It’s normal (and probably smart) to be suspicious of parental advice from a stranger on the internet. What qualifications do these people have? Are they (just) trying to sell you something? While some of the people mentioned below are trying to sell parents something (everyone’s got to make a living somehow, after all), most come from expert backgrounds, and all have a genuine desire to connect with parents. They, too, have experienced those moments where we’ve felt so low we’re not sure we should be raising kids.
Here are 10 bloggers and influencers who have helped me become a better dad.
Raising good kids
Good Inside: Dr. Becky Kennedy
I used to be a “punish first, ask questions later” type of dad. I didn’t feel good about it, and judging from the meltdowns my kids would have after I laid down the law, they weren’t fans either. Then I discovered Dr. Becky Kennedy through her socials, and she taught me to discipline with kindness, not fear. More importantly, she knows you will make mistakes because she has, too. It also doesn’t hurt that she’s friends with Oprah.
Scary Mommy
Several months ago, my favorite parenting site, Fatherly, closed up shop, though its content still lives on. I’ve since moved on to its sister site, Scary Mommy. I love its tone and attitude. The site’s stories on whether Crocs are good for your child’s feet and how schools use apps to keep track of our kids are more relatable than anything Parents magazine puts on their site. It seems like it’s written by a stressed-out parent that’s been there.
The Mom Psychologist
Another day, another kid’s meltdown. I was always trying to figure out how to navigate them without getting frazzled. Then, I discovered Dr. Jazmine McCoy’s Instagram account. Her feed is filled with straightforward and valuable advice that doesn’t make you feel like a horrible parent.
Janet Lansbury
Like many other parents, I didn’t have the best parenting examples to fall back on, so I put considerable pressure on myself to be perfect. However, all that did was cause me a lot of anxiety. Actress, model, author, and podcast host Janet Lansbury says parents don’t need to stress themselves out by learning parenting methods and striving for flawlessness: There should be some joy in seeing your little human grow into their own person. Getting to that place is easier said than done, but just listening to her podcast Unruffled makes me feel better as a dad.
City Dads Group
When NYC residents Matt Schneider and Lance Somerfeld founded City Dads Group in 2008, society still needed to catch on to the idea of stay-at-home dads playing a significant role in their children’s lives. In the years since, their concept of meetups to support each other and share their parenting perspectives has expanded into other cities nationwide, along with a blog and podcast that speaks honestly about the challenges and misconceptions stay-at-home dads still face.
Entertaining kids
Common Sense Media
Movie nights in my home can be fraught with frustration and indecision. My youngest can sit through a Star Wars movie unscathed but freaks out watching Leo on Netflix (the titular lizard, voiced by Adam Sandler, “looks weird.”) My oldest has been venturing toward PG-13-rated flicks for some time, but it’s hard to gauge what’s appropriate for his young age. That’s why I’m glad Common Sense Media is around—it thoroughly reviews shows, video games, and movies by featuring reviews from its own stable of writers and soliciting comments from parents and kids. That’s why Twister is a no for my kids (for now), but Twisters is a yes.
Creative kids
Busy Toddler
As Susie Allison points out on her website, she “may just be some lady on the Internet, but I’m also ‘some lady on the Internet, M.Ed.’”—so you know there’s some intellectual heft behind the activities she posts on her blog and Instagram feed. It could be a game that helps a kid learn phonics or a craft that helps youngsters develop their fine motor skills.
The Artful Parent
Kids can also build their confidence when they use their imagination. The team behind The Artful Parent blog helps kids (and their parents) find the tools to unlock their creative side, from using straws to blow paint on a canvas to making an art museum visit fun for kids.
Feeding kids
Feeding Littles
If your children aren’t adventurous at mealtime, you need to know about Occupational Therapist and Feeding Specialist Judy Delaware and Megan McNamee, a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist, the duo who started Feeding Littles. Their mission is “to empower you with the knowledge and skills to confidently nurture your child’s eating habits and help them develop a positive relationship with food.” My family has employed their methods from their courses and socials. I’m happy to say that over the years, I’ve seen my own children’s connection to what’s on their plate grow in a productive way.
Kids Eat in Color
As influencer Jennifer Anderson explains on this Good Morning America segment, even the registered dietician had trouble getting her son to eat healthy foods. It was her wake-up call, so she researched ways to expand his palate. The result is an Instagram feed with over two million followers filled with ways to get them to eat more fruits and vegetables.
