What if some of the parenting advice you’ve been given was completely wrong?

Richard Glover has spent years digging through Australian parenting manuals, government advice and expert recommendations from the past 100 years. What he found is funny, disturbing and surprisingly reassuring.

From being told not to cuddle a crying baby to warnings that praise would make children arrogant, Richard reveals how generations of parents were taught to ignore their instincts. He also explains why looking back at parenting history can help us stop chasing every new expert theory and trust ourselves a little more.

KEY POINTS
Why parents were once told not to cuddle crying babies
How government parenting advice shaped generations of Australian families
Why harsh parenting keeps coming back in new forms
What history can teach us about today's parenting trends
Why parents can be more forgiving of their own childhood experiences
The simple things children actually need: love, stability and age-appropriate limits

QUOTE OF THE EPISODE

“Children need stability, a sense of order, a sense of rules, and they need a lot of love.”

RESOURCES MENTIONED

How to Ruin a Child by Richard Glover

ACTION STEPS FOR PARENTS
Be wary of extreme parenting advice that promises one perfect way to raise children.
Trust your instincts when something feels wrong.
Give your children clear, age-appropriate boundaries alongside plenty of love.
Remember that you don't have to get parenting perfect to raise a perfectly decent human being.

What if some of the parenting advice you&rsquo;ve been given was completely wrong?
Richard Glover has spent years digging through Australian parenting manuals, government advice and expert recommendations from the past 100 years. What he found is funny, disturbing and surprisingly reassuring.
From being told not to cuddle a crying baby to warnings that praise would make children arrogant, Richard reveals how generations of parents were taught to ignore their instincts. He also explains why looking back at parenting history can help us stop chasing every new expert theory and trust ourselves a little more.
KEY POINTS
<ul data-spread="false">
<li>Why parents were once told not to cuddle crying babies</li>
<li>How government parenting advice shaped generations of Australian families</li>
<li>Why harsh parenting keeps coming back in new forms</li>
<li>What history can teach us about today's parenting trends</li>
<li>Why parents can be more forgiving of their own childhood experiences</li>
<li>The simple things children actually need: love, stability and age-appropriate limits</li>
</ul>
QUOTE OF THE EPISODE
<blockquote>
&ldquo;Children need stability, a sense of order, a sense of rules, and they need a lot of love.&rdquo;
</blockquote>
RESOURCES MENTIONED
<a href="https://www.harryhartog.com.au/products/how-to-ruin-a-child-richard-glover-9780733344435">How to Ruin a Child</a> by Richard Glover
ACTION STEPS FOR PARENTS
<ul data-spread="false">
<li>Be wary of extreme parenting advice that promises one perfect way to raise children.</li>
<li>Trust your instincts when something feels wrong.</li>
<li>Give your children clear, age-appropriate boundaries alongside plenty of love.</li>
<li>Remember that you don't have to get parenting perfect to raise a perfectly decent human being.</li>
</ul>

Deciding which parenting advice to follow? Join the thousands of mums and dads who turn to Australia’s most downloaded parenting podcast.

Dr Justin Coulson and his wife Kylie bring real parenting solutions every day, cutting through the noise of modern advice with clear, practical guidance for every step of parenting.

From early childhood challenges to the complexities of the teenage years, each daily episode offers simple, evidence-based strategies to help you feel more confident in your decisions and more connected to your kids.

Deciding which parenting advice to follow?&nbsp;Join the thousands of mums and dads who turn to Australia&rsquo;s most downloaded parenting podcast.
Dr Justin Coulson and his wife Kylie bring real parenting solutions every day, cutting through the noise of modern advice with clear, practical guidance for every step of parenting.
From early childhood challenges to the complexities of the teenage years, each daily episode offers simple, evidence-based strategies to help you feel more confident in your decisions and more connected to your kids.

The Happy families podcast with Dr. Justin Coulson is designed for the time poor parent who just wants answers now.

Dr Justin Coulson's Happy Families

How to Ruin a Child [with Richard Glover]

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/fa326977-3de5-4283-9b8b-af3500c58607/clips/7255411f-0b72-4f6d-830e-b4dc003881bf/transcript

Your phone might be getting in the way of your child’s learning, confidence and connection with you.

Justin and Kylie Coulson unpack three research findings every parent should know, from the link between heavy AI use and lower school test scores to why early puberty may increase anxiety risk in girls. They also explore how being ignored while a parent scrolls can affect a teenager’s sense of security in the relationship.

Discover what the research tells us, where the limits of the evidence lie, and how to give your child more opportunities to feel supported, connected and confident.

KEY POINTS
AI and learning: Students who frequently use AI chatbots for schoolwork scored lower in science and reading than those who rarely use them. How children use AI matters.
Early puberty and anxiety: Research links earlier, faster puberty in girls with a higher risk of anxiety symptoms. Supportive relationships may help provide important protection.
Phone distraction and attachment: Teenagers who feel ignored by a parent’s phone use are more likely to report insecure attachment to that caregiver.

