Other Peoples Parenting

In this episode we explore gifted and talented programs and the need for fair, accurate identification of students, and sustained support. We read articles that both support and question the value of G&T or GATE programs. Some of the questions addressed in this episode include:How fair are the tests children take to qualify for gifted programs?Are there racial and socioeconomic disparities in access to GT programs? What equity problems exist with gifted programs?What qualities should schools consider when determining access to gifted programs? Test scores? Academic aptitude? Creative thinking? Leadershipm abilities? Aptitude in the arts?Do IQ scores change over time?Are there biases in the tests students take to qualify for gifted programs?Do children in gifted classrooms get a better education than children in general education classrooms?Is there a downside to labeling a child as “gifted?”Should you tell your gifted child that they are gifted?Are gifted children usually high achievers?Does being gifted translate to career and life success?How can more children get access to gifted programs?In this episode, we discuss how being labeled gifted can become a fragile identity that reduces curiosity and discourages persistence in some chidlren. We recommend universal screening, multiple objective measures, improved teacher training, and rebranding programs as advanced learner programs to reduce stigma and broaden access. We think that schools should provide appropriately paced, challenging instruction while teaching children that effort and curiosity matter more than innate labels. We conclude that by saying that preserving and improving programs for advanced learners rather than eliminating them best serves individual students and the wider society.Articles we Read:The Mirage of the Gifted Child, Katie Arnold-Batliff, NY MagazineI was Enrolled in a ‘Gifted’ Program as a Kid. Years Later, I Discovered a Dark Side I Never Knew About, by Sophie Boudreau, Huffington PostThe Case for Gifted Education - Subhead: Personal Perspective: Why Equity shouldn’t mean holding bright minds back, by Tyler Woods, Psychology Today

Companies mentioned in this episode:Habit CoachTesting MomThe New York TimesDuolingoMetaInstagramYouTubeTikTokXFacebookMySpaceAOL Instant MessengerAmazonGoogleLet Grow

In this episode of Other People’s Parenting, mother-daughter duo Karen Quinn and Schuyler Hurwitz review Emily Oster’s Expecting Better – Why the Conventional Pregnancy Wisdom is Wrong – and What You Really Need to Know. Oster is an Economics Professor who uses her training to separate good research studies from less good ones. After she became pregnant, she began researching the advice doctors had been giving her based on these studies. What she discovered was that pregnancy suffers from a lot of misinformation! Some studies are better than others and you can’t make decisions about your own pregnancy without understanding this. Luckily for pregnant women everywhere, Oster set about reading the studies doctor’s based their recommendations on and letting women know which advice they could trust, and which to ignore.In this book, Oster explores many common pregnancy questions and gives us her best advice based on the research. Quinn and Hurwitz discuss these and many other questions explored in the book, including:· Should you lose weight before trying to get pregnant for a healthier pregnancy?· Which is more accurate for predicting ovulation: charting your temperature or home ovulation kits?· Is it okay to drink coffee when you’re pregnant? Can a pregnant woman drink alcohol without harming her fetus?· When is the risk of miscarriage highest?· What foods should you avoid when you’re pregnant?· Is there a difference in miscarriage rate if you’re nauseated during the first trimester?· Should you do prenatal screenings that have a risk of miscarriage? Are they worth taking the risk?· Can you dye your hair when you’re pregnant? Can a pregnant woman take Accutane? Are hot tubs and saunas safe during pregnancy?· Is it safe for a woman to exercise during pregnancy?· How can I find out if I can take a particular drug during pregnancy?· How early can a premature baby be born and survive?· Does bed rest prevent premature birth?· How is labor induced?The book covers these and many more common questions women have about their pregnancies. The great thing about this book is that the author is an expert on analyzing research studies and she has done the hard work and analysis for readers, so you feel comfortable taking her advice. Quinn and Hurwitz encourage empowering parents-to-be with scientifically backed recommendations, urging listeners to consider Oster’s insights as they navigate their own parenting journeys.Companies mentioned in this episode:Habit CoachTesting MomEmily OsterExpecting BetterCrib SheetUniversity of Chicago

