It Takes A Village

By RNZKids & Family

It Takes A Village episodes

September 18, 2025 Raising assertive children
How to help children to be more assertive and self confident, without being demanding and aggressive.
Clinical psychologist and mum of 3, Jacqui Maguire says assertiveness is a life skill, not a personality trait.
She says children can learn it with practice, encouragement, and role models.
But often parents don't really have a handle on this skill either and assertiveness takes practice for everyone.
Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details
17 min
September 11, 2025 Why cooking and baking with children is a good idea
Cooking and baking with children is a great idea - even if its makes a helluva mess, according to early childhood education research specialist Dr Vicki Hargraves.
She's an early childhood teacher and mother, and ECE research specialist at The Education Hub, an organization that supports teachers with knowledge about best practice.
She says spending time in the kitchen with your children is a great way to support their learning - from shapes, colours, comprehension, sequencing and creativity.
And if you do a good job, you'll end up with kids who can share the cooking load in the household.
Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details
16 min
September 04, 2025 The pros and cons of handing out awards to children
What are the pros and cons of handing out awards to children?
From player of the day in sport, to winner of the spelling bee, to Dux of the school.
Dr Elise Waghorn is a Lecturer at R-M-I-T University's School of Education in Melbourne.
She says while awards can reward effort, they can also be unhelpful and lead to a fixed mind set in children.
Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details
18 min
August 28, 2025 How to help 'covid babies' as they start school
Babies born during Covid-19 lockdowns developed and moved through early milestones under challenging and unique circumstances. Whānau Āwhina Plunket Chief Nurse Zoe Tipa talks about what families can do to help their 4 and 5 year olds as they start or prepare to start school.
Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details
17 min
August 21, 2025 The 'emotional gym': growing your child's resilience muscle
In parenting today, how to raise resilient children who don't wilt at the first hurdle they face.
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20 min
August 14, 2025 Parenting: the balance between good cop and boundaries
Neuroscience educator and parenting coach Nathan Wallis discusses finding the balance with boundaries for children and teens while maintaining an open trusting relationship. He says boundaries give children an edge to their world, and teach them what's acceptable.
Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details
17 min
August 07, 2025 Helping children (and young adults) with big feelings
Sadness, nerves, jealousy, anger and frustration - just like adults, children feel these emotions, but sometimes don't have the words or skills to deal with them. Gen Muir is a social worker, parent educator, author, founder of Connected Parenting and mum of four boys.
Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details
25 min
July 31, 2025 How to be a good parent when you're struggling with your own mental health
Parenting can be a challenge at the best of times - but what about when mum or dad are experiencing low mood ? - Clinical Psychologist Ben Sedley with strategies to help
Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details
18 min
July 24, 2025 Kids and screens - tips for parents
Owning a smartphone before age 13 is associated with poorer mind health and wellbeing in early adulthood, according to a global study of more than 100,000 young people.
The study was published earlier this week in the peer-reviewed Journal of Human Development and Capabilities, and found that 18- to 24-year-olds who had received their first smartphone at age 12 or younger were more likely to report suicidal thoughts, aggression, detachment from reality, poorer emotional regulation, and low self-worth.
OECD data in 2018 showed that New Zealand youth used digital devices 42 hours per week on average, compared to 35 hours globally, and studies have shown that children's screen use has increased since then.
So how can parents and caregivers manage screen time?
Kathryn speaks with Jackie Riach, psychologist and country lead for Triple P New Zealand which provides parenting programmes nationwide.
Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details
19 min
July 17, 2025 What's it like being a grandparent in your 30s?
At 37, many people are still getting to grips with being a parent. Matty Acton was learning how to be a grandparent.
He and his wife Esther have two kids, aged 8 and 11, and he's also stepdad to Esther's 23 year old son Ethan - who became a dad himself last year.
Esther and Matty, who's also a breakfast radio host on Brisbane's B105 radio station, have been documenting their journey on their podcast called Underaged Grandparents.
In it they explore the unexpected challenges of becoming grandies while still navigating parenting, marriage and life in general.
Matty also has well over 200-thousand followers on Facebook and Instagram, where he posts skits about daily life - like 'how to trick your kids into a confession', 'when mum has had enough', how house rules change when you have guests' and 'things parents of boys say...parts one and two.'
Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details
21 min