One surprisingly good thing about the COVID pandemic is that parents who work from home have had more time to spend with their children. And it is scientifically proven that children benefit in mind, body, and spirit when they have more positive connections with their parents. Fathers, in particular, have embraced the opportunity to spend time with their children during these current events. The wholesome, loving energy between a father and a child has been linked to more flexible thinking and increased tolerance of others. To better understand the many ways rituals can nourish children, Positive Psychology Podcast Host, Lisa Cypers Kamen speaks with two experts whose work reflects the benefits of family gatherings, Armin Brott and Dr. Anne Fishel. Armin Brott delves into why the role of a father is important in a child’s development and Dr. Fishel describes the significance of family dinners in helping children thrive. 

Armin Brott, aka Mr. Dad, is author of The New Father: A Dad’s Guide to The Toddler Years. He is a nationally published columnist on manhood and fatherhood, and Host of 'Positive Parenting,' a weekly talk show. 

Book: The New Father: A Dad’s Guide to The Toddler Years; Third Edition 

Anne Fishel, Ph.D. is a family therapist, clinical psychologist, and Associate Clinical Professor of Psychology at the Harvard Medical School. She is Director of the Family and Couple Therapy Program at Massachusetts General Hospital, where she trains child psychiatry residents and psychology interns in family therapy. She is also the executive director and co-founder of The Family Dinner Project. 

Book: Eat, Laugh, Talk: The Family Dinner Playbook

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