Overcoming consumer culture in kids
Consumer culture is making our children unhappy. The drive to have the latest stuff, and to look ‘hot’ is associated with a downward spiral of poorer peer relationships and lower self-esteem. And ...
How do I stop my daughter being a bully?
There's a lot of information out there on how to deal with bullying if your child is the victim, but not so much if your child is the one doing the bullying. Here I offer some advice to a heart-broken...
My favourite discipline strategy
The 'gentle reminder' is my number one discipline strategy for getting children's attention and getting things done. My friend Wally was talking with Jared, his neighbour, in Jared’s garage. ...
10 ways to “unspoil” the children this Christmas
Even in homes where getting by is a bit of a struggle, Christmas is generally a time of indulgence in Australia. We max out our credit cards buying ‘stuff’, eat more than we should, eat fancier ...
Should we “discipline” other people’s children?
Disciplining other people’s children is a tough issue. It takes a village to raise a child, but does that mean we should tell our kids’ friends how to behave? The way we approach this situation...
I am not the maid – how to get 5 star service from the kids at home
Do the kids at your place think you're just there to do their bidding? You're not alone! Thankfully though, there are dozens of strategies for teaching our children that we do not exist solely to ...
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 ...
My 5 year old has anxiety issues
Hi Dr Justin I have a 5 year old who has severe anxiety issues. She wakes during the night to ensure I am still at home and often wakes to come into my bed. I send her back to her bed but she ...
Why a Teenager’s Brain is Like a Ferrari with Bicycle Brakes
Why do adolescents take risks – a lot? It’s almost like they feel they’re immortal. Adolescents are impulsive. They seek constant stimulation. They don’t weigh risks before they dive ...
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 ...