The Parent Squad

NCEA results are officially out.
Most kids would have genuinely worked as hard as they could to get the grades they hoped for - even the kids who act like they don't really care.
And for many it won't have turned out as hey had planned - whether that meant not quite meeting the dizzying heights of their ambition or an actual fail grade. But it's unavoidable - at some stage through their school career - and life for that matter, most of us have to deal with the disappointment of failure.
They need to learn how to deal with that disappointment - but it will of course still be there, so how are parents supposed to help their children through it?
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We've all seen the videos - we may have even seen it in our own living rooms on Christmas morning...
A child, even teenager, opens a gift their loved one has especially picked out for them, and they proceed to complain about how it's not the one they wanted.
The wrong colour bicycle, wrong model phone, it could be anything.
So how do we teach our children to be grateful for anything they're given this Christmas?
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What are the essential life skills our kids truly need to know before they head out into the real world?
How often to wash their sheets, how to cook a basic meal, managing bills and payments, doing laundry without turning their white shirts pink - these are things that most of us learnt well before we moved out, but they don't seem to be as common today.
Only 21% of parents of children aged 5-17 years say their kids are often involved with cooking. That's 79% of kids that will likely leave home not knowing how to cook much more than a toasted cheese.
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In just a few days, a law banning the use of social media for under 16s will take effect in Australia.
For many parents, social media has been a daily part of family life for years - allowing kids to stay connected with their friends and family, sharing life updates with people they may not get a chance to speak with very often.
Generations before have been relatively ignorant to just how seriously harmful it can be - figuring if they just keep open communication with their kids then they should be fine.
But younger millennial and gen Z parents seem to be recognising the dangers, and most often opting to keep their kids offline.
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The school year is drawing to an end and soon enough, families will be filling school halls and gymnasiums for the end-of-year prizegiving.
For the star students or athletes, it's a moment of pride to walk across the stage and receive a well-earned award. For others, the whole thing can feel demoralising.
Never mind the awards themselves - there are clear differences between some, like the dean's award and the most improved.
But on the other hand, do we really want to be handing out participation awards? Are they inclusive or are they encouraging mediocrity?
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