diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 5b4c969..8d94950 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 ## Esensi Model Traits Package
 
-> Version 1
+> Version 3
 
 An [Esensi](https://github.com/esensi) package, coded by [SiteRocket Labs®](https://www.siterocket.com).
 
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@ The `Esensi/Model` package is just one package that makes up [Esensi](https://gi
 
 ## Note
 
-This code is specifically designed to be compatible with the [Laravel Framework](https://laravel.com) and may not be compatible as a stand-alone dependency or as part of another framework.
+This code is specifically designed to be compatible with the [Laravel Framework ^10](https://laravel.com) and may not be compatible as a stand-alone dependency or as part of another framework.
 
 ### Extend the Default Model
 
@@ -92,7 +92,7 @@ class Post extends SoftModel {
 Add the `esensi/model` package as a dependency to the application. Using [Composer](https://getcomposer.org), this can be done from the command line:
 
 ```bash
-composer require esensi/model 0.6.*
+composer require esensi/model
 ```
 
 Or manually it can be added to the `composer.json` file:
@@ -100,7 +100,7 @@ Or manually it can be added to the `composer.json` file:
 ```json
 {
     "require": {
-        "esensi/model": "0.6.*"
+        "esensi/model": "^3.0"
     }
 }
 ```
@@ -126,7 +126,6 @@ This Esensi package has been featured in various places from university classroo
 
 > **Model validation** is the method of establishing rules to ensure when you’re creating, or updating, an object based on a model, that all of its field values are set appropriately. That all required fields are filled, that all date fields are formatted properly, etc.
 
-- [Read _Laravel 8 Model Validation With the Esensi Model Traits Package_](https://selftaughtcoders.com/from-idea-to-launch/lesson-24/laravel-8-model-validation-esensi-model-traits-package/)
 - [Signup for _From Ideas to Launch_](https://selftaughtcoders.com/from-idea-to-launch/)
 
 ### Auto-Validating On Save
@@ -537,7 +536,7 @@ This package includes the [`JugglingModelTrait`](https://github.com/esensi/model
 - create custom types to cast to with magic model methods like:
     - Example: `fooBar` => `juggleFooBar()`
 
-Like all the traits, it is self-contained and can be used individually. Be aware, however, that using this trait does overload the magic `__get()` and `__set()` methods of the model (see [Esensi\Model\Model](https://github.com/esensi/model/blob/master/src/Model.php) source code for how to deal with overloading conflicts). Special credit goes to the brilliant [Dayle Rees](https://github.com/daylerees), author of [Code Bright book](https://leanpub.com/codebright), who inspired this trait with his [pull request to Laravel](https://github.com/laravel/framework/pull/4948) which eventually arrived in [Laravel 8 as Attribute Casting](http://laravel.com/docs/eloquent-mutators#attribute-casting) which supports basic type casting.
+Like all the traits, it is self-contained and can be used individually. Be aware, however, that using this trait does overload the magic `__get()` and `__set()` methods of the model (see [Esensi\Model\Model](https://github.com/esensi/model/blob/master/src/Model.php) source code for how to deal with overloading conflicts). Special credit goes to the brilliant [Dayle Rees](https://github.com/daylerees), author of [Code Bright book](https://leanpub.com/codebright), who inspired this trait with his [pull request to Laravel](https://github.com/laravel/framework/pull/4948) which eventually arrived in [Laravel as Attribute Casting](http://laravel.com/docs/eloquent-mutators#attribute-casting) which supports basic type casting.
 
