Dr Justin Coulson's Happy Families

Both mums and dads are spending more time with their kids than ever, which is great! But is the time we are spending with our children today “quality” time?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

How do we warn our children of potential dangers without disempowering them? Dr Justin gives some practical suggestions on how to have those difficult conversations.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Every parent wishes their children would listen to them more. But, how well do we really listen to them? When we stop, look and listen to our children we are letting them know that they are worthy of our time. In this week’s podcast episode Dr Justin Coulson shares some simple strategies for making sure your children receive the one-on-one attention and nurture they deserve. Links mentioned in this episode: * What Your Child Needs From You * Have Dr Justin speak at your school or organization * Toilet Training: As easy as one, two, wee More on this topic: * Stop, Look and Listen to Your Kids * 7 Ways to Really Listen So Your Child Shares More * 18 Ways to a More Resilient Child * Please turn off your phone FREE DOWNLOADSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Sleep is not a luxury item, but many of today’s teens aren’t getting enough and it’s having a detrimental effect for many of them long into the future. Devices have crept into the bedroom and many teens are losing sleep because they’re spending all night on social media and playing games. A recent study has found that a teenager that is always tired is 4.5 times more likely to commit a crime as an adult. In this week’s podcast episode Dr Justin looks at the research from this study and explores some of the circumstances that cause this link. Links mentioned in this episode: * 21 Days to a Happier Family * 21 Days to a Happier Family Online Video Course * Have Dr Justin speak at your school or organisation Related articles: * Why a teenager’s brain is like a Ferrari with bicycle brakes * Kids need smart parents, not smart phones * My teen treats our home like a hotel Super Solutions for Technology Troubles: For children from toddlers to teens This video presentation has helped thousands of parents and their children understand what screens are doing in our lives, and how they can enjoy them in healthy, balanced ways so that the other parts of their lives can be as successful as their advancement through the levels of their favourite game. Available as DVD or instand downloadGET IT TODAYSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We’ve all had ‘one of those days’ with our kids where we seem to butting heads with each other all day. There’s no avoiding it. Those days do happen. So how do we survive them as parents and ensure our children continue to thrive? There is no one simple answer – different situations call for different solutions. In this week’s episode Dr Justin Coulson shares some ideas to keep in mind and give a go next time you’re having ‘one of those days’. Links mentioned in this episode: * Parenting workshop with Dr Justin Coulson (DVD/Download) * Have Dr Justin speak at your school or organisation More on this topic: * The kids are out of control * How do I control my child’s outbursts * My 4 year old goes from angel to absolute #devilchildSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

You talk and you talk and you talk and there’s a blank look on their face. You ask a question and they walk the other way as if they haven’t heard you. So you ask louder, then you yell and shout to get our child’s attention. Does it work? No. But you still do it over and over again. In this week’s episode Dr Justin Coulson shares his top 3 tips to get your children to really listen. Links mentioned in this episode: * 21 Days to a Happier Family book * 21 Days to a Happier Family online video program * Have Dr Justin speak at your school or organisation More on this topic: * How do I get my 3 year old to listen? * Why doesn’t my 4 year old ever listen? Free download: * How to get your kids to really listen audio download and cheat sheetSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Kids these days are addicted to their devices. My child spends way too much time on screens. How do I get my child to put down his phone and go outside? One of the biggest concerns for modern parents is the amount of time their children are spending on screens and the effect this is having on their health, relationships and wellbeing. But while we are all busy being so concerned, research tells us that parents aren’t setting a very good example and this is having a detrimental effect on our relationships. In this week’s episode Dr Justin will help you identify if you have a technology problem and shares some simple ways to modify your behaviour that will have a big impact on your relationships with each other and with your kids. Links mentioned in this episode: * Have Dr Justin speak at your school or organisation * Parenting Workshop (video seminar) More on this topic: * Is my mother-in-law ruining my child with screens? * 5 Ways to set screen time limits with your children * How to banish tech and make mealtimes matter * What do you get when you cross a toddler with an ipad * Please turn off your phone * Kids need smart parents, not smart phones Resources: * FREE Technology Tickets * FREE Colourful Connection * Super Solutions for Technology TroublesSuper Solutions for Technology Troubles available on DVD and as an instant downloadSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Does it matter how old you are when you have children? It’s a controversial topic and there is no definitive answer. In this week’s episode Dr Justin Coulson looks at the research, in particular a recent correlational study looking at the advantages and disadvantages associated with the age a mother is when she has a child. Dr Justin explains how health and physicality, stability of relationships, life experience, psychological maturity and psychological flexibility all play a part in the type of mother you’re likely to be, depending on your age. Links mentioned in this episode: * Time Out Is Not Your Only Option * Have Dr Justin speak at your school or organisation * Controlled Crying: Is it safe? How to be the best parent you can be, no matter what age: * What Your Child Needs From You * 21 Days to a Happier FamilySee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

