1 00:00:04,040 --> 00:00:06,479 Speaker 1: It's their Happy Families podcast. 2 00:00:07,000 --> 00:00:10,240 Speaker 2: It's the podcast for the time poor parent who just 3 00:00:10,400 --> 00:00:14,560 Speaker 2: once answers now. 4 00:00:14,120 --> 00:00:17,480 Speaker 1: Today on the Happy Families podcast. It's my favorite episode 5 00:00:17,520 --> 00:00:18,640 Speaker 1: and the last one that we're going to be doing 6 00:00:18,680 --> 00:00:20,759 Speaker 1: this year. I'm so sad, Kylie, this is the last 7 00:00:20,800 --> 00:00:21,840 Speaker 1: Doctor's Desk episode. 8 00:00:22,200 --> 00:00:24,919 Speaker 2: I can't believe I have made this conversation so sad. 9 00:00:25,480 --> 00:00:27,040 Speaker 1: For those of you who have not heard The Doctor's 10 00:00:27,040 --> 00:00:29,200 Speaker 1: Desk before. It's the best podcast episode we ever do 11 00:00:29,280 --> 00:00:32,720 Speaker 1: every month Christmas coming up. We're not going to do 12 00:00:32,760 --> 00:00:35,320 Speaker 1: one next month, but we kind of have a look 13 00:00:35,360 --> 00:00:37,440 Speaker 1: at some brand new research and look at how it 14 00:00:37,440 --> 00:00:39,960 Speaker 1: affects families, what's been going on in the world of parenting, 15 00:00:40,040 --> 00:00:43,479 Speaker 1: science and so forth. Kylie, we have four studies to 16 00:00:43,520 --> 00:00:45,199 Speaker 1: go through. We don't have time for all four of them, 17 00:00:45,200 --> 00:00:46,320 Speaker 1: and I want to spend a lot of time on 18 00:00:46,360 --> 00:00:47,600 Speaker 1: each of them. We're going to see if we can 19 00:00:47,680 --> 00:00:48,879 Speaker 1: do each one in like two and a half to 20 00:00:48,920 --> 00:00:52,680 Speaker 1: three minutes. Never before done so much to talk about 21 00:00:52,920 --> 00:00:54,040 Speaker 1: where are we starting today? 22 00:00:54,440 --> 00:00:58,080 Speaker 2: A study came out of Wellington, New Zealand discussing the 23 00:00:58,120 --> 00:01:03,720 Speaker 2: impact of income income on children's behavioral development. 24 00:01:04,000 --> 00:01:06,080 Speaker 1: So there's a fair better research around the idea that 25 00:01:06,120 --> 00:01:08,680 Speaker 1: income will have some impact on how kids develop. This 26 00:01:08,720 --> 00:01:12,000 Speaker 1: study from New Zealand from will willing Willington, I don't 27 00:01:12,000 --> 00:01:13,800 Speaker 1: know if I'm you know what, I shouldn't try to 28 00:01:13,800 --> 00:01:15,800 Speaker 1: do that because I love going to New Zealand and 29 00:01:15,840 --> 00:01:18,160 Speaker 1: it sounds like I'm giving Kiwi's a hard time, Keewey's 30 00:01:18,160 --> 00:01:20,400 Speaker 1: give Australians a hard time. I'm okay with that. New 31 00:01:20,480 --> 00:01:24,480 Speaker 1: Zealand Willington University new study links low incomes. Did I 32 00:01:24,520 --> 00:01:29,240 Speaker 1: do that? Well? Did its terrible? New study links becomes stress, 33 00:01:29,280 --> 00:01:32,039 Speaker 1: parents and child behavior. And essentially the argument that they 34 00:01:32,120 --> 00:01:34,679 Speaker 1: make is if we can support parents better financially, then 35 00:01:34,920 --> 00:01:37,160 Speaker 1: they're probably going to have better outcomes across the board. 36 00:01:38,560 --> 00:01:42,600 Speaker 2: Well, income would ultimately suggest education status. 37 00:01:42,640 --> 00:01:45,760 Speaker 1: In most cases, there's a relationship between education and income. 38 00:01:45,840 --> 00:01:48,160 Speaker 1: Certainly as one goes up, so too does the other. 39 00:01:48,160 --> 00:01:51,320 Speaker 2: And that has to have an impact. Yeah. 40 00:01:51,360 --> 00:01:53,640 Speaker 1: Here's what they did. Data from more than six thousand 41 00:01:53,680 --> 00:01:56,680 Speaker 1: New Zealand mothers and their children in the Growing Up 42 00:01:56,680 --> 00:01:58,280 Speaker 1: in New Zealand study, which is kind of like the 43 00:01:58,320 --> 00:02:01,960 Speaker 1: Growing Up in Australia longest that's been going on. In particular, 44 00:02:02,520 --> 00:02:05,320 Speaker 1: they look at children's social and emotional development examined a 45 00:02:05,320 --> 00:02:08,440 Speaker 1: core school, which reflected their conduct, their hyperactivity, their emotional 46 00:02:08,480 --> 00:02:12,360 Speaker 1: peer relationship problems as reported by the mums. What they 47 00:02:12,400 --> 00:02:15,840 Speaker 1: basically say is children with high scores may have problems 48 00:02:15,880 --> 00:02:19,280 Speaker 1: with areas like friendship, paying attention at school, which could 49 00:02:19,280 --> 00:02:21,240 Speaker 1: be a forerunner for future mental health problem. So it's 50 00:02:21,280 --> 00:02:24,840 Speaker 1: really important. The research that they're doing here, they're following 51 00:02:24,880 --> 00:02:27,080 Speaker 1: kids from pregnancy to eight years of age, and what 52 00:02:27,120 --> 00:02:30,520 Speaker 1: they found is that for periods where family income was higher, 53 00:02:31,200 --> 00:02:35,040 Speaker 1: children had fewer reported behavior problems than during periods where 54 00:02:35,040 --> 00:02:37,840 Speaker 1: income was lower. But interestingly, it was only in the 55 00:02:37,960 --> 00:02:41,080 Speaker 1: preschool years. What the researchers are essentially arguing is that 56 00:02:41,120 --> 00:02:43,760 Speaker 1: a higher family income does seem to help children's early 57 00:02:43,760 --> 00:02:47,720 Speaker 1: social and emotional development and head off children's behavior problems. 