Parenting Refreshed

What have we learned from previous pandemics? Does history repeat itself? What does the future hold for the health of the planet? In this episode, infectious disease specialist, medical journalist and epidemiologist Dr. Celine Gounder speaks with history professor Nadja Durbach, who specializes in the history of the body and medicines. They discuss the possible challenges to health care for families now and in the future, why medicine has always been intertwined with society and politics and how we can better prepare for what’s around the corner. 

Parenting Refreshed is an original series of podcasts from UNICEF delving into many different aspects of our lives changed by the pandemic. Leading experts from around the globe, along with parents and those with experience, discuss a whole range of subjects to share facts, helpful tips, and practical guidance on how to help our children thrive in this new world.

In today’s episode, we speak to two mothers about their experiences of war and conflict. Svitlana Royz is a Ukrainian psychologist based just outside of Kyiv, who lives with her daughter, her parents and their cat. Her son was out fighting as the Russians were bombing the power stations nearby. On the morning of the recording, her daughter had already been woken by the bombs, and her son hadn’t been in touch to say he was okay. She’s talking to Arifa Omid, an Afghan mother of two boys and a newborn baby girl who had to flee Afghanistan when the Taliban took power in 2021. They fled to Pakistan, but she returned to Kabul without her family. Together, they discuss how to maintain their daily routines in war zones (including education and playtime), how they talk to their children about the world immediately around them and methods for coping in extreme situations.

What does it mean that online learning is now so vast? How do those without the internet keep up? Will the multiverse give us the ability to learn more quickly? Dr. Pia Britto has a PHD in child development and has dedicated her research to creating policies which help the lives of children and families around the world. She’s internationally renowned for her scientific work on young children's early literacy development and has explored innovative approaches to improving school readiness in children. She’s joined by Dr. Jennifer Kotler Clarke, Research and Content Strategy Manager at Google Kids & Families, who has been studying the effects of media and technology on families for 25 years, helping to develop online digital tools to aid and improve access to good quality learning. They discuss the disruption to education since the start of the pandemic, the safety aspects in place for online learning, inspiring children and parents to learn online together and where technology, teachers, and education goes to next. 

What is artificial intelligence? What data is being collected from our children? How have attitudes toward technology changed in a world altered by the pandemic? Discussing these issues is Judith Okonkwo, founder of Imisi 3D, a creation lab in Lagos, Nigeria that is focused on the development of extended reality technologies (artificial intelligence, virtual reality, etc.) across the African continent. Joining her is Sonia Livingstone, a professor of social psychology. She researches how families are using digital technologies and how family dynamics are changing because of it. Together, they discuss shifts towards digital learning, inequities with regards to access, how to stay safe online plus helpful advice on how to create a safe technological environment for the family.

How can parents build safe environments for their children? How do we talk to our children about mental health? What are the effects of social media on the minds of children? Bassey Ikpi is a mental health advocate and author of the New York Times best-selling book ‘I’m Telling the Truth, But I’m Lying,’ which details her personal journey of a bipolar II diagnosis in 2004. She’s since made it her life’s work to help people understand that mental health is linked to everything we do in life. She’s joined by clinical psychologist Dr. Lisa Damour, who specializes in looking after the mental health of children, teenagers and families. Together they discuss the importance of building connection in families, toxic stress and why mental health isn’t just about feeling good.