Dr Justin Coulson's Happy Families

Australia banned social media for under-16s. It hasn't stopped kids from using it.
New research shows most young people are still logging on, creating fake accounts and finding easy ways around age checks. Dr Justin Coulson explains why the law isn't delivering what parents hoped for and why families still have the biggest influence on their children's online lives.
Then the conversation turns to something far more hopeful.
Dutch children are the happiest in the world. It's not because Dutch parents have all the answers. Their families spend more time together. Their children have more independence. Their communities are built around connection. Justin and Kylie unpack what Australian parents can borrow, even if we can't recreate the Dutch system.
KEY POINTS
What the first research on Australia's social media ban found.
How children are getting around age verification.
Why parents still need to lead screen time at home.
The habits that help Dutch children report the highest levels of happiness.
Why friendships, family time and independence matter more than expensive programs.
Simple ways to create stronger community around your own family.
QUOTE OF THE EPISODE
"The legislation can't do the parenting for us. We still have to do the job."
RESOURCES MENTIONED
Boys: Building Strong Young Men from the Inside Out by Dr Justin Coulson
10 Things Every Parent Needs to Know by Dr Justin Coulson
Misconnection by Dr Justin Coulson
Happy Families resources at happyfamilies.com.au
Research: Early Effects of Australia's Social Media Minimum Age Act on Adolescents' Social Media Use
ACTION STEPS FOR PARENTS
Don't assume the social media ban is keeping your child off social media. Check in often.
Talk about social media regularly instead of waiting until something goes wrong.
Protect family time by working it into your weekly routine.
Help your child build friendships through school, sport and local activities.
Invite another family over, organise a neighbourhood catch-up or say yes to the next community event. Small connections build a stronger village.
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You're not imagining it. Parenting really does feel harder when you're running on empty.
If you've caught yourself wishing for just one day where nobody needs you, this episode will feel uncomfortably familiar.
Organisational psychologist and bestselling author Dr Amantha Imber joins Dr Justin Coulson to explain why so many parents feel exhausted and what actually helps. No impossible morning routines. No guilt. Just practical, science-backed strategies you can use in minutes.
You'll learn why scrolling leaves you more tired, how to spot the type of fatigue you're dealing with, and the simple habits that can help you feel more like yourself again.
KEY POINTS
Why so many parents feel permanently exhausted.
The burnout fantasy that more people have than you'd expect.
The three types of energy that shape your day.
Fast, science-backed ways to boost energy in under a minute.
Why social media drains your brain instead of helping you recharge.
How better boundaries protect your energy without letting people down.
Small changes that leave you with more patience for your family.
QUOTE OF THE EPISODE
"We don't just have one energy account. We have three. The key is working out which one needs your attention first." – Dr Amantha Imber
RESOURCES MENTIONED
The Energy Game by Dr Amantha Imber
ACTION STEPS FOR PARENTS
Work out whether your physical, mental or emotional energy is running lowest.
Swap one social media break for real rest this week.
Try a one-minute energy boost like peppermint or a splash of cold water.
Start answering requests with "Yes, but…" so you can set clear limits.
Write a "Never Again" list of commitments that leave you drained every time.
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A fight video lands on your child's phone. They laugh. They watch it again. They send it to a friend.
What do you do next?
This week, Justin and Kylie answer a question from a mum whose 12-year-old daughter received violent footage that was spreading through local schools. They explain what repeated exposure to this content does to kids, why sharing a video makes them part of the harm, and how one conversation at home can change what happens next.
If your child has a phone, this episode is worth hearing.
KEY POINTS
Why fight videos spread so quickly between kids.
What repeated exposure to violent content does to young brains.
Why children share videos they know are upsetting.
How to build empathy instead of curiosity.
Questions that help kids think before they hit send.
The legal risks of sharing violent footage.
How to help your child be the one who stops the chain.
QUOTE OF THE EPISODE
"Sharing is participation."
RESOURCES MENTIONED
eSafety Commissioner research on children's exposure to harmful online content.
Albert Bandura's research on moral disengagement.
Leave us a voice memo for the podcast!
ACTION STEPS FOR PARENTS
Ask your child if they've ever received a fight video or other upsetting content.
Talk about the person in the video, not just the video itself.
Explain that forwarding, commenting on or repeatedly watching these clips adds to the harm.
Encourage your child to report violent content instead of sharing it.
Keep the conversation going. One chat isn't enough.
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What if the moment you're desperate to get through today becomes the one you'd give anything to have back?
Brushing tangled hair. Carrying a sleeping child inside. Sitting through one more song. These moments can feel frustrating when you're tired and running late. Then one day they stop happening, and you never realise the last time has already passed.
In this episode, Dr Justin Coulson shares a simple idea from philosophy called the "Last Time Meditation." It will change the way you see everyday parenting and help you notice the moments that matter before they're gone.
KEY POINTS
Why the everyday parenting jobs you dread can become your most treasured memories.
How the "Last Time Meditation" helps you stay present.
The psychology behind appreciating ordinary moments before they disappear.
The personal experience that changed how Justin responds to his children.
One simple habit that makes family life feel richer without changing your routine.
QUOTE OF THE EPISODE
"There's something you did with your child today that ten years from now you'd trade almost anything to do again. You just don't know what that thing is."
RESOURCES MENTIONED
A Guide to the Good Life by William B. Irvine
William B. Irvine's "Last Time Meditation"
Stoic philosophy
Seneca
Epictetus
The Japanese concept Ichi-go Ichi-e
Fred Bryant's research on savouring
Tim Urban's "Tail End" concept
Kurtz (2008), Psychological Science
ACTION STEPS FOR PARENTS
Pick one ordinary family moment this week and treat it like it won't happen again.
The next time your child asks you to watch, listen or help, stop and give them your full attention.
Put your phone away during one family ritual each day.
Slow down long enough to notice the moments you'll miss one day.
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A Disney movie about toys ended with a conversation about screens, sewing and what childhood is starting to lose.
After watching Toy Story 5, Justin and Kylie found themselves talking less about the movie and more about what happens when tablets replace cubby houses, craft tables and backyard adventures.
Kylie shares how teaching their 12-year-old daughter to sew sparked confidence, patience and a brand new business idea. They also unpack the message Toy Story 5 sends about technology, why it missed an important opportunity, and what parents can do instead.
If screens have become the default in your house, this episode offers practical ideas that don't involve another argument.
KEY POINTS
What Toy Story 5 gets right about childhood.
The screen time message the movie missed.
Why sewing, baking, gardening and other "grandma hobbies" are making a comeback.
How making something with your hands builds confidence.
Why learning alongside your child strengthens your relationship.
The family project that turned into a small business.
QUOTE OF THE EPISODE
"The joy isn't making something. The joy is making it together."
RESOURCES MENTIONED
Toy Story 5
Happy Families resources on healthy screen habits
ACTION STEPS FOR PARENTS
Pick one hands-on hobby your child can learn this month. Sewing, baking, gardening, woodworking or knitting all work.
Learn it together instead of handing them a YouTube tutorial.
Watch Toy Story 5 and ask what they noticed about the kids using screens.
Set aside one afternoon each week to make something you can hold, use or give away.
Celebrate what your child creates, even when it's wonky.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.