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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National Vote Registration Day
Sep 22, 20 06:25 PM
Parents and children suffer when politicians make bad choices. What can we do about it? Vote! Today is National Vote Registration Day in the United States. For help getting registered, visit: https…
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Stereotype threat: How exposure to stereotypes can hinder performance
Sep 18, 20 05:42 PM
Yes, children notice stereotypes about race, gender, wealth. And the effects aren't good. Read about stereotype threat, and how we can help kids overcome it.
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Improving spatial skills in children and teens: 12 evidence-based tips
Sep 08, 20 03:24 PM
Spatial skills are crucial for success in STEM and the visual arts. Try these evidence-based activities to boost your child's spatial reasoning abilities.
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Not actually angry: Black children and boys more frequently misjudged
Aug 31, 20 03:51 PM
Unconscious biases can make us perceive anger where none exists. How many children's "behavior problems" are caused by adults getting it wrong?
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Teaching empathy: Evidence-based tips
Aug 22, 20 08:49 PM
Can we nurture empathy in children? Yes. Evidence-based tips for teaching empathy, based on the latest discoveries in psychology and neuroscience.
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 © 2006-2020 by Gwen Dewar, Ph.D.; all rights reserved.
For educational purposes only. If you suspect you have a medical problem, please see a physician.
