Dr Justin Coulson's Happy Families

Latest Episodes:

#1053 - Is Risky Play Worth the Risk? Aug 11, 2024

Show notes

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:

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.

#1052 - Other People Matter Aug 08, 2024

Show notes

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:

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.

#1051 - From the Doctor's Desk: Peanut Allergies & ASD Touch Reactions Aug 07, 2024

Show notes

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 issues, autism
Differences in neurodivergent vs neurotypical response to touch
Consent
Autonomic and hedonic response to affective touch in autism spectrum disorder - Capiotto - 2024 - Autism Research - Wiley Online Library

Relevant Links:

Tech giants are ANTI-kids
Unplug Childhood - join the village today
#1016 – From The Doctor’s Desk: Touch Good, Anger Bad

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.

#1050 - Adam Voigt: What's Really Going On In the Classroom Aug 06, 2024

Show notes

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 newsletter

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

#1049 Q&A - The Benefits of Plants & Grandparents Aug 05, 2024

Show notes

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 newsletter

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

#1048 - Raising an Olympian Aug 04, 2024

Show notes

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 information.

#1047 - Playing To Win (and Losing the Plot) Aug 01, 2024

Show notes

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 omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

#1046 - A Very Peachy Book Club Jul 31, 2024

Show notes

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:

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.

#1045 - The Art & Science of Family Meetings Jul 30, 2024

Show notes

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 Families newsletter

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

#1044 - Q&A: Tearaway Toddlers & Staying in School Jul 29, 2024

Show notes

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: