In this episode, we speak with Renne Reina, psychologist and host of the renowned podcast, The Mom Room.  Renne delves into the fascinating world of parenting fears, drawing from her extensive social media and podcast presence. She provides insights, empathy, and practical advice around parenting, and discusses the importance of authenticity on social media. Renne emphasizes the importance of finding one’s true voice amidst digital noise and cultivating a genuine online presence. We end by highlighting the power of seeking multiple viewpoints and embracing diverse perspectives to foster a well-rounded understanding of oneself as a parent.

You can learn more about Renne Reina by listening to her podcast, The Mom Room, and following her on Instagram @thereneereina 

In this episode, we are joined by Drs Douglas Clements and Julie Sarama to discuss early math learning. Douglas H. Clements is Distinguished University Professor, Kennedy Endowed Chair in Early Childhood Learning, and Executive Director of the Marsico Institute for Early Learning at the University of Denver. Previously a kindergarten teacher for five years and a preschool teacher for one, he has conducted research and published widely in the areas of the learning and teaching of early mathematics and computer applications in mathematics education. His most recent interests are in creating, using, and evaluating a research-based curriculum and in taking successful curricula to scale using technologies and learning trajectories.He has served on the U.S. President's National Mathematics Advisory Panel, the Common Core State Standards committee, and the National Research Council’s Committee on Early Mathematics, and is and co-author each of their reports. 

Julie Sarama is the Kennedy Endowed Chair in Innovative Learning Technologies and Professor at the University of Denver. She conducts research on young children's development of mathematical concepts and competencies, implementation and scale-up of educational reform, professional development models and their influence on student learning, and implementation and effects of software environments in mathematics classrooms. She has taught secondary mathematics and computer science, gifted math at the middle school level, preschool and kindergarten mathematics enrichment classes, and mathematics methods and content courses for elementary to secondary teachers.She designed and programmed over 50 published computer programs, including her version of Logo and Logo-based software activities, including Turtle Math™, which was awarded the Technology & Learning Software of the Year award.

In this episode, we delve into what constitutes early math knowledge, and how to support it at home. As we discuss, caregivers often engage in numeracy talk and behavior with children without consciously doing so. As Douglas and Julie point out, there are also many additional opportunities in early childhood (and beyond) to incorporate math into fun activities (such as Candyland). 

To learn more about how to incorporate math into everyday interactions with your children please visit the following websites:

https://www.learningtrajectories.org/

https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Douglas_Clements

https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Julie-Sarama

In this episode, we sit down with Dr. Holly Gover, a board-certified behavior analyst with extensive experience working with children with developmental disabilities. Dr. Gover, currently a faculty member in pediatrics at Vanderbilt University Medical Center, joins us to tackle a common concern for parents: picky eaters.

Dr. Gover shares valuable insights on how to encourage children to try new foods in a relaxed and enjoyable manner, empowering them to feel in control of their eating choices. We also explore the warning signs that may indicate the presence of an eating disorder and discuss the pressures faced by parents when preparing meals for their children and families.

Delving deeper, we uncover three essential techniques: creating a culture of trying, increasing exposure to diverse foods, and avoiding mealtime battles. These strategies serve as powerful tools for parents seeking to overcome the challenges of picky eating and to foster healthier eating habits in their children.

Join us for this discussion that empowers parents with practical advice and effective approaches to navigate the world of picky eaters, ultimately creating a positive mealtime experience for the entire family.

To learn more about Michelle’s Q&A membership, please visit https://www.thrivingtoddler.com/offers/u9UQ2BgG

You can reach out to Dr. Gover by contacting her at holly.gover@vumc.org or by visiting her webpage at https://pediatrics.vumc.org/person/holly-c-gover-phd-bcba-d

In this week's episode, we interview psychiatrist Dr. Joshua Siegel about his research on the impacts of psychedelics, such as ketamine, on depression. We delve into the growing interest in mental health and wellness and explore emerging treatment methods. Dr. Siegel shares how his research has influenced his parenting and sheds light on his perspective on his children's emotions. Tune in to gain insights into the fascinating connection between psychedelics, mental health, and parenting.

To learn more about Dr. Siegel’s research, please visit:
https://sites.wustl.edu/psychedelics/welcome-to-piper/

For more information on Michelle’s Q&A Membership, please visit:

https://www.thrivingtoddler.com/offers/u9UQ2BgG

In this episode, we speak with Melissa Finkelstein, a lawyer, author, and mother of three. Melissa discusses her latest book, Bobby the Snake and the Broken TV, which is  part of her book series, Big Feelings Friends. She shares how her own children inspired her to write these books and the importance of children's books as both a mirror and a window for our children's stories. By sharing her personal experiences, Melissa hopes to show how her books can provide a relatable and empathetic perspective for children dealing with big emotions. Tune in to this episode to learn more about the power of children's books in helping children navigate their emotions and challenges!

You can learn more about Melissa by following her Instagram page @melissafinkelsteinbook and her books are available in several bookstores throughout the Northeast and they're also available on Amazon. 

For more information on Parent Pocket Membership please visit Thriving Toddler.com 

In today’s episode, we are joined by Dr. Jessica (“Jessi”) Gold. Dr Gold, MD, MS, is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychiatry at Washington University in St Louis School of Medicine, specializing in college mental health, medical education, and physician wellness. In this episode, we discuss with Dr. Gold her work supporting the mental health needs of those on the college campus, as well as her efforts to de-stigmatize mental health and psychiatry. She further discusses how COVID exacerbated pre-existing stressors, as well as added new ones, for the population at large but especially for groups including college students and health care workers. More specifically, Dr Gold speaks about the effects of the social isolation associated with COVID on college students’ mental health, as well as how on-line learning, for many, exacerbated existing attention problems. We further discuss how the lack of a schedule during COVID contributed to college student’s motivation and interest, as well as what we can learn from the pandemic in terms of supporting college students. We conclude with a discussion of the current research on the neurological effects of COVID, and how to better support growing the work force in mental health services, especially psychiatry. 

For more information on Dr. Gold and her work please visit her webpage, https://www.drjessigold.com/ as well as her instagram (@drjessigold) and twitter https://twitter.com/drjessigold. 

For more information on Parent Pocket Membership please visit Thriving Toddler.com 

We are thrilled to be joined in this episode by Dr. Denise Ross, faculty member at the University of Wisconsin and Chair of the UW System Institute for Urban Education. Dr. Ross is an advocate for literacy as a form of social justice. She describes how she applies verbal behavior (a language and literacy approach using principles of behavior) to reading and literacy, and discusses the systems and inequities that impact access to evidence-based practices. She further speaks to how the narrative of literacy for economically disadvantaged communities is often framed through a deficit lens. Dr.Ross also discusses how black children's literacy has historically been a tool of empowerment, and that reading instruction grounded in the science of behavior has a history of positively impacting learners' experiences. 

For more information and to visit the references mentioned, please visit:
UW System Institute for Urban Education: https://uwm.edu/education/institute-urban-edu/

Frederick Douglass Audio Autobiography: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vZrQFB9wRW4

National Reading Panel: https://www.nichd.nih.gov/sites/default/files/publications/pubs/nrp/Documents/report.pdf

In this episode, we are joined by Dr. Whitney Casares to discuss developmental milestones and their impact on children's development. We explore how parents can be overwhelmed by the stress of trying to keep up with perceived expectations for their child's development. Dr. Casares emphasizes the importance of understanding each child as a unique individual, with their own strengths and challenges, and avoiding the temptation to compare them to others or follow a one-size-fits-all approach. We also delve into the different types of developmental milestones, including both physical and emotional. We conclude by discussing the benefits of building a positive social network and how to filter out unhelpful advice and resources that push unrealistic expectations for children's development.

You can discover more about Dr. Casares’ work by downloading the app Modern Mama's Club, following her on instagram @modernmommydoc, visiting her website modernmommydoc.com and by reading her book The Working Mom Blueprint.

For more information on Cooper please visit us on instagram @your_cooper and on-line at beta.yourcooper.com . If you are interested in joining a Cooper group please click join Cooper, where you'll fill out a brief onboarding to tell us more about yourself, your family and your parenting needs. Enter code 'ParentingUnderstood' at checkout to receive 20% off your Cooper Membership!'

In this episode, Dr. Kelly Fradin, author of the upcoming book "Advanced Parenting: Advice for helping kids through diagnoses, differences, and mental health challenges," shares her personal story of being sick with cancer as a child and how it inspired her to create a guide for parents raising children with advanced health conditions. Dr. Fradin discusses the challenges that parents face in balancing their own personal lives, partnerships, and the care of their other children while also caring for their child, who needs different supports. She also provides insights into the resources and research available to support parents in this situation. 

Dr. Kelly Fradin is a graduate of Harvard College and Columbia College of Physicians and Surgeons, Dr. Kelly Fradin is a pediatrician and mother of two from NYC. She is the Director of Pediatrics at the Atria Institute in NYC where she works with leading experts to bring innovations in preventive care to their members and underserved populations.

During her time working in public health in the South Bronx she launched her instagram account @adviceigivemyfriends to provide calm, realistic, and evidence-based advice to families. Pursuing this mission she wrote Parenting in a Pandemic to help give parents the tools they needed to interpret the news and support their family during the peak of the pandemic. Her new book, Advanced Parenting will be published by Hachette in April 2023, seeks to support parents in navigating their children’s challenges.

To learn more about Dr. Fradin and “Advanced Caregiving”, you can visit her Instagram page @ adviceigivemyfriends or visit https://drkellyfradin.com/

Resources mentioned in the episode:

https://childmind.org/

https://healthychildren.org/English/Pages/default.aspx

For more information on Cooper please visit us on instagram @your_cooper and on-line at beta.yourcooper.com . If you are interested in joining a Cooper group please click join Cooper, where you'll fill out a brief onboarding to tell us more about yourself, your family and your parenting needs. Enter code 'ParentingUnderstood' at checkout to receive 20% off your Cooper Membership!'

In this episode, we are joined by Lauren Smith-Brody, founder of the Fifth Trimester movement and the author of The Fifth Trimester: The Working Mom's Guide to Style, Sanity, and Big Success After Baby. We discuss with Lauren how her work addresses the research and policy around early parenthood, as well as the practical. Lauren speaks about how her work dissects the systems that drive the inequities that make new motherhood, and especially new employed motherhood, so challenging, and her mission to recruit others to speak up about caregivers in their workplace and their needs. Lauren addresses the parallels between infants’ fourth trimester and mothers’ fifth trimester. She further talks about child care, especially in regards to thinking about how one gets comfortable with one’s decision about care, and how decisions are made. We further talk about the roles of ambivalence and agency in parenting. Lauren also speaks about her current work around rights and caregivers in the workforce. 

For more information on Lauren please visit: http://www.thefifthtrimester.com/founder

For more information on Chambers of Mothers please visit: https://www.chamberofmothers.com/

For more information on Cooper please visit us on instagram @your_cooper and on-line at beta.yourcooper.com . If you are interested in joining a Cooper group please click join Cooper, where you'll fill out a brief onboarding to tell us more about yourself, your family and your parenting needs. Enter code 'ParentingUnderstood' at checkout to receive 20% off your Cooper Membership!'

In this episode, we welcome back Dr. Meghan McCormick to dive deeper into the topic of pre-kindergarten (pre-k), and its long-term effects on children. Our discussion is centered on  recent research showing contrasting results on the benefits of pre-k education for young children. We delve in depth into how the quality of pre-k programs, and children’s educational experiences subsequent to pre-k, may have a lasting impacts on development.

Dr. McCormick shares insights from her extensive research on the subject, and delves into the various factors that contribute to the success of pre-k programs, as well as later educational supports that should be in place to promote the continued benefits of a high quality pre-k experience.

Through a deep dive into the latest research studies, this episode provides listeners with a comprehensive understanding of the long-term effects of pre-k on children, and offers actionable insights for those seeking to provide the best possible early education for their children.

For more information about Dr. Meghan McCormick please visit https://www.mdrc.org/about/meghan-mccormick or by e-mail at meghan.mccormick@mdrc.org

For more information on Cooper please visit us on instagram @your_cooper and on-line at beta.yourcooper.com . If you are interested in joining a Cooper group please click join Cooper, where you'll fill out a brief onboarding to tell us more about yourself, your family and your parenting needs. Enter code 'ParentingUnderstood' at checkout to receive 20% off your Cooper Membership!'

In this episode, we are joined by Dr. Gina Green to explore the significance of using scientifically supported interventions to help children with developmental delays. We delve into the issue of people embracing theories, treatments, and programs that have not been properly evaluated, some of which have been claimed to be effective in full cures of things such as autism. We also talk about how parents can navigate the overwhelming amount of parenting information online and focus on key things that are supported by science. Additionally, we provide insights on where parents can find trustworthy scientific-based information.

To learn more about Michelle’s Pocket Parent Membership, please visit https://www.thrivingtoddler.com/offers/u9UQ2BgG/checkout

To learn more about the Association for Science and Autism Treatment please visit https://asatonline.org/

We are thrilled to be joined by Dr. Julia Brailovskaia to discuss the benefits of moderating social media usage. We speak about strategies for setting boundaries with children and ourselves to achieve a healthy balance. We also discuss the risks of social media addiction that can arise when usage is not moderated.

Julia Brailovskaia currently works at the Mental Health Research and Treatment Center, Ruhr-Universität Bochum. As a member of the "Bochum Optimism and Mental Health (BOOM)" team she investigates risk and protective factors of mental health. Her main research focus is on the relationship between mental health, personality and media use, especially social media addiction. 

You can find more about Julia’s research on Google Scholar.

In this episode we are joined by Mike Rucker, an organizational psychologist and author of "The Fun Habit: How the Disciplined Pursuit of Joy and Wonder Can Change Your Life," to discuss the importance of finding joy and wonder in parenting. Mike emphasizes the importance of emotional flexibility and shared control with children to create positive relationships and memories. He suggests that parents should focus on finding enjoyable activities with their children, rather than just scheduling activities out of duty. By doing so, parents can create lasting memories and positive experiences for both themselves and their children. Rucker also shares what inspired him to write his book, and how the disciplined pursuit of joy and wonder can change one's life for the better. This episode offers valuable insights for parents who want to cultivate more fun and joy in their relationships with their children.

To learn more about Michelle’s Pocket Parenting Membership, please visit https://www.thrivingtoddler.com/offers/u9UQ2BgG

To learn more about Mike Rucker, please visit https://michaelrucker.com/

“The Fun Habit: How the Disciplined Pursuit of Joy and Wonder Can Change Your Life” is available now at booksellers everywhere.

Today we are thrilled to be joined by Maya Corbic, a CPA and financial professional with almost 20 years of experience. Maya discusses with us the importance of teaching children financial literacy and managing your own family finances. Maya speaks about her own background and how she realized the importance of financial education after making preventable financial mistakes. She talks about teaching her own children financial skills, and her development of workshops to support children in learning about money management through her organization the Danarii Financial Education Academy, and a family membership program-the Wealthy Kids Investment Club. We end the episode with key takeaways on how to begin applying financial literacy to your children’s lives.

To access the Pocket Parent Membership please visit https://www.thrivingtoddler.com/offers/u9UQ2BgG

You can learn more about Maya's at her website https://www.dinarii.com/

We are thrilled to have Dr. Adithyan Rajaraman as our guest on the latest episode of our podcast. Dr. Rajaraman is an Assistant Professor of Pediatrics and the Director of Behavior Analysis Research at Vanderbilt Kennedy Center.

In this episode, we delve into the world of Applied Behavior Analysis and trauma-informed care with a focus on general parenting practices. Dr. Rajaraman's shares valuable insights on fostering healthy connections with our children and promoting essential coping mechanisms.

You can learn more about Dr. Rajaraman by visiting his website at https://vkc.vumc.org/people/rajaraman-adithyan and by contacting him on a.rajaraman@vumc.org and on Instagram @dithpix

To register for the Pocket Parent Membership, please visit https://www.thrivingtoddler.com/offers/u9UQ2BgG

In this episode, we are excited to be joined by Dr. Jaqueline Nesi. Dr. Nesi is a psychologist, professor, and founder of Techno Sapiens, an up to date resource on research on technology and teenagers. Dr. Nesi discusses with us a recent statement by the U.S. Surgeon General that age 13 and under is too young for children to be on social media, and that there could be dangers related to too much screen time. We also look at the potential role of social media on mental health. Furthermore, we discuss the importance of understanding how scary “headlines” regarding social media research can impact parenting views. Finally, we speak about strategies parents can use to implement social media for the first time in their children’s lives.

To learn more about Dr. Jacqueline Nesi, please visit https://www.jacquelinenesi.com/

To subscribe to Techno Sapiens, please visit https://technosapiens.substack.com/

In this episode, we are joined by Drs Marc Brackett and Niobe Way to discuss the importance of human connection for children, teenagers, and adults. We talk about the significance of supportive relationships for healthy social emotional development, and the potential negative effects of a lack of supportive relationships, including violence and self-harm. Further, Marc and Niobe dive into the topic of relational intelligence and ways in which this can be understood and learned. Finally, we discuss how parents can find ways to be the person their children can turn to and how they can go from passing judgment to being curious role models.

To learn more about Dr. Marc Brackett please visit:

https://www.marcbrackett.com and howwefeel.org

To learn more about Dr. Niobe Way please visit: 

https://steinhardt.nyu.edu/people/niobe-way and listen to her Ted talk https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vFsZsn7SRAc

To learn more about Dr. Way’s research and the movie Close please visit: https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/movies/story/2023-01-27/lukas-dhont-close-oscar-nominee

On today’s episode, the two of us discuss a topic that we see coming up more and more, anxiety in young children. We decided to do an episode on anxiety after Michelle’s 3 year old developed a fear of Spiderman at a birthday party. Furthermore, we discuss a common approach "parental accommodation," in which the parent alters the environment to prevent or alleviate the child's fear or anxious feelings. However, this approach can reinforce the child's anxiety or fear response. We hope that after today’s episode you leave with different strategies and techniques to help your children combat fears and anxieties.

Check out Michelle's Q&A Membership: thrivingtoddler.com 

We are thrilled today to present a unique episode of Parenting Understood! We are speaking with Nicole Stnaley, the founder of Arise Financial Coaching and the creator of the money momentum method. This method has helped hundreds across the globe simplify the way they manage their money to hit their financial goals with ease. 

After battling crippling financial anxiety in her early twenties, Nicole decided that enough was enough. She enrolled in her first personal finance course which changed the course of her life. She went from 30K in debt to building my family of four's net worth to over a quarter-million dollars at 27. No inheritance or shortcuts. That growth was about much more than numbers in a bank account. It brought joy, confidence, and freedom into her life.

Nicole speaks with us about her journey as it relates to finances and motherhood. We also discuss strategies with her related to becoming “financially free”.

Studies mentioned in today’s episode:

https://www.pbs.org/newshour/economy/making-sense/money-habits-are-set-by-age-7-teach-your-kids-the-value-of-a-dollar-now

https://www.cnbc.com/select/how-to-take-control-of-your-finances/

You can find more about Nicole by following @arise.financial.coaching or by visiting https://www.arisefinancialcoachingaz.com/

Today we are thrilled to be joined by Abbey Williams, a licensed clinical social worker and the creator of You, The Mother. Abbey shares with us her experiences as young, single mom co-parenting. She also speaks about her current experiences in a blended family. Lastly, we speak about loneliness and estrangement in parenting.

You can learn more about Abbey Williams and You, The Mother by listening to the Podcast, You the Mother, and by following on social media on TikTok and Instagram @You,The Mother and finally by visiting youthemother.com.

For more information on Cooper please visit us on instagram @your_cooper and on-line at beta.yourcooper.com . If you are interested in joining a Cooper group please click join Cooper, where you'll fill out a brief onboarding to tell us more about yourself, your family and your parenting needs. Enter code 'ParentingUnderstood' at checkout to receive 20% off your Cooper Membership!'

Dr. Selcuk Sirin is an applied psychologist and a Professor of Applied Psychology at New York University. Selcuk uses empirical research methods to better understand the needs of children and families, and to arm professionals and policy makers with this knowledge so as to better address the needs of the most vulnerable. The goal that unites all of his work is to enhance the lives of marginalized children using development in context as a general framework. He focuses on immigrant children in New York, Muslim youth in the US, refugees in Turkey and Norway, and students at risk in US schools. He has published his work in top journals, such as Child Development, Developmental Psychology, Review of Educational Research, and Pediatrics, in an effort to inform scholars, practitioners, and policy makers about marginalized children. He has also made a concerted effort to get his work to a wider audience both locally and globally, as he believes strongly in “giving scientific knowledge away.” He has served on several policy committees such as the National Academy of Sciences, the Urban Institute, and the Migration Policy Institute. He has also collaborated with UNESCO and Save the Children, in their efforts to improve the lives of refugee children.

We begin this episode with a discussion with Selcuk as to how he views parenting as in crisis currently. He speaks to how parental isolation and pressures have created a period in which parents face many challenges. We further discuss his research and advocacy work around supporting early parent-child interactions through book reading in his Million Book Project based in turkey. Through providing high-quality books to parents of very young children, this project supports positive parent-child interactions. Through parent-parent connections supported in large part through instagram this project also helps to bring together parents. We also discuss another one of Selcuk’s projects focused on measuring important early school readiness skills in children. We finish this episode with talking about how being a parent has influenced Selcuck’s work. 

