The Science of Parenting with Jen Lumanlan [Podcast]

When a couple is expecting their first child, they’re inundated with information. But then that baby turns into a toddler that has tantrums and doesn’t like the word “no.” And all of a sudden, the well of information dries up.

So where do parents turn to for advice? And how do we know what to believe? After all, expert advice is constantly changing and everyone seems to have an opinion.

Today’s guest, Jen Lumanlan, had these same questions when she started a family. This led her to get a master’s in psychology with a focus on child development and another master’s in education. She shares what she’s learned (and keeps learning) through Your Parenting Mojo Podcast. It’s a reference guide for parents of toddlers and preschoolers based on scientific research and the principles of respectful parenting.

In episode 24 of The Healthy Family Podcast, we tackle how to go about finding credible parenting information. Jen shares what she has learned on her science-based parenting journey.

Highlights From the Show

How Jen uses her research skills to tackle parenting issues and find answers.
Why parenting advice changes over time and how parenting research has evolved (for the better).
The importance of understanding the complete body of evidence over one study or anyone’s opinion.
Jen’s detailed process for researching parenting topics.
The one thing parents always need to remember and why it is more important than any piece of research.
What the research says about parenting styles and how they affect child outcomes.
What research really says about hot topics such as raising healthy eaters, rewards and consequences, and the popular growth mindset.
Why rewards and punishments are opposite ends of on the same stick, and alternatives that are more effective.
The key ingredient for motivating any child.
The most common parenting practices that lack good research.
Why it’s so important to get to the “why” of a child’s behavior.

Quote

In between those extremes is understanding that good science, validated by multiple studies, is worth listening to, even though it might change in the future. It’s cultivating high-quality sources of information, but not even taking those at face value. It’s understanding that experts and authorities have agendas, which may be legitimate, but don’t necessarily align with every individual’s situation or philosophy. – Jen Lumanlan, YourParentingMojo.com