We spend so much time talking about the dangers of technology. But can digital experiences genuinely contribute to a child’s development, creativity, and relationships? Our guest today leverages his unique background, as both a pediatrician and filmmaker, to explore how media may be affecting our kids.

Dr. Michael Rich practices adolescent medicine at Boston Children’s Hospital and is an associate professor of pediatrics at Harvard Medical School. Dr. Rich is the founder and director of the Digital Wellness Lab and the Clinic for Interactive Media and Internet Disorders (CIMAID), the first evidence-based medical program addressing physical, mental, and social health issues associated with digital technology use. Known as “The Mediatrician, ” Dr. Rich offers research-based, actionable, and practical answers to parents’, educators’, and clinicians’ questions about children’s and adolescents’ media use and the positive and negative implications for their health and development. Dr. Rich is recognized for his acclaimed work as a pediatrician, child health researcher, and children’s media specialist and is the author of The Mediatrician’s Guide: A Joyful Approach to Raising Healthy, Smart, Kind Kids in a Screen-Saturated World.

Many children may be shy or slow to warm—someone who hangs back in a new setting, takes a little longer to join in, or needs time before feeling comfortable speaking up. But how do we know when that’s simply a child’s temperament, and when there may be something more complex at play?

That’s what we’re exploring in today’s episode: how to distinguish between a child who needs a little more time to warm up and a child whose difficulty speaking may be rooted in anxiety. In some cases, that anxiety can take the form of Selective Mutism—an often misunderstood anxiety disorder in which a child who speaks comfortably in some settings struggles to speak in others.

We’re so grateful to be joined by Dr. Rachel Busman, a leading expert in Selective Mutism, who helps us understand what parents should look for, when to seek support, and—perhaps most importantly—how to respond in ways that actually help.

Dr. Busman is a Senior Director of the child and adolescent anxiety and related disorders program at Cognitive and Behavioral Consultants. She works with children, teens, and families with a wide range of mental health concerns and has a specific expertise in the evaluation and treatment of selective mutism. Dr. Busman is the past president of the Selective Mutism Association and is the author of Being Brave with Selective Mutism- a step-by-step guide for children and their caregivers.

As AI and EdTech infiltrate our schools, a paradoxical trend is also emerging- a resurgence of classical education. But don’t be fooled. These philosophies are not necessarily in conflict with each other, as today's guest helps us understand. As he puts it , by mastering the classical arts of grammar, rhetoric and logic, students will have the habits of mind necessary for clear reasoning, strong writing, public speaking, and close analysis of texts and ideas. And who can argue with that?

Bio:

Rabbi Abraham Unger, Ph.D., is the founder and leader of Tikvah’s Millstone Scholars program and the founding head of school of Emet Classical Academy. Rabbi Unger possesses a unique background in the world of education, having served as a tenured university professor, a research scholar, a Hebrew school principal, a campus rabbi, a middle school teacher, and the creator of various Jewish youth and outreach programs.

Rabbi Unger was formerly a Professor at Wagner College in urban policy and public administration, where he also served as the campus Hillel Rabbi and established the Chai Society. He has held senior research appointments at NYU and Fordham University and is the author of three peer reviewed books and numerous articles.

Prior to completing his Ph.D., Rabbi Unger was Executive Director of the American Friends of Rambam Medical Center. He founded the Mosaic Colony for the Arts, a non-profit education organization which trained Jewish students in the arts. He received his Ph.D. in political science from Fordham University and his certificate of Rabbinical ordination from Telz-Stone Kollel in Israel. Rabbi Unger was deeply influenced by his undergraduate experience at the Manhattan School of Music and its conservatory model of education.

Today we’ve compiled all of your quick-hit “No Silly Questions” and brought on an expert known for having the answers in a pinch.

We’re talking about Brooke Parker from “Just Ask Brooke.” This wide-ranging conversation covers common questions - from routines, to reading, and more- and we’re confident Brooke’s signature combination of research and reliability will benefit all of you tuning in.

Brooke Parker is a native New Yorker with deep ties to the independent school community. She holds a BA in Child Development and Spanish from Tufts University and an MA in Early Childhood Education from Columbia University’s Teachers College.

Brooke has experience as an early childhood educator and lower school teacher, and as a learning specialist. Brooke also brings a comprehensive understanding of the early childhood and Kindergarten admissions process as she worked as an admissions coordinator, designing assessments, conducting interviews, and writing evaluations—in so doing, she gained insight into what schools truly seek in applicants.

For over a decade, Brooke has guided families with a personalized, collaborative approach that highlights each child’s strengths and learning style. She also advises organizations on developmentally appropriate offerings for children and parents, and is known for her thoughtful, limited-client practice and commitment to nurturing confidence, joy, and a lifelong love of learning.

All children are special and excel in different ways. But today, we are seeking to gain a precise understanding of what exactly “giftedness” means as a designation in a school context. We are so grateful to be joined by two prominent educators from the Speyer Legacy School to break it down for us.

BIO

Dr. Jordan Zelinger is a Licensed Psychologist and practices as a School Psychologist at The Speyer Legacy School, an independent school for gifted learners in New York City. In addition to working in schools, for the past decade Dr. Zelinger has been performing comprehensive neuropsychological evaluations and providing psychotherapy and he’s also the co-author of a children's book titled, "Please Explain Anxiety to Me: Simple Biology for Children and Parents".

Samantha Gabrielli is an educator with more than 15 years of experience in classroom teaching and school leadership across charter, public, and private schools. She holds a B.A. in History, a B.A. in Secondary Education, and a certificate in Reading Education, all from Rowan University, and is currently completing her M.S.Ed. in Curriculum and Instruction for Gifted Education at the University of Virginia.

