Child psychologist Becky Kennedy offers fresh insights into reducing conflicts and fostering cooperation in modern parenting

Renowned psychologist Becky Kennedy shares practical strategies for parents to navigate screen time, emotional development, and behavioural challenges, emphasising connection and giving children a sense of control amid today’s busy family life.

Clinical psychologist Becky Kennedy has become a familiar guide for frazzled parents looking for calm, practical answers to everyday chaos, from screen battles to supermarket meltdowns. In a WIRED video, Kennedy fielded a stream of common concerns about modern parenting, offering strategies aimed at reducing conflict while helping children feel understood and secure.

Much of the discussion centred on screens, especially the way tablets can hook young children so quickly. HealthyChildren.org advises parents to set clear limits on screen use and to expect pushback when devices are removed. Good Housekeeping has also noted that heavy screen use can leave children less able to tolerate slower, less stimulating activities, because digital content conditions them to expect constant novelty.

Kennedy’s broader message is that many difficult behaviours in early childhood are not signs of bad character but of unfinished emotional development. Guidance from First Five Years and Good Inside says tantrums and meltdowns are a normal part of growing up, and that the most useful response is usually calm, consistent and age-appropriate rather than punitive. That approach also aligns with Kennedy’s advice that parents should choose their battles carefully and focus on connection before correction.

One recurring theme is the value of giving children some sense of control. According to Goodto.com, Kennedy argues that children are often more cooperative when they feel they have ownership over parts of their day, whether that is getting dressed, leaving the house or following a routine. The aim is not to hand over authority, but to reduce power struggles by creating small, structured choices that help children cooperate without constant confrontation.