34 h. ago Colombia gangs lure children to join ranks via TikTok and Facebook, UN warns

Armed groups post videos of weapons, cars and parties to social media to depict ‘perks’ of lifestyle, say expertsGangs in Colombia are increasingly recruiting children into their ranks, with a notable number coerced over TikTok and Facebook, the United Nations has warned.The UN Human Rights Office in Colombia said it had verified 474 cases of recruitment or use of under-18s between 2022 and 2024, and that the situation was “worsening in 2025”. In 36 cases children were recruited at school, while recruitment through social networking platforms was of “grave concern”, it said. Continue reading...

Events

41 h. ago ‘Basically impossible to get them back’: Russia’s mass abduction of Ukrainian children is a war crime, say experts

As territories shift and divide families, desperate parents are travelling to Russia to find their children, many of whom have been moved into military camps or orphanagesAs many as 35,000 Ukrainian children are still missing and thought to be held in Russia or Russian-occupied territories, according to an American team of experts, with families saying they are being forced to take desperate and risky measures to try to rescue them.As Russian forces began their invasion in February 2022, children were abducted from care homes, from the battlefield after the death of their parents, or under coercion directly from their families. Continue reading...

Events

59 h. ago Mattel adding ChatGPT to toys would cause ‘real damage’ to children, experts warn

Collaboration between Barbie maker and OpenAI comes amid concerns about chatbot psychosis

Events

3 d. ago Hegseth says FBI probing Iran nuclear site damage report leak, confirming top secret assessment is real

Standing alongside Donald Trump and Marco Rubio, defense secretary insists Pentagon report is ‘preliminary’ and ‘low confidence’ and mission was still ‘overwhelming success’

Events

3 d. ago Do YOU know how to spot Britain's 'most dangerous plant'? Giant hogweed can leave you and your pets with pus

'Britain's most dangerous plant' has hit its scorching peak, experts have warned - and it could leave children, parents, and even pets with gruesome burns.

Politics

5 d. ago Parents urged to choose this aeroplane seat for children on next flight

Flying anywhere on holiday can be a worry for some, especially when you have children as part of your party, but this expert has reassuring advice for any concerned parents

Society

8 d. ago Urgent slide warning issued to parents as temperatures heat up

Popular play items should be checked before children use, say experts.

Events

1 week ago Why you should NEVER criticise your ex in front of your children: Expert reveals why stars like Fern Britton and Kim Kardashian are right to be 'kind' about their former husbands

We've all complained about our exes, but doing so in front of your children can be a bad idea - so Fern Britton is doing her best not to, she has revealed.

Culture

2 w. ago Tell us: what questions do you have about the impacts of smartphones on children?

Whether you’re a parent, teacher, or just someone curious about the long-term effects, we’d like to hear your questionsA quarter of three- and four-year-olds in the UK now own a smartphone, but the impact of that is still being understood. From endless scrolling to constant notifications, smartphones expose children not just to their friends and classmates, but to a world of advertising, influencers, and algorithms. But how is all of this shaping how children see themselves, relate to others, and develop emotionally?In a video series on our It’s Complicated Youtube channel, we’re speaking to experts to explore how smartphones might be affecting children’s mental health, attention, self-esteem and relationships. Are social apps making kids more anxious? What happens when children are targeted by ads that shape their sense of identity from a young age? What do we know, and what don’t we yet understand, about growing up in a world where you’re always online? Continue reading...

Politics

2 w. ago Free school meal plan requires key change to stop children ‘missing out’, Labour told

Experts say children may not receive the meals they are eligible for

Events

2 w. ago Finance experts suggest ways to teach children good money habits over the summer

The skills and knowledge gained will carry children into adulthood, experts said.

Society

2 w. ago Cuts to UK’s global vaccination funding would risk avoidable child deaths, experts warn

Exclusive: Scientists also say any reduction in Foreign Office funding for vaccine alliance Gavi would harm UK’s soft powerAny cut in UK funding to a global vaccination group would damage soft power and could make British less resilient to infectious diseases, as well as causing avoidable deaths among children, leading vaccine and aid experts have warned.Scientists including Sir Andrew Pollard, who led the development of the Oxford-AstraZeneca Covid vaccine, said a major cut in money for the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunisation (Gavi) could also make the UK less able to respond to a future pandemic. Continue reading...

Events

3 w. ago Prince Harry's plan for kids' future 'makes no sense', says royal expert

A Royal expert has questioned Harry and Meghan's plan for their children's futures.

Politics

3 w. ago Children left seriously ill after parents follow influencer’s advice to ‘cure’ autism with bleach

Kerri Rivera claims her chemical ‘protocol’ rids children of parasites — but experts warn it poses serious health risks

Society

3 w. ago ‘It’s so boring’: Gen Z parents don’t like reading to their kids

Screen time has increasingly replaced story time, and experts warn this could lead to children falling behindLast week, former elementary school teacher Spencer Russell posed a question to parents who follow his Instagram account, Toddlers Can Read: “Why aren’t you reading aloud to your kids?”The responses, which Russell shared with the Guardian, ranged from embarrassed to annoyed to angry. “It’s so boring,” said one parent. “I don’t have time,” said another. One mother wrote in: “I don’t enjoy reading myself.” Continue reading...

Politics

3 w. ago ‘It’s so boring’: gen Z parents don’t like reading to their kids – and educators are worried

Screen time has increasingly replaced story time, and experts warn this could lead to children falling behindLast week, former elementary school teacher Spencer Russell posed a question to parents who follow his Instagram account, Toddlers Can Read: “Why aren’t you reading aloud to your kids?”The responses, which Russell shared with the Guardian, ranged from embarrassed to annoyed to angry. “It’s so boring,” said one parent. “I don’t have time,” said another. One mother wrote in: “I don’t enjoy reading myself.” Continue reading...

Politics