In the news

Maggie is available for media comment on many aspects of parenting & raising resilient children.

Her expertise incorporates areas such as:  resilience; early childhood; parenting; mothering; adolescents; suicide; troubled adolescents; bullying; schooling; homework; teaching; stress management and managing chaos; understanding death/loss; grief; children & loss; mothering boys; women; funerals; counselling children and adolescents; spiritual intelligence; emotional intelligence; recovering from adversity; bullying; calmness; and stillness and quiet.

For media inquiries, contact Maggie’s publicity officer Carmen Myler at ctmyler@gmail.com.au or phone her on 0400 791 148.

Maggie has made several appearances in the news this year commenting on everything from homework through to resilience and talking to teens about sex. Here is a sample of some of the coverage.

August 2011

Naplan Nightmare
Maggie was asked by national education publication Education Review to share her views on how national testing is affecting our children.
Download article

Punishing Children
As viewers responded to the news that a Townsville mother made her son wear a sign around his neck labelling him a thief, Maggie spoke with Today on Channel 9 about the effect such a public humiliation might have on a young person.
http://today.ninemsn.com.au/article.aspx?id=8289398

July 2011

Child-free Zones
Is it OK for restaurants and first-class airlines to ban children? Maggie discussed with the team from Channel 7's Sunrise.
http://au.tv.yahoo.com/sunrise/video/-/watch/26041034/kid-free-zones/

Age of Innocence
Maggie spoke with the Melbourne Weekly about whether very young children are ready for Blue Light Discos, iPods and Nintendo DS's.
http://www.melbourneweekly.com.au/news/local/news/general/age-of-innocence/2243888.aspx?storypage=1

Britain's youngest grandparents
Sunrise's Mel and Kochie invited Maggie to comment on Britain's youngest grandparents, at 29 and 30. 
http://au.tv.yahoo.com/sunrise/video/-/watch/26130733/grandparents-at-29-and-30/

June 2011

Strategies for curbing youth violence
On a recent visit to NZ, Maggie hosted a couple of community forums on violence and intimidation among young people. Radio New Zealand covered the event:
http://www.radionz.co.nz/news/regional/76696/community-works-on-strategies-over-youth-violence

Feeling guilty anyone?
Maggie explored the notion of parental guilt with ABC Perth's James Lush and discussed whether we put too much pressure on ourselves as parents.
http://blogs.abc.net.au/wa/2011/05/maggie-dent-on-parental-guilt.html?site=perth&program=720_saturday_breakfast



May 2011

How do we learn?
Maggie joined ABC Perth's weekend breakfast presenter to talk about how we learn and why there might be lots of processing going on when a baby is staring at the ceiling for example. Listen here: http://blogs.abc.net.au/wa/2011/05/maggie-dent-how-do-we-learn.html?site=perth&program=720_saturday_breakfast

Dads and their Daughters
To coincide with seminars in Dubbo, Coonamble and Walgett, Maggie joined ABC Western Plains mornings presenter Dugald Sanders for a chat about Dads and Daughters. The blogged about it here: http://blogs.abc.net.au/nsw/2011/05/dads-and-daughters.html?site=westernplains&program=western_plains_mornings

April 2011

Bullying
Maggie talked about bullying and how to deal with it on her regular spot on James Lush's program. Listen here:
http://blogs.abc.net.au/wa/2011/04/maggie-dent-on-bullying.html?site=perth&program=720_saturday_breakfast

February

Would you Pull Your Kids out of School?
That's the question ABC Perth's James Lush asked after Maggie suggested taking them out for a week, a month, even a year to rough it might be just what they need. Listen here:
http://blogs.abc.net.au/wa/2011/02/would-you-pull-your-kids-out-of-school.html?site=perth&program=(none)

Failure IS an option
Maggie joined ABC Perth's James Lush to talk about why it's important to let our children fail sometimes, and James tested Maggie out on her times tables. http://blogs.abc.net.au/wa/2011/02/maggie-dent-and-why-we-should-let-our-children-fail.html?site=perth&program=720_saturday_breakfast

January

Helping children cope with the impact of disaster
Maggie wrote a piece for Fairfax's Essential Baby site on how to help children cope with the impact of the recent flooding, particularly when parents themselves are trying to support their children as well as manage their own trauma.  http://www.essentialbaby.com.au/kids/caring-for-kids/helping-children-cope-with-the-impact-of-floods-20110114-19qwg.html NB: People who are interested in this article, may also wish to take advantage of Maggie's two free disaster-relief downloads on her homepage.

