Ever wondered how to go beyond the tinsel and treats of Christmas to create a truly holy and meaningful celebration? Justin and Kylie Coulson take you on a journey through the "Three Levels of Christmas," offering heartfelt ideas and inspiring stories to bring joy and purpose to your family’s holiday season.

Whether it's singing carols, setting up nativity scenes, or reflecting on deeper spiritual themes, this episode is full of inspiration for making Christmas a time of connection, love, and purpose.

In this episode:

• Understanding different perspectives & beliefs
• Creating a Christ-centred Christmas
• The three levels of Christmas:
  • Level 1: Santa Claus, gifts, & festive indulgence
  • Level 2: The nativity story & spiritual reflection
  • Level 3: Celebrating Jesus' life & message
• Ideas for making Christmas more meaningful, including carolling, nativity scenes, & giving back
• Stories from listeners about their faith-centred Christmas traditions

Related Links:

• Christmas Day and Divorced Families
• 10 Easy Traditions That Can Make Christmas Meaningful For Your Family
• Have I Ruined Christmas for My Child by Telling the Truth About Santa?

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Does Christmas gift-giving feel more like a burden than a joy as you try to find a balance between gift-giving and avoiding entitlement?

Dr. Justin Coulson and Kylie discuss how to preserve the magic of the season while avoiding the trap of indulgence and entitlement.

In this episode:

• Finding perspective
• Reflecting on the true meaning of Christmas
• Having zero agenda—relationships, games, joyful moments
• What to do when Christmas is hard
• Focusing on others—emphasising giving, kindness, and family traditions over materialism
• The Secret to Happiness? Giving.—Elizabeth Dunn research

Related Links:

• How to Unspoil your Kids this Christmas [Webinar]

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"Are we there yet?"

Long family road trips can definitely be painful, BUT they can also be a great opportunity for some quality family time! We share a list of some helpful road trip games to keep everyone entertained.

• I-spy
• Spotto
• I went to the shops and I bought
• The alphabet game
• Car cricket
• Old MacDonald Had A Farm
• The Goanna Gang
• Bingo
• This Is The Song That Never Ends
• Peel The Avocado
• The Fart Game
• Stay quiet or else!

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Some Christmas movies that will keep your children from getting underfoot while you get the gifts wrapped!

G-rated options:

• The Polar Express
• Klaus
• Arthur Christmas
• Elf
• Home Alone
• Santa Clause

Honourable (grown up) mentions:

• Christmas Chronicles
• Bad Santa
• The Holiday

Nativity movies:

• The Nativity Story (2006)
• Chasing The Star (2017)
• VeggieTales: The Little Drummer Boy (2011)
• The Star (2017)
• Journey to Bethlehem (a musical) (2023)
• The First Christmas (1998)

Purchase Tis the Season to be Cranky or How to Unspoil your Kids this Christmas

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Christmas is a time where we can really lean into and celebrate family traditions! 

Christmas traditions:

• Gifts, Santa. decorating
• Spending time with loved ones
• Advent, carols, the nativity
• Christmas Eve, stockings, pyjamas, Jolabokaflod
• Christmas ninjas - giving & serving others

Related Links:

• Take Back Christmas
• Family Traditions Help Kids Make Sense of Life

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Feel like you're drowning in a sea of Christmas "shoulds" and "musts" as a parent? Or that you're constantly running on empty, with no energy left to enjoy moments with your kids? 

This episode of I'll Do Better Tomorrow addresses the burnout that many parents experience during the holiday season and beyond. 

Listen in to hear Justin and Kyle share their own struggles and insights, as well as some helpful tips on how to break free from the cycle of exhaustion and find joy in the simple things again. 

In this episode:

• Kylies in a flunk in the lead up to Christmas, feeling burnt out and stressed
• Prioritising tasks
• Introjection motivation
• What is it that you want?
• Taking time to reflect on what has worked in the past for mental, physical, and emotional well-being
• Alfie Kohn
• Do one thing well
• Making time for loved ones

Related Links:

• Self Care Strategies That Really Work
• We Need to Talk About Parent Wellbeing [ Webinar ]
• Burnt Out [ FREE webinar ]

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This episode unpacks Australia's groundbreaking social media ban for kids under 16, set to roll out by Christmas 2025. With tech giants stepping up enforcement, parents are relieved, while teens face digital detoxes.

Join the discussion as we explore Prince Harry’s surprising critique, parents’ joys and woes, and strategies for tackling this new era of tech parenting.

In this episode:

• New legislation
• Australia's incoming social media ban cannot be considered overreach | Sky News 
• Bullying over social media
• Parental reactions
• Prince Harry's comments 
• Why Harry has it royally wrong on social media dangers | Daily Telegraph
• Implementation, digital IDs
• Navigating conversations with kids
• Acknowledging sadness and disappointment, FOMO
• The flow-on effect of the ban
• The 3 Es of Effective Discipline: Explore, Explain, Empower

Related Links:

• Super Solutions for Technology Troubles [Webinar]
• Unplug Childhood - join the village

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This episode takes a heartfelt turn as we delve into one of the most touching Christmas stories ever written—O. Henry’s The Gift of the Magi. Whether you’re a longtime fan of the tale or hearing it for the first time, its timeless message of love and sacrifice is sure to move you.

In this episode:

• A reflection on Christmas storytelling
• O. Henry’s The Gift of the Magi
• Sacrifice, love, and the spirit of giving

Related Links:

• 10 Easy Traditions That Can Make Christmas Meaningful For Your Family
  
• Gifts our Children Need For Christmas

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Christmas is almost here! In this festive episode, we share five simple yet impactful ways to elevate your holiday celebrations. Whether it’s through meaningful traditions, playful gift exchanges, or acts of kindness, we’re here to help you focus on what truly matters—time, connection, and joy.

In this episode:

• Focus on time together
• Fun with gifts
• Christmas Eve traditions
• Jolabokaflod - Icelandic book tradition
• Acts of service
• Neighbourhood connections

Related Links:

• Minimising Materialism this Christmas
  
• 10 Ways to ‘Unspoil’ the Children this Christmas

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As the end of the year closes in us, we take a look back at 2024 and the top five episodes you listened to this year.

Click on the links to go back and listen to an episode.

• Number 5 - #1041 Screens Suck
• Number 4 - #1042 Work & Home School Life Balance
• Number 3 - #1009 ADHD in Adults & Toddlers
• Number 2 - #1038 Managing Emotional Dysregulation
• Number 1 - #1055 Why The Kids Don't Listen

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