Patrick A. Coleman

Patrick Coleman, a father of two, joined Fatherly in 2016 as the site’s first Parenting Editor, having worked previously as Editor-In-Chief for the Norwood Post, Food Editor of the Portland Mercury and City Editor for Thrillist.com. He used his extensive experience as a journalist to build the brand’s core of research-based child wellness, and parenting articles. His work at Fatherly has put him in conversation with some of the world’s preeminent child health, development and parenting experts including Yale University’s Sterling Professor of Psychology and Child Psychiatry Dr. Alan Kazdin, 2017 Time Person of the Year Dr. Celeste Kidd of UC Berkeley's Kidd Labb and Director of the Vaccine Education Center Dr. Paul A. Offit. With over five years of inquiry, study and conversations about parenting issues (a great deal of which he has applied to his own family), Coleman has built an uncommon understanding of what it takes to raise good kids. He uses this to offer advice as The Goodfather and has co-authored and edited Fatherly's first Parenting book Fatherhood. With his unique reporting and research, Coleman's work expands on a central thesis that raising good kids is less about practical advice and tactics than it is about working to become a better man and partner with a strong sense of values. He lives with his family in Chagrin Falls, Ohio.

Child Development

When Can You Pierce A Baby's Ears? A Pediatrician Explains

There are some ground rules to baby ear piecing, but for the most part it’s totally safe.

Ask The Goodfather

I Don’t Spank My Kids, But I Do Grab Them Sometimes. Does It Matter?

A dad wonders if he crossed the line with his discipline habits.

Speak No Evil

9 Words Parents Should Never Call Their Kids

The rhyme says “words will never hurt me,” but when said to children, these could cause damage.

Discipline

What A Child Learns When You Make Empty Threats

When a parent makes grand threats they know they’ll never follow up on, a kid stops being socialized and starts getting sneaky.

Parenting

How To Be A Funny Dad Without Teasing Your Kids

When teasing kids, even the most obvious jests are lost on them and internalized.

Corporal Punishment

Spanking Is Physical Abuse, Study Shows

Researcher says that drawing the line between spanking and physical abuse is "theoretically impossible."

Child Development

The 7 Big Benefits Of Rough-And-Tumble Play With Your Kids

They're going to have to get smart to take you down. Literally.

Health

Why Do Pregnant Women Crave Dirt?

Don’t let her eat it, no matter how hard she insists.

Parenting

I Parented Like It Was The ’80s For A Week And Realized I’d Rather Helicopter

Taking a cue from my parents, I let my kids run amok.

Potty Training

3 Easy Steps To Early Potty Training Inspired By World Cultures

Techniques from around the globe and three steps to early dryness.

Racism

How To Talk To Young Kids About Racism And Racial Bias

Two specific questions can get the ball rolling for parents hesitant to talk about race.

Parenting

How To Raise A Skeptical Kid Without Raising A Cynic

The world is slick with snake oil. Teach your kid to be smart out there.

Milestones

When Do Babies Start Sitting Up?

Not all babies start sitting up in the same time frame. What's more important is the way they go about trying to do so.

Health

7 Common Car Seat Mistakes You Might Not Know You’re Making

Read the dang manual.

Going #2

Is Sitting On A Toilet For Too Long Bad For Your Health?

Hanging out on the toilet is cool, as long as it’s not all sweating and pushing.

Screen Time

What Parents Are Getting Wrong About Screen Time

The argument against screen time has become a moral panic that doesn't help anyone.

Chaos Management

A Child Psychologist On How Parents Can Survive Temper Tantrums

Tantrums are difficult for parents and children, but with a foundation of knowledge and a few pointed tactics, the meltdown can be managed with ease.

Neurodiversity

What Is Stimming And When Is It A Significant Child Behavior?

Every child will engage in repetitive stimulating behaviors known as stimming — only a few will be autistic.

Parenting

I Do Half The Chores And Bring Home More Than Half The Pay. Isn’t That Enough?

A hardworking dad asks why doing half of the chores isn't enough in the eyes of his wife.

Less Mess

8 Ways To Get Your Kids To Start Cleaning Up After Themselves

Mighty tidy tips.