In this thought-provoking episode of The Parent-Teacher Project, Alex Perrottet, Dean of Warrane College at UNSW sits down with Associate Professor Xavier Simmons, Master of Warrane College and Director of the Plunkett Centre for Ethics at ACU, to unpack the growing anxiety epidemic among young people — and how smartphones, social media, and modern parenting might be shaping this "anxious generation.".

The conversation covers the importance of leading by example, the role of legislation in managing children's access to social media, and the powerful influence of parental modelling when it comes to healthy device use. They discuss the growing parental involvement in young adults' lives—such as writing resumes, attending interviews, and even negotiating grades—and how these good intentions can undermine self-reliance.

The discussion also delves into risk aversion, the decline of in-person social interaction, and the need to cultivate resilience and agency among young people. They reflect on the role of reading and engagement with great books as antidotes to screen addiction and as a pathway to deeper reflection, imagination, and emotional maturity. Finally, Xavier shares insights from the Harvard Human Flourishing Study, shedding light on what truly contributes to long-term wellbeing—such as stable family life, strong social relationships, and cultivating meaning and purpose.

Discussion Points:

• Parental Modelling and Example: why leading by example in technology use is one of the most effective ways to guide children towards balanced habits.

• Social Media and Legislation: The potential benefits and limits of policies that restrict children's access to social media and online content.

• Over-Parenting and Self-Reliance: How well-meaning parental involvement can hinder independence and responsibility.

• Risk and Resilience: The importance of allowing young people to face challenges, take risks, and experience failure as essential components of growth and maturity.

• Building Face-to-Face Connections: Why fostering in-person conversations and community engagement is key to developing empathy and authentic human interaction.

• The Power of Reading: How reading good literature can help young people rediscover imagination, reflection, and emotional growth in contrast to passive digital consumption.

Find out more on:

The Anxious Generation, by Jonathan Haidt

Join the Conversation

As parents, educators, teachers and mentors, we all share a role in helping young people navigate an increasingly digital world. What habits do we model at home? How can we create opportunities for children to face small challenges, make mistakes, and grow in confidence?

Reflect on your own family's relationship with technology:

• Are you modelling the balance you hope your children will learn?

• What boundaries could help strengthen face-to-face time at home?

• How can we encourage reading, meaningful conversations, and a love for learning in our children?

• And most importantly, how can we teach them that true flourishing goes beyond screens—it lies in connection, courage, and character?

We'd love to hear your thoughts and experiences. Join the conversation by sharing your reflections or tips on creating a more mindful, resilient, and flourishing family life.

You can:

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Discover our schools by visiting: pared.edu.au/openday

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In this episode of The Parent-Teacher Project, we sit down with dietitian and body image advocate Meg McClintock to discuss how parents and educators can help children develop a healthy, positive relationship with their bodies. From the impact of social media and "selfie culture" to the subtle messages children absorb at home, Meg shares practical strategies for fostering resilience in young people.

Discussion Points:

• What "positive body image" really means — and why it's not about constant self-admiration
• How today's culture of constant photos and video calls affects self-perception
• The influence of early comments and compliments on a child's self-worth
• The pressures boys and girls face in a world of curated, filtered images
• Why resilience is more realistic than complete protection from body image pressures
• Practical tips for parents to create a "safe harbour" at home
• How to model positive body talk and shift the focus from appearance to what bodies can do

Want to learn more about the importance of the body?

• Upcoming TeenSTAR training: Register HERE
• Choose Nutrition

Join the Conversation

We'd love to hear your thoughts on this episode. How do you foster a healthy body image in your home or classroom? Share your experiences and tips with us on social media using #ParentTeacherProject or send us a message at [email protected]. Your insights could inspire other parents and educators facing the same challenges.

You can:

Follow us on Instagram @growingheartspodcast

Find out more about the Pared Foundation: visit our website

Discover our schools by visiting: pared.edu.au/openday

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In this episode of The Parent-Teacher Project, host Lucia Garcia sits down with Manal Azzi, school counsellor at Tangara School for Girls and a therapist with over 15 years of experience. Together, they explore how parents can support their children's emotional development, model emotional regulation, and respond constructively to the emotional challenges children face at home and school.

Discussion Points:

• Why Emotions Matter: Emotions are vital for healthy relationships and self-understanding. Ignoring them can lead to future challenges.

• Emotion Coaching Steps: Notice your child's emotions, use them as a chance to connect, listen with empathy and validate, help them name the emotion, set limits and find solutions together.

• What Parents Can Do: Be calm, consistent, and compassionate. Model healthy emotional behaviour and avoid dismissive phrases.

• Supporting Teens: Teens need non-judgemental support and space to talk. If big emotions are frequent, it may be time to seek professional help.

• Talking with Boys: Teach emotional language early. Use daily moments to show that feelings are normal and safe to express.

Resources Mentioned:

• Dr. John Gottman's Emotion Coaching model

• Upcoming TeenSTAR training: Register HERE

Join the Conversation

We'd love to hear your experiences. What has helped you stay calm and connected when your child is having a meltdown? Have there been moments where simply acknowledging your child's feelings changed the outcome of a situation? Reflection can often bring clarity, and your insights might be just what another parent needs to hear.

Join the conversation with us online. You can comment on our latest post or message us. Let's support one another as we guide our children with compassion and courage.

You can:

Follow us on Instagram @growingheartspodcast

Find out more about the Pared Foundation: visit our website

Discover our schools by visiting: pared.edu.au/openday

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In this episode, we sit down with John Soulemezis, school counsellor at Redfield College, to unpack the Netflix series Adolescence. John shares insights on major themes the series raises around identity, masculinity, the online world, and emotional wellbeing. More importantly, he translates these themes into practical advice for parents, teachers, and anyone helping young men navigate today's challenging landscape.