“When I was your age…” We’ve all heard our parents say it and some of us may have even said it ourselves. Every generation believes children are losing the art of respect. In this episode Dr Justin explores: * the difference between obedience and respect and how it is unfair to our children to confuse the two * how to deal with a child who has anxiety issues and whose behaviour may be perceived by others as disrespectful * the problem with asking for respect in disrespectful ways * the importance of modelling high levels of respect in our everyday lives Links mentioned in this episode:Have Justin speak at your school or organisation21 Days to a Happier Family You may also like: * 6 Strategies for Respectful RelationshipsSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

If your child was the victim of sexting would they tell you? And if so, would you know what to do? In this week’s podcast episode Dr Justin Coulson shares a personal story regarding one of his daughters who received a request for nude images from a so called friend. Find out how Dr Justin dealt with the situation and what he learned from the experience. “Sexist, abusive and toxic messages are everywhere in the media. The exploitation of girls and young women rockets through primary school and into the teens. But it’s in the younger years that we can make girls strong and free. 10 Things Girls Need Most outlines a radically different girlhood – more connection with nature, more time, peace, affection, and no pressure to start school young, to compete or worry about their looks or clothes.”See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Whether or not smacking children is effective or even acceptable is a topic that polarises people in today’s society. Many believe we’ve become too soft and need to bring back ‘old-school’ parenting – without shame or remorse. Those who are in favour often make the argument that they were smacked and still turned out fine. But, imagine if our children grew up saying they turned out well because of the way they were parented rather than in spite of the way they were parented. In this week’s podcast episode Dr Justin Coulson explains how discipline is different from punishment.If you’d like to discover simple strategies and ideas for disciplining your children in ways that work, and that reduce or eliminate parental guilt then download my ebook Time Out is Not Your Only Option today (just $9.99). The principles and strategies you’ll read are based on some of the very best psychological research that the world has to offer. And when you begin to practise them you’ll notice the difference in your children, and they will notice the difference in you.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Establishing a routine is important for children and adults. We do better and feel more secure when life is predictable, and we get more done. A lot of parents don’t like the idea of a routine because they think it means there is no room for flexibility and spontaneity. In this week’s podcast episode Dr Justin Coulson explains how to implement a simple routine that allows you to have fun and flexibility, but also gives you a framework to come back to when things aren’t going right.For more on the benefits of routine and how to implement one that works for your family, take advantage of our special offer to save $50 off my 21 Days to a Happier Family online video program. Click here and enter the coupon code ‘PODCAST’.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Family, parenting and marriage – all of these are important relationships in our home and they can be tough work sometimes. To make them work, we need to make them a priority. In this week’s podcast episode Dr Justin Coulson talks about marriage. Quality time with our spouse or partner can often go by the wayside, especially when our children are of an age where they need a lot of attention. So how can we give our marriage the attention it deserves? This week, Dr Justin shares some simple to implement tips to keep your marriage on track.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Do you lose your cool with your kids? Do you feel like you’re constantly yelling? In this week’s podcast episode I share my top 4 tips for keeping our anger in check and stay calm and be kind to our children (even when we think they don’t deserve it).See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

