Dr Justin Coulson's Happy Families
When All Their Friends Have Phones and You’re Standing Firm
Mar 02, 2026
· 13m
<p>Everyone else has a phone. Your child feels left out. And you’re the “mean parent” holding the line.</p> <p>So what now?</p> <p>In this solo Q&A episode of the Happy Families Podcast, I unpack one of the most common parenting dilemmas today: peer pressure, smartphones, and the fear that saying no will push your child away.</p> <p>If your 10–12 year old is desperate to “follow the crowd,” this episode gives you a research-backed, relationship-first roadmap to hold boundaries <em>without</em> losing connection.</p> …