There are many stereotypes around only children; that they're too adult, too spoilt, and lonely. One mother is on a mission to rail against it and raise a happy, well-adjusted child. The only question is: how?

Do you have a question for Maggie? Send a voice memo to parentalasanything@abc.net.au; and include your name and contact number.

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.

Help: Will my only child be spoilt and lonely?

Hormones. Anxiety. Angst. Raising teens is tough.

Parental As Anything: Teens gives you practical tips on how to navigate your teen-sized problems, from porn to partying, body issues to bullying.

Rebecca Sparrow, teen educator and author talks to parents and experts to unpack the biggest challenges of parenting teens.

Learn how to support your teenager while staying (mostly) sane.

Kids & Family

Parenting

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 Cranswick
Executive Producer: Alex Lollback
Sound design: Ann-Marie de Bettencor

Dear Bec — I have a beauty obsessed tween

What do you do when you don't like your teen's mates?

Friends are so important for our teens, so how can you guide them to make good choices when it comes to buddies? Should you try and intervene, or will that only backfire?

My teen's friends are bad news

How do you know when your teen’s gaming habit levels-up from hobby to obsession? 

Once teens are on their gaming consoles, it can be really tough to get them to press pause. Even to go to the toilet, eat dinner or go to sleep. 

Bec Sparrow uncovers the red flags to look for if your teenager’s gaming is becoming obsessive, and gives you practical tips on how to turbo boost your tech and gaming boundaries.

Dear Bec—my teen can't stop gaming

You pick up your teenager from a party, see wasted kids stumbling around, vomiting in bushes and you realise they’re no longer playing pin the tail on the donkey. 

How do we teach our kids to have a healthy relationship with alcohol? And is it ever okay to give your teen booze?  

In this Parental As Anything: Teens, Paul Dillon, the director of Drug and Alcohol Research and Training Australia, joins host Bec Sparrow to talk you through how to set boundaries, how to keep your child safe and what to do if your teen is asking for booze.

Is it ok to let my teen drink alcohol?

From fancy drink bottles to the latest tech, teenagers want lots of stuff they (and you) can’t afford and don’t need.

So how can you push back from the constant barrage of demands? 

In this bite-sized Dear Bec episode, Bec Sparrow explains why giving teens what they want isn’t always good for them and that what they really crave, money can’t buy.

Help: Will my only child be spoilt and lonely?

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