#1277 - Ditching Screens is Bringing Joy Back to Our Home

Dr Justin Coulson's Happy Families

Things reached breaking point. And then… everything changed.
This week on the Happy Families Podcast, Justin and Kylie share a raw and transformative parenting story from their own home—a story of tough love, compassion, and the unexpected joy that emerged when one of their children went screen-free.

If you've ever wrestled with screen-time battles, wondered whether stepping in might do more harm than good, or felt at a loss watching your child withdraw behind a phone… this is the episode you need to hear.

KEY POINTS:

• Not all kids respond to screens the same way—some are more deeply affected mentally, socially, and physically.
• Despite multiple conversations, one of Justin and Kylie’s children struggled to reduce screen use on her own.
• Justin made the tough call to temporarily remove the smartphone, despite knowing it would be met with resistance.
• The decision was supported with compassion, calm, and a consistent message of love and presence.
• Within days, they saw remarkable emotional and relational transformation.
• The child herself later initiated a conversation to renegotiate her phone use, ultimately choosing to remove social media apps and suggest her own boundaries.
• The family experienced a visible increase in connection, laughter, and joy—without screens.

QUOTE OF THE EPISODE:
"With enough scaffolding, with enough support, with enough conversation around why sometimes we as parents are going to make decisions that the children may not agree with… the children are able to deal with and respond to these challenges in much more productive ways." – Justin Coulson

RESOURCES MENTIONED:

• “The Doctor’s Desk” podcast episode #1270 mentioned a study on improved wellbeing after removing smartphone internet access.
• Study from 'Nature'
• happyfamilies.com.au for more resources on parenting and screen time.
• Parental Guidance Season 3 starts Monday June 30 on Channel 9 — new episodes discussed throughout the week on the podcast.

✅ ACTION STEPS FOR PARENTS:

1. Trust your instincts – If screen use is affecting your child’s wellbeing, don't ignore the signs.
2. Lead with compassion – Any intervention should be anchored in calm, empathy, and connection.
3. Scaffold the change – Offer alternatives, create structure, and maintain open communication.
4. Invite their input – When emotions settle, include your child in designing new tech boundaries.
5. Watch for the joy – Pay attention to the surprising upside: more laughter, connection, and peace.

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