Parenting teens is like a kickass nineties playlist.
Wild transitions, raw angst, and unexpected moments of reverberating depth.
Thursday 14 September | All Day Online Event | Recording Access Included
GO backstage with ten of THE
World's
Biggest
Raising Teens
ROCKSTARS
DR JUSTIN COULSON LET'S TALK ABOUT SEX
Sex, Consent & Staying Safe
AMY MORIN THIS IS HOW WE DO IT
13 Things Strong Teens Do
JOSH SHIPP ALWAYS BE MY BABY
One Caring Adult
REBECCA SPARROW I'LL BE THERE FOR YOU
Navigating Teenage Friendships
LEONARD SAX BETTER MAN
The Decline of Boys & Young Men
DR BETTINA HOHNEN COMPLICATED
Understanding the Teenage Brain
JULIE LYTHCOTT-HAIMS THINGS CAN ONLY GET BETTER
How to Raise an Adult
KAREN YOUNG BREATHE AGAIN
Helping your Teen with Anxiety
JEAN TWENGE BLACK HOLE SUN
Teens & Social Media
LAURENCE STEINBERG TIME OF YOUR LIFE (GOOD RIDDANCE)
Making the Most of this Age of Opportunity
PLUS
"This isn't what
I signed up for!"
Parents of teens everywhere
Remember when you brought that perfect, little baby home from the hospital all those years ago?
Sure, life was challenging back then. The insomnia, the tantrums, the crying.... But those baby smiles, squishy knees, and toddler cuddles made up for all of that.
As your child grew, you found yourself in that comfortable space between your child having enough independence that you didn't have to watch them like a hawk, but also not so much independence that you had to worry about them constantly.
Until now.
The teenage years.
You will likely have noticed an increase of emotional outbursts, risky behaviour, mental health challenges, information overload about sex— and that's just YOU! Somehow you have to manage all of that for your teen, too! (Not to mention how desperately you want to make the most of the precious years you have left with your child at home.)
"You gotta be bad, you gotta be bold, you gotta be wiser.
You gotta be hard, you gotta be tough, you gotta be stronger.
You gotta be cool, you gotta be calm, you gotta stay together.
All I know, all I know is...."
...the Happy Families "Smells Like Teen Spirit Summit" will save the day.
Get backstage with 10 of the world's biggest "raising teens" rockstars. Led by Dr Justin Coulson, they'll help you face the most hardcore parenting teen challenges.
Join us LIVE on Thursday 14/09
Kicks off at 10am. Lifetime recording access included.
"Thank you Justin and the team at Happy Families. The summit was not only super informative, but presented in a way that was easy to listen to and digest. I have discovered lots more information to explore.
You have turned topics that are big and scary into manageable conversations and little steps that I can take with my family on a regular basis. I’m very grateful!"
RAISING RESILIENT KIDS | SUMMIT Participant
TICKET PRICING
(incl. video + podcast)
SECTION A: $119
members only
SECTION B: $149
early birds
SECTION C: $199
after 07/09
or get podcast only access for $99
TICKET PRICING
(incl. both video + podcast options)
SECTION A: $119
members only*
SECTION B: $149
early birds
SECTION C: $199
after Sep 7
or get podcast only access for just $99
All day event | 10x 1hr sessions
Lifetime Recording access included
Thursday 14 September
All day event
Lifetime Recording access included
Let's Talk About Sex ▶
Sex, Consent & Staying Safe
Dr Justin Coulson is the co-host and parenting expert on Channel Nine's "Parental Guidance" and the founder of happyfamilies.com.au. He holds a PhD in Psychology and is one of Australia’s most trusted parenting experts.
Over the past decade he has helped innumerable families with his 9 books about raising children, his hundreds of media appearances (including all of Australia’s major news outlets, and even the Washington Post and the New York Times), and two viral videos that have been viewed a combined 85 million times!
For the Happy Families Summit, Justin says "Let's Talk About Sex", as he covers the following topics:
What teenagers are getting up to in terms of alcohol, drugs, pornography, and sex
Why they think they know everything (and why it’s so hard to teach them anything)
Simple ways to have the conversations your teenager needs to have in a way that invites them to want to listen
The critical things every parent must do to reduce the risk that their child will be either a perpetrator or a victim of non-consensual sexual activity (assault)
This Is How We Do It ▶
13 Things Strong Kids Do
Amy Morin is a psychotherapist, mental strength trainer and the host of a podcast called Mentally Stronger With Therapist Amy Morin. She’s an international bestselling author. Her books, including "13 Things Mentally Strong People Don’t Do", have been translated into more than 40 languages and sold more than 1 million copies.
The Guardian dubbed her “the self-help guru of the moment.” Forbes calls her a “thought leadership star” and People says her book is one of the top 20 must-read books of all time. Her TEDx talk, "The Secret of Becoming Mentally Strong", is one of the most viewed talks of all time with more than 22 million views. She lives on a sailboat in the Florida Keys.