In this episode, we’re looking at homeschooling and its surge since the pandemic, especially the way it has grown beyond its traditional religious. Some of the questions we explore are:Why should a parent choose homeschooling today?What are the benefits of homeschooling over public school? Safety? Avoiding negative peer pressure? Drug exposure? Ability to tailor school curriculum to the child? Ability to provide religious instruction?Is homeschooling regulated by the state? When it is not regulated, how does the lack of accountability impact students?Do homeschooling students do better or worse than students who go to public schools?Are there advantages to attending public or private school with a classroom of students over being taught individually at home?How have cultural and political considerations affected the homeschooling movement after Covid?Do the benefits of tailored instructions, support for neurodivergent children, and the capacity to outsource teaching outweigh the benefits of being taught in a classroom of other students?What are the risks of homeschooling, including limited regulation, the potential for educational neglect, gaps in social development, and ideological isolation?What about annual testing or third-party ability checks to ensure for homeschooled students?What should parents consider when deciding whether or not to homeschool their children?The episode concludes by saying that homeschooling can be an appropriate choice for many families, but it does demand honest appraisal of parental ability, willingness to obtain professional support and safeguards to protect the child.Companies mentioned in this episode:Other People's ParentingHabit CoachTesting MomTikTokNetflixPsychology TodayNewsweekThe AtlanticThe New York TimesThe CutLittle House on the Prairie MuseumExtend Homeschool TutorialsMAP testReferenced Articles:The Rise of Homeschooling: Confessions of an Educator, Calvina Ellerbe, Ph.D., Psychology TodayHe Was Homeschooled for Years, and Fell So Far Behind, Olga Khazan, TheAtlanticHome School in IsolationWhat Homeschool Moms Don’t Understand, Amil Niazi, The CutInside a Gathering of America’s Growing Homeschool Movement, EmmaGoldbert, NY TimesWhy Homeschooling is still on the Rise, Khaleda Rahman, Newsweek

The last few months we've all been watching and waiting to find out Lindsays fate and parents across the world are divided. Was there more her community could have done for her? Was it really possible to have a postpartum psychotic break and lose it the way she did? This week we covered How To Stop Losing Your Sh*t With Your Kids and found that when it comes to low grade, every day parenting- parents can prevent losing their temper by identifying their triggers and investing in self care and support. The author urges parents to build awareness of what sets off their nervous system and to protect sleep, exercise, and rest. We outline practical steps: notice warning signs, pause, and do anything other than react, such as deep breathing, moving, or stepping away. If a parent does lose it, the right course is to reconnect, apologize for the behavior, and make a plan without blaming the child. Throughout, we maintain that these steps are intended for caregivers who are intermittently overwhelmed, and we recommend professional intervention for patterns that exceed ordinary parental stress. Some parents will need professional help, including therapy or medication, and that seeking support is necessary, not shameful. The book offers practical tools to reduce stress and to help parents model better behavior for their children.Takeaways:I assert that cultivating precise self-awareness of one's emotional triggers constitutes the foundational step toward preventing parental meltdowns.We emphasize that pragmatic self-care—regular sleep, exercise, therapeutic engagement, and medication when appropriate—reduces reactivity and restores parental equilibrium.I observed that simplifying obligations, minimizing multitasking, and delegating responsibilities materially decreases opportunities for being triggered in quotidian contexts.We recommend the pause strategy: noticing physiological cues, interrupting escalation, and deliberately substituting any benign action to avert an impulsive outburst.I learned that when one does lose control, prompt reconciliation, a concise apology for behavior, and a calm restorative plan are essential for repairing the relationship.We acknowledge that chronic or frequent loss of control plausibly indicates underlying psychopathology and thus warrants professional assessment and potentially evidence-based treatment.I assert that teaching children to tolerate boredom and to occupy themselves fosters independence and diminishes parental burden over time.We recognize that societal stigma often impedes mothers from seeking mental health support, and we advocate for destigmatization and proactive help-seeking.Companies mentioned in this episode:Other People's ParentingHabit CoachTesting MomThe New York TimesNational Institute for the Psychotherapies