School's in!
Maggie's January blog for Wangle discussed the return of routine as children head back to school, and urges families to make some time for silence and stillness in their day. Maggie also spoke to the Today show about the top tips for returning to school.
http://www.wangle.com.au/1opinion/its-that-time-of-the-year-again

December 2010

The results are in ... tread carefully
Maggie wrote about the challenges young people face after finishing school and receiving their results for ABC's popular The Drum opinion site http://www.abc.net.au/unleashed/42512.html

New Year's Resolutions
Maggie was asked by the Herald Sun to comment on how people might keep one of the more common resolutions in the New Year, spending more time with your family: http://www.heraldsun.com.au/ipad-application/secret-to-successful-new-years-resolutions/story-fn6ja7bc-1225972547757

Is school ready for your child?
Maggie wrote for Essential Baby about her concern that the new national curriculum might place even more pressure on children who aren't quite ready for school. http://www.essentialbaby.com.au/kids/kids-education-and-play/national-curriculum-puts-new-pressure-on-school-readiness-20101213-18uhy.html

Families doing it as well as we can...
Maggie joined a panel including ABC Perth's Gillian O'Shaughnessy, Glen Hall and Andrew O'Connor to talk about modern family life in a special outside broadcast on 3 December.
http://blogs.abc.net.au/wa/2010/12/families-doing-it-as-well-as-we-can-.html?site=perth&program=720_afternoons

What a noisy, wonderful world
Has anyone else noticed how much noise there is in the world, or is it just getting to Maggie? She ponders this in her final Wangle blog of the year. http://www.wangle.com.au/life/our-noisy-world-or-is-it-just-me

November 2010

Families: Doing it as well as we can
ABC WA's Gillian O'Shaughnessy and Glenn Hall were joined by Maggie, together with father-of-three Andrew O'Connor from the ABC's newsroom to talk about parenthood.
http://blogs.abc.net.au/files/maggie-dent-andrew-oconnor---families.mp3

Love in the burbs
Maggie wrote about her work as a wedding celebrant for WA site, Wangle. Apparently, one doesn't need to be thin, successful and hirsuit to enjoy true love. http://www.wangle.com.au/life/love-in-the-burbs-big-bums-bald-heads-and-all

The post high-school hole
Maggie spoke with Karl Stefanovic from Today about the risks of young people falling into a post high-school hole, and how to find their way out.
http://video.au.msn.com/watch/video/post-high-school-hole/xlv7jb7

October 2010

A bit of shoosh please, we're making magic
Fairfax's Essential Baby site published an article from Maggie on why it is so important to include moments of calm in our families' hectic lives. The article ran in the leadup to Maggie's seminar with Patrice Thomas in Sydney, coming up on 20 November, called Calming Our Children: Calming Our World.
http://www.essentialbaby.com.au/kids/kids-stages-of-development/a-bit-of-shoosh-please-were-making-magic-20101026-171pg.html

Birds and bees
On 8 October, Maggie chatted to Lisa Wilkinson from Today about when to chat to your kids about sex.
Check out the video here: http://video.au.msn.com/watch/video/birds-and-the-bees/xwyq3be

The best flight ever
In her October Wangle blog, Maggie reflects on what happens when the technology stops working and humans start connecting, well, offline.
http://www.wangle.com.au/life/the-best-flight-ever

Basic family needs
Maggie spoke to ABC Perth's James Lush about what our basic needs are as families living in the modern world.
http://blogs.abc.net.au/wa/2010/10/maggie-dent-parenting-and-family-expert.html?site=perth&

What boys need
Maggie joined ABC Perth's James Lush again on October 30 to talk about what boys need in education.
http://blogs.abc.net.au/wa/2010/10/maggie-dent-on-parenting-and-schooling.html?site=perth&

September 2010

The dirty secret about raising kids: it's child's play
Fairfax's Essential Baby website featured a story from Maggie on the importance of play and getting down and dirty with the kids. The story obviously struck a chord as ABC in Perth and 4BC in Brisbane followed it up.
http://www.essentialbaby.com.au/kids/kids-stages-of-development/the-dirty-secret-about-raising-kids-its-childs-play-20100909-153d8.html

'Find me Safe' kits prey on anxiety
Maggie was asked by several journalists to comment on the 'Find me Safe' kit that encourages parents to keep children's fingerprints and other identifying features in case they are lost or kidnapped. Maggie spoke with 4BC, the Gold Coast Bulletin
[link to: http://www.goldcoast.com.au/article/2010/08/31/251705_gold-coast-news.html] and The Age, and the story was even picked up in the Hindustan Times [link to: http://www.hindustantimes.com/Now-Find-Me-Safe-kit-for-abducted-missing-kids/H1-Article1-599265.aspx].

