With the silly season just around the corner we share some simple tips to help navigate (or avoid entirely!) a meaty "Christmas Conundrum" - when disappointed children and disgruntled gift-givers collide.

 Topics in this episode:

• Justin's history of dodgy gift giving
• Being disappointed AND grateful
• The thought is important
• Having conversations before Christmas events
• How to do difficult conversations with extended family
• Forewarned is forearmed 

 

If you have a Christmas Conundrum you would like Justin and Kylie to solve, you can email your question to [email protected]

Find us on Facebook at Dr Justin Coulson's Happy Families

 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Worms, scooters and buckets, oh my! Today we share some personal stories of "nailing it and failing it" to help you be more intentional with your family. 

Topics in this episode:

• Connection before direction
• Flexible intention
• Homeschooling
• Worm farming
• Justin has a no good, very bad, terrible day and gets HANGRY
• Filling relationship buckets
• "People matter, things don't"

 

Find us on Facebook at Dr Justin Coulson's Happy Families

Email us your questions and comments at [email protected]

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

With only 54 days left until Christmas are you beginning to feel a little anxious about expenses? 

You can have honest conversations with your children about budgets and presents - and still keep the Magic of Christmas alive!

Topics in this episode:

• The joys and stress of shopping for gifts
• Materialism 
• Giving and receiving
• Anxiety over money
• Expectations and values
• Wants or needs?
• Santa
• Three E's of Effective Discipline
• Giving in fantasy what they can't have in reality
• Easing parental guilt at Christmas

Some Happy Families Christmas Articles:

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

Find us on Facebook at Dr Justin Coulson's Happy Families

Email us your questions and comments at [email protected]

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Raising teenagers can be hard even at the best of times. Trying to support our teens when they are struggling can feel like a dead-end street.

Dr Jo Prendergast shares the most important thing you can do that will make a difference for your teen when life just sucks.

Topics in this episode:

• When Life Sucks - Jo's new book
• Parents and self-regulation
• Emotions are contagious
• Deep breathing
• Being self-aware of your own triggers
• 'Ghosts in the nursery'
• Neurodiversity
• When does life suck for teens?
• 'The Three Rs of Great Parenting'
• Connected interactions

Learn more about The Teenage Brain in our FREE Happy Families Article.

Find us on Facebook at Dr Justin Coulson's Happy Families

Email us your questions and comments at [email protected]

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Worried that your low-achieving, school-hating, stressed and struggling child is ruining every chance of their future success?

Learn how to kindle the flame of curiosity in your child - and hear Justin share a poet's definition of success that will encourage and inspire any worried parent.

Topics in this episode:

• Curiosity
• Flaws of our educational system
• Lifelong learning
• Exams and stress
• Living up to expectations
• Anxiety and perfectionism in our kids
• Resilience
• External vs internal worth
• "Success is..." by Anonymous 

 

Find us on Facebook at Dr Justin Coulson's Happy Families

Email us your questions and comments at [email protected]

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Every young person needs to have a close, significant adult to talk to when they experience challenges in life. Sadly, new research has revealed that far too many adolescents do not feel listened to and aren’t speaking to anyone when they’re worried.

Dr Katrina Lines (CEO of Act for Kids, and registered psychologist) shares some simple ways to connect with your child that will encourage them to share their problems with you.

Topics in this episode:

• Speaking to a professional
• Act for Kids Campaign "Get Comfy Switching ON by Switching OFF"  - all the research stats, tip sheets and an animation
• Incidental conversation or "small talk"
• Being present
• Connection 
• Pressures of school, friendships, social media
• 3 basic psychological needs
• Mental health issues - anxiety, depression, poor sleep
• Fear of parental criticism or dismissal, or not being listened to

 

Enough: Overcoming Anxiety, Perfectionism, & Self Loathing - a Happy Families article

Find us on Facebook at Dr Justin Coulson's Happy Families

Email us your questions and comments at [email protected]

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Education is important. Completing high school is important. And yes, final exams are also important. But they are not MORE important than other things - like connection, resilience, hope, and wellbeing.

Nigel Howard is a Research associate at Flinders University, a former Secondary Principal, and currently studying for his PhD. As someone who sees the importance of education and knows the terrain of senior school/final exams both practically and academically, Nigel gives some terrific advice to parents and students currently facing the pressure of HSC exams.

