Dr Justin Coulson's Happy Families

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 on young men Links: Quote by Saint Augustine: “Right is right even if no one is doing it...” The five demands of the No More national rallies (womensagenda.com.au) Helping Our Boys Grow Into Men – Happy Families How to Prevent your Child Becoming A #metoo (and Prevent your Child from Creating One) – Happy Families Find us on Facebook or TikTok Leave a voice memo here or email your questions/comments to podcasts@happyfamilies.com.au Find out more about joining THE QUEST at our websiteSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Judgement & criticism, punishing, provoking, and trying to “fix” a child—none of these are a parent’s job. They only serve to drive a wedge in relationships. Our job is to love our children. To set limits and have expectations—yes!—but to do so kindly.    In this episode: Shifting the paradigm Compassion and empathy Emotions go up, intelligence goes down The problem with judgement Why kindness is the answer Links: The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, by Stephen R Covey I don’t need Fixing! I need Guiding and Loving – Happy Families Why Our Kids Need Us to Set Limits – Happy Families Find us on Facebook or TikTok Leave a voice memo here or email your questions/comments to podcasts@happyfamilies.com.au Find out more about joining THE QUEST at our websiteSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

If you are struggling to "keep the spark alive" with your loved one, you're not alone. Exhaustion, screen addiction, lack of time, resentment - all these issues (and more!) can lead to zero interest in nurturing intimacy. Today we share some surprising secrets to sustaining a strong sexual connection! In this episode: Reasons for having zero interest in intimacy  Connection and friendship Prioritising sex Slowing things down Female pleasure Book recommendations  Links: Nurturing Intimacy: Secrets to Sustaining Strong Sexual Connection – Happy Families Come as You Are by Emily Nagoski | The Surprising New Science That Will Transform Your Sex Life She Comes First by Ian Kerner | The Thinking Man’s Guide to Pleasuring a Woman Find us on Facebook or TikTok Leave a voice memo here or email your questions/comments to podcasts@happyfamilies.com.au Find out more about joining THE QUEST at our websiteSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Justin shares four big ideas based on Jonathan Haidt's new book in the hope that it generates some constructive conversations with your kids at home: the key to building a resilient child, getting comfy with our children experiencing a healthy level of discomfort in life, the impact of social media on the brain development of teens, and looking at problematic use of or addiction to social media. In this episode: Healthy/unhealthy childhood stressors Supportive parenting vs "tough love" or over-protective parenting Resilience Anxiety The cycle of incompetence Anti-fragility Impact of social media on teenage brain development Social media addiction / problematic use Links: After Babel | Jon Haidt | Substack The Anxious Generation: How the Great Rewiring of Childhood Is Causing an Epidemic of Mental Illness by Jonathan Haidt Honestly with Bari Weiss: Smartphones Rewired Childhood. Here's How to Fix It Find us on Facebook or TikTok Leave a voice memo here or email your questions/comments to podcasts@happyfamilies.com.au Find out more about joining THE QUEST at our websiteSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A listener wants to know how to help her friend, a single mum to an increasingly difficult 10-year-old boy. Plus, three things you can do to survive your child’s big and embarrassing public meltdown! In this episode: Single parenting Supporting other parents Aggressive child Emotional regulation Psychological help It takes a village! 2-parent privilege Travelling with kids HALTS How to say no with compassion and kindness Helpful Links: Developmental Milestones [Part 4: Middle Childhood] Can We Please Talk About Boys? #649 Bringing Up Boys With Dr Arne Rubinstein The Secret to Regulating Emotions What is the Best Way to Say ‘No!’ To Your Kids? Find us on Facebook or TikTok Leave a voice memo here or email your questions/comments to podcasts@happyfamilies.com.au Find out more about joining THE QUEST at our websiteSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Are you wanting to return to work but struggling to know what on Earth to write on your resume after years out of the workforce? Listen in for some ideas that will inspire and encourage mothers to confidently claim the skills, strengths, and unique value you possess and can offer the world!  In this episode: Cost-of-living increase Returning to work Motherhood Being a mum is valid and valuable work, so I put it on my CV - ABC Everyday Writing a resume Parental responsibilities, skills, unique value Stay-at-home-mums (SAHM) Kylie's resume – Happy Families Find us on Facebook or TikTok Leave a voice memo here or email your questions/comments to podcasts@happyfamilies.com.au Find out more about joining THE QUEST at our websiteSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Justin & Kylie discuss the hills and valleys of life - Justin is definitely feeling on top of the mountain as he strives to achieve a better work/life balance, while Kylie is in the valley after farewelling daughter number three. Find us on Facebook or TikTok Leave a voice memo here or email your questions/comments to podcasts@happyfamilies.com.au Find out more about joining THE QUEST at our websiteSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Justin takes a look at Abigail Shrier's controversial new book "Bad Therapy". What's really going on with our kids, and why they are going through so many challenges?  