Literacy expert Lorraine Hammond explains the difference between the skills of reading and spelling. If your child is able to read a word and/or sentence but has challenges with spelling, this will help to explain why.

Also the way in which parents were taught at school has changed significantly from the way children are being taught now.

The scientific research around how our brain actually retains and retrieves information has informed changes in teaching strategies in the classroom. For parents who want a greater understanding of what all the fuss is about over the term 'explicit instruction', this episode will answer those questions.

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If you have a child in an early learning centre, there is a chance they will be taking part in the ENRICH oral language programme created by Elaine Reese. This has received funding in the New Zealand 2025 Government budget to roll out across hundreds more early learning centres over 4 years.

It looks at the importance of oral language development, especially in children aged one to three. There is a significant connection between language skills and a child's ability to self regulate. Elaine talks about the outcome of the programme so far for the early childhood centres it has been running in and the lessons parents can take from strategies that are being used to help their own child's language abilities.

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Adele Diamond is one of the world-leading neuroscientists in the field of executive functions. Executive functions are often discussed in relation to ADHD and they are especially relevant in that study ..however, executive function is crucial for all of us in our ability to plan, organise and achieve goals.

It impacts working memory or ability to regulate and manage our behaviour and it shapes our children's ability to learn, adapt and thrive.

Adele shares valuable insights and practical tips for parents to support their children at home.

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If you've ever wondered whether the month you were born in impacts your educational achievement, there is now evidence to say yes it can have an impact. Dr Jo Knox has been doing research around the world into the different policies for when children start school.

This conversation explores the complexities of New Zealand's enrolment system in education. It explains why some children will have more terms at school than others and what impact that has on achievement for some. Dr Knox looks at the disparities it can cause and advice for parents who have children about to start school.

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Gill Connell from Moving Smart returns with part 2 of the Power of PMP. This time we are talking about the often-overlooked topic of midline development in children.

The ability to cross the midlines of the body is foundational for reading, writing, co-ordination and cognitive growth.

Gill offers great advice for parents or teachers who want to practise this at school or at home.

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This episode was recorded in front a live audience at Spark NZ for the launch of the Spark Kids Plan.

Melissa Chan-Green speaks with Leela Ashford about the first mobile plan for families and the Parent Hub which has been developed in conjunction with Child Psychologist Dr Emma Woodward.

Sheridan Eketone of the Parenting Place shares lots of practical tips for how to manage device time and have conversations with your children about online safety.

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This week marks just the second year Women's Health Week has been marked - remarkable when you think we have been talking about Men's Health Week for years.

In this episode we speak with Tend's Cecilia Robinson. A passionate advocate for both health and education.

Here she combines those two interests to talk about the challenges that commonly face women that stem from unhealthy standards or lack of education for girls.

As a bold leader who thinks ambitiously for New Zealand, Cecilia also comments on the plan to scrap NCEA and replace it with a new achievement framework.

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Dyscalculia is likely to be not far behind dyslexia in the numbers of people it affects, but it is often called the 'learning difficulty no one talks about' because awareness and research are still decades behind.

In this episode, Head of Maths Australia Esther White talks about the learning challenge that affects people's ability to understand numbers and perform mathematical tasks.

She shares the differences between dyscalculia and dyslexia and the impact of teaching methods on achievement and maths anxiety.

This episode aims to give parents information to help students who are struggling with maths - there might also be many adults who only just realise this is something they have struggled with too.

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