This episode features a lecture by evolutionary psychologist, research professor, and author Peter Gray from 2018 on the role of play in the development of human children, the growing lack of play over the past several decades, and how to bring more play into our children’s lives.
Category: Parenting Voices
Gabor Mate: Brain Development and Addiction (1h5m)
This episode features a talk by Canadian physician and addiction expert Gabor Mate from 2009. Drugs, alcohol, tobacco, gambling, compulsive work habits, sexual seeking or spending: what is amiss with our lives that we seek such destructive ways to comfort ourselves? And why is it so difficult to stop these habits, even as they threaten our health, jeopardize our relationships and corrode our spirits?
Richard Ryan: Is Human Autonomy a Western Ideology or a Basic Need? (1h18m)
This episode features a lecture by professor and clinical psychologist Richard M. Ryan from 2016. Dr. Ryan examines human autonomy as it relates to psychological, mental, and emotional health in children and adults.
Lysa Parker: Is Attachment Parenting For You? (31m)
This episode features an interview of family educator and API cofounder Lysa Parker by Laura Markham of Aha! Parenting. They discuss the principles and practices of attachment parenting.
John Holt: On Seeing Children as “Cute” (17m)
This episode features an audio essay written by education reformer John Holt in 1974, which comprises Chapter 27 of Everything Voluntary: From Politics to Parenting, edited by Skyler J. Collins and published in 2012.
Lenore Skenazy: Overparenting and Bad Public Policy (48m)
This episode features an interview free range kids activist, author, and syndicated columnist Lenore Skenazy from 2019 by Trevor Burrus and Aaron Powell, hosts of the Free Thoughts podcast. Should children ride the NYC subway by themselves? When did children stop having unsupervised and unstructured time? What did ‘strange danger’ do to change the way we parent? What are the consequences of over‐parenting?
Nemo Sundry: Jordan B. Peterson Doesn’t Understand Childhood Suffering (37m)
This episode features a presentation by youth autonomy advocate and independent researcher Nemo Sundry from 2018. Sundry critiques Peterson’s chapter on parenting from his book 12 Rules for Life, and contrasts it with parenting experts Shefali Tsabary, Alfie Kohn, and Peter Gray.
Alfie Kohn: Happy Kids, Better Relationships (33m)
This episode features an interview of education and parenting researcher, writer, and lecturer Alfie Kohn from 2016 by Neil Sattin of Relationship Alive! When it comes to parenting, rewards and punishments are an easy one-size-fits all approach that lets people go into auto-parenting, but unfortunately does more harm than good. While rewards and punishments may get the short term reactions we are looking for, there is a lot of research and evidence suggesting that this parenting style ultimately damages and holds children back. The alternative is not just the absence of bribes and threats, but an entire complex network of guidelines – the most important being that you let your kids know that you accept them no matter what. With this attitude you can begin to work WITH your child, getting to know their perspective and world, and bring them into decision making. Children learn to make good decisions by making decisions (and learning), rather than learning to follow directions (on making good decisions).
Robin Grille: Parenting for a Peaceful World (1h28m)
This episode features a talk by psychologist Robin Grille from 2015. Robin invites you on a journey that begins with the surprising and often shocking history and evolution of parenting. With the aid of recent revolutionary discoveries about early childhood development and the human brain, the history of childhood offers vital clues about the roots of human violence and social disharmony.
Micah Salaberrios: Fundamental Principles of Nonviolent Communication (23m)
This episode features author Micah Salaberrios, host of the Art of NVC podcast, from 2019. He examines 7 fundamental principles of Nonviolent Communication (NVC), which include: 1. No evaluations; 2. Authenticity; 3. Blame no one for your feelings; 4. When in doubt, express how you feel; 5. Feelings are one word; 6. Never imply someone else is wrong or bad; 7. No compromise.