Parental As Anything ABC listen

When they’re little, our kids idolise us. Then, they become teenagers and start to push us away, refusing to chat and rolling their eyes. 

What can parents do to stay connected, when suddenly you're no longer the Taylor Swift or Drake of your teen's life? And why do they pull away from us in the first place?

Dr Justin Coulson joins Bec Sparrow to explain what is going on, and gives tips on how to stay close to your teenager. 

(PS If you have a trick on how you have managed to stay connected, we’d love to hear them for a special episode we’re working on. Send us a voice note or email us at teens@abc.net.au) 

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. 
Guest: Dr Justin Coulson
Producers: Hannah Reich, Josie Sargent 
Supervising Producer: Tamar Cranswick
Executive Producer: Alex Lollback
Sound design: Ann-Marie de Bettencor

 

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

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?

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. 

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. 

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.