Why Time-Out Belongs in the Naughty Corner
Time-out is one of the most popular “discipline” methods parents use. It works like this: a child does something that is ‘against the rules’ so the child’s parents punish the child by ...
The UGLY truth about smacking our kids (Part 2)
In my last article I discussed a range of problems associated with smacking our kids. The article was designed to demonstrate that there is a lot of evidence that indicates that smacking kids ...
The UGLY truth about smacking our kids (Part 1)
In my parenting classes and coaching sessions I am regularly confronted with people who become incredulous when I suggest that we need to stop hitting our kids if we want to discipline them ...
I don’t need fixing! I need guiding and loving
One of the most respected psychologists in the world today, Dr Martin Seligman, recently said: “(Teaching) children is vastly more than fixing what is wrong with them. It is about identifying ...
I’m tired of being the parent and the police
“Dear Dr Justin
I feel like my whole day is spent dealing with ‘Mum, he hit me.’ And ‘Mum, she said I’m an idiot’. All day my kids are at me to fix their problems. It’s driving me ...
Is it Ever Ok to Abandon Your Kids?
I recently received an email from a concerned parent. It read as follows:
My friend threatened to leave her 8 year-old kid on the side of the road. He had been playing up something shocking and she ...
The Spanking Debate: Changing Minds Takes a Generation
Smacking is in the headlines. The Royal Australian College of Physicians has released a statement calling on the government to legislate against smacking children. Associate Professor Susan ...