If you are a parent, how do you comfort your child after a major loss?
Justin chats with Christine Layton form ABC Perth 
How we can talk to our kids about grief
The emotion train
What behaviours do grieving children exhibit?
Acknowledge their pain
Avoidance reinforces anxiety
How to prepare a child for a funeral
Shenton College's Facebook post

Find us on Facebook at Dr Justin Coulson's Happy Families

Email us your questions and comments at podcasts@happyfamilies.com.au

If you are a parent, how do you comfort your child after a major loss?
<ul>
<li>Justin chats with Christine Layton form ABC Perth </li>
<li>How we can talk to our kids about grief</li>
<li>The emotion train</li>
<li>What behaviours do grieving children exhibit?</li>
<li>Acknowledge their pain</li>
<li>Avoidance reinforces anxiety</li>
<li>How to prepare a child for a funeral</li>
<li><a href="https://www.facebook.com/shentoncollege/posts/pfbid02tJRK2Uo5Y6LhaX82dppnPj4ZR6XZVJxjoWjr6gAtFeFA9v5Z5FZ6qt1uH1bMQRRFl">Shenton College's Facebook post</a></li>
</ul>
Find us on Facebook at <a href="https://www.facebook.com/happyfamilies.au/">Dr Justin Coulson's Happy Families</a>
Email us your questions and comments at <a href="mailto:podcasts@happyfamilies.com.au">podcasts@happyfamilies.com.au</a>

The Happy Families Podcast with Dr. Justin Coulson is designed for the time poor parent who just wants answers now. Every day Justin and his wife Kylie provide practical tips and a common sense approach to parenting that Mums and Dads all over the world are connecting with. Justin and Kylie have 6 daughters and they regularly share their experiences of managing a busy household filled with lots of challenges and plenty of happiness. For real and practicable advice from people who understand and appreciate the challenges of a time poor parent, listen to Justin and Kylie and help make your family happier.

The Happy Families Podcast with Dr. Justin Coulson is designed for the time poor parent who just wants answers now. Every day Justin and his wife Kylie provide practical tips and a common sense approach to parenting that Mums and Dads all over the world are connecting with. Justin and Kylie have 6 daughters and they regularly share their experiences of managing a busy household filled with lots of challenges and plenty of happiness. For real and practicable advice from people who understand and appreciate the challenges of a time poor parent, listen to Justin and Kylie and help make your family happier.

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

#702 Kids and Loss

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/fa326977-3de5-4283-9b8b-af3500c58607/clips/77a0d883-98e6-45ab-9863-afa800e424c2/transcript

One honest conversation. One brave decision. One life changed.

In this I’ll Do Better Tomorrow episode, Kylie shares a moment she almost dismissed — until a handwritten letter revealed the unimaginable impact it had. We also unpack why goals often fail kids, how habits quietly heal, and what happens when parents choose courage over convention. This is about noticing what’s not working… and acting before it’s too late.

KEY POINTS
Why focusing on who your child is becoming matters more than hitting a goal
How movement reduces anxiety and low mood (even when it doesn’t “make you happy”)
The quiet warning signs parents often miss
Why “the best school” isn’t always the right school
How one conversation gave a mum the courage to act — and likely saved a life
A powerful reminder: resilience doesn’t grow alone, it grows in relationships

QUOTE OF THE EPISODE

“So often we keep doing the same thing, hoping it will get better — but nothing changes until we act.”

RESOURCES MENTIONED
Happy Families — parenting courses and support
Parenting ADHD [The Course] (happyfamilies.com.au)
The Industry School (alternative education option discussed)

ACTION STEPS FOR PARENTS
Get curious, not furious: ask why before fixing
Shift goals into habits — focus on daily ways of being
Watch energy, mood, and behaviour for quiet signals
If something isn’t working, give yourself permission to choose again
Have the brave conversation — it might matter more than you realise

