“ A bad attitude is like a flat tyre on a car. You can't go anywhere unless you change it.”
- Justin Coulson, 2024
My first introduction to Dr. Justin Coulson was at StellarX in 2024 as he talked to us about building attitude habits to improve us as leaders in the workplace. But Justin was more than just your regular optimisation, performance guru available at most self-help conventions. Through his immense body of work and ongoing efforts, he demonstrated a deep passion for another adjacent topic that I too shared: the effect of technology on children and how parenting plays an active role in nurturing and developing their relationship with it. Dr. Justin is a qualified commentator on this topic as the co-host of Channel Nine’s Parental Guidance, entrepreneur, and author of nine books focused on raising connected families. After all, the great promise of technology was to make us "more connected."
Understanding Technology and Parenting Today
Admittedly, I have spent the better part of my 20-year professional career in technology, often lamenting the social inadequacies of the very same industry that paid my mortgage. The obvious social issues and challenges introduced by technology are difficult to ignore. More so in 2025 — a couple of decades after I signed up to a small networking website called Facebook. Since those early days in the social media Wild West, we have witnessed a generation of young minds rapidly influenced by technology burrowing and nesting in every facet of their lives. Meanwhile, the challenges of parenthood have expanded and shape-shifted in response, year after year.
It was while watching Parental Guidance that I saw just how visible and relatable these challenges have become. The show presents a wide spectrum of parenting styles as families confront real-world situations—including screen time battles, online safety, and digital dependency. What stands out most is how common it is for parents to feel unsure about where to draw the line. The digital world is evolving faster than most households can keep up with, and while children are the early adopters, parents often feel like they’re playing catch-up.
But the truth is, you don't need to be a tech expert to guide your child well. You just need awareness, curiosity, and an openness to engage. That’s what Parental Guidance does so well: it reminds us that active parenting in the digital age is not about policing every move, but about participating in your child’s online journey with empathy and intention.
So what can parents do today to be more digitally aware and involved?
Practical Tips for Technology and Parenting
Here are a few grounded and actionable ways parents can begin to bridge the gap between their own tech awareness and their child’s digital experience—many of which align with what Dr. Justin Coulson regularly shares in his talks and on Parental Guidance:
- Be the role model, not the referee. Your children are watching how you use your phone, your laptop, and even how you respond to notifications. Start by demonstrating the kind of digital behaviour you'd like to see in them—balanced, purposeful, and respectful.
- Co-view, co-play, co-learn. Sit down with your child and explore the apps, games, or educational tools they use. Not in a surveillance capacity, but as a curious participant. When you show interest, they open up. When you learn together, it builds connection.
- Set boundaries together. Instead of imposing strict screen-time rules, involve your kids in the decision-making. Frame it around values: sleep, movement, focus, creativity. Let the rules emerge from shared goals, not just parental decrees.
- Create tech-free zones and times. The dinner table. The hour before bedtime. Weekend mornings. These are sacred spaces for attention, not algorithms. Consistency is more powerful than enforcement.
- Stay informed without becoming obsessed. You don’t need to know every app update or social trend. But a basic awareness of the platforms your kids are using—and how they’re being used—is essential. Subscribe to a family tech newsletter, or just ask your child, “What’s something new online you’ve discovered lately?”
- Use tech to connect, not distract. Encourage communication-based usage—video calls with cousins, creative storytelling apps, digital music making—over passive consumption. The tool isn't the enemy. The intent matters.
You can catch up on episodes of Parental Guidance here on 9Now, or learn more about Dr. Coulson’s work on his official site.
Benefits for Your Child
When you, as a parent, become more conscious and participatory in your child’s digital world, the benefits ripple out in meaningful ways. This growing intersection of technology and parenting has the potential to shape lasting habits and values.
- Stronger critical thinking. Kids who regularly talk about their tech use are more likely to question what they see online, spot manipulation, and make intentional choices.
- Greater emotional regulation. When screen-time boundaries are co-created and modelled calmly, children learn self-regulation instead of feeling deprived or rebellious.
- Improved family connection. Sharing digital spaces—through games, projects, or open conversations—helps maintain a sense of closeness, especially during adolescent years.
- Healthier lifelong habits. Digital balance isn’t just for school years. Kids who grow up with mindful tech use often carry those habits into adulthood.
- Resilience in the face of digital challenges. From cyberbullying to misinformation, children with aware and engaged parents are better equipped to navigate the digital landscape safely.
Start Small, Stay Engaged
You don’t need to overhaul your entire lifestyle overnight to make a meaningful difference in your child’s digital experience.
Even small shifts—like setting aside device-free dinner time or asking your child about the app they love most—can have a powerful impact on their development and learning. Just a mindful shift in how you approach technology and parenting can begin to change the rhythm of your family life
If you're not sure where to begin, I encourage you to watch an episode of Parental Guidance. It’s a helpful, often eye-opening way to observe different parenting styles in action and reflect on what could work best for your family. You don’t have to agree with everything you see—but you might just find one small idea that feels right to try.
Start today. Stay curious. And remember, being present and engaged is still the most powerful tool in a parent’s kit—digital or otherwise.