Hello Wentyl,

Alarming new figures on school attendance show up to one in three Australian schools have fewer students showing up than last year. Some schools have gone backwards by an astonishing 64 per cent, with kids unwilling – or unable – to get themselves out of the house and into class.

Experts put some of this down to the struggles of neurodivergent students, but there’s also what one calls the “Covid effect”. Basically, kids want to stay home with their parents, who are now working from home more than ever. As the fuel crisis bites, who knows where things will end up. Read reporter Mary Papadakis's fascinating story revealing nearly 1000 schools where attendance is falling fast.

Also this week, we started featuring a fresh crop of faces and voices as part of a new series of regular pieces from everyday mums and dads. If you’re a dad who’s ever felt a tad uncomfortable at school pick-up, you’ll appreciate this piece from Melbourne father Aaron Langmaid.

In other thought-provoking first-person parent columns:

• Katrina Wurm opens up on the devastating impact of losing triplets
• Christie Nicholas divulges the secret midnight obsession that keeps Aussie mums sane
• Lisa Taylor (pictured below) shares the powerful moment that made her realise trying to be a perfect mum was damaging her family

If you’ve got a story to tell, get in touch!

We also continued our Unpacked: A Neurodivergent Generation series by releasing an updated list of more schools recommended by parents and teachers of kids with ADHD, anxiety and autism. Reporter Darcy Fitzgerald compiled that new list based on your feedback, so let us know what you think.

Another fascinating piece looked at what's claimed to be a mental health crisis in preschoolers, with a new survey showing up to 48 per cent of kids have clinical issues even before they start school. Some argue the healthcare industry is medicalising normal childhood phobias and quirks – what a fascinating debate. 

And finally, one of my favourite topics ... pocket money. I stopped giving my kids money for doing chores years ago as all it did was cause fights. A new report from the company behind a widely used pocket money app revealing that some kids are getting paid to hug their siblings. Not in my house!

Enjoy your weekend and get in touch with us at education@news.com.au

Cheers, Susie