One honest conversation. One brave decision. One life changed.
In this I&rsquo;ll Do Better Tomorrow episode, Kylie shares a moment she almost dismissed &mdash; until a handwritten letter revealed the unimaginable impact it had. We also unpack why goals often fail kids, how habits quietly heal, and what happens when parents choose courage over convention. This is about noticing what&rsquo;s not working&hellip; and acting before it&rsquo;s too late.
KEY POINTS
<ul>
<li aria-level="1">Why focusing on who your child is becoming matters more than hitting a goal</li>
<li aria-level="1">How movement reduces anxiety and low mood (even when it doesn&rsquo;t &ldquo;make you happy&rdquo;)</li>
<li aria-level="1">The quiet warning signs parents often miss</li>
<li aria-level="1">Why &ldquo;the best school&rdquo; isn&rsquo;t always the right school</li>
<li aria-level="1">How one conversation gave a mum the courage to act &mdash; and likely saved a life</li>
<li aria-level="1">A powerful reminder: resilience doesn&rsquo;t grow alone, it grows in relationships</li>
</ul>
QUOTE OF THE EPISODE
&ldquo;So often we keep doing the same thing, hoping it will get better &mdash; but nothing changes until we act.&rdquo;
RESOURCES MENTIONED
<ul>
<li aria-level="1"><a href="https://www.happyfamilies.com.au">Happy Families</a> &mdash; parenting courses and support</li>
<li aria-level="1"><a href="https://happyfamilies.com.au/shop/product/parenting-adhd-the-course">Parenting ADHD [The Course]</a> (happyfamilies.com.au)</li>
<li aria-level="1"><a href="https://theindustryschool.com.au/">The Industry School</a> (alternative education option discussed)</li>
</ul>
ACTION STEPS FOR PARENTS
<ul>
<li aria-level="1">Get curious, not furious: ask why before fixing</li>
<li aria-level="1">Shift goals into habits &mdash; focus on daily ways of being</li>
<li aria-level="1">Watch energy, mood, and behaviour for quiet signals</li>
<li aria-level="1">If something isn&rsquo;t working, give yourself permission to choose again</li>
<li aria-level="1">Have the brave conversation &mdash; it might matter more than you realise</li>
</ul>

I'll Do Better Tomorrow - Kylie Saves a Life

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/fa326977-3de5-4283-9b8b-af3500c58607/clips/2dc31bb4-f9e3-4e72-a61d-b3d600ceee03/transcript

Some books entertain.
Some books inform.
And then there are books that unsettle you—and quietly change how you see the world, your kids, and the systems shaping their lives.

In this episode, Kylie and I step away from parenting advice (just briefly) to share the books that mattered most to us in 2025. These aren’t light beach reads. They’re confronting, provocative, and deeply relevant for parents raising children in a digital, diagnosed, distracted world.

If you love books—and you care about the future your kids are growing up in—this one stays with you.

Books & Resources Mentioned
Boys — Dr Justin Coulson (join the waitlist to learn more!)
Careless People — Sarah Wynn-Williams
Searching for Normal — Sami Timimi
Essentialism — Greg McKeown
The Let Them Theory — Mel Robbins
A Thousand Wasted Sundays — Victoria Vanstone
Mumming — Victoria Vanstone
1984 — George Orwell
Lonesome Dove — Larry McMurtry
A Gentleman in Moscow — Amor Towles
Greenlights — Matthew McConaughey
Parenting ADHD [The Course]
My 8 Favourite Books in 2025 [Article]

ACTION STEPS FOR PARENTS
Choose one book this year that challenges your assumptions—not just your habits
Notice what makes you uncomfortable while reading—and sit with it
Talk with your partner or teen about what you’re noticing in tech, mental health, and culture
Remember: protecting kids starts with seeing the systems shaping them

Some books entertain. Some books inform. And then there are books that unsettle you&mdash;and quietly change how you see the world, your kids, and the systems shaping their lives.
In this episode, Kylie and I step away from parenting advice (just briefly) to share the books that mattered most to us in 2025. These aren&rsquo;t light beach reads. They&rsquo;re confronting, provocative, and deeply relevant for parents raising children in a digital, diagnosed, distracted world.
If you love books&mdash;and you care about the future your kids are growing up in&mdash;this one stays with you.
Books &amp; Resources Mentioned
<ul>
<li aria-level="1">Boys &mdash; Dr Justin Coulson (<a href="https://happyfamilies.com.au/boys-book-waitlist">join the waitlist </a>to learn more!)</li>
<li aria-level="1">Careless People &mdash; Sarah Wynn-Williams</li>
<li aria-level="1">Searching for Normal &mdash; Sami Timimi</li>
<li aria-level="1">Essentialism &mdash; Greg McKeown</li>
<li aria-level="1">The Let Them Theory &mdash; Mel Robbins</li>
<li aria-level="1">A Thousand Wasted Sundays &mdash; Victoria Vanstone</li>
<li aria-level="1">Mumming &mdash; Victoria Vanstone</li>
<li aria-level="1">1984 &mdash; George Orwell</li>
<li aria-level="1">Lonesome Dove &mdash; Larry McMurtry</li>
<li aria-level="1">A Gentleman in Moscow &mdash; Amor Towles</li>
<li aria-level="1">Greenlights &mdash; Matthew McConaughey</li>
<li aria-level="1"><a href="https://happyfamilies.com.au/shop/product/parenting-adhd-the-course">Parenting ADHD [The Course]</a></li>
<li aria-level="1"><a href="https://happyfamilies.com.au/articles/my-8-favourite-books-in-2025">My 8 Favourite Books in 2025</a> [Article]</li>
</ul>
ACTION STEPS FOR PARENTS
<ul>
<li aria-level="1">Choose one book this year that challenges your assumptions&mdash;not just your habits</li>
<li aria-level="1">Notice what makes you uncomfortable while reading&mdash;and sit with it</li>
<li aria-level="1">Talk with your partner or teen about what you&rsquo;re noticing in tech, mental health, and culture</li>
<li aria-level="1">Remember: protecting kids starts with seeing the systems shaping them</li>
</ul>

