SPECIAL REPORTS

  • Coping with isolation

    SPECIAL REPORT: Coping with isolation

    "Isolation in boarding school can have far-reaching impacts on a child’s life such as mental health issues, academic struggles, negative self-esteem, minimal engagement in extracurricular activities and an overwhelming sense of feeling less supported."

    Dr Michael Carr-Gregg

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  • Gambling & Young People

    SPECIAL REPORT: Gambling & Young People

    "The current generation of children and adolescents are growing up in an unprecedented time when it comes to gambling. A new grey area is emerging with gambling-like elements in video games and social media blurring the boundaries and creating headaches, both for parents and regulators."

    Dr Emma Woodward

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  • Discussing War & Conflict

    SPECIAL REPORT: Discussing War & Conflict

    "When children encounter traumatic events, their brain processes these emotions, storing them as powerful memories. It's natural for them to be curious, concerned, or even scared. Their world view is still forming, and these events can be overwhelming and difficult for them to process."

    Dr Michael Carr-Gregg

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  • Cost of Living Crisis

    SPECIAL REPORT: The Cost of Living Crisis

    "As our role as parents is to help our children make sense of the world around them in a way that makes them feel reassured, it may be prudent to talk to your children about financial matters in an informative and empowering way."

    Dr Emma Woodward

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  • Social Media Influencers

    SPECIAL REPORT: Social Media Influencers

    "Social media influencers often present a highly curated and filtered version of their lives, showcasing only the positive aspects. This can create unrealistic beauty standards, success and happiness for children. Constant exposure to this may lead to feelings of inadequacy, low self-worth and dissatisfaction."

    Dr Emma Woodward

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  • Ram Raids

    SPECIAL REPORT: The Rising Trend of Ram Raids

    "Most of the people getting caught ram raiding are younger than 18 years old. With the cost of living crisis rising and mental health amongst our youth population declining, this trend appears to be continuing despite the initiatives between the police, youth aid and Oranga Tamariki."

    Dr Emma Woodward

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  • Parenting from a distance

    SPECIAL REPORT: Parenting from a distance

    "Parents may experience a sense of disconnection from their child’s daily activities. However, with the right approach, you can still support your child effectively. Maintaining a strong and healthy relationship during their time away is crucial."

    Dr Michael Carr-Gregg

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  • Safe partying

    SPECIAL REPORT: A Guide To Safe Partying

    "Teenage gatherings provide important opportunities for young people to mix and gain experiences in social situations. However, it is possible for the best young person to get carried away by their peers and the euphoria of the moment."

    Dr Michael Carr-Gregg

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  • Living in Multicultural Environments

    SPECIAL REPORT: Living in Multicultural Environments

    "Young people will absorb their new surroundings with curiosity, self-assurance, and kindness when diversity and inclusion are practised. It teaches them to identify with people who are different from themselves."

    Dr Michael Carr-Gregg

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  • Sextortion

    SPECIAL REPORT: Sextortion

    "You may not have heard the term before, but you must understand what it is. There has been a 400% increase in this type of crime being reported to police now involving adolescent males at a terribly high rate."

    Susan McLean

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  • Managing Homesickness

    SPECIAL REPORT: Managing Homesickness

    “Although all transitions are tricky, they’re also an invitation to grow. There may be occasions when your child may try to push your buttons, making you feel guilty and worry about them, but homesickness is a very human emotion."

    Dr Michael Carr-Gregg

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  • Respectful Language

    SPECIAL REPORT: Respectful Language

    “If you swear at someone, or about someone, you are actually committing an act of verbal violence. You transgress the usual rules of social interaction, impinging upon someone's self-image and their sense of dignity."

    Dr Michael Carr-Gregg

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  • Managing Overwhelm

    SPECIAL REPORT: Managing Overwhelm

    “As human beings, our brains haven’t evolved fast enough to adapt to the digital world that we now live in. This means that the overload of messages that we receive through ever-present media platforms often results in stress, anxiety, and overwhelm."

    Dr Emma Woodward

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  • SPECIAL REPORT: A Conversation on Consent

    “Consent is an agreement between people to engage in sexual activity. It means freely choosing to say yes to sexual activity without being pressured into it through guilt, threats or peer influence. It’s always got to be clearly communicated - there should be no ambiguity or doubt."

    Dr Emma Woodward

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  • Having to Alcohol Discussion

    SPECIAL REPORT: Having the Alcohol Discussion

    “A formula in dealing with adolescents is force equals resistance. Sometimes it just isn’t possible to stop them doing whatever it is they want to do. Regardless of everything, all you want is for them to come home safe, so start the conversation today!"

    Dr Michael Carr-Gregg

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