58 00:02:48,320 --> 00:02:50,000 Speaker 2: Well, I guess the biggest question is why. 59 00:02:51,000 --> 00:02:55,760 Speaker 1: Yeah, this one's interesting to me. The argument that they 60 00:02:55,840 --> 00:02:59,960 Speaker 1: make is so in relationships, in communication, there's this thing 61 00:03:00,080 --> 00:03:04,560 Speaker 1: known as serve and return. I say something I serve essentially, 62 00:03:04,680 --> 00:03:06,360 Speaker 1: and then you hear it, and then you return. You 63 00:03:06,400 --> 00:03:08,280 Speaker 1: ask a question, or you engage with me, you interact 64 00:03:08,320 --> 00:03:11,040 Speaker 1: in some way or another, And this is really crucial 65 00:03:11,120 --> 00:03:15,080 Speaker 1: for children's brain development, and essentially, in their models, what 66 00:03:15,160 --> 00:03:19,320 Speaker 1: they're suggesting is that when mothers are super stressed, often 67 00:03:19,360 --> 00:03:23,200 Speaker 1: because of financial stress and so on, and if they're 68 00:03:23,240 --> 00:03:27,080 Speaker 1: exhibiting parenting behaviors that are related to stress, like yelling 69 00:03:27,120 --> 00:03:29,880 Speaker 1: and arguing with children, the servant return isn't happening. So 70 00:03:29,880 --> 00:03:32,799 Speaker 1: that's affecting brain Development's affecting behavior problems, affecting cor de 71 00:03:32,880 --> 00:03:36,200 Speaker 1: soul levels, it's affecting adrenaline and all of this. What 72 00:03:36,440 --> 00:03:39,280 Speaker 1: they basically say is overall, and this is a direct quote, 73 00:03:39,280 --> 00:03:43,040 Speaker 1: a higher income appears to lower stress and create space 74 00:03:43,080 --> 00:03:47,480 Speaker 1: for more engaged parenting, which benefits children's social and emotional development. 75 00:03:48,400 --> 00:03:51,560 Speaker 1: It's a really fascinating start. It's really really important conversation. 76 00:03:52,920 --> 00:03:54,400 Speaker 1: And I bring it up here. I know a lot 77 00:03:54,400 --> 00:03:55,960 Speaker 1: of people are probably going to listen and go, yeah, well, 78 00:03:55,960 --> 00:03:58,400 Speaker 1: that's not going to help me because I'm dealing with 79 00:03:58,480 --> 00:04:00,760 Speaker 1: a whole lot of financial stress. I don't have efficient income, 80 00:04:01,000 --> 00:04:03,360 Speaker 1: and my children are behaving in challenging ways. And now 81 00:04:03,360 --> 00:04:05,000 Speaker 1: you're telling me there's my fault. Number one, I don't 82 00:04:05,000 --> 00:04:07,440 Speaker 1: earn enough money, and number two, i'm being allows to parent. 83 00:04:07,520 --> 00:04:09,400 Speaker 1: That's that's certainly not what I'm suggesting at all. What 84 00:04:09,440 --> 00:04:12,000 Speaker 1: I am suggesting I think what this research points to 85 00:04:12,720 --> 00:04:15,360 Speaker 1: is that when we can help, when we can create 86 00:04:15,400 --> 00:04:20,640 Speaker 1: at a policy level and an economy that supports employment, 87 00:04:21,080 --> 00:04:24,320 Speaker 1: that supports meaning and purpose and gives people the opportunity 88 00:04:24,360 --> 00:04:27,800 Speaker 1: to generate sufficient income to support their families, that we 89 00:04:27,839 --> 00:04:31,760 Speaker 1: get better outcomes. And unfortunately, in our society today, the 90 00:04:31,800 --> 00:04:35,000 Speaker 1: cost of living, cost of housing and rent, mortgage, whatever, 91 00:04:35,400 --> 00:04:37,599 Speaker 1: everything costs so much, parents are so stressed out. It 92 00:04:37,640 --> 00:04:39,840 Speaker 1: does have an impact on the quality of relationships and 93 00:04:39,960 --> 00:04:44,080 Speaker 1: children's outcomes. It's kind of a sad news story, but 94 00:04:44,120 --> 00:04:46,720 Speaker 1: it's a really important study and I think one that 95 00:04:46,880 --> 00:04:48,920 Speaker 1: one that needs ongoing attention. 96 00:04:49,640 --> 00:04:53,359 Speaker 2: Our second study is out of the University of Wollongong, ah. 97 00:04:53,240 --> 00:04:55,640 Speaker 1: My alma mater. That's where I do we say Alma 98 00:04:55,720 --> 00:04:56,960 Speaker 1: mart I think we do even in astral as we 99 00:04:56,960 --> 00:04:59,680 Speaker 1: talk about Alma Mater. Yeah, great, great university. 100 00:05:00,240 --> 00:05:04,120 Speaker 2: Where they looked at three and four year olds and 101 00:05:04,160 --> 00:05:08,920 Speaker 2: they look specifically at their sedentary behavior, physical activity, and 102 00:05:09,000 --> 00:05:13,400 Speaker 2: sleep and the percentage that these kids are getting out 103 00:05:13,440 --> 00:05:14,280 Speaker 2: of each of those areas. 104 00:05:14,320 --> 00:05:16,200 Speaker 1: Yeah, how many of the kids are actually meeting The 105 00:05:16,240 --> 00:05:20,240 Speaker 1: World Health Organization guidelines for physical activity, sedentary behavior, and sleep, 106 00:05:20,600 --> 00:05:24,600 Speaker 1: thirty three countries, big study, really really clever work that 107 00:05:24,640 --> 00:05:29,400 Speaker 1: they've done here. They had seven thousand and seventeen children 108 00:05:30,000 --> 00:05:33,320 Speaker 1: who participated in this, and here are the guidelines. Okay, 109 00:05:33,360 --> 00:05:38,159 Speaker 1: the proportion of children who meet the World Health Organization 110 00:05:38,240 --> 00:05:41,840 Speaker 1: guidelines for physical activity, which is supposed to be greater 111 00:05:41,880 --> 00:05:43,760 Speaker 1: than one hundred and eighty minutes a day of total 112 00:05:43,760 --> 00:05:46,719 Speaker 1: physical activity and greater than sixty minutes of moderate to 113 00:05:46,839 --> 00:05:50,800 Speaker 1: vigorous intensity in their physical activity screen time, they're saying 114 00:05:50,839 --> 00:05:52,080 Speaker 1: less than an hour a day because we're looking at 115 00:05:52,080 --> 00:05:54,680 Speaker 1: three year olds and sleep duration ten to thirteen hours 116 00:05:54,680 --> 00:05:58,200 Speaker 1: a day. So they've estimated that across countries and by 117 00:05:58,279 --> 00:06:02,440 Speaker 1: World Bank income group and geographical region using big meta analyzes. 118 00:06:02,680 --> 00:06:06,000 Speaker 1: And Kylie, would you imagine the across the globe that 119 00:06:06,120 --> 00:06:08,159 Speaker 1: most three and four year olds are getting enough sleep, 120 00:06:08,279 --> 00:06:11,960 Speaker 1: are moving their bodies enough, and are essentially not sedentary 121 00:06:12,000 --> 00:06:12,440 Speaker 1: too much? 122 00:06:13,560 --> 00:06:16,479 Speaker 2: I want to say yes, but I actually don't think so. 123 00:06:18,120 --> 00:06:19,680 Speaker 1: Yeah, you'd probably be right. 124 00:06:19,800 --> 00:06:21,520 Speaker 2: Yeah, And the challenge I have with it, and I 125 00:06:21,600 --> 00:06:25,800 Speaker 2: actually it actually saddens me so much when I think 126 00:06:25,839 --> 00:06:28,640 Speaker 2: of the average three or four year old. 127 00:06:28,680 --> 00:06:31,560 Speaker 1: These are busy kids, Well, they're supposed to be. 128 00:06:31,640 --> 00:06:36,200 Speaker 2: Yeah, they're busy kids. They're so inquisitive, they're so curious, 129 00:06:36,800 --> 00:06:39,640 Speaker 2: and when they're not boxed in, you actually kind of 130 00:06:39,680 --> 00:06:44,600 Speaker 2: can't stop them from moving because that's what their development 131 00:06:44,680 --> 00:06:45,360 Speaker 2: stage is. 132 00:06:45,640 --> 00:06:47,320 Speaker 1: Let me ask you, if you would a guess. You 133 00:06:47,320 --> 00:06:48,800 Speaker 1: haven't seen the study. You don't know what's about to 134 00:06:48,839 --> 00:06:50,440 Speaker 1: come out of my mouth. If you were to guess 135 00:06:50,480 --> 00:06:53,320 Speaker 1: what percentage of kids are meeting those guidelines that is, 136 00:06:53,520 --> 00:06:55,360 Speaker 1: moving their bodies one hundred and eighty minutes a day 137 00:06:55,440 --> 00:06:57,880 Speaker 1: or more, with at least sixty minutes of moderate to 138 00:06:57,960 --> 00:07:00,800 Speaker 1: vigorous intensity in their physical likevity, less than hour of 139 00:07:00,880 --> 00:07:03,520 Speaker 1: screen time, and ten to thirteen hours of sleep. What 140 00:07:03,640 --> 00:07:06,279 Speaker 1: percentage of kids across those thirty three countries would you 141 00:07:06,360 --> 00:07:08,440 Speaker 1: imagine ticking those three boxes? 142 00:07:08,880 --> 00:07:12,440 Speaker 2: Oh gosh, I have no idea, but I would suggest 143 00:07:12,600 --> 00:07:15,720 Speaker 2: that's probably twenty five percent or less. I think. 144 00:07:15,800 --> 00:07:18,960 Speaker 1: Damn, that's that's pretty close. It was fourteen percent, Yeah, 145 00:07:19,040 --> 00:07:20,160 Speaker 1: fourteen percent of kids. 146 00:07:20,600 --> 00:07:23,360 Speaker 2: I was hopeful. That's why I went that high. 147 00:07:23,160 --> 00:07:26,600 Speaker 1: Right, So curiously, there was no clear pattern. According to 148 00:07:26,600 --> 00:07:30,240 Speaker 1: income group, the proportion meeting the guidelines was sixteen point 149 00:07:30,280 --> 00:07:34,080 Speaker 1: six percent in low and lower middle income countries, eleven 150 00:07:34,080 --> 00:07:39,320 Speaker 1: point nine percent in upper middle income countries, which is 151 00:07:39,440 --> 00:07:42,880 Speaker 1: not good. I mean only eleven percent and fourteen point 152 00:07:42,920 --> 00:07:46,840 Speaker 1: four percent in high income countries. The region with the 153 00:07:46,920 --> 00:07:52,000 Speaker 1: highest proportion meeting the guidelines was Africa. Well the lowest 154 00:07:52,000 --> 00:07:56,640 Speaker 1: proportion North and South America. I just I find this fascinating. 155 00:07:57,200 --> 00:07:58,920 Speaker 1: I guess the conclusion for this one really is that 156 00:07:58,920 --> 00:08:01,920 Speaker 1: most around four year olds in this analysis and not 157 00:08:02,160 --> 00:08:05,160 Speaker 1: meeting the guidelines for physical activity, for sleep, and for 158 00:08:05,240 --> 00:08:08,760 Speaker 1: sedentary behavior, and as families, these are things that really 159 00:08:08,760 --> 00:08:10,560 Speaker 1: matter for healthy lives. 160 00:08:10,960 --> 00:08:14,640 Speaker 2: And the interesting thing just the correlation. If our children 161 00:08:14,640 --> 00:08:16,880 Speaker 2: are using their bodies more, they're going to sleep better 162 00:08:17,480 --> 00:08:22,000 Speaker 2: across the board. I just, yeah, I feel like our 163 00:08:22,080 --> 00:08:25,520 Speaker 2: children's I don't know if spirit's the right word, but 164 00:08:25,600 --> 00:08:27,120 Speaker 2: I feel like it's just being crushed. 165 00:08:27,680 --> 00:08:29,840 Speaker 1: The world is not designed for kids. I was seeing 166 00:08:29,840 --> 00:08:39,400 Speaker 1: that increasingly. Kylie. We have two studies. 167 00:08:39,080 --> 00:08:44,800 Speaker 2: Left, Okay, impact of school phone bands on children's behavior 168 00:08:44,880 --> 00:08:45,679 Speaker 2: while at school. 169 00:08:46,480 --> 00:08:48,440 Speaker 1: I'm so excited about this one. So as you know, 170 00:08:48,600 --> 00:08:51,600 Speaker 1: last year or the year before, I was in conjunction 171 00:08:51,679 --> 00:08:53,880 Speaker 1: with Rebecca Sparrow mid On a King and a handful 172 00:08:53,880 --> 00:08:56,679 Speaker 1: of other people. We petitioned Grace Grace, the Education Minister 173 00:08:56,720 --> 00:08:58,680 Speaker 1: at the time in Queensland, to bring the band in 174 00:08:58,840 --> 00:09:01,520 Speaker 1: and align Queensland with what was going on in other schools. 175 00:09:02,679 --> 00:09:05,800 Speaker 1: There's been a brand new article written in the Daily 176 00:09:05,840 --> 00:09:10,200 Speaker 1: Telegraph by Elid Sproulmelis who says one year on, the 177 00:09:10,200 --> 00:09:12,800 Speaker 1: state wide ban on mobile phones in schools has been 178 00:09:13,000 --> 00:09:17,160 Speaker 1: near universally hailed as a success, with almost ninety percent 179 00:09:17,200 --> 00:09:20,960 Speaker 1: of principles claiming it has reduced classroom distractions. Let me 180 00:09:21,000 --> 00:09:23,199 Speaker 1: read on. The state wide ban on mobile phones in 181 00:09:23,240 --> 00:09:27,160 Speaker 1: schools has been universally hailed as a success by almost 182 00:09:27,200 --> 00:09:29,920 Speaker 1: a thousand school leaders one year on, and principles say 183 00:09:29,920 --> 00:09:32,720 Speaker 1: they're relieved to be quote protecting a whole generation of 184 00:09:32,800 --> 00:09:35,559 Speaker 1: children from screen addiction and distraction. And a survey of 185 00:09:35,600 --> 00:09:37,600 Speaker 1: nine hundred and sixty eight primary and high school principle 186 00:09:37,640 --> 00:09:39,600 Speaker 1: was conducted by the Department of Education in New South Wales. 187 00:09:39,679 --> 00:09:42,720 Speaker 1: Ninety five percent ninety five percent said that they supported 188 00:09:42,720 --> 00:09:44,679 Speaker 1: the mobile phone ban at their school. Asked about the 189 00:09:44,679 --> 00:09:47,360 Speaker 1: impact on students, eighty seven percent of the two hundred 190 00:09:47,360 --> 00:09:50,480 Speaker 1: and four secondary school principles surveyed said the ban had 191 00:09:50,480 --> 00:09:53,400 Speaker 1: reduced classroom distractions, and sixty eight percent reported it was 192 00:09:53,480 --> 00:09:57,079 Speaker 1: quote a lot better. One more thing that I'll add here, Kylie. 193 00:09:57,360 --> 00:10:00,720 Speaker 1: Social interactions between students have also improved. Eighty six percent 194 00:10:00,720 --> 00:10:04,160 Speaker 1: of principles I highlighted that that was the case, and 195 00:10:04,280 --> 00:10:06,160 Speaker 1: more than half said student learning at their school was 196 00:10:06,240 --> 00:10:09,800 Speaker 1: quote a lot better post ban. Overall, four and five 197 00:10:09,840 --> 00:10:15,320 Speaker 1: noticed improvements, while only nineteen percent reported no change, a worsening, 198 00:10:15,679 --> 00:10:17,920 Speaker 1: or declined to respond. I mean, this is a good 199 00:10:17,960 --> 00:10:21,400 Speaker 1: news story. Support for the phone ban when we were 200 00:10:21,440 --> 00:10:26,400 Speaker 1: talking about bringing it in in Queensland was not exactly high, 201 00:10:26,440 --> 00:10:28,880 Speaker 1: and the government was really pushing against it and agitating 202 00:10:28,880 --> 00:10:31,320 Speaker 1: and saying no, no, no community consultation, we don't need to 203 00:10:31,360 --> 00:10:34,800 Speaker 1: do it. And I was dogmatic. I was adamant that 204 00:10:34,840 --> 00:10:37,760 Speaker 1: this was necessary. And I feel vindicated. I feel like 205 00:10:37,760 --> 00:10:39,920 Speaker 1: I knew what I was talking about. Maybe sometimes the 206 00:10:39,960 --> 00:10:43,000 Speaker 1: experts do know what's going on. That's my one. 207 00:10:43,080 --> 00:10:45,600 Speaker 2: I find this one interesting because you've got ninety five 208 00:10:45,640 --> 00:10:48,360 Speaker 2: percent of parents who supported it. 209 00:10:48,720 --> 00:10:49,720 Speaker 1: Oh yeah, yeah. 210 00:10:50,240 --> 00:10:54,240 Speaker 2: Yet is this a case of parents not wanting to 211 00:10:54,320 --> 00:10:57,520 Speaker 2: be the bad guy? Because as a parent, I can 212 00:10:57,640 --> 00:10:59,559 Speaker 2: just say to my kid, you can't take your phone 213 00:10:59,600 --> 00:11:00,000 Speaker 2: to school. 