Dr Justin Coulson's Happy Families

When children need to talk, they'll give subtle clues that most parents miss completely. Recognising these moments and responding with actual listening—not advice, stories, or solutions—creates connections that last decades. The secret? Summarise what they say instead of steering the conversation. Most children never reveal their real issue first, which means parents who jump in with solutions are missing what their children truly need: to be understood. Quote of the Episode: "Understanding is the deepest hunger of the human heart." - Stephen Covey (quoted by Ross Judd) Key Points: Children rarely reveal their real issue first—they test the waters with a "safe" topic before sharing what's really bothering them. Look for unusual behaviour or emotional signals that indicate your child needs to talk. Taking control of the conversation prevents your child from getting to the deeper issue. The art of summarising (repeating back what your child has said) is the key to effective listening. Our bra