Discussion Points:

• What Adolescence captures about the modern teenage experience
• The role of dialogue and open communication in building trust with boys
• Why healthy role models of masculinity are more important than ever
• The impact of the online world — both visible and invisible — on teenage identity
• How parents and educators can respond with understanding and hope

Join the Conversation

What stood out to you from Adolescence? What challenges have you faced supporting teenagers today? How are you opening conversations about masculinity, identity, and the online world in your home or classroom?

You can:

Follow us on Instagram @theparentteacherproject

Find out more about the Pared Foundation: visit our website

Discover our schools by visiting: pared.edu.au/openday

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In this episode, we welcome Katrina Alvir, an experienced teacher and expert in character education. With years of experience in classical education, Katrina shares valuable insights on how parents and educators can inspire children in developing virtues and forming good habits. She discusses the power of real-life role models, consistent example and practical ways to integrate character education into daily life.

Discussion Points:

• Integrating Virtues into the Curriculum – How to weave character education seamlessly into daily lessons.
• Creating a Classroom Culture of Virtue – Practical ways to encourage responsibility, respect, and kindness.
• The Importance of Acknowledging Mistakes – How apologising to students fosters humility, trust, and teaches them the value of taking responsibility.
• Being a Constant Example – The impact of a teacher's words and actions in shaping students' character and the importance of striving for personal growth.
• Being Truly Present – The power of showing up and giving hope

Join the Conversation

How do you incorporate character education in your classroom? We'd love to hear your insights and experiences—share your thoughts with us and join the discussion on how teachers can shape students' character through everyday moments in the classroom.

You can:

Follow us on Instagram @theparentteacherproject

Find out more about the Pared Foundation: visit our website

Discover our schools by visiting: pared.edu.au/openday

Remember to hit SUBSCRIBE/FOLLOW so you don't miss out on any of our future episodes

In this episode, host Isabelle Thomas sits down with Dr Andy Mullins, an experienced educator and author, to discuss how parents can help their children develop strong character, resilience, and a solid work ethic. Drawing from his years working with families and schools like Redfield and Wollemi College in Sydney, Dr Mullins shares key insights on raising children who are both diligent in their studies and generous in their service to others. He also explores the importance of parental unity, leading by example, and staying connected with children as they grow.

Key Points:

• The balance between high expectations and deep affection in parenting

• Why hard work alone isn't enough, but essential for character formation

• How to teach children that success isn't just about personal goals, but about service

• The shift from parental guidance to self-governance as children grow

• The role of one-on-one time in building trust and emotional connection

• Practical strategies for staying close to children despite external influences

Join the Conversation

How do you encourage resilience and strong character in your children? What strategies have helped you balance expectations and affection in parenting? We'd love to hear your thoughts!

Book reference:

Fathering from the Fast Lane, Bruce Robinson.

https://www.amazon.com.au/Fathering-Fast-Lane-Practical-Ideas/dp/1876451211

You can:

Follow us on Instagram @theparentteacherproject

Find out more about the Pared Foundation: visit our website

Discover our schools by visiting: pared.edu.au/openday

Remember to hit SUBSCRIBE/FOLLOW so you don't miss out on any of our future episodes

In this episode, we explore the role of teachers in building a culture of collaboration with parents. Mary Broadsmith shares her insights and practical tips on fostering open communication, building trust, and engaging parents as active partners in their child's learning journey. Mary also emphasizes the importance of virtue education and the responsibility teachers have to model professionalism and character for their students.

Key Topics:

Creating a Collaborative Culture with Parents

• Benefits of inviting parents into the classroom

• Strategies for open communication and trust-building

Effective Communication Techniques

• Building rapport with parents during meetings

• Handling difficult conversations and emails with professionalism

The Role of Virtue Education

• Integrating virtues into the classroom environment

• Encouraging students to make positive choices and take responsibility

Join the Conversation:

Follow us on Instagram @theparentteacherproject

Find out more about the Pared Foundation: visit our website

Discover our schools by visiting: pared.edu.au/openday

Remember to hit SUBSCRIBE/FOLLOW so you don't miss out on any of our future episodes

In this episode we welcome Mary Broadsmith, Principal of Harkaway Hills College in Melbourne, to discuss the role of parent engagement in schools. As the primary educators of their children, parents have a significant impact on their child's education. Mary discusses how research consistently shows that active parental involvement boosts student flourishing and achievement, strengthens student-family bonds and even staff well-being.

Key Topics:

• The Research-Backed Impact of Parent Engagement: Mary discusses how studies show that students with actively involved parents tend to perform better academically and overall, highlighting the long-term benefits of parent participation in their children's education.

• Strengthening the Parent-Teacher Partnership: She explores practical ways to foster open, effective communication between parents and teachers, creating a collaborative environment that supports student success and teacher wellbeing.

• Boosting School Morale and Community Spirit: Mary explains how strong parent engagement not only benefits students but also improves staff morale and creates a more cohesive, supportive school community.

You can:

Follow us on Instagram @theparentteacherproject

Find out more about the Pared Foundation: visit our website

Discover our schools by visiting: pared.edu.au/openday

Remember to hit SUBSCRIBE/FOLLOW so you don't miss out on any of our future episodes

In this episode, we welcome Anthony O'Shea, the Year 3 teacher at Lysterfield Lake College. Anthony is a father of 4 and has many years of experience in Primary education. In this podcast episode, he speaks about the benefits of learning to read and write at a young age, and how to encourage children to love reading and writing.