The Parent Hood

The quest for sleep is something all parents obsess about - the combination of getting enough sleep themselves to encouraging their children to sleep. But how much sleep do we actually need, why is sleep so important and why, when you're exhausted is sleep sometimes hardest to achieve? From how long a nap should be to whether to wake a sleep-walking child, Marina quizzes neurologist and sleep specialist Professor Guy Leschziner about the science behind sleep, both of us, and our children. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We're told that our teenagers become difficult and selfish in order to break away from their parents. But is this actually the case? Marina talks to Psychologist Dr Terri Apter who believes that if we can truly understand our teens, the adolescent period can actually bring us great joy. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Holidays are the stuff of dreams…until children come along when they turn into the stuff of nightmares. But does travelling with children need to a nightmare or can it be a rewarding experience bringing you closer as a family. Marina talks to father of 4, Tom Barber, founder of Original Travel about choosing the kind of holiday your family will love at different stages, what to plan and how to avoid the drama. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We want our children to do well in life and often this starts with doing well in exams. While it’s up to the teachers to make sure they know what they need, psychologist Dr Jane Gilmour believes there is a lot that parents can do to support their children through exams. Whether your child is prone to anxiety, or needs motivation, Jane chats to Marina about will and won't help them when it comes to exams. Notes: The Incredible Teenage Brain by Bettina Hohnen, Jane Gilmour and Tara Murphy; How to have Incredible Conversations with your Child, by Jane Gilmour and Bettina Hohnen available now from all good bookshops. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Even though we know it's for the best, taking our children to the doctor to have a needle stuck inside them as they (understandably) protest is agony for parents. But rather than grimace and bear it while holding them down, Dr Jody Thomas, a clinical psychologist and specialist in children's pain management, insists that there are simple and highly effective techniques we can use to reduce the pain and prevent needle fear. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Raising girls who are truly positive about their bodies regardless of their shape has long been recognised as a pillar of good modern parenting but often boys are overlooked. Marina talks to Dr Charlotte Markey about how we raise body positive children and why that is just as important for boys as it is for girls.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We live in a world in which bullying exists, and as much as we'd like to, we can't protect our children from witnessing or being a part of this. But maybe we can do something much more powerful. Marina talks to psychotherapist and author Stella O'Malley about bully proofing our kids, about the conversations we have and ideas we share with them to encourage resilience and strength to deal with the bullies. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Do you remember admiring someone as a child, looking up to them and being persuaded that you could be like that too? Having role models in our lives, inspires and empowers us, giving us agency to take risk and stand up for what we believe in. Marina talks to author and entrepreneur Jo Wimble-Groves about the positive impact role models can have on our children's lives. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We're all so focussed on having our babies, that we often fail to focus on the after, particularly the recovery of the mother. Marina talks to Lyndon Littlefair, postnatal exercise and recovery specialist about the stress that new mothers experience, how this can impact their recovery, and how to make it easier. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Is having dyslexia a bad thing? Campaigner and entrepreneur, Kate Griggs thinks not. In an age of computers and AI, Kate believes that the creativity and big picture thinking that dyslexics do so well, is one of the most important skills of our time. She tells Marina how dyslexia, rather than being regarded as a hindrance, is actually a superpower and how by empowering dyslexics, we can use their skills in the future. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.