In this conversation, Amy will show us "This is How We Do It", to understand the 13 things strong kids do when she covers the topics of:
How to raise “strong” kids, and what “strong” really means
Becoming a mentally “strong” parent
Guiding girls AND boys to understand their emotions
Helping teens overcome the fear of failure
Always Be My Baby ▶
One Caring Adult
A former at-risk foster kid turned youth advocate, Josh is renowned for the documentary TV series on A&E that followed his groundbreaking work with youth and families. He has written two national bestsellers to date, “The Grown-Up’s Guide to Teenage Humans” and “The Teen’s Guide to World Domination.”
Josh is regularly called on by OPRAH, CNN, FOX, The New York Times, 20/20, Good Morning America, and others to provide commentary on parenting challenges. Viral clips of his acclaimed presentations have been viewed an estimated 50 million times online through platforms such as UpWorthy, Goalcast, and BuzzFeed.
A very special presentation, Josh understands parental love feels like "Always Be My Baby" and will be sharing some unmissable messages, including:
How to help your kids take ownership when they mess up
How to rebuild trust when it has broken
Tough conversations about bullying, drugs, sex, death.
Practical insights on how to deal with those “I Give Up!” moments that every caring adult faces.
You’ll Laugh. You’ll cry.
You’ll walk away with practical tools and hope to keep going.
I'll Be There For You ▶
Navigating Teenage Friendships
Rebecca Sparrow is an author and podcast host and every year she speaks to thousands of kids and teens about the importance of cultivating great friendships, setting personal boundaries and the value to be found in giving back.
Bec also co-captains four enormously popular online book clubs with her friend Jane Sullivan through their company Books With Bec and Jane. She also co-hosted two popular audio series – The Friendship Project designed to help women improve their friendships, and Play On with Olympian Libby Trickett and kids coach Georgie Trickett which is all about keeping teens in sport. She is an ambassador for The Pyjama Foundation which helps bring a love of reading to kids in the foster-care system.
Bec assures us "I'll Be There for You" as she dives into Teenage Friendships and discusses:
How to navigate adolescent friendships
Identifying red flags that contribute to toxic or unhealthy friendships
Coping with friendship challenges and establishing healthy boundaries
The long-term effects of unresolved friendship challenges
The summit has helped me to prioritise what is important in our family life and how to improve relationship with my partner amongst the chaos of family."
PATREA C. | RAISING RESILIENT KIDS | SUMMIT Participant
Better Man ▶
The Decline of Boys & Young Men
Leonard Sax, the accomplished MD PhD, is a renowned figure. With degrees from MIT and the University of Pennsylvania, he practised medicine for over 18 years before taking a five-year break to travel extensively and write.
Leonard is the author of four influential books for parents, including the bestselling "The Collapse of Parenting." He has appeared on major media outlets like the TODAY Show and CNN, sharing his expertise on child and adolescent issues. Leonard Sax's impressive career continues to impact and educate parents worldwide.
At the Smells Like Teen Spirit Summit, Leonard Sax will teach us what it means to become a "Better Man" as he talks about:
Why boys are beginning to trail behind girls in academic achievement at school,
The role of video games in shifting boys' motivation away from the classroom to the video game console,
How pornography is influencing young boys' attitudes and behaviours,
Declining testosterone levels and the effect on boys' development and well-being.
"I've got all the knowledge to move forward with parenting my boys. I have ideas and conversations to have with my husband and sons. I feel equipped and I understand that the years ahead are going to be critical."
Bringing Up Boys | SUMMIT Participant
Complicated ▶
Understanding the Teenage Brain
Bettina is a Clinical Psychologist, author and speaker working in the field of child mental health and neurodiversity. Bettina’s prestigious academic credentials and ongoing work as a lecturer at UCL give her the skills to understand neuroscience and psychological science. She co-wrote The Incredible Teenage Brain (Everything You Need to Know to Unlock a Teen’s Potential) and is a UK expert in her field, writing in the media and giving high profile lectures and keynote addresses.
Bettina’s goal is to help busy people understand what neuroscience and psychology tell us children need and to offer safe spaces for reflection, so adults in their lives can deliver it. She is recognised for her sharp, engaging delivery where she distils complex ideas into actionable strategies parents and teachers can use.
In this conversation, Bettina and Justin will talk about why teens are so "Complicated" as they dig into the science and address key questions about neurodiversity and teenagers, including:
Teenagers when it comes to academics and motivation
Identity formation
How does being a teen with neurodiversity complicate matters?
How can I create the best environment for my teenager to thrive?
Things Can Only Get Better ▶
How to Raise an Adult
Julie Lythcott-Haims, a true believer in the potential of humanity, is dedicated to dismantling the barriers that impede our collective progress. She’s spoken at schools, companies, conferences, and more across the country, and her 2016 TED Talk “How to Raise Successful Kids—Without Overparenting” has been viewed close to 5 million times.
Julie holds degrees from Stanford, Harvard Law, and California College of the Arts. She lives in Palo Alto, California with her partner of over thirty years, their itinerant young adults, and her mother. She is a member of the Palo Alto City Council.
