Dr Justin Coulson's Happy Families

By Dr Justin Coulson

Deciding which parenting advice to follow? Join the thousands of mums and dads who turn to Australia’s most downloaded parenting podcast.

Dr Justin Coulson and his wife Kylie bring real

... more

4.9

137137 ratings

FAQs about Dr Justin Coulson's Happy Families:

How many episodes does Dr Justin Coulson's Happy Families have?

The podcast currently has 1,602 episodes available.

Best of Dr Justin Coulson's Happy Families

The most played episodes among Podcast App listeners.

Number 1: 5 Things Happy Couples Do Weekly
Most relationships don't fall apart because of one big moment. They drift because of hundreds of tiny missed moments. In this episode, Dr Justin and Kylie Coulson unpack five surprisingly simple weekly habits that relationship therapists see again and again in happy, long-lasting couples. None of them require expensive date nights, grand romantic gestures or endless free time. From weekly check-ins to repairing arguments, these small rituals help couples stay connected through the chaos of work, parenting and everyday life. If you've ever felt like you're living alongside your partner instead of with them, this conversation offers practical ways to find your way back. KEY POINTS Why happy couples schedule weekly relationship check-ins. The simple conversation that builds connection instead of just swapping information. How one sentence can completely change the way you handle conflict. Why repairing arguments matters more than avoiding them. The surprising power of everyday touch with no expectations attached. Why therapists say connection matters more than traditional date nights. Small weekly habits create stronger relationships over time. QUOTE OF THE EPISODE "Happy couples don't do more. They schedule more." RESOURCES MENTIONED Stylist magazine article featuring relationship therapists. The Gottman Institute's six-second kiss concept. Happy Families family meeting framework. ACTION STEPS FOR PARENTS Set aside 20 minutes each week to talk about family logistics before they become arguments. Spend five to ten minutes each day checking in beyond "How was your day?" When conflict arises, begin with, "The story I told myself was..." before sharing your feelings. Add more everyday affection with hugs, hand holding or a quick kiss that doesn't have to lead anywhere. Replace the pressure of a perfect date night with one simple activity you both enjoy every week. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
August 16, 202617min
Number 2: Can We Ban Laptops From Primary School?
We put laptops and tablets into classrooms with a promise that technology would improve education. Nearly two decades later, parents and teachers are asking a confronting question: Did we get it wrong? Justin speaks with Danny Alachi, founder of the Heads Up Alliance, and Victorian high school teacher Steph Challis about the push to reduce screen use in Australian schools. They unpack classroom distraction, declining literacy, the value of handwriting and physical books, and why teaching digital skills doesn’t require kids to spend every lesson behind a screen. They also explain a new national petition calling for no one-to-one devices in primary schools, books and paper to become the default in high school, a pause on generative AI in classrooms, safer evidence-based educational apps, and a renewed focus on reading and handwriting. KEY POINTS Why one-to-one devices may be doing more harm than good in primary classrooms The distraction problem teachers are seeing when laptops are open Why books, handwriting and paper still matter for learning The difference between teaching digital literacy and teaching through a screen Why technology should have to prove it improves learning before schools adopt it The five changes the Heads Up Alliance wants Australian schools to make QUOTE OF THE EPISODE “Schools need to remember what they're for. They're there to teach children how to learn.” Steph Challis RESOURCES MENTIONED Heads Up Alliance Sign the petition ACTION STEPS FOR PARENTS Look at how devices are being used in your child’s classroom, not simply whether they are being used. Ask your school when screens genuinely improve learning and when books, paper and handwriting could work better. Read the petition and sign it if you support the proposed changes. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
August 30, 202618min
Number 3: The Baby Screen Habit Parents Need to Break
