Scientific Secrets for Raising Kids Who Thrive

Course Overview

Course No. 9542

Parenting isn’t easy, but science can help. This course bridges the gap between child development research and real-world parenting with 24 evidence-based lectures to help raise healthy, happy, intelligent children.

Professor Vishton presents practical, science-backed strategies covering all aspects of childrearing:
✔ Intellectual development
✔ Emotional well-being
✔ Physical health
✔ Social skills

Get answers to common parenting dilemmas:

• Sleep training methods (including “cry it out”)
• Screen time guidelines for TV and video games
• Handling picky eaters
• Discipline alternatives to spanking
• Early math and reading foundations

Video Lectures

01: Self-Control – From Tummy Time to Tae Kwon Do

Duration: 33 min
Discover physical activities that boost mental development and learn scientific principles for evaluating parenting advice.

02: Seeing, Hearing, Thinking, Learning Infants

Duration: 31 min
Explore infant capabilities and create enriching experiences for your baby’s development.

03: Sleep – Getting Enough “Vitamin S”

Duration: 30 min
Practical sleep solutions from newborn comforting to preventing SIDS and establishing bedtime routines.

04: Healthy Eating Habits for Life

Duration: 30 min
Strategies for picky eaters and how repeated exposure builds future food preferences.

05: Baby Talk, Sign Language, and Speech

Duration: 33 min
Boost language development with baby signs, “Motherese,” and early conversational techniques.

06: Shaping Behavior – How Kids and Rats Differ

Duration: 28 min
Why rewards/punishments often fail and the long-term effects of corporal punishment.

07: Which Style of Parenting Is Best?

Duration: 32 min
How parenting styles affect children’s behavior, development, and lifelong happiness.

08: The Joy of Reading and the Place of Phonics

Duration: 32 min
Evidence-based reading instruction and fostering lifelong reading enjoyment.

09: IQ Hazards and Boosting Intelligence

Duration: 33 min
Navigating IQ testing while providing cognitive enrichment opportunities.

10: Enhancing Your Child’s Memory

Duration: 32 min
Memory techniques including rehearsal, visualization, and mnemonics for academic success.

11: Parent as Teacher – Homework and Beyond

Duration: 31 min
Four research-backed homework strategies including scaffolding and optimal study environments.

12: Getting a Jump on Math – Without Math Anxiety

Duration: 33 min
Early math foundations to prevent later frustration and build numerical confidence.

13: Advantages of a Second Language

Duration: 34 min
Cognitive benefits and optimal methods for bilingual language acquisition.

14: What TV and Video Can and Can’t Teach

Duration: 33 min
Screen time guidelines and identifying truly educational programming.

15: Values and Pitfalls of Video Games

Duration: 32 min
Potential cognitive benefits versus risks of gaming, with moderation guidelines.

16: Promoting Persistence and Self-Esteem

Duration: 33 min
Maintaining childhood optimism and developing healthy attributional styles.

17: Encouraging Cooperation, Sharing, Empathy

Duration: 31 min
Fostering pro-social behaviors without undermining intrinsic motivation.

18: Peer Conflicts and Social Development

Duration: 34 min
Teaching conflict resolution, emotional regulation, and social competence skills.

19: Maria Montessori at Home for Young Children

Duration: 31 min
Applying Montessori principles to boost early learning and responsibility.

20: Schooling and the Montessori Approach

Duration: 31 min
Montessori methods for older children focusing on comprehension over grades.

21: Physical Development and Education

Duration: 34 min
The brain-body connection and creating balanced physical activity routines.

22: The Adolescent Brain

Duration: 32 min
Understanding teen risk-taking while maintaining open communication.

23: Becoming a Parent-Scientist

Duration: 33 min
Conducting family research to evaluate what works for your child.

24: The Great Values of an Unhurried Childhood

Duration: 35 min
Balancing enrichment with the developmental benefits of unstructured play.