PARENTING FOR THE SCIENCE-MINDED -- by Gwen Dewar, Ph.D
Founded by an evolutionary anthropologist, this parenting resource is for critical thinkers -- people who want to understand child development from the perspectives of psychology, anthropology, evolution, and cognitive neuroscience.
I’ve got opinions. But who cares? You might be a scientist, physician, or teacher. Maybe you're an educated, skeptical layperson who loves science. Whatever the case, you don't need a sermon. You need evidence. You can draw your own conclusions.
So here it is: No folk theories. No preachy advice. No authoritarian pronouncements or pseudoscientific political dogma. Instead, you’ll find my analysis of the research, fully-referenced so you know where to go if you want to dig deeper yourself.
Recent highlights
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Exercise for children: How physical fitness benefits the brain
Feb 25, 21 06:29 PM
Studies reveal the cognitive benefits of exercise for children. Moderate-to-vigorous activity may stimulate brain growth, improve focus, and help kids learn.
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When do babies sleep through the night?
Feb 15, 21 03:38 PM
Many babies begin to "sleep through the night" (at least 5-6 hours) by 3-6 months of age. But some take longer, and night-to-night variability is common.
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What's the right age to start potty training? It depends on your goals
Feb 03, 21 05:00 PM
In Western countries, many kids begin toilet training between 24 - 36 months. But elsewhere, early training is the norm, and it may be more beneficial. An evidence-based look at choosing the right pot…
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Teaching critical thinking: The first step is to pause and reflect
Jan 21, 21 04:56 PM
Why do we fall for fallacies? Biases and cognitive skills matter. But the most crucial factor is whether we take the time to pause and reflect.
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What happens when adults lie to children?
Jan 08, 21 08:51 PM
What happens when adults lie to children? Kids tend to become more dishonest, and they might be at higher risk for aggressive and antisocial behavior problems.
Praise for Parenting Science
"[A] welcome antidote to the opinion dressed up as science that parents are constantly fed. Tear up your parenting books and get yourselves over there..."
- Charles Fernyhough, Ph.D., developmental psychologist and author of A Thousand Days of Wonder: A Scientist’s Chronicle of his Daughter’s Developing Mind
"...[O]ne of the most awesome websites I’ve seen in a long time…In addition to being helpful to academic parents, I see this site being useful in anthropology courses on human sexuality, life history, parenting, evolutionary medicine, evolutionary psychology, etc. Please check it out!"
- Julienne Rutherford, Ph.D., University of Illinois biological anthropologist and founder of the Biological Anthropology Developing Investigators Troop (BANDIT)
"I came across a great website run by Gwen Dewar, one I wish it had been available to me when my children were young. I hope everyone interested in math and kids will look at In search of the smart preschool board game and other pages on this site."
- Bill Marsh, Ph.D., in mathematics and author of MathInking, a blog about teaching math
Copyright © 2006-2021 by Gwen Dewar, Ph.D.; all rights reserved.
For educational purposes only. If you suspect you have a medical problem, please see a physician.