214 00:11:00,160 --> 00:11:02,560 Speaker 1: It's really really easy when you can say to your children, 215 00:11:02,679 --> 00:11:04,840 Speaker 1: guess what, it's against the law, So you can't drive, 216 00:11:04,880 --> 00:11:07,480 Speaker 1: even though you're fifteen or sixteen and you've got your l's, 217 00:11:07,480 --> 00:11:09,360 Speaker 1: but you can't drive on your own. It's really easy 218 00:11:09,400 --> 00:11:12,800 Speaker 1: to say it's the law that X has to happen, 219 00:11:12,880 --> 00:11:16,079 Speaker 1: or why has to happen? And kids will I mean 220 00:11:16,120 --> 00:11:18,160 Speaker 1: sometimes they'll be upset about it, but they generally comply. 221 00:11:18,240 --> 00:11:20,480 Speaker 1: They get it. It's the law, and so by bringing 222 00:11:20,480 --> 00:11:23,640 Speaker 1: this ban in now, it's futile to argue against it. 223 00:11:23,679 --> 00:11:26,880 Speaker 1: There's no point arguing because it's the law, it's the rule. 224 00:11:26,920 --> 00:11:29,079 Speaker 1: The ban is in place, and this is just how 225 00:11:29,120 --> 00:11:31,280 Speaker 1: we do things here. It changes the culture. I think 226 00:11:31,320 --> 00:11:33,920 Speaker 1: overall it's a good thing, regardless of the challenge that 227 00:11:33,960 --> 00:11:38,480 Speaker 1: you raise. And we know that parents absolutely struggling with 228 00:11:38,520 --> 00:11:40,400 Speaker 1: it and want to do better, but sometimes they just 229 00:11:40,400 --> 00:11:43,040 Speaker 1: feel so helpless. I think this is a good news story, 230 00:11:43,080 --> 00:11:44,880 Speaker 1: and it's great to see some research coming out that 231 00:11:44,960 --> 00:11:48,360 Speaker 1: supports something that we've been agitating for for a long time. 232 00:11:48,520 --> 00:11:49,120 Speaker 1: Great news. 233 00:11:49,240 --> 00:11:51,920 Speaker 2: Well, our last setting looked at whether or not smacking 234 00:11:52,000 --> 00:11:56,520 Speaker 2: kids harms child development. Can I just say I'm struggling 235 00:11:56,559 --> 00:11:59,839 Speaker 2: to understand why in twenty twenty five we're still having this. 236 00:12:00,400 --> 00:12:02,040 Speaker 1: Well when not quite a twenty twenty five yet that's 237 00:12:02,040 --> 00:12:05,240 Speaker 1: still a few weeks away. I'm going to give credit 238 00:12:05,240 --> 00:12:07,560 Speaker 1: to our happy Famili's audience, and I'm going to ask 239 00:12:08,040 --> 00:12:10,280 Speaker 1: for patients as I explain this study, because it is 240 00:12:10,320 --> 00:12:14,160 Speaker 1: really important. I know the researcher who's done the study 241 00:12:14,360 --> 00:12:17,960 Speaker 1: personally from the University of Oklahoma. His name is Bob Lasliir, 242 00:12:18,320 --> 00:12:22,439 Speaker 1: and he's been researching this for decades. The research appeared 243 00:12:22,600 --> 00:12:26,920 Speaker 1: in Marriage and Family Review, which is a well regarded journal, 244 00:12:27,360 --> 00:12:31,320 Speaker 1: and it's called resolving the Contradictory Conclusions from three reviews 245 00:12:31,320 --> 00:12:35,720 Speaker 1: of controlled longitudinal Studies of physical punishment a meta analysis. 246 00:12:35,760 --> 00:12:37,960 Speaker 1: Now this is a big one. A meta analysis matter. 247 00:12:38,040 --> 00:12:41,440 Speaker 1: This is actually quite an important study. For years now, 248 00:12:41,520 --> 00:12:44,240 Speaker 1: I have said that I fundamentally and completely reject the 249 00:12:44,280 --> 00:12:49,520 Speaker 1: idea that smacking is a useful disciplinary strategy for kids. 250 00:12:50,200 --> 00:12:52,640 Speaker 1: And I do that because it's shorthand it's also popular, 251 00:12:52,720 --> 00:12:56,200 Speaker 1: and because I do believe it. I believe that there 252 00:12:56,200 --> 00:12:59,680 Speaker 1: are better ways to discipline kids. But in my emails 253 00:12:59,679 --> 00:13:03,720 Speaker 1: with and in my conversations with him over the years, 254 00:13:04,360 --> 00:13:07,560 Speaker 1: there's been a couple of things that have really struck me. 255 00:13:07,600 --> 00:13:09,240 Speaker 1: I mean, he's a really see what I did? They've 256 00:13:09,240 --> 00:13:11,600 Speaker 1: really struck me. We're talking about smacking. I'm I'm so sorry. 257 00:13:11,600 --> 00:13:13,720 Speaker 1: I'll move on. You just rolled You didn't even respond, 258 00:13:13,800 --> 00:13:17,720 Speaker 1: just rolled your eyes. My goodness. He's argued that smacking 259 00:13:18,040 --> 00:13:21,559 Speaker 1: should only have a limited place in parenting, and he's 260 00:13:21,600 --> 00:13:24,440 Speaker 1: also argued that it's not as bad as everyone makes 261 00:13:24,440 --> 00:13:27,640 Speaker 1: it out to be. And I think that the average 262 00:13:27,640 --> 00:13:31,280 Speaker 1: Australian parent that's an argument that I hear all the 263 00:13:31,280 --> 00:13:33,200 Speaker 1: time as well. It's just a little tap. Now, I've 264 00:13:33,240 --> 00:13:38,000 Speaker 1: got really strong moral and philosophical reasons for arguing against smacking. 