Course Description

"The Science of Parenting" is a comprehensive course that navigates through the myriad of opinions and media suggestions on parenting by focusing on well-supported scientific studies. The course delves into how different parenting practices influence child behavior, exploring both established science and ongoing uncertainties in parenting topics such as diet, sleep, discipline, learning, and more.

What Students Will Learn

• Core knowledge on infant sleep, nutrition, discipline methods, bilingualism, autism spectrum disorders, and more.
• Scientific analytical techniques to interpret studies and data on parenting practices.
• Best practices in sleep training, discipline, and dietary habits for children.

Prerequisites

No specific prerequisites are required for this course, making it accessible to anyone interested in the science of parenting, whether they are parents, future parents, healthcare professionals, or educators.

Course Coverage

• Exploring the scientific basis behind various parenting practices like diet and sleep.
• Understanding complex issues such as autism and peanut allergies.
• Evaluating the credibility of correlational studies related to parenting.
• Making informed parenting decisions using scientific evidence.

Who this Course is For

This course is ideal for parents, future parents, grandparents, and professionals in healthcare, social work, and early childhood education looking to enhance their understanding of parenting through the lens of scientific evidence.

Real World Application

Learners will be able to apply the insights and skills acquired to make informed parenting decisions, advocate for evidence-based practices in professional settings, contribute to public education on parenting, and critically evaluate parenting information presented in the media.

Syllabus

• Week 1: The Nature vs. Nurture Debate; Adoption and Behavior Genetics
• Week 2: Learning Language; Screen time; Preschool; Music
• Week 3: Morality; Self Control; Family Structure
• Week 4: Autism and Vaccination; Sleep; Diet & Breastfeeding
• Week 5: Learning and School: The Achievement Gap; Learning Styles; Acceleration; Homeschooling