Dr Justin Coulson's Happy Families

Your phone might be getting in the way of your child’s learning, confidence and connection with you.
Justin and Kylie Coulson unpack three research findings every parent should know, from the link between heavy AI use and lower school test scores to why early puberty may increase anxiety risk in girls. They also explore how being ignored while a parent scrolls can affect a teenager’s sense of security in the relationship.
Discover what the research tells us, where the limits of the evidence lie, and how to give your child more opportunities to feel supported, connected and confident.
KEY POINTS
AI and learning: Students who frequently use AI chatbots for schoolwork scored lower in science and reading than those who rarely use them. How children use AI matters.
Early puberty and anxiety: Research links earlier, faster puberty in girls with a higher risk of anxiety symptoms. Supportive relationships may help provide important protection.
Phone distraction and attachment: Teenagers who feel ignored by a parent’s phone use are more likely to report insecure attachment to that caregiver.
QUOTE OF THE EPISODE
“She needs protective factors in her life.”
RESOURCES MENTIONED
PISA assessment findings on AI use and student performance, reported by Lucy Carroll in The Australian
Danish National Birth Cohort analysis on pubertal development and anxiety, published in the Journal of Affective Disorders
Research examining parental phone use, "phubbing" and adolescent attachment
ACTION STEPS FOR PARENTS
Encourage your child to use AI to explore ideas and learn, rather than letting it do their thinking or writing for them.
If your daughter experiences early puberty, focus on supportive relationships, trusted role models and a safe home environment.
Put your phone away when your child is trying to connect with you. Give them your attention, listen and show them they matter.
Remember that research showing a link between two things does not automatically prove that one causes the other.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Behind the parenting advice is a dad, a husband, a son and a grandad who’s still learning as he goes.
For Justin Coulson’s birthday, Kylie takes the microphone and asks the questions we don’t usually hear on the Happy Families podcast. From the grandmother who made him feel like the favourite to the moment he burst into tears at the news he was becoming a grandad, Justin shares the memories, mistakes and moments that shaped him.
He also reveals the question from one father that changed the way he thinks about parenting. It’s a reminder that being a better parent starts with looking at ourselves.
KEY POINTS
The childhood memories and family relationships that shaped Justin

The overwhelming joy of becoming a grandfather

Why his enthusiasm for research is sometimes mistaken for arrogance

The parenting question he’s never forgotten

The hard-won lessons behind his books

What he hopes to achieve in the year ahead

QUOTE OF THE EPISODE
“How do I be the father that my son needs me to be?”
RESOURCES MENTIONED
Happy Families: https://happyfamilies.com.au

Justin Coulson’s parenting books

ACTION STEPS FOR PARENTS
Ask yourself what kind of parent your child needs you to be right now.

Think about the parenting habits you inherited from your own parents. Which ones do you want to keep, and which ones do you want to change?

Give yourself permission to keep learning. Even the experts have lessons they learn the hard way.

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School mornings shouldn't end with tears, frustration and everyone feeling like they've failed. Justin and Kylie answer Emma's question about her two daughters and share practical ways to make getting ready for school less stressful.
From preparing the night before to swapping constant instructions for connection, discover how small changes can help your kids feel more capable and get everyone out the door in a better mood.
Key Points
Prepare uniforms, bags, lunches and everything else the night before.

Get up early enough to feel calm and ready to help.

Reduce morning stress by removing unnecessary steps.

Replace constant instructions with connection and offers of support.

Create a simple checklist with your kids so they know what's next.

Make mornings fun with music, games and family routines.

Quote of the Episode
“The more you can do tonight, the less you have to do tomorrow morning.”
Resources Mentioned
The Parenting Revolution by Justin Coulson

Happy Families: happyfamilies.com.au

Action Steps for Parents
Get school bags, uniforms and shoes ready tonight.

Make a simple morning checklist with your kids.

Ask “What's next on your list?” instead of telling them what to do.

Sit with your kids at breakfast and offer help when they need it.

Try a morning playlist to make getting ready more fun.

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What if some of the parenting advice you’ve been given was completely wrong?
Richard Glover has spent years digging through Australian parenting manuals, government advice and expert recommendations from the past 100 years. What he found is funny, disturbing and surprisingly reassuring.
From being told not to cuddle a crying baby to warnings that praise would make children arrogant, Richard reveals how generations of parents were taught to ignore their instincts. He also explains why looking back at parenting history can help us stop chasing every new expert theory and trust ourselves a little more.
KEY POINTS
Why parents were once told not to cuddle crying babies
How government parenting advice shaped generations of Australian families
Why harsh parenting keeps coming back in new forms
What history can teach us about today's parenting trends
Why parents can be more forgiving of their own childhood experiences
The simple things children actually need: love, stability and age-appropriate limits
QUOTE OF THE EPISODE
“Children need stability, a sense of order, a sense of rules, and they need a lot of love.”
RESOURCES MENTIONED
How to Ruin a Child by Richard Glover
ACTION STEPS FOR PARENTS
Be wary of extreme parenting advice that promises one perfect way to raise children.
Trust your instincts when something feels wrong.
Give your children clear, age-appropriate boundaries alongside plenty of love.
Remember that you don't have to get parenting perfect to raise a perfectly decent human being.
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Today Justin is taking on a gruelling 50km walk carrying a 10kg vest to raise $50,000 for Top Blokes, a mentoring program helping young men build resilience, develop healthy relationships and learn to ask for help.
After losing his nephew Logan to suicide, this mission is deeply personal.
We need just 600 more people to donate $50 each to reach this target. Can you help lift the load? Donate here!
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