QUOTE OF THE EPISODE

“She needs protective factors in her life.”

RESOURCES MENTIONED
PISA assessment findings on AI use and student performance, reported by Lucy Carroll in The Australian
Danish National Birth Cohort analysis on pubertal development and anxiety, published in the Journal of Affective Disorders
Research examining parental phone use, "phubbing" and adolescent attachment

ACTION STEPS FOR PARENTS
Encourage your child to use AI to explore ideas and learn, rather than letting it do their thinking or writing for them.
If your daughter experiences early puberty, focus on supportive relationships, trusted role models and a safe home environment.
Put your phone away when your child is trying to connect with you. Give them your attention, listen and show them they matter.
Remember that research showing a link between two things does not automatically prove that one causes the other.

Your phone might be getting in the way of your child&rsquo;s learning, confidence and connection with you.
Justin and Kylie Coulson unpack three research findings every parent should know, from the link between heavy AI use and lower school test scores to why early puberty may increase anxiety risk in girls. They also explore how being ignored while a parent scrolls can affect a teenager&rsquo;s sense of security in the relationship.
Discover what the research tells us, where the limits of the evidence lie, and how to give your child more opportunities to feel supported, connected and confident.
KEY POINTS
<ul>
<li aria-level="1">AI and learning: Students who frequently use AI chatbots for schoolwork scored lower in science and reading than those who rarely use them. How children use AI matters.</li>
<li aria-level="1">Early puberty and anxiety: Research links earlier, faster puberty in girls with a higher risk of anxiety symptoms. Supportive relationships may help provide important protection.</li>
<li aria-level="1">Phone distraction and attachment: Teenagers who feel ignored by a parent&rsquo;s phone use are more likely to report insecure attachment to that caregiver.</li>
</ul>
QUOTE OF THE EPISODE
&ldquo;She needs protective factors in her life.&rdquo;
RESOURCES MENTIONED
<ul>
<li aria-level="1">PISA assessment findings on AI use and student performance, <a href="https://www.theaustralian.com.au/subscribe/news/1/?sourceCode=TAWEB_WRE170_a&amp;dest=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.theaustralian.com.au%2Feducation%2Faustralian-students-who-rely-heavily-on-ai-chatbots-fall-30-points-behind-in-tests%2Fnews-story%2F7497ca6a0351358f4c4350046beebdab&amp;memtype=anonymous&amp;mode=premium&amp;v21=GROUPA-Segment-1-NOSCORE">reported by Lucy Carroll</a> in The Australian</li>
<li aria-level="1"><a href="https://www.psypost.org/early-puberty-is-linked-to-higher-anxiety-risk-in-girls/">Danish National Birth Cohort analysis on pubertal development and anxiety</a>, published in the Journal of Affective Disorders</li>
<li aria-level="1"><a href="https://www.bps.org.uk/research-digest/parental-phubbing-may-nurture-insecure-attachment-kids">Research examining parental phone use</a>, "phubbing" and adolescent attachment</li>
</ul>
ACTION STEPS FOR PARENTS
<ul>
<li aria-level="1">Encourage your child to use AI to explore ideas and learn, rather than letting it do their thinking or writing for them.</li>
<li aria-level="1">If your daughter experiences early puberty, focus on supportive relationships, trusted role models and a safe home environment.</li>
<li aria-level="1">Put your phone away when your child is trying to connect with you. Give them your attention, listen and show them they matter.</li>
<li aria-level="1">Remember that research showing a link between two things does not automatically prove that one causes the other.</li>
</ul>

When Your Phone Gets Between You and Your Child

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/fa326977-3de5-4283-9b8b-af3500c58607/clips/19eeb667-cd96-45db-815d-b4dc0038f243/transcript

Behind the parenting advice is a dad, a husband, a son and a grandad who’s still learning as he goes.

For Justin Coulson’s birthday, Kylie takes the microphone and asks the questions we don’t usually hear on the Happy Families podcast. From the grandmother who made him feel like the favourite to the moment he burst into tears at the news he was becoming a grandad, Justin shares the memories, mistakes and moments that shaped him.

He also reveals the question from one father that changed the way he thinks about parenting. It’s a reminder that being a better parent starts with looking at ourselves.

KEY POINTS


The childhood memories and family relationships that shaped Justin


The overwhelming joy of becoming a grandfather


Why his enthusiasm for research is sometimes mistaken for arrogance


The parenting question he’s never forgotten


The hard-won lessons behind his books


What he hopes to achieve in the year ahead

QUOTE OF THE EPISODE

“How do I be the father that my son needs me to be?”

RESOURCES MENTIONED


Happy Families: https://happyfamilies.com.au


Justin Coulson’s parenting books

ACTION STEPS FOR PARENTS


Ask yourself what kind of parent your child needs you to be right now.


Think about the parenting habits you inherited from your own parents. Which ones do you want to keep, and which ones do you want to change?


Give yourself permission to keep learning. Even the experts have lessons they learn the hard way.

