The Parenting Police

Are kids’ birthday parties getting completely out of control? In this episode of The Parenting Police, Sean Szeps is joined by podcaster Amy Gerard to unpack the growing pressure on parents to throw bigger, better and more expensive birthday parties for their children. From the humble backyard celebration with fairy bread to extravagant parties costing thousands of dollars, they explore how social media, parent guilt and the pressure to keep up have transformed a simple childhood milestone into a potentially stressful and expensive event. They're asking the questions: is the average $700 birthday party really necessary — and are we celebrating our kids, or trying to impress other parents? Sean and Amy get into the birthday party competition, the expectations placed on modern parents, and what children actually want when it comes to their special day. They also share practical ways to take the pressure off, rethink birthday traditions and create meaningful celebrations without breaking the bank. Join the conversation! Add #TheParentingPolice to your social post. LINKS : Follow @amy.gerard on Instagram Check out Amy's podcast 'Beyond The Chaos' MORE FROM SEAN SZEPS: Watch The Parenting Police on YouTube Follow Sean (@seanszeps) on Instagram Like Sean on Facebook CREDITS: Host: Sean Szeps Guest: Amy Gerard Video Producer/Editor: Aidan Parkes Theme song co-written and produced by Josh Pyke Executive Producer: Damien Haffenden Managing Producer: Ceci Herbert Follow @novapodcastsofficial on Instagram for videos from the podcast and behind-the-scenes content See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Are we raising boys all wrong? Are toy guns, superheroes and rough-and-tumble play harmless fun, or could they be shaping the men our sons become? In this episode of The Parenting Police, Sean Szeps is joined by parenting expert, bestselling author and mum of four boys Gen Muir to investigate the world of boys' toys, masculinity and what it really takes to raise kind, confident and emotionally intelligent boys. From LEGO and superheroes to Nerf guns and pretend fighting, Gen challenges common parenting fears and explores how play can help children develop empathy, creativity, social skills and connection. They also unpack gender stereotypes, the growing anxiety around toxic masculinity, and why boys aren't born with less empathy than girls — but may need more support learning how to express their emotions. Plus, Gen shares a simple family ritual that gets even the most reluctant kids talking about their feelings. This is a funny, honest and reassuring conversation that challenges what we think we know about raising boys, and reminds parents that there's nothing wrong with letting kids be themselves. LINKS : Follow @connectedparentingau on Instagram More from Gen Muir: connectedparenting.com.au Get the High Low Buffalo cards Get Gen's latest book 'Why Kids Need Boundaries: A parent’s guide to reducing the overwhelm and increasing connection by setting limits that work' Check out Gen's podcast 'Beyond The Chaos' MORE FROM SEAN SZEPS: Watch The Parenting Police on YouTube Follow Sean (@seanszeps) on Instagram Like Sean on Facebook CREDITS: Host: Sean Szeps Guest: Gen Muir Video Producer/Editor: Aidan Parkes Theme song co-written and produced by Josh Pyke Executive Producer: Damien Haffenden Managing Producer: Ceci Herbert Follow @novapodcastsofficial on Instagram for videos from the podcast and behind-the-scenes content See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode of The Parenting Police, host Sean Szeps is joined by internet personality and fellow toy enthusiast Annie Ngyuen to investigate the global phenomenon of blind boxes. From Labubus and Pop Mart collectibles to Hello Kitty and other character favourites, Sean and Annie crack open the appeal behind these addictively fun surprise boxes. They explore why both kids and adults are hooked, the nostalgic urge to collect, and how to navigate the fine line between innocent play, viral FOMO, and the rising costs of trendy toys. Plus, they live unbox some popular collectibles live to really feel the excitement. But will Sean and Annie ultimately decide that blind boxes are worthy of your time and money? LINKS : Follow @anniesbucketlist on Instagram Check out @sayitsydney on Instagram MORE FROM SEAN SZEPS: Watch The Parenting Police on YouTube Follow Sean (@seanszeps) on Instagram Like Sean on Facebook CREDITS: Host: Sean Szeps Guest: Annie Nguyen Video Producer/Editor: