Most people think the toughest years of parenting are the early teens—but I believe the real foundation is built before then. Ages 6–12, what I call the “forgotten years,” are when kids are still deeply influenced by you. This is the perfect time to instill the values, skills, and emotional tools they’ll carry into their teenage years and beyond. In my book, The Crucial Years, I share ways to help your child regulate emotions, manage a healthy digital life, and understand their “window of tolerance.” When we focus on kindness over perfection, connection over pressure, we set them up not just for success—but for happiness. I recently chatted with KTAL News about why these years matter so much—listen to the full conversation here: https://www.ktalnews.com/ktal-news-now/shreveport-crucial-years-puberty-middle-childhood/ #parentingtips #thecrucialyears #childdevelopment #preteens #parentinghelp #raisingkids #emotionalhealth #mentalhealth #screenlifebalance #kindnessmatters