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Latest Episodes:

Ezra Klein’s Late-Night Panic Google Jul 11, 2024

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The New York Times’ Ezra Klein asks how we can trust anything we read about parenting.

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The Value of Camp: What a tech-free summer teaches kids Jul 04, 2024

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Color War. Underwear on the outside of your clothes. Sailing badges. Friendship bracelets. It is difficult to overstate how attached some people get to their sleepaway camp experiences - they don't explain, they proselytize. And right now, camp is having a moment in our popular culture as we debate what Jon Haidt has deemed the “phone-based childhood.” Camp is one of the last screen-free zones for kids, and that’s both exciting and, as a parent, a little scary.

Today on ParentData, we're joined by Steve Baskin, a career camp director and incoming head of the American Camping Association, to talk about all things summer camp. We discuss resilience, the value of free play, the need for phone-free time, whether or not your kids will actually brush their teeth (they will!) and why homesickness might actually be a good thing.

Special thanks to Falcon Camp in Carrollton, Ohio for lending their voices to this episode.

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Jackie Oshry’s Late-Night Panic Google Jun 27, 2024

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The Toast’s Jackie Oshry asks about babies and honey, the efficacy of Baby Mozart, and what you can’t put down the garbage disposal.

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Raising Boys: Another side of gender equality Jun 20, 2024

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There are many, many wonderful things about parenting boys. There are also challenges that seem disproportionate. Boys often develop language later than girls. More boys than girls are held back in school entry. Girls do better in school at nearly all levels, and are significantly more likely to attend college. Yet this doesn’t get the kind of attention that it might if the genders were reversed.

Today on ParentData, we're joined by Richard Reeves. Richard is the president of the American Institute for Boys and Men, which aims to both identify and combat the challenges facing boys and men today. We talk about the challenges boys face in school, male executive function, how standardized testing affects boys and girls differently, why those adolescent backpacks are so gross, and how true gender equality requires everyone to thrive.

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Abby Phillip's Late-Night Panic Google Jun 13, 2024

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CNN anchor Abby Philip asks how to keep her kid in bed all night.

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Why Kids Can't Read: How we missed the mark on literacy education Jun 06, 2024

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Reading Rainbow. Reading is FUNdamental! Hooked on Phonics. We grew up steeped in a culture that encouraged reading. And in the past couple of years many U.S. states have embraced legislation about how kids are taught to read in school. The phrase that you may have heard is “science of reading,” as in “let’s make sure schools are using reading curricula based on science.” But what does that actually mean? And how would you, as a parent, know if your school was doing it?

Today on ParentData, we're joined by journalist Emily Hanford, the host of the excellent podcast, Sold a Story. The topic of its first season was how reading is taught in American schools, and, for a lot of parents, it opened their eyes to the fact that there isn’t just one way to teach reading and that many schools weren’t doing it right. We talk about what the science says about the right approaches to reading, and then, more practically, about how parents can evaluate their own kids’ learning and whether the legislation we’re seeing is doing any good.

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Ophira Eisenberg’s Late-Night Panic Google May 30, 2024

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Comedian and NPR mainstay Ophira Eisenberg wrestles with changing her kid’s school, and how to clean slime.

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The Kids Are Actually Alright: Is parental anxiety too high? May 23, 2024

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We’ve been hearing a lot about the teen mental health crisis — and there is no question that on a number of metrics, teens do seem to be struggling more than they have in the past. But is it really that bad? Is there a chance we’re overreacting to normal teenage feelings?

Today on ParentData, we’re joined by Dr. Mathilde Ross, a psychiatrist at Boston University. Her view is, yes, sometimes we are overreacting. And more to the point, she thinks sometimes parents are the problem. We talk today about what she’s seeing in college kids, how parents can choose to step back, and how to embrace independence, in both your 17-year-old and 7-year-old.

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Claire Holt's Late-Night Panic Google May 16, 2024

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Have you ever panic-Googled a parenting question late at night? If so, you’re not alone. Most of us turn to that little search bar whenever fear or confusion strikes. On these ParentData mini-episodes, starting today, you’ll hear from some familiar names about the questions keeping them up at night, and how data can help.

First up: actress Claire Holt and the difference between night terrors and nightmares (hopefully not about vampires).

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Better Sleep for Older Kids—And Their Parents: Making a plan, post-crib May 09, 2024

Show notes

Our kids need a glass of water. Or an extra hug. How do we get them to sleep? So much has been written about this with advice for exhausted parents. But it’s usually in the context of babies. Toddlers and older kids are a whole other ballgame.

Today on ParentData, we’re joined by perhaps our most practical guest ever. Jessica Berk is a toddler and preschooler sleep consultant. Together, we answer your questions, talk about sleep strategies, and explore why sleep is so important not just for kids, but also for parents.

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