With RSS feeds, notifications by email and to cell phones, podcasts,
television, and radio, news gets out fast these days. The trouble is that
because new information is reported so quickly, it is often almost immediately
contradicted by a subsequent announcement.
In the world of parenting, that's exactly what happens with new studies.
Almost on a weekly basis, new hypotheses about what causes ADHD, autism,
allergies, or sibling rivalry come out. And that's good. Science
advances by testing out each hypothesis and publishing the results, so that the
next researcher can build on them.
Unfortunately, that leaves parents not knowing what to do. Should all
sugar be eliminated from children's diets? Should the televisions be
carted out of the house and given away? Maybe all moms should quit their
jobs and stay home! But next week, the news might tell us that a little
sugar won't hurt, that television doled out judiciously is good for kids, and
that when moms have some balance in their lives, families benefit. Here
are some tips for handling all of this conflicting information:
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Don't panic! Unless it's something as concrete as a
product safety recall, there's time to do a little sleuthing of your own.
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Find a trusted consultant. For most parents, this will
be a pediatrician who stays abreast of new information and welcomes the
opportunity to help parents sort through it. Together you can decide if
any action is warranted.
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Consider reading the study yourself. You may even be
able to find it online. While some research is pretty challenging to
read, not all of it is. Reading the material directly is not a substitute
for talking to your pediatrician, but it may help you frame the questions you
want to ask.
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Correlation is not the same as causation. If a new study
comes out tomorrow showing that children who eat purple polka dotted candy also
tend to have higher grades in reading, that would not be a reason to
raid the candy stores. Much more study would be needed in order to
determine whether eating that trendy candy actually caused the higher
grades – although we could guess that it probably did not.
In the end, it's a matter of striking a balance. Research definitely
contributes information that aids in making parenting decisions. However,
too much conflicting information can throw you and make you feel less confident
about your parenting. Remember, in the end, you know your own
children best. By being a good observer, you can draw your own
conclusions about what works and does not work for your kids, and shape an
environment where they will thrive.