For more information on Selcuk and his work please visit the following sites and follow him on instagram @selcuksirin .

https://wp.nyu.edu/sirin/

http://www.selcuksirin.com/  (in Turkish)

We are thrilled to be joined in our first episode of the New Year by Jessica Grose. Jessica is an opinion writer at The New York Times who writes a popular newsletter on parenting. Jessica was the founding editor of Lenny, the email newsletter and website. She also writes about women’s health, culture, politics and grizzly bears. She was named one of LinkedIn’s Next Wave top professionals 35 and under in 2016 and a Glamour “Game Changer” in 2020 for her coverage of parenting in the pandemic. She is the author of the novels Soulmates and Sad Desk Salad. She was formerly a senior editor at Slate, and an editor at Jezebel. Her work has appeared in the New York Times, New York, the Washington Post, Businessweek, Elle, Cosmopolitan, and many other publications. She lives in Brooklyn with her husband and daughters.

In this episode, we discuss Jessica’s new book Screaming on the Inside: The unsustainability of American motherhood. Jessica highlights some of the enduring themes of motherhood she saw in her research for the book, and the role of those themes in modern motherhood. We also talk about how social media impacts attitudes towards mothering and community development. Lastly, Jessica discusses her own experiences with parenting and career. 

For more information on Jessica and her recent book, please visit the following sites:

https://jessicagrose.com/

https://www.amazon.com/Screaming-Inside-Unsustainability-American-Motherhood/dp/006307835X

https://www.nytimes.com/by/jessica-grose

For more information on Cooper please visit us on instagram @your_cooper and on-line at beta.yourcooper.com . If you are interested in joining a Cooper group please click join Cooper, where you'll fill out a brief onboarding to tell us more about yourself, your family and your parenting needs. Enter code 'ParentingUnderstood' at checkout to receive 20% off your Cooper Membership!'

Today we are re-airing our episode with Professor Niobe Way. Dr. Way is a Professor of Developmental Psychology, and the founder of the Project for the Advancement of Our Common Humanity, at New York University. She is also the mother of two children. Professor Way discusses social connectedness, and how parents can support their younger children and teens in building relationships with themselves and others. We delve in depth into how supporting children’s connections, friendship, and relationship is a vital component of supporting their mental health and social-emotional needs. Further, we discuss Dr Way’s research on the specific ways that certain mindsets and cultures impact boys’ and girls’ development.

For more information on Dr. Niobe Way and her lab please visit:

https://steinhardt.nyu.edu/people/niobe-way

https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/the-crisis-connection/201809/the-crisis-connection-roots-consequences-and-solutions

https://www.tedmed.com/speakers/show?id=729990

https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/the-crisis-connection/201912/the-cultural-roots-loneliness-and-violence

https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/the-crisis-connection/201809/the-crisis-connection-roots-consequences-and-solutions

https://www.tedmed.com/speakers/show?id=729990

For more information on Cooper please visit us on instagram @your_cooper and on-line at beta.yourcooper.com . If you are interested in joining a Cooper group please click join Cooper, where you'll fill out a brief onboarding to tell us more about yourself, your family and your parenting needs. Enter code 'ParentingUnderstood' at checkout to receive 20% off your Cooper Membership!'

Today we are revisiting the important topic of Pediatric Anxiety. Anxiety in children is an issue we continue to see a rise in attention to and we think this episode gives listeners a good introduction to the subject.

In this episode, we talk with Dr. Rebecca Etkin about pediatric anxiety and other mood-related problems. Dr. Etkin is a licensed clinical psychologist at the Yale Child Study Center Anxiety & Mood Disorders Program. Dr. Etkin received her bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Johns Hopkins University and her doctoral degree in Clinical Psychology from SUNY Buffalo. She specializes in conducting research and treatment with children and adolescents with anxiety disorders. In this episode, we discuss when parents should be concerned about their child’s anxiety, why parents should use evidence-based interventions, the history of anxiety treatment in pediatrics, and her work specifically in the SPACE program.

For more information on the Sleep Game mentioned in today's episode please visit Youtube at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vDQwDeKgGqg

Episode 29 [Revisited]: Self-Regulation With Dr. Clancy Blair 

We are thrilled to be re-releasing our episode with Dr. Clancy Blair as part of our six week series before our new launch on January 3rd. Dr. Blair is a developmental psychologist, who studies self-regulation in young children. His primary interest concerns the development of cognitive abilities, referred to as executive functions, and the ways in which these aspects of cognition are important for school readiness and early school achievement. He is also interested in the development and evaluation of preschool and elementary school curricula designed to promote executive functions as a means of preventing school failure. Prior to coming to NYU, Blair spent ten years as an Assistant and then Associate Professor in the department of Human Development and Family Studies at Penn State. 

Dr. Blair spoke with us regarding self-regulation, and the different stages that can be expected in children as they age from infants to adolescents. We will also explored the ways in which the environment can impact self-regulation, and how parents can utilize different strategies for trying to best promote positive self-regulation.

If you would like to learn more about the work of Dr. Blair, you can visit his Google Scholar page at https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=duCRaqgAAAAJ&hl=en

For the next six weeks, we will be re-airing episodes as we work on a brand new line up starting January 3rd, 2023. Wishing you and your loved ones a joyous holiday season, and thank you all for being a part of our Parenting Understood community! 

Bloom is Michelle's monthly parenting group to solve your child's behavior concerns while building a strong loving connection. You can find out more about it here: 
https://www.thrivingtoddler.com/membership

***

Today we continue with part 2 of our conversation with Dr. Jeanne Donaldson. We will continue to discuss using token economies with children to help them establish positive behaviors. Today’s focus will be on the types of rewards/tokens that can be used, pricing strategies, selecting backups and using variety, troubleshooting common problems with token economies, implementing savings, and discussing taking away tokens as a form of punishment. 

Dr. Jeanne Donaldson earned her Ph.D. in Psychology from the University of Florida and completed a postdoctoral fellowship at the John Hopkins University School of Medicine at the Kennedy Krieger Institute. Her research focuses on solving issues common in early childhood and assessing child and adult interventions.

Some key tokens mentioned include:

Passes/privileges

• TV show/video game time
• Extra book/chapter at bedtime
• Outings – library, park, children’s museum
• Sleepover
• Parent cleans my room
• Breakfast for dinner
• Dance party
• Pick the restaurant
• Stay up late

Tangible items

• School/office supplies
• Art supplies
• Craft items 
• Stickers
• Scented lip balm
• Books
• Bubbles
• Squishy toys
• Glow sticks/bracelets 
• Clothing
• Holiday-themed and seasonal items

To learn more or contact Dr. Donaldson, you can reach out to her via email at jdonaldson@lsu.edu.

For more information on Thriving Toddler’s Backpocket Essentials program, please visit: https://www.thrivingtoddler.com/backpocket-essentials

For the next six weeks, we will be re-airing episodes as we work on a brand new line up starting January 3rd, 2023. Wishing you and your loved ones a joyous holiday season, and thank you all for being a part of our Parenting Understood community! 

Bloom is Michelle's monthly parenting group to solve your child's behavior concerns while building a strong loving connection. You can find out more about it here: 
https://www.thrivingtoddler.com/membership

***

In today’s first of two episodes with Dr. Jeanne Donaldson, we discuss using token economies with children to help them establish positive behaviors. Dr. Donaldson defines what a reward/token economy is and how the functions of a reward system can be used, as well as how to avoid misusing them.

Dr. Jeanne Donaldson earned her Ph.D. in Psychology from the University of Florida and completed a postdoctoral fellowship at the John Hopkins University School of Medicine at the Kennedy Krieger Institute. Her research focuses on solving issues common in early childhood and assessing child and adult interventions.

To learn more or contact Dr. Donaldson, you can reach out to her via email at jdonaldson@lsu.edu.

On today’s episode of Pinot and Parenting we are chatting with Olya Valenta, marketing director of the toy company Magna-Tiles. Olya discusses the history of Magna-Tiles. We also speak about the role of play in children’s development, and how play can be facilitated. Finally, Olya discusses what it is like to be a parent and to work at a toy company.

You can learn more about Olya Valenta and Magna-Tiles at https://www.magnatiles.com/ and by visiting their Instagram page @magnatiles

We also want to point out that many of us have been going through tough, difficult, and stressful times. If you are ever in need of help, we encourage you to seek assistance. A good resource to start to find a local therapist is at https://www.therapyden.com/

For more information on the Toddler Life Skills course, please visit https://www.thrivingtoddler.com/toddler-life-skills

Thank you and Happy Holidays to all of you and your loved ones! We will be back again at the start of next year with brand new episodes.

In this episode of Pinot and Parenting, we had the pleasure of speaking with filmmaker Olivier Bernier. Olivier speaks about he and his wife’s journey with their son, Emilio, from his birth through to his start of preschool. Olivier outlines the challenges they faced with the New York City public school system when their son with Down syndrome applied to pre-kindergarten. We also discuss his new film, Forget Me Not, in which he and his wife turn the camera on their family as they navigate the often segregated school system to secure an inclusive education for their son. 

For more information on the Olivier Bernier and his film, please visit: 

Forget Me Not | About The Film (forgetmenotdocumentary.com)

For more information on back pocket essentials, please visit:

Backpocket Essentials Toddler Parenting Course | Thriving Toddler

In this brief episode, Erin reflects on how her career as a researcher has helped her as a mom. She especially focuses on how her knowledge of attachment theory and science helped her through her daughter’s NICU experience. 

For more information on Cooper please visit us on instagram @your_cooper and on-line at beta.yourcooper.com . If you are interested in joining a Cooper group please click join Cooper, where you'll fill out a brief onboarding to tell us more about yourself, your family and your parenting needs. Enter code 'ParentingUnderstood' at checkout to receive 20% off your Cooper Membership!'

We are thrilled today to discuss with Dr. Maria Gilmour a topic we often hear or read about but may not fully understand - Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA). Dr. Gilmour will explain what ABA is and how it is used in practice. She will also discuss with us the contrasting ways in which ABA has seen pushback and can also be viewed as accessible and flexible for parents. Finally, we hope to leave parents with key words and information to understand if you are interested in ABA.

Dr. Maria Gilmour has been professionally working with families for the past 20 years.  Dr. Gilmour is an educator, author of “Seven Superpowers” and a Board Certified Behavior Analyst who has extensive experience consulting with parents and families, teachers, educational leaders, and school administrators in both public and non-public programs for educating children and adults with special needs. She is well known for her creative approach to cross-disciplinary collaboration.

You can learn more about Dr. Gilmour on sevensuperpowers.com or on Facebook @ sevensuperpowers

Today we are thrilled to be joined by Katie Lear who is a counselor, play therapist, and drama therapist who combines research-based coping skills with creative play to help tween girls live better lives with anxiety and OCD. Katie will speak with us how her practice during COVID and observing levels of depression due to children’s lack of schooling, social life, and extra curriculars led her to form a Dungeons and Dragons group with the intent of creating relationships. We will discuss how overall gaming can be used to create socialization fulfillment for children and how screen time can be used positively. Finally, we will discuss Katie’s new book A Parent's Guide to Managing Childhood which was published in July by Adams Media and Simon & Schuster, and was recently featured in the New York Times. 

Her writing and commentary on children's mental health has appeared in Parents Magazine, Business Insider, New York Times Kids, and National Geographic, as well as on websites like WebMD and Healthline. When she's not counseling, you can find her playing Dungeons & Dragons with middle schoolers through her sister business, Young Dragonslayers.