In this episode: Bad Therapy: Why the Kids Aren't Growing Up and Irreversible Damage by Abigail Shrier Why The Kids Aren’t Alright | Honestly Podcast Trauma, PTSD, depression Therapy Iatrogenesis - when the healer introduces harm Parental self-doubt Restorative practices in schools Gentle parenting under fire Understanding children’s basic psychological needs Find us on Facebook or TikTok Leave a voice memo here or email your questions/comments to podcasts@happyfamilies.com.au Find out more about joining THE QUEST at our websiteSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today we answer listener questions about co-parenting, homework, and starting daycare. In this episode: Co-parenting and divorce Picking battles  Co-parenting apps: 2houses and OurFamilyWizard Structure and routine Natural, unstructured environments Developing social skills Happy Families Resources: Parenting on the Same Page – Happy Families 7 Tips for Co-Parenting Your Children – Happy Families #962 The Perfection Trap with Thomas Curran (Part 1) – Happy Families #947 Day Care Data with Jenet Erickson – Happy Families Is Homework Helpful? The Homework Letter I Send To School Each Year – Happy Families Find us on Facebook or TikTok Leave a voice memo here or email your questions/comments to podcasts@happyfamilies.com.au Find out more about joining THE QUEST at our websiteSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Roblox is incredibly popular with kids, bringing a very real challenge to parents today. We share 5 practical steps you can take to keep your child safe online when it is not practical or feasible to keep them offline. In this episode: Keeping gaming to a minimum Roblox worries Inappropriate content Online predators Parental Guidance Season 2 Episode 1, Watch TV Online (9now.com.au) Commercialisation of platforms Psychological capacity of children Parental controls | How to keep your child safe (esafety.gov.au) Find us on Facebook or TikTok Leave a voice memo here or email your questions/comments to podcasts@happyfamilies.com.au Find out more about joining THE QUEST at our websiteSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

After years of family holiday flops, ChatGPT planned a successful Coulson holiday. Plus, Kylie saves the day with a big dose of compassion. In this episode: #952- A Rippin Good Read – Happy Families ChatGPT itinerary planning Large family dynamics Farewelling children Gap years #968 The Secret to Regulating Emotions – Happy Families The power of compassion Find us on Facebook or TikTok Leave a voice memo here or email your questions/comments to podcasts@happyfamilies.com.au Find out more about joining THE QUEST at our websiteSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Content warning: violence, CSA + a spoiler alert for Bluey fans. This week in parenting: how a family of dogs is teaching resilience, a sober warning to parents regarding children's online activity, and a fun look at celebrity parenting rules.  In this episode: Bluey is back with a lesson about preparing kids for change - ABC News Resilience Guy Sebastian's bad parenting advice Responding to Toddler Tantrums – Happy Families Violent Online Groups Extort Minors to Self-Harm and Produce Child Sexual Abuse Material (ic3.gov) #454 Online Safety with Julie Inman Grant from the eSafety Commission – Happy Families Extortion/blackmail tactics Monitoring social media use and online activity 21 Celebrities With Parenting Rules (buzzfeed.com) Find us on Facebook or TikTok Email your questions and comments to podcasts@happyfamilies.com.au Find out more about joining THE QUEST at our websiteSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Warning: sensitive content Pregnancy and infant loss are such important yet rarely discussed topics. Author Lellie Lopter emphasises the importance of creating a safe environment for these conversations to take place, as well as the need to include children in the healing journey. In this episode: My Brother Born Sleeping by Lellie Lopter Supporting families Coping with different beliefs about infant loss Curiosity from children and how to answer their questions Pink Elephant Foundation Rainbow babies Making room for conversation Processing trauma, grief, and loss Red Nose Day Find us on Facebook or TikTok Email your questions and comments to podcasts@happyfamilies.com.au Find out more about joining THE QUEST at our websiteSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Following the tragic attack in Bondi, our children need help processing such difficult news. There are things you can do and say to ensure your child feels safe and secure as they come to terms with what has happened. Also, a mum of three asks "What should we do when our kids don't show us the respect that we would like?" In this episode: Having hard conversations Honesty Limiting exposure to news Age-appropriate information Holding boundaries Weekly family meetings What To Do When Kids Won’t Listen – Happy Families Talking to Children About Tragic Events in the News – Happy Families Find us on Facebook or TikTok Email your questions and comments to podcasts@happyfamilies.com.au Find out more about joining THE QUEST at our websiteSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Digital influences, demographic shifts, and information overload: we explore the evolution of parenting from GenX through to Millennial parents.  