"Are we there yet?"

Long family road trips can definitely be painful, BUT they can also be a great opportunity for some quality family time! We share a list of some helpful road trip games to keep everyone entertained.

• I-spy
• Spotto
• I went to the shops and I bought
• The alphabet game
• Car cricket
• Old MacDonald Had A Farm
• The Goanna Gang
• Bingo
• This Is The Song That Never Ends
• Peel The Avocado
• The Fart Game
• Stay quiet or else!

Find us on Facebook or TikTok

Subscribe to the Happy Families newsletter

Leave a voice memo here or email your questions/comments to [email protected]

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Some Christmas movies that will keep your children from getting underfoot while you get the gifts wrapped!

G-rated options:

• The Polar Express
• Klaus
• Arthur Christmas
• Elf
• Home Alone
• Santa Clause

Honourable (grown up) mentions:

• Christmas Chronicles
• Bad Santa
• The Holiday

Nativity movies:

• The Nativity Story (2006)
• Chasing The Star (2017)
• VeggieTales: The Little Drummer Boy (2011)
• The Star (2017)
• Journey to Bethlehem (a musical) (2023)
• The First Christmas (1998)

Purchase Tis the Season to be Cranky or How to Unspoil your Kids this Christmas

Find us on Facebook or TikTok

Subscribe to the Happy Families newsletter

Leave a voice memo here or email your questions/comments to [email protected]

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Christmas is a time where we can really lean into and celebrate family traditions! 

Christmas traditions:

• Gifts, Santa. decorating
• Spending time with loved ones
• Advent, carols, the nativity
• Christmas Eve, stockings, pyjamas, Jolabokaflod
• Christmas ninjas - giving & serving others

Related Links:

• Take Back Christmas
• Family Traditions Help Kids Make Sense of Life

Find us on Facebook or TikTok

Subscribe to the Happy Families newsletter

Leave a voice memo here or email your questions/comments to [email protected]

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Feel like you're drowning in a sea of Christmas "shoulds" and "musts" as a parent? Or that you're constantly running on empty, with no energy left to enjoy moments with your kids? 

This episode of I'll Do Better Tomorrow addresses the burnout that many parents experience during the holiday season and beyond. 

Listen in to hear Justin and Kyle share their own struggles and insights, as well as some helpful tips on how to break free from the cycle of exhaustion and find joy in the simple things again. 

In this episode:

• Kylies in a flunk in the lead up to Christmas, feeling burnt out and stressed
• Prioritising tasks
• Introjection motivation
• What is it that you want?
• Taking time to reflect on what has worked in the past for mental, physical, and emotional well-being
• Alfie Kohn
• Do one thing well
• Making time for loved ones

Related Links:

• Self Care Strategies That Really Work
• We Need to Talk About Parent Wellbeing [ Webinar ]
• Burnt Out [ FREE webinar ]

Find us on Facebook or TikTok

Subscribe to the Happy Families newsletter

Leave a voice memo here or email your questions/comments to [email protected]

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This episode unpacks Australia's groundbreaking social media ban for kids under 16, set to roll out by Christmas 2025. With tech giants stepping up enforcement, parents are relieved, while teens face digital detoxes.

Join the discussion as we explore Prince Harry’s surprising critique, parents’ joys and woes, and strategies for tackling this new era of tech parenting.

In this episode:

• New legislation
• Australia's incoming social media ban cannot be considered overreach | Sky News 
• Bullying over social media
• Parental reactions
• Prince Harry's comments 
• Why Harry has it royally wrong on social media dangers | Daily Telegraph
• Implementation, digital IDs
• Navigating conversations with kids
• Acknowledging sadness and disappointment, FOMO
• The flow-on effect of the ban
• The 3 Es of Effective Discipline: Explore, Explain, Empower

Related Links:

• Super Solutions for Technology Troubles [Webinar]
• Unplug Childhood - join the village

Find us on Facebook or TikTok

Subscribe to the Happy Families newsletter

Leave a voice memo here or email your questions/comments to [email protected]

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This episode takes a heartfelt turn as we delve into one of the most touching Christmas stories ever written—O. Henry’s The Gift of the Magi. Whether you’re a longtime fan of the tale or hearing it for the first time, its timeless message of love and sacrifice is sure to move you.

