45 min

Hunt Gather Parent with Michaeleen Doucleff ON BOYS Podcast

    • Kids & Family

Hunt, Gather, Parent, by Michaeleen Doucleff, shares ancient wisdom that's still relevant today: the key to raising healthy, happy, helpful humans is to engage them in work of the family and community. 



That's a truth we seem to have forgotten in our collective desire to optimize our kids. Our intentions are good, but our actions -- signing our kids up for multiple extracurricular activities; spending our weekends shuffling them around to tournaments and birthday parties -- may actually be harming our kids' development.



Michaeleen's investigation of parenting practices began when her daughter was two and hitting, biting, and experiencing frequent tantrums. "Everything in my heart wanted to help her, to teach her how to calm down," Michaeleen says. So, like a good modern parent, Michaeleen read parenting books and blogs. But nothing she tried seemed to help.



"We'd get in these big cycles: I'd eventually get angry and she would get louder," Michaeleen says. "To be honest, I really started to dread my time with her."



Then Michaeleen, a science correspondent for NPR, was sent to the Yucatan to follow up on a research paper that found that Mayan kids are better at paying attention than American kids. The experience was life-changing.



"What those parents showed me in the week we were there really shifted my whole thinking about parenting," she says. "I started to realize there's a different way to do this that's not only easier but more effective."



Learn more in Hunt, Gather, Parent by Michaeleen Doucleff.





In this episode, Jen, Janet & Michaeleen discuss:



* How a trip to the Yucatan shifted Michaeleen's approach to parenting

* Why letting children explore is more effective than telling kids what to do

* Going against the parenting grain

* Benefits of family-focused (vs. kid-focused) parenting

* Involving kids in the work of the family

* Why you should get rid of some of your kids' toys

* Creating opportunities to share

* How kids develop initiative



Links we mentioned (or should have) in this episode:

Hunt, Gather, Parent: What Ancient Cultures Can Teach Us About the Lost Art of Raising Happy, Helpful Little Humans -- Michaeleen's book



A Global Guide for Parents: How Your Kids Can Have Fun Without Stressing You Out -- NPR article by Michaeleen



michaeleendoucleff.com -- Michaeleen's website

Sponsor Spotlight: Cozi

#1 organizing app for families





Our Sponsors:
* Check out Armoire and use my code ONBOYS for a great deal: www.armoire.style
* Check out My Life in a Book and use my code ONBOYS for a great deal:
* Check out undefined and use my code ONBOYS for a great deal: undefined

Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Hunt, Gather, Parent, by Michaeleen Doucleff, shares ancient wisdom that's still relevant today: the key to raising healthy, happy, helpful humans is to engage them in work of the family and community. 



That's a truth we seem to have forgotten in our collective desire to optimize our kids. Our intentions are good, but our actions -- signing our kids up for multiple extracurricular activities; spending our weekends shuffling them around to tournaments and birthday parties -- may actually be harming our kids' development.



Michaeleen's investigation of parenting practices began when her daughter was two and hitting, biting, and experiencing frequent tantrums. "Everything in my heart wanted to help her, to teach her how to calm down," Michaeleen says. So, like a good modern parent, Michaeleen read parenting books and blogs. But nothing she tried seemed to help.



"We'd get in these big cycles: I'd eventually get angry and she would get louder," Michaeleen says. "To be honest, I really started to dread my time with her."



Then Michaeleen, a science correspondent for NPR, was sent to the Yucatan to follow up on a research paper that found that Mayan kids are better at paying attention than American kids. The experience was life-changing.



"What those parents showed me in the week we were there really shifted my whole thinking about parenting," she says. "I started to realize there's a different way to do this that's not only easier but more effective."



Learn more in Hunt, Gather, Parent by Michaeleen Doucleff.





In this episode, Jen, Janet & Michaeleen discuss:



* How a trip to the Yucatan shifted Michaeleen's approach to parenting

* Why letting children explore is more effective than telling kids what to do

* Going against the parenting grain

* Benefits of family-focused (vs. kid-focused) parenting

* Involving kids in the work of the family

* Why you should get rid of some of your kids' toys

* Creating opportunities to share

* How kids develop initiative



Links we mentioned (or should have) in this episode:

Hunt, Gather, Parent: What Ancient Cultures Can Teach Us About the Lost Art of Raising Happy, Helpful Little Humans -- Michaeleen's book



A Global Guide for Parents: How Your Kids Can Have Fun Without Stressing You Out -- NPR article by Michaeleen



michaeleendoucleff.com -- Michaeleen's website

Sponsor Spotlight: Cozi

#1 organizing app for families





Our Sponsors:
* Check out Armoire and use my code ONBOYS for a great deal: www.armoire.style
* Check out My Life in a Book and use my code ONBOYS for a great deal:
* Check out undefined and use my code ONBOYS for a great deal: undefined

Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

45 min

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