No parent is perfect. We have all been totally terrible parents at some time or other. This week’s podcast episode is a humorous look at what makes a totally terrible parent (and a gentle reminder of how to be a great one). If you’d rather be a totally awesome parent rather than a totally terrible one, take advantage of our special offer to save $50 off my 21 Days to a Happier Family online video program. Click here and enter the coupon code ‘PODCAST’.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We all know the phrase “sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me.” And while this may be the case for adults (but not always), unfortunately, when it comes to our children, it’s just not true. The words we use with our children when they are displaying challenging behaviour can be just as damaging as if we were smacking them. Scientists have found that the same areas of the brain light up when we experience psychological pain from verbal punishment as when we experience physical pain. That’s why it is so important to choose the right words when speaking to our children. In this week’s podcast episode Dr Justin Coulson explains the 7 things we should never say to our children and what to say (or do) instead.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Do we need to teach our kids to “toughen up”? Are we molly-coddling our kids too much? We all want our children to succeed but we are often so tired or busy that it’s often easier to do things ourselves. Unfortunately, this takes away all those small opportunities for our children to develop resilience. In this episode Dr Justin Coulson explores the idea of resilience and de-bunks some common myths. He talks about finding the right balance between holding your child’s hand and stepping back to allow them to gain the competence, and thus the confidence, to do things for themselves or face challenging times. For more on building resilience in your child check out Dr Justin Coulson’s book 9 Ways to a Resilient ChildSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this podcast episode Dr Justin Coulson will help you discover your child’s love language so that you can always make sure they know they are loved. Inspired by The Five Love Languages by Gary Chapman, Dr Justin identifies the two major love languages that everyone speaks – TIME and UNDERSTANDING – and explores the three additional love languages – TOUCH ME, TELL ME, SHOW ME – which differ from person to person. He explains that when we can identify someone’s love language and then express love to that person, in the way they like it to be expressed, it is wonderful for the relationship. And this applies to our children too.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Studies show that Australian kids aren’t doing enough active play and aren’t taking part in as much active transportation as they used to (eg. walking or riding a bike to school). The current obesity epidemic in Australia is just one symptom of this. In this podcast episode Dr Justin discusses the reasons why Aussie kids are not spending enough time outside, the detrimental effect that this has on their wellbeing and what we as parents can do about it. If you’re interested in learning more about a healthy digital diet for your children check out Dr Justin’s Super Solutions for Technology Troubles for Children from Toddlers to Teens and also his free Technology Tickets.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

When life puts you in a tight spot, don’t ask, ‘Why me?’ Instead, stand tall and say, ‘Try me!’ We’ve all heard the term ‘Post Traumatic Stress’ but what about ‘Post Traumatic Growth’? What if instead of letting life’s challenges and difficult times make us anxious and stressed, we focused on how the experience would strengthen us? This simple change in perspective can be extremely empowering as it allows us to look at adversity as an opportunity to build strength and character. It reminds us that we are who we are because of the challenges we have overcome. But how do we nurture this resilient mindset in our kids, and in ourselves? This episode explores the term ‘Post Traumatic Growth’ and explains how it can help us, and our kids, become more resilient. Post Traumatic Growth is explored further in the first chapter of my book 9 Ways to a Resilient Child.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

When you’re a parent who works full-time, or even part-time, how do you prioritise connection with your kids? Whether we work from home or outside the home, our children want us in their lives and we want to be in their lives. But of course, that’s not always possible. It’s not always practical to go to every school event and sports game. How do we know which ones matter most? And how do we overcome the guilt when we really can’t be there? Our children need to feel like they’re important in our lives. But how do we do that when we have so many competing priorities? Creating clear boundaries, getting creative and keeping communication open is key. And it doesn’t have to take long! This podcast provides some simple strategies for making sure your kids feel like they matter (because they do).See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Think of the times that your parenting has been its best. Those times where you were unconditionally there for your child and it felt right. Show Notes When I ask parents to tell me about those times, these are the answers I hear: * Dinner time conversations * Holidays with no agendas * Weekends at the park or the beach * Playing games in the lounge room * Walking and talking * The last ten minutes each night when I tuck them in and we just chat It seems that time together, really focusing on one another, is the most profound and powerful way for us to build strong relationships and feel like great parents. No parent has ever told me they felt like they were being the best parent they could be while they did overtime at the office, snuck away for an anniversary weekend, or watched a late-night movie. While getting some ‘me-time’ or providing for the family can help us to be good parents, it seems that ‘we-time’, or time together has the potential to bring out the best in us and our kids. This podcast looks at five research-backed ways to help you be the best parent you can be, and also bring out the best in your children. In Ask Dr Justin we’ll look at guidance-based discipline for a little boy who won’t stop hitting mum. And information about how you can access a HUGE discount on the 21 Days to a Happier Family online video program.