Parental As Anything

ABC Australia

Being a parent is tough. Social media is bombarding us with opinions — on our kids screen time, on their education, on their friendships, on their behaviour — and somehow, we are always doing it wrong!

Don’t you just wish you could turn it all off and listen to some good old-fashion, sensible advice?

Parental As Anything is the podcast that gives you practical, supportive, advice from two real-world parenting experts. Beloved Australian parenting author and educator Maggie Dent and teen-parenting whisperer Bec Sparrow share wisdom and experience that comes from years of working with parents, kids and teens. With seven seasons of practical advice and helpful tips, Parental As Anything is here to help find solutions to the challenges that parents face everyday. No trends. No judgement.

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Mar 27, 2025 · 27 min
SPECIAL – Combating the manosphere in schools
Adolescence, the gripping Netflix drama, has stopped parents, teachers and parenting experts in their tracks. Suddenly everyone’s talking about toxic masculinity, the gender divide and whether there’s a crisis of modern boyhood. Female teachers and students report being sworn at, sexually harassed and physically threatened in schools by male students, due in part to the influence of Andrew Tate and others like him in the “manosphere”. Why do these “manfluencers” have such a big impact on o
Jan 12, 2025 · 22 min
Back to School - Tips for Starting School
Do you have a little one in an oversized backpack about to head through the school gates for the first time? It's an exciting and sometimes scary time for kids and parents alike, and Parental as Anything is here to help you get through this enormous milestone! Maggie Dent and child psychologist Dr Kaylene Henderson give you all the tips you need to help you and your child nail those first days and weeks of school. The advice provided in this podcast is general in nature and does not take
Jan 12, 2025 · 23 min
Back to School - Preparing tweens for high school
Starting high school is one of the most exciting and scariest transitions of childhood, for our tweens and for parents too! So how do we help our kids prepare for this milestone, and manage all the ups and downs of Year 7? Maggie Dent and youth coach Claire Eaton share their practical tips for the weeks before school starts, routines to keep your tween on track, and how to handle rough patches. The advice provided in this podcast is general in nature and does not take into account your per
Jan 12, 2025 · 26 min
Back to School - Navigating school refusal
School resistance and school refusal are a growing concern for our kids and teens. While many kids will complain about school at some point along the way, for some kids the issues is much bigger. Some kids just can’t. Maggie Dent talks to education consultant and former principal Adam Voight about how to tackle school refusal head on. We explore the best ways to advocate for your child, to how to find support, plus families who went through it and came out the other side. And we ask the b
Jan 12, 2025 · 33 min
Back to School - Helping your child make friends
Making friends is tough at any age, but for kids and teens, who are still mastering social skills, it can be an emotional rollercoaster. It can be so hard to watch your kids bump through the ups and downs of friendships, and even harder to know what to do to help them through the dramas of it all! Maggie Dent and Bec Sparrow come together in this episode, with parent educator Claire Orange, to give you advice on what you can do as a parent to help your kids navigate the often-tricky world of f
Jan 12, 2025 · 23 min
Back to School - Preventing homework stress
Homework! Is there anything that causes more battles at the kitchen table? Whether you are for or against it, it can be a pain for kids and for parents, amidst the juggle of after school activities, struggles with learning, even just good old after-school burnout. Maggie Dent chats to Maria Cook, the founding principal of Honeywood Primary School in Perth, about how to manage homework if your kids are getting it, and why you shouldn’t worry if they are not! The advice provided in
Jan 12, 2025 · 26 min
Back to School - Helping your teen nail senior school
There is so much emphasis on the last two years of high school, and not all of it is good! Some teenagers become highly anxious and are weighed down by pressure to get top marks for university – while others create stress for us parents when they can’t seem to get motivated, stay organised or manage their time. Bec Sparrow is joined by Claire Eaton, a youth coach and author of Hello High School. Together they discuss strategies for getting study ready, planning, motivating teens and what t
Jan 5, 2025 · 3 min
INTRODUCING - Back to School Special Series
