What “Messes Up Kids” the Most These Days?

How do you think parents are “messing up their kids” the most these days (screens, sugar, no sunscreen, hypervigilance, etc.)?
—Emily R.

This is really the flip side of a question I get a lot: “What’s the one thing I can do that’s most important to being a good parent?” Good and bad news: there is no one thing. For the most part, in most domains, there are many good choices to be made. You’re not going to mess your kid up by letting them watch Cocomelon or giving them cake. And you’re not going to mess them up by limiting them to fancy wooden toys and not giving them cake.

I will say, sunscreen is a good idea. I’m not sure I would go so far as to say not using it messes your kids up, but no one likes a sunburn.