Dear Dr Justin,
My 15-year-old son was hanging out in his bedroom with one of his friends. When I walked by, I saw my son’s friend frantically trying to stash a packet of cigarettes into his bag! I was horrified, but since he isn’t my child, I wasn’t sure how or if I should intervene (I did talk to my son later). What should I have done?
Hi Dr Justin,
I worry – consistently – about my kids’ safety when they’re not at home. I’m thinking about getting them to use a location tracker so I know they’re safe. What do you recommend?
Many parents believe they are doing the right thing by giving their teenagers alcohol. And it does make some sense. Serving alcohol to our children in our homes is completely logical from our ‘grown-up’ perspective.
Behavioural scientists have spent a lot of time studying ‘happiness’. They’ve discovered that being happy elevates our wellbeing, increases our life satisfaction and gives us better health and longevity.
Dear Dr Justin, a few weeks ago we found our ten-year-old son looking at an explicit website on his iPad. He says he found it accidentally when he was looking for games and we believe him.
School holidays are a chance for families to shake off the end of term blahs and find a bit of joy in their lives.
Hi Dr Justin, I hate saying no to my kids. I keep softening up, getting talked around, giving in. I’m getting walked all over. How do I set limits and still feel like I’m being a good mum?
Hi Dr Justin, we recently had a family meeting and decided on a family safe word – a word we can use in case someone other than family has to pick the kids up. I know I need to explain to my kids why we need a safe word, but I’m worried about scaring them, especially my five year old. How can I teach her how to be safe without scaring her?
Read moreHow Can I Teach My Kids to Be Safe Without Scaring Them?
Dear Dr Justin
My son is 14 and up until recently we have always been close. When he got in from school he couldn’t wait to tell me about his day. But everything has changed. Now he seems angry and hostile all the time, and nothing I do ever makes him happy. What can I do to connect with him again?
Read moreWhy Do Teenagers Become “Allergic” to Their Parents?
I’m sure there really are kids out there who are excited about heading back to school after the summer holidays. But I don’t know any of them.