Dr Justin Coulson's Happy Families

Kylie's "year in review" was a difficult but worthwhile process, enabling her to see how much personal growth and progress was made in 2023.   What has gone well?  What hasn't gone so well? Lessons learnt in 2023 What can be done better, moving forward? "Joy is the ability to see beauty."  "Give yourself permission to make ugly art."   Find us on Facebook at Dr Justin Coulson's Happy Families Email us your questions and comments at podcasts@happyfamilies.com.au Find out more about becoming a Happy Families member at our websiteSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Help your kids have a great Summer! 7 tips for parents who want to see their children experience more independent play in a way that is both safe and fun. In today's episode: Healthy kids need to be playing, taking risks, and involved in independent activity Peter Gray - Children today are suffering a severe deficit of play | Aeon Essays Decline in mental health  Resilience and happiness Kylie and Justin share childhood experience of independent play and activities - risk, adventure, danger, exciting, noise, freedom, fun Learning risk assessment Helicopter parenting Kids need to feel capable, competent, and a sense of autonomy Exploring boundaries   Find us on Facebook at Dr Justin Coulson's Happy Families Email us your questions and comments at podcasts@happyfamilies.com.au Find out more about becoming a Happy Families member at our websiteSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The inconvenience you can feel when a child asks to play a boring game or upon finding their clothes on the floor (again) is real. In these moments of frustration, dig deep and have compassion for your child, seeing life from their perspective. THIS is the real game-changer for a happier family. Topics in this episode: Playing board games when you hate them Should we let our children win? Teaching through play, verbalising strategy Nagging The importance of having compassion for our children Our children want us to listen to them!  7-day Miss-connection challenge - a Happy Families online program (free!)   Find us on Facebook at Dr Justin Coulson's Happy Families Email us your questions and comments at podcasts@happyfamilies.com.au Find out more about becoming a Happy Families member at our website.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The books that have meant the most to Justin and Kylie this year.  Kylie's top 3 books of 2023: The One Hundred Years of Lenni and Margot by Marianne Cronin "A beautiful story about friendship." Homecoming by Kate Morton "Riveting!" Better Than Happy - Jodi Moore "Enlightening and powerful" Justin's 5 star reads of 2023: Silas Marner by George Eliot "The perfect story - sublime, utterly absorbing" The Case Against the Sexual Revolution by Louise Perry Testosterone: The Story of the Hormone that Dominates and Divides Us | Carole Hooven "Brilliant" Everyone In My Family Has Killed Someone by Benjamin Stevenson "A rip-roaring read." The Whole-Brain Child by Daniel Siegel & Tina Payne-Bryson Saving our kids - Madonna King "Vitally important"  Generations by Jean M. Twenge "Compelling." Winners Take All by Anand Giridharadas Guns, Germs and Steel by Jared Diamond Happier Hour by Cassie Holmes Come as You Are by Emily Nagoski "Gives people info that really matters." The Emotional Lives of Teenagers: Raising Connected, Capable, and Compassionate Adolescents by Lisa Damour "Solid book, easy to read."   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.

Justin looks at how 2023 has been for him, both personally and professionally, and shares insights and ideas that will inspire you to improve family living in your own home. It will be Kylie's turn for reflection next Tuesday! What has gone well? What hasn't gone so well? Lessons learnt in 2023. What can be done better, moving forward? You Don't Just Lose Someone Once – Donna Ashworth “You are precisely as big as what you love and precisely as small as what you allow to annoy you.” ― Robert Anton Wilson Find us on Facebook at Dr Justin Coulson's Happy Families Email us your questions and comments at podcasts@happyfamilies.com.au Find out more about becoming a Happy Families member at our website.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It's almost the end of the year so we thought we'd look back at the top 5 Happy Families episodes that you listened to in 2023. Here's how it played out: #721 - Defusing Explosive Children #679 - Managing Fatigue as a Parent #674 - The Power of Habit #673 - Family Goal Setting #706 - Gentle Parenting: Is It a Fad or Fabulous? We're so glad that so many people are listening to the podcast and finding value in the information that's being provided! Find us on Facebook at Dr Justin Coulson's Happy Families Email us your questions and comments at podcasts@happyfamilies.com.au Find out more about becoming a Happy Families member at our website.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Controversial parenting, a growing problem with school attendance (or lack thereof!), a video game the whole family can get excited about, and why every new dad should be taking parental leave. In this episode: Story 1: 60 Minutes Australia: Hidden anxiety epidemic jeopardising ‘a generation’ of Australian schoolchildren School refusal/anxiety - also referred to as "school can't" THE LITTLE BOY By Helen E. Buckley Story 2: ‘I put coal in my kids’ Christmas stockings to teach them a lesson’ | Townsville Bulletin Controversial parenting techniques Punishing kids at Christmas "Every child needs..." (Bronfenbrenner quote) Happy Families | Facebook Be your child's safe place and provide them with unconditional love Story 3: How Paternity Leave Helps Dads’ Brains Adapt to Parenting Paternity leave is a gift to families. Improving father-baby bonding, baby development, relationship between parents Story 4: The creators of Bluey: The Videogame on making a kids’ game that’s also about parenting | The Guardian Playing video games as a family The right kind of screen time (Connecting and/or Creating vs Consuming) Story 5: Four in five parents turn to social media for parenting advice    Find us on Facebook at Dr Justin Coulson's Happy Families Email us your questions and comments at podcasts@happyfamilies.com.au  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Whether family life feels messy and hard right now or you are in a season of smooth sailing, there's one thing that matters more than anything: loving your kids - and making sure they know it! In this episode we cover: Struggles and challenges with food Picky eating Autonomy, structure, and competence Conversations to have with children about what they eat Supporting and loving our kids - No Matter What Wet towels, empty fridge, dirty dishes, messy rooms Empty nesters and change in family dynamics Connection - 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.

Problematic screen-use spans from toddlers through to teenagers (especially when love is in the air!) and can affect mental health, sleep, wellbeing and behaviour. There are some simple steps parents can take to ensure your child lives a healthy, balanced life - without having to confiscate the screen! Topics from 'The Doctor's Desk': The effects of screens on teenagers Teens as consumers of content Mental health and mental illness are two different things - see "dual continuum of mental wellbeing" diagram Boredom  The importance of strong parent-child relationship Toddlers and screens Screen limits and being intentional Love in the teenage years Delaying romantic relationships Study 1: How Parenting and Self-control Mediate the Link Between Social Media Use and Youth Mental Health Study 2: Toddlers and Tablets: Being Purposeful About Your Child’s Technology Use Study 3: Romantic relationships linked to disturbed sleep patterns in adolescents Helping your child through their first big breakup - a Happy Families article 3 Simple Tips for Managing Screen Time for the Whole Family - 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.

Kristen Jenson (founder of Defend Young Minds) shares how, when and why to talk to your child about pornography. [Replay]   Topics in this episode: Educating children to reject pornography The ways that pornography harms children 3 basic steps to having this conversation: 1. Define 2. Warn 3. Plan Advice for parents who have found their child viewing pornography Love your child No Matter What Good Pictures Bad Pictures | Books | Defend Young Minds™️ Good Pictures Bad Pictures Jr. | Books | Defend Young Minds™️ Defend Young Minds - free guide "How to Talk to Kids About Pornography" Curriculum for children aged 8-12 - Brain Defense Digital Safety Step-by-step SMART plan- "My Kid Saw Porn - Now What?" Bringing Up Boys Summit - 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.