If there’s any enrichment program we get asked about the most- it’s got to be Russian Math. And if you have school-aged children, it’s likely you’ve heard of the Russian School of Math program too and may even be wondering if it’s worth it to you to sign your child up. On today’s episode, we’re thrilled to have a rare interview with the founder of RSM, where we break it all down for you.

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Your child is 6. It’s their first day of kindergarten. And instead of a desk full of papers and pencils, and a backpack with books, they’ve got, well, their tablet. Times have changed since we millennials were in grade school- and a key hallmark of that change has been the introduction of educational technology into the classroom. But are these technologies helping or hindering learning? On today’s episode of NSQ, we bring on a guest who is making it her mission to educate parents on what they need to know.

Caroline Bryk serves as a Senior Director at Tikvah, a think tank based in NY that advances Jewish excellence and Western civilization through education & ideas. At Tikvah, Caroline focuses on strengthening a network of hundreds of Jewish Day Schools across the United States. Caroline also founded Tikvah’s Jewish Parents Forum – an educational program for thousands of Jewish parents across the US - and continues to serve as its Director. Caroline obtained her Bachelors in Psychology from Columbia University, her Masters in Social and Organizational Psychology from Columbia University’s Teachers College, and is currently pursuing a Doctorate in Jewish Education at Yeshiva University. Caroline serves on the board of her children’s Jewish day school, Westchester Day School.

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Today we are doing something different and releasing our first episode together- without a guest- to launch the 6th season of No Silly Questions podcast. We will be opening up more about our own thinking and our own experiences as parents.

Topics include: 

• why and how we started the podcast
• the guests and episodes that have really made an impact on our parenting
• the guests and episodes that have challenged us
• specific parenting beliefs that have evolved for us over time
• how the podcast has impacted us personally 

No Silly Questions is a popular education podcast for parents co-hosted by Danielle Freilich and Jordana Fruchter, two NYC school leaders and friends. NSQ cuts through the content to bring parents reliable information from true expert guests on all things education, learning, and development. For whatever a parent may encounter on their child's journey from cradle to college, there is a No Silly Questions episode for that! Past guests include thought leaders like Emily Oster and Jennifer B. Wallace, celebrity educators and psychologists like Aliza Pressman and Tovah Klein, former NYC School Chancellors, elected officials, entrepreneurs, authors, and more! As well as dynamic parents and professionals, who draw on their own experiences making choices for their family. 

Danielle and Jordana have appeared at SXSW and speak around the tristate area, helping parents break down edu-speak and navigate the schooling years for their children. For their full bios, see below:

Danielle Freilich is a passionate educator and advocate for all children. She advised and trained school leaders and administrators across the country with the Lavinia Group. Previously, Danielle was a middle school principal and elementary school teacher, where she received a distinguished award in “Teacher Excellence”. While principal, her students placed in the top 1% on the New York State Exam with 100% of students passing the Algebra Regents Exam. Danielle holds dual masters degrees from Harvard University and Columbia University, in Education Policy and Elementary Inclusive Education, respectively. She received her BA in Psychology from Brown University. Danielle served as co-president for SA's Young Professionals Group, is currently on their Leadership Council, and also serves as a board member for the Youth Renewal Fund. She has been featured in the Huffington Post and NY1, loves to cook and entertain, and lives with her husband Gary and two children in New York City.

Jordana Fruchter is an experienced New York City Preschool Director and educator with over 10 years of experience. In her dynamic role as School Director, she leads a team of teachers and staff, and interacts closely with parents, children and specialists to cultivate an environment where the whole family feels supported. With a focus on intentionality, communication and growth mindset practices, Jordana aims to develop a positive school culture, which is essential to the learning and development of all. Jordana was born and raised in Manhattan, where she still lives with her husband and two children, ages 6 and 4. She received a BA from The University of Michigan and a MS in Elementary Inclusive Education and Teaching Students with Disabilities from Columbia University. In addition to her role as Director, Jordana has also consulted with schools in the start up phase, and is excited to continue pursuing her interest in all topics relating to children, school and learning through No Silly Questions.

It’s 7:30 AM. Your child comes to the door ready to go to school, but there’s one shoe on, things are falling out of their backpack because it’s unzipped, and the homework folder is nowhere to be found. If you’ve ever found yourself wondering why your child may struggle to stay organized, follow directions, or manage transitions, this episode is for you. Today, we’re talking about executive function, a set of brain skills that effect everything from planning and focus to emotional regulation, with Dr. Liz Angoff.

Dr. Liz is a Licensed Educational Psychologist with a Diplomate in School Neuropsychology. Dr. Liz has been working with students, families, and teachers for over 20 years in public schools, community settings, and private practice. She began her career as a classroom teacher, transitioned to family advocacy, and then went on to earn her degree as a school psychologist with a specialization in neuropsychology.  Dr. Liz’s mission is to empower children and families by helping them understand their amazing, unique brains. 

“My problem with gentle parenting is it’s too much parental talking - when you’re raising a boy you’ve got to learn how to do it  in a sentence or two.”

This is just one insight that today’s guest, Michael Thompson, shares for how we can support our boys’ development, as well as our relationship with them, in and out, of the classroom. 

Michael G. Thompson, Ph.D., is an internationally recognized clinical psychologist, school consultant, and author of ten influential books, including the New York Times bestseller Raising Cain: Protecting the Emotional Life of Boys. He has worked with more than 700 schools worldwide and frequently appears on national media, including The Today Show, Good Morning America, NPR, and PBS. His expertise in child development, school culture, and parent-school relationships has made him a sought-after speaker for parents and educators alike.