Dr Justin Coulson's Happy Families

Latest Episodes:

#1064 - Q&A: Light Sleepers & Light Fingers Aug 26, 2024

Show notes

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
Co-sleeping
Evolving ideas around childhood
Building connection, wellbeing, belonging
Emotional regulation
Sleep matters!
Thumb-sucking
Low impulse control and executive function
Theory of mind
What to do if your child is stealing
Explore, explain, empower
Teaching values

Related Links:

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#1063 - Hurting Kids on Purpose Aug 25, 2024

Show notes

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. Minnesota Already Made Some of Them Into Law | After Babel Substack | Ravi Dyer
META whistleblower reports
Social media algorithms
Prioritising engagement over content quality
Kids exposed to unwanted contact, sexual advances
REPORT on addictive design of online services and consumer protection in the EU single market | European Parliament
What is persuasive design?
Unplug Childhood - sign the pledge

Related Links:

#1002 Kylie Can’t Get Enough Snapchat
#1060 – No Hang-Ups With School Phone Bans (Heads Up Alliance interview)
Unplugging Parenthood
The Screen Smart Series: Unplug Childhood + Tweens, Teens & Screens

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#1062 - Who Let the Dog Out? Aug 22, 2024

Show notes

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 intentionality
Screens

Related Links:

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#1061 - This Week in Parenting: Raygun, Lost High-Fives & Panic Attacks Aug 21, 2024

Show notes

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 banned from high-fiving kids as they walk to school.
A fascinating story on reversing autism highlights the need for good-quality research and responsible reporting.
There's a mental health crisis among our young people: why are we getting it so wrong, and what needs to be done?

In this episode:

"Raygun" Olympic breakdancing controversy
Turning media hype into constructive conversation, critical thinking, and empathy
Hidden signs of panic attacks
Presenter has panic attack live on the ABC
Support structures for mental health
Open communication and understanding in the workplace
Brutal nature of social media
Beloved lollipop man banned from high-fiving primary students after parent complaint | News.com.au
Responsible reporting
‘Autism can be reversed’, scientists claim | The Telegraph
Safeguarding mental health of Australian youth
Major contributors to the rise in mental health challenges
‘Danger zone’ for mental health, says global study | The Australian

Related Links:

#990 Mental Health Challenges with Anne Hollonds

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#1060 - No Hang-Ups With School Phone Bans Aug 20, 2024

Show notes

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 environment in Australian schools
Empirical vs anecdotal evidence
Behavioural challenges in schools
Mental health, bullying, academic outcomes
Catholic and Independent Schools
Deep Work: Rules for Focused Success in a Distracted World by Cal Newport
The Anxious Generation by Jonathan Haidt
Dr Michael Carr-Gregg: “A no brainer from the university of bleeding obvious”
THE HEADS UP ALLIANCE | Instagram, Facebook Linktree

Related Links:

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#1059 - Q&A: Reality Check & Conforming at Kindy Aug 19, 2024

Show notes

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
Potential life-long ramifications
Pros and cons of participating
Questions to ask the producer
Conformity is a dirty word!
Arguments for and against conformity
Importance of context
Motivation
Teachers usually know what they're talking about!
Gain child's perspective
Explore solutions with child

Relevant Links:

What to do when kids won’t listen [Webinar]

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#1058 - NAPLAN Nation: Failing our Kids Aug 18, 2024

Show notes

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 Award (Australia’s most prestigious journalism award).

In this episode:

2024 NAPLAN results
Epic fail: NAPLAN reveals one in three students below standard | Natasha Beta
View a video version of Natasha's story on YouTube
Screens in schools
Schools manipulating NAPLAN data
Positives of NAPLAN
Impact of teacher shortages and wellbeing on student learning
Going back to basics (phones etc)

Read more from Natasha on The Australian's website.

Doors are now open to the Happy Families Membership

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#1057 - Getting the Guideposts Right Aug 15, 2024

Show notes

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:

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.

#1055 - Why the Kids Don't Listen Aug 13, 2024

Show notes

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

Relevant Links:

How to Get Your Kids to Really Listen [PDF download]

Doors are now open to the Happy Families Membership

NEW weekly kids’ ‘Print & Play’ subscription FELT (Fostering Emotional Learning Together)

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Subscribe to the Happy Families newsletter

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

#1054 Q&A: 24/7 Tech & School vs Home Behaviour Aug 12, 2024

Show notes

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?

In this episode: