1,001 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
    • 4.9 • 133 Ratings

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.

    #989 Winning at All Costs

    #989 Winning at All Costs

    Today, Justin is answering two listeners' questions.

    First up is Bridget from Victoria, a mum of two with a question about her five-year-old son, who is overly competitive and can't handle losing. This is definitely causing issues in the family and in his wider circle of friends.

    The second question is from Becky, a single mum from Melbourne. Becky is looking for ways she can implement rules and boundaries that won't lead to anxiety-fuelled and explosive reactions from her son, who has autism and OCD.

    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 website
    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    • 13 min
    #988 School Can't

    #988 School Can't

    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 feeling stressed, judged, and alone in their struggle to get a child to school.

    In this episode:


    Emotionally-based school avoidance (EBSA)
    Reasons for 'school can't'
    School Can't Australia (Parent/Carer Peer Support) | Facebook
    Neurodivergence (Autism, ADHD)
    Importance of friendships
    Pressure on parents, judgement
    Homeschooling
    Mental health of parents
    Moving schools
    "Is it just me? Am I the only one who can't get their kid to go to school?"
    School refusal and the Australian families gripped by blame, shame, and the fear of a lost education - ABC News

    Related links:


    School Refusal – Happy Families
    #533 Emotion Based School Avoidance aka School Refusal – Happy Families
    A Grown Up’s Guide to Worry Stacking – Happy Families
    Resilience: Developing Strength, Calm, & Kindness in Our Kids – Happy Families
    We Need to Talk About Parent Wellbeing – Happy Families
    Moving? How to Help your Child Settle Into A New School – 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 website
    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    • 22 min
    #987 Mummy Daughter BFF's

    #987 Mummy Daughter BFF's

    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 Families
    #952- A Rippin Good Read – Happy Families
    Troubled by Rob Henderson | A Memoir of Foster Care, Family, and Social Class

    Related links:


    What Your Child Needs From You – Happy Families
    6 Strategies for Respectful Relationships – Happy Families
    I am Not your Friend. I am your Parent – 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 website
    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    • 12 min
    #986 The Mother's Day Yes/No Game

    #986 The Mother's Day Yes/No Game

    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

    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 website
    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    • 12 min
    #985 Responding to Gendered Violence With Richard Ryan

    #985 Responding to Gendered Violence With Richard Ryan

    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:


    Self Determination Theory
    Gendered violence
    Basic Psychological Needs
    Modelling values and behaviour
    Objectification and sexualisation of women in the media
    Reducing exposure to and setting limits on media use
    Resilience

    Links:


    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
    4 P’s to Prevent Peer Pressure in your Teens – 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 website
    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    • 17 min
    #984 City vs Country

    #984 City vs Country

    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
    Stability and security
    Grief and loss
    Preoperational thinking, object permanence, abstraction
    Developmentally appropriate language
    The sacredness of life and death

    Links:


    Moving? How to Help your Child Settle Into A New School – Happy Families
    Developmental Milestones [Introduction] – Happy Families
    How To Talk To Your Children About Death – 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 website
    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    • 14 min

Customer Reviews

4.9 out of 5
133 Ratings

133 Ratings

Degrawke ,

Best parenting podcast out there!

My sister, Julie, introduced me to this amazing podcast a couple years ago. I wish I’d had this information 20 Years earlier! I’m currently a mom of 6 who is also studying Marriage and the Family at Uni… and can attest to the fact that this podcast is academically backed by so much research. It’s presented so succinctly… the “Cliff Notes” for the “Time poor parent”. So good!!!

jennymalanbarton ,

Love it

Thank you for a great podcast

3 Boys Mama ❤️ ,

A breath of fresh air!

Parenting is so hard, and everything I’ve ever heard from this lovely couple has been golden! They are real people who do real things and they share the good and the not-so-good. They make parenting feel so doable! Plus, their accents are just fun to listen to. Listen and you won’t regret it!

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