Letting Children Cry it Out
I recently had an article appear in the Herald Sun about the dangers of “Crying it Out”. It is reprinted below: My wife attended a…
Category: Articles
Sexting, Celebrities, and Our Daughters
The sext-hacking scandal involving celebrities including Jennifer Lawrence remained in the news weeks after it occurred. Their photographs had been stored in “the cloud”, and…
Discipline is NOT About Hurting – or Hitting – your Kids
Some months ago I wrote a blog for kidspot highlighting seven reasons Australia is wrong about smacking kids. The blog attracted an enormous amount of…
Children do What we do, Not What we Say
Oli was excited. He had just collected the junk mail from the letterbox and was browsing it with his sister, Isabella. They found something that…
Should we Force our Children to Say ‘Sorry’
My neighbour is a psychologist who disagrees with me about whether we should make our children say sorry. Her side Elizabeth (not her real name)…
Sexualised Music Videos only Teach Women how to Sell Out
WOMEN’S bodies sell. We all know that, but perhaps no industry understands this, and uses this knowledge to its advantage, more than the music industry.…
My Child’s Favourite Word is ‘No’
Dear Dr Justin, What the hell am I meant to do with a six year old whose answer to any and every request is no?…
The Four Things Your Children Need From You to Be Successful in School
Malala Yousafzai is a girl who has profoundly affected millions of people around the world. You may have heard of her. Last year Malala was…
Talking to Children About Tragic Events in the News
The world can be a scary place. Tragedies occur that affect us all, and these awful things can undermine confidence and lead to anxieties and…
How to ‘Fix’ a Problem Child
Children are challenging. It’s a fact of life for 99% of the population. We find ourselves simmering, or even boiling over, because of the way…
What Really makes Parents Happy?
If you’re like most parents who read the title of this piece, you’re probably thinking that what would make you happy is if the kids…
The only NAPLAN Advice You’ll Need to Survive this Week
NAPLAN testing is scheduled this week (from May 13 to 15) in schools around the country. The Australian Curriculum, Assessment, and Reporting Authority (ACARA), as…
My Child is Afraid of Dogs
Hi Dr Justin, My 6yr old daughter has a major anxiety with dogs. We did see the school counselor in Prep, however I am not…
Motivating Teenagers… Like, ‘Whatever’
What motivates a teenager? The answer is pretty easy. Fun stuff. Friends, movies, music, friends, electronic devices and social media, friends, sleeping in, and… friends.…
How do I Know if my Teen is Depressed?
In it’s mild form, depression is the most common psychological problem for teenagers. While it was uncommon a generation or two ago, we now see…
Should my Teenager get a Job?
Most kids begin earning money at a relatively young age. Many get paid for chores or for baby-sitting, car-washing, or odd jobs around the neighbourhood.…