In this episode: Digital infusion Information overload Parents under pressure Changing dynamics of family life Screen-based childhoods  Present and engaged parents   Find us on Facebook or TikTok Email your questions and comments to podcasts@happyfamilies.com.au Find out more about joining THE QUEST at our websiteSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The meltdown out of nowhere, an angry and aggressive child, the emotionally flooded teen - kids of all ages have BIG emotions, and experience emotional dysregulation! Discover the tools and skills that will help you respond to your child with compassion and kindness - and build emotional awareness and regulation for you both. Topics in this episode: No Matter What Emotion regulation  The magic of Nature Moving forward, finding solutions Responding with compassion and gentleness Emotion Coaching- a Happy Families article  Little People, Big Feelings - a Happy Families webinar  The Secret to Regulating Emotions - a Happy Families article Find us on Facebook at Dr Justin Coulson's Happy Families Email us your questions and comments at podcasts@happyfamilies.com.auSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Is your child stressed out, apprehensive or just feeling like life is too hard? Does anxiety or perfectionism cause them to feel they are not enough? All hope is not lost! Three ways you can BUILD HOPE in your child's life - helping them to do well and feel well as they experience the power of hope. Research by Rick Snyder, Shane Lopez  Science of Hope TikTok video series by @insearchofbobcat Failure, anxiety, resilience Our children need to feel hopeful before they can feel they are enough What does the research say about hopeful people? What is hope, and why are our youth feeling hopeless? How to be a hope-builder Enough: Overcoming Anxiety, Perfectionism, & Self Loathing - a Happy Families article Register for the Happy Families October Webinar - "Enough: Helping our children overcome anxiety, perfectionism & self-loathing" Find us on Facebook at Dr Justin Coulson's Happy Families Become a Happy Families member today - Happy Families Membership. Email us your questions and comments at podcasts@happyfamilies.com.auSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Part 2 of Justin speaking with author & associate Professor Katie Davis about her new book Topics discussed in this episode -  Technology's Child by Katie Davis Justin asks Katie some rapid fire questions about her own family life Using technology to reinforce technology rules Finding a balance Video games aren't all bad The impact of social media Further reading/watching: Screens And Our Boys - a Happy Families Article 5 Better Conversations To Have About Screens - a Happy Families Article Keeping your child focused on study and away from social media - a Happy Families Article Tweens, Teens & Screens - a Happy Families Webinar Digital Kids - a Happy Families Article Find us on Facebook at Dr Justin Coulson's Happy Families Email us your questions and comments at podcasts@happyfamilies.com.auSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

You CAN be a "good-enough" digital parent! Two questions every parent needs to ask when choosing apps or games for their child PLUS learn how to guide your child's relationship with screens in the best direction - guilt free! (Replay) Topics discussed in this episode -  Technology's Child: Digital Media’s Role in the Ages and Stages of Growing Up - by Katie Davis What are the risks for children under 3? Why are screens so compelling to kids? Using screens as the default "fix"  Why screens are such an effective regulator (emotionally and behaviorally) Executive functioning and self-regulation 'Bottom-up' vs top-down' process of attention "Educational" apps - red flags Sign up for Katie's newsletter here Find us on Facebook at Dr Justin Coulson's Happy Families Email us your questions and comments at podcasts@happyfamilies.com.auSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Friendships are oxygen for girls! When a friendship sours, the mean girls arrive, or your daughter just can't find her tribe, life can be really hard. We share some powerful ideas to help your child navigate friend troubles - giving them options and building resilience. Topics included in this episode - The difference between boy & girl play Boys use their bodies, girls use their words Optionality equals resilience  Autonomy, and feeling seen, heard and valued When should the school get involved? Avoidance reinforces anxiety Things you can you do to help your daughter Why Your Kids Need a Tribe - a Happy Families article Miss-Connection | 7 Day Connection Challenge – Happy Families   Find us on Facebook at Dr Justin Coulson's Happy Families Email us your questions and comments at podcasts@happyfamilies.com.auSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.