My Child is Struggling Because Everything Is Being Cancelled
We’re living in unprecedented times. Offices are shut, streets are increasingly empty, and some people are locking themselves away. The uncertainty that we are grappling with is challenging enough ...
What to do When You’ve Made a Mistake With Your Child
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...
5 Ways to Promote Happiness in Your Family
The 20th of March is International Day of Happiness, which has been declared and celebrated by the United Nations since 2012. It’s the day that recognises that happiness is a fundamental human goal....
Ask Dr Justin – Twins: Going from “we” to “me”
Dear Dr. Justin, I have three children, two of whom are twins. I came across an essay one wrote saying how he hates being a twin as people don’t see him as an individual. He feels his older ...
10 Reasons You’re Doing Better as a Parent Than You Think
Parent guilt seems to be at an all-time high. Social media, tabloid ‘gotcha’ moments, and endless blog articles outlining our mistakes seem to be leaving us feeling dispirited, unmotivated, and ...
Parenting: Intentional vs Unintentional
As grown-ups, we have pretty much completely forgotten what it’s like to be three, or seven, or even fifteen years old. We think that we know what it’s like for our children, and we tell them all...
18 ways to a more resilient child
In 2014 Andrew Fuller, one of Australia’s well-known child and adolescent psychologists, ran a study about resilience with approximately 16000 Aussie youth. The children who were most resilient ...
Hopeful Kids are Happy Kids
Think of two children you have regular contact with: one who is resilient and happy, and one who is struggling and languishing. Imagine you are interviewing each of them, and you ask them to respond ...
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 ...
5 things to make your family happier – starting today
Families are supposed to be happy, right? Yet, reality bites, and family life can be extraordinarily difficult. Some days are better than others. To help out on those tough days, here are 5 ...
