Equal Parts

When it comes to homeschooling, it’s not just students who are doing the learning. Amid coronavirus school closures, parents are learning how to juggle their own work-from-home situations with helping their kids learn from home, too. It’s stressful and overwhelming, and parents wonder whether they’re doing it right. But there is no right way to homeschool right now. There are, however, helpful tips parents can put into practice. Ana Homayoun is an educator and author of several books, including most recently, Social Media Wellness: Helping Teens and Tweens Thrive in an Unbalanced Digital World. Her work has been featured in The New York Times, The Washington Post, and The Atlantic, and she’s a frequent guest on NPR. Ana joins us to share practical ideas on how parents can structure a realistic school day at home and how kids can set themselves up for success by organizing their physical and digital learning spaces. She also explains why it’s important to give kids autonomy and control, especially now, at this unprecedented moment in their schooling.

Listen to this episode to learn:

-The difference between asynchronous versus synchronous learning, and how students, teachers, and parents are using each for distance learning

-Advice on how to break a learning day into “work, movement, and rest”

-Why it’s okay to ask extended family members for some (remote) distance learning help

-Ideas for creating fun, new daily routines and rituals (4 p.m. dance party, anyone?)

-Why now is a great time to encourage kids to take up a new hobby or activity

-How to let our kids come up with ideas for how and when they want to learn

For more information, visit www.anahomayoun.com.

As parents are stuck at home during coronavirus quarantines, we’re adding a list of new jobs to our resumes: full-time remote worker, homeschool teacher, the list goes on. We’re all trying to maintain a sense of normalcy, but these are not normal times. Above all, the mental health, well-being, and education of our children are the most important. Anya Kamenetz is an education correspondent at NPR and co-host of NPR’s Life Kit - Parenting podcast: https://www.npr.org/tags/797069332/life-kit-parenting. She’s written several books, and her latest is called, The Art of Screen Time: How Your Family Can Balance Digital Media and Real Life. Anya joins us to share what she’s learned from parenting and educational experts as she continues to report on this evolving story. And, she talks about what’s working in her household as a mother of two who’s navigating the coronavirus pandemic in real-time, just like the rest of us.

Listen to this episode to learn:

-How to talk to your kids in an age-appropriate way about the coronavirus

-Homeschooling tips for parents, including how to “triage” subjects and encourage passion projects

-How much and what kind of screen time is appropriate for kids right now, and how to spot the danger signs of overuse

-Digital learning resources – like Common Sense Media and old-school Bob Ross videos – to help kids learn and play

-Why we need flexibility built into our newfound schedules and routines

-Ideas to help kids feel less socially isolated (video chats are your best friend!)

-Advice for parents of high schoolers and college-age kids to help them cope with the social and educational impacts of coronavirus

For more information, visit: http://www.anyakamenetz.net/

Working parents always juggle a lot. But the coronavirus pandemic just made everything even more complicated. Now, we’re working from home, caring for the kids, and managing the household – all at once, all under one roof. But is all the work (and stress) falling on one parent more than the other? Eve Rodsky has created a way for couples to divide and conquer domestic duties fairly, equally, and without arguments or resentment. She’s the author of the New York Times Bestseller, Fair Play: A Game-Changing Solution for When You Have Too Much to Do (and More Life to Live). Eve explains her gamified task system, which she designed before the pandemic. And, she shares new research conducted during this crisis that underscores how organizational systems -- not mile-long to-do lists -- are the most effective way to tackle tasks and stay sane at home right now.

