1,011 episodes

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.

Dr Justin Coulson's Happy Families Dr Justin Coulson

    • Kids & Family

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.

    #999 When Dad Isn't There & School Bus Stress

    #999 When Dad Isn't There & School Bus Stress

    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 potentially expose her 11-year-old daughter to explicit material. Justin shares some suggestions that will help every parent safely lead their child along the path to independence.

    In this episode:


    Single parent
    Absent father
    Mental health 
    Answering sensitive questions age appropriately
    Honesty and transparency
    Children need to feel safe, secure, loved
    Building independence, confidence & self-efficacy
    Cocooning, pre-arming, deference
    The Three E's (Explore, Explain, Empower)

    .

    Related links:


    How Do I Support My Daughter Now That I'm Divorcing? - Happy Families
    Pornography Is The New Public Health Crisis - Happy Families
    #898 Porn-Proofing Your Kids, with Kristen Jenson
    Creating Confident Kids - Happy Families
    Navigating Your Teen's Quest For Independence - Happy Families

    .

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    • 13 min
    #998 Social Media Shutdown

    #998 Social Media Shutdown

    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 platforms accountable
    A movement to keep smartphones and social media out of primary school
    Unplugged childhood
    Kids need smart parents not smart phones

    Related links:


    Tech Giants Are Anti-Kids - Happy Families
    #991 This Week In Parenting: Vape Zones, Baby Bans, & Nicotine Pouches
    How Do I Get My Daughter To Drop Social Media And Study For Exams? - Happy Families
    Social media has the “exact same negative effect on depression” as eating potatoes | Quartz

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    Subscribe to the Happy Families newsletter

    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
    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    • 16 min
    #997 A Dog's Life

    #997 A Dog's Life

    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:


    5 Ways to Promote Happiness in Your Family - Happy Families
    Enough: Overcoming Anxiety, Perfectionism, & Self Loathing - Happy Families
    Family Traditions Help Kids Make Sense of Life - Happy Families
    Miss-Connection | 7 Day Connection Challenge

    .

    Find us on Facebook or TikTok

    Subscribe to the Happy Families newsletter

    Leave a voice memo here or email your questions/comments to podcasts@happyfamilies.com.au

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    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    • 11 min
    #996 From the Doctor's Desk - Weight Stigma & Baby Language

    #996 From the Doctor's Desk - Weight Stigma & Baby Language

    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 very foundation of what Dr Justin teaches in The Parenting Revolution! 

    In this episode:


    Teasing children about weight increases risk of self-stigma as adults, study finds | The Guardian
    Weight stigma - what is it?
    Internalised incompetence and low sense of self-worth
    Babies’ cries alone don’t convey what they want | The British Psychological Society
    Dunstan Baby Language

    The secret to getting your teen to listen to you | The British Psychological Society


    Autonomy support
    Unsolicited advice from parents
    How to talk to teens about hard stuff

    Related links:


    9 Strategies for Soothing A Crying Baby - Happy Families
    #957 Diet Free Families with Meg McClintock - Happy Families
    5 Ways To Nurture Positive Relationships With Food and Body For Your Kids - Happy Families
    The Parenting Revolution (The Course) Normally $149, FREE when you purchase The Parenting Revolution [The Book]

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    Subscribe to the Happy Families newsletter.

    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.
    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    • 13 min
    #995 Why Ratings Matter With Liz Handsley

    #995 Why Ratings Matter With Liz Handsley

    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 to minimise the risk that our children will be exposed to inappropriate content. 

    In this episode:


    Children and Media Australia - supporting children and families to thrive in the expanding world of screen media
    Ratings and classifications
    Movies, apps, games,
    Inquiry into the Australian Classification Scheme
    Aged-based and research-based information
    Dose-response relationship to media
    Children become desensitised to content

    Related links:


    Movies and Kids: When Is It Ok For Them To Watch That? - Happy Families
    Everyone Else Can Do It! Why Can't I? - Happy Families
    Common Sense Media - Age-Based Media Reviews For Families

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    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
    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    • 15 min
    #994 Resetting Sibling Dynamics

    #994 Resetting Sibling Dynamics

    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 your children as you help to build their character, and teach empathy and kindness. 

    In this episode:


    Sibling rivalry, conflict, and strife
    Building character
    Teaching compassion and empathy
    Repairing relationship ruptures
    Separation anxiety
    Emotionally based school avoidance (EBSA)
    Making mornings calm
    Validating emotions
    Basic psychological needs
    Strong parent-school partnership
    Flexibility

    Related links:


    10 Steps to Reducing Sibling Conflict - Happy Families
    Teaching Kids Kindness - a Happy Families webinar
    School Refusal - Happy Families
    Developmental Milestones | Preschool - Happy Families

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    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
    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    • 15 min

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