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PODCAST

Dr Justin Coulson"s Happy Families

Dr Justin Coulson

Deciding which parenting advice to follow?Join the thousands of mums and dads who turn to Australia’s most downloaded parenting podcast. Dr Justin Coulson and his wife Kylie bring real parenting solutions every day, cutting through the noise of modern advice with clear, practical guidance for every step of parenting. From early childhood challenges to the complexities of the teenage years, each daily episode offers simple, evidence-based strategies to help you feel more confident in your

kids & family parenting

All Episodes

12:31

#1069 - Should You Tidy Your Teen's Room?

Dr Justin Coulson"s Happy Families ·

2024/09/01

Is cleaning your teenage son's room every day reinforcing outdated gender roles and enabling a future of entitlement? Or is it an act of love, showing care and understanding for a busy, tired teenager? No matter where you stand, Justin and Kylie delve into what truly matters in a thoughtful discussion about kids, chores, and their role in contributing to the household. In this episode: Mom tidies teen's room each morning as a kind act of service, prompting a fascinating debate | Upworthy Social

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16:41

#1068 - A Screen Breakthrough

Dr Justin Coulson"s Happy Families ·

2024/08/29

Got a tech-savvy teen who dodges screen-time limits or constantly craves social media validation? Justin and Kylie share how their weekly family meetings provide time and space for ongoing conversations about screen use, leading to personal accountability and self-evaluation, with increased buy-in from the whole family! In this episode: 'Word of the year' review Why Grandparents matter Developmental paediatricians Family meetings Screen use Sneaky teens - getting around screen-time limits Toxic

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12:12

#1067 - A Brief History of Dad Jokes

Dr Justin Coulson"s Happy Families ·

2024/08/28

With Father's Day just around the corner, Justin & Kylie go head to head in a battle for gold in the UFC (Ultimate Father Comedy) before stepping back in time to discover the origins of the comedy equivalent of comfort food: the "Dad Joke"! Humour can be a quick and easy way to build connection with your kids; but don't just rely on a good dad joke to get the fun flowing! Learn what else you can do to help your kids feel seen, heard, and valued this Father's Day and beyond. In this episode: A

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15:24

#1065 - Being an ADHD Mum With Jane McFadden

Dr Justin Coulson"s Happy Families ·

2024/08/27

The ADHD experience is increasingly common and most people with a diagnosis (or seeking one), or who are parenting ADHD children are struggling in some way. Jane McFadden, host of the Australian podcast "ADHD Mums," shares her lived experience of receiving a shock adult ADHD diagnosis following a period of burnout, overwhelm, and mental health struggles, and the unique challenges she faces as a neurodivergent mum to neurodivergent children. In this episode: Adult ADHD diagnosis Neurodivergent

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14:43

#1064 - Q&A: Light Sleepers & Light Fingers

Dr Justin Coulson"s Happy Families ·

2024/08/26

You know the feeling - it's the middle of the night and a small human wakes you from your slumber and takes up residence in your bed. Caroline wants to know if it's normal for a nine year old to continue wanting to sleep in her bed, and what (if anything), she should do about it. Kate has discovered that her five year old has a tendency for being light fingered and stealing things from her purse. Should she be worried about the stealing and sneaky behaviour? In this episode: Anxiety at night

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16:42

#1063 - Hurting Kids on Purpose

Dr Justin Coulson"s Happy Families ·

2024/08/25

Evidence suggests that META and other big tech companies are purposefully hurting kids through their lack of content moderation and their choice of harmful persuasive design features. Justin and Kylie discuss how you can protect your children from online exploitation and manipulation by giving them a play-based childhood. Join the village, sign the pledge to delay smartphones and social media, and “Unplug Childhood” with us! In this episode: The Surgeon General Has New Social Media Guidelines

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15:25

#1062 - Who Let the Dog Out?

Dr Justin Coulson"s Happy Families ·

2024/08/22

Family life is a constant challenge of working out where your priorities are at any moment: Justin and Kylie must choose between a quick weekend getaway and tackling their to-do list! Plus, the flow-on effect of reducing screen time usage, removing the family TV and cancelling Netflix has been revolutionary - but how did the Coulsons get all the kids on board? In this episode: A weekend of chores and to-do lists! Creating margin Being present Super Saturday Family meetings Accountability and

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17:38

#1061 - This Week in Parenting: Raygun, Lost...

Dr Justin Coulson"s Happy Families ·

2024/08/21

This Week in Parenting: Perhaps the most polarising Paris Olympic story was that of Aussie Olympic breakdancer Rachel Gunn. International meme fodder, or pure gold for sparking meaningful conversations with our kids, encouraging critical thinking, and creating empathy? A beautiful example of understanding and compassion in the workplace and from the world at large occurred after ABC presenter Nate Byrne experienced a panic attack live on air. Something is wrong when a top Crossing Supervisor is

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15:44

#1060 - No Hang-Ups With School Phone Bans

Dr Justin Coulson"s Happy Families ·

2024/08/20

Today, I had an insightful interview with Dany Elachi, founder of The Heads Up Alliance, examining the No Phones policy that every school in the country should be implementing—the benefits, the evidence, and the challenges. Dany shares how community is the solution to an issue that so many parents feel they are facing alone—how to say "not yet" to a smartphone and/or social media. In this episode: Forming alliances with other families Keeping teens off social media Creating a consistent phone-free