You can find more about Katie at katielear.com and about her Dungeons & Dragons projects at youndgragonslayers.com

In this episode, we are thrilled to be joined by Dr. Daniel Shaw to discuss his work focusing on developmental trajectories of externalizing behaviors from childhood through adulthood with an especial focus on lower income boys. We discuss how his research informed his development of and involvement with preventive interventions. We also talk about the important roles of child care, schools, and general resources, and the income disparities that exist among these factors. Further, we discuss Dr. Shaw’s most recent work involving a technique based on the motivational interview. We end with a short conversation on how work influences Dr. Shaw’s life as a parent and vice versa.

To find about more about Dr. Daniel Shaw and his work please visit:

Daniel Shaw, PhD | (pitt.edu)

For more information on Cooper please visit us on instagram @your_cooper and on-line at beta.yourcooper.com . If you are interested in joining a Cooper group please click join Cooper, where you'll fill out a brief onboarding to tell us more about yourself, your family and your parenting needs. Enter code 'ParentingUnderstood' at checkout to receive 20% off your Cooper Membership!'

In today’s episode, we are thrilled to be joined by Professor Niobe Way. Dr. Way is a Professor of Developmental Psychology, and the founder of the Project for the Advancement of Our Common Humanity, at New York University. She is also the mother of two children. Professor Way discusses social connectedness, and how parents can support their younger children and teens in building relationships with themselves and others. We delve in depth into how supporting children’s connections, friendship, and relationship is a vital component of supporting their mental health and social-emotional needs. Further, we discuss Dr Way’s research on the specific ways that certain mindsets and cultures impact boys’ and girls’ development.

For more information on Dr. Niobe Way and her lab please visit:

https://steinhardt.nyu.edu/people/niobe-way

https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/the-crisis-connection/201809/the-crisis-connection-roots-consequences-and-solutions

https://www.tedmed.com/speakers/show?id=729990

https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/the-crisis-connection/201912/the-cultural-roots-loneliness-and-violence

https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/the-crisis-connection/201809/the-crisis-connection-roots-consequences-and-solutions

https://www.tedmed.com/speakers/show?id=729990

For more information on Cooper please visit us on instagram @your_cooper and on-line at beta.yourcooper.com . If you are interested in joining a Cooper group please click join Cooper, where you'll fill out a brief onboarding to tell us more about yourself, your family and your parenting needs. Enter code 'ParentingUnderstood' at checkout to receive 20% off your Cooper Membership!'

In this episode, we are joined by Dr. Cara Goodwin, founder of Parenting Translator. We discuss what research tells us about the influences of child care on child development, and potential variations in child outcomes based on the type of care children receive. More specifically, we discuss what research tells us about associations between group child care and/or a consistent babysitter and children’s parental attachment relationships. We delve into more depth about the potential role of child care quality on children’s development of attachments to caregivers, as well as parents, and the evidence regarding the role of having multiple attachment figures in young children’s lives. Further, we discuss research demonstrating how parental sensitivity and satisfaction with one’s work situation relates to the parent-child attachment relationship. 

For more information on Dr. Cara Goodwin and Parenting Translator please visit https://www.parentingtranslator.com/ and on instagram: @parentingtranslator 

For more information on Cooper please visit us on instagram @your_cooper and on-line at beta.yourcooper.com . If you are interested in joining a Cooper group please click join Cooper, where you'll fill out a brief onboarding to tell us more about yourself, your family and your parenting needs. Enter code 'ParentingUnderstood' at checkout to receive 20% off your Cooper Membership!'

Today on an episode for Pino and Parenting,  we interview Kaitlin Bishop about her children’s book, If You Ever. Kaitlin Bishop is a stay-at-home mom of two that moonlights as an author and illustrator. Her three-year-old son inspired her to write her first book If You Ever. It wasn’t until she realized how expensive hiring an illustrator was that she decided to utilize her newly found love of painting, and simply do it herself. After one year of painting, editing, and final touches, she finally completed what she set out to do: create a permanent place for the love letter to her son by self-publishing her book.  Kaitlin shares with us how her creative project helped her mental health. 

You can follow her on IG: @Katilinbishopillustrations 

You can find her book on Amazon

To find out more about Michelle's ABC's of Toddler Behavior, you can visit thrivingtoddler.com

This week we are thrilled to be joined by Janette Newman, Deputy Director of the Early Childhood Center at Lenox Hill Neighborhood House. Our focus is discussing what a high quality preschool experience looks like, especially at the start of the year. We pay especial attention to how classroom set-up and a play based curriculum supports children’s early self-regulation. By focusing on one example of a high quality experience, we delve into more details of how various activities in the preschool classroom support children’s concurrent and long-term development. 

To learn more about Janette and Lenox Hill Community House please visit:  https://www.lenoxhill.org

Punishment is a natural phenomenon that is poorly understood, frequently misapplied, and its applications controversial. In this week’s episode of Parenting Understood, Michelle Tangeman, LMFT, BCBA discusses the meaning of punishment and its impact on human behavior. She discusses examples of appropriate and inappropriate forms of punishment, the side effects and problems with punishment, and what factors parents need to consider before using appropriate forms of punishment.

To find out more information about Thriving Toddlers Back Pocket Essentials, visit

https://www.thrivingtoddler.com/backpocket-essentials. 

In this last episode of our back to school series, we speak about starting a new school from the perspectives of parent and child. We draw on our own personal experiences, as well as research in this conversation. We pay special attention to the role of social capital in the transition to a new school year. We also speak on best practices for speaking with our children about how their day went and what they have learned beyond just asking “How was school today?”. 

As students return to the classroom, this is our second episode in a month-long series focused on school. In this episode, we speak with Assistant Professor Lilly Padilla about multi-language learners, and the school environment. Lilly outlines research on early language development including research linking multi-language learning to development of executive function skills and early math skills. She also speaks to the limitations often seen around supporting multilingual children, especially neurodiverse children, with communication systems only in English. Further, Lilly provides information on her research examining the communication practices of nonspeaking bilingual children ages 3 to 8. We conclude our episode with a discussion on getting supports for multilingual children in schools. 

For additional information on Lilly and our discussion in this podcast please visit the links below:

Links:

https://www.lillypadia.com/

https://www.colorincolorado.org/families/special-education

https://growingupbilingual.com/bilingual-articles-and-resources-for-families-and-educators/

In this episode, we are thrilled to be joined by Dr. Ashleigh Collins, Dean of Academic Programs at Relay Graduate School Education. Dr. Collins discusses how to form a positive relationship with your child's teacher where you act as partners in scaffolding your child. She speaks to the special importance of keeping lines of communication open between parents and teachers, and provides ideas as to how to do this. Further, Dr. Collins speaks about the benefit of establishing connections with other parents and caregivers in your child's class. In addition, we discuss the state of education and teaching as related to the pandemic.

To learn more about Dr. Collins please visit her website and her Linkedin profile. https://www.linkedin.com/in/ashleigh-collins-ph-d-07b73610

In this episode, we are thrilled to be joined by Dr. Anna D. Johnson, a Provost Distinguished Associate Professor of Psychology at Georgetown University. We speak in depth this week about Anna's work and research with the Tulsa Pre-Kindergarten Program in Tulsa, Oklahoma (TULSA SEED) designed to follow children the year before they entered prekindergarten. Children just completed their third grade year. The study is designed to understand how Pre-k experiences when children are three and then four years old shape educational learning, developmental and health trajectories through elementary school. The breadth of the study using multi system, multi reporter, multi source data has allowed for the examination of mechanisms that may be responsible for associations between these early Pre-k experiences and later outcomes, which we discuss. We also speak about important findings related to teacher's experiences and how those experiences are reflected in their classroom practices. Findings indicate the need to better support teachers. We also discuss how the Tulsa's universal PreK programs result in their being used by a majority of families, and being of high quality, and the implications of this for child development and larger public policy.

To learn more about Dr. Anna D. Johnson, please visit her website: https://gufaculty360.georgetown.edu/s/contact/00336000014TwO9AAK/anna-johnsonn

Also please visit The Child Development and Policy Lab twitter:

https://www.cdsplab.org/ and follow them on twitter https://twitter.com/cdsplab

Today’s episode is a solo episode with Dr. Erin O’Connor, Ed.D. Erin goes over the various options when thinking about helping young children learn to use the toilet. She also shares information from her personal and research experiences around toilet learning. Further, Erin talks a bit about her transition to being Chief of Education at Cooper.

To learn more about Cooper please visit @your_cooper on instagram and sign up for more information at https://www.yourcooper.com/

In this episode, we talk with Dr. Rebecca Etkin about pediatric anxiety and other mood-related problems. Dr. Etkin is a licensed clinical psychologist at the Yale Child Study Center Anxiety & Mood Disorders Program. Dr. Etkin received her bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Johns Hopkins University and her doctoral degree in Clinical Psychology from SUNY Buffalo. She specializes in conducting research and treatment with children and adolescents with anxiety disorders. In this episode, we discuss when parents should be concerned about their child’s anxiety, why parents should use evidence-based interventions, the history of anxiety treatment in pediatrics, and her work specifically in the SPACE program.

For more information on the Sleep Game mentioned in today's episode please visit Youtube at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vDQwDeKgGqg

In this episode of Pino and Parenting, we are pleased to chat with Britt Hawthorne. Britt

is a Black bi-racial momma, teacher, NYT bestselling author, and anti-bias and antiracist facilitator. Britt partners with caregivers, educators, and families to raise the next generation of antiracist children. In this episode, we discuss how we can be co-conspirators to actively work towards justice, the impact of white supremacy, and how colorblindness is harmful. This episode is full of practical tips for parents and educators in raising the next generation of antiracist children.

To learn more about Britt Hawthorne you can visit her website at britthawthorne.com where you can sign up for her weekly newsletter full of practical tips. You can find her book at any local book store or at your nearest library. 

In this second part of Episode 50, we reflect on our exciting and educational first year of Parenting Understood. Last week, for the first part of episode 50, we aired our interview with Dr. Elnsary as we believe that her research on the importance of parental mindset defines much of what our first year has been about. In this second half, we review several of the episodes we think speak to how knowledge and experiences help us all as parents in developing a mindset based on our own and our children’s growth. In particular, we speak some about sleep, self-regulation and pre-school. But before we delve into those topics we do a quick catch-up with one another and take a breath as we head into our next 50 episodes and expand our new Youtube channel and Twitter presence @ParentingCast.

We are excited to have Dr. Mei Elansary join us for our 50th episode of Parenting Understood. In this episode, we speak with Dr. Elansary about her and colleagues’ work on parental mindset and how that impacts child development in the first year of life. Further, Dr. Elansary discusses how her and colleagues’ research indicates that the effects of parental mindset on infant brain activity varies as a function of maternal stress, and the implications of these findings. More specifically, we speak about how this research might inform interventions and parenting practices. Dr Elansary also talks about how her work has been informed by and informs her own parenting. 