Listen to this episode to learn:

-The anatomy of a household task (it breaks down into conception, planning, and execution)

-Why the physical and mental burdens of “invisible work” shouldn’t fall squarely on women

-Rodsky’s system for how working parents can run their households…pandemic or otherwise

-The household tasks that are most in play during the coronavirus (including laundry, meals, groceries, dishes, and child care)

-The importance of having nightly check-ins with our partners right now

-How to find happiness and beauty in ordinary moments

For more information, visit: https://www.fairplaylife.com/

Working parents are pulled in so many directions that it’s easy to feel like you’re failing at everything. But when we apply leadership principles and skills across all aspects of our lives – at work, at home, in our community, and to ourselves – our relationships flourish and our lives do, too. The key is to develop a leader’s mentality, say Stew Friedman and Alyssa Westring. Stew is an award-winning organizational psychologist at The Wharton School of Business and founding director of the Wharton Leadership Program and its Work/Life Integration Project. Alyssa is an associate professor of management at DePaul University and the director of research at Total Leadership. They join us to talk about their new book, Parents Who Lead: The Leadership Approach You Need to Parent with Purpose, Fuel Your Career, and Create a Richer Life. Stew and Alyssa discuss the importance of defining your values, deciding what you care about most, and setting your vision as a leader in your life.

Listen to this episode to learn:

•Why we should throw away “work-life balance” and replace it with “work-life integration”

•What is a “four-way win,” and what actions can you and your partner take to achieve one?

•How to quiet feelings of mom guilt by making decisions that align with your values

•Why a leadership mindset and open dialogue allows you to level-set expectations, build trust, and strengthen relationships at work

•How “self-care” (in body, mind, and spirit) makes us better at caring for others

•How to cultivate positive relationships with caregivers, neighbors, family, and friends to “build your village” and enrich your life (and theirs!)

•Using experimentation and measurement to find our own pathways to living a better, more purposeful life

For more information: www.parentswholead.net

The transition from childhood to adolescence is not easy – for kids or their parents. Suddenly, old friendships are ending and new ones are forming. Hormones kick in. School gets more intense. And almost every middle schooler has something every adult has: a cell phone. Sure, it all feels like a whirlwind, but there are so many opportunities for parents to navigate the changes and guide their middle schoolers. Phyllis Fagell can help. She’s a licensed clinical professional counselor, certified professional school counselor, journalist, mom of three, and author of the book Middle School Matters: The 10 Key Skills Kids Need to Thrive in Middle School and Beyond – and How Parents Can Help. She joins us to talk about the big changes middle schoolers experience. And, she offers parents practical advice on how to love and support their children through them.

Listen to this episode to learn:

-Tips to proactively build character and confidence in your tween children

-How to have more mindful communication with your middle schooler (hint: some emotional distance is key)

-Ways to set your kids up for academic success as they gear up for high school and beyond

-How to help tweens navigate shifting social dynamics and make good friend choices

-Advice on how to empower middle school girls during these pivotal years

-Why having positive male role models helps boost empathy and self-awareness in middle school boys

-Why middle schoolers sometimes bully and turn to mean behavior, and strategies for parents on how to deal with it

“Sharenting” is more than just posting pictures of your kids on social media. The convenience of our digital age – with Alexa, Nest Cams, and Gizmos infiltrating our lives and daily routines – has lured us into having a false sense of security. The dangers of exposing kids’ personal information and data are alarmingly real. Leah Plunkett is a University of New Hampshire law professor, Faculty Associate at the Berkman Klein Center for Internet and Society at Harvard University, and author of the bestselling book, Sharenthood: Why We Should Think before We Talk about Our Kids Online. She joins us for a conversation about the oft-overlooked consequences of sharenting. Leah gives practical guidance on how to make values-based decisions that protect our children’s privacy, autonomy, and sense of self in the digital age.

Listen to this episode to learn:

-The surprising ways in which our kids become vulnerable when we sharent – now and in the future

-The types of information our digital gadgets and devices gathering and sharing about our kids

-How “private” are privacy settings?

-Practical do’s and don’ts for parents around sharenting

-How to set clear boundaries and expectations with family members, caregivers, and others about sharing kids’ pictures and information on social media

-Questions parents need to ask schools, summer camps, and other organizations about protecting and monitoring kids’ digital privacy

Whether they’re in the classroom or on the field, kids are under immense pressure from parents, teachers, coaches, and caregivers to achieve. But are we doing our kids a disservice when we focus too much on our kids’ achievements instead of moral values like kindness, caring, and empathy? Rick Weissbourd is a psychologist, author, and senior lecturer at the Harvard Graduate School of Education. He also co-directs Harvard’s Making Caring Common Project, which arms parents and schools with information and tools to help them prioritize moral and social values in childrens’ lives. Rick discusses the relationship between moral and social character and achievement in children. He also shares advice on how to raise kind, caring, grateful children and why this should be every parent’s goal.

