Sarah caught up with Dr Beth Johnson, a postdoctoral researcher at Monash University, leading an ambitious research programme to transform how we understand and diagnose autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Autism, which affects around 100,000 children in Australia, significantly impacts a child’s ability to play, communicate and relate to their peers. Critically, most kids with ASD have movement problems which hampers their ability to draw, write and dance. We know that early intervention is key to helping kids on the autism spectrum, yet families wait in limbo for 3 years on average to receive a diagnosis for their child. This is too long. This exciting project is studying 1000 families - mother, father, child and siblings – from across Melbourne and Victoria to look at how risk genes and behaviours are passed from parents to children, and how autism overlaps with other disorders, like attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).

Sarah spoke to Dr Beth in this interview (Part One) to find out more about ASD and ADHD and how it affects children, families and communities.

Take a listen...

There’s so much information out there to support us in helping our babies develop. From tummy time to touching, feeling and tasting everything they come into contact with, our babies learn so much and develop so quickly in such a fast period of time.

We caught up with Becky Hughes from Baby Sensory Australia to find out about babies sensory development in utero and in their first 12-months of life.

When we become a parent sleep overtakes us, or the thought of sleep at least!

With World Sleep Day coming up this Friday 15th March and daylight savings ending in Australia on the 7th of April we thought we would get some tips on how to find a good night sleep for you and your family!

For many parents the change in daylight savings just adds and extra layer of stress to their bedtime routines, or lack thereof. Our general advice with daylight savings time changes is firstly – don’t stress, have a routine and make small changes to the time of your routine in the week or two leading up to the change which allows your little ones body clock to slowly change.

With this in mind we caught up with Laura from Snotty Noses Australia and asked her about her BEST 8 sleep tips EVER to have bedtime sorted for good.

Here's what we cover:

1. Parents Mood

2. My Way, Your Way

3. Soothe, not stimulate

4. Leave time to unwind

5. Screen free

6. Blame it on Sam (Sam Sheep Sleep Clock)

7. Teach creative visualisation and Plant a Dream

8. Tech Help

Sarah caught up with Jamie from Dummies Corp to ask him about his circus show creations, Splash Test Dummies & Crash Test Dummies, and gained his thoughts on keeping the kids occupied away from the screen.

Are you keen to be green? Or a little greener? Have you got children that you’re looking to have more involved in being environmentally sustainable?

As parents we’re in charge of raising happy, kind, confident children and for leaving them with a beautiful world to live in.

I caught up with Sara Saunders, author of There Once was an Orangutan, to find out how we can teach our kids about this huge topic!

Sarah caught up with Laura from Snotty Noses Australia to find out her 9 top tips to help keep our children safe from germs when starting daycare, kinder or heading back to school. Start with these tips young and your little ones will have a nice, strong immune system in no time!

When Louise Larkin heard on a FM radio station about a child who was never invited to birthday parties she decoded to do something about it and FRIEND in ME was born.

Child Car Seat Safety. What is best practice?

Whether you’re just driving around the corner or you’re about to go on a long family road trip, it’s so important to have your child safely restrained in a correctly fitted car seat.

But how do you know you’re doing it right?

In this episode, we meet Bree Hansen from B Minor Music (a music program for preschool children).

Bree is a qualified early childhood educator and a blogger for Kiddipedia.

Bree was pregnant with her second child when she asked a question on a Facebook parenting site regarding a baby capsule. She received a lot more information than she bargained for. She learned that there was much more to keeping children safe in cars than she had realised.

Bree discovered that Australian laws did not meet best practice.

This was a turning point for Bree. She made it her priority to become well educated on the topic, and she has become a become a passionate advocate for educating parents in best practice in keeping children safe in cars.

This interview was produced for Little Rockers Radio. An online radio station for children. You can listen online or download the app on your mobile device.

The interview was conducted and produced by Olivia de Sousa www.oliviadesousa.com

Bree Hansen can be contacted via her website https://www.bminormusic.com/

Bree wrote an article on this topic, which can be found here: https://kiddipedia.com.au/car-seat-safety/

The Facebook group recommended by Bree dedicated to education and awareness is here https://www.facebook.com/groups/childrestraints/

Our children know how to use our iPads and iPhones better than we do! I chat with Dr Joanne Orlando about the new guidelines for technology use for children. At what age can we start to introduce technology, what's appropriate for what age and what are the benefits?

This episode was recorded in November 2017.

The one things Rebecca Ieremia always knew, since childhood, was that she wanted to be a Mum one day. It was a big thing for her. She couldn’t wait for that moment and felt it would be a big part of who she was.

As can be the case for many, the road to becoming a Mum was anything but easy.

Rebecca was able to fall pregnant, but unable to stay pregnant. She suffered multiple miscarriages. They were devastating emotionally and physically, with one being particularly drawn out, painful and distressing.

Rebecca finally was blessed to become a mother to her daughter Ava, now 2. However, this blessing was initially marred by a traumatic and difficult labour which ended in an emergency C-Section. She had to go under general anaesthetic and was not the first to meet her baby girl.

Rebecca has suffered recurring bouts of anxiety and depression, which she sought professional help for.

Rebecca made the decision to examine how the relapses were happening and what she could do to prevent ever going back there again. She has learnt the importance of self-care and filling her own cup, to ensure she not only avoids returning to the depths of depression, but that she thrives and enjoys life.

This has resulted in her mission to ‘Live Not Exist’. She now wants to help others to do the same.

Rebecca Ieremia does psychic guidance readings using oracle cards. She is a Reiki Practitioner, a life guide and healer. You can contact Rebecca via her Facebook page Rebecca Ieremia, Healer and Life Guide.

This interview was live streamed via the Mumlife Community Facebook page and conducted by Olivia de Sousa, www.oliviadesousa.com.

This interview is a feature for Little Rockers Radio. An online radio station for children. You can listen online or download the app on your mobile device. Find out more at www.littlerockersradio.com.au