 ### Auto-Juggling on Access
 
@@ -791,8 +790,8 @@ This package uses [PHPUnit](http://phpunit.de) to automate the code testing proc
 ```json
 {
     "require-dev": {
-        "phpunit/phpunit": "4.1.*",
-        "mockery/mockery": "0.9.*"
+        "phpunit/phpunit": "10.0.7",
+        "mockery/mockery": "1.5.1"
     }
 }
 ```
diff --git a/composer.json b/composer.json
index e400787..2994d81 100644
--- a/composer.json
+++ b/composer.json
@@ -14,20 +14,24 @@
     ],
     "license": "MIT",
     "require": {
-        "php": "^7.3|^8.0",
-        "nesbot/carbon": "^2.53.1",
-        "illuminate/contracts": "^8.0|^9.0",
-        "illuminate/database": "^8.0|^9.0",
-        "illuminate/encryption": "^8.0|^9.0",
-        "illuminate/events": "^8.0|^9.0",
-        "illuminate/hashing": "^8.0|^9.0",
-        "illuminate/support": "^8.0|^9.0",
-        "illuminate/validation": "^8.0|^9.0",
+        "php": "^8.1",
+        "nesbot/carbon": "^2.67",
+        "illuminate/contracts": "^9.0|^10.0|^11.0",
+        "illuminate/database": "^10.0",
+        "illuminate/encryption": "^10.0",
+        "illuminate/events": "^10.0",
+        "illuminate/hashing": "^10.0",
+        "illuminate/support": "^10.0",
+        "illuminate/validation": "^10.0",
         "paragonie/random_compat": "^8.0|^9.0",
         "symfony/polyfill-php81": "^1.23",
-        "watson/validating": "^6.1"
+        "watson/validating": "^8.1"
 
     },
+    "require-dev": {
+        "phpunit/phpunit": "10.0.7",
+        "mockery/mockery": "1.5.1"
+    },
     "autoload": {
         "psr-4": {
             "Esensi\\Model\\": "src/"
diff --git a/src/Model.php b/src/Model.php
index e9084d7..ad10896 100644
--- a/src/Model.php
+++ b/src/Model.php
@@ -8,6 +8,8 @@
 use Esensi\Model\Contracts\PurgingModelInterface;
 use Esensi\Model\Contracts\RelatingModelInterface;
 use Esensi\Model\Contracts\ValidatingModelInterface;
+use Esensi\Model\Traits\BackwardCompatibleDatesTrait;
+use Esensi\Model\Traits\DatesToCastsTrait;
 use Esensi\Model\Traits\EncryptingModelTrait;
 use Esensi\Model\Traits\HashingModelTrait;
 use Esensi\Model\Traits\JugglingModelTrait;
@@ -76,6 +78,22 @@ abstract class Model extends Eloquent implements
      */
     use RelatingModelTrait;
 
+    /*
+     * This trait is designed for automatic conversion of the $dates property to the $casts property in Laravel Eloquent models.
+     * When a model is being saved, updated, or retrieved from the database, the trait checks for the presence of the $dates property
+     * and adds corresponding values to the $casts array if they are not already defined.
+     *
+     * @see Esensi\Model\Traits\DatesToCastsTrait
+     */
+    use DatesToCastsTrait;
+
+    /*
+     * Get the attributes that should be converted to dates.
+     *
+     * @see Esensi\Model\Traits\BackwardCompatibleDatesTrait
+     */
+    use BackwardCompatibleDatesTrait;
+
     /**
      * The attributes that should be mutated to dates.
      *
diff --git a/src/Traits/BackwardCompatibleDatesTrait.php b/src/Traits/BackwardCompatibleDatesTrait.php
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..b553f11
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/Traits/BackwardCompatibleDatesTrait.php
@@ -0,0 +1,18 @@
+<?php
+
+namespace Esensi\Model\Traits;
+
+trait BackwardCompatibleDatesTrait
+{
+
+    /**
+     * Get the attributes that should be converted to dates.
+     *
+     * @return array
+     */
+    public function getDates()
+    {
+        $defaults = parent::getDates();
+        return array_unique(array_merge($this->dates, $defaults));
+    }
+}
diff --git a/src/Traits/DatesToCastsTrait.php b/src/Traits/DatesToCastsTrait.php
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..5915468
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/Traits/DatesToCastsTrait.php
@@ -0,0 +1,38 @@
+<?php
+
+namespace Esensi\Model\Traits;
+
+trait DatesToCastsTrait
+{
+    /**
+     * Boot the trait.
+     *
+     * @return void
+     */
+    protected static function bootDatesToCastsTrait()
+    {
+        $events = ['saving', 'retrieved', 'deleting'];
+
+        foreach ($events as $event) {
+            static::$event(function ($model) {
+                $model->convertDatesToCasts();
+            });
+        }
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * Convert $dates to $casts automatically.
+     *
+     * @return void
+     */
+    protected function convertDatesToCasts()
+    {
+        if (property_exists($this, 'dates') && property_exists($this, 'casts')) {
+            foreach ($this->dates as $dateColumn) {
+                if (!array_key_exists($dateColumn, $this->casts)) {
+                    $this->casts[$dateColumn] = 'datetime';
+                }
+            }
+        }
+    }
+}
diff --git a/tests/EncryptingModelTraitTest.php b/tests/EncryptingModelTraitTest.php
index f058d56..92ca784 100644
--- a/tests/EncryptingModelTraitTest.php
+++ b/tests/EncryptingModelTraitTest.php
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@
 
