From the Leader of Wellbeing
Happy Families
The College subscription to Happy Families with Dr Justin Coulson is provided to support you in the journey of parenting teenagers.
Happy Families is a resource designed by Dr. Justin Coulson, one of Australia’s leading parenting experts. Dr. Coulson is the co-host and parenting expert on Channel Nine’s “Parental Guidance” and the founder of happyfamilies.com.au. With a PhD in Psychology from the University of Wollongong, he is a trusted voice in parenting.
Why Happy Families?
Parenting teenagers can be challenging, and Happy Families provides evidence-based strategies and insights to help you navigate this stage of your child’s development.
Key features of the subscription include:
- Expert Advice: Access articles, podcasts, and videos from Dr. Justin Coulson and his team, covering a wide range of topics from managing screen time to fostering emotional resilience.
- Practical Tools: Utilize practical tools and resources designed to help you implement effective parenting strategies at home.
- Community Support: Join a community of like-minded parents who share their experiences and support each other through the ups and downs of parenting.
How to Access Happy Families
As part of our commitment to your family’s wellbeing, we have made this resource available to all parents and guardians at our school. To access Happy Families, simply visit the link below.
https://schools.happyfamilies.com.au/login/mscw
PASSWORD: happymscw
Parent Support
As a Leader of Wellbeing, what books will I be reading during the break to develop my skills in working with families of young women, engaging young women in their learning and connecting them with others in 2025?
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Since it’s released in July it has been on my table. I have picked it up and read a chapter here and there and I know already the insight that this will have for me. Listen to the discussion that Dr Billy Garvey had with The Resilience Project on their podcast The Imperfects. In it he highlights the importance of teachers Season 6, Episode 46 – Dr Billy Garvey Dr Billy Garvey is a developmental paediatrician with over 20 years of experience working with children in several settings. He is a senior specialist at one of the largest tertiary paediatric hospitals in the world where he sees families, trains clinicians and other professionals working with children and conducts research in child development and mental health. Ten things I wish you knew about your child’s mental health
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Released last month this is one for me. Passionate about skill (‘tools’) development, in particular the development of social-emotional skills of adolescents, I am keen to hear the ‘tools’ these remarkable women needed in their ‘toolkit’ to rebuild their lives. I suspect their toolkit will contain skills that build resilience, assertiveness and respect for self and others. Layne Beachley, one of the world’s most successful surfers, and Tess Brouwer, once Virgin Australia’s Head of Partnerships, met while both at the top of their game. Then, their lives took a radical turn. Layne was burnt out and overwhelmed, feeling lost and lacking purpose following her 19-year professional surfing career. On the other side of the world, an accident left Tess in need of two spinal operations, facing seven months in and out of hospital with no guarantees of what life would look like on the other side. They both needed a toolkit to rebuild their lives. Awake Academyby Tess Brouwer & Layne Beachley |
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In this book released August 2024, Maggie Dent gives the reader a reality check on the pressures that teenagers are facing today.. She is a woman of action and the content offers clear and compassionate ‘what to do’ advice for some of the most difficult, sensitive topics – such as technology use, sex, drugs and alcohol, dropped school grades, mental health and identity – and shows us how we can provide a safe and supportive environment for all our teens.
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There is a focus on the ‘teenage brain’ and its ability to change and develop through neuroplasticity which is so important during a time in which young people are particularly sensitive and potentially vulnerable. It guides you through ways to communicate effectively with teens without negatively affecting their self-esteem. It provides tips on what to say, what not to say and the best mindset to use with teens. How to Have Incredible Conversations with Your Child A book to use together. A place to make conversation. A way to build your relationship. by Jane Gilmour and Bettina Hohnen You could also use this resource to facilitate a conversation with your daughter. Conversation Cards – link |
