Happy Families Blog

Aggressive behaviour by a child towards a parent is one of the least studied areas of domestic violence. This is due in large part because parents are reluctant to admit that it happens. Many ...

I recently received an anonymous message from a devastated mum. After reading one of my articles about why we should never threaten our child with abandonment – like “If you don’t get in the car...

I reckon I've had about enough. The way that our kids treat each other. And, as a dad to 6 daughters, specifically the stories of everyday sexism I'm hearing - the blatant disrespect that boys are ...

One in five Australians are part of a blended family. Statistically, 30% of the kids in your child’s school class will be part of a blended family. In fact, blended families are one of ...

How to Raise a Rebel I’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 ...

Dear Dr Justin, My daughter started high school and already there are parties and outings organised where no parents are allowed. She’s only 12 and I think too young to go unsupervised. Am I ...

Dear Dr Justin, My 9-year-old son lashes out at his younger siblings when they bother him and often ends up hurting them. He feels terrible afterwards, but he can’t seem to get his anger or his ...

You enter the kitchen. Your child looks at you like she’s hiding something. You see cake crumbs on the counter and the tips of her fingers. ‘Did you eat the chocolate cake?’ Your child smiles ...

Dear Dr Justin, My 15-year-old son was hanging out in his bedroom with one of his friends. When I walked by, I saw my son’s friend frantically trying to stash a packet of cigarettes into his bag!...

                             Time-out is still the most often recommended form of discipline. Paediatricians, parenting experts and child development experts continue to recommend it...