When should parents actually take away a child’s phone? Duncan and Val talk through the difference between using a phone as punishment and restricting it for a reason directly related to sleep, functioning, or safety. They discuss phones in bedrooms, late-night use, screen time, and why the ultimate goal isn’t simply controlling access—it’s helping kids learn to use technology responsibly.

Parenting isn’t only about your relationship with one child. You’re also responsible for the health of the family as a whole. Duncan discusses why good leadership sometimes means saying no, allowing children to share in responsibilities, and intervening when one person’s behavior begins to negatively affect everyone else. The goal isn’t to put a child’s needs aside, but to teach them an essential part of growing up: how to be a healthy member of a larger group.

Conflict with your kids is inevitable. Turning that conflict into a battle isn’t. Duncan discusses why adversarial dynamics can undermine a parent’s authority over time, why teenagers are especially prone to pushing back, and how parents can hold limits without getting pulled into unnecessary fights. The goal isn’t to avoid disagreement or keep your child happy—it’s to preserve a relationship in which, as much as possible, you’re still on the same team.