265 00:13:40,480 --> 00:13:42,040 Speaker 1: No one ever smacks and says, oh, look at me 266 00:13:42,200 --> 00:13:45,560 Speaker 1: nailing parenting. But what Bob has always argued is that 267 00:13:45,559 --> 00:13:48,280 Speaker 1: there's a dose response. The more you do it, the 268 00:13:48,320 --> 00:13:49,920 Speaker 1: worse the outcomes. But if you only do it a 269 00:13:49,960 --> 00:13:52,400 Speaker 1: little bit, if it's measured, and if it's at the 270 00:13:52,480 --> 00:13:56,080 Speaker 1: right age, his argument is it's okay. And he's been 271 00:13:56,080 --> 00:13:59,120 Speaker 1: saying this for a long time. His evidence says this. 272 00:14:00,040 --> 00:14:03,880 Speaker 1: They found that smacking kids explains less than one percent 273 00:14:04,000 --> 00:14:08,040 Speaker 1: of changes in child outcomes. But he's very clear on 274 00:14:08,080 --> 00:14:11,719 Speaker 1: what smacking is acceptable and what's smacking is not acceptable. 275 00:14:12,000 --> 00:14:14,719 Speaker 1: And I cringe as I say this, because for the 276 00:14:14,800 --> 00:14:19,600 Speaker 1: last twenty years I have actively discouraged smacking, and I've 277 00:14:19,680 --> 00:14:22,480 Speaker 1: actively said it's just not okay in any circumstances. But 278 00:14:22,520 --> 00:14:24,880 Speaker 1: I want to be fair to what the data highlights here, 279 00:14:25,280 --> 00:14:28,080 Speaker 1: and I'm hoping other people can deal with me cringing 280 00:14:28,120 --> 00:14:30,960 Speaker 1: as I say it. The study recommends that if spanking 281 00:14:31,040 --> 00:14:35,480 Speaker 1: is used, the most effective approach is two open handed 282 00:14:35,560 --> 00:14:39,360 Speaker 1: swats on the bottom for children aged two to six 283 00:14:40,000 --> 00:14:44,040 Speaker 1: when they don't respond to milder discipline. Now again, I'm 284 00:14:44,080 --> 00:14:46,000 Speaker 1: cringing as I say this, because I don't think that 285 00:14:46,040 --> 00:14:48,280 Speaker 1: we should be smacking our kids. I don't think that 286 00:14:48,560 --> 00:14:50,760 Speaker 1: it's necessary. I think that we have far better ways 287 00:14:50,800 --> 00:14:52,920 Speaker 1: of doing it. But I also know that some parents 288 00:14:52,960 --> 00:14:54,880 Speaker 1: are out there with sand and you and I both, 289 00:14:54,920 --> 00:14:58,480 Speaker 1: if we're completely honest, know that over the years, unfortunately, 290 00:14:58,480 --> 00:15:01,360 Speaker 1: from time to time, we've used methods that we don't 291 00:15:01,360 --> 00:15:03,760 Speaker 1: always agree with because we've been at our wits end 292 00:15:03,920 --> 00:15:05,800 Speaker 1: and we just need a solution for it. 293 00:15:05,880 --> 00:15:08,240 Speaker 2: So you also don't use that as a justification. And 294 00:15:08,320 --> 00:15:13,880 Speaker 2: I think this really kind of is stretching my capacity 295 00:15:14,280 --> 00:15:19,040 Speaker 2: as far as the research goes, because, like you highlighted earlier, 296 00:15:19,680 --> 00:15:22,480 Speaker 2: I don't think any parent gives themselves a pat on 297 00:15:22,520 --> 00:15:24,160 Speaker 2: the back after an experience like that. 298 00:15:24,280 --> 00:15:26,400 Speaker 1: Now they give themselves a kick in the bump. Yeah. 299 00:15:26,520 --> 00:15:28,800 Speaker 2: The times where that has been a part of my 300 00:15:28,960 --> 00:15:32,640 Speaker 2: parenting toolkit has been when I've been at my lowest, 301 00:15:32,880 --> 00:15:36,760 Speaker 2: when I'm struggling as a parent. I'm not sitting there 302 00:15:36,800 --> 00:15:40,840 Speaker 2: going this is the only option in that moment. There 303 00:15:40,880 --> 00:15:42,040 Speaker 2: isn't any other options. 304 00:15:42,080 --> 00:15:44,920 Speaker 1: But I'm not thinking that right, and I'm always going 305 00:15:44,960 --> 00:15:47,800 Speaker 1: to advocate for alternative methods. I'm sharing this in the 306 00:15:47,800 --> 00:15:50,680 Speaker 1: doctor's desk because this is a scientific discussion. That's what 307 00:15:50,680 --> 00:15:54,000 Speaker 1: this podcast is for. I don't disagree with the data, 308 00:15:54,120 --> 00:15:58,000 Speaker 1: I disagree with the morality and the philosophy. And again, 309 00:15:58,080 --> 00:15:58,640 Speaker 1: does that make sense? 310 00:15:58,760 --> 00:16:00,960 Speaker 2: Yes? And because the other part of me is that 311 00:16:00,760 --> 00:16:04,320 Speaker 2: the parents who would say to you, I've just given 312 00:16:04,360 --> 00:16:06,760 Speaker 2: them at a spot and I haven't lost control. I've done 313 00:16:06,760 --> 00:16:08,840 Speaker 2: this completely intentionally. 314 00:16:08,360 --> 00:16:11,120 Speaker 1: In cold blood. I can't help them. 315 00:16:11,200 --> 00:16:15,320 Speaker 2: Moral capacity to make a decision about hitting your child 316 00:16:15,440 --> 00:16:19,080 Speaker 2: with clarity. It's not a reactive. 317 00:16:18,640 --> 00:16:20,400 Speaker 1: Response, it's not a justsregulated thing. 318 00:16:20,600 --> 00:16:24,640 Speaker 2: Yeah, then you clearly have the capacity to think of 319 00:16:24,760 --> 00:16:25,840 Speaker 2: another option. 