Dr Elansary is a pediatric specialist at Boston Medical Center. She received her medical degree from Yale University, her Masters in Philosophy from Oxford University and her undergraduate degree from The University of Pennsylvania. Dr. Elansary is an Assistant Professor of Pediatrics at Boston University School of Medicine. She is a practicing pediatrician as well as researcher. 

To learn more about Dr Elansary and her work: https://www.bumc.bu.edu/busm/profile/mei-elansary/ and https://twitter.com/meielansary

To learn more about the research we address in this episode: 

https://news.harvard.edu/gazette/story/2022/01/turns-out-smarter-kids-are-made-not-born/

We are thrilled to be re-airing our episode with Dr. Eric Dearing, who discusses the development of mathematical thinking and the role of the environment in children’s development of understanding of mathematical concepts. We discuss methods to bring math into everyday interactions with children, and research on the topic. We also talk about how knowledge of developmental research can inform parenting decisions and techniques.

Dr. Eric Dearing is a Professor of Applied Psychology in the Lynch School of Education at Boston College. Dr. Dearing’s work focuses on the consequences of young children’s lives outside of school on their performance in school and their overall well-being. As a member of the DREME Network, he is partnering with community organizations to better understand how families, early childhood educators, and other family-facing professionals can best support early math learning for children facing social or economic disadvantages.

For more information on Dr. Dearing, DREME, and the book, The Gardner and the Carpenter, referenced in this episode, please see below:

Gopnik, A. (2016). The Gardener and the Carpenter: What the new science of child development tells us about the relationship between parents and children. 

Development and Research in Early Math Education | (stanford.edu)

Eric Dearing - Lynch School of Education and Human Development - Boston College (bc.edu)

Today we are thrilled to be re-visiting an episode in which Dr. Carolyn Strom joined us to talk about the neuroscience behind reading and literacy. As Dr. Strom notes, when we look at the brain science around reading, we're not wired for reading in the same way that we're wired for spoken language. Therefore, as we discuss, in order to learn to read, we have to help our kids wire their brains by teaching them the basics of the letters and sounds. And as Dr. Strom details there is a very specific way to teach that is aligned with what we know about how the brain organizes complex information. Dr. Strom further details evidence-based instructional methods to support reading. We also discuss the role of sound recognition in relation to dyslexia.  

Dr. Strom is a Clinical Assistant Professor of Early Childhood Literacy at NYU’s Steinhardt School of Culture, Education, and Human Development. Her work is focused on bridging the divide between scientific research and instructional practices. Currently, she is leading an initiative with early childhood educators and families called 'Cortex in the Classroom.’ This work focuses on the practical application of reading research and on the development of new instructional media for supporting early reading. Dr. Strom graduated magna cum laude from the University of Pennsylvania, has a Master’s degree from USC in Reading Education and a PhD from NYU.

To learn more about Dr. Strom and her research please visit:

https://carolynstrom.com/  https://twitter.com/carolyn_strom

With the start of summer, this week we revisit a former episode with Dr. Ashley Fallon in which we discuss the summer slide - in which children, at times, display some loss in skills learned in school the previous year. Dr. Fallon introduces structured and unstructured activities that can be included in your young child’s every day to help stem this potential slide.

Dr. Fallon has her PhD in Early Childhood and Childhood Education from New York University. She is currently the Director of Mansfield Children’s Center. Dr. Fallon can be reached out at ashley.fallon@nyu.edu

This week we speak with Dr. Carly Robinson on ways to help families support children around particularly meaningful moments in education. Dr. Robinson outlines some of her research that has identified common barriers to parental engagement, as well as sources of support. Also as part of our conversation, we discuss the need for transparency in research. A growing but not yet large trend is for studies to pre-register research questions prior to data collection and/or analysis. As we discuss, such practices hold promise in ensuring the dissemination of valid and complete research findings. 

Dr. Robinson is a Postdoctoral Research Associate at Brown University’s Annenberg Institute where she works with the National Student Support Accelerator. She is also affiliated with the Social Psychology in Education & the Environment (SPiEE) Lab at Johns Hopkins University and the Student Social Support (S3) R&D Lab at the Harvard Kennedy School. She completed her Ph.D. in Education at Harvard University. While at Harvard, she was awarded the National Academy of Education/Spencer Dissertation Fellowship and was an IES Fellow in the Partnering in Education Research (PIER) program.

Prior to conducting educational research, Dr. Robinson worked as a New York City teacher. She received a B.A. in Psychology from Williams College and a Master’s in Applied Positive Psychology from the University of Pennsylvania. .

For more information on Dr. Robinson and her research please see the links below:

Carly Robinson (carlydrobinson.com) Carly Robinson (@Carly__Robinson) / Twitter

(2) Carly Robinson | LinkedIn

Today we speak about how social media use impacts teens and preteens development and mental health. We discuss the more nuanced research on screen time with this group delving into how screen time alone does not tell the whole story, and the potential risks as well as benefits of social media. Similar to discussions we have had on other types of research, we also delve more into the role of individual differences in the impacts of social media on mood and other outcomes, and the importance of mindfulness around how social media impacts’ oneself and mental well being. Additionally, we discuss limit setting around phone usage and how to engage one’s child in the process. We also touch on Dr Nesi’s current research looking at emotional regulation and phone usage, and the role of social media in our own lives as moms.

Dr. Nesi is an Assistant Professor at Brown University, where she studies how technology use affects teenagers and how parents can help. She got her undergraduate degree in Psychology at Harvard University, and her PhD in Clinical Psychology at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Her research has been funded by organizations like the National Institute for Mental Health (NIMH), the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD), the National Science Foundation (NSF), the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP). She regularly speaks at conferences, trainings, schools, and organizations. To learn more about her please see links below. 

Twitter  |  Google Scholar  |  ResearchGate  |  LinkedIn  |  Researchers@Brown  |  Contact Me

Today, we revisit our previous Episode 20 with Professor Emily Oster in honor of her being named one of Time’s most influential people of 2022. We are so thrilled that Emily is receiving recognition for her important work supporting parents by providing them with information on valid research, evidence based practices and economics-driven decision making.  

In this episode, we speak with Emily about the impetus for her third book, The Family Firm, in which she discusses how to use data driven approaches to parenting school age children. With school age children, at times, there is not as much research available to drive parenting decisions. This can make some of us less at ease as we want to turn to the research for advice on best practices. Emily though lays out a four F framework in terms of thinking about when faced with parenting decisions related to your older school children how you can make thoughtful decisions in the face of what is often very limited data. In our discussion, we delve more into the importance of realistic options and, at times, reconsidering decisions that we have made. Additionally, we discuss the role of values in decision making around parenting.

Emily is a Professor of Economics at Brown University and the author of Expecting Better, Cribsheet, and The Family Firm. She holds a PhD in Economics from Harvard. Prior to being at Brown she was on the faculty at the University of Chicago Booth School of Business. Emily’s academic work focuses on health economics and statistical methods. She is interested in understanding why consumers do not always make “rational” health choices — why do people not eat a fully healthy diet, or pursue all recommended preventative health behaviors? Her work also concerns methods for learning causal effects from observational data. 

You can find more information on Emily Oster, her books and research, and join her bi-weekly mailing list at emilyoster.net. You can also connect with Emily via Twitter and Instagram @ProfEmilyOster

In this episode, we speak with author Nefertiti Austin about her journey to motherhood as a resource and adoptive parent, and how this journey is reflected in her first non-fiction book, Motherhood So White. As Nefertiti discusses, her experience as a Black, single by choice woman was not reflected in parenting books and other resources. This lack of representation inspired her to add her voice and experience to the literature. Nefertiti also talks about the emotional space of black mothers who face heightened concerns regarding their children’s safety due to race. Lastly, we speak with Nefertiti about her upcoming book around raising neuro diverse children of color.

Nefertiti is an artist and author. In her first non-fiction book, Motherhood So White: A memoir of race, gender and parenting in America Nefertiti writes about the erasure of diverse voices in motherhood. Her work around this topic has appeared in many publications including the "New York Times", "Washington Post", “Huffington Post”, "MUTHA", and “Gen Medium”. Nefertiti is the adoptive mother of two children and lives in Los Angeles, CA.

To learn more about Nefertiti Austin and her writings visit Nefertiti Austin

To learn more about the Back Pocket Essentials, visit: https://www.thrivingtoddler.com/backpocket-essentials

Dr. Cara Goodwin has a Bachelor’s in Psychology and Neuroscience from the University of Virginia, a Master’s in Developmental Psychiatry from Cambridge University, a Master’s in Child Psychology from Vanderbilt University, and a PhD in Child Psychology from University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. She completed an APA accredited clinical psychology internship at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and a postdoctoral fellowship at Duke University.  She is currently licensed as a clinical psychologist in the state of Virginia. 

You can learn more about Dr. Goodwin and her work at: Parenting Translator

If you are raising a Toddler and you’d like to learn more about Back Pocket Essentials, visit ThrivingToddler.com. 

Today we are thrilled to be joined by the Childhood Collective. We speak about skills that support children with ADHD, and the importance of providing children with ADHD and their parents information on the neurological underpinnings of ADHD. We also discuss in more depth what an evaluation for ADHD may entail, and the role of schools in supporting children with ADHD and their parents. 

The Childhood Collective was founded by two child psychologists (Lori Long, Ph.D. and Mallory Yee, Ph.D.) and a speech language pathologist (Katie Severson, M.S., CCC-SLP). Lori, Mallory and Katie are three moms who are dedicated to supporting parents of children with ADHD. With over 40 years of combined professional experience, they empower parents by teaching science-backed strategies to raise happy and confident children!

To learn more about the resources and supports available from the Childhood Collective visit:

https://thechildhoodcollective.com

@thechildhoodcollective 

We are delighted today to be joined by Dr. Dale Farran and to discuss the results from a recent study of hers and colleagues, which has followed for over a decade 2,990 low-income children in Tennessee who applied to free, public prekindergarten programs. Some of the children were admitted by lottery, and the others were not, creating a “real world” randomized, controlled trial, which is the gold standard in science to show causality. Recent results show that children enrolled in the public pre-k were scoring lower than their peers in the control group on state tests of Math, English and Science in sixth grade. Furthermore, at sixth grade, they were more likely to have experienced an expulsion or suspension than their peers not enrolled in a public pre-k. But as we discuss there is much nuance and complexity to this research that must be considered when considering the results and how they can inform policy and practice.

Dr. Dale Farran is an Emerita Professor at Peabody College at Vanderbilt University. Dr. Farran has been involved in research and intervention for high-risk children and youth for all of her professional career. She has conducted research at the Frank Porter Graham Child Development Center in Chapel Hill, N.C., and the Kamehameha Schools Early Education Project in Hawaii. Dr. Farran is the editor of two books dealing with risk and poverty, the author of more than 90 journal articles and book chapters, and a regular presenter at national conferences. Her recent research emphasis is on evaluating the effectiveness of alternative preschool curricula for preparing children from low-income families to transition successfully to school and longitudinal follow up for long term effects. Currently she is directing an evaluation of the State of Tennessee’s prekindergarten program. Most recently, she has been involved in identifying early childhood classroom practices most facilitative of children’s outcomes, including coaching tools to improve practice.