 use Esensi\Model\Model;
 use Illuminate\Encryption\Encrypter;
-use PHPUnit_Framework_TestCase as PHPUnit;
+use PHPUnit\Framework\TestCase as PHPUnit;
 
 /**
  * Tests for the Encrypting Model Trait.
@@ -13,7 +13,7 @@ class EncryptingModelTraitTest extends PHPUnit
     /**
      * Set Up and Prepare Tests.
      */
-    public function setUp()
+    public function setUp(): void
     {
         // Mock the Model that uses the custom trait
         $this->model = Mockery::mock('ModelEncryptingStub');
@@ -23,7 +23,7 @@ public function setUp()
     /**
      * Tear Down and Clean Up Tests.
      */
-    public function tearDown()
+    public function tearDown(): void
     {
         Mockery::close();
     }
@@ -267,7 +267,7 @@ public function testGettingEncrypter()
         // Check that its an Encrypter
         $model = new ModelEncryptingStub();
         $encrypter = $model->getEncrypter();
-        $this->assertInstanceOf('\Illuminate\Encryption\Encrypter', $encrypter, $encrypter);
+        $this->assertInstanceOf('\Illuminate\Encryption\Encrypter', $encrypter);
     }
 
     /**
@@ -515,7 +515,7 @@ public function __construct()
         parent::__construct();
 
         // Assign a default encrypter for mocking purposes
-        $this->encrypter = EncrypterStub::newInstance();
+        $this->encryptor = EncrypterStub::newInstance();
     }
 }
 
diff --git a/tests/HashingModelObserverTest.php b/tests/HashingModelObserverTest.php
index b881319..569cfdc 100644
--- a/tests/HashingModelObserverTest.php
+++ b/tests/HashingModelObserverTest.php
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 <?php
 
 use Esensi\Model\Observers\HashingModelObserver;
-use PHPUnit_Framework_TestCase as PHPUnit;
+use PHPUnit\Framework\TestCase as PHPUnit;
 
 /**
  * Tests for Hashing Model Observer.
@@ -12,7 +12,7 @@ class HashingModelObserverTest extends PHPUnit
     /**
      * Set Up and Prepare Tests.
      */
-    public function setUp()
+    public function setUp(): void
     {
         // Create a new instance of the HashingModelObserver
         $this->observer = new HashingModelObserver();
@@ -24,7 +24,7 @@ public function setUp()
     /**
      * Tear Down and Clean Up Tests.
      */
-    public function tearDown()
+    public function tearDown(): void
     {
         Mockery::close();
     }
diff --git a/tests/HashingModelTraitTest.php b/tests/HashingModelTraitTest.php
index 82b361f..82cf6bf 100644
--- a/tests/HashingModelTraitTest.php
+++ b/tests/HashingModelTraitTest.php
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@
 use Esensi\Model\Model;
 use Illuminate\Contracts\Hashing\Hasher;
 use Illuminate\Hashing\BcryptHasher;
-use PHPUnit_Framework_TestCase as PHPUnit;
+use PHPUnit\Framework\TestCase as PHPUnit;
 
