Childhood and adolescence

Mindfulness and meditation
idea
It’s time to hear what adolescents think of mindfulness in schools
Mindfulness for adolescents backfires when it imposes moral ideals, stirs up trauma, or fails to treat young people as agents
by Elena Hailwood, William Wannyn & Suparna Choudhury

Childhood and adolescence
idea
Young children use reason, not gut feelings, to decide moral issues
It’s not just ‘gut feelings’: humans form moral judgments that align with moral principles and beliefs from a young age
by Audun Dahl

Gender
guide
How to be a man
Old ideas of manliness make us miserable. Being labelled ‘toxic’ doesn’t help. A reimagined masculinity is the way forward
by Andrew Reiner

Poetry
film
Childhood collides with the adult world in this haunting Bukowski adaptation
A film by Jonathan Hodgson

Mental health
idea
Why does early puberty pose a risk to girls’ mental health?
Girls who start puberty earlier are at greater risk of depression and anxiety. To know why, we must look beyond biology
by Marjolein E A Barendse & Michelle L Byrne

Personality
idea
Childhood shyness can be advantageous – don’t pathologise it
Given their cautious vigilance, shy children are more likely to detect social threats and anticipate how events will unfold
by Raha Hassan & Kristie Poole

Parenting and families
guide
How to raise a resilient child
Put that helicopter back in the hangar and let your children find their own way. Their independence will likely surprise you
by Judith Locke

Love
film
The delights of first love, from pulling funny faces to thrumming heart strings
Directed by Taika Waititi

Learning and education
idea
This is how to nurture curiosity in children (and yourself)
The curiosity that comes naturally to babies and young children can soon wilt – but there are ways to help it grow
by Shayla Love

Sex and sexuality
idea
Teenagers are going to sext, let’s teach them to do it safely
Preaching abstinence doesn’t work – in sex as in sexting. Instead, we should teach how to reduce risk and sext safely
by Joris Van Ouytsel

Anxiety
guide
How to cope with teen anxiety
Cognitive behavioural therapy provides a toolbox of skills to help you manage anxiety and do what you want with your life
by Regine Galanti

Childhood and adolescence
film
One girl’s long, scary route from changing room to swimming pool
A film by Elise Augarten