In this episode:

• A reflection on Christmas storytelling
• O. Henry’s The Gift of the Magi
• Sacrifice, love, and the spirit of giving

Related Links:

• 10 Easy Traditions That Can Make Christmas Meaningful For Your Family
  
• Gifts our Children Need For Christmas

Find us on Facebook or TikTok

Subscribe to the Happy Families newsletter

Leave a voice memo here or email your questions/comments to [email protected]

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Christmas is almost here! In this festive episode, we share five simple yet impactful ways to elevate your holiday celebrations. Whether it’s through meaningful traditions, playful gift exchanges, or acts of kindness, we’re here to help you focus on what truly matters—time, connection, and joy.

In this episode:

• Focus on time together
• Fun with gifts
• Christmas Eve traditions
• Jolabokaflod - Icelandic book tradition
• Acts of service
• Neighbourhood connections

Related Links:

• Minimising Materialism this Christmas
  
• 10 Ways to ‘Unspoil’ the Children this Christmas

Find us on Facebook or TikTok

Subscribe to the Happy Families newsletter

Leave a voice memo here or email your questions/comments to [email protected]

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As the end of the year closes in us, we take a look back at 2024 and the top five episodes you listened to this year.

Click on the links to go back and listen to an episode.

• Number 5 - #1041 Screens Suck
• Number 4 - #1042 Work & Home School Life Balance
• Number 3 - #1009 ADHD in Adults & Toddlers
• Number 2 - #1038 Managing Emotional Dysregulation
• Number 1 - #1055 Why The Kids Don't Listen

Find us on Facebook or TikTok

Subscribe to the Happy Families newsletter

Leave a voice memo here or email your questions/comments to [email protected]

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It's the weekly wrap up, where we look back at the week that was and figure out ways that we can improve in our parenting.

In this episode:

• Despite being guaranteed downtime this year, Kylie is feeling more tired than ever.
• If we want to do better, we need to do less.
• Self awareness is a game changer.
• Putting your whole self into whatever you are doing.

Related Links:

• Leidy Klotz - Subtract

Find us on Facebook or TikTok

Subscribe to the Happy Families newsletter

Leave a voice memo here or email your questions/comments to [email protected]

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This Christmas, skip the shopping stress and focus on what really matters.

From creating a stress-free environment to embracing meaningful traditions, we explore how these intangible gifts—none of which require wrapping paper or a credit card—can bring joy and connection to your family. 

In this episode:

• Peace
• Presence not presents
• Playfulness
• Purpose
• Family traditions
• Reject the pursuit of perfection
• 3 Levels of Christmas

Related Links:

• Take Back Christmas
• 10 Easy Traditions That Can Make Christmas Meaningful For Your Family

Find us on Facebook or TikTok

Subscribe to the Happy Families newsletter

Leave a voice memo here or email your questions/comments to [email protected]

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What happens when online bullying transcends the screen and starts shaping young lives in tragic ways?

With eSafety Commissioner Julie Inman Grant, we uncover the harsh realities of cyberbullying, sextortion, and the online traps facing today’s youth.

Learn about innovative tools and strategies available to parents, educators, and schools to protect children, as well as the importance of staying engaged in your kids’ digital lives.

In this episode:

• The role of Australia's eSafety Commissioner
• Cyberbullying & mental health 
• Emerging online threats (doxing, sextortion, violent language, isolating victims)
• Contagion effect of self harm
• Parental awareness & responsibility
• Cooperation from platforms
• Removing content
• Tools and resources for parents and educators
• Teaching kids to report bullying & collect evidence
• Setting boundaries & modelling respectful communication at home
• Strategies for managing kids' screen time

Related Links:

• #639 Online Sextortion With Detective Superintendent Jayne Crossling
• Lifeline Australia - 13 11 14
• Kids Helpline - 1800 55 1800
• 13YARN Australia | For First Nation Australians - 13 92 76

Find us on Facebook or TikTok

Subscribe to the Happy Families newsletter

Leave a voice memo here or email your questions/comments to [email protected]

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.