 /**
  * Tests for the Hashing Model Trait.
@@ -14,7 +14,7 @@ class HashingModelTraitTest extends PHPUnit
     /**
      * Set Up and Prepare Tests.
      */
-    public function setUp()
+    public function setUp(): void
     {
         // Mock the Model that uses the custom trait
         $this->model = Mockery::mock('ModelHashingStub');
@@ -24,7 +24,7 @@ public function setUp()
     /**
      * Tear Down and Clean Up Tests.
      */
-    public function tearDown()
+    public function tearDown(): void
     {
         Mockery::close();
     }
@@ -267,7 +267,8 @@ public function testGettingHasher()
         // Check that its an Hasher
         $model = new ModelHashingStub();
         $hasher = $model->getHasher();
-        $this->assertInstanceOf('\Illuminate\Hashing\BcryptHasher', $hasher, $hasher);
+
+        $this->assertInstanceOf('\Illuminate\Hashing\BcryptHasher', $hasher);
     }
 
     /**
diff --git a/tests/JugglingModelTraitTest.php b/tests/JugglingModelTraitTest.php
index c98cf48..484be3f 100644
--- a/tests/JugglingModelTraitTest.php
+++ b/tests/JugglingModelTraitTest.php
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@
 use Carbon\Carbon;
 use Esensi\Model\Model;
 use Illuminate\Database\Connection;
-use PHPUnit_Framework_TestCase as PHPUnit;
+use PHPUnit\Framework\TestCase as PHPUnit;
 
 /**
  * Tests for the Purging Model Trait.
@@ -14,7 +14,7 @@ class JugglingModelTraitTest extends PHPUnit
     /**
      * Set Up and Prepare Tests.
      */
-    public function setUp()
+    public function setUp(): void
     {
         // Mock the Model that uses the custom trait
         $this->model = Mockery::mock('ModelJugglingStub');
@@ -27,7 +27,7 @@ public function setUp()
     /**
      * Tear Down and Clean Up Tests.
      */
-    public function tearDown()
+    public function tearDown(): void
     {
         Mockery::close();
     }
@@ -419,17 +419,17 @@ public function testJuggleAttributes()
         $this->assertCount($count, $attributes);
 
         // Check that the attributes are set and return the correct types
-        $this->assertInternalType('string', $this->model->myString);
+        $this->assertIsString($this->model->myString);
         $this->assertInstanceOf('\Carbon\Carbon', $this->model->myDate);
-        $this->assertInternalType('string', $this->model->myDateTime);
-        $this->assertInternalType('integer', $this->model->myTimestamp);
-        $this->assertInternalType('integer', $this->model->myInt);
-        $this->assertInternalType('integer', $this->model->myInteger);
-        $this->assertInternalType('boolean', $this->model->myBool);
-        $this->assertInternalType('boolean', $this->model->myBoolean);
-        $this->assertInternalType('float', $this->model->myDouble);
-        $this->assertInternalType('float', $this->model->myFloat);
-        $this->assertInternalType('array', $this->model->myArray);
+        $this->assertIsString($this->model->myDateTime);
+        $this->assertIsInt($this->model->myTimestamp);
+        $this->assertIsInt($this->model->myInt);
+        $this->assertIsInt($this->model->myInteger);
+        $this->assertIsBool($this->model->myBool);
+        $this->assertIsBool($this->model->myBoolean);
+        $this->assertIsFloat($this->model->myDouble);
+        $this->assertIsFloat($this->model->myFloat);
+        $this->assertIsArray($this->model->myArray);
     }
 
