Dr. Becky Kennedy

I think that's too negative of a question. I think there's a couple things I'm seeing. Number one, I see a lot of confusion around boundaries and a lot of orientation toward keeping your kid happy, which generally means not setting boundaries. And the thing about this, and I think there's a lot of talk about cell phones and pledges and John Haidt is amazing in the work he's done.

I think that's too negative of a question. I think there's a couple things I'm seeing. Number one, I see a lot of confusion around boundaries and a lot of orientation toward keeping your kid happy, which generally means not setting boundaries. And the thing about this, and I think there's a lot of talk about cell phones and pledges and John Haidt is amazing in the work he's done.

I think that's too negative of a question. I think there's a couple things I'm seeing. Number one, I see a lot of confusion around boundaries and a lot of orientation toward keeping your kid happy, which generally means not setting boundaries. And the thing about this, and I think there's a lot of talk about cell phones and pledges and John Haidt is amazing in the work he's done.

My perspective starts younger, which is the cost to not being able to set boundaries with your kids has never been so high. It has never been more important to set boundaries because back when you and I were young, if our parents didn't set boundaries, I don't know, we like stayed up an hour later or had an extra cupcake.

My perspective starts younger, which is the cost to not being able to set boundaries with your kids has never been so high. It has never been more important to set boundaries because back when you and I were young, if our parents didn't set boundaries, I don't know, we like stayed up an hour later or had an extra cupcake.

My perspective starts younger, which is the cost to not being able to set boundaries with your kids has never been so high. It has never been more important to set boundaries because back when you and I were young, if our parents didn't set boundaries, I don't know, we like stayed up an hour later or had an extra cupcake.

Now, if you can't set a boundary, your kid's on TikTok at age seven, playing video games for five hours.

Now, if you can't set a boundary, your kid's on TikTok at age seven, playing video games for five hours.

Now, if you can't set a boundary, your kid's on TikTok at age seven, playing video games for five hours.

And the other thing I would say to parents is if setting boundaries and tolerating your kid being upset with you, if honestly with yourself, that's hard. The idea that the first boundary you're going to set is delaying your kid's cell phone, that's a joke. Like a boundary setting is a muscle. And we have to build it when our kids are young around all types of things.

And the other thing I would say to parents is if setting boundaries and tolerating your kid being upset with you, if honestly with yourself, that's hard. The idea that the first boundary you're going to set is delaying your kid's cell phone, that's a joke. Like a boundary setting is a muscle. And we have to build it when our kids are young around all types of things.

And the other thing I would say to parents is if setting boundaries and tolerating your kid being upset with you, if honestly with yourself, that's hard. The idea that the first boundary you're going to set is delaying your kid's cell phone, that's a joke. Like a boundary setting is a muscle. And we have to build it when our kids are young around all types of things.

And then when you tell your kid, no, we're not getting you a cell phone, their reaction isn't even as intense than other kids because they're thinking, well, you've always set boundaries. You've always tolerated me being upset with you. You're not becoming a new parent overnight.

And then when you tell your kid, no, we're not getting you a cell phone, their reaction isn't even as intense than other kids because they're thinking, well, you've always set boundaries. You've always tolerated me being upset with you. You're not becoming a new parent overnight.

And then when you tell your kid, no, we're not getting you a cell phone, their reaction isn't even as intense than other kids because they're thinking, well, you've always set boundaries. You've always tolerated me being upset with you. You're not becoming a new parent overnight.

So I think one of my favorite things is to show parents, though, you can set boundaries in a way that helps you be closer with your kid. Kids know when their parents aren't parenting. They know it. They won't say it to you because short term it feels good.

So I think one of my favorite things is to show parents, though, you can set boundaries in a way that helps you be closer with your kid. Kids know when their parents aren't parenting. They know it. They won't say it to you because short term it feels good.

So I think one of my favorite things is to show parents, though, you can set boundaries in a way that helps you be closer with your kid. Kids know when their parents aren't parenting. They know it. They won't say it to you because short term it feels good.

I can't even tell you how many teens in my practice back in the day would tell me stories of essentially parental neglect and not neglect like they weren't there, but they weren't being a parent.

I can't even tell you how many teens in my practice back in the day would tell me stories of essentially parental neglect and not neglect like they weren't there, but they weren't being a parent.