You can learn more about Dr. Farran  and her work at:

https://peabody.vanderbilt.edu/bio/dale-farran

To learn more about the Parenting Understood email series on Pre-School please be sure to visit and join our mailing list at: https://parentingunderstood.com/

We are thrilled today to be joined for the second of our two part episode with Dr. Jenna Elgin and Dr. Shanna Alvarez of Helping Families Thrive to continue our discussion of attachment and social learning. We also explore how parents can shift through information found on social media and Instagram to make best judgments for themselves and their families.

For more information on Dr. Elgin and Dr. Alvarez, please visit their website: https://helpingfamiliesthrive.com/ and their Instagram account @helpingfamiliesthrive

We are thrilled today to be joined for the first of a two part episode with Dr. Jenna Elgin and Dr. Shanna Alvarez of Helping Families Thrive to discuss attachment theory and science. There is a lot of information (often contradicting) regarding attachment that leads parents to feel confused, conflicted, or even guilty in their parenting styles. Dr. Elgin and Dr. Alvarez will speak with us on how to shift through all this information. 

For more information on Dr. Elgin and Dr. Alvarez, please visit their website: https://helpingfamiliesthrive.com/ and their Instagram account @helpingfamiliesthrive

For more information on Thriving Toddler’s Backpocket Essentials program, please visit:

https://www.thrivingtoddler.com/backpocket-essentials

Today we are excited to be joined by Emma Hubbard to speak with us on ways to create and foster play with infants. We will discover how understanding what play looks like, especially in the early months, can be beneficial in the development of children.  

Pediatric Occupational Therapist and mum to a whip-smart 5 year old and a very cheeky little 3 year old, Emma is the Founder of Brightest Beginning, which provides online courses and resources for parents. She is also the creator of the Youtube channel Emma Hubbard, which is a free resource for new parents, where Emma shares all the tips and tricks she has learnt practicing as a pediatric occupational therapist, including how to help your little one to roll over, how to introduce solids, newborn sleep plus lots more.

You can learn more about Emma by visiting her pagel https://brightestbeginning.com/about/

You can also follow Emma on Instagram @brightest.beginning, Youtube Channel: Emma Hubbard

For more information on Thriving Toddler’s Playing with Intention program, please visit:

https://www.thrivingtoddler.com/playing-with-intention

Dr. Jeanne Donaldson earned her Ph.D. in Psychology from the University of Florida and completed a postdoctoral fellowship at the John Hopkins University School of Medicine at the Kennedy Krieger Institute. Her research focuses on solving issues common in early childhood and assessing child and adult interventions.

Some key tokens mentioned include:

Passes/privileges

• TV show/video game time
• Extra book/chapter at bedtime
• Outings – library, park, children’s museum
• Sleepover
• Parent cleans my room
• Breakfast for dinner
• Dance party
• Pick the restaurant
• Stay up late

Tangible items

• School/office supplies
• Art supplies
• Craft items 
• Stickers
• Scented lip balm
• Books
• Bubbles
• Squishy toys
• Glow sticks/bracelets 
• Clothing
• Holiday-themed and seasonal items

To learn more or contact Dr. Donaldson, you can reach out to her via email at jdonaldson@lsu.edu.

For more information on Thriving Toddler’s Backpocket Essentials program, please visit:

https://www.thrivingtoddler.com/backpocket-essentials

In today’s first of two episodes with Dr. Jeanne Donaldson, we discuss using token economies with children to help them establish positive behaviors. Dr. Donaldson defines what a reward/token economy is and how the functions of a reward system can be used, as well as how to avoid misusing them.

Dr. Jeanne Donaldson earned her Ph.D. in Psychology from the University of Florida and completed a postdoctoral fellowship at the John Hopkins University School of Medicine at the Kennedy Krieger Institute. Her research focuses on solving issues common in early childhood and assessing child and adult interventions.

To learn more or contact Dr. Donaldson, you can reach out to her via email at jdonaldson@lsu.edu.

We are thrilled to have Dr. Dana Charles McCoy join us again on Parenting Understood. In this episode, Dr. McCoy speaks with us about her recent research on the impacts of COVID on child development (emotional, social, and learning). In particular, she summarizes her and colleagues’ research focused on forecasting the long term consequences of closing early childhood centers on children’s development with special attention to children in low and middle income countries.

Dr. McCoy is an Associate Professor at the Harvard Graduate School of Education (HGSE). Her work focuses on understanding the ways that poverty-related risk factors in children's home, school, and neighborhood environments affect the their cognitive and socioemotional development in early childhood. Her research looks at both domestic and international contexts. 

To learn more about Dana and her research, please visit:

https://seed.gse.harvard.edu/ or you can reach out to her via Twitter @DanaCMcCoy or

dana_mccoy@gse.harvard.edu

In today’s episode, we are excited to be joined by Melinda Wenner Moyer. Melinda Wenner Moyer is a contributing editor at Scientific American magazine and a regular contributor to The New York Times, Washington Post, and other national magazines and newspapers. She is a faculty member in the Science, Health & Environmental Reporting program at NYU’s Arthur L. Carter Journalism Institute. Her first book, How To Raise Kids Who Aren’t Assholes, was published in July 2021 by J.P. Putnam’s Sons.

We speak with Melinda on her research, publications, and being a mother. We also discuss how she and other journalists can help parents wade through the large amounts of data and information on parenting and child development that is now available.

You can learn more about Melinda and her research, as well as order her book and subscribe to her newsletter at melindawennermoyer.com.

Today we are thrilled to be joined by Joan Nguyen for an episode of Pinot and Parenting to speak with us regarding Bümo. Bümo Work offers co-working space on site with licensed child care and Bümo Brain provides online live classes for children 7 and under.

Joan is the co-founder and CEO of Bümo. Raised by refugee parents, Nguyen spent much of her childhood living in poverty. Her father finished 7th grade; and her mother, high school — as a result, she was raised with the understanding that education was not only important, but also a privilege that she needed to wholeheartedly pursue. With a budding passion for education and learning, Nguyen started MeriEducation, an INC5000 company, at 20 years old with $3,000 she saved, giving educational services ranging from SAT preparation to academic tutoring.

As a mother of two toddlers, Nguyen co-founded with Chriselle Lim with the mission of changing the landscape of virtual early childhood education as a robust resource for parents and children who desire to learn through exploration, imagination, innovation, and creativity.

You can learn more about Joan and Bümo at:

https://www.bumowork.com/
https://bumobrain.com/

You can follow Bümo and Joan on Instagram @bumoparent and @joan.bumo

Today we are excited to be joined by Dr. Jason Kahn, Chief Science Officer and co-founder of “Mightier”, a biofeedback gaming system that helps children age 6 and older build emotional coping skills. He combines his expertise in developmental psychology and mental health to create video games that help children build emotional strength: the ability to harness their emotions to overcome behavioral challenges. Dr. Kahn also holds appointments at Boston Children’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School, where he creates and researches new technology addressing acute problems in pediatric mental health.

Dr. Kahn will explain to us what “Mightier” is and how children can use “Mightier” to build their own emotional strength through video games! 

You can learn more about Dr. Kahn and “Mightier” by visiting their website https://www.mightier.com/scientific-overview/ and by following their Instagram and Twitter @bemightier

Today we are excited to be joined by Dr. Megan Aclan. Dr. Aclan is an adjunct faculty member within the graduate program of Applied Behavioral Analysis at USC. Her career experience is focused on both the individual and business level. At the individual level, Dr. Aclan works in the areas of feeding/eating disorders, anxiety, depression, Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD), and addiction. In this episode, Dr. Aclan will describe what feeding issues look like, how environments can impact feeding disorders, and what intervention approaches have been used to support families. We hope after this episode you can have some useful techniques for creating healthier eating habits with your children!

You can find more information about Dr. Aclan at aclan@usc.edu

https://www.everodsky.com/ and by following her on Instagram @everodsky 

In this episode, we discuss methods to bring math into everyday interactions with children, and research on the topic. We also talk about how knowledge of developmental research can inform parenting decisions and techniques.

For more information on Dr. Dearing, DREME, and the book, The Gardner and the Carpenter, referenced in this episode, please see below:

Gopnik, A. (2016). The Gardener and the Carpenter: What the new science of child development tells us about the relationship between parents and children. 

Development and Research in Early Mathematics Education | (dreme.stanford.edu)

Eric Dearing - Lynch School of Education and Human Development - Boston College (bc.edu)

On today’s Pinot and Parenting, we are thrilled to have with us Ria Simon, a community ambassador from HiMamam and a former educator in elementary schools.. Ria will be talking with us about the importance of building strong parent/teacher relationships and different methods and strategies that you can use to foster strong bonds with your children’s teachers or for educators how to best interact with your student’s parents. We will examine how to speak about difficult conversations and how to create engaging conversations without being overbearing. 

To learn more about Ria Simon and HiMama, please check out himama.com and The Preschool Podcast

Today, we go back to episode 14 to visit the controversial topic of corporal punishment. Our guest Jorge Cuartas will discuss some of the negative consequences that can be associated with corporal punishment. We hope you enjoy and we will be back soon with new episodes!

Today we are excited to be joined by Jorge Cuartas. Jorge is a PhD candidate at the Harvard Graduate School of Education and co-author of Corporal Punishment and Elevated Neural Response to Threat in Children. He researches the negative impacts of violence including harsh discipline as it impacts children. He recently addressed the House of Representatives in Colombia as they consider a federal ban on corporal punishment.

In one study, nearly half of parents interviewed were found to have spanked their children with one third having done so in the last week. Jorge will discuss with us the negative and dangerous impacts of spanking and corporal punishment. While spanking is often done with the intention of creating good behavior, Jorge will present how the effects can actually be the opposite.

Today, we will go back to episode 10 in which we cover of racial socialization of children and learning to talk about race. We think this is one of the most important topics we have covered and we hope that you enjoy it.

In this episode, we speak with Dr. Briggite Vittrup, department chair of Human Development, Family Studies, and Counseling at Texas Woman’s University. Dr. Vittrup’s academic and research interests include racial socialization; children's racial attitudes; child discipline; and media influences on children.
Our conversation focuses on the important topic of discussing race with your young children. While this is often an uncomfortable discussion point, Dr. Vittrup explains why it is essential to have these topics and not avoid them. Dr. Vittrup explains the do’s and don'ts of talking about race and how to use a color conscious approach for speaking with children. She also provides useful resources on ways to begin these conversations. t

Resources mentioned in episode:
Book : All the Colors We Are/Todos los colores de nuestra piel: The Story of How We Get Our Skin Color/La historia de por qué tenemos diferentes colores de piel by Katie Kissinger

Book: Something Happened in Our Town (A Child's Story About Racial Injustice) by Marianne Celano

Teachingtolerance.org

Embracerace.org

You can find more information on Dr. Vittrup at https://apps.twu.edu/my1cv/profile.aspx?type=twp&id=4pCl%2bq%2b7SWo4Rjfa%2fZ3otQ%3d%3d&dept=humandev

Today, we will go back to episode 7 in which we cover the important topic of how to utilize time outs with your children. We hope you enjoy this episode and please remember to revisit and review all our other episodes. Happy New Year!

