Dr Justin Coulson's Happy Families
The Happy families podcast with Dr. Justin Coulson is designed for the time poor parent who just wants answers now. Every day Justin and his wife Kylie provide practical tips and a common sense approach to parenting that Mums and Dads all over the world are connecting with. Justin and Kylie have 6 daughters and they regularly share their experiences of managing a busy household filled with lots of challenges and plenty of happiness. For real and practicable advice from people who understand and appreciate the challenges of a time poor parent, listen to Justin and Kylie and help make your family happier.
Episodes
Connecting with your teenager on their terms gives you the opportunity to engage with their world in a meaningful way. Being on the same digital platforms as your child allows for greater understanding, better conversations, and stronger connections, keeping them safe along the way.
In this episode:
- Connection - feeling seen, heard, and valued
- The joy of Snapchat filters
- Understanding our teenager's world
- Doing housework...
'Gentle Parenting' is a mindset with an emphasis on the child’s feelings. It may sound lovely and calm, but in reality, this "way of being" has a tendency to indulge emotions at the expense of effective family functioning, leaving parents feeling like they are hanging on for dear life—exhausted, incompetent, and emotionally drained!
Justin and Kylie share four essential steps for parenting gently in a way that ensures our children...
Reflecting on 1000 episodes of Australia’s leading parenting podcast, we cover the highs and the lows of family life, from farewells to celebrations and everything in-between.
Today’s episode is a celebration of Kylie's big heart, Justin's big brain, the best of some really bad jokes, and of course, you, our wonderful listeners—our Happy Families family!
(With a special appearance from Hamish Blake!)
Related links:
Anonymous asks, "My 3-year-old is asking questions about his absent father. How do I answer in a way that supports my young son's mental health and self-esteem?". Justin gives examples of a healthy and developmentally appropriate response to this difficult situation in a way that honours the father, supports the child, and also advocates for our anonymous listener.
Lisa, from Canada, is concerned that catching the school bus will ...
There is a growing movement to commit to giving our primary-aged children unplugged childhoods! Dr Justin shares four things you can do NOW to give your children a play-based childhood, free from digital distractions and social media.
Subscribe to the Happy Families newsletter for more details!
In this episode:
- How would an enforcement even work?
- Censorship
- Age-verification for social media
- Importance of holding platfo...
Justin reads a personal letter aloud to his children, sharing insights into what life was like for him growing up.
In this episode:
- Sharing childhood memories with your kids
- Pets
- Give your child roots
- Benefits to keeping a journal
- Rituals of connection
- To a child, love is spelled T.I.M.E
.
Related links:
Study 1: Is your child feeling unhappy, pressured, or teased about their weight? Navigating growing up in a society so focused on physical appearance is difficult, but there are practical steps parents can take to decrease the risk of internalised stigma and other challenges around weight.
Study 2: So, you think you can read a baby's cry? Think again!
Study 3: The secret to getting your teen to listen to you can be found in the ...
Most families have screens in their home, which means a steady stream of movies, TV shows, games, apps, and more! How can parents know what content is or isn't appropriate for our children, when ratings are so broad and arbitrary?
In today's interview with Prof. Elizabeth Handsley, President of CMA, we explore why it is so hard for parents to navigate the current classification system, and share some helpful resources and advice ...
On Tuesdays, we answer listener questions about making your family happier!
Separation anxiety at school drop-off is a daily struggle for many families, including Kirsty and her 5-year-old son. Justin shares some helpful tips that will make saying goodbye easier for both the parent and child.
Mum of 3, Michala, is dealing with constant sibling rivalry and conflict. Listen in for some important, ongoing conversations to have with...
Andrew Tate's harmful ideology is infiltrating schools. Boys, broadly speaking, are big fans, and their behaviour in the classroom is reflecting this.
Dr Stephanie Westcott (researcher and lecturer in the School of Education, Culture, and Society at Monash University) shares her research on the experiences women are having in educational settings across Australia, looking at the influence of misogynistic ideology, how algorithms o...
Justin's singing turned complaints about dishes into a whole lot of fun, with sound levels hitting dangerous decibel levels!
Term 2 of homeschooling started off rather rocky for The Coulsons, but thinking outside the box created an opportunity for a reluctant writer to be creative and expressive in a new way!
Leave a voice memo here or email your questions/comments to podcasts@happyfamilies.com.a...
There's a brand new nicotine product out, so invisible you may not even be aware your child has it! Plus, the dangers of vaping, a nation-leading move by SA to protect our children from social media, and 118 reasons to be child-free.
In this episode:
- Bluey 'The Sign' - a missed opportunity?
- Advocate pushes for vaping areas in schools as NSW holds inquiry into vape laws | news.com.au
- Harm-reduction policy regarding vaping ...
Anne Hollonds was the opening speaker at the Breaking Point Digital Conference. On the podcast today you will hear an excerpt from Anne's presentation, discussing the mental health of young people around the country and what we can do to help them.
In this episode:
- Anne Hollonds - National Children’s Commissioner.
- Young people and mental health
-
Residual effects of Covid pandemic
-
Barriers to accessing mental health ...
Today, Justin is answering two listeners' questions.
First up is Bridget from Victoria, a mum of two. Her question is about her five-year-old son, whose over-competitiveness and inability to handle losing are causing issues in the family and in his wider circle of friends.
Becky, a single mum from Melbourne, is looking for ways she can implement rules and boundaries that won't lead to anxiety-fuelled and explosive reactions from ...
Do you have a child who refuses to or is unable to go to school?
Sydney mum Alice joins Justin on the Happy Families podcast today to share the day-to-day pressure of trying to help a child get to school when emotions are high and nervous systems are in fight or flight mode.
If you are deep in the trenches of ‘school can’t’, this is a not-to-be-missed conversation, with some beautiful advice and encouragement to parents who are ...
An encouragement to any parent feeling like they are stuck in a rut with a child determined to be horrible and difficult - there is hope! The relationship with your child changes as they age into adulthood and can become a delightful and close friendship.
In this episode:
- Changing parent/child relationships during the young adult years
- Friendships with adult children
- Routines and structures
- Finding Balance – Happy Famili...
Kylie is back, answering some quick-fire "Have you ever...?" questions about motherhood and family life.
Mother's Day Links:
- Me & My Mum Activity Book - Free Printable – Happy Families
- What Dad can do for Mum’s wellbeing – Happy Families
Leave a voice memo here or email your questions/comments to podcasts@happyfamilies.com.au
Find out more about joining THE QUEST at our website
How can parents ensure their children grow up to be respectful, kind, and considerate towards others?
This conversation with author and academic Richard Ryan examines the typical backgrounds of perpetrators of violence and aggression and gives practical advice to parents so they can meet their child's basic psychological needs of relatedness, autonomy, and competency.
In this episode:
Does a particular school really make for a “better” education? And how can parents prepare their children for the death of a much-loved grandparent?
In this episode:
- City vs country schools
- Resources, results and reputation
- Fun, fit and philosophy
- Upheaval for families when moving
- Developing new friendships and relationships ...
Content warning: not for young ears.
“If you had to be in the forest with a man or a bear, which would you choose?”. How do we get to the point where we can answer without hesitation “a man!”?
In this episode:
- Violence against women
- Parents stepping up
- Teaching morality
- The 'No More' rallies
- Influence of explicit pornography ...
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