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The middle child has survived hand-me-downs, shared bedrooms, forgotten milestones and a lifetime of being told to stop making a fuss. But it might not survive Australia’s shrinking family size.

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‘Middle child’ in jeopardy as Aussie families shrink

The middle child has survived hand-me-downs, shared bedrooms, forgotten milestones and a lifetime of being told to stop making a fuss. But it might not survive Australia’s shrinking family size.

Gary Martin

Supplied spotlight images from their upcoming - 7NEWS Spotlight: Viral on trial Major nationwide survey delivers verdict on social media ban Spotlight 7

Mental healthVideoTeens ignoring flimsy social media ban, Spotlight reveals

A 7NEWS Spotlight and YouGov survey of 1500 Australians aged 13 to 15 — the largest since the law began — shows 85 per cent are still using social media daily.

Sarah Greenhalgh

As he battles a rare and aggressive brain cancer, Cruz Kelly has taught his mum the power in seeking out joy during times of deep sadness and fear.

WA NewsCommentsParents give update on Perth boy fighting rare brain cancer

As he battles a rare and aggressive brain cancer, Cruz Kelly has taught his mum the power in seeking out joy during times of deep sadness and fear.

Rhianna Mitchell

Australian childcare centres are ditching Mother’s Day for ‘Parents Day’ in a bid to support more families and become more inclusive. 

EducationCommentsPremiumChildcare inclusivity bid bins Mother’s Day for Parent’s Day

Australian childcare centres are ditching Mother’s Day for ‘Parents Day’ in a bid to support more families and become more inclusive. 

Jessica Evensen

Issy McNab speaks about her experience with bullying ahead of Do it for Dolly day on May 8.

WA NewsVideoCommentsPremiumHow teen girl’s tragic death is inspiring change in WA

Issy McNab was only seven when she started getting bullied on the school bus. The Donnybrook schoolgirl put up with it for weeks until a song prompted her to act.

Angela Pownall

A rally was held in Bassendean over the proposed sale of childcare centres, which was later abandoned.

ChildcareVideoCommentsPremiumMajor update after plan to sell childcare centres abandoned

The future of two Perth childcare centres is up in the air after controversial plans to sell them were abandoned.

Michael Palmer

Belmont Jellybeans is set to close.

WA NewsCommentsPremiumMassive WA childcare crisis looms for parents

WA faces the ‘real risk’ of further childcare centre closures in the coming months as falling occupancy rates, child safety scandals, regulatory failures and an oversupply threaten viability.

Rhianna Mitchell

Belinda Lotsu (Mum) and Emmanuel Lotsu (Dad) at KEMH where Belinda gave birth to quadruplets. Belinda and Emmanuel with Amy and Amana and Amon (left) and Amber in the humidicribs.

GOOD NEWSCommentsMum gives birth to WA’s first quadruplets in six years

WA mum Belinda Lotsu was wishing for just one daughter after having a miscarriage but instead became pregnant with quadruplets in a shock to both her and her husband.

Claire Sadler and Brooke Rolfe

G8 education’s chair has conceded the scandal has hurt confidence and trust in the sector

MarketsPremiumSEE THE LIST: Childcare giant to close 12 WA centres

Childcare giant G8 Education will close about 40 childcare centres around Australia - and 12 in WA - with ‘horrific’ child sex abuse charges against a former staffer partly blamed.

Rebecca Le May

Charlie Blackwood, 5, and Matilda Blackwood, 7, will be officially opening our Conquer Cystic Fibrosis Gala Ball on May 16 at Optus. Andrew Ritchie

ChildrenCommentsCystic Fibrosis Gala Ball to raise vital funds for a cure

Next month’s Conquer Cystic Fibrosis Gala Ball will raise vital funds to give children like Charlie, pictured with sister Matilda, the best chance to live long and happy lives.

Rhianna Mitchell

Rileigh and Owen pictured enjoying the Muddy Buddies event at Jarrahdale Oval.

ChildrenCommentsPremiumHow over-sanitised childhoods are harming kids’ health

Childhood is becoming sanitised and over-scheduled to the point that some kids are fearful of germs and dirt, with experts warning of lifelong mental and physical health impacts.

Rhianna Mitchell

The Australian Department of Health youth vaping campaign, 'Why are we still doing this?'.

