The Parent Squad

Founder of Crayon Stephanie Pow joins Tim Beviredge on Parent Squad to discuss how you should monitor your kids' pocket money. When's the right time to get them started? And how much control should parents have to veto kids' purchases? But is it all up to parents to teach kids about cash? Or do schools have a responsibility to help out.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Author and host of Real Life John Cowan joined Tim Beveridge to chat about whether you should teach your kids to drive or leave it to the professionals.  And tips and tricks for if you decide to self-instruct your teens.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Child safety reform in the world of big tech is sweeping the globe at the moment.  Australia's leading the charge in the social media ban for under 16s, and California has expanded the Coogan Law to cover child influencers, to name a few.  Although we haven't seen any change here in New Zealand, the conversation has truly started and we may see moves being made soon.  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A new report this week found nearly 90% of Auckland primary school say there's an increasing number of new entrants starting school without bare basic skills like being toilet trained and talking properly. These are 5 year olds who are otherwise capable, but some stage of their early childhood seems to have been neglected - they can't even identify the letters of their name or hold a pencil.  As harsh as it may be, the blame does have to land somewhere.  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

One of the hottest topics of the modern era is kids and smartphones. As we've seen more of the what the internet can do (for better or worse) they seem like an essential part of life. Wallet, Keys, Phone, that's what you always keep on you.  A first phone is typically only for texting mum and dad, so why do you need a device that has the capability for so much more?  Child Psychologist Sara Chatwin joins Tim Beveridge to give her advice on when to let kids get their own devices and how to manage them. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We've all seen the videos - we may have even seen it in our own living rooms on Christmas morning...  A child, even teenager, opens a gift their loved one has especially picked out for them, and they proceed to complain about how it's not the one they wanted.  The wrong colour bicycle, wrong model phone, it could be anything.  So how do we teach our children to be grateful for anything they're given this Christmas?  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In just a few days, a law banning the use of social media for under 16s will take effect in Australia.  For many parents, social media has been a daily part of family life for years - allowing kids to stay connected with their friends and family, sharing life updates with people they may not get a chance to speak with very often.  Generations before have been relatively ignorant to just how seriously harmful it can be - figuring if they just keep open communication with their kids then they should be fine.  But younger millennial and gen Z parents seem to be recognising the dangers, and most often opting to keep their kids offline.  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.