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Parenting

The All Things Equal group.

Thriving Kids can work – but only if the government does this

The founders of AllPlay argue $2bn NDIS alternative Thriving Kids can help families who fear their kids will fall through the cracks – but only if it’s set up in the right way.

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Megan Blancada, Jadd Brooker and Shannon McCoole were all convicted of serious child sex crimes.

They’re evil but no masterminds – how to spot a pedophile

What can parents do to protect our kids from predators? Sean Fewster has been covering the courts for decades, and shares his insights into abusers’ depressingly familiar tactics.

Brother and sister laughing while talking and leaving for school and parents walking behind them all smiling

Full ListEducation

Private schools rich list – how much money all the other parents earn

You’ll be astonished to learn how much parents at Australia’s elite schools are earning. Here’s the official data showing the average family income at hundreds of private schools.

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Real life Billy Elliot. 5-year-old Sam Wenn is the only boy in his dance school get applause from budding ballerina 6-year-old Celina Matlock.

So what if boys want to wear tutus? Let them, argues Gender Equity CEO

From pink and blue gender reveals to picking sport for kids, the CEO of Gender Equity Victoria wants parents to challenge well-worn norms for boys and girls.

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More Stories

Technology & Digital Safety

Family decides to switch off screens

You’ll spend 14 years of your life staring at a screen – not counting work

Modern parents are slaves to tech and will spend 14 years of their lives staring at phones, TVs and laptops. But some, like Eunice and Aujen Briones, are trying to break the habit.

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Father-of-two Guy Jarvie once had a Teams meeting interrupted by the Hulk...

Young dads on juggling kids, work and unexpected superheroes

Juggling work and parenting? Here’s how, from surviving a “poo-nami” to what to do when The Hulk invades an important Teams meeting.

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At Tree Climb in the South Parklands, 5 year old Ethan Solomon of Lights View, is rapidly gaining confidence making his way around the course. Father, Basleal Solomon, (0451972019). Experts and parents agree that kids need to get dirty, take risks, play outside and to be given freedom, but parents are too scared to let their kids stray into the next supermarket aisle, let alone climb a tree. Why risky play is important and why it's not happening in modern families. 5 September 2025. Picture: Dean Martin

Parenting throwback giving cotton-wool kids a new lease of life

Experts and parents agree kids need to take risks and be given freedom, but some adults are too scared to let their kids stray into the next supermarket aisle, let alone climb a tree.

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Susie O'Brien's father Mick with grandson Tom

Speedos as day wear: A Father’s Day tribute to one special dad

Speedo bathers, loud shirts, “good” thongs, NSFW cartoons: Here’s a tribute to one much-loved dad on Father’s Day 2025.

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PollSchools Hub

For Advertiser - Private School Parents Generic stock photo - Parents Returning Home From School With Children Wearing School Uniform Running Down Path Picture: Getty Images

Stop mocking us: Joke’s on private school parents – but has it gone too far?

They’re often lampooned as privileged, pampered and precious, but are private school parents given a raw deal? Some argue satirical news stories are “doing real harm”.

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OpinionParenting

Daughter and mother on a gray background. During this, the girl puts the yellow pencils in her mouth. Mom carefully reads the words during this on a laptop. Gray background.

The awful truth about parent-teacher interviews

Is any family duty more excruciating than a parent-teacher interview? It’s just an exercise in ritual humiliation and shameless lying, writes Susie O’Brien.

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CHILDREN NATURE - Boys playing on tree stumps in forest. Friends are wearing casuals. They are spending leisure time together. Picture: Istock

Brutal message for modern parents – you’re ruining childhood

Is a carefree childhood really a thing of the past? A retiring children’s commissioner calls out an alarming trend and says mums and dads need to do one key thing differently.

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Little Ms Mecca - Captions to come.

Not even teens – and already obsessed with anti-ageing products

Go to any beauty store and you’ll see primary school girls spending a fortune on serums, lip masks and cleansers. Experts warn they could be doing permanent damage.

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DAILY TELEGRAPH - 19/8/25 Siblings Aarav (eldest) and Arjun Puthraya (youngest), both students at Australian Christian College Marsden Park, pictured on grounds today. Picture: Sam Ruttyn

The school religion test: You gotta have faith – and ask these questions

Aarav and Arjun are from a committed Hindu family but go to a Christian school. Many families cross faiths in choosing a school – here’s how to find one aligned to your principles.

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OpinionParenting

Macy Jeffrey, 8, loves books and is a much bigger reader than her dad ever was. The battle to get kids to read is not lost. Contrary to popular belief, most parents have kids who are bigger book worms than they were at the same age, an exclusive survey shows. Picture: Tony Gough

Kids don’t read books any more – and we wonder why they can’t write or spell

It’s hardly a surprise our NAPLAN results are so alarming when many kids have an iPhone on their bedside table rather than a pile of books.

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Original URL: https://www.themercury.com.au/education/support/parenting/page/13