Author Profile: Dr Michael Nagel

Associate Professor, School of Education, University of the Sunshine Coast

Dr Michael Nagel is an Associate Professor in the School of Education at the University of the Sunshine Coast where he teaches and researches in the areas of cognition, human development, behaviour and learning.

He is the author of thirteen books on child development and learning used by teachers and parents in more than twenty countries. Nominated as Australian Lecturer of the Year each year since 2010, Dr Nagel has been a guest on TV New Zealand Breakfast, Sunrise, A Current Affair and The Project, is a member of the prestigious International Neuropsychological Society, is the Queensland Director of the Australian Council on Children and the Media, sits on a number of education boards and committees and is a feature writer for Jigsaw and the Child series of magazines which collectively offers parenting advice to more than one million Australian readers.

Questions answered by Michael

When is rough play too rough?

My 5yr likes to engage in rough play but it seems to turn into him on the ground with the others boys focusing on him eg light kicking or putting their foot on his arm. I think this is too rough and looks vindictive and mean. When my husband stepped in and said it was getting too rough our son was extremely upset to stop the situation saying he wanted to continue. I am confused I am worried the other boys are turning on him and it is a form of bullying? Any ideas?

My baby is not getting enough sleep

I’m worried my baby is not getting enough sleep, or proper awake time. Night time sleep is going ok. Not so much in daylight hours though. We spend hours trying to go to sleep, then have to get up for the next feed without having slept at all. He doesn’t really cry when put in bed, mostly grizzles. I try patting, rocking, white noise, dim lights, wrapping. Then he gets over tired and sometimes frustrated. Help!

3-week-old is very unsettled

My 3 weeks old is very unsettled. He can only fall asleep in our arms. As soon as we put him in his cot he wakes up even in deep sleep. He cries so loud as if something is wrong. The only thing that settles him is breastfeeding.

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Articles by Michael

Child Development

Helping your children cope with stress

One of the most troubling trends we are seeing in many western countries is a growing number of anxious children. Anxiety is linked to stress. What is well known, is that stress is incredibly detrimental to the brain and a child's healthy development.

Child Development

Screen time and the science of learning

Screens are not good babysitters, but is there such a thing as healthy screen time? How do we understand the benefits and challenges or decide when screen usage might aid learning? Author, speaker and academic Dr Michael Nagel, looks at the research.

Child Development

Boys: Understanding rough and tumble play

Speaker, author and academic Dr Michael Nagel, continues his exploration of gender differences with a closer look at boys’ behaviour and the desire for rough and tumble play, giving us a greater appreciation for how we parent and educate our sons.

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