This is the first episode in our new biweekly release schedule. In this episode, we discuss permissive grandparents and how to navigate, at times, different parenting styles between parents and grandparents. We acknowledge the vital role grandparents play in a child's life while recognizing the potential challenges of inconsistent parenting styles. We further offer practical advice for parents, when having discussions with grandparents around parenting styles. We stress the importance of patience and understanding, recognizing that changing ingrained behaviors takes time. Ultimately, we provide valuable tools for parents seeking to maintain healthy relationships with grandparents while ensuring consistent guidance for their children.

In this episode of Parenting Understood, we delve into early literacy with Dr. Susan Neuman. We discuss creating child-centered learning environments that foster literacy development. Dr. Neuman emphasizes the importance of responsive teacher-child conversations, play, reading, writing, and singing. She highlights the need for a balanced approach to alphabetics and encourages parents to engage children in informational texts. The conversation also touches upon the influence of research on educational policies and the significance of recognizing individual learning styles. To learn more about Dr. Neuman and her work please visit her website Susan Neuman | NYU Steinhardt, LinkedIn profile and Susan B. Neuman on X.

This episode of Parents Understood features Dr. Rose Perry and Dr. Natalie Brito discussing Social Creatures, a non-profit focused on social health. Dr. Perry, a social neuroscientist, discusses her research highlighting the impact of early social connections on lifelong well-being, and how her recognizing the societal undervaluing of these connections lead to her founding Social Creatures, which aims to promote health through community building. Drs. Perry and Brito also discuss Social Creatures’ program, Bonded by Baby, which addresses the high prevalence of loneliness among new parents. By connecting parents with similar-aged infants, the program offers crucial social support and combats postpartum depression and anxiety. Additionally, Drs. Perry and Brito provide practical advice for parents, emphasizing the importance of open communication, self-care, and maintaining diverse connections.

For more information on Dr. Perry and Social Creatures please visit her LinkedIn page, as well as the Social Creatures website. For more information on Dr. Natalie Brito please visit her LinkedIn page and her lab website ISLAND.

In this episode, we are joined by Dr. Katie Scott Newhouse, Clinical Assistant Professor and Program Director of Special Education at New York University, to discuss supporting neurodiverse students in middle childhood. Dr. Newhouse emphasizes the importance of recognizing individual differences and tailoring support strategies accordingly. Transitions, especially back-to-school after summer, can be challenging for neurodiverse students. Strategies discussed include open communication between parents and teachers, visual schedules, social stories, and classroom placement considerations. We highlight the importance of parent advocacy and connecting with community resources. We also touch on the challenges of navigating the school system and the need for proactive support.

For more information on Dr. Newhouse and her work please visit: Dr. Katie Newhouse

In this episode, we discuss with Dr. Fabienne Doucet her new bilingual picture book "Love is Still Winning." The book tells a story of a child reminding their mother about the enduring power of love and kindness in the world. Fabienne’s professional background in education and her passion for children's literature have intertwined in this project. She sees stories as a powerful tool to initiate conversations about complex issues and to foster understanding. The book encourages readers to explore acts of love in their own lives and communities, promoting a message of hope and resilience. We discuss various ways in which caregivers can use the book to engage in meaningful conversations. You can find the book at independent bookstores and online retailers, and follow Fabienne on social media @Bailabomba for updates on events and future projects.

In this latest episode, we speak with Dr. Lindsey Cormack about ways parents can support their children in becoming engaged citizens. Lindsey is a civics expert and the author of the book HOW TO RAISE A CITIZEN (And Why It’s Up to You to Do It). We speak with Lindsey about how Americans’ civic knowledge is alarmingly low; how young voters struggle to navigate the complicated system of voter registration, and that civics instruction receives the lowest number of K-12 hours out of any subject. Further, as Lindsey notes, we have a culture of considering political talk to be taboo which means many adults, on both sides of the aisle, aren’t having productive conversations with children about government issues. Because of this, Lindsey speaks to how parents and caregivers can create a solid foundation of civics knowledge for their children and provide them with strategies and necessary know-how to be able to raise engaged and informed citizens.

Lindsey Cormack is an Associate Professor of Political Science and Director of the Diplomacy Lab at Stevens Institute of Technology in Hoboken, New Jersey. She earned her PhD in Government from New York University and is raising a daughter on the Upper East Side. She currently serves as the Secretary for Community Board 8 in Manhattan. She created and maintains the digital database of all official Congress-to-constituent e-newsletters in the DCInbox Project.

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?”.

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.