What To Do When Your Child Lies To You
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 ...
Screen Time and Our Teens’ Mental Health Crisis
In a 2018 survey half of the parents questioned believed that smart phone usage negatively affected their child’s mental health. And nearly half thought their child was actually addicted to the ...
Six Ways To Be The Best Parent You Can Be
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”. When I ask parents to tell me about those times, ...
Stepping In With Other People’s Kids
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!...
Helping our children through dark, difficult days
Dear Dr Justin My husband has tried to take his own life twice in the past six weeks. He is now in hospital receiving care but I've just told the kids he's dealing with some emotional problems ...
7 Strategies For When Your Child Accidentally Finds Pornography
Many experts view pornography as a public health crisis, especially because of the way that it impacts children and young people. According to the UK Office of the Children’s Commissioner, ...
7 Ways to Really Listen so Your Child Shares More
Dear Dr Justin My husband and my 9 year-old son are constantly fighting. It’s little niggles here and there. But it is non stop. They are constantly talking past each other and he (my husband) ...
We’re All Just Making It Up As We Go Along (Even This ‘Parenting Expert’)
Have you read The Barefoot Investor? It’s been the number 1 non-fiction book in Australia this year – all about finance. In his introduction to the book Scott Pape, the author, describes the day ...
Stop stuffing stuff in: Why relationships don’t work on efficiency
My wife and I are parents to six daughters. Yes… six. Yes, we intentionally conceived them. No we weren’t trying for a boy. Yes, we do own a television (which we clearly do not have time to ...
STOP, LOOK, and LISTEN to your kids
Some years ago I came across a parenting questionnaire developed by thoughtful, careful researchers. One of the questionnaire items asked, “Do you stop and pay attention to your child when your ...