Researcher and father-of-six Dr Justin Coulson might have some tips for you. 

The author of “What your child needs from you” is coming to Forbes next week to speak at a free event.

Dr Coulson says the session is for parents, grandparents or anyone who has the responsibility of raising a child. 

“If you are dealing with kids you will love this,” he said. 

“It’s going to be a fun and enjoyable evening.”

The evening’s discussion will be based on Dr Coulson’s book, looking at:

How to build a strong connection with your children by being emotionally present in a busy world;

How to really understand your child’s emotional world, increasing their emotional security and feelings of worth; and

Proven discipline strategies that teach - no more resorting to threats, bribes or rewards, just proven ways to teach good ways to behave.

“Research tells us that having children is a surefire way not to be happy,” Dr Coulson said.

“We’re going to play around with some ideas about making home a happier place - and also look at what happiness means. It doesn’t always mean what we immediately think.Dr Coulson says there are so many do’s and don’ts for parents, he wants to cut through the confusion.

His learnings come from looking at decades of research as well as experience in his own home and working with families. 

He says many parents come to him to discuss a particular behavioural problem, but find just spending more time with their children is the solution. 

“Not always, but in the vast majority of cases, the kids’ behaviour is a plea for attention,” he said.  

“We spend so much time giving our children correction and direction and so little time getting the relationship right.

“People tell me they notice their kids all the time - they notice they left their shoe in the car and didn’t unpack their lunchbox. 

“What are we noticing and how are we sharing that?” 

Dr Coulson earned his PhD in psychology from the University of Wollongong. 

He is the author of several peer-reviewed journal articles and book chapters, and has written a number of popular books and e-books about parenting and happiness. 

He provides his parenting expertise to well-known organisations including the Australian Government’s Raising Children Network, Life Education, Intel Security, and the Alannah and Madeline Foundation.

Just as importantly, Dr Coulson is expert at wrestling with his kids and sliding down steep hills on cardboard boxes.  

“We play stacks-on-dad, run away from dad, pull dad’s socks off, and other fun and silly games,” he said. 

“This makes us happy. Just spending time together.

“I love reading to my kids. We read Dr Suess lots. We also read C. S. Lewis, J. R. R. Tolkein, and the Wimpy Kid series.”

CentaCare Wilcannia Forbes is very proud to present this evening session with Dr Coulson next Wednesday, May 27.

The session is from 5.30pm to 7pm at Red Bend Catholic College’s multi-purpose hall and is free to attend. 

For more information contact CentaCare on 6850 1777.