Names that make you go hmmmm
Maggie's September piece for WA blog site Wangle saw her reflecting on a dog named David, among other things.
http://www.wangle.com.au/1opinion/names-that-make-you-go-hmmm


August 2010

Ben Cousins documentary

Maggie approached the Today show with her concerns about the Ben Cousins documentary, which some people had claimed would have a good anti-drug message for kids and young people. Maggie felt differently and Lisa Wilkinson spoke with her about that: http://video.au.msn.com/watch/video/ben-cousins-documentary-latest/xo7lc39
The day after the documentary, Maggie again joined Today to do a post-doco analysis: http://video.au.msn.com/watch/video/ben-cousins-documentary/xqqwtgc


Families dealing with mental illness
When Bert & Patti Newton spoke to the media about their son Matthew Newton's mental health, Maggie was asked to talk to Today about how families can support young people facing difficulties with mental illness.
http://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=%22maggie+dent%22+&sk=&docid=
241782816845&mid=4C831398A6535B9C54EB4C831398A6535B9C54EB&FORM=LKVR7


July 2010

Live Fast, Die Young forum on ABC Big Ideas
ABC's Big Ideas program (Tuesdays & Wednesdays at 11am on ABC1) ran highlights from the Brisbane Institute's "Live Fast, Die Young" forum. You can watch or listen to the forum here <http://www.abc.net.au/tv/bigideas/stories/2010/07/13/2951136.htm>  [link to: http://www.abc.net.au/tv/bigideas/stories/2010/07/13/2951136.htm] or just watch highlights from Maggie's speech by clicking on the "Watch highlights" tab.

Paying the price for weak boundaries
Maggie's blog for WA's new opinion site, Wangle, reflects on the price we pay for having weak boundaries over what children are exposed to.
http://www.wangle.com.au/rantrave/paying-the-price-for-weak-boundaries

June 2010

Technology addiction
Maggie joined Today on 8 June to talk about how to recognise when adolescents are addicted to technology, and what you can do to prevent technology from taking over their lives.
http://video.au.msn.com/watch/video/technology-addiction/xkjrfff

There is no perfect
Maggie has just started blogging for new WA website, Wangle. In this article she writes about why it's important to remember that parenting is not a competition.
http://www.wangle.com.au/vip/competitive-parenting

Raunchy music clips
Maggie discussed why Kylie Minogue's new music video isn't doing young girls any favours with Lisa Wilkinson from Today on 3 June.
http://today.ninemsn.com.au/videoindex.aspx?videoid=4a76ebfc-2b99-46aa-80b3-3b54081b21c6

Saving our adolescents
Maggie spoke with The Courier-Mail feature writer Kathleen Noonan about life, parenting and everything, including her views on why teenagers shouldn't  have too much disposable income (lest they spend it on drugs and alcohol) and why parents should not give in too easily. The story ran in the ETC liftout on 26 June, in the leadup to Maggie's involvement in the Brisbane Institute's Live Fast, Die Young  <http://www.brisinst.org.au> forum.

Youth suicide: Failing Our Adolescents
ABC's opinion site published a piece from Maggie sharing her own story about a failed suicide attempt and why she thinks the solution to preventing youth suicide is in competent adults becoming lighthouses. http://www.abc.net.au/unleashed/stories/s2932260.htm

Time to leave home
Pushing your chicks out of the nest may be tough, but sometimes it's necessary to help them be better people. Maggie joined Karl and Lisa live from the Gold Coast on Today on June 30 to discuss this topic.
http://video.au.msn.com/watch/video/cutting-off-the-kids/xkw9iey?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter

Mondays on Far North Coast NSW ABC
Maggie is now doing a semi-regular spot on Monday mornings with Justine Frazier on NSW Far North Coast ABC radio. Tune in if you're local. http://www.abc.net.au/northcoast/programs/north_coast_mornings/

May 2010

April 2010

Saving Our Adolescents on Today
Maggie joined Lisa Wilkinson from Today to talk about her new book, Saving Our Adolescents, and on why parents should stay friends with their adolescents' friends.
http://today.ninemsn.com.au/article.aspx?id=1039438

This month, Maggie also appeared twice on ABC North Coast NSW radio Mornings program, once talking about Saving Our Adolescents and the second time speaking about why teenagers take really stupid risks (like robbing banks while on holiday) sometimes. She also appeared on ABC Darwin's Afternoons program (links to audio unavailable).

