Primary teacher and co-founder of a mental health venture, Alice Peel, says it's ok for children to feel low from time to time. She wants kids to understand the feeling is normal , and that there are tools to deal with those moments. Her new book lays out the science of the brain and replaces parts with animals - making brain functions easier to understand and remember for children. Topics include how to get out of a trap, how to be brave and how to be resilient when you don't want to be. Her book is called How to be a (fantastic sensational) good enough kid.

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How can parents get their children through the anxiety, the disappointment or what comes after a successful sports trial?

How can parents get their children through the anxiety, the disappointment or what comes after a successful sports trial?

Sport New Zealand says non-selection from trials can be a huge blow to children's confidence and can even lead them to give up a sport altogether.

It says trials should never start too young - as there is little evidence suggesting success in youth sport carries through to success in more senior levels.

But how should parents deal with this delicate matter?

Kelly Curr is sport development consultant at Sport New Zealand - she has advice on how parents can talk kids through sports trials.

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Making sense of behaviour, building meaningful routines and de-escalating high conflict moments are all key tools parents can use when wanting to support their teens' mental health.

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Steve Sobota is the co-CEO of an organisation called Big Buddy, and has been matching boys without a dad in their life with positive male role models for nearly 25 years.

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Term one of the school year is in full swing and with it the after school activities. But how much is too much? And how can parents judge that? Maggie Dent is known as the 'Queen of Commonsense Parenting' and is a former high school teacher, mother of four sons and the host of the ABC podcast Parental as Anything. Maggie says if the activity is being driven by the parent, the benefits disappear

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Wellington speech and language therapist Christian Wright talks about children and lisps. What is a lisp, and when should a parent become concerned?

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Neuroscience educator and parenting coach Nathan Wallis talks about how early attachment can impact adult relationships. He says the first 1000 days, plays a critical role in defining later outcomes for our children and for their future. Nathan features in a new Australian documentary Seen which explores the importance of personal healing for parents on parenting and its impact on child brain development.

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What's the best way to keep children healthy - and how can you help them when things go wrong?

Footnote: In this interview, Dr Masson referred to apples being “covered in pesticides” and recommended that the fruit be washed. A 2010 study by the US Drug Administration found New Zealand apples as having the lowest average number of residues per sample, when compared to American and Chilean fruit (Warner 2012).

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'Tis the season for visits to and from family and sometimes it's not always smooth sailing. Jenny Hale from Parenting Place says the grandparent / parent dynamic can be difficult to navigate over the holiday season. Whether it's grandad who won't stop handing out the lollies, or grandma going overboard on the gifts. It could be a clash of parenting styles, or a battle for old and new Christmas traditions. Jenny shares tips for a peaceful holiday season.

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What should parents do when they're concerned their child has a mean or 'toxic' friend?

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