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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Suddenly homeschooling? Need a curriculum? Here's how to get started.
Apr 06, 20 05:14 PM
Making the transition to homeschooling? Here's how to start homeschooling right away -- even if you haven't yet worked out your ultimate plan.
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Help kids learn math and science: Ask them to explain and teach!
Apr 02, 20 06:48 PM
Research suggests we can help kids learn math and science by asking them to explain and teach. But there are pitfalls. Here's how to strike the right balance.
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U.S. Coronavirus Relief Plan: What American parents need to know
Mar 27, 20 07:55 PM
The first bill is helpful, but it doesn't go far enough to protect families, small businesses, and our children's economic future. We must push for more.
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Parenting in a pandemic: Don't feel overwhelmed. Do this instead.
Mar 24, 20 07:24 PM
There's a lot we can do to make the best of this crisis. But the first step is to stop pressuring ourselves with unrealistic expectations.
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Coronavirus study: Children get sick too -- sometimes seriously so
Mar 18, 20 04:28 PM
Research from China: Most kids who tested positive for the new coronavirus experienced symptoms, ranging from mild, cold-like symptoms to pneumonia - or worse.
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
