Dr Justin Coulson's Happy Families

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 | Canadian Paediatric Society How to encourage risky play at home "You want your kids to be as safe as necessary, not as safe as possible”  The importance of agency and autonomy in play Roald Dahl quote on kids and risks Physical development Emotional resilience Social skills and mental health Solving problems Risk assessment Relevant Links: Playing It Safe May Be The Biggest Risk Of All Resilience: Developing strength, calm and kindness in our kids [Webinar] #50 Risks and Rolling Down Hills Doors are now open to

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! Family meetings Accountability How to get buy-in from the kids Exercise and routine Relevant Links: How To Talk To Your Children About Death #1045 – The Art & Science of Family Meetings Doors are now open to the Happy Families Membership  NEW weekly kids’ ‘Print & Play’ subscription FELT (Fostering Emotional Learning Together) Find us on Facebook or TikTok Subscribe to the Happy Families newsletterSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 neurodivergent children when it comes to understanding and navigating these responses. In this episode: Peanut allergies The danger of becoming risk-adverse Screen Media Use and Mental Health of Children and Adolescents: A Secondary Analysis of a Randomized Clinical Trial | Media and Youth | JAMA Network Open A happier child in 2 weeks? Emotional dysregulation Parental responsibility with screens Follow-up to Adolescence after Early Peanut Introduction for Allergy Prevention | NEJM Evidence Why touch matters Sensory iss

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 to a selective school make you more likely to go to uni, get a job and be satisfied in life? | The Conversation Selective schools Importance of diversity Parental guilt Doors are now open to the Happy Families Membership  NEW weekly kids’ ‘Print & Play’ subscription FELT (Fostering Emotional Learning Together) Find us on Facebook or TikTok Subscribe to the Happy Families newsletterSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 When Parents and Grandparents Disagree [Article] Doors are now open to the Happy Families Membership  NEW weekly kids’ ‘Print & Play’ subscription FELT (Fostering Emotional Learning Together) Find us on Facebook or TikTok Subscribe to the Happy Families newsletterSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 | AAP Publications What is the purpose of sport? Physical, cognitive, social, emotional benefits Competence and mastery #1033 – Early Talent Promotion Motivation and losing perspective Unconditional love Related links:  How To Keep Kids Motivated To Play Sport Doors are now open to the Happy Families Membership  NEW weekly kids’ ‘Print & Play’ subscription FELT (Fostering Emotional Learning Together) Find us on Facebook or TikTok Subscribe to the Happy Families newsletter  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy

There are times when a parent's relationship with their child feels strained and difficult. Kylie shares what it can look like to cultivate these challenging relationships, giving hope to any parent deep in the trenches of raising hard kids. More often than not, when we lose the plot as adults, it is because of unmet expectations. A games night in the Coulson household did NOT meet Justin's expectations, leading to one very grumpy dad! In this episode: I'll Do Better Tomorrow, I Promise - Maurine Reynolds Adamek 5 star reviews - thank you! Cultivating relationships No Matter What Hope for the parent who thinks they can't keep going Resilience Family games night turns sour Expectations vs reality Unmet needs Bedtime Even the parenting expert gets parenting wrong Be where your feet are Doors are now open to the Happy Families Membership  NEW weekly kids’ ‘Print & Play’ subscription FELT (Fostering Emotional Learning Together) Find us on Facebook or TikTok Subscribe to the Happy Families newsletter  See om

Book Club - the episode where Justin and Kylie forget about the parenting stuff and share what they have been reading. Today, a book review from a very special guest: their 10-year-old daughter Emilie. In this episode: The Anxious Generation by Jonathan Haidt | Penguin Books (4.5 stars) Unplug Childhood - Join the village! The Things They Carried by Tim O’Brien | Abbeys (5 stars) James and the Giant Peach by Roald Dahl | Dymocks (4.7 stars) Related links:  #980 The Anxious Generation With Jonathan Haidt The Screens Issue Unplugging Parenthood Doors are now open to the Happy Families Membership  NEW weekly kids’ ‘Print & Play’ subscription FELT (Fostering Emotional Learning Together) Find us on Facebook or TikTok Subscribe to the Happy Families newsletter  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Building strong, lasting family relationships is a long-term process. When done well, regular family meetings can completely change how your family feels and functions now and in the future Justin and Kylie share six practical tips for family meetings that will help your family relationships flourish, ensuring that everyone feels seen, heard, and valued along the way.  In this episode: Could family meetings help you get on better with your kids? Yes – but they can also go horribly wrong | The Conversation James Clear, author of Atomic Habits 5 year quote Not a time to air grievances or critique others Risk of family meetings Creating a vision Benefits when meeting is done well Frustration tolerance Learning social skills and emotional regulation Getting on the same page Related links:  Family Goal Setting Doors are now open to the Happy Families Membership  NEW weekly kids’ ‘Print & Play’ subscription FELT (Fostering Emotional Learning Together) Find us on Facebook or TikTok Subscribe to the Happy Fam

