By: Dr Justin CoulsonWe’re living in unprecedented times. Offices are shut, streets are increasingly empty, and some people are locking themselves away. The uncertainty that we are grappling with is challenging enough for us as adults, but it’s also hard on our children.School fetes...
By: Dr Justin CoulsonThe 20th of March is International Day of Happiness, which has been declared and celebrated by the United Nations since 2012. It’s the day that recognises that happiness is a fundamental human goal.A mountain of research shows that being happy is not just a natural human...
By: Dr Justin CoulsonEli is eight years old. He has been diagnosed with depression. And, like it is for anyone with this diagnosis, depression is a daily battle for Eli. His father is essentially absent. His single mother is single-handedly raising three children, working full-time, and trying to...
By: Dr Justin CoulsonYou’ve been on the sidelines of the netball court (or soccer pitch, etc) cheering and encouraging. You’ve avoided saying anything about the shoddy refereeing being done by the 15-year-old. You’ve ridden the emotions of your child’s game as...
By: Dr Justin CoulsonI’ve been running parenting workshops full-time around Australia for close to ten years and in all that time no parent has ever told me:“I want to raise weak children who are followers and who can’t think for themselves. Obedient sheep. That’s what I...
By: Dr Justin Coulson“Excess screen time has reduced our attention span to eight seconds, one less than that of a goldfish.”That’s a direct quote from the July 2019 International Congress of the Royal College of Psychiatrists held in London. Other gems included commentary on how...
By: Dr Justin CoulsonThe ongoing bushfires around Australia are extraordinary. We’ve all seen them. Too many have experienced them or had close encounters, either personally or through a friend or loved one. Homes, lives, animals, environment – so much gone. No matter where you live in...
By: Dr Justin CoulsonHave you ever watched what happens when your child or teen is upset, sad, or challenged?Sure, they might become more emotional. We’ve all seen that happen. Perhaps they want to argue, become defensive, or give up, deciding that they ‘can’t’ do whatever...
By: Dr Justin CoulsonIf you’ve got kids (and even if you don’t), you’re well aware that Christmas morning is the most hotly anticipated moment of the year.Kids sneak out of bed well before dawn to see what Santa’s left under the Christmas tree. Parents the world over are...
By: Dr Justin CoulsonChristmas time is here, a time when our children talk about all the things that Santa will bring them.Santa is an integral part of our Christmas tradition. Stories are concocted to convince kids that Santa will only come if they’re nice (and not naughty)....
By: Dr Justin CoulsonWearable trackers like the Fitbit, Garmin, Moove, or even smart-watches are gaining significant market-share with children – and with Christmas so close, it’s likely that they’ll be in plenty of Santa stockings.Market research shows that sales of...
By: Dr Justin CoulsonEveryone needs to be known by someone. Just one significant other.For our kids, knowing that they are known and loved by one caring adult is the central predictor of resilience. Having great people around them is one of the next critical resources for building...