The power of bedtime and car rides for meaningful conversations - Dara Erck

This episode features Dara Erck, founder of SAM+LEO, a company creating innovative health products specifically for teens. We explore three key topics:

- The role of family conversations in fostering emotional well-being and how parents can use tools like "news highlights" to connect with their teens.

- Practical strategies for managing screen time and supporting mental health in today’s digital age.

- The pressure to be perfect is crushing kids. Repair is a parenting superpower—don’t let guilt stop you from using it.

Episode Highlights

00:00 Dara identifies the gap in teen-specific health products and shares how SAM+LEO fills this void with accessible and empowering solutions for teens.

06:14 Dara highlights the importance of family conversations and shares her favorite tools, such as using news highlights during car rides to spark meaningful discussions.

11:03 Dara explains why screen time isn’t just about hours spent but also the type of engagement (e.g., scrolling vs. purposeful interaction).

15:37 Dara discusses how schools can complement home efforts in supporting teens’ mental health and academics.

20:39 Dara shares her personal experience with co-parenting and navigating differing opinions about parenting decisions.

27:33 Claudie explains how sensory enrichment games at Mendability work by stimulating multiple parts of the brain simultaneously to foster natural growth and happiness in children.

31:12 Dara emphasizes the importance of modeling imperfection for kids, sharing how showing vulnerability can reduce perfectionist tendencies in children.

38:02 Dara introduces the concept of repair in parenting and why it’s never too late to apologize and reconnect with your child.