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12:42

#1059 - Q&A: Reality Check & Conforming at Kindy

Dr Justin Coulson"s Happy Families ·

2024/08/19

If your family was invited to participate in a reality TV show would it be an easy "yes!", a "no way!", or would you deliberate? Alan, from the USA, asks Dr Justin for his opinion. Kirsty questions if she should be worried about her 5 year old son, with teachers concerned he is not conforming at preschool, and wants to know how she can help him. Is preschool a time and place where conformity should be encouraged, or is it stifling individuality? In this episode: Child on-screen exploitation

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23:39

#1058 - NAPLAN Nation: Failing our Kids

Dr Justin Coulson"s Happy Families ·

2024/08/18

The 2024 NAPLAN results have shown that one in three students are below educational standards, with almost 400,000 students requiring catch up tutoring. The results also show that around a quarter of the over 1 million students tested are said to be 'developing' - which just means they're failing to pass the minimum standards required. What's gone wrong with education in Australia? Natasha Bita is the education editor of The Australian, and has won numerous awards for her work, including a Walkley

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13:02

#1057 - Getting the Guideposts Right

Dr Justin Coulson"s Happy Families ·

2024/08/15

Parenting and family life is a continuous striving to get the balance right. Family meetings can help with this struggle, providing guideposts so that everyone is on the same page. Inviting kids to be part of this process keeps everyone accountable and moving in the same direction. In this episode: Parenting teenagers Reducing screen use Family meetings Accountability Getting on the same page Super Saturday The Adventure Challenge: Activity book, scratch off family activities Relevant Links: Same

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17:43

#1055 - Why the Kids Don't Listen

Dr Justin Coulson"s Happy Families ·

2024/08/13

The reality is that our children can hear. They are listening. They just won't do as they are asked! We share five things you can do to make your kids WANT to listen, building stronger relationships with them along the way. In this episode: Free hearing test Carefactor = zero 5 reasons kids aren't listening Egocentric Attentional capacity Silence and refusal Immediate compliance Connection vs correction Be involved and patient Accountability Fun, calm, and kind leads to a better relationship

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15:38

#1054 Q&A: 24/7 Tech & School vs Home Behaviour

Dr Justin Coulson"s Happy Families ·

2024/08/12

Justin is answering two listener questions in this episode. Christina from the United States is wondering how she can get a less than cooperative teenager to put away the screens and get to bed, even though she has already compromised on them staying up later than she would like. Kate is wondering why her five year old's behaviour is so different between school and home. How can a 'model student' melt down over simple requests like being asked to take her plate to the kitchen after dinner? Find out

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17:51

#1053 - Is Risky Play Worth the Risk?

Dr Justin Coulson"s Happy Families ·

2024/08/11

Does "risky play" make you excited or very nervous? The research is clear regarding the many benefits to children who engage in risky play. With it becoming increasingly hard to find public spaces that allow for risky play, we share ideas and tips for how parents can encourage and support their children to engage in risky play at home. In this episode: Old-school playgrounds What is risky play? Healthy childhood development through outdoor risky play: Navigating the balance with injury prevention |

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14:10

#1052 - Other People Matter

Dr Justin Coulson"s Happy Families ·

2024/08/08

Saying goodbye to loved ones has been the cause for much reflection for Justin, including the acknowledgment that owning our own mortality allows us to invest more fully in life. Kylie describes a recent family meeting, and how the buy in that comes when everybody takes accountability for the part they play in how a family feels and functions can be life-changing. In this episode: Losing loved ones Treasure every moment of life Terror Management Theory Don't count the days; allow the days to count

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15:46

#1051 - From the Doctor's Desk: Peanut Allergies &...

Dr Justin Coulson"s Happy Families ·

2024/08/07

From the Doctor's Desk today we unpack three studies relevant to parents and families. First, an intervention that could decrease the likelihood of developing a peanut allergy by 71% (N.B. we are not sharing medical advice!). The second study - another intervention involving a 2 week screen-free media reduction for participants, with fantastic results! And the third, a study looking at differences between neurotypical and neurodivergent responses to touch, and some helpful tips for parents of

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18:12

#1050 - Adam Voigt: What's Really Going On In the...

Dr Justin Coulson"s Happy Families ·

2024/08/06

A conversation with Adam Voigt, Founder and CEO of Real Schools on the importance of student engagement, how parents can support and advocate for teachers, and why we need to make schools a diverse environment - where all children can come together to learn. In this episode: Teacher stress Additional needs Supporting teachers Schools and parents working together Student engagement The Anxious Generation by Jonathan Haidt | Penguin Books Too much tech in the classroom? Mobile phone bans Does going

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12:15

#1049 Q&A - The Benefits of Plants & Grandparents

Dr Justin Coulson"s Happy Families ·

2024/08/05

Amy from Melbourne has been trying to boost her families wellbeing, and while she's been doing all of the tried and traditional methods, she is wondering what the benefits of indoor plants are for her family. Jenny from West Australia is seeking some advice around grandparents looking after her three year old, despite some of their parenting styles being quite different to hers. Related links: Check out our recent From the Doctor's Desk episode - #1036 Screen Use Bad, Green Space Good What to Do

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15:13

#1048 - Raising an Olympian

Dr Justin Coulson"s Happy Families ·

2024/08/04

If you have a child with a natural talent or a burning desire to succeed in a sport or other activity, how do you cultivate a successful (perhaps even elite) level of performance and raise them to have perspective? Justin and Kylie offer four ideas to help your children be engaged in their athletic and competitive pursuits in healthy, balanced ways. In this episode: US Gymnast Alexandra Raismen - parent reaction Finding a healthy balance Professionalization of youth sports can lead to burnout |

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