Conflict between young people is a normal part of growing up, cyberbullying is not
You may have heard how harmful cyberbullying is but you may feel like you don’t really understand it.
Cyberbullying is bullying that uses electronic means like the internet or mobile phones to aggressively and intentionally harm someone
Cyberbullying can include name calling, abusive comments, spreading rumours, threats of physical harm, being ignored or excluded, having opinions slammed, online impersonation, being sent rude or upsetting images, or having personal information or images sent or shared with others
Cyberbullying is most common in late primary school and early high school and up to half of all young people have experienced it

Everybody has different feelings about going back to ‘normal.'

Parentline QLD & NT asked parents if they were ready to return to normal. Half of parents were, and half weren’t. 

We also asked young people on Instagram whether they were ready to go back to ‘normal’. 39% of young people told us they weren’t ready.

Here are some direct quotes from young people about why they feared getting back to the way things were.

Understanding feelings in kids

Kids deal with many of the same feelings adults do

Kids experience complex feelings just like adults. They get frustrated, excited, nervous, sad, jealous, frightened, worried, angry and embarrassed.

However young kids usually don’t have the vocabulary to talk about how they are feeling. Instead they communicate their feelings in other ways.

Kids can express their feelings through facial expressions, through their body, their behaviour and play. Sometimes they may act out their feelings in physical, inappropriate or problematic ways.

From the moment kids are born, they start learning the emotional skills they need to identify, express and manage their feelings. They learn how to do this through their social interactions and relationships with important people in their lives such as parents, grandparents and carers.

Being a parent means you’ve got a really important role to play in helping kids understand their feelings and behaviours. Kids need to be shown how to manage their feelings in positive and constructive ways.

What is great communication?

Conveying our message is only one part of communication. Great communication goes further and allows us to build trust, self-esteem and strong healthy relationships.

• Great communication is a two-way process. Listening is as important as talking
• Your child’s brain is still developing including learning to handle their emotions and communicate well
• Successful communication with your child depends on what, how, when, where and why you say things. What you don’t say is also important!

Communication styles

The way we communicate differs based on gender, cultural background, age and the situation.

It’s likely you and your child have different communication expectations because of the generation gap.

However, in general there are three communication styles. The first is more helpful when compared with the other two.

What happens when your kids don’t get enough sleep
Getting the right amount of sleep is important for kids' developing body and wellbeing. Find out how much sleep your child needs and the impacts of not getting enough.
What’s so important about sleep?
For a growing body, sleep is just as important as nutrition and exercise
Sleep is vital for kids' health, development and wellbeing. It helps them to stay healthy, grow, learn and do well in school. Sleep physically restores their body, improves brain function and mental health.
Kids of all ages need to get enough sleep so they can play, learn and concentrate during the day.
Not getting enough sleep can have a big impact on your kids – behaviourally, mentally and emotionally.
Most kids don’t get enough sleep as they’re often busy with school, study, sporting and social commitments.
How much sleep is enough?
Recommended hours of sleep per night can vary depending on age. Every kid is different, so take time to figure out what works best for your kid. Here’s a guide:
•    0-11 months - 14-18 hours per day
•    1-2 years - 10-14 hours per day
•    3-5 years - 10-13 hours per day
•    6-13 years - 9-11 hours per day
•    14-18 years - 8-9 hours per day

The impact of lack of sleep

Sleep problems are some of the most common issues faced by parents. When kids don’t get enough sleep over a period of time, the following behavioural, cognitive (mental) and emotional symptoms can occur:

Sleepiness during the day

Issues with study and socialising

Irritability and moodiness

Shorter attention span

Lack of concentration and focus

Increased forgetfulness

Reduced academic performance

Lack of interest and motivation

Difficulty learning new information

Difficulty regulating emotions

Increased emotional problems

Reduced immune system

Poorer memory

Increased impulsivity

Higher risk of accidents

Increased stress

Higher levels of obesity

Decline in mental health

The challenge for kids and their parents is understanding the need for sleep and its restorative powers, and factoring into their busy lives sufficient time for good sleep.