Dr Justin Coulson's Happy FamiliesDr Justin Coulson's Happy Families

Why Most Family Goals Fail (And How to Get Yours to Stick)

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Most family goals sound great… and quietly disappear by February.

In this short, honest episode, Justin and Kylie Coulson share why family goal-setting usually falls apart — and the simple shifts that actually make goals work. From kids’ fitness goals to holidays, habits, and hopes for the year ahead, this episode shows how buy-in, accountability, and involvement turn good intentions into real change.

If you want goals your kids don’t just agree to — but actually own — start here.

KEY POINTS

  • Why top-down family goals almost always fail
  • The power of bottom-up buy-in (especially with older kids)
  • How accountability and visible progress keep motivation alive
  • Why parents must support goals without becoming the “goal police”
  • The overlooked ingredient that makes family goals stick: involvement

QUOTE OF THE EPISODE

“The goals that work aren’t the ones parents announce — they’re the ones families build together.”

RESOURCES MENTIONED

  • Family meetings (What’s going well? What’s not? What should we focus on?)
  • Happy Families website: happyfamilies.com.au

ACTION STEPS FOR PARENTS

  • Hold a short family meeting and let kids lead the goal ideas
  • Choose one goal that feels challenging but achievable
  • Set clear check-in points to notice progress
  • Support the system — don’t police the outcome
  • Get involved alongside your kids, especially when it’s hard
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Dr Justin Coulson's Happy Families

The Happy Families Podcast with Dr. Justin Coulson is designed for the time poor parent who just wan 
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