Why does your child suddenly need a Labubu, $80 socks, friendship bracelets, press-on nails or the latest fashion trend — simply because “everyone else has one”?

In this episode of The Parenting Police, Sean Szeps takes a deep dive into the ever-changing world of kids’ fashion and trends, from school uniforms and mullets to bag charms, novelty socks, ear piercing, makeup, crop tops and social-media-driven beauty culture.

Joining Sean is social media sensation Fashion Critical, who brings her trademark sharp and entertaining perspective to the fashion choices taking over children’s wardrobes. Together, they explore the tricky line between self-expression and peer pressure, and ask whether some of these trends are harmless fun or whether they can contribute to children feeling like they need to look, dress and spend like everyone else.

The conversation also tackles the real cost of kids’ fashion, including the pressure on parents to keep up, socioeconomic differences between families, fast fashion, brands such as Shein and Temu, and the challenge of explaining to children why they can’t always have what their friends have.

From school uniforms and playground competition to Sephora, social media and beauty trends, this is a candid conversation about how childhood fashion is changing — and how parents can navigate the pressure without losing their sanity.

Join the conversation! Add #TheParentingPolice to your social post.

LINKS :

• Follow Fashion Critical (@fashion_critical) on Instagram
• Fashion Critical's book Red carpet lewks and LOLs from an undercover fashion critic is out now

MORE FROM SEAN SZEPS:

• Watch The Parenting Police on YouTube
• Follow Sean (@seanszeps) on Instagram
• Like Sean on Facebook

CREDITS:

• Host: Sean Szeps
• Guest: Fashion Critical
• Video Producer/Editor: Aidan Parkes
• Audio Producer: Adrian Walton
• 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 happened to vegetables on kids’ menus?

In this episode of The Parenting Police: Investigates, Sean Szeps takes a deep dive into a familiar frustration for parents: taking your kids out to eat and being presented with a children’s menu dominated by nuggets, burgers and chips.

Sean investigates how kids’ menus evolved, from early children’s menus that included vegetables, fruit and more varied meals to the rise of the fast-food-style kids’ meal, complete with toys, simple choices and food designed to keep children happy. He then looks at 125 kids’ menus across Sydney, examining what restaurants are actually offering Australian children today — and the results raise some big questions.

The episode also explores why kids’ menus at cultural restaurants so often abandon the cuisine being served to adults in favour of the familiar nuggets-and-chips formula, and what Australia might learn from countries where children simply eat smaller portions of the same food as everyone else.

Ultimately, Sean asks whether restaurants could be doing more to offer families healthier choices — rather than making the fried favourites the default. So next time you sit down at a restaurant with your kids, take a closer look at the menu and see if you can spot the vegetables.

Join the conversation! Add #TheParentingPolice to your social post.

MORE FROM SEAN SZEPS:

• Watch The Parenting Police on YouTube
• Follow Sean (@seanszeps) on Instagram
• Like Sean on Facebook

CREDITS:

• Host: Sean Szeps
• Video Producer/Editor: Aidan Parkes
• Audio Producer: Adrian Walton
• 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 does it actually mean to be a good parent in 2026?

In this episode of The Parenting Police, Sean Szeps is joined by TV and radio journalist Sarah Harris to unpack some of the biggest parenting trends shaping family life right now — from smartphones and social media to AI tutors, raw milk and the growing push to simply let kids be kids.

Sarah shares the reality of parenting her two boys, including how many of her strongest opinions about parenting changed once she actually became a mum. Sean and Sarah explore whether banning smartphones and social media really protects children, how parents can help kids navigate an increasingly digital world, and whether AI could become a valuable educational tool or another source of dependence. They also tackle the pressures facing modern parents: overscheduling, mum guilt, the pressure to buy more, and the challenge of giving kids freedom while keeping them safe.

From the rise of “Sephora kids” and Labubu blind boxes to the dangers of 'sharenting', it's an honest and often surprising conversation about what our kids really need — and what parents might need to let go of.

Join the conversation! Add #TheParentingPolice to your social post.

LINKS :

• Catch Sarah Harris with Ricki-Lee & Tim on Nova 96.9 weekdays 6-9am
• You can also hear Sarah with Ricki-Lee & Tim weeknights from 6pm on Nova across Australia
• Follow Sarah (@whatsarahsnapped) 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: Sarah Harris
• Video Producer/Editor: Aidan Parkes
• Audio Producer: Adrian Walton
• 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.