Dr Justin Coulson's Happy Families

#16: 5 Ways to be the Best Parent You Can Be

Listen on

Episode notes

Think of the times that your parenting has been its best. Those times where you were unconditionally there for your child and it felt right.

Show Notes

When I ask parents to tell me about those times, these are the answers I hear:


* Dinner time conversations

* Holidays with no agendas

* Weekends at the park or the beach

* Playing games in the lounge room

* Walking and talking

* The last ten minutes each night when I tuck them in and we just chat


It seems that time together, really focusing on one another, is the most profound and powerful way for us to build strong relationships and feel like great parents.

No parent has ever told me they felt like they were being the best parent they could be while they did overtime at the office, snuck away for an anniversary weekend, or watched a late-night movie.

While getting some ‘me-time’ or providing for the family can help us to be good parents, it seems that ‘we-time’, or time together has the potential to bring out the best in us and our kids.

This podcast looks at five research-backed ways to help you be the best parent you can be, and also bring out the best in your children.

In Ask Dr Justin we’ll look at guidance-based discipline for a little boy who won’t stop hitting mum.

And information about how you can access a HUGE discount on the 21 Days to a Happier Family online video program.