Lauralton Hall

The adage, “You become like the five people you spend the most time with. Choose carefully,” holds profound truth. Our closest friends can significantly influence our mindset, behaviors, and life trajectory, and surrounding ourselves with positive, motivated individuals can lead to personal growth and success.  

As our children develop more sophisticated language skills, they can start to tell us what is bothering them. However, throughout adolescence, they need our guidance to develop a proper understanding of their big emotions and the self-regulation skills to manage their feelings. 

“But it’s not fair! Everyone else has one! I’m going to be so left out! You don’t get it!”

Does this sound familiar? When it comes to the “first smartphone” conversation, many parents feel similar pressure—not only from their own children but also from society as a whole. (Perhaps that’s why recent studies report that 42% of U.S. kids have a phone by age 10.)

Think about the last time you saw your daughter truly joyful. 

Whatever recently made your daughter shine, I bet it had nothing to do with time spent on a tiny screen.