Behind the parenting advice is a dad, a husband, a son and a grandad who&rsquo;s still learning as he goes.
For Justin Coulson&rsquo;s birthday, Kylie takes the microphone and asks the questions we don&rsquo;t usually hear on the Happy Families podcast. From the grandmother who made him feel like the favourite to the moment he burst into tears at the news he was becoming a grandad, Justin shares the memories, mistakes and moments that shaped him.
He also reveals the question from one father that changed the way he thinks about parenting. It&rsquo;s a reminder that being a better parent starts with looking at ourselves.
KEY POINTS
<ul data-spread="false">
<li>
The childhood memories and family relationships that shaped Justin
</li>
<li>
The overwhelming joy of becoming a grandfather
</li>
<li>
Why his enthusiasm for research is sometimes mistaken for arrogance
</li>
<li>
The parenting question he&rsquo;s never forgotten
</li>
<li>
The hard-won lessons behind his books
</li>
<li>
What he hopes to achieve in the year ahead
</li>
</ul>
QUOTE OF THE EPISODE
&ldquo;How do I be the father that my son needs me to be?&rdquo;
RESOURCES MENTIONED
<ul data-spread="false">
<li>
Happy Families: <a href="https://happyfamilies.com.au" data-rich-text-autolink="">https://happyfamilies.com.au</a>
</li>
<li>
Justin Coulson&rsquo;s parenting books
</li>
</ul>
ACTION STEPS FOR PARENTS
<ul data-spread="false">
<li>
Ask yourself what kind of parent your child needs you to be right now.
</li>
<li>
Think about the parenting habits you inherited from your own parents. Which ones do you want to keep, and which ones do you want to change?
</li>
<li>
Give yourself permission to keep learning. Even the experts have lessons they learn the hard way.
</li>
</ul>

The Side of Justin Coulson You Don’t Usually Hear (Happy Birthday Dr J!)

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/fa326977-3de5-4283-9b8b-af3500c58607/clips/f26ed09e-86a8-4cec-aa0c-b4dc0038ca42/transcript

School mornings shouldn't end with tears, frustration and everyone feeling like they've failed. Justin and Kylie answer Emma's question about her two daughters and share practical ways to make getting ready for school less stressful.

From preparing the night before to swapping constant instructions for connection, discover how small changes can help your kids feel more capable and get everyone out the door in a better mood.

Key Points


Prepare uniforms, bags, lunches and everything else the night before.


Get up early enough to feel calm and ready to help.


Reduce morning stress by removing unnecessary steps.


Replace constant instructions with connection and offers of support.


Create a simple checklist with your kids so they know what's next.


Make mornings fun with music, games and family routines.

Quote of the Episode

“The more you can do tonight, the less you have to do tomorrow morning.”

Resources Mentioned


The Parenting Revolution by Justin Coulson


Happy Families: happyfamilies.com.au

Action Steps for Parents


Get school bags, uniforms and shoes ready tonight.


Make a simple morning checklist with your kids.


Ask “What's next on your list?” instead of telling them what to do.


Sit with your kids at breakfast and offer help when they need it.


Try a morning playlist to make getting ready more fun.

School mornings shouldn't end with tears, frustration and everyone feeling like they've failed. Justin and Kylie answer Emma's question about her two daughters and share practical ways to make getting ready for school less stressful.
From preparing the night before to swapping constant instructions for connection, discover how small changes can help your kids feel more capable and get everyone out the door in a better mood.
Key Points
<ul data-spread="false">
<li>
Prepare uniforms, bags, lunches and everything else the night before.
</li>
<li>
Get up early enough to feel calm and ready to help.
</li>
<li>
Reduce morning stress by removing unnecessary steps.
</li>
<li>
Replace constant instructions with connection and offers of support.
</li>
<li>
Create a simple checklist with your kids so they know what's next.
</li>
<li>
Make mornings fun with music, games and family routines.
</li>
</ul>
Quote of the Episode
&ldquo;The more you can do tonight, the less you have to do tomorrow morning.&rdquo;
Resources Mentioned
<ul data-spread="false">
<li>
<a href="https://happyfamilies.com.au/shop/product/the-parenting-revolution">The Parenting Revolution</a> by Justin Coulson
</li>
<li>
Happy Families: <a href="happyfamilies.com.au">happyfamilies.com.au</a>
</li>
</ul>
Action Steps for Parents
<ul data-spread="false">
<li>
Get school bags, uniforms and shoes ready tonight.
</li>
<li>
Make a simple morning checklist with your kids.
</li>
<li>
Ask &ldquo;What's next on your list?&rdquo; instead of telling them what to do.
</li>
<li>
Sit with your kids at breakfast and offer help when they need it.
</li>
<li>
Try a morning playlist to make getting ready more fun.
</li>
</ul>

Calmer School Mornings Start the Night Before [a Listener Q&A]

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/fa326977-3de5-4283-9b8b-af3500c58607/clips/d4583e39-ca54-4b17-97eb-b4dc0038a5ee/transcript

How to Ruin a Child [with Richard Glover]

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