Bec, from Sydney, has a 2-year-old who keeps running towards the road when out at parks, playgrounds, and shops. Running away is developmentally normal: little kids love to explore. But it's also very scary! There are four things parents can do to keep their "runner" safe when out and about. Karen, from Brisbane, asks how to navigate the ongoing challenge of school refusal. Ongoing conversations with both child and school are important when school attendance is a challenge. Dr Justin shares some questions to ask, and four ideas to increase engagement, competence, and confidence for your struggling student. In this episode: Developmental Milestones [Part 2: Toddlers] Curious, exploring, developmentally appropriate Hunt, Gather, Parent by Dr. Michaeleen Doucleff | Dymocks Ongoing conversations on safety Solutions to keep child safe Pros and cons of giving kids mental health days Problematic school avoidance Working with the school Three basic psychological needs Attaching education to child's goals Alternative

Should we be making our children apologise when they do the wrong thing? What does a sincere apology look like? In this episode: Parental Guidance (S1): “Forcing children to apologise is teaching children to lie” Victim mentality People pleasing Ruptured relationships The Parenting Revolution, by Dr Justin Coulson Motivation Continuum - extrinsic, introjected, identified, integrated, intrinsic Is It Wrong to Tell Kids to Apologize? | The Atlantic Theory of Mind Why do children apologise under coercion? Feeling seen, heard, and valued Repairing relationships Why don't kids want to apologise? 4 components of a sincere apology Related links:  Should we Force our Children to Say 'Sorry' Carrots & Sticks: How Rewards and Punishments Hurt Our Kids, and What to do Instead [Webinar] Doors are now open to the Happy Families Membership  NEW weekly kids’ ‘Print & Play’ subscription FELT (Fostering Emotional Learning Together) Find us on Facebook or TikTok Subscribe to the Happy Families newsletter  See omnys

It has been 9 months of homeschooling for the Coulson crew, with plenty of ups and downs and many lessons learned. One of those lessons is that homeschool is not and cannot just be "school at home". When a child is struggling in a school setting, taking them out of that environment only to set up the same structures and lessons at home doesn't change the challenges that your child is experiencing!  In this episode: Resilient Kids Conference - (recording available) Help, hug, or space? When school isn't working Homeschooling is not school at home Letting go of expectations/perceptions Self-directed learning Autonomy Exercise - cycling, swimming Working from home Setting boundaries Steven Covey's "Big Rocks of Life" analogy The overwhelm of to-do lists Related links:  Taking the Pressure Off School Refusal . Doors are now open to the Happy Families Membership  NEW weekly kids’ ‘Print & Play’ subscription FELT (Fostering Emotional Learning Together) Find us on Facebook or TikTok Subscribe to the Ha

Devices can calm our emotional children - but does a screen actually help them to emotionally regulate or is it just distracting them from their emotions in the heat of the moment? Are there long term consequences to letting screens "manage" a child's emotions? We also talk about a controversial topic - using "screen-time" as a reward! There is an important connection between screen use and children's executive function and emotional regulation, and it's not good news! In this episode: Your words have power:  @always.upper.elementary Toothpaste Words: The most important back to school lesson you can do Should we comment on someone's appearance? Cure for tantrums? Longitudinal associations between parental digital emotion regulation and children's self-regulatory skills Using devices as digital pacifiers Frustration tolerance Unplug Childhood: Join the village, sign the petition #1038 - Managing Emotional Dysregulation Tolerable discomfort Resilience Associations between media parenting practices and e

