Dr Justin Coulson's Happy Families

In a world where kids feel lonelier than ever- despite being constantly “connected” - how can we help them build real, meaningful friendships and resist negative peer pressure? How are the families on Parental Guidance helping their kids make and foster friendships? In this episode, we dive into the crucial role of social skills, healthy face-to-face interactions, and intentional parenting to help children thrive socially and emotionally. KEY POINTS Not all peer pressure is bad — positive peer pressure can help kids adopt healthy habits. Many kids today struggle with loneliness despite being surrounded by peers, often due to excessive screen time and lack of real-world social practice. Social skills like introducing oneself, showing curiosity, and maintaining conversations are essential for resisting negative peer pressure. Parents play a key role by modelling healthy social interactions, facilitating opportunities, and keeping conversations about relationships open and non-judgemental. Excessive technology use may hinder social development, but more evidence is needed to fully understand the impact. QUOTE OF THE EPISODE "You become the average of the five people you spend the most time with — so help your kids choose wisely." – Dr Justin Coulson RESOURCES Find more parenting resources and tips for making your family happier at Happy Families. You can watch Parental Guidance on demand at 9NOW. ACTION STEPS FOR PARENTS ✅ Reduce your child’s screen time and encourage more in-person social interactions.✅ Organise supervised, face-to-face playdates or gatherings to help kids practice social skills.✅ Have regular conversations with your child about their friendships — what’s working, what’s hard, and how they feel about making new friends.✅ Teach curiosity and empathy by modelling how to ask good questions and show interest in others.✅ Support your child in developing both structured (team sports, clubs) and unstructured (free play) social experiences.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tonight on Parental Guidance, Season 3 continues with one of the most important—and challenging—parenting topics: peer pressure and consent. Justin and Kylie preview Episode 2, teasing the big questions you’ll want to discuss with your kids after watching. From raising upstanders to helping kids say “no” when it matters most, this episode is packed with practical ways to strengthen your family’s values in the face of social pressure. KEY POINTS: Season 3 of Parental Guidance airs tonight at 7:30 on Channel 9 and 9Now, with Episode 2 focusing on peer pressure and consent. Peer pressure often drives kids into non-consensual or harmful behaviour—helping them stand firm is critical. Questions parents should reflect on and discuss with their kids: How comfortable are your children in new social situations? Have you had clear, age-appropriate conversations about consent? Will your child be an upstander when others are excluded or bullied? Can your child say “no” even when everyone else is saying “yes”? Watching Parental Guidance offers real-time insights from other families and adds powerful tools to your parenting toolkit. QUOTE OF THE EPISODE: "How strong are your kids? Are they willing to say no when everyone else is saying yes?" RESOURCES MENTIONED: Watch Parental Guidance, Season 3, Episode 2 tonight at 7:30 on Channel 9 or stream on 9Now. Parenting resources and family tools: happyfamilies.com.au ACTION STEPS FOR PARENTS: 1. Watch Parental Guidance tonight and pay attention to the ways families handle peer pressure and consent conversations.2. Use the four big questions from this episode to spark meaningful discussions with your kids.3. Model and teach your children how to be upstanders, not bystanders, in social situations.4. Revisit your conversations about consent, ensuring they’re clear, ongoing, and age-appropriate.5. Reflect on your own parenting approach and add at least one new idea to your “toolkit” after watching.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Talking about money with kids can feel awkward, but it matters more than most parents realise. In this episode, Dr Justin Coulson is joined by Yish Koh, Managing Director of Kit – a pocket money app by the Commonwealth Bank. Together, they unpack how to teach kids under 10 the foundations of money management. From delayed gratification to understanding digital money, this is a must-listen for any parent wanting their kids to grow up financially savvy. KEY POINTS: Kids learn most about money from parents, not schools. Conversations, role modelling, and real-life experiences build financial literacy. Key lessons for kids under 10: saving, understanding interest, delaying gratification, and learning how earning works. Use cash with younger kids to make money tangible, but transition to digital tools as they grow. Pocket money works best when it’s regular, not random. Automation can help teach saving and spending habits without the parent constantly managing it. The average pocket money for 8–10-year-olds is $7.30 per week, but the amount matters less than the learning opportunity it provides. Use money conversations to teach kids about choices, consequences, and even charity. QUOTE OF THE EPISODE: “Being good at money isn’t about having lots of money. It’s about using money as a tool to live the life you want.” RESOURCES MENTIONED: Hey Kit – a pocket money app and card for kids (by Commonwealth Bank) Moneysmart.gov.au—Australian Government financial literacy tools for families ACTION STEPS FOR PARENTS: Start talking about money early—age 5 and up. Model good money behaviours—saving, budgeting, and mindful spending. Use pocket money (even small amounts) to teach saving, spending, and giving. Make money visible: show account balances before and after spending to teach the concept in a digital world. Link money to goals—whether it's saving for a toy, a holiday, or something bigger. Don’t shut down questions about money—turn them into meaningful conversations. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What do AI chatbot dangers, thirty young adults crammed into a tiny home, and a book-writing marathon have in common? They’re all part of this week’s rollercoaster ride in the Coulson household. In this deeply personal episode, Justin and Kylie share what lit them up—and what nearly broke them. From a powerful conversation about building community around our kids, to the sobering risks of digital "friendships," and the heavy toll of creating a book that could change lives, this is an episode about showing up, staying intentional, and doing better tomorrow. KEY POINTS: The importance of intentional community building for our children’s wellbeing Why involving young adults in parenting conversations can have a powerful ripple effect The real-world risks of AI chatbots for kids—romantic roleplay, misinformation, and impersonating therapists How curiosity and loneliness make kids vulnerable to chatbot manipulation Behind the scenes of writing a parenting book: three years, 600 index cards, and countless sacrifices Why the upcoming book on raising tween and teen boys might be Justin’s most important work yet QUOTE OF THE EPISODE:"One of the biggest predictors for mental wellbeing is connection—and building that village around our kids is imperative." – Kylie Coulson RESOURCES MENTIONED: Tristan Harris and the Center for Humane Technology Parental Guidance (TV series) Happy Families website: happyfamilies.com.au Register your interest in Justin’s upcoming book on raising boys ACTION STEPS FOR PARENTS: Be Intentional About Community: Invite others into your home—even if it’s tight. Connection doesn’t need perfection. Talk to Your Kids About AI: Don’t assume they're safe just because you haven’t seen the risks firsthand. Pre-arm them with knowledge. Stay Curious About Your Child’s World: Ask what apps or sites they use. Learn with them and for them. Support Resources That Serve Families: Share tools and conversations that spark growth—like this podcast and the upcoming book. Model Vulnerability and Growth: Let your kids see that you're always learning, always growing. It’s okay to say, “I’ll do better tomorrow.” See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It’s confronting. It’s heartbreaking. And it’s happening every day.Australia ranks among the highest in the world for online bullying—and too many parents feel powerless to stop it. In this episode, Justin and Kylie recap the raw and eye-opening online bullying challenge from Parental Guidance Season 3. They’re joined by Australia’s eSafety Commissioner, Julie Inman Grant, who shares the harsh realities—and practical solutions—for families. From shocking in-game bullying to vital conversations every family should be having, this is an essential listen for every parent navigating the digital world with their kids. KEY POINTS: Australia has the second-highest rates of reported online bullying globally—after the U.S. The Parental Guidance challenge exposed how confronting online bullying can be for both children and parents. Many children don’t realise how harmful their words can be online. Cyberbullying often happens within school communities, not just with strangers. The anonymity of screens makes hurtful behaviour easier for some children. Julie Inman Grant (eSafety Commissioner) highlights that 1 in 5 Aussie kids experience cyberbullying. Critical advice includes: monitor online activity, keep screens out of bedrooms and bathrooms, and have regular, open conversations. Teach kids to block, report, and escalate harmful behaviour. QUOTE OF THE EPISODE: “Talk early and talk often. This is not a one-off conversation—it’s an ongoing part of parenting in the digital age.”– Julie Inman Grant, eSafety Commissioner RESOURCES MENTIONED: eSafety Commissioner: https://www.esafety.gov.au – for reporting cyberbullying and accessing resources. Parental Guidance on 9Now – to watch the full episode and share with your family. Happy Families: https://www.happyfamilies.com.au – for parenting resources, courses, and support. ACTION STEPS FOR PARENTS: Monitor & Supervise: Know what your kids are doing online. Familiarise yourself with the games, apps, and chat platforms they use. Keep Screens Out of Bedrooms/Bathrooms: These are the places where harm often escalates—whether it’s exploitation or cyberbullying. Teach Block & Report: Empower your kids to block bullies and report harmful behaviour quickly and confidently. Talk Early, Talk Often: Start conversations about online behaviour when your kids are young—and keep them going as they grow. Escalate if Needed: If the bullying continues, report it to the platform, the school, the eSafety Commissioner, or even law enforcement when necessary. Model Healthy Tech Use: Show your kids what respectful online interactions look like—and when it’s okay to disconnect. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A video of Justin... that Justin never made. This was the shocking moment that shook the families on Parental Guidance—a deepfake designed to highlight how real, how convincing, and how dangerous AI can be for our kids. In today’s recap, we dive into the confronting realities of deepfakes, online safety, and skyrocketing screen time. From fake videos to 65-hour screen weeks, how do we protect our kids in this hyperconnected world? KEY POINTS: Deepfakes are real, fast, and easy. It took producers just 20 minutes to create a convincing fake video of Justin. This raises serious concerns about privacy, consent, and exploitation—especially for teens. The gendered impact is severe. 