Dr Cat

There is a particular kind of parenting spiral that starts with a headline. One minute your child is happily watching a show or building in Minecraft, and the next you’re hit with “screens are ruining childhood”. Suddenly, a normal family moment feels like a crisis. This post cuts through panic-based digital parenting advice and replaces it with context, better questions, and practical strategies that actually work in real Australian family life.

Found your teen talking to a stranger online? A calm guide for Australian parents, red flags to watch for, and two free downloads to help you respond.

Australia’s under-16 social media ban is here. What’s changed at home, what hasn’t, and how parents can use this moment with steadiness.