We're into a new year and to start things off on a high, we're chatting with Dr. Jin Russell - a consultant developmental paediatrician at Auckland's Starship Children’s Health, a Growing Up in New Zealand researcher and tireless champion of better health and developmental outcomes for New Zealand kids. 

In this episode Jin touches on some of the findings of her PhD thesis into the effects of health inequities on kids’ development, which at times is confronting, but at other times is incredibly hopeful. On the hopeful end of the spectrum, Jin shares some of her positive findings on the power of reading to kids, which is not just great for development but moves them “forwards towards flourishing.” How good is that!!

Jin also gets personal about her motherhood journey to date (she has two gorgeous young boys with her husband Matheson), her village, the tricky juggle of work and PhD studies and the powerful stories that have shaped her mindset growing up in a high-achieving migrant family. 

She also touches on the challenge of childhood anxiety and recommends Parenting Place's Untangling Anxiety parenting course as a wonderful resource for parents and caregivers. Anxiety isn't a simple fix, but there are ways that you can support your child to navigate those big feelings that tangle up everyday life. Visit Parenting Place to FIND OUT MORE.

You can also find more parenting resources over on our Instagram, Facebook and Tik Tok accounts.