Thriving Kids

Summer Hot Takes: Parenting Advice With Dr. Aliza Pressman

Aug 27, 2026 · 49 min · 10 segments

From gentle parenting to strict rules about screen time, today’s parents are constantly bombarded with advice about the “right” way to raise their kids. But how much of that advice is actually…

From gentle parenting to strict rules about screen time, today’s parents are constantly bombarded with advice about the “right” way to raise their kids. But how much of that advice is actually supported by research? In this special Summer Hot Takes episode, Dr. Dave Anderson sits down with developmental psychologist, bestselling author, and *Raising Good Humans* podcast host Dr. Aliza Pressman to explore some of parenting’s most talked-about topics. Together, they discuss why it’s important for any approach to be rooted in science, how authoritative parenting (not to be confused with the harder-to-define gentle parenting) balances warmth with boundaries, and how families can develop healthier relationships with technology. They also talk about the importance of letting kids experience disappointment, navigate failure, and learn from difficult emotions without treating every feeling like an emergency. Throughout the conversation, Dr. Dave and Dr. Pressman remind parents that thoughtful, flexible parenting is the goal, not perfection. In this episode, they cover: - What people often mean when they talk about “gentle parenting” and common misunderstandings about the term - What authoritative parenting is and why it remains one of the most evidence-supported parenting approaches - Practical ways to create healthier screen habits for children and teens - Why boredom, waiting, and feeling lonely sometimes can help kids build resilience and independence - How to help kids tolerate disappointment, failure, and rejection Key takeaways - Healthy screen habits focus on balance, connection, and intentional use. - Kids benefit from experiencing age-appropriate disappointment and failure. - Parents don’t need to solve every emotion immediately to support emotional health. - Parenting trends come and go, but warmth combined with clear boundaries remains the most effective approach. Further reading from the Child Mind Institute · Helping Kids With Flexible Thinking · Three Common Parenting Traps · How to Set Limits on Screen Time More from Dr. Aliza Pressman · Raising Good Humans With Dr. Aliza (podcast) · The 5 Principles of Parenting: Your Essential Guide to Raising Good Humans

From gentle parenting to strict rules about screen time, today’s parents are constantly bombarded with advice about the “right” way to raise their kids. But how much of that advice is actually…

Welcome and Episode Setup0:00 – 1:22

Dave AndersonHost

0:00

[upbeat music] Hello, and welcome to the Thriving Kids podcast.

Dave AndersonHost

0:06

This week, we have a special guest, Dr. Aliza Pressman, uh, host of the Raising Good Humans podcast, fellow Dartmouth alum-

Aliza PressmanGuest

0:14

[laughs]

Dave AndersonHost

0:14

... friend of the podcast, and exciting conversationalist.

Dave AndersonHost

0:18

So, you know, that's, that's a good intro, right-

Aliza PressmanGuest

0:20

Yeah

Dave AndersonHost

0:20

... for Aliza? Yeah.

Dave AndersonHost

0:21

Okay, good.

Dave AndersonHost

0:22

Um, so we are coming to you with this episode.

Dave AndersonHost

0:25

We, we have decided to title this the Summer Hot Takes and Topics episode.

Dave AndersonHost

0:30

I wanted to repeat the word hot, and I'm kind of divided on that still, so who knows if that'll be the title of this episode.

Dave AndersonHost

0:36

But our focus here was for someone like Dr. Pressman, who speaks around so many different topics-

Aliza PressmanGuest

0:43

[laughs]

Dave AndersonHost

0:43

... all the time, and for whom, when we recorded for Masterclass, they had us interviewed on about 50 different topics as well.

Dave AndersonHost

0:50

What I figured was I'm gonna take, like, in, in this case, we started with 13, for those of you who know that I'm working to expose myself to odd numbers, uh, due to my fascination with even numbers.

Aliza PressmanGuest

1:00

And I accommodated you-

Dave AndersonHost

1:02

We start with 13 topics

Aliza PressmanGuest

1:02

...

Aliza PressmanGuest

1:02

but now it's 12.

Dave AndersonHost

1:03

You eliminated one.

Dave AndersonHost

1:03

[laughs] We got 12 down.

Dave AndersonHost

1:04

But we might not get to it.

Dave AndersonHost

1:05

We might get to only an odd number of questions-

Aliza PressmanGuest

1:07

Yeah

Dave AndersonHost

1:07

... during the filming.

Dave AndersonHost

1:08

But we are just going to hit on questions we know listeners have asked many different things about, and that we know also exist in the zeitgeist, that we see on social media, spaces where we're present.

Dave AndersonHost

1:20

You know, we're gonna start with those.

Aliza PressmanGuest

1:21

Great.

Dave AndersonHost

1:21

So, fantastic.

Dave AndersonHost

1:22

All right.

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Welcome and Episode Setup0:00 – 1:22

Dave AndersonHost

0:00

[upbeat music] Hello, and welcome to the Thriving Kids podcast.

Dave AndersonHost

0:06

This week, we have a special guest, Dr. Aliza Pressman, uh, host of the Raising Good Humans podcast, fellow Dartmouth alum-

Aliza PressmanGuest

0:14

[laughs]

Dave AndersonHost

0:14

... friend of the podcast, and exciting conversationalist.

Dave AndersonHost

0:18

So, you know, that's, that's a good intro, right-

Aliza PressmanGuest

0:20

Yeah

Dave AndersonHost

0:20

... for Aliza? Yeah.

Dave AndersonHost

0:21

Okay, good.

Dave AndersonHost

0:22

Um, so we are coming to you with this episode.

Dave AndersonHost

0:25

We, we have decided to title this the Summer Hot Takes and Topics episode.

Dave AndersonHost

0:30

I wanted to repeat the word hot, and I'm kind of divided on that still, so who knows if that'll be the title of this episode.

Dave AndersonHost

0:36

But our focus here was for someone like Dr. Pressman, who speaks around so many different topics-

Aliza PressmanGuest

0:43

[laughs]

Dave AndersonHost

0:43

... all the time, and for whom, when we recorded for Masterclass, they had us interviewed on about 50 different topics as well.

Dave AndersonHost

0:50

What I figured was I'm gonna take, like, in, in this case, we started with 13, for those of you who know that I'm working to expose myself to odd numbers, uh, due to my fascination with even numbers.

Aliza PressmanGuest

1:00

And I accommodated you-

Dave AndersonHost

1:02

We start with 13 topics

Aliza PressmanGuest

1:02

...

Aliza PressmanGuest

1:02

but now it's 12.

Dave AndersonHost

1:03

You eliminated one.

Dave AndersonHost

1:03

[laughs] We got 12 down.

Dave AndersonHost

1:04

But we might not get to it.

Dave AndersonHost

1:05

We might get to only an odd number of questions-

Aliza PressmanGuest

1:07

Yeah

Dave AndersonHost

1:07

... during the filming.

Dave AndersonHost

1:08

But we are just going to hit on questions we know listeners have asked many different things about, and that we know also exist in the zeitgeist, that we see on social media, spaces where we're present.

Dave AndersonHost

1:20

You know, we're gonna start with those.

Aliza PressmanGuest

1:21

Great.

Dave AndersonHost

1:21

So, fantastic.

Dave AndersonHost

1:22

All right.