In this episode, we speak with Dr. Jeanne Donaldson on the topic of giving time outs to children. Dr. Donaldson earned her Ph.D. in Psychology from the University of Florida and completed a postdoctoral fellowship at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine at the Kennedy Krieger Institute. Her research focuses on solving problems common in early childhood and assessing child and adult interventions. After this episode, you will understand the different aspects that go into giving a child time out, considerations on when to use the time out strategy, and easier ways to implement an effective time out!

If you are curious and want to learn more about time-out from positive reinforcement, Michelle has several free resources available on her Instagram Account @thriving.toddler. 

Visit the guide section that includes seven posts on “Time Away From Positive Reinforcement.” You can also download the time-out check list here:  https://www.thrivingtoddler.com/time-out-opt-in

Today, we will go back to episode 20 in which we cover the important topic of using data to make parental decisions. We think this topic is a great follow up to last week’s episode on choosing a preschool. With the start of the new year, resolutions and goals are made and this can include parenting ones. This episode will help to show how you can use data to influence these future new goals or resolutions. We hope you enjoy this episode and please remember to revisit and review all our other episodes. Happy New Year!

We are excited to be joined by Professor Emily Oster. Emily is a Professor of Economics at Brown University and the author of Expecting Better, Cribsheet, and The Family Firm. She holds a PhD in Economics from Harvard. Prior to being at Brown she was on the faculty at the University of Chicago Booth School of Business. Emily’s books analyze the data behind choices on parenting and pregnancy. Emily will be discussing with us her most recent book, The Family Firm, which takes a data driven approach to help parents think more deliberately about key issues in the elementary school years including sleep, school, health, extra curricular activities and more. Emily will present to us how you can immediately apply frameworks and concepts to utilize the date in your life for making best decisions for your children.

You can find more information on Emily Oster, her books and research, and join her bi-weekly mailing list at emilyoster.net. You can also connect with Emily via Twitter and Instagram @ProfEmilyOster

Today, we will go back to episode 24 in which we cover the important topic of choosing a preschool. We think the start of the new year is an excellent time to begin your research on what factors are important to you for choosing your child’s preschool. We hope you enjoy this episode and please remember to revisit and review all our other episodes. Happy Holidays!

We are thrilled to have back with us Dr. Meghan McCormick, Research Associate at MDRC and lead researcher on Boston’s Public Pre-Kindergarten Project. Dr McCormick has extensive research experience examining the roles of the home, school and neighborhood contexts on children’s development. Today Dr. McCormick will be speaking with us on the topic of preschool and how it impacts children's growth and development. Some factors we will be examining are choosing a preschool, how to determine environments that best support learning, and what is considered a “high quality” program.

You can learn more about Dr. Meghan McCormick by visiting https://www.mdrc.org/about/meghan-mccormick or by email at meghan.mcormick@mdrc.org

While we are out for the holiday break, we would like to rebroadcast some of our favorite and important episodes. Today, we will go back to episode 12 in which we cover the importance of tackling sleep problems. We hope you enjoy this episode and please remember to revisit and review all our other episodes. Happy Holidays!

In this episode, we will hear from Dr. Gregory Hanley, a Fellow of the American Psychological Association, past Associate Editor of The Behavior Analyst, and past Editor of Behavior Analysis in Practice and of the Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis. He has published over 100 articles in peer-reviewed journals and book chapters primarily focused on the assessment, treatment, and prevention of problem behavior and sleep problems, teaching strategies for developing life skills, and empirically-derived values for practitioners. Dr. Hanley currently advises doctoral candidates as a Research Professor at WNEU, serves as an Adjunct Professor of Psychiatry at the University of Massachusetts Medical School, and leads FTF Behavioral, the international training and consulting group based in Worcester, Massachusetts. 

Dr. Hanley will discuss the common sleep problems that most children experience and explain how behavioral intervention management and function based approaches and strategies can be successfully used to combat some of these sleep challenges. 

You can find more information on Dr Hanley and his free sleep assessment tool at the link below:

https://practicalfunctionalassessment.com/ and https://ftfbc.com/

We are delighted to be joined in a two-part episode with Dr. Sarah Bren to speak on the topic of Covid, and the related stressors and anxiety that parents and children experienced throughout this pandemic. We will explore the ways that parents can cope with past and new stressors that have entered our lives, as well as, our children’s lives including navigating relationships, friendships, school, and social skills. Dr. Bren is a licensed clinical psychologist who specializes in psychodynamic and relationship based approaches to working with children and families. She is particularly passionate about equipping parents with tools to understand the building blocks of child development and how secure relationships form and thrive. Her work is focused on parents finding their inner confidence to respond to any parenting problems.

You can also learn more about Dr. Sarah Bren by visiting her webpage at https://drsarahbren.com/ and Instagram @drsarahbren. Our second part, where we discuss more stress resolutions,  will exist on Dr. Sarah Bren’s podcast “Securely Attached”, and will air on December 14th.

Today we are excited to be joined by the mother of four boys and author of “We All Like Different Things and That's A-OK With Me!” and “Tilly Toad's Heavy Load”, Jo Dodd. Jo will speak to us regarding her journey to becoming an author, and how her children have become an inspiration and guiding force for her book series. Additionally, we will speak with Jo on ways to incorporate one’s own jobs and experiences into the lives of one’s children. Finally, we are excited to speak about Jo's soon to be available picture book for moms.

You can find Jo’s books for purchase online at livinginjotopoia.com, and you can learn more about Jo by following her on Instagram at livinginjotopia

We are pleased to be joined today by Dr. Clancy Blair. Dr. Blair is a developmental psychologist, who studies self-regulation in young children. His primary interest concerns the development of cognitive abilities, referred to as executive functions, and the ways in which these aspects of cognition are important for school readiness and early school achievement. He is also interested in the development and evaluation of preschool and elementary school curricula designed to promote executive functions as a means of preventing school failure. Prior to coming to NYU, Blair spent ten years as an Assistant and then Associate Professor in the department of Human Development and Family Studies at Penn State. 

Dr. Blair will be speaking with us regarding self-regulation, and the different stages that can be expected in children as they age from infants to adolescents. We will also explore the ways in which the environment can impact self-regulation, and how parents can utilize different strategies for trying to best promote positive self-regulation.

If you would like to learn more about the work of Dr. Blair, you can visit his Google Scholar page at https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=duCRaqgAAAAJ&hl=en

Today we are excited to be joined by Jessica Fuller, a board certified behavior analyst and a doctoral student working in the area of mindful parenting and education at the Chicago School of Professional Psychology. She recently started a school in the Dominican Republic where mindfulness practices are one of the core values taught to staff, parents, and students. Jessica will be speaking with us on the topic of mindfulness and on how parents can utilize mindfulness through three skills:

Mindful S.T.O.P - Stop, Take a breath, Observe, and Proceed

Surfing the Urge

Soles of the Feet

If you are interested in learning more Jessica Fuller or her research by following her on Instagram @jessfullerbcba 

We are delighted to be joined today by Zoë Bisbing who is a licensed psychotherapist specializing in child and adolescent eating disorders, a mother of three, and co-founder of The Full Bloom Project. Zoë will be discussing with us her important work with the Full Bloom Project and how we can utilize tools to create a positive atmosphere and environment for increasing protective factors and decreasing risk factors for children and adolescents developing body and eating disorders. Through this episode we will understand how the issue of body image also can be viewed as a social justice issue that all can play a role in working to improve.

For more information on Zoë and The Full Bloom Project, please visit thefullbloomproject.com; check out The Full Bloom Project podcast available at all major streaming services; and on Instagram @fullbloomproject

​​Have you ever wondered if your child is too shy or if you should be concerned about your shy child? In this episode of Pinot and Parenting, we will continue to talk about temperament jumping off of last week's conversation with Dr. McClowry. You will hear about the research on shy children and our experiences growing up as those “shy children.” We also talk about goodness of fit when raising our own children and how to embrace our children’s qualities and not force a change in temperament.

As always, you can learn more about us through our Instagram pages @ScientificMommy, @thriving.toddler, and @parentingunderstood

In this episode, we discuss, with Dr. Sandee McClowry, temperament, as well as temperamental profiles and their characteristics. Through the discussion, we address how to provide an environment for children that is a good fit for them based on their temperamental needs. We also discuss how understanding temperament explains why a one size approach does not work when it comes to parenting. Temperament influences how we approach the world, and our interactions with others and situations. By supporting our children based on their temperament, we can best provide for them.

Sandee McClowry, PhD, RN, FAAN is the developer of INSIGHTS into Children’s Temperament, an evidenced-based social-emotional learning program. INSIGHTS provides parents and teachers with effective, yet, practical behavioral strategies, tailored to children’s different personality styles. The strategies have demonstrated that they improve children’s social- emotional skills. A classroom version is also available for the primary grades. 

Now Professor Emerita from New York University, Dr. McClowry devotes her time to conducting national and international professional development workshops and does private practice with online sessions with children and parents. Dr. McClowry has written three books that explain the strategies used in INSIGHTS, including Temperament-based Elementary Classroom Management as well as co-authoring many professional manuscripts in a variety of multi-disciplinary journals.  

Citations: 

Book:  

Your Child"s Unique Temperament: Strategies for Responsive Parenting

O’Connor, E.E., Cappella, E., McCormick, M.P & McClowry, S.G. (2014). An examination of the efficacy of INSIGHTS in enhancing the academic and behavioral development of children in early grades.  Journal of  Educational Psychology, 106(4), 1156-1169. doi: 10.1037/a0036615

McCormick, M.P., O’Connor, E.E., Cappella, E., & McClowry, S.G. (2015). Getting a good start in school: Effects of INSIGHTS on children with high maintenance temperament. Early  Childhood Research Quarterly, 30(A), 128-139. doi: 10.1016/j.ecresq.2014.10.006

O’Connor, E.E., Cappella, E., McCormick, M.P & McClowry, S.G. (2014). Enhancing the  academic development of shy children: A test of the efficacy of INSIGHTS. School  Psychology Review, 43(3), 239-259.

We are thrilled to have back with us Dr. Meghan McCormick, Research Associate at MDRC and lead researcher on Boston’s Public Pre-Kindergarten Project. Dr. McCormick has extensive research experience examining the roles of the home, school and neighborhood contexts on children’s development. Today Dr. McCormick will be speaking with us on the topic of preschool and how it impacts children's growth and development. Some factors we will be examining are choosing a preschool, how to determine environments that best support learning, and what is considered a “high quality” program.

You can learn more about Dr. Meghan McCormick by visiting https://www.mdrc.org/about/meghan-mccormick or by email at meghan.mcormick@mdrc.org

We are excited to welcome back Dr. Jeanne Donaldson to speak with us regarding The Good Behavior Game, a research based intervention for changing behavior. After this episode, you will learn how to implement this strategy at home. We hope you will find new fun ways to work with your children on everyday behaviors and routines!