Listen to this episode to learn:

-Is there a gap between parents’ perceptions and children’s reality about the value of caring, kindness, and empathy?

-Actions parents can take to strengthen their kids’ concern for others and the common good

-Why schools, colleges, and universities all have a critical role to play in building the moral and social character of young people

-The positive effects experienced into adulthood when children are taught kindness and empathy at a young age

-Advice for parents on how to deal with bullies and overly-competitive sports parents

As a new parent, every decision feels consequential – and you never know for sure if you’re doing it right. While there are no right answers to parenting, there is data that can guide us to make better decisions. Emily Oster, an award-winning economist at Brown University, wrote the bestselling book on it: Cribsheet: A Data-Driven Guide to Better, More Relaxed Parenting, from Birth to Preschool. She’s with us to share what the data says about many of the big questions and topics parents face, from breastfeeding, sleep training, work guilt, vaccines, daycare, and more. Emily (a mom of two) explains how to cut through the social media and societal noise and use data and personal preferences in tandem to make better parenting decisions.

Listen to this episode to learn:

-Surprising evidence about peanut allergies – is early exposure the way to avoid them?

-The truth about breastfeeding – what the data does and doesn’t say

-Advice on co-sleeping and the often overlooked benefits of sleep training

-The bottom line on the safety and efficacy of vaccines

-Advice for parents who are juggling work and family

-How daycare affects kids’ behavioral and educational development

-Why sometimes just relaxing and not overthinking is the best decision a parent can make

Working your way up to the C-suite as a mom, an immigrant, and a woman of color takes boldness and resilience. This is Jackie Glenn’s story. At just 19 years old, she emigrated from Jamaica to America to work as a nanny. She got married, had kids, and eventually became Vice President & Global Chief Diversity Officer at Dell EMC. Today, Jackie has her own company, and she remains dedicated to giving voice to the underrepresented and building more diverse and inclusive workplace cultures. Jackie shares lessons from her life and book, Lift As I Climb: An Immigrant Girl’s Journey Through Corporate America. She paints an inspiring picture of the obstacles, sacrifices, and successes she’s experienced throughout her journey as an immigrant, a woman of color, a working mom, a wife, a daughter, and a C-suite executive.

Listen to this episode to learn:

-Why working moms and underrepresented minorities need to be bold, speak up, and “A.S.K. to G.E.T.”

-How women can shake the doubts and fears of managing a career while raising a family

-Advice for immigrants and minorities on how to build a career in corporate America

-Why having a personal “board of directors” is a great source of support, perspective, and ideas for working women

For more information, visit: https://glenndiversity.com/

So you’re not the “perfect parent.” So what?! In a world of Instagram pics, Facebook mom groups, sports meets, and smartphones, Lisa Sugarman has a simple message for parents: stop being so hard on yourselves, and on your kids. Sugarman is a nationally syndicated columnist, mother of two, and co-author of the book, How to Raise Perfectly Imperfect Kids And Be Ok With It: Real Tips & Strategies for Parents of Today’s Gen Z Kids. She’s with us to talk about the value of letting go of all the worry and stress about what everyone else thinks. Stop comparing your family to the one next door and celebrate the messiness (huge piles of laundry, dirty dishes, and all!).

Listen to this episode to learn:

- Why we need to embrace our kids for who they are, the path they’re on, and the goals they have

- Why the pressure to project the image of being the “perfect family” (especially on social media) does us more harm than good

- The benefits of letting go of the fear of failure and “turning the lens inward” on ourselves

- How we can set good examples for our kids in times of stress

- Why it might be time to cut an activity (or two), and the importance of unstructured down time

- How to feed our kids’ passions and interests without pushing them too hard or too far

- Advice on setting healthy boundaries for kids around technology use and screen time

For more information, visit: www.lisasugarman.com