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.

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.