HealthVideoCommentsHealth warnings unlikely to stop youth from vaping: Report

A Perth expert has warned that recent research and health warnings linking vaping to cancer do little to deter young people from picking up a vape. 

Claire Sadler

Fremantle International Street Arts Festival.

PerthCommentsKids bored? What to do in Perth these school holidays

The holidays are half over, the Easter Eggs are gone, and the kids are bored already – here’s our list of entertaining options for the second week of the school break.

Claire Sadler

Tracey Jewel Constable with her five year old son, Frankie. Frankie is autistic and suffers from an eating disorder known as ARFID.

WA NewsCommentsPremiumSurge in WA children with little known eating disorder

Meet five-year-old Frankie. He is one of a growing number of Australian children and teens diagnosed with a little-known eating disorder, ARFID.

Rhianna Mitchell

Easter egg hunt at Manning Road Farmers Market. Callie, 3, Keearne and Luna, 5 meet the Easter Bunny Stuart Quinn

LifestyleVideoCommentsWest Aussie kids celebrating Easter weekend with egg hunts

The Easter bunny made an early visit to the Manning Road Farmers Market, handing out chocolate eggs to all the little boys and girls. 

Caitlin Vinci and Claire Sadler

A five-year-old child was using the slide at the centre when a skipping rope tied tightly across the top of the slide connected with their neck. 

Courts & JusticePremiumMassive fine for childcare after kid ‘clotheslined’ on slide

A southern suburbs childcare centre will have to pay a massive fine after failing to remove a rope that caught a child around the neck as they used a slide. 

Rachel Fenner

Year 3 student Cormac Kelly, in the dark green Hero Hunter Shirt, is pictured with fellow students in super hero costumes.

HeroesHero primary school students shave hair for childhood cancer

Hillcrest Primary School students will swap their school uniforms for superhero costumes next month as they rally behind a local charity born from the legacy of one remarkable little boy.

Sophie Gannon

The government has been urged to take pause to think about how they will implement universal childcare reforms.

PoliticsPremiumCalls for pause in childcare change before system reform

Childcare advocacy groups are warning the government that it must take a breath before barrelling on with the push to universal care, as urgent reforms to safety risk further entrenching a piecemeal system.

Katina Curtis

Midwives Ciara O'Brien and Kathleen Johnson have started a women’s wellness centre called The Village, which encapsulates care across pregnancy, birth and postpartum. Andrew Ritchie

ParentingCommentsHow this Perth centre is supporting isolated WA mums

Fragmented maternity care can often leave women feeling isolated as they enter motherhood, but a first-of-its-kind centre in Perth is working to bridge the gap with postpartum care.

Claire Sadler

Wind in the Willows rally.

PerthCommentsPremiumParents to get answers about shock plans to sell childcare

Parents of children attending a Perth childcare expect to get highly-sought answers after their local council announced it would release confidential documents and push back meetings.

Sophie Gannon

Phoenix Gregory-Smith, 6, and Emahni Punch, 5.

Pingelly Ninja CoursePremiumIN PICTURES: Crowds flock to Pingelly ninja course’s opening

About 100 young ninjas stormed the Pingelly Recreation and Cultural Centre to be one of the first to try the town’s new ninja course last week.

Hannah Whitehead

Attorney-General Tony Buti said there’s evidence early intervention works. 

state politicsCommentsTrial targets kids as young as five to tackle youth crime

Children as young as five will be the target of a new trial aiming to get troubled kids in Armadale and Geraldton back to class, and away from a cycle of crime. 

Jessica Page

Little Learners Place area manager Chloe Bennett pictured with Ariella Sheridan, 4, and Theo Wright, 4, at Little Learners Place childcare centre, Hilbert, Perth on Friday. Carwyn Monck

WA NewsPremiumParents make tough choice as childcare shortage bites

A critical childcare shortage in regional WA is forcing working parents to take unpaid leave or turn down job opportunities, while others are commuting to Perth or neighbouring towns to access care. 

Rhianna Mitchell

Jenna Costello, Ishka Parkes, 3, Georgie Costello, 4, and Laura Boston.

DESIGNS NOT UP TO SCRATCHPremiumParents lash toddler playground redesign as ‘lacklustre’

A series of “lacklustre” designs for the upgraded Middleton Beach toddler playground have come under fire by local parents, who believe none of the five proposed concepts are accessible for young children.

Melissa Sheil