Happy Families Blog

If 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 ...

Christmas time is around the corner and before we know it, our children will begin to talk about all the things that Santa will bring them. Santa is an integral part of our Christmas tradition. ...

Wearable 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...

Everyone 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 ...

Have 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 ...

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 ...

In recent weeks, to surprisingly little fanfare, the Morrison Federal Government has announced a new Children’s Mental Health Strategy. Announced by Health Minister, Greg Hunt, at the National Press...

Recently there has been a groundswell of popular opinion extolling the value of letting our kids be bored. A recent New York Times article argued, ‘Boredom teaches us that life isn’t a parade of ...

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 ...