Kia ora friends

I had reason to believe I might be able to post and link … let’s see. I’ll start in a controversial manner, by sneaking you all behind the paywall at The Press in order to read this EXCELLENT opinion piece by Flip Grater. It’s about seeking a world that prioritises child safety and I say YES. Let’s. If a matriarchy is what it takes, then so be it.

Locals in North Canterbury might oughta know about this youth survey being run by the Waimakariri District Council, and if you’re feeling a bit more globally minded this week, you’d better be planning to go to a big ol’ conference or two … I’m considering the World Association for Infant Mental Health or maybe the International Play Association. Then again, I do really love staying home! Speaking of Play … I wrote this years ago, for OHbaby!. Enjoy.

Here is an excellent review about active outdoor play (spoiler: it’s awesome for folk of all ages!) and please enjoy this excellent interview with Margot Denomme, who speaks sanely about tech use in families, out of Canada (*see previous point about benefits of outdoor play!). Oh, hey: check out this study and see if it doesn’t make you want to switch off your smartphone’s internet capability.

This is an explainer about the grossness of Grok (my title, not theirs), from our Classification office, and LORD HAVE MERCY if you can, get to The Reality of Everything symposium (in Wellington, in June). I wonder if they know about the reality of childrearing at the mo? As exhibit A, may I share this piece from the Times in the UK, or maybe you’d like to peruse the excellent work of Health Professionals for Safer Screens, and for a New Zealand specific vantage point; please consider this piece I wrote for the journal Perspectives of Infant Mental Health, or this wonderful work with data from the Growing Up in NZ study.

I’m a bit giddy, cos I think that maybe JUST MAYBE the links are working and I am back in the saddle! Giddy and giddy up! All at once!

yeehah. see y’all soon xx