Building A Parent Nation

In this presentation, Dr. Dana Suskind will draw on her forthcoming book, Parent Nation, to make the case that America has abdicated its responsibility to families, adopting policies and norms that directly conflict with the science of early childhood development and make it incredibly challenging for any parent to fulfill their role as their child’s first and most important teacher. The consequences of this abdication are profound and tragic, leading many families to struggle—in ways small and large—and robbing many children of the opportunity to reach their full potential. Never one to stop at identifying a problem, Dr. Suskind also offers a roadmap for mitigating this injustice and building a society that enables parents and caregivers to meet the needs of young children.

Dana Suskind, MD, is founder and co-director of the TMW Center for Early Learning + Public Health, director of the Pediatric Cochlear Implant Program, and Professor of Surgery and Pediatrics at the University of Chicago. Her new book, Parent Nation (Penguin/Dutton, April 2022), offers a compelling look at the neuroscience of early childhood development—and how it can guide us toward a more equitable future.