Dr. Donaldson earned her Ph.D. in Psychology from the University of Florida and completed a postdoctoral fellowship at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine at the Kennedy Krieger Institute. Her research focuses on solving issues common in early childhood and assessing child and adult interventions.

To learn more or contact Dr. Donaldson, you can reach out via email at jdonaldson@lsu.edu

We are excited to welcome back Dr. Jeanne Donaldson to speak with us regarding The Good Behavior Game, a research based intervention for changing behavior. After this episode, you will learn how to implement this strategy at home. We hope you will find new fun ways to work with your children on everyday behaviors and routines!

Dr. Donaldson earned her Ph.D. in Psychology from the University of Florida and completed a postdoctoral fellowship at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine at the Kennedy Krieger Institute. Her research focuses on solving issues common in early childhood and assessing child and adult interventions.

To learn more or contact Dr. Donaldson, you can reach out via email at jdonaldson@lsu.edu

Today we are thrilled to be joined by Dr. Carolyn Strom. Carolyn is an early literacy expert who works with pre-school and elementary educators, families, and children to improve reading outcomes. She taught first grade in Compton, California for 8 years before becoming a reading specialist in New York City. She is currently an Assistant Professor and Program Leader in the Literacy Program at New York University.

Carolyn will be discussing with us the science behind reading and literacy in children. We as humans are not wired to read; therefore, Carolyn demonstrates the need for proper steps and lessons to develop reading in children. Our episode will showcase how reading starts with speech and oral language and the overall Importance of sound. Techniques, intervention, and resources are also presented that can be used to begin creating reading skills.

To contact and learn more about Dr. Carolyn Strom and her research, please visit https://carolynstrom.com/

Resources mentioned in today’s episode are listed here:  Letter Land; How to Teach your Kid to Read in 100 Lessons; Bob Books; Alpha Blocks; Letter Factory; Reading Rockets; Science of Reading: What I wish I had learned in College

In this special episode, we talk about our lives as moms, researchers and practitioners, and how those relate to supporting our toddlers in play. Research and theory provide rich information on how to scaffold young children in independent play but what do we find happens in practice? Join us for an honest conversation on motherhood, play and supporting toddlers!

As always, you can learn more about us, Erin O’Connor and Michelle Tangeman, by following us on Instagram @ParentingUnderstood @Thriving.Toddler @ScientificMommy

We are excited to be joined by Professor Emily Oster. Emily is a Professor of Economics at Brown University and the author of Expecting Better, Cribsheet, and The Family Firm. She holds a PhD in Economics from Harvard. Prior to being at Brown she was on the faculty at the University of Chicago Booth School of Business. Emily’s books analyze the data behind choices on parenting and pregnancy. Emilly will be discussing with us her most recent book, The Family Firm, which takes a data driven approach to help parents think more deliberately about key issues in the elementary school years including sleep, school, health, extra curricular activities and more. Emily will present to us how you can immediately apply frameworks and concepts to utilize the date in your life for making best decisions for your children.

You can find more information on Emily Oster, her books and research, and join her bi-weekly mailing list at emilyoster.net. You can also connect with Emily via Twitter and Instagram @ProfEmilyOster

Today we are thrilled to be joined by Christine French Cully, Chief Purpose Office and Editor in Chief of Highlights Magazine and mother of two. Christine is an outspoken advocate for issues that impact children and their wellbeing. Christine has been dedicated to Highlights’ belief that children are the most important people on the planet. Christine will discuss with us her new book “Dear Highlights: What Adults Can Learn from 75 Years of Letters and Conversations with Kids.” She will discuss some of the types of letters that have been sent over the years and how this book, which has compiled letters received over the years to Highlights magazine from children, can give readers an insight into children’s hopes, fears, dreams, and aspirations.

You can learn more about Christine French Cully and Highlights at their podcast, Highlights Kids, and can purchase “Dear Highlights: What Adults Can Learn from 75 Years of Letters and Conversations with Kids” through most major booksellers.

Dr. Meltzer-Body is the Assad Meymandi Distinguished Professor and Chair of the Department of Psychiatry at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.  She also directs the UNC Center for Women’s Mood Disorders and is an executive sponsor of the UNC SOM and UNC Health Well-Being initiative. Dr. Meltzer-Brody founded the UNC Perinatal Psychiatry Program in 2004 and became Chair of the UNC Department of Psychiatry in October 2019.  She investigates the epidemiologic and biological predictors of perinatal depression (PND) including genetic, neurosteroid and other neuroendocrine biomarkers as well as the impact of adverse life events. She is also the founder and lead of the Postpartum Depression Action Towards and Treatment (PACT) Consortium, and co-PI on a smartphone app (originally named PPD ACT and now rebranded as MOM GENES) that is a large scale international genetic study of PPD and postpartum.  

In today’s episode, Dr. Meltzer-Brody will be discussing with us how perinatal depression, which can impact 10-15% of mothers, is defined, what are some of the signs that one should recognize as an indicator of when to reach out for help, and finally what are some of the best treatments for perinatal depression, postpartum depression, and anxiety. Dr. Meltzer-Brody will also talk about how her smartphone app, MOM GENES, has been used to generate evidence-based research on postpartum and how to identify genetic risk factors for women who may develop postpartum depression.

You can learn more about Dr. Meltzer-Brody and her research at https://www.med.unc.edu/psych/directory/samantha-meltzer-brody/ and https://www.momgenesfightppd.org/

We are thrilled to be joined today by Dr. Mary Helen Immordino-Yang. Dr. Immordino-Yang studies the psychological and neurobiological bases of social emotion, self-awareness and culture and their implications for learning, development and schools. She is a Professor of Education at the USC Rossier School of Education, a Professor of Psychology at the Brain and Creativity Institute, a member of the Neuroscience Graduate Program Faculty at the University of Southern California, and Director of the USC Center for Affective Neuroscience, Development, Learning and Education (CANDLE). She is currently PI for a school-based intervention study of the role of students’ social-emotional competencies in academic success and a PI on a study of the neural and psychosocial correlates of mindsets in low-SES adolescents from two cultural groups. Dr. Immordino-Yang also serves as scientific adviser to several Los Angeles schools/districts and is a mother of two!

Dr. Immordino-Yang will be discussing with us an often overlooked topic in parenting: understanding neuroscience to recognize how it impacts children’s psychological development. She will demonstrate how a child’s culture and emotions and feelings can shape the brain and our behaviors.  We will also explore how a children’s ability to understand meaning can impact how children view the world. Getting a grasp of these concepts can help parents be able to understand how to connect with their children and be able to better relate to children’s mindsets.

You can learn more about Dr. Immordino-Yang and her research at candle.usc.edu

On today’s Pinot and Parenting, we are thrilled to have with us Ria Simon, a community ambassador from HiMama and a former educator in elementary schools. Ria will be talking with us about the importance of building strong parent/teacher relationships and different methods and strategies that you can use to foster strong bonds with your children’s teachers or for educators how to best interact with your student’s parents. We will examine how to speak about difficult conversations and how to create engaging conversations without being overbearing. 

To learn more about Ria Simon and HiMama, please check out himama.com and The Preschool Podcast

Today we are excited to be joined by Dr. Jonathan Zimmeman. Dr. Zimmerman is a historian of Education and Professor of Education at the University of Pennsylvania who has spent much of his career examining how education practices and policies have developed over time. He has a special interest in how social and political movements come to shape education. Dr. Zimmerman previously taught for 20 years at NYU Steinhardt and is currently the Judy and Howard Berkowitz Professor in Education at University of Pennsylvania. In addition to his role in academics, Dr. Zimmerman is a proud father of two girls.

Dr. Zimmerman will discuss with us his research on how the history of the “Little Red School House” and the early foundations of education have come to shape education today. We will showcase how understanding the history of schooling and its role in family and community are crucial to analyzing where we are today and what the future holds for education and our children.

You can learn more about Dr. Zimmerman and his work at the following link:
https://www.gse.upenn.edu/academics/faculty-directory/zimmerman

Today we are excited to be joined by Jorge Cuartas. Jorge is a PhD candidate at the Harvard Graduate School of Education and co-author of Corporal Punishment and Elevated Neural Response to Threat in Children. He researches the negative impacts of violence including harsh discipline as it impacts children. He recently addressed the House of Representatives in Colombia as they considered a federal ban on corporal punishment.

Jorge will discuss with us why spanking continues to be prevalent amongst parents across the world. Furthermore, he will explain how his research has demonstrated the negative and dangerous impacts of spanking and corporal punishment. While spanking is often done with the intention of creating good behavior, Jorge will present how the effects can actually be the opposite.

Today we are excited to be joined by Dr. Tyler Watts. ​​Dr. Watts is an Assistant Professor of Developmental Psychology in the Department of Human Development at Teachers College, Columbia University. He studies educational policies designed to promote the cognitive and socio-emotional development of children from underserved communities. He worked as a Research Assistant Professor and Postdoctoral Scholar at New York University, and received his Ph.D. in Education from the University of California, Irvine.

Dr. Watts will discuss his study of revisiting the famous delayed gratification experiment known as the “Marshmallow Test” and will explain how his discoveries shed new light on what we know about delayed gratification as it relates to long-term behavior and personality. We will see how delayed gratification alone does not determine child wellbeing, but there are many other factors that must be accounted for in a holistic approach to predicting outcomes.

To learn more about Dr. Watts and his research, please check out his website at: https://tylerwatts.org/

In this episode, we will hear from Dr. Gregory Hanley, a Fellow of the American Psychological Association, past Associate Editor of The Behavior Analyst, and past Editor of Behavior Analysis in Practice and of the Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis. Dr. Hanley currently advises doctoral candidates as a Research Professor at WNEU, serves as an Adjunct Professor of Psychiatry at the University of Massachusetts Medical School, and leads FTF Behavioral, the international training and consulting group based in Worcester, Massachusetts. He is primarily focused on the assessment, treatment, and prevention of problem behavior and sleep problems, teaching strategies for developing life skills, and empirically-derived values for practitioners.

Dr. Hanley will discuss the common sleep problems that most children experience and explain how behavioral intervention management and function based approaches and strategies can be successfully used to combat some of these sleep challenges.

You can find more information on Dr Hanley and his free sleep assessment tool at the link below:

https://practicalfunctionalassessment.com/ and https://ftfbc.com/

In this episode, we are excited to speak with Dr. Melissa Goldstein, a pediatrician at Carnegie Hill Pediatrics. Along with her practice and research in pediatrics, Dr. Goldstein dedicates much of her time to helping families navigate the steps to adoption, practicing adoption medicine and offering pre-adoption medical counseling.

Dr. Goldstein speaks with us regarding the adoption process domestically and looking at the research and resources that support the best practices for navigating adoption. After this episode, we hope you will be able to begin to understand what to expect with the adoption process whether or not adoption may be in your future.