Early Learning
Child Development
Lifestyle
Real parents. Real problems. We’re here with a group of leading early learning and parenting professionals to answer your questions.
Join the conversation and share your thoughts through First Five Years polls, or take our regular quiz to test your knowledge on the latest parenting topic.
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Work/life balance
It’s been ten years since Australia first introduced its federally funded Paid Parental Leave scheme offering a payment for up to 18 weeks while you care for your baby. So what has changed in a decade and how do we compare to international standards?
Parent health
The Parenting Today in Victoria survey shines the light on areas where parents are feeling confident and where they might need support. While most parents have confidence in their parenting, they continue to struggle with sleep, behaviour and discipline.
Mental health
Deakin University’s Institute for Mental and Physical Health and Clinical Translation has taken on a national research project asking people to share their experience during the Covid19 pandemic to track community mood and understand coping mechanisms.
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Health & emotions
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Finances & work
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I’ve always understood that time-out was a reasonable way to deal with behaviour issues. Now I’m seeing some articles suggesting that time-out has had its day. Is time-out OK and if not, what’s the alternative?
My little girl is developing a stutter. She is three years old and has started hesitating between words and repeating sounds. I’ve seen the doctor and we are working on techniques to help her. Should I be worried about how this might psychologically affect her?
Early Learning Consultant, Goodstart Early Learning
Kylie Romero was born, raised and trained in New Zealand and has lived in Australia since January 2012. She has been an early childhood educator/teacher since 2001. Kylie is a mum to an 18 year old daughter and one year old son … so both ends of the age scale. Her passions are the infant and toddler age groups...
Lecturer, Faculty of Education (QUT)
Senior Nurse educator at Tresillian Family Care Centres
Senior Child & Family Practitioner for Goodstart Early Learning
Navigating a blended family can be tricky. Instant children and siblings, along with new additions. The dynamics can make your head spin. We talk to one couple who have made it work.
Language development
Through the random noises of the outside world and the beating heart and growling stomach of their mothers, babies are distinguishing the muffled sound of their mother’s voice. From the third trimester children naturally develop speech and language.
Benefits of early learning
By sharing their own enthusiasm for learning and facilitating diverse learning experiences and activities, parents are an important factor in children’s overall education. Discover practical things parents can do to support their child's learning journey.
Reading
While parents and non-parents alike cringe at the “oochy woochy coochy coo” form of baby talk that Great Aunt Joan so loves to use while grabbing a handful of chubby baby cheek and laughing heartily, there is method in the madness.
What can we do to help young brains thrive? Babies whose parents frequently engage and talk with them know 300 more words by age two than those that don't.
The human brain is the most complex thing on earth and birth to five years sees the fastest rate of brain development. 60% of all energy a baby expends is concentrated in the brain and 90% of a child’s brain development occurs before they even walk into a classroom. That’s why the first five years of a child’s life a crucial.
"Children need happy healthy parents. I think what we should do is think about parenting in terms of whether we're providing good enough parenting as opposed to whether we're providing perfect parenting." Dr Jack Shonkoff, Center Director, Harvard University Center for the Developing Child.
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Stay up to date with the latest news and articles from First Five Years
While getting dressed this morning, give your child a tissue to carry in his/her pocket. Talk to your child about what tissues are used for as you each pretend to blow your nose. Make funny sounds!
When you ask your child what tissues can be used for, you’re helping him/her think about how things can help us achieve a goal—like keeping our noses clean. Did you ever imagine that a tissue in the pocket could promote thinking skills of making a plan and reaching a goal?
We’ll provide the latest news and articles from experts on a range of topics to help in the first five years of your child’s life.
Professional tips on behaviour and development.
Expert advice on your child’s first five years.
Great ideas for a healthy active lifestyle.