One in three babies is using a phone or tablet by six months old. By age two, almost one in ten is averaging around four hours of screen time a day. New research into screen use during the first years of life has landed with a confronting warning for parents. Justin and Kylie unpack what researchers call “digital soothing”, why screens can crowd out the interactions babies need for healthy development, and what parents can do when zero screen time feels almost impossible. KEY POINTS 16% of Australian three and four year olds had recently used TikTok, YouTube or Instagram. More than half of children are using phones or tablets by their first birthday. Why researchers are concerned about using screens to soothe, comfort and entertain babies. How screens can replace the face-to-face “serve and return” interactions that build language and thinking skills. Higher screen exposure in the early years is linked with poorer sleep, delayed language and cognitive development, weaker social skills and poorer later school performance. Why watching together is different from leaving a young child alone with a device. QUOTE OF THE EPISODE “The first thousand days build the brain. Work hard to get that right.” RESOURCES MENTIONED eSafety Commissioner’s Growing Up Online report Jonathan Haidt’s After Babel Substack New systematic review of global research into screen use during the first 1,001 days of life ACTION STEPS FOR PARENTS Aim for as close to zero screen time as possible during the first two years. Don’t rely on a device as your child’s regular comforter or distraction. Prioritise talking, playing, moving and face-to-face interaction. When screen time does happen, watch and engage together rather than handing over the device. Look at what screen time is replacing, not only what your child is watching. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
August 26, 202618min
Number 4: Why Kids Lie and What to Do About It (a Listener Q&A)
Your five-year-old tells a whopping great lie at Show and Tell. Do you correct them, call them out, or let it go? Lying can push every parental button, but for young kids, stretching the truth can be a surprisingly normal sign of cognitive development. Justin and Kylie explain why kids lie, what their tall tales might be trying to tell us, and why cracking down can make children better at hiding the truth. The goal isn't to catch your child out. It's to understand what they need and make honesty safe. KEY POINTS By age four, around 80% of children will lie in experimental settings. Convincing lies require "theory of mind", the ability to understand what another person thinks or believes. Sometimes exaggeration is less about dishonesty and more about wanting connection, belonging, competence, or status. Punitive responses can encourage children to become better at lying rather than more honest. Avoid fact-checking or embarrassing your child in the moment. Give kids an "off-ramp" from a lie by asking curious questions instead of accusing them. Build the skills and relationships underneath the story so your child doesn't need to exaggerate to feel valued. QUOTE OF THE EPISODE "Kids tell the truth when it's safe to tell the truth." RESOURCES MENTIONED Theory of mind and children's cognitive development Research on lying and child development Happy Families resources on helping kids build friendships ACTION STEPS FOR PARENTS Stay calm. A young child's lie isn't automatically a red flag. Look underneath it. Ask whether your child is seeking connection, competence, attention, or belonging. Don't shame or ridicule them. Especially in front of other people. Give them an off-ramp. Try, "Which parts did you do?" rather than catching them out. Make honesty safe. Harsh punishment can make telling the truth feel too costly. Build real competence. Help them practise the skill so next time they can proudly say, "I did it myself." See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
August 24, 202617min
Number 5: How Birth Order Affects Your Future
Firstborns tend to earn more, study longer and experience better mental health than their younger siblings. For decades, researchers have struggled to explain why. A huge study following 1.2 million Danish children has uncovered a surprising piece of the puzzle. It may have less to do with personality or favouritism and more to do with germs, early illness and the extra time firstborns get with their parents. In this episode, Justin and Kylie unpack what birth order research actually tells us, why the first six months matter so much, and the simple things parents can do to help level the playing field. KEY POINTS Firstborns show small but consistent advantages in earnings, education and mental health across large population studies. Younger siblings are more likely to be exposed to respiratory illnesses during their first year, often brought home by older siblings. Early illness may explain a significant portion of the birth order gap. Firstborns can receive thousands more hours of reading, talking and playing with parents by age 13. Birth order is not destiny. These findings describe population averages, not what will happen to an individual child. Parents can reduce some of these differences through illness prevention, connection and intentional one-on-one time. QUOTE OF THE EPISODE “Your youngest child is not doomed, your eldest is not blessed.” RESOURCES MENTIONED Article in The Washington ACTION STEPS FOR PARENTS Keep recommended immunisations up to date and discuss newborn protection with your healthcare provider. Breastfeed if you can and if it works for your family. Get older siblings washing their hands when they come home from school or daycare. Keep sick siblings away from newborns, particularly during the first six months. Make space for one-on-one reading, talking and play with younger children. Forget the stopwatch. Aim to be available and connected rather than trying to divide your attention perfectly equally. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
August 19, 202615min