     /**
@@ -473,7 +473,7 @@ public function testJuggleDateTime()
     public function testJuggleTimestamp()
     {
         $timestamp = $this->model->juggleTimestamp('1970-01-01');
-        $this->assertInternalType('integer', $timestamp);
+        $this->assertIsInt($timestamp);
         $this->assertEquals(18000, $timestamp);
     }
 
@@ -490,14 +490,14 @@ public function testJuggleBoolean()
         // Test true values
         foreach ([true, 1, '1'] as $value) {
             $boolean = $this->model->juggleBoolean($value);
-            $this->assertInternalType('boolean', $boolean);
+            $this->assertIsBool($boolean);
             $this->assertTrue($boolean);
         }
 
         // Test false values
         foreach ([false, 0, '0'] as $value) {
             $boolean = $this->model->juggleBoolean($value);
-            $this->assertInternalType('boolean', $boolean);
+            $this->assertIsBool($boolean);
             $this->assertFalse($boolean);
         }
     }
@@ -508,11 +508,11 @@ public function testJuggleBoolean()
     public function testJuggleInteger()
     {
         $integer = $this->model->juggleInteger('1');
-        $this->assertInternalType('integer', $integer);
+        $this->assertIsInt($integer);
         $this->assertEquals(1, $integer);
 
         $integer = $this->model->juggleInteger('1 large pizza');
-        $this->assertInternalType('integer', $integer);
+        $this->assertIsInt($integer);
         $this->assertEquals(1, $integer);
     }
 
@@ -522,11 +522,11 @@ public function testJuggleInteger()
     public function testJuggleFloat()
     {
         $float = $this->model->juggleFloat('1.23456789');
-        $this->assertInternalType('float', $float);
+        $this->assertIsFloat($float);
         $this->assertEquals(1.23456789, $float);
 
         $float = $this->model->juggleFloat(1 / 4);
-        $this->assertInternalType('float', $float);
+        $this->assertIsFloat($float);
         $this->assertEquals(0.25, $float);
     }
 
@@ -536,7 +536,7 @@ public function testJuggleFloat()
     public function testJuggleString()
     {
         $string = $this->model->juggleString(1 / 4);
-        $this->assertInternalType('string', $string);
+        $this->assertIsString($string);
         $this->assertEquals('0.25', $string);
     }
 
@@ -546,11 +546,11 @@ public function testJuggleString()
     public function testJuggleArray()
     {
         $array = $this->model->juggleArray([]);
-        $this->assertInternalType('array', $array);
+        $this->assertIsArray($array);
         $this->assertEmpty($array);
 
         $array = $this->model->juggleArray('foo');
-        $this->assertInternalType('array', $array);
+        $this->assertIsArray($array);
         $this->assertEquals(['foo'], $array);
     }
 }
diff --git a/tests/ModelTest.php b/tests/ModelTest.php
index fa37df6..44d3325 100644
--- a/tests/ModelTest.php
+++ b/tests/ModelTest.php
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 <?php
 
 use Esensi\Model\Model;
-use PHPUnit_Framework_TestCase as PHPUnit;
+use PHPUnit\Framework\TestCase as PHPUnit;
 
 /**
  * Tests for the Model.
@@ -12,7 +12,7 @@ class ModelTest extends PHPUnit
     /**
      * Set Up and Prepare Tests.
      */
-    public function setUp()
+    public function setUp(): void
     {
         // Mock the Model that uses the custom traits
         $this->model = Mockery::mock('ModelStub');
@@ -22,7 +22,7 @@ public function setUp()
     /**
      * Tear Down and Clean Up Tests.
      */
-    public function tearDown()
+    public function tearDown(): void
     {
         Mockery::close();
     }
diff --git a/tests/PurgingModelObserverTest.php b/tests/PurgingModelObserverTest.php
index abf2ff2..9b83136 100644
--- a/tests/PurgingModelObserverTest.php
+++ b/tests/PurgingModelObserverTest.php
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 <?php
 
 use Esensi\Model\Observers\PurgingModelObserver;
-use PHPUnit_Framework_TestCase as PHPUnit;
+use PHPUnit\Framework\TestCase as PHPUnit;
 