320 00:16:26,160 --> 00:16:28,000 Speaker 1: Okay, so we could talk about that for a while, 321 00:16:28,120 --> 00:16:30,360 Speaker 1: because this is doctor's desk. I just want to talk 322 00:16:30,400 --> 00:16:34,040 Speaker 1: about what the science showed, because I think it's fair 323 00:16:34,080 --> 00:16:37,920 Speaker 1: to the science. Here's what he says. He says he 324 00:16:37,960 --> 00:16:41,320 Speaker 1: wanted to discover what disciplinary responses are more effective than smacking, 325 00:16:41,360 --> 00:16:45,600 Speaker 1: so that we can recommend them to replace smacking. His 326 00:16:45,760 --> 00:16:47,760 Speaker 1: response to that, by the way, is that there are none, 327 00:16:47,800 --> 00:16:51,240 Speaker 1: although parents should prefer molder and verbal disciplinary responses as 328 00:16:51,320 --> 00:16:53,040 Speaker 1: much as possible. I've got this thing called the three 329 00:16:53,040 --> 00:16:55,120 Speaker 1: ees works really well, and he and I've talked about it, 330 00:16:55,160 --> 00:16:56,920 Speaker 1: and he does like my three e'es. But he keeps 331 00:16:56,960 --> 00:16:59,280 Speaker 1: going back to this. By the way, he and Diana 332 00:16:59,360 --> 00:17:01,160 Speaker 1: Borman and don't a lot of studies together. And as 333 00:17:01,200 --> 00:17:03,200 Speaker 1: you know, I'm not a huge fan of Dinah Borman. 334 00:17:04,240 --> 00:17:07,320 Speaker 1: And he says, also, although it is clear that spanking 335 00:17:07,359 --> 00:17:11,240 Speaker 1: is correlated with adverse outcomes like delinquency, does it cause 336 00:17:11,280 --> 00:17:16,320 Speaker 1: those outcomes or not? And what his answer is, smacking 337 00:17:16,320 --> 00:17:19,000 Speaker 1: does not cause harmful outcomes unless it's used too often 338 00:17:19,400 --> 00:17:22,199 Speaker 1: or too severely, or out of meanness than out of 339 00:17:22,200 --> 00:17:24,600 Speaker 1: concern for children's welfare. Now. I know you and I 340 00:17:24,640 --> 00:17:26,480 Speaker 1: are both going to have a response to that, but 341 00:17:26,560 --> 00:17:27,960 Speaker 1: I don't want to get caught up in the response. 342 00:17:28,000 --> 00:17:30,840 Speaker 1: I just want to report the study essentially, longer channel 343 00:17:30,920 --> 00:17:33,879 Speaker 1: data meta analysis. I know me too, even as I 344 00:17:33,920 --> 00:17:35,520 Speaker 1: read it. This is a really hard one to report on. 345 00:17:35,600 --> 00:17:38,879 Speaker 1: But this is a doctor's desk, and I am a scientist, 346 00:17:39,000 --> 00:17:43,560 Speaker 1: and the science fascinates me, even if I morally disagree 347 00:17:43,560 --> 00:17:47,200 Speaker 1: with what it's found. Meta analysis twelve and a half 348 00:17:47,200 --> 00:17:50,160 Speaker 1: nearly thirteen thousand participants across forty seven studies kids ranging 349 00:17:50,200 --> 00:17:53,159 Speaker 1: from eighteen months through to eleven years. Researchers focus on 350 00:17:53,280 --> 00:17:56,560 Speaker 1: four key child outcomes externalizing problems where kids are aggressive 351 00:17:56,600 --> 00:18:00,560 Speaker 1: and defiant, internalizing problems like anxiety and depression, cognitive performance, 352 00:18:00,840 --> 00:18:04,399 Speaker 1: and social competence. After controlling for baseline behavior, the research 353 00:18:04,440 --> 00:18:06,679 Speaker 1: has found that smacking explained less than one percent of 354 00:18:06,640 --> 00:18:10,840 Speaker 1: the variation in child outcomes. Essentially, what they're basically saying 355 00:18:11,160 --> 00:18:14,240 Speaker 1: is that smacking has a minimal impact on externalizing problems, 356 00:18:14,320 --> 00:18:19,960 Speaker 1: internalizing problems, cognitive performance, and social competence. The results fundamentally 357 00:18:20,000 --> 00:18:22,560 Speaker 1: indicate that previous reports of the harmful effects of smacking 358 00:18:22,600 --> 00:18:25,199 Speaker 1: may have been overstated due to residual confounding, meaning that 359 00:18:25,920 --> 00:18:28,399 Speaker 1: other unmeasured factors may have influenced the negative outcomes rather 360 00:18:28,400 --> 00:18:31,960 Speaker 1: than smacking itself. It could also be that people are 361 00:18:32,080 --> 00:18:35,119 Speaker 1: measuring smacking that is beyond the two handed swat with 362 00:18:35,160 --> 00:18:37,320 Speaker 1: two to six year olds. There's any number of reasons 363 00:18:37,359 --> 00:18:39,760 Speaker 1: that he's got these findings. I'm concerned about it. I 364 00:18:39,760 --> 00:18:42,280 Speaker 1: think that there's some selective choices that have been made 365 00:18:43,280 --> 00:18:44,879 Speaker 1: in terms of the studies that are included in the 366 00:18:44,880 --> 00:18:47,880 Speaker 1: meta analysis. I'm also concerned about it because I think 367 00:18:47,880 --> 00:18:50,800 Speaker 1: that it gives people a green light for smacking. I'm 368 00:18:50,800 --> 00:18:52,399 Speaker 1: concerned about it for a whole lot of other reasons 369 00:18:52,440 --> 00:18:55,000 Speaker 1: that you and I have sort already touched on. But 370 00:18:55,080 --> 00:18:56,760 Speaker 1: I also need to highlight one other thing, and that 371 00:18:56,840 --> 00:18:59,200 Speaker 1: is that these findings are in line with a study 372 00:18:59,320 --> 00:19:01,560 Speaker 1: that was published in Child Development, which is one of 373 00:19:01,600 --> 00:19:05,280 Speaker 1: the biggest and most important journalist that are out there 374 00:19:05,280 --> 00:19:07,440 Speaker 1: in this field in twenty twenty one, which did find 375 00:19:07,440 --> 00:19:10,680 Speaker 1: that occasional wilds banking had minimal negative effects on child behavior. 