This talk offers a groundbreaking approach to parenting around technology and social media by emphasizing autonomy and critical thinking. Rather than imposing strict, controlling rules, Dr. Edlynn advocates for collaborative conversations about digital use, helping children learn responsible technology engagement. By involving children in setting screen time boundaries, discussing the rationales behind limits, and exploring technology's impact on their lives, parents can nurture digital literacy and self-regulation. Dr. Edlynn shares how autonomy-supportive approaches can help children internalize values around healthy technology use, reducing parent-child conflicts and empowering them to make thoughtful choices about social media, screen time, and online interactions.

Drawing from Self-Determination Theory, Dr. Edlynn offers educators and parents a powerful framework for increasing students' internal motivation for learning. By emphasizing autonomy-supportive approaches, the presentation reveals how giving students genuine choices, explaining educational rationales, and validating their perspectives can transform academic engagement. Dr. Edlynn shares science demonstrating that this approach leads to stronger academic achievement, more positive attitudes toward school, and greater intrinsic motivation. Dr. Edlynn outlines strategies like involving students in decision-making, providing meaningful explanations for academic expectations, and nurturing competence through scaffolded challenges. By shifting from controlling to autonomy-supportive methods, parents and educators can help students develop a more authentic, self-driven approach to learning that goes beyond external pressures and rewards.

Centering the critical role of autonomy in child development, Dr. Edlynn provides a science-backed approach to raising emotionally resilient children. Through the lens of Self-Determination Theory, Dr. Edlynn demonstrates how supporting children's sense of autonomy, competence, and relatedness can undoubtedly contributes to greater psychological well-being. By giving children real choices, explaining rationales, and encouraging problem-solving, parents can help children develop internal motivation, higher self-esteem, and healthier emotional coping skills. Research shows this approach reduces risks of depression and anxiety, strengthens social connections, and helps children internalize values and limits more effectively. Dr. Edlynn offers a transformative framework for nurturing children's emotional health by treating them as capable, valuable individuals with meaningful perspectives.