Parenting in a digital age: Why the "how" Matters more than ever.

We’ve all heard the warnings: research now makes it clear that social media is reshaping childhood in harmful ways. Jonathan Haidt, in The Anxious Generation, outlines what we must do—delay smartphones, create phone-free schools, and encourage more real-world play.

The what is simple. The real challenge is the how.

Why the “How” Matters

You can set limits, create rules, or delay access to devices. But without a strong parent-child relationship, those rules often turn into battles. The foundation of influence is trust—and trust can only be built through healthy communication.

The “How”: PET Skills for Connection

Parent Effectiveness Training (P.E.T.) gives parents the tools to strengthen that connection:

• Active listening so children feel understood.

• Clear expression of concerns without blame or shame.

• Collaborative problem-solving that reduces conflict.

• Mutual respect that opens the door to cooperation.

With these skills, parents move from power struggles to influence, from control to connection. Only then do Haidt’s recommendations become possible in real life.

A Call to Parents

We cannot control the digital world our children are growing up in, but we can shape how we guide them through it. The way forward is not more fear—it’s more connection.

It starts with us. Let’s reclaim childhood, one conversation at a time.