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Dr Michael Nagel

Dr Michael Nagel

As part of First Five Years’ commitment to evidence-based content, contributing experts are invited to author content that shares their knowledge and experience.

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

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.

Day time naps and sleep patterns

Hello. My 5 almost 6 month old was only waking up once a night. But now she is waking up at 10.30 and will not go back to sleep. She then wakes more times throughout the night. She is sleeping well in the day, sleeping for two long naps, morning and afternoon and then one at about 4.30 and then bed at 7. But it’s just not working and I don’t know what to do anymore.

See all questions answered by Michael

Articles by Michael

Child Development

How to praise and encourage your child

Praise is something we have all experienced, but there is debate about whether this is an appropriate tool for raising or working with children. Dr Michael Nagel discusses to what extent praise should be used and what type of praise is most beneficial. 

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Child Development

Why boys wrestle, play fight and fidget

Science tells us that because of their biological makeup, sitting still is just not an easy proposition for boys. Whether you have a boy or a girl you may have wondered what science can tell you about the brain's role in shaping your child's behaviour.

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Child Development

Bringing up girls: Biology and behaviour

Whether you have a boy or a girl you may have wondered what science can tell you about the brain's role in shaping behaviour. There is evidence suggesting that the physiology of the female brain plays a tremendous role in how girls behave and learn.

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