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this podcast we’re looking at how to make the Internet Invasion – the Screen Tsunami – less cumbersome, exhausting, and outright punishing on the entire family. Show Notes Screens are here to stay and our kids are all over them! They know more than us in many cases, and they want to be on there! And when I ask parents what their biggest challenge is with tech, the answer is almost universal – we just want them to turn it off! * 1:17 60 second psychology – what rules should parents have for tech… according to the kids? * 3:08 What’s the biggest issue that your children face with tech? * 4:48 How much are your children on devices and screens? * 5:40 How do you deal with children refusing to get off a screen? * 7:10 The Screen Tsunami * 7:45 Screens and Relationships * 13:25 Screens and Sleep * 16:01 Screens and Wellbeing * 17:45 Top Tips for having a Healthy Relationship with your Phone * 20:10 3 minute therapy – Oppositional Defiant Disorder * 23:58 3 minute therapy – Reward charts * 27:00 Five suggestions to help challenging children * 31:05 $50 Discount for the 21 Days to a Happier Family online programSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

For episode 14 of the Happy Families podcast we’re looking into discipline. What is it? How is it working for you? What makes for the best kind of discipline? We’ll investigate the 7 reasons punishments don’t work, and take a close look at what great discipline is all about. Show Notes A new segment starts in this episode: 60 second psychology. Today’s research article looks at the impact of parenting style on teenagers decisions around prosocial behaviour, friendship choices, alcohol and other drug use, and academic efforts… and the results may surprise you. And in my 3-minute therapy session a mum asks how to stop the cycle of abuse in her home. It’s an important and challenging question. * 1:43 60 second psychology * 3:55 Punishment as discipline * 4:22 YOUR SAY: What do you think of when you hear the word, discipline? * 5:29 YOUR SAY: What kinds of discipline do most parents rely on? * 6:58 The really unusual response * 7:18 What is punishment? * 7:28 What is discipline? * 7:58 7 reasons punishment is bad for our kids * 11:58 YOUR SAY: How long does punishment work for? * 12:58 YOUR SAY: How does your family feel when you use punishment? * 14:00 What to do for discipline * 18:40 Three minute therapy – stopping the cycle of abuseSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In today’s podcast: Innocence lost. We’re talking about the public health crisis that is pornography and the way that it’s affecting our children. Note – In this podcast I’ll be discussing content that is of a highly sensitive nature. In the past few weeks I attended a conference about pornography and the way it harms young people. On Tuesday February 9, activist group Collective Shout hosted Australia’s first symposium on the harm that pornography does to children. Experts from all backgrounds agree: pornography is hurting our children. I’m going to spend some time sharing things that were reinforced at the conference that EVERY parent needs to know about – because the reality is that your children WILL see pornography. And in today’s podcast, specific tips for every parent for how to deal with pornography in your children’s lives. Show Notes The following resources and people can provide additional information for people who are interested in this topic:Basically… porn is everywhere. A report from the UK Children’s Commissioner. Website: It’s time we talked.Maree Crabbe– Reality and RiskMelinda Tankard Reist * 2:40 Am I the only parent worried about this? * 6:45 How old are children when first see pornography? * 7:45 How children see pornography at school * 12:45 Children are seeing pornography BEFORE they’ve ever held someone’s hand * 18:30 How old should your children be before you talk about pornography? * 19:20 What does pornography teach our children? * 26:50 How does a 14 year-old girl get convinced to send nude images to a boy at school? * 31:15 How do we talk to a child about pornography? * 34:30 A sample conversation about pornography with your child * 40:25 Wrap up Save $40 on 21 Days to a Happier Family online program – This is a special offer ONLY for Newsletter and Podcast subscribers. This week only, save $40 on 21 Days to a Happier Family – the online program – by using the code “giveme40” at the checkout. Make your family happier, and save!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Show Notes I speak to people almost every day who are struggling with their family relationships. Parents are tired of their children’s challenging behaviour. Children are stressed and struggling to live up to the perfection their parents demand. And frankly, some of the families I deal with are in real trouble… I remember one parent of a teenager who was tremendously aggressive, and I could not do or say anything that could convince him to consider that his attitude was toxic to his relationship with his daughter. It was all her fault. He wasn’t doing anything wrong… but the sad truth is he barely registered just how much trouble their relationship was in. In this podcast, we’ll review 5 ways we can know that our relationship is in trouble. * 0:00 Intro * 2:47 5 Ways to Know Your Relationship With Your Children is in Trouble * 10:20 Three minute therapy: How to handle angry children * 18:34 Are parents servants?