In 'The Family Firm', Emily Oster uses her background as an economist and business school professor to provide a framework for parents to make informed decisions about their children's education, health, extracurricular activities, and independence. The book introduces the 'Family Firm Toolbox', which includes the 'Four F's': Framing the Question, Fact-Finding, Final Decision, and Follow-Up. Oster emphasizes the importance of a systematic approach to family decision-making, drawing parallels between managing a business and managing a family. The book covers various topics such as choosing the right school, encouraging a healthy diet, and navigating day-to-day family logistics, all with a focus on reducing stress and making better decisions[2][3][5].
In *Expecting Better*, Emily Oster, an award-winning economist, evaluates the data behind conventional pregnancy rules and discovers that many are misguided or flat-out wrong. The book explains everything from the real effects of caffeine and alcohol to the surprising dangers of gardening, aiming to empower pregnant women to make their own informed decisions and enjoy a healthy and relaxed pregnancy. It is organized into sections covering conception, each trimester, and labor and delivery, making it accessible and practical for pregnant women.
#183: Economist Emily Oster uses data to challenge and debunk common parenting beliefs and shares data-driven strategies for parents to make more informed and confident decisions. We also cover data on polarizing topics like sleep training, breastfeeding, private vs. public school education, and more.
Emily Oster is a professor of economics at Brown University and a NYT best-selling author of four books—Expecting Better, Cribsheet, The Family Firm, and The Unexpected. She's also a the founder of ParentData, a data-driven guide to pregnancy, parenting and more.
Link to Full Show Notes: https://allthehacks.com/debunking-parenting-myths
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Resources Mentioned
Emily Oster: ParentData | Instagram
Cochrane Reviews
1-2-3 Magic by Thomas W. Phelan
The Anxious Generation by Jonathan Haidt
Full Show Notes
(00:00) Introduction
(01:44) The Shocking Amount of Misleading Data Around Parenting
(04:17) Ways to Incorporate Data in Decision Making
(10:05) Why There’s So Much Pressure to Be “Perfect” Parents
(11:57) The Good Enough Approach vs. The Perfect Approach
(14:57) How Important Is It for Parents to Prioritize Themselves?
(19:47) The Most Shocking Myths and Misconceptions
(22:52) The Reason for an Abundance of Caution Around Pregnancies
(26:12) The Polarizing Data Around Sleep Training
(30:17) How to Approach Data and Reliable Sources
(32:08) The Role of Cultural Norms and Traditions in Parenting Advice
(36:33) How to Navigate Pushback on Advice
(37:29) Making Complicated or Difficult Decisions
(40:50) The Impact of Primary Education: Private vs. Public
(44:19) Why It’s Important to Build Resilience in Older Kids
(46:32) Managing Screen Time and Technology
(49:48) One Key Takeaway for Anyone Who Wants to Be a Parent
(51:25) Where to Find Emily
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