Our goal as parents is to raise good humans, but sometimes we actually get in the way of doing that! Beck Delahoy shares three things parents can do to move away from centuries of unhelpful patterns to a better way of parenting. In this episode: Lessons Learned | Beck Delahoy | Substack John B. Watson - 1920's behaviourist What do we want to do as parents to raise good humans? teaching thoughts, values, feelings, acceptable behaviour History of parenting Long-term consequences of punishment/reward Calculation of Risks Blind Conformity Revolt Fostering acceptable behaviour Moral development Building emotional regulation  Related links:  The Secret to Regulating Emotions Punishment, Rewards, & Other Disciplinary Mistakes . Doors are now open to the Happy Families Membership  NEW weekly kids’ ‘Print & Play’ subscription FELT (Fostering Emotional Learning Together) Find us on Facebook or TikTok Subscribe to the Happy Families newsletter  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Two questions from listeners: Emma asks for advice on helping her 10 year old son who is struggling with being at school, withdrawing from friends, and feeling sad. And Kari, a homeschooling mum of 3 little boys, has requested an update on the Coulson's Homeschooling experience! In this episode: The 3 basic psychological needs Supporting children at school 'School Can't' Building frustration tolerance Attention amplifies discomfort Changing classroom or school Persistence and consistency Homeschooling update Euka Curriculum Autonomy-supportive structure Emotional regulation wins . Related links:  The Secret to Regulating Emotions How to Help when School Sucks . Doors are now open to the Happy Families Membership  NEW weekly kids’ ‘Print & Play’ subscription FELT Find us on Facebook or TikTok Subscribe to the Happy Families newsletter  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A conversation about what it means to be emotionally regulated or dysregulated, with five quick ideas for parents to help their children regulate well. In this episode: What are emotions? Maladaptive responses Etymology of 'emotion' French: to excite Latin: to move Emotional regulation: The ability to control your emotional state.  Emotional dysregulation: When your emotions are stronger than your ability to act with autonomy.  Amygdala triggers survival/fight/flight mode Spanish: Tengo hambre (I have hunger) Developmental realities Creating a safe and predictable environment Brené Brown on emotions #822 The Emotional Lives of Teenagers (Part 1) Homeschooling  . Related links:  The Secret to Regulating Emotions Emotion Coaching [ Webinar - if you are a HF member you can find this in your video library] . Doors are now open to the Happy Families Membership  NEW weekly kids’ ‘Print & Play’ subscription FELT Find us on Facebook or TikTok Subscribe to the Happy Families newsletter  See omnystudio.com/l

Family holidays and traditions are important! Sometimes though, they can feel out of reach - perhaps unaffordable or even impossible. The good news is that traditions don't have to be big, or cost any money, and you don't even need to leave home to create them!  In this episode: Why traditions matter Avoid big holidays with little kids  Stick to pools/beaches when they are young What the research says Family meals, meetings, or games One-on-one time with children Marking milestones Hamish Blake's epic birthday cake tradition! . Related links:  Family Traditions Help Kids Make Sense of Life . Doors are now open to the Happy Families Membership  NEW weekly kids' 'Print & Play' subscription FELT Find us on Facebook or TikTok Subscribe to the Happy Families newsletter  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Are our attention spans decreasing? Is it possible that the kids really are listening to you but just disagree with what you have to say? Do house plants impact mental health and wellbeing? How does parental screen use affect teen screen use, and why should we avoid using punishments and rewards when it comes to screens? We unpack four studies that will help make your family happier and give you practical tips you can use today! In this episode: Are attention spans decreasing? Short-form videos Examining the Influence of Short Videos on Attention Span and its Relationship with Academic Performance Speaking of Psychology: Why our attention spans are shrinking, with Gloria Mark, PhD Not listening, or just not agreeing? Disagreement Gets Mistaken for Bad Listening Green space and mental health benefits The nature gaze: Eye-tracking experiment reveals well-being benefits derived from directing visual attention towards elements of nature Indoor / house plants Physiological Benefits of Viewing Nature: A Systematic

Dr Jodie Lowinger is recognised as one of the world’s leading anxiety, mindset, and resilience experts. Jodie was a guest speaker in the groundbreaking Breaking Point Digital Conference and today we share a snapshot from her session on 'Girls and Mental Health'. In this episode: Sydney Anxiety Clinic - Psychologists Author of The Mind Strength Method: Four steps to curb anxiety, conquer worry and build resilience The prevalence of anxiety among adolescent girls Anxiety is part of our human condition Gender and anxiety Multidimensional factors contributing to adolescent anxiety: Biological (hormones, genetic predisposition) Environmental (social, psychological, technology/social media, FOMO, life experiences) Parents as therapists? Emotional intelligence Empowering parents with skills and tools to build emotional literacy The need for consistent language Parents, educators, therapists, child - getting on the same page! The power of relationship Parents want to fix things Undermining a child's capacity

Every Tuesday Dr Justin answers listener questions about making your family happier! Today we have questions about sibling friendships/conflict, and helping children learn emotional regulation. Question 1: What can parents do to make their children best friends, and how can sibling conflict/rivalry be eliminated?  Question 2: How can we control our 11 year old son's emotions so that he doesn't get bullied or teased due to his consistent crying at school when things don't go his way? In this episode: Conflict in every relationship is normal Rupture and repair Four main characteristics of sibling relationships How can we get our kids to like one another? The 3 Es of Effective Discipline (Explore, Explain, Empower) Gender differences in expression of emotions Externalised vs internalised emotions Emotion-focused coping vs problem-focused coping Maladaptive/adaptive strategies Making emotions 'King' Podcast with Lisa Damour Part 1 & Part 2 The Secret to Regulating Emotions . Related links:  10 Steps to Red