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this week’s podcast – Do you know someone who is always right? They can’t be convinced otherwise, even when they’re absolutely wrong. Show notes To start off this podcast, we’re going to get a little deep, and investigate how we do this as parents, and what it does to our children. I hope you’re open to exploring a little inside yourself, and considering how you see the world… because this is going to be a challenging thing to consider. And do you ever find yourself telling porky pies – little lies – to your children? One mum has told her daughter a BIG ONE… and she’s asked me for some advice in Dr Justin’s three minute therapy. * 2:24 – People who are always right * 11:12 – Three minute therapy – is it ok to lie to children? * 17:37 – Tips for a happy familySee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Is there a way to be happy that feels best for you? Do you seek happiness in the same predictable patterns? Over recent decades, researchers have considered the different ways we might be oriented to happiness. They’ve developed a model of 3 orientations – or pathways – to happiness and we’ll explore them briefly in today’s podcast. Show notes I think it’s fair to say that we all want to be happy… and perhaps even “happy – er”. But how do we get there? What can we do to make ourselves lastingly happier? Is it even possible. Today, we explore 3 orientations to happiness – or perhaps we might call them pathways. These pathways are: * Hedonic Happiness * Engagement/Flow * Eudaimonic Happiness Throughout this podcast we’ll take a close look at each of these ways of being happy, and explore some simple things you can do to implement them more into your daily life.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Forgiveness is a challenge. Someone does something you don’t like. Forgiving them is not a typical reaction. Whether it’s as simple as having someone cut you off while you’re driving, or something as dramatic and horrific as being hurt, or having a loved one taken from you. Some might say, “Why should I forgive?” And others might say, “I refuse to forgive.” This podcast looks at what forgiveness is, what forgiveness is not, and then we dive into 5 steps to forgiveness that can eliminate resentment and anger in your life, and build greater positivity and happiness at a personal level, and in our families. I also offer some parenting advice to a mum whose daughter was involved in a car accident, and now she doesn’t want to drive in the car – and freaks out if things feel scary. Show notes Lack of forgiveness increases the body’s production of stress hormones, and impacts on our relationships and wellbeing. In contrast, choosing to forgive has a measurable impact on our physiology, and makes us happier. Here are my five steps to forgiveness: * Acknowledge what happened * Empathise * Get perspective * Let it go * Repeat as necessary – and it will be necessarySee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We usually think that we’ll be ‘happy’ when we get that thing. It might be a job, a degree, a child, a child at school, a car, the house, the holiday, or something else we’re pining for. In this week’s Positivity Podcast, we take a look at something a little bit bizzare. While those things can – and do – make us happy, there’s something else much bigger, much more powerful, and far more life-changing that boosts our positivity AND makes the world (and the lives of others) phenomenally better. Also in today’s positivity podcast, I’ll chat with you about taming toddler tantrums. What to do, what not to do, and why. Show notes In today’s podcast there really aren’t any “tips” for me to share. However, you may be interested in the following links to articles that describe the research I’ve discussed here. Note, I’m not linking to the scholarly work if I’ve been able to find a simpler version to share. For more about giving money, see this article by Dunn and Norton. For more about how we spend our time (hedonic or eudaimonic behaviour), see this article by Mike Steger and Todd Kashdan. To know how helping helps make us happier when we are not being ‘controlled’, see this article by Netta Weinstein and Rich Ryan.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this positivity podcast, I’m talking ‘optimism’ – not so much the glass is half full kind of optimism – although that’s important. Rather, I’m talking about looking for good things to come. And I’ll share some strategies to help you – and your children, your staff, or your students – to be more optimistic. For my Ask Dr Justin segment I’m answering a question from a mum who is thinking about leaving her partner, and wants to know if the kids will be ok. It’s a tough one, but I’ve got some ideas that should be helpful. Plus some announcements, and optimistic inspiration to finish off the podcast. Show notes Optimism is an antidote to depression, and it builds resilience. It gives us something to look forward to. Here are five strategies to develop and optimise optimism that I expand on in the podcast: * Emphasise “yet” * Focus on what you can control * Focus on the end, rather than now * Learn about mindsets, and our capacity for change * Avoid the superficial And the special bonus – talk with people about what they’re looking forward to! Especially the kidsSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In my last few podcasts I’ve talked about the problems with praise – and promised I would address the issue in full in a podcast. Now a warning – this one is a little sciencey, and I do talk about a lot of research. But that’s because praising children is something we’ve been told to do for decades, so for someone to say not to do it – well, that’s kinda weird. I’ll also help out a parent who is struggling with a toddler who keeps on lashing out and hitting. And I have one of those parenting hacks that are so obvious – but so easily overlooked – for when the kids are bored and need some stimulation. This week’s parenting hack Cushions and blankets… that’s all I’m saying here. You’ll need to listen to the podcast to find out why 🙂See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this week’s podcast we’re taking a look at the remarkably controversial topic of