March 2010

PM says parents should step in to tackle bullying
When is a good time for parents to intervene when it comes to schoolyard bullying? Maggie shares her views with Today.
http://video.au.msn.com/watch/video/parents-and-bullying/xb113yn

Teaching children to be friends, not bullies
Maggie is a guest blogger on Kindreds' new website. Her first blog for 2010 was on bullying.
http://www.kindredcommunity.com/blogs/guests/maggie-dent/teaching-children-to-be-friends-not-bullies/p/2010

Talking to teens about homework
Maggie joined Today to talk about how to tackle the 'homework issue' with your adolescent.
http://video.au.msn.com/watch/video/talking-to-teens-about-homework/xi1yots

It takes a mindless society to raise a heartless bully
Maggie had an opinion piece published in The Courier-Mail on why schools are not the only ones responsible for protecting the victims of bullying.
http://www.couriermail.com.au/news/features/it-takes-a-mindless-society-to-raise-a-heartless-bully/story-fn50ufcf-1225835749552


February 2010

Raising real kids
Maggie shares her wisdom on parenting in the modern world in a comprehensive interview with Kids Life http://www.kidslife.com.au/Page.aspx?ID=2191

Schoolyard violence
Are our kids becoming more violent? Maggie talked to the TODAY show in the wake of a fatal stabbing at a Brisbane school.
She says relationships are the key to protecting our young people.
http://video.au.msn.com/watch/video/violence-among-kids/xws02ub

Kids and diets
Maggie talked to Karl and Lisa on  TODAY about how parents should parents deal with their children being overweight, without damaging their self-esteem.
http://video.au.msn.com/watch/video/overweight-children/x4tt5xt … more less

Trials of Modern Life
Maggie spoke with Geoff Hutchison on ABC in Perth, in his Trails of Modern Life series.
http://www.abc.net.au/local/audio/2010/02/18/2823886.htm?site=sydney

Helping anxious children
Maggie wrote about managing anxiety in children for the Confident Woman website, and says that shame is partly to blame.
http://www.confident-woman.com.au/managing-anxiety-children/2010/2/22/managing-anxiety-in-children-stop-the-shame.html

January 2010

Strengthening the connection
The National Indigenous Radio Service have broadcast a conversation with Maggie and another former teacher, Fran Dobbie, at the Dreaming Festival on the Sunshine Coast last year.
http://www.nirs.org.au/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=213:strengthening-the-connection&catid=3:features&Itemid=104

Eat More Dirt!
Maggie joined Mel James in the Guestroom, on ABC Radio in Darwin to discuss how to raise kids so that they grow into beautiful, fully functioning people.
http://www.abc.net.au/local/audio/2010/01/27/2802412.htm

Fearsome fours
Maggie joins TODAY hosts Karl and Georgie in the studio to talk about strategies for dealing with four-year-olds' increasing need for autonomy, and the challenges this presents for parents. The hosts share their personal challenges with their own kids.
http://video.au.msn.com/watch/video/the-fearsome-fours/x4bomfa

Nurturing talented children
Maggie joins TODAY with advice on how to nurture children without becoming a overbearing ‘stage mum’.
http://video.au.msn.com/watch/video/nurturing-young-talent/xqq4px2

Sleep deprived teens prone to depression
Maggie spoke to the Today show about the health issues associated with teens not getting enough sleep.
http://video.aol.co.uk/video-detail/today-show-health-risks-for-teens/893133824

December 2009

Facebook Addiction
Parenting expert Maggie Dent joins TODAY to discuss the telltale signs of social networking addiction. ... Today Show-Facebook addiction - AOL Video

Thrifty Christmas might be the magic pudding
Maggie wrote an article for Fairfax's Essential Baby website on why being broke at Christmas can be a good thing. The article also includes some very useful tips on buying presents that enrich kids' lives.
http://www.essentialbaby.com.au/parenting/kids/thrifty-christmas-might-be-the-magic-pudding-20091120-iqjg.html

Spying on your kids
Maggie joined private investigator Glenn Ryan on the Today Show to talk about parents who get PIs to investigate their children to see what they're up to. http://video.msn.com/dw.aspx?mkt=en-au&from=truveo&vid=ddd0caa1-58a3-4a95-bb78-2f287eb18f8c

Preservatives and colourings
Maggie joined ABC's Afternoons program in Western Australia to talk about the nasty numbers in our food that have been linked to hyperactivity.
http://blogs.abc.net.au/wa/2009/08/preservatives-and-colourings.html?program=720_christmas

