It Takes A Village… But the Village is Sick
In recent weeks, to surprisingly little fanfare, the Morrison Federal Government has announced a new Children’s Mental Health Strategy. Announced by Health Minister, Greg Hunt,…
Tag: Happier Homes
How to Tell your Friend What Their Teen is Doing on Instagram
Dear Dr Justin, “My husband and I have some family friends. Their daughter is friends with our daughter. I recently heard their daughter telling my…
Our Family Holiday in Bali
When it comes to holidays, I’m normally a do it yourself kind of guy. I’m big on exploration, activity, and getting off the beaten track.…
Screen Time and Our Teens’ Mental Health Crisis
In a 2018 survey, half of the parents questioned believed that smart phone usage negatively affected their child’s mental health. And nearly half thought their child…
Family Traditions Help Kids Make Sense of Life
“Family traditions counter alienation and confusion. They help us define who we are; they provide something steady, reliable and safe in a confusing world.” –…
How to Find the Joy in School Holidays
School holidays are fast approaching. For the kids, there have been 10 or so weeks of sport, music, schoolwork, sitting still and navigating friendships. For…
My Internet Filter Failed My Kids
Parenting with or without Parental Controls Dear Dr Justin, “A few weeks ago we found our ten-year-old son looking at an explicit website on his…
Technoference, the Digital World and Our Kids
You know what it’s like. It’s dinnertime. You’re trying to get kids off devices, serve up food, and be available to your family. Then your…
My Annual Review: 2018 Edition
In my previous newsletter I mentioned a book that I had recently read called Atomic Habits, by James Clear. The book was very, very good. And it…
How to Teach Kids to be Safe Without Scaring Them
As parents, we can teach kids to be safe by empowering them to navigate the world with confidence, not fear—preserving their sense of wonder while…
When do I Tell My Kids the Truth About Santa?
Dear Dr Justin, “My husband and I go out of our way to make Christmas a special occasion for our two daughters aged eight and…
How Much Sport is Too Much for our Kids?
Hi Dr Justin, “I have a ten-year-old daughter who is a very good swimmer and competes at state level. This year she increased her training…
When is it OK to Leave your Child Home Alone?
I was born in the 1970s, and raised in a lower-to-middle-class suburb. Mum and Dad ran their own business and they both worked long hours. This meant…
Are Smart Toys Safe?
There is a toy revolution building. Kids toys are becoming smarter. It’s part of the “internet of things”, which basically means that every “thing” you…
Toddlers and Television
I have written in this column – for years – that excessive screen time, including watching television, is not good for anyone, but is especially…
How Play is Changing
In today’s blog I want to ask you two questions. Pretty simple ones. First, how do your children play? Second, how is their play different from…