 /**
  * Tests for Purging Model Observer.
@@ -12,7 +12,7 @@ class PurgingModelObserverTest extends PHPUnit
     /**
      * Set Up and Prepare Tests.
      */
-    public function setUp()
+    public function setUp(): void
     {
         // Create a new instance of the PurgingModelObserver
         $this->observer = new PurgingModelObserver();
@@ -24,7 +24,7 @@ public function setUp()
     /**
      * Tear Down and Clean Up Tests.
      */
-    public function tearDown()
+    public function tearDown(): void
     {
         Mockery::close();
     }
diff --git a/tests/PurgingModelTraitTest.php b/tests/PurgingModelTraitTest.php
index 1f2c69b..b73d059 100644
--- a/tests/PurgingModelTraitTest.php
+++ b/tests/PurgingModelTraitTest.php
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 <?php
 
 use Esensi\Model\Model;
-use PHPUnit_Framework_TestCase as PHPUnit;
+use PHPUnit\Framework\TestCase as PHPUnit;
 
 /**
  * Tests for the Purging Model Trait.
@@ -12,7 +12,7 @@ class PurgingModelTraitTest extends PHPUnit
     /**
      * Set Up and Prepare Tests.
      */
-    public function setUp()
+    public function setUp(): void
     {
         // Mock the Model that uses the custom trait
         $this->model = Mockery::mock('ModelPurgingStub');
@@ -22,7 +22,7 @@ public function setUp()
     /**
      * Tear Down and Clean Up Tests.
      */
-    public function tearDown()
+    public function tearDown(): void
     {
         Mockery::close();
     }
diff --git a/tests/RelatingModelTraitTest.php b/tests/RelatingModelTraitTest.php
index f323238..a995afb 100644
--- a/tests/RelatingModelTraitTest.php
+++ b/tests/RelatingModelTraitTest.php
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@
 use Illuminate\Database\Connection;
 use Illuminate\Database\Eloquent\Relations\BelongsTo;
 use Illuminate\Database\Eloquent\Relations\MorphTo;
-use PHPUnit_Framework_TestCase as PHPUnit;
+use PHPUnit\Framework\TestCase as PHPUnit;
 
 /**
  * Tests for the Relating Model Trait.
@@ -15,7 +15,7 @@ class RelatingModelTraitTest extends PHPUnit
     /**
      * Set Up and Prepare Tests.
      */
-    public function setUp()
+    public function setUp(): void
     {
         // Mock the Model that uses the custom trait
         $this->model = Mockery::mock('ModelRelatingStub');
@@ -25,7 +25,7 @@ public function setUp()
     /**
      * Tear Down and Clean Up Tests.
      */
-    public function tearDown()
+    public function tearDown(): void
     {
         Mockery::close();
     }
diff --git a/tests/SoftModelTest.php b/tests/SoftModelTest.php
index e2d093a..bb9423b 100644
--- a/tests/SoftModelTest.php
+++ b/tests/SoftModelTest.php
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 <?php
 
 use Esensi\Model\SoftModel;
-use PHPUnit_Framework_TestCase as PHPUnit;
+use PHPUnit\Framework\TestCase as PHPUnit;
 
 /**
  * Tests for the Soft Model.
@@ -12,7 +12,7 @@ class SoftModelTest extends PHPUnit
     /**
      * Set Up and Prepare Tests.
      */
-    public function setUp()
+    public function setUp(): void
     {
         // Mock the Model that uses the custom traits
         $this->model = Mockery::mock('SoftModelStub');
@@ -22,7 +22,7 @@ public function setUp()
     /**
      * Tear Down and Clean Up Tests.
      */
-    public function tearDown()
+    public function tearDown(): void
     {
         Mockery::close();
     }