Being Real Parents

Have you ever wondered whether fostering could be for you? Diana Hamilton from Key Assets explains how the process works, what fostering can look and feel like, and the support available along the way. We talk honestly about the challenges, the rewards, and the many different people who can make brilliant foster carers. An encouraging first listen for anyone curious about opening their home, supporting tamariki and giving something meaningful back.

Want to move your body but don’t know where to begin? Lisa Fong, founder of Move it Mama, joins Anna for an honest, inspiring kōrero about exercise in the reality of parenting. Lisa shares how to start when you’re busy, tired or completely new to movement, why small steps count, and how exercise can support your energy, confidence and wellbeing. An encouraging episode for every parent who thinks fitness might not be for them.

As parenting evolves, so does the advice. In this episode, Kate and Anna unpack some of the strategies they no longer use, including ignoring emotional meltdowns, teaching emotional literacy in isolation, and expecting children to regulate emotions before they're developmentally ready. They explore what current research tells us, what they've learned from working alongside families, and what they choose to do differently today.

In this episode, we're joined by Phil Clarke from the IHC Library to explore the wide range of resources available to support people with disabilities, their whānau, and the professionals who work alongside them.

Whether you're supporting a child, a young person, or an adult, this conversation highlights how the IHC Library can help connect you with trusted information.

Tune in to discover how the IHC Library is making knowledge more accessible.

Communication is about much more than words. In this episode, Anna talks with Keryn O'Neill from Brainwave Trust Aotearoa about how our children's communication and language skills develop, why connection matters, and what parents can do to support communication at home. Together they explore brain development, relationships, listening, conversation, and practical ways to help children feel heard, understood and confident communicating.