
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 ...

5 Better Conversations To Have About Screens
“Excess screen time has reduced our attention span to eight seconds, one less than that of a goldfish.”
That’s a direct quote from the July 2019 International Congress of the Royal College of ...

How To Raise A Rebel
How to Raise a Rebel I’ve been running parenting workshops full-time around Australia for close to ten years and in all that time no parent has ever told me: “I want to raise weak children ...

Are Activity Trackers Good for Children?
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...

Why Your Kids Need a Tribe
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 ...

A Balanced Approach to Parenting
I had a call from a journalist recently. She asked me, “Have you heard of Panda parenting? It’s kind of different to Tiger Parenting. It’s a bit more like Lawnmower or Snow Plough parenting. But...

What to say to your kids when they’re going on their first date
Australia doesn’t have much of a dating culture. Our kids aren’t usually asking someone on a date, going out as a couple, and then dating someone different next week. Instead, it’s more… Yr...

What to do when your teen is caught ‘sexting’
Dear Dr Justin, I have a teenage daughter who has been sending inappropriate photos to boys, and one has been shared around amongst her peer group. We’ve raised her to know that’s wrong, but ...

Navigating Your Teen’s Quest For Independence
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 ...

Helping Our Kids Feel Good By Doing Good
We all want our kids to feel good. Ice cream. Cake. Beach days. Playdates. These are all great for bringing joy. But typically, these good feelings don’t last. Once the ice cream is gone, or the ...