I don't see how smothering them is going to help with this generation selfie-mentality. I was an independent child, I needed that space and privacy to sort out my identity and thoughts. I never had a thot period or a disrespectful period, and my parents were always working multiple jobs and just wanted my brother and I out of their hair. I think it is because I rolled with other girls who were also always into sports and our priorities centered around tourneys and playbooks. But I don't know if group sports even offer that type of environment anymore.
I'd like to be able to teach my kid (regardless of gender) that the universe does not center around them, that their lives are not part of a reality show, that instant gratification is not really gratifying and that interaction with real life humans is more enriching than doing it virtually. But I can't really do that if his/her friends aren't reinforcing the same values. It's easy to move to a good school district for academics, but harder to find the social groups where the students' parents share similar value/child discipline practices.