pocket money for kids. It seems like there’s no shortage of opinions about what age, how much, whether there should be increases and how often, whether it should be tied to chores… and so on. And parents devise some pretty elaborate pocket money schemes! I should know, because I’ve got one. In today’s podcast I’m going to tell you what researchers have discovered about pocket money, and how I have used that to develop a pocket money strategy that is stupendously successful for my family in terms of getting the kids excited about saving, but also helping them have a balanced, healthy approach to spending. I think you’re going to love it! In my Ask Dr Justin segment, we’ll take a look at what to do with a toddler who keeps getting into his parents’ bed in the middle of the night and interrupting EVERYONE’S sleep. And a cool parenting hack to keep your iphone safe from little hands exploring things you would rather they didn’t. Show notes How our family does pocket money: * Create a budget for each child with savings, spendings, and donations. * Set goals with each child to achieve with savings * Track goals on a weekly or fortnightly basis in an exercise book so they can monitor their progress * Offer mini-incentives to help them reach new and better targets For more information about each of these, take a listen to the podcast. This week’s parenting hackGuided Access from Apple is a brilliant way of keeping your iphone safe, even when your children are using it.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In last week’s podcast, we were reminded of the wonderful things we can say to our children to build them up, make them feel amazing, grow their resilience, and improve family life. This week, we’re turning the tables and looking at some of those things we say to our kids in the heat of the moment – or because we don’t know any better – that can really hurt them. In this podcast, I’ll share 5 things our children need to hear from us as little as possible – or maybe even NEVER. Show notes What are the five things our children should never hear from us? * You’re useless * You’re so clever * Why can’t you be more like… * I wish I’d never had you * Because I said so For more information about each of these, take a listen to the podcast. This week’s parenting hack A great idea for helping little ones get their shoes on the right foot – placing a cut-in-half sticker into their shoes so that when the sticker matches up, they know they’re on the right feet.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The words we say have enormous impact on our children. All too often we get preoccupied and distracted, and struggle to talk with our children in the loving way they need. It’s one thing to eliminate the negative, but we need to know what to replace it with. In this podcast, I’ll share 5 things our children need to hear from us as often as possible. Show notes What are the five things our children need to hear from us every day? * Thank you * I’m sorry * You tried so hard * I love you * What do you think? For more information about each of these, take a listen to the podcast. This week’s parenting hack This week’s parenting hack is playing the “Yes/No” game… here’s a really fun youtube that shows you precisely how to play it.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Gratitude is a virtue that has received a LOT of attention from researchers in the past decade or thereabouts. It seems as though the most sure-fire way for many people to become happier is to be grateful. And because gratitude is such a simple concept for most people to understand (and because most people are fairly grateful anyway), it is a simple principle to practice in family life to improve everyone’s wellbeing, and make our families happier. Show notes How can gratitude make your family happier? In this episode I suggest that parents: * Model grateful behaviour * Have conversations about grateful things * Create a gratitude tree * Carry a gratitude rock * Keep a gratitude diary/journal This week’s parenting hack For great ways to connect with your kids, grab a copy of Hands Free Mama by Rachel Macy Stafford.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Welcome to this first episode of the Happy Families Podcast. In this episode, I’ll be chatting about habits around our routine that can make our family stronger and happier. Strong, happy families don’t happen by accident. We don’t wake up, do whatever we feel like, and magically have a family that functions just fine. Happy and strong families are the product of consistent, proactive efforts on the part of parents who make family a priority. In this podcast I’ll share 7 habits that happy families practice to strengthen their relationships and make their families function well. Show notes So what are the habits I recommend to make your family happier? * Create a family focus. A shared vision makes decision making easy, and guides action. * Have a parent retreat. Strong families are headed by strong couples who make time for one another. * Take regular, simple, cheap time out as a family. Family holidays are achievable for most families with one person who qualifies for annual leave. And they can rejuvenate a family. * Family dinner matters. Have a family dinner as often as possible. * Device down-time. We need to disconnect so we can re-connect. * Make weekends sacred. At least some of the time. * Interview the kids. It’s amazing what we learn about their lives – and our families – when we really listen to our children. And a bonus idea – family night once a week can make a big impact on the way your family interacts. This week’s parenting hack For great ways to know what movies and media are ok for kids, check out the following two sites: * Common sense media * Kids in mindSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.