Topics in this episode:

• Gap in school completion rates between city/country and high/low socioeconomic backgrounds
• Entry-level jobs and apprenticeships
• Why do kids stay at school? Why do others leave?
• The importance of listening to our children
• Specialised/alternative education
• Learning to pass exams vs learning how to apply knowledge
• National Study of Mental Health and Wellbeing, 2020-2022 | Australian Bureau of Statistics (abs.gov.au)
• Neurodiversity
• Responsiveness of schools to struggling students 
• How important is the ATAR system? What does it mean for schools?
• Resilience and success
• Articles in The Conversation written by Nigel Howard -
  • Parents have just started their own school in Sydney – this is part of a long tradition in Australia
  • 20% of Australian students don't finish high school: non-mainstream schools have a lot to teach us about helping kids stay
  • School attendance rates are dropping. We need to ask students why
  • Are flexible learning options giving schools a convenient way out of taking responsibility for 'difficult' students?

Listen to our “Failed at School, Successful at Life” series:

• #875 Failed at School, Successful at Life: Ian Steel
• #876 Failed at School, Successful at Life: Cam Barber
• #877 Failed at School, Successful at Life: Susan Rogers
• #878 Failed at School, Successful at Life: Tom O’Brien

Find us on Facebook at Dr Justin Coulson's Happy Families

Email us your questions and comments at [email protected]

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

School matters, and education is important... but they are not "the be-all and end-all".

Your graduating child can look forward to their future with excitement and positivity irrespective of grades or academic outcomes.

From humble beginnings growing up in the west of Ireland, to retiring at 41 years of age, Tom O'Brien shares his powerful story of how life can play out regardless of your level of formal education. 

Topics in this episode:

• Work ethic and motivation
• Do kids today need the 'safety net' of a university degree to get a good job?
• Opportunities - where and how to find them?
• Tools for success in life
• Chasing your passion
• When decisions need to be made - taking chances or playing it safe?
• When your child decides to drop out of school or university
• Opportunity, effort, and doing hard things
• How do we measure failure or success?

Listen to more  from our “Failed at School, Successful at Life” series:

• #875 Failed at School, Successful at Life: Ian Steel
• #876 Failed at School, Successful at Life: Cam Barber
• #877 Failed at School, Successful at Life: Susan Rogers
• #879 Why School Matters with Nigel Howard

Find us on Facebook at Dr Justin Coulson's Happy Families

Email us your questions and comments at [email protected]

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Is your child experiencing exam pressure, final year stress, or feeling burdened by expectations? Are they worried about their future? It's time to reassure them that it is going to be ok - THEY are going to be ok - regardless of academic results.

Listen in for fantastic advice and encouragement from Dr Susan Rogers, who graduated from high school at the age of 44 and then obtained a PhD in Music and Psychology (after working as Sound Engineer for Prince!).

 

Topics in this episode:

• Difficulties in youth when parents are unwell
• Bright kids, challenging circumstances
• Pursuing passions
• The Guardian - Prince's sound engineer, Susan Rogers: 'He needed to be the alpha male to get things done'
• "Lightbulb moments"
• Stepping into the world of the unknown after school
• Learning to listen to the voice within
• Mature-aged students
• Parental expectations
• Dr Susan Rogers' book - This is what it sounds like: What the music you love says about you
• Questions to ask your child - helping to figure out what success looks like for them

Listen to more  from our “Failed at School, Successful at Life” series:

• #875 Failed at School, Successful at Life: Ian Steel
• #876 Failed at School, Successful at Life: Cam Barber
• #878 Failed at School, Successful at Life: Tom O’Brien
• #879 Why School Matters with Nigel Howard

Find us on Facebook at Dr Justin Coulson's Happy Families

Email us your questions and comments at [email protected]

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Education is important - but how it looks differs for every child. The messages around education that we are delivering to our children need to develop their initiative, their character and their thinking skills - especially when it comes to their education. These conversations matter, because education matters to us all.

Today's guest is Cam Barber, who started as a public speaking coach, and then broadened out to leadership skills/marketing messages. His clients include Paramount Pictures and Hawthorn Football Club.

Topics in this episode:

• Cam Barber's story, and his bestselling book "What's Your Message".
• Homework and self-discipline
• The change from Primary School to Highschool in structure, routine, and overall ease
• Exchange Student Program, Tertiary/Tafe programs, work experience 
• Deferring University
• Twice gifted children
• Getting an education outside of the educational system 
• "Vivid" messages - valuable, customisable parenting messages 
• How to Help when School Sucks - a Happy Families article

Listen to more  from our “Failed at School, Successful at Life” series:

• #875 Failed at School, Successful at Life: Ian Steel
• #877 Failed at School, Successful at Life: Susan Rogers
• #878 Failed at School, Successful at Life: Tom O’Brien
• #879 Why School Matters with Nigel Howard

Find us on Facebook at Dr Justin Coulson's Happy Families

Email us your questions and comments at [email protected]

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.