At the Smells Like Teen Spirit Summit, Julie will let us know "Things Can Only Get Better" when it comes to raising teenagers as she discusses:
What it means ‘to adult’ (verb) rather than ‘be an adult’ (noun)
How chores influence child development
How to draw the line between responsibility and frivolity for teenagers as they approach adulthood
How to raise an adult and teach life skills as they can grow into maturity
Breathe Again ▶
Helping your Teen with Anxiety
Karen began her career as a psychologist working extensively with children, teens and families. She is a sought-after speaker and consultant and works with schools, government bodies, and child/adolescent focused organisations both in Australia and overseas to build resources, implement procedures, and support the professional development of staff.
Karen is the founder of ‘Hey Sigmund’, an internationally popular online resource that provides contemporary, research-driven information on anxiety. She is the author of four books, including the bestselling ‘Hey Warrior’, which creatively assists children to understand and manage anxiety.
Imparting much of her wisdom, Karen will help us "Breathe Again" as we learn from her:
The conversation that can shift a teen’s experience of anxiety
The lifestyle factors that can strengthen all young people against anxiety
Why we need to normalise anxiety, and how.
"I'm a psychologist working with families in private practice and a parent of 1 daughter and 2 sons....how could this be not helpful to you. Thanks you sooo much. Great value, educational and practical."
KELLY L. | RAISING RESILIENT KIDS | SUMMIT PARTICIPANT
Black Hole Sun ▶
Teens & Social Media
Meet Jean M. Twenge, a distinguished Professor of Psychology at San Diego State University. With an impressive collection of over 180 scientific publications and seven books, including "Generations" and "iGen," she delves into the real differences between generations, and their implications for our kids’ future.
Armed with a BA and MA from the University of Chicago, as well as a Ph.D. from the University of Michigan, Jean Twenge continues to be a leading authority on understanding the behaviours and characteristics of today's super-connected generation.
In Jean’s conversation, she'll dive into the "Black Hole Sun" of teens & social media and share:
The impact of smartphones on your kids and their future
What the research says: smartphones' effects on children
Practical advice to ensure your tech-savvy kids' safety and well-being
Generational understanding to connect with your tech-savvy teens.
Time Of Your Life (Good Riddance) ▶
Making the Most of this Age of Opportunity
Laurence Steinberg, one of the world’s leading experts on adolescence, is the Distinguished University Professor and Laura H. Carnell Professor of Psychology and Neuroscience at Temple University. Dr. Steinberg is the author or co-author of approximately 500 articles and essays on development during the teenage years; the author of many books for parents, including "Age of Opportunity: Lessons From the New Science of Adolescence", and "The 10 Basic Principles of Good Parenting"; and the leading college textbook on the period, Adolescence.
His latest book is "You and Your Adult Child: How to Grow Together in Challenging Times". Dr. Steinberg has written for The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, and The Washington Post, and is a frequent guest on NPR.
Laurence will help us have the "Time of Your Life" as his presentation covers:
Why adolescents transition to adulthood later and later, extending into the mid-20s
The struggle of parental role with raising older adolescents
Guiding mid-20s adult children on their path to independence
How to know if your adolescent child is floundering, and equipping parents with tools to foster appropriate development.
"Dr Justin Coulson has a brilliant way of breaking down complex issues and explaining them to parents with clarity and compassion. I really enjoyed today’s summit and will continue the learning process by going back and watching some key moments. Thank you to Justin, and all the experts - who kindly shared their expertise."
DEB | BRINGING UP BOYS | SUMMIT PARTICIPANT
What's Up? ▶
Bonus Q&A with Dr Justin Coulson
"I wake in the morning
And I step outside
And I take a deep breath and I get real high
And I scream from the top of my lungs
What's going on?"
#relatable? Dr Justin is here to tell you exactly "What's Up?" with your teenagers. Join us for the LIVE Q&A session dedicated to parents of teens, exclusive to the "Smells Like Teen Spirit" Happy Families Summit.
Frequently Asked Questions
When is "Smells Like Teen Spirit" Summit happening?
The Summit goes live at 10am on Thursday 14th September 2023. You'll also have lifetime access to the recordings.
How much will it cost to register?
Early Bird Tickets are $149 (save $50). Happy Families Members pricing is $119. Podcast Only option is $99.
How long will I have access?
You'll have lifetime access to this resource.
Where is the Summit happening?
This is an online event. You can watch it wherever you have internet access. You'll just need to sign into your Happy Families account using the email address you signed up with.
If I’m a Happy Families member, do I get a special discount?
You sure do! Sign in to your membership and your special members discount will be automatically applied when you add the Summit to your cart.
How will the event be run?
With the exception of Justin's first session at 10am AEST being live and interactive, each hour on the hour, a new recorded session will be released. Make sure to catch the sessions that are most important to you as there will be a Bonus Q&A at 8pm held live at the end of the night. We know you have a lot going on - parenting, work and other commitments - so if you can't watch it all on the day, that is completely understandable. All of the presentations are recorded and available after the event, so you can watch them as many times as you like... for life!
Will the Summit be appropriate to watch with my child?
These presentations are designed for adults. We invite you to use your best judgement for what will be appropriate for your child.
