Voices In The Family

June 2006

6/5/06
Childcare Challenges
Listen via Real Audio | mp3

Almost 12 million children under the age of 6 are in some form of childcare on a regular basis. Quality childcare arrangements are essential in preparing children for school and life, but they are not available to all families. We'll hear excerpts from a recent panel discussion about childcare challenges, which was part of our "In the Spirit of Family" series, presented by WHYY's Children's Service. Our guests were Danielle Ewen, Kathy Hirsh-Pasek and Marni Sweet. Ewen directs the Child Care and Early Education Policy team at the Center for Law and Social Policy in Washington, DC. Hirsh Pasek is professor of Psychology at Temple University in Philadelphia, and specializes in language development and early childhood. Marni Sweet is the executive director of the Parent Infant Center in Philadelphia.

6/12/06
Pets
Listen via Real Audio | mp3

More than 64 million households in the U.S. own one or more companion animals. Research shows that owning a pet can have positive effects on our health, it can lead to decreased blood pressure and even lessen depression. Dan Gottlieb and his guests will discuss our relationships with animals, what they mean to us, and how we interact with them. We'll also discuss the grieving process after a beloved pet dies. Our guests are Jodi Levine and Dr. Alan Beck. Jodi Levine, MSW, is the Director of Clinical Social Work at Ryan Veterinary Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania. Dr. Alan Beck is the Director of the Center for the Human-Animal Bond at the School of Veterinary Medicine at Purdue University.

6/19/06
Pre-empted

6/26/06
Stumbling on Happiness
Listen via Real Audio | mp3

We all spend much time trying to predict our emotional future. How happy would I feel if I had a big new house? How miserable would I be if my partner left me, and I lost my job? And based on our predictions, we try very hard to create or to avoid situations and events. But, are we doing a good job in predicting our emotional reactions to future events? Not really, says Harvard Psychologist Daniel Gilbert. He argues that along with making many processing mistakes, our brains "cook the books" when it comes to remembering good and bad events. We'll discuss Gilbert's research on emotional reactions, and his new book "Stumbling on Happiness."