98% of deepfake porn targets women and girls, with devastating emotional and psychological consequences. The 'be careful what you post' advice is outdated. Even innocent images like yearbook photos can be misused. The real focus needs to be on teaching empathy, respect, and legal consequences. Screen time shock. One family clocked 21 devices for 6 people. A parent averaged 65 hours a week—over 9 hours a day—and her son hit 16 hours in a single day. The real cost of screen time. Excessive screens impact brain development, sleep, social skills, physical health, and relationships. Digital connections aren't enough. Kids need real-life, face-to-face interaction for emotional and neurological growth—nine times more brain activation happens in person than on Zoom. QUOTE OF THE EPISODE: "When we spend time in front of a screen—especially when it's excessive—we do not grow our brain. In fact, the research suggests there’s less grey matter. That is a massive problem." – Dr Justin Coulson RESOURCES MENTIONED: The Parenting Revolution by Dr Justin Coulson TV Show: Parental Guidance Season 3 – available on 9Now Website: happyfamilies.com.au ACTION STEPS FOR PARENTS: Talk about it. Have open, honest conversations with your kids about AI, deepfakes, and consent. Teach empathy. Reinforce that using someone's image without consent is a violation of their humanity—and often a crime. Audit your screens. Count your family’s devices and track your own usage. Awareness is step one. Prioritise real-world connection. Schedule offline time daily. Prioritise nature, play, face-to-face conversations, and physical activity. Set boundaries. Create clear family rules about screen time, nighttime device use, and online safety. Model the behaviour. Kids notice if we say one thing but do another. Manage your own screen habits. Stay informed. Keep up with emerging tech risks and solutions. Read, listen, learn, and adjust. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

 They look fun. They seem harmless. But behind the screen, AI chatbots are creating dangerously deceptive relationships with our kids. In this gripping recap of Parental Guidance Season 3, Episode 1, Justin and Kylie unpack the most confronting challenge yet: kids creating AI “friends.” From flirtatious bots to false identities and emotional manipulation, this episode reveals just how easily our children can be drawn into harmful digital connections—and what parents must do to protect them. KEY POINTS: AI chatbots are being marketed directly to kids as a solution for loneliness and boredom. All four children in the challenge encountered manipulative, deceptive bots, including flirtation, secrets, and attempts to move conversations to apps like Snapchat. The bots often blurred the line between real and fake, undermining children's understanding of truth and connection. Expert insights from Dr Raphael Chayérello (AI ethics, University of Sydney) highlighted how AI is designed to mine data, provoke emotional reactions, and retain attention at all costs. There is currently no legislation protecting children in these spaces—and some real-life cases have ended in tragedy. The episode illustrates why AI “friendships” are never in a child’s best interest. QUOTE OF THE EPISODE:“There is nothing redeeming about these bots. They are deceptive, manipulative, and dangerous—and they are not your child’s friend.” RESOURCES MENTIONED: Parental Guidance Season 3 – Episode 1 (available on 9Now) HappyFamilies.com.au for daily episode recaps and parenting tools Dr Raphael Chayérello, AI Ethics Expert, University of Sydney ACTION STEPS FOR PARENTS: Talk to your kids today about AI bots: Ask if they or their friends use them. What are those chats like? Explain clearly that AI is not real, not a friend, and often not safe. Stay informed: Watch the episode with your child and open up discussion about what they saw. Prioritise real-world friendships: If your child is lonely, support them in developing face-to-face connections. Set boundaries around tech: AI bots are just one of many digital dangers—have regular conversations about safe and healthy screen use. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Reality TV with a purpose? Yes, please. Parental Guidance Season 3 kicks off tonight—and in this special preview episode, Justin and Kylie share everything you need to know before tuning in. From parenting styles to hot-button topics like body image, screen time, and AI bots, this four-night TV event dives deep into the challenges real families are facing right now. Whether you're a traditional parent, a positivity parent, or somewhere in between, this season is designed to spark honest conversations and offer hope for families doing their best in tough times. KEY POINTS: Parental Guidance Season 3 airs over four consecutive nights on Channel Nine and 9Now. It’s not about winning—just eight families courageously sharing their parenting lives. Topics include: Screen time (including AI friends and bots) Body image (a heart-wrenching and inspiring episode) Mental health Peer pressure Unexpected insights into education Parenting styles this season include: Traditional, Protect, Active, Upfront, Authoritative, Hard Way, Life School, and Positivity. The aim: Honest, respectful conversations about what parenting looks like today—and what’s working. QUOTE OF THE EPISODE: “As parents, we need to believe in a positive future for our kids—and I think this show gives us the tools and the keys we need to get there.” RESOURCES MENTIONED: Parental Guidance Season 3 (Channel Nine and 9Now) HappyFamilies.com.au for related resources and daily podcast reviews following each episode. ACTION STEPS FOR PARENTS: Watch tonight’s episode live (7:30pm on Nine and 9Now) to be part of the national conversation. Talk with your kids after each episode—what do they think about what they saw? Tune in to the Happy Families daily recap podcasts this week for expert insights into the challenges raised on the show. Share the show and the podcast with friends or family—it’s a powerful conversation starter. Reflect on your own parenting style and ask: What’s working? What might I try differently? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Are we making life too easy for our kids? In a world where we rush to remove every obstacle from our children’s paths, we may be unintentionally robbing them of the very thing they need most—resilience. In this powerful conversation, Dr. Justin Coulson is joined by Tim Curtis—former SAS Commander, humanitarian, and author of Building Resilient Kids. From war zones to raising teens, Tim’s lived experience offers extraordinary insights into how resilience is truly built. Together, they unpack why a little stress is good, why failure matters, and the foundational layers that make kids bounce back stronger. This is the resilience masterclass every parent needs. KEY POINTS: Resilience isn’t fixed; it can be built. The Resilience Shield Model: Six layers—Innate, Mind, Body, Social, Professional, and Adaptation. Stress is essential—but it needs to be the right amount. Overprotective parenting harms resilience—kids need to struggle to grow. The power of strong family connections as the cornerstone of resilience. Practical stories from war zones, camps, and families that highlight resilience in action. How parents can role model resilience every day (including how we handle bad drivers and broken sinks!). Why rest and recovery are crucial parts of resilience—not signs of failure. The difference between resilience, willpower, and grit. QUOTE OF THE EPISODE: “Resilience varies by degree, not by kind. The stress in your child’s life is real to them—and they need it to grow.” – Tim Curtis RESOURCES MENTIONED: Book: Building Resilient Kids by Tim Curtis (out July 1) Podcast: The Unforgiving Sixty Podcast: Building Resilient Kids (Tim’s companion podcast to the book) Resilience Shield Model – Research-backed framework Jill Bolte Taylor on emotions passing in 90 seconds Research by Carol Dweck (Growth Mindset) and Angela Duckworth (Grit) ACTION STEPS FOR PARENTS: Model resilience. Let your kids see you handle stress, setbacks, and failure with grace and recovery. Let them fail—safely. Small failures help kids build the coping mechanisms they’ll need later in life. Prioritise the basics: Sleep, nutrition, exercise, and social connection—these are resilience superpowers. Let them sit with discomfort. Don’t rush to fix every negative emotion. Let them learn that emotions pass. Talk about effort, not outcomes. Celebrate trying, learning, and persisting more than trophies or grades. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

“Having your heart right towards your child is probably the most important thing you can do... but how you communicate is right up there too.” In this episode of I’ll Do Better Tomorrow, we share two powerful parenting wins from our own family this week. From navigating bedtime battles with our youngest to having a meaningful (and sometimes hilarious) conversation about consent and relationships with our teens, this is real-life parenting in action. These are the conversations that create connection, foster trust, and build resilience — and we’re sharing exactly how we did it. KEY POINTS: A Bedtime Breakthrough: How revisiting the basics (routines, rituals, and conversations) transformed bedtime struggles with our youngest daughter. The Power of the 3 E’s: Explore, Explain, Empower — a simple yet profound communication framework that creates buy-in, not battles. Tricky Talks That Stick: Why our once-a-month ‘tough talks’ with our teens have become weekly — and how they’re building confidence and safety around topics like consent, relationships, pressure, and boundaries. Start Early, Talk Often: Even our 11-year-old stayed engaged in a complex conversation about consent, showing that these conversations are never too early (or too late). It’s Not About Perfection: Success comes from showing up, leaning in, and keeping the conversations going — not from getting it right every time. QUOTE OF THE EPISODE: “When kids understand the rationale, things go so much better.” RESOURCES MENTIONED: Happy Families – Resources for a happier family. Consent.gov.au – Consent resources and the Consent Can’t Wait campaign. Parental Guidance TV Show – Channel 9 and 9Now. ACTION STEPS FOR PARENTS: Use the 3 E’s: Next time you face a challenge, pause and ask yourself — have I explored their perspective, explained mine, and empowered them to help solve it? Rethink Bedtime: If routines are breaking down, revisit rituals that worked when they were younger — and involve your child in creating the new plan. Schedule Tricky Talks: Don’t wait for problems to arise. Make space for regular conversations about emotions, consent, relationships, and boundaries. Make It Fun (and Safe): Keep these talks light, warm, and open — banter, laughter, and snacks help! Remember the Timing: Big conversations are most effective when emotions are calm — not in the middle of conflict. Share This Episode: Know someone struggling with bedtime battles or tricky teen conversations? Flick this episode their way. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.