefs of the “red pill community” that’s being fed to them by online algorithms? Dr Stephanie Wescott is a former teacher who has studied Andrew Tate’s and other influencers' impact on teens. She joins Bec Sparrow and a teacher who shares what’s happening in your child’s classroom. The advice provided in this podcast is general in nature and does not take into account your personal situation. If you require further advice specific to your needs, please consult a professional. Guest: Dr Stephanie WescottProducers: Hannah Reich, Josie Sargent Supervising Producer: Tamar CranswickExecutive Producer: Alex LollbackSound design: Ann-Marie de Bettencor

Starting high school is one of the most exciting and scariest transitions of childhood, for our tweens and for parents too! So how do we help our kids prepare for this milestone, and manage all the ups and downs of Year 7? Maggie Dent and youth coach Claire Eaton share their practical tips for the weeks before school starts, routines to keep your tween on track, and how to handle rough patches. The advice provided in this podcast is general in nature and does not take into account your personal situation. If you require further advice specific to your needs, please consult a professional. Looking for more advice on getting your kids through their teens?Check out our episodes Raising Teen Girls and Raising Teen Boys.

Making friends is tough at any age, but for kids and teens, who are still mastering social skills, it can be an emotional rollercoaster. It can be so hard to watch your kids bump through the ups and downs of friendships, and even harder to know what to do to help them through the dramas of it all!Maggie Dent and Bec Sparrow come together in this episode, with parent educator Claire Orange, to give you advice on what you can do as a parent to help your kids navigate the often-tricky world of friendships. The advice provided in this podcast is general in nature and does not take into account your personal situation. If you require further advice specific to your needs, please consult a professional. If you have teenagers who are struggling with making the right kind of friends, check out our episode My teen's friends are bad news

There is so much emphasis on the last two years of high school, and not all of it is good! Some teenagers become highly anxious and are weighed down by pressure to get top marks for university – while others create stress for us parents when they can’t seem to get motivated, stay organised or manage their time. Bec Sparrow is joined by Claire Eaton, a youth coach and author of Hello High School. Together they discuss strategies for getting study ready, planning, motivating teens and what to do when the pressure to achieve becomes too much. The advice in this podcast is general and does not consider your personal situation. If you require further advice specific to your needs, please consult a professional. If the discussion around helping kids study when they have ADHD has resonated with you, we have a few different episodes you might like to listen to on supporting neurodiverse kids. Parenting children with ADHDHow to help children with dyslexiaParenting Autistic Kids

It’s normal for teenagers to push away parents and think we’re totally embarrassing, so how can we keep connected to them? Parents from the Parental As Anything: Teens community have shared their best hacks on how they bond with their teenagers.

The last years of high school can be full of pressure and stress – but what do you do if your teenager just can’t seem to get organised or manage their time? Some teenagers become highly anxious and are weighed down by pressure to get top marks for university – while others just can’t seem to get motivated. Youth coach Claire Eaton joins Bec Sparrow to share strategies on getting study ready, planning, how to motivate teens and what to do when the pressure to achieve becomes too much.

There has been a huge rise in online bullying – and it can be subtle and sophisticated – with devastating impacts on victim’s mental health. These days bullies are on our teenager’s screens 24/7 via Snapchat, TikTok, Instagram and WhatsApp and there’s no escaping the torture. How do we protect our teens online? What steps should we take if we find out our child is a target of cyberbullying? And what should we do if we find out our child is a cyberbully?

First loves can be all consuming – so what should you do if your teen wants to have their new boyfriend or girlfriend sleep over? From unwanted pregnancies and contraception to STDs and consent, there’s a lot to navigate– for parents and teenagers.

Teenagers are spending more time than ever on their phones – they are on devices up to 8 hours a day. And that’s when they’re not at school! Of course, your teen won't see their excessive screentime as an issue. Phones are a way for teens to connect but they also distract and get in the way of sleep. So what can you do if your teenager is constantly attached to their phone?

Teen boys are being pumped fitness content on social media, pushing many to build bulk and get "jacked". Researchers are worried this 'gymfluencer' content is leading to a spike in body dysmorphia among young men. What can you do if your teenage son is worrying about how they look? And how can you help if they are developing worrying habits, like daily gym sessions and protein shakes?

Does your teen love nothing more than slothing about on the sofa? And the mere idea of a walk, bike ride or jumping on the trampoline seems like too much effort?We know that movement and exercise is good for our mental and physical health, but knowing that, and getting our teen to muster the energy to do it are two different things.Bec Sparrow gives her tips on how to get your teen moving.

Your daughter asks you to buy her a vibrator. What should you do? Bec Sparrow on why sex positivity for our teens is important, why there’s still a taboo around female masturbation and the awkward, but important, conversations to have around pleasure.

Has your tween bugged you to buy them fancy face cream or a Drunk Elephant serum? Younger and younger teenagers are lusting after super expensive — and age-inappropriate — beauty products that they’ve seen on social media.Bec Sparrow is here to help you know what to do if your tween or teen is breaking the bank with creams, make-up and serums. The advice in this podcast is general and does not consider your personal situation. If you require further advice specific to your needs, please consult a professional. Producers: Hannah Reich, Josie Sargent Supervising Producer: Tamar CranswickExecutive Producer: Alex LollbackSound design: Ann-Marie de Bettencor