The Best Books We Read in 2025

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/fa326977-3de5-4283-9b8b-af3500c58607/clips/63333a78-395b-4abb-8c88-b3d600cec4dc/transcript

Every cry feels urgent. Every opinion feels loud. But what if responding faster isn’t always better?

New research reveals something surprising: being responsive matters—but being too responsive might actually make things harder for your baby (and you). In this episode, Dr Justin Coulson breaks down a powerful cross-cultural study that challenges popular parenting advice and explains what truly helps babies learn to calm themselves—without neglect, guilt, or extremes.

If you’ve ever felt anxious about every sound your baby makes, this episode will change how you listen.

KEY POINTS
Why faster responses don’t always mean faster soothing
What a UK–Uganda study reveals about infant self-regulation
The difference between responsiveness and over-responsiveness
How parental anxiety transfers directly to babies
Why how you respond matters as much as when you respond

QUOTE OF THE EPISODE

“Being responsive helps babies feel safe—but being over-responsive can stop them learning how to soothe themselves.”

RESOURCES MENTIONED
Research published in Developmental Psychology
British Psychological Society (BPS)
10 Things Every Parent Needs to Know –by Dr Justin Coulson
HappyFamilies.com.au

ACTION STEPS FOR PARENTS
Pause before responding—notice the level of distress
Respond quickly to real distress, not every murmur
Calm yourself first—your baby borrows your nervous system
Trust that small pauses can build self-soothing skills
Let go of “perfect” responses and aim for attuned ones

Every cry feels urgent. Every opinion feels loud. But what if responding faster isn&rsquo;t always better?
New research reveals something surprising: being responsive matters&mdash;but being too responsive might actually make things harder for your baby (and you). In this episode, Dr Justin Coulson breaks down a powerful cross-cultural study that challenges popular parenting advice and explains what truly helps babies learn to calm themselves&mdash;without neglect, guilt, or extremes.
If you&rsquo;ve ever felt anxious about every sound your baby makes, this episode will change how you listen.
KEY POINTS
<ul>
<li aria-level="1">Why faster responses don&rsquo;t always mean faster soothing</li>
<li aria-level="1">What a UK&ndash;Uganda study reveals about infant self-regulation</li>
<li aria-level="1">The difference between responsiveness and over-responsiveness</li>
<li aria-level="1">How parental anxiety transfers directly to babies</li>
<li aria-level="1">Why how you respond matters as much as when you respond</li>
</ul>
QUOTE OF THE EPISODE
&ldquo;Being responsive helps babies feel safe&mdash;but being over-responsive can stop them learning how to soothe themselves.&rdquo;
RESOURCES MENTIONED
<ul>
<li aria-level="1">Research published in <a href="https://doi.org/10.1037/dev0002038">Developmental Psychology</a></li>
<li aria-level="1">British Psychological Society (BPS)</li>
<li aria-level="1"><a href="https://happyfamilies.com.au/shop/product/10-things-every-parent-needs-to-know">10 Things Every Parent Needs to Know</a> &ndash;by Dr Justin Coulson</li>
<li aria-level="1"><a href="HappyFamilies.com.au">HappyFamilies.com.au</a></li>
</ul>
ACTION STEPS FOR PARENTS
<ul>
<li aria-level="1">Pause before responding&mdash;notice the level of distress</li>
<li aria-level="1">Respond quickly to real distress, not every murmur</li>
<li aria-level="1">Calm yourself first&mdash;your baby borrows your nervous system</li>
<li aria-level="1">Trust that small pauses can build self-soothing skills</li>
<li aria-level="1">Let go of &ldquo;perfect&rdquo; responses and aim for&nbsp;attuned ones</li>
</ul>

What Crying Babies Actually Need from Us

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/fa326977-3de5-4283-9b8b-af3500c58607/clips/65fb4f7e-1503-4c00-897a-b3d600ce9e03/transcript

#702 Kids and Loss

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