Hey parents! We see you there in your big sunglasses, hiding behind your summer read, trying to pretend January will last forever! But like it or not - the new school year is fast approaching. And here at Parental As Anything, we want to help you out. We've delved into our archives and pulled out all the best advice for our Back to School Special Series. Whether you are farewelling your baby for their first day of school, or shoving your giant teen out the door to begin their final year -
Sep 17, 2024 · 19 min
Your hacks: How to bond with your teen
It’s normal for teenagers to push away parents and think we’re totally embarrassing, so how can we keep connected to them? Parents from the Parental As Anything: Teens community have shared their best hacks on how they bond with their teenagers.
Sep 10, 2024 · 31 min
I'm worried about my teen's porn habit
By the age of 15 more than 50 per cent of teenagers have looked at porn. For teenage boys, this can quickly become a habit. Research points to a link between porn use and sexual violence, with young men the most likely offenders. So how can we help our teens understand that curiosity around sex is normal but the violence and degradation depicted in porn is not? And how can we help set them up to have healthy, respectful relationships?
Sep 3, 2024 · 25 min
How to help your teen nail high school
The last years of high school can be full of pressure and stress – but what do you do if your teenager just can’t seem to get organised or manage their time? Some teenagers become highly anxious and are weighed down by pressure to get top marks for university – while others just can’t seem to get motivated. Youth coach Claire Eaton joins Bec Sparrow to share strategies on getting study ready, planning, how to motivate teens and what to do when the pressure to achieve becomes too much.
Aug 27, 2024 · 8 min
Dear Bec—How do I talk to my teen about masturbation?
Masturbation and self-pleasure are a normal part of exploring sexuality, but that doesn't mean it's not awkward to talk about with our teens. Bec Sparrow shares her advice on talking to teens and tweens about exploring their own bodies and what to do if there is social pressure to overshare.
Aug 20, 2024 · 28 min
How to protect your teen from cyberbullying
There has been a huge rise in online bullying – and it can be subtle and sophisticated – with devastating impacts on victim’s mental health. These days bullies are on our teenager’s screens 24/7 via Snapchat, TikTok, Instagram and WhatsApp and there’s no escaping the torture. How do we protect our teens online? What steps should we take if we find out our child is a target of cyberbullying? And what should we do if we find out our child is a cyberbully?
Aug 13, 2024 · 6 min
Dear Bec—How do I stop my teen vaping?
Vapes come in fun, fruity flavours and are easy to hide, part of the reason they’re so appealing to teenagers. But what should you do if you catch your teen vaping? And are they worse than the cigarettes of our hey-day? Bec Sparrow shares the steps to take if your teenager is secretly vaping, how to help your adolescent resist social pressure to inhale and the importance of busting myths around the health risks of vapes and e-cigarettes.
Aug 6, 2024 · 25 min
My teen is in love — and wants a sleepover
First loves can be all consuming – so what should you do if your teen wants to have their new boyfriend or girlfriend sleep over? From unwanted pregnancies and contraception to STDs and consent, there’s a lot to navigate– for parents and teenagers.
Jul 30, 2024 · 22 min
My teen has an eating disorder
Adolescents and young people are most at risk of getting an eating disorder, with the average age of onset between 12 and 25. And eating disorders are on the rise, with a 21% increase in disordered eating in the past decade. What makes teens vulnerable to eating disorders? What can we do to protect them? And, how can we support them if they do?
Jul 23, 2024 · 8 min
Dear Bec—My teen is glued to her phone
Teenagers are spending more time than ever on their phones – they are on devices up to 8 hours a day. And that’s when they’re not at school! Of course, your teen won't see their excessive screentime as an issue. Phones are a way for teens to connect but they also distract and get in the way of sleep. So what can you do if your teenager is constantly attached to their phone?
Jul 16, 2024 · 25 min
My teen is self-harming
You find fresh cuts on your teenager’s body – what do you do next? Self-harm can be a way for teens to cope with big emotions, anxiety and distress and it's more common than parents might think.
Jul 9, 2024 · 7 min
Dear Bec—My teen son hates his body
Teen boys are being pumped fitness content on social media, pushing many to build bulk and get "jacked". Researchers are worried this 'gymfluencer' content is leading to a spike in body dysmorphia among young men. What can you do if your teenage son is worrying about how they look? And how can you help if they are developing worrying habits, like daily gym sessions and protein shakes?
Jul 2, 2024 · 25 min
How can I help my anxious teen?
Today's teens are the "anxious generation" and anxiety is on the rise. It impacts their mental health and their ability to cope with school, friendships and everyday tasks.

Showing 1–20 of 20 episodes