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The "Gentle Parenting" movement; Protecting our kids' mental health

Kristen MacNeil (left, with son Danny) is a behavior analyst and founder, Gentle Parenting Institute; Dr. Charissa Cheah is a developmental psychologist at UMBC and directs its Culture, Child & Adolescent Development Lab. (MacNeil: courtesy photo/Dr. Cheah photo © Crystal Tseng Photography)
Kristen MacNeil (left, with son Danny) is a behavior analyst and founder, Gentle Parenting Institute; Dr. Charissa Cheah is a developmental psychologist at UMBC and directs its Culture, Child & Adolescent Development Lab. (MacNeil: courtesy photo/Dr. Cheah photo © Crystal Tseng Photography)

Today, it’s Midday on Parenting.

We begin with a conversation about a movement known as “Gentle Parenting.” It advocates an approach to raising children that is based on understanding, empathy and respect, and which shuns traditional parental notions of corporal discipline and autocratic control over children's behavior.

A series of Tik Tok videos by a former TV news reporter, Kayla Sullivan, has gone viral. More than 34 million viewers have seen Kayla’s mock news reports chronicling her toddler’s tantrums. Here’s a sample.

Joining Tom next is Kristen MacNeil. She’s a Board-Certified Behavior Analyst with a background in School Psychology, and the founder of the Gentle Parenting Institute...

Kristen MacNeil joins us on Zoom from Buffalo, New York.

Then, Tom is joined by Dr. Charissa Cheah. She’s a developmental psychologist, a professor of psychology and an affiliate faculty member in the Asian Studies Department at the University of Maryland Baltimore County.

Dr. Cheah is also the director of UMBC's Culture, Child, and Adolescent Development Laboratory.

Dr. Charissa Cheah joins us on Zoom from Baltimore.

We welcome listener comments and questions.
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If you or a loved one has contemplated suicide, operators on the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline provide 24/7 free and confidential support.
Give them a call at 1-800-273-8255.
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Host, Midday (M-F 12:00-1:00)
Rob is a contributing producer for Midday.