Aidan Parkes Theme song co-written and produced by Josh Pyke Executive Producer: Damien Haffenden Managing Producer: Ceci Herbert Follow @novapodcastsofficial on Instagram for videos from the podcast and behind-the-scenes content See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Are you buying children’s books your kids will love — or ones you’ll secretly dread reading for the hundredth time? On this episode of The Parenting Police, host Sean Szeps is joined by ARIA-winning Australian musician and celebrated children’s author Josh Pyke to debate what makes a children’s book truly worth bringing into your home. With a dozen children’s books to his name, Josh knows a thing or two about telling stories kids and their parents love. He shares how becoming a dad inspired his writing, why the best children’s books need to entertain parents as well as kids, and how stories can help families explore big emotions like grief, memory and loss. Sean and Josh also put a number of children’s books under the microscope, tackling some big questions: Are celebrity authors helping reluctant readers discover a love of books? Do wordless picture books deserve a place on the shelf? Are expensive pop-up books worth the inevitable damage? And have we made children’s stories too safe by avoiding the strange, scary and uncomfortable? From books that spark meaningful conversations to stories children want to revisit again and again, this episode is packed with thoughtful insights, lively debate and inspiration for your next trip to the bookshop. LINKS : Follow @joshpyke on Instagram Josh's latest album Kingdom Within is out now Check out Josh's books MORE FROM SEAN SZEPS: Watch The Parenting Police on YouTube Follow Sean (@seanszeps) on Instagram Like Sean on Facebook CREDITS: Host: Sean Szeps Guest: Josh Pyke Video Producer/Editor: Aidan Parkes Theme song co-written and produced by Josh Pyke Executive Producer: Damien Haffenden Managing Producer: Ceci Herbert Follow @novapodcastsofficial on Instagram for videos from the podcast and behind-the-scenes content See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What happens when the pop culture our kids love starts sending messages we’re not quite ready for them to hear? In this episode of The Parenting Police, Sean Szeps is joined by actress, musician and mum Tammin Sursok to take a closer look at girl groups, pop music and the increasingly blurred line between entertainment and the sexualisation of young girls. Using the hugely popular girl group KATSEYE as a starting point, Sean and Tammin unpack how the imagery, lyrics, fashion and choreography surrounding young female performers have evolved — and ask an uncomfortable question: at what point does pop culture stop being harmless fun and start shaping how our daughters see their bodies, relationships and self-worth? Tammin draws on her own experience growing up in the entertainment industry, including her struggles with anorexia and the pressure she felt to seek attention through her appearance. She opens up about becoming addicted to what she calls the “male gaze” and why she believes sexualisation can become an attention cycle that is incredibly difficult to break. The conversation also explores what parents can realistically do when children are inevitably exposed to sexualised content through music, TikTok, YouTube and their friends. Rather than trying to control everything their children see, Tammin argues that parents need to give them the language, values and confidence to question the messages they're consuming. From girl groups and Britney Spears to body image, beauty standards, social media, parenting boundaries and the difficult conversations we sometimes avoid, this is an honest and thought-provoking discussion about raising girls in a hyper-connected world. Join the conversation! Add #TheParentingPolice to your social post. LINKS : Follow @tamminsursok on Instagram Watch Tammin's series 'Aussie Girl' on YouTube Watch Tammin's latest movie 'You, Me & The Penguins' on Netflix MORE FROM SEAN SZEPS: Watch The Parenting Police on YouTube Follow Sean (@seanszeps) on Instagram Like Sean on Facebook CREDITS: Host: Sean Szeps Guest: Tammin Sursok Video Producer/Editor: Aidan Parkes Theme song co-written and produced by Josh Pyke Executive Producer: Damien Haffenden Managing Producer: Ceci Herbert Follow @novapodcastsofficial on Instagram for videos from the podcast and behind-the-scenes content See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.