376 00:19:12,280 --> 00:19:14,680 Speaker 1: So there it is Kylie Doctor's Desk kind of feeling 377 00:19:14,720 --> 00:19:18,240 Speaker 1: on a downer really important to highlight. In spite of 378 00:19:18,280 --> 00:19:23,840 Speaker 1: this research. Obviously, smacking canon does cause significant harm. It 379 00:19:23,880 --> 00:19:27,080 Speaker 1: can be misused, It is likely to have harmful effects 380 00:19:27,119 --> 00:19:29,840 Speaker 1: if it is misused, and if it's done too frequently, 381 00:19:30,080 --> 00:19:32,600 Speaker 1: or if it's done because that's what we've always done, 382 00:19:32,640 --> 00:19:34,520 Speaker 1: and we allow ourselves to think that it's okay, and 383 00:19:34,560 --> 00:19:36,560 Speaker 1: we get in the habit of it, that's when we 384 00:19:36,600 --> 00:19:41,479 Speaker 1: start to get negative outcomes. I hate the study. I 385 00:19:41,480 --> 00:19:44,080 Speaker 1: hate the research. I hate that it's there. But we've 386 00:19:44,080 --> 00:19:45,440 Speaker 1: got a couple of studies in the last couple of 387 00:19:45,480 --> 00:19:48,360 Speaker 1: years that have been very, very very well done by 388 00:19:48,520 --> 00:19:52,720 Speaker 1: well respected researchers, that are suggesting that if you're getting 389 00:19:52,760 --> 00:19:57,560 Speaker 1: it wrong, don't forgive the pun, don't beat yourself up 390 00:19:57,560 --> 00:20:00,679 Speaker 1: about it, but please remember the are better ways to 391 00:20:00,680 --> 00:20:02,439 Speaker 1: do it. And I've written several books about it. And 392 00:20:02,480 --> 00:20:05,960 Speaker 1: I'm not sharing this Doctor's Desk episode or this particular 393 00:20:06,000 --> 00:20:09,760 Speaker 1: study to vindicate or justify the hitting of children. I 394 00:20:09,800 --> 00:20:13,840 Speaker 1: find it reprehensible. I still reject its usefulness, and I 395 00:20:13,880 --> 00:20:16,680 Speaker 1: still argue that there are better things out there. If 396 00:20:16,680 --> 00:20:19,080 Speaker 1: there's any good to come out of this particular one, 397 00:20:19,320 --> 00:20:21,440 Speaker 1: it's that if you have given your kid a sword 398 00:20:22,119 --> 00:20:24,720 Speaker 1: because you have been dysregulated and you're so over it 399 00:20:24,720 --> 00:20:26,600 Speaker 1: and you just don't know what to do. The good 400 00:20:26,600 --> 00:20:28,320 Speaker 1: news is it's probably not going to have any detrimental 401 00:20:28,320 --> 00:20:30,840 Speaker 1: effects long term song as you don't keep doing it, 402 00:20:30,920 --> 00:20:32,359 Speaker 1: so long as you do find better ways. 403 00:20:32,800 --> 00:20:35,280 Speaker 2: Well, if you were trying to encourage me to enjoy 404 00:20:35,400 --> 00:20:39,000 Speaker 2: this episode better, you didn't do a very good job 405 00:20:39,000 --> 00:20:41,720 Speaker 2: of it. I still don't like Doctor's Desk, and especially 406 00:20:41,760 --> 00:20:45,719 Speaker 2: after today's data. 407 00:20:44,320 --> 00:20:45,879 Speaker 1: You know what, I still find it fascinating. I mean, 408 00:20:45,920 --> 00:20:47,679 Speaker 1: the science of it is amazing. I could sit down 409 00:20:47,720 --> 00:20:47,879 Speaker 1: and do it. 410 00:20:48,080 --> 00:20:50,040 Speaker 2: But here's the conversation piece. We could talk about this 411 00:20:50,040 --> 00:20:52,320 Speaker 2: for ages. But you find what you look what you're 412 00:20:52,359 --> 00:20:52,840 Speaker 2: looking for? 413 00:20:53,640 --> 00:20:55,240 Speaker 1: Yeah, yeah, you do, you do. 414 00:20:56,119 --> 00:20:58,439 Speaker 2: And if you want to justify smacking, then you're going 415 00:20:58,520 --> 00:21:00,479 Speaker 2: to find data to support caught that. 416 00:21:01,080 --> 00:21:03,760 Speaker 1: Yeah. Yeah, So let's pretend that I didn't do that one, 417 00:21:04,200 --> 00:21:06,440 Speaker 1: and we'll wrap things up by saying that The Happy 418 00:21:06,480 --> 00:21:09,280 Speaker 1: Families podcast is produced by Justin Rulla for a Bridge Media. 419 00:21:10,080 --> 00:21:12,560 Speaker 1: It's so funny. If you'd like more information about how 420 00:21:12,600 --> 00:21:14,479 Speaker 1: to not smack your kids and actually love them and 421 00:21:14,600 --> 00:21:16,879 Speaker 1: raise them in wonderful ways that help them to be 422 00:21:16,880 --> 00:21:20,240 Speaker 1: disciplined and do really well without the punitive stuff and 423 00:21:20,240 --> 00:21:22,880 Speaker 1: without going down the bob lastly a path, nice guy 424 00:21:22,920 --> 00:21:25,919 Speaker 1: that he is. You can visit us at heavy families 425 00:21:25,920 --> 00:21:28,080 Speaker 1: dot com dot you. I'm going to say, just grab 426 00:21:28,080 --> 00:21:30,320 Speaker 1: my book The Pairing Revolution. It's got everything you need, 427 00:21:30,440 --> 00:21:33,640 Speaker 1: like it's so done. Help for pairing and revolution wherever 428 00:21:33,720 --> 00:21:35,959 Speaker 1: you get your books, and you can pretend that we 429 00:21:36,119 --> 00:21:38,800 Speaker 1: didn't just talk about that. Folks on the other three studies,