Parenting with Research, Insight, and Love
Parenting with confidence comes from knowledge. Parenting with grace comes from insight.
Play-Based Learning
Toddler Development
I’m a wife, mom of two boys and a child development writer. I may have a Ph.D, but I believe the value of child development research is not in telling us what is “right” or “wrong” with our parenting, but in helping us to see our children with a new lens.
If you are looking for strategies to support your child’s development using research combined with your own innate intuition, this is the place for you.
Latest Posts
Why Unstructured Play Is Important for Kids’ Executive Function
The new research that convinced me to be a soccer mom dropout Does your child really need another organized activity — or could more free time be just as valuable? Research on children’s executive function offers an interesting reason to reconsider our packed family schedules. In a study of 70 children ages 6–7, researchers found …
9 Books That Teach Kids About Healthy Habits
As a parent of two boys, I’ve learned that habits are easier to build when kids understand why they matter. These books about habits for kids turn bedtime, tooth-brushing, tidying up, and manners into stories your child will ask to hear again and again. I read Atomic Habits a few years ago, and I quickly …
4 Benefits of Dress-Up Play for Child Development
Sneak peek: For kids, playing dress up is just fun, but child development research shows us that it really is educational. The benefits of dress-up play make it a win-win for kids and parents. We all love playing dress-up during Halloween, but this fun playtime activity is great year-round. It turns out that there are …
15 Executive Function Activities for Preschoolers (Ages 3-5)
Sneak peek: Executive function activities for 3 to 5-year-olds can help them develop much-needed skills like planning ahead, memory, and self-control. Understanding how their brains develop can help us foster their skills. Perhaps the alternate title for this post should be: “Why your preschooler doesn’t take a coat when it’s cold outside.” I’ve been around young …
Why You Keep Losing Your Temper With Your Toddler—and What Helps
Sneak peek: Losing patience with your toddler is not something most of us would hold up as our best parenting moment, but it happens. Research offers us some insight into the underlying reason why it’s hard to keep your cool. As most parents know, feeling some degree of fatigue on a daily basis is an …
How to Be a Happy Stay-at-Home Mom: 11 Realistic Tips
Sneak peek: Learning how to be a happy stay-at-home mom can be a struggle for many of us. Read on for tips and ideas for not just surviving but thriving as a stay-at-home mom. After being a stay-at-home mom for over 10 years, I’ve learned that it is a role full of paradox. Yes, it is a …
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