ABC Conversations ... again.
Maggie's April appearance on ABC's popular Conversations program with Richard Fidler was replayed on December 4. If you missed it and want to hear Maggie and Richard musing on life, parenthood and many things in between, visit: http://www.abc.net.au/local/stories/2009/12/03/2761058.htm?site=brisbane

November 2009

Testing times
Maggie wrote an opinion piece for ABC Unleashed, urging for children to be considered in the debate ensuring about NAPLAN testing, ranking schools on a website and linking teacher's pay to their students' test results. Read the article at http://www.abc.net.au/unleashed/stories/s2746529.htm
Her comments were also included in the broader debate: Groups resist publication of school results [link to: http://news.smh.com.au/breaking-news-national/groups-resist-publication-of-school-info-20091117-iivv.html]


September 2009

School violence a symptom of modern teenage life
The Courier-Mail published an opinion piece written by Maggie on the tragic death of a 15-year-old boy in an incident of school yard violence.

July 2009

Building resilience in your children
Maggie’s article on building resilience appeared on the Fairfax network’s Essential Baby website. Read it at http://www.essentialbaby.com.au/parenting/pregnancy/building-resilience-in-your-children-20090728-dz8m.html?page=-1

Media must protect adolescents
Maggie was asked to comment on the Kyle and Jackie-O (from 2DayFM) radio stunt, in which a 14-year-old girl was forced into revealing she was raped. Some of Maggie’s commentary included:

• Channel 9’s Today Show — watch the footage at http://video.msn.com/video.aspx?mkt=en-au&brand=optus&vid=26458879-803b-4d75-a191-3d1fcc52347e
• ABC Online News — read Maggie’s opinion piece at http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/07/31/2641765.htm

Maggie was also interviewed for National Nine News, New Idea and Grazia magazine.

Cyber bullying
The team at Today asked Maggie to talk about ways to protect your children against cyberbullying, following the suicide of a young girl who was bullied. http://www.today.ninemsn.com.au/article.aspx?id=840251

Sex is fun
Channel 9’s Today Show asked Maggie to comment on Britain’s National Health Service pushing the message ‘Sex is Fun’ in its teen sex ed campaign, despite having among the highest rates of teen pregnancy in the Western World. Watch the interview and read Maggie’s tips for talking to your teens about sex at http://today.ninemsn.com.au/article.aspx?id=838545

June 2009

Release your child: let them live and learn
Maggie attended the First Early Years Conference in Victoria and told the audience that modern Australia was failing its children. Reporter Alex Sinnott from The Standard in Warrnambool covered the event.
http://www.standard.net.au/news/local/news/general/release-your-child-let-them-live-and-learn/1547522.aspx

May 2009

Risky business for teens
Why do teens take risks? Maggie talks to Today show host Lisa Wilkinson about how adolescent brain development causes them to take risks. http://video.ninemsn.com.au/Video.aspx?uuid=801e02e4-c0da-497a-9afc-c35d45bae96f#::ae3a576c-e79d-47c0-a0b2-4a8affbc4f50

April 2009

The Conversation Hour
Richard Fidler had Maggie Dent on his Conversations program where they discussed her life’s journey and why she is so passionate about building resilience in children and families. Listen at http://www.abc.net.au/local/stories/2009/04/22/2550812.htm

In defence of the humble Easter Bunny
Maggie stood up for the Easter Bunny in a heartfelt, humourous opinion piece for ABC News online. Read it at http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/04/11/2540866.htm

Disciplining other people’s children
Psychologist Ian Wallace and Maggie shared their views on disciplining other people’s children on Today: http://www.today.ninemsn.com.au/article.aspx?id=805595

Glorifying teen crime
A YouTube video made by a young man and featuring an assault set to a rap song caused a stir in society.
Maggie commented on how today’s ‘celebrity culture’ adds an element of risk to adolescents.
Watch at: http://video.ninemsn.com.au/Video.aspx?uuid=801e02e4-c0da-
497a-9afc-c35d45bae96f#::801e02e4-c0da-497a-9afc-c35d45bae96f

March 2009

Homework hell
Maggie’s views that homework does not improve children’s school performance and intrudes on family time attracted national attention. Coverage included interviews on radio, national news programs and Today. Watch the footage and read Maggie’s tips for dealing with homework at http://today.ninemsn.com.au/article.aspx?id=793543

Death through the eyes of a child
As well as having been a teacher a counsellor, Maggie has worked in the funeral industry and palliative counselling. Her article on how children view death and helping them cope with grief was published in the March 2009 issue of Kindred <link to http://www.kindredmedia.com.au/> magazine. It is downloadable from the free articles section of Maggie’s website: http://www.maggiedent.com/free_articles.html.