Kenneth Barish, a Clinical Professor of Psychology at Weill Cornell Medicine, published a book titled "The Art and Science of Parenting and Grandparenting" in 2026.

Barish, who is also a Fellow of the American Psychological Association, said, "The most common problem I see in my work with families is not too much praise, but too much criticism. Criticism does not motivate children to work harder. Instead, frequent criticism breeds resentment and defiance, and undermines children's initiative and effort." He recommends collaborative problem-solving conversations and allowing children to pause rather than applying punishment. He also provides 21 rules to encourage cooperative behavior in children, including: "Praise effort, not intelligence or talent. Praise learning, not grades."

Barish emphasizes the role of community support in child-rearing. "We did not evolve to raise children with as little extended family and community support as most American parents have now. Children need grandparents, and they always have," Barish said. He said, "More than anything else, children need someone in their life who listens, who helps them feel less alone, and who teaches them that problems can be solved, relationships can be repaired, and bad feelings do not last forever."

Barish advises families to volunteer together and hold frequent conversations about kindness and empathy from an early age. "These conversations strengthen a child's sense of meaning and purpose. They are just as important as making sure kids have done their homework and correcting their mistakes, maybe more," Barish said.