The Problem with Internet Parenting Advice

Parents have never had more access to parenting advice—but has it actually made parenting easier? In this episode, I talk with Val Boles and take a closer look at some of today’s most common parenting recommendations, from reading to your child every day and avoiding the word “no” to praising effort instead of intelligence and teaching executive functioning. We explore how research is often oversimplified, why “studies show…” doesn’t always tell the whole story, and how well-intentioned advice can sometimes leave parents feeling anxious and overwhelmed. Rather than chasing every new parenting trend, we discuss a more grounded approach: focusing on relationships, modeling the behaviors you hope to see in your children, and remembering that good parenting is rarely about following rigid rules. For related articles and resources, please visit www.directionbehavioralhealth.com.