It Takes A Village

New Zealand's child sex abuse statistics are stark: Nearly one in three girls and one in five boys are sexually abused before the age of 18. Gloria Masters is the founder of charity Handing the Shame Back, which aims to provide resources, interviews and information to help prevent abuse. It was born out of the work she'd already done in writing her own story about being trafficked and abused from a young age. Gloria's the author of four books, and has created a global hand sign for children under 16 to help them tell adults they're being abused and are not safe - it's been shared and promoted by government agencies like ACC, Police and Oranga Tamariki. The latest book Gloria has written is aimed specifically at children, it's called My Body is Talking to Me and is out this week.Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

How can you gauge when your child is ready to venture out alone? It can be a tough call for parents, trying to balance keeping them safe, while give them a taste of independence. So what do you need to consider? And how do you handle conversations when the request is made? Michelle Andrews Luke is a lecturer in educational psychology at the University of Melbourne.Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

How we can support kids through frustration, without rushing to rescue them from it? Catherine Gallagher is a clinical psychologist with two decades experience working with adults and children. Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

Almost one in four teenagers in New Zealand reported feeling lonely, or as though they had no friends, in last year's Youth Health and Wellbeing Survey. Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

Coping with fussy eaters will be a challenge that many parents will be familiar with. Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

For the many New Zealand families currently in the middle of the school holidays, life might feel like an endless juggle of work and childcare. Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

Whether it's a formal after school activity, or an older student helping out, many children will have some form of tutoring outside of the classroom. Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

Spring is here and although it brings optimism for warmer weather heading into summer, it can also bring allergies as pollen season enters full swing. Children aren't exempt from seasonal allergies. So how can families best prepare, and what can be done to alleviate watery eyes and runny noses in our tamariki? Dr Amy Chan is an associate professor of pharmacy at Auckland University.Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

Juliet Kennedy explains language learning for children and the benefits for brain development.Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

During the nine months of pregnancy, through all trimesters, a healthy balanced diet is important for both mother and child. But with a glut of information out there, understanding what foods to eat or avoid can be tricky. Palmerston North based midwife Emma Le Lievre shares her expertise.Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details