Compass Parenting is a framework introduced by Grow Therapy that encourages parents to move away from being “gatekeepers” who attempt to control everything their children encounter and instead become guides who help them navigate difficult experiences. The approach was developed with clinical psychologist Dr. Jacinta Jimenez, particularly with today’s technology-driven childhood in mind.
Rather than relying primarily on rigid rules around technology and screen time, Compass Parenting emphasizes helping children develop emotional regulation, self-awareness and confidence. As Jimenez explains, “shielding young people from every challenge isn’t realistic,” but helping them work through those challenges with connection and guidance can prepare them for the future.
The Benefits of Finding a Parenting “Compass”
The framework is built around a significant disconnect between what parents believe their children are experiencing and what kids actually report. Grow’s survey found that 91% of parents rated their child’s mental health as good or excellent, compared with just 54% of young people who said the same.
That disconnect can make communication particularly important. While 65% of parents believed their child often or always turned to them when upset, only 27% of young people said they did, suggesting that parents may need to create opportunities for conversations rather than waiting for children to initiate them.
Compass Parenting also recognizes that technology isn’t necessarily the problem itself. The goal, according to Jimenez, is to raise children with “enough emotional resources that technology isn’t their first and only refuge.”
Putting Compass Parenting Into Practice
The approach offers parents three simple principles, described as the GPS of Compass Parenting: Get Curious, Partner Don’t Police, and Seek to Understand Rather Than Assume. Instead of asking a child why they’re “always on their phone,” parents can ask what scrolling does for them when they’ve had a difficult day.
Parents can also create solutions collaboratively, such as establishing family-wide phone-free periods or developing nighttime routines that protect sleep. Open-ended questions—including “What’s been the hardest part of this week?”—can encourage children to talk without feeling interrogated.
The approach doesn’t mean parents should ignore serious problems or avoid professional help. In fact, Grow’s research involving nearly 10,000 young people ages 9 to 17 found that most children with elevated depression or anxiety improved when they connected with therapy and remained engaged in treatment.
