A Humanist Dad

01/01/2025

Dad Life thoughts: Being inconvenienced by a crying baby on a flight or in public is drawing the short straw: bad luck but not cause for a tantrum. Age and context appropriate expectations of behaviour include grace and tolerance from adults.

Being inconvenienced by a crying baby on a flight or in public is drawing the short straw: bad luck but not cause for a tantrum. Age and context appropriate expectations of behaviour include grace …

29/11/2024

The first two Paddington movies have been great tools for talking with my kids about the power of kindness and community from my humanist perspective.

In the wake of the Brexit referendum and Trump’s first election, Paddington 2 told a story where kindness is transformational and can overcome greed and hatred, or isolation, and where being kind to others can start a revolution.

After seeing Paddington 3 in the cinema, my greatest disappointment was that Paddington’s kindness plays no role in advancing or resolving the plot and just comes across as hopelessly naive. No one changes their actions or character or becomes a better person as a result of his kindness. No communities are created or fundamentally changed.

01/11/2024

Games and play can offer a surprising lens into humanist values, blending creativity, cooperation, and critical thinking. I want my kids to learn through games, but also see play as valuable in itself.

Games and play can offer a surprising lens into humanist values, blending creativity, cooperation, and critical thinking. I want my kids to learn through games, but also see play as valuable in its…

25/10/2024

This series explores common, and unique, humanist perspectives on parenting, from a diverse range of parents. In this article I spoke with ‘Moms’ and ‘Pops’, hosts of the secular parenting podcast The Family Skeptical.

This series explores common, and unique, humanist perspectives on parenting, from a diverse range of parents. In this article I spoke with ‘Moms’ and ‘Pops’, hosts of the secular parenting podcast …

18/10/2024

Thinking about how the gender message that my boys receive growing up, and the contemporary influence of conspiracism and other reactionary ideologies, has inspired me to think more about the importance of feminism in my humanist parenting.

Thinking about how the gender message that my boys receive growing up, and the contemporary influence of conspiracism and other reactionary ideologies, has inspired me to think more about the impor…

18/10/2024

QED: Question. Explore. Discover. Here I come.

08/10/2024

Jeremy Pryor has a lot of dumb thoughts about a wonderful cartoon dog

05/10/2024

Facebook says I'm a super fan. Well I am always happy to see Elle the Humanist joyful content and received mend the book.🎉

04/10/2024

Two weeks till QED: Question. Explore. Discover. Time to start charging my social battery. Friends who are going to be there, please let me know, and please say hello. I'm really looking forward to connecting with some incredible people, including friends I haven't met in person.

27/09/2024

How should humanism inform our expectations of ourselves as parents, and of our kids? How can we relieve the pressure of unreasonable expectations?

How should humanism inform our expectations of ourselves as parents, and of our kids? How can we relieve the pressure of unreasonable expectations?

20/09/2024

D is for Death | The latest post in my A-Z of humanist parenting
Death is one of the most profound facts of reality our children will encounter. Guiding them to a naturalistic understanding should be a lifelong developmentally sensitive process.

Death is one of the most profound facts of reality our children will encounter. Guiding them to understand it as a natural albeit deeply sad part of life is a lifelong sensitive process, as well as…

13/09/2024

As humanists, how do we create safe supportive communities for our children, and connect with other parents with shared humanist values? What does parenting teach us about community building and vice versa?

How do we create safe supportive communities for our children, and connect with other parents with shared humanist values? What does parenting teach us about community building and vice versa?

06/09/2024

The second article in my A-Z of humanist parenting asks how humanist parents should discuss beliefs, share their own, and teach the importance of reasoned belief, while nurturing their children’s freedom and exploration of belief?

How should humanist parents discuss beliefs, share their own, and teach the importance of reasoned belief, while nurturing their children’s freedom and exploration of belief?

30/08/2024

A is for Affirmation | A-Z of humanist parenting
Affirmation, like ritual and tradition, is a concept many humanists have a complicated relationship with. But affirmation from yourself and others is important to mental health, belonging and security.

Affirmation, like ritual and tradition, is a concept many humanists have a complicated, even negative relationship with. But affirmation from yourself and others is important to mental health, belo…

23/08/2024

What are the ABC’s of humanist parenting? It can be a nebulous and descriptive (rather than absolute and prescriptive) concept. I’ve created my own list to explore and play with some key ideas....

What are the ABC’s of humanist parenting? It can be a nebulous and descriptive (rather than absolute and prescriptive) concept. I’ve created my own list to explore and play with some key ideas.