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The Thoughtful Parent

The Thoughtful Parent

A blog that makes child development approachable.

  • Social-Emotional
    • 7 Ways to Teach Your Child About Kindness
    • 4 Powerful Social-Emotional Lessons Kids are Learning During the Pandemic
  • Temperament
    • Seeing the Unique Gift of Your Child’s Temperament
    • Insights for Parents from the Science of Child Temperament
  • Toddler Development
    • Research-Backed Real-Life Strategies to Discipline Kids without Yelling
    • Research-Backed Ways to Thrive Through the Toddler Years
  • Child Development
    • A Parent’s Guide to Understanding the 4 Attachment Styles
    • Child Psychology Classics: The Mirror Test
  • Potty Training
    • When Do You Start Potty Training?
    • Potty Training Readiness Quiz

Parenting with Research, Insight, and Love

Parenting with confidence comes from knowledge. Parenting with grace comes from insight.

Play-Based Learning


Child playing outside independently, inspired by 1980s free-range childhood"

Growing Up in the 80s: Recreate It For Your Child Today

preschool tour checklist

The Preschool Tour Checklist to Help Choose the Right Preschool for Your Child

best toys for social play

Learning to Play Well with Others: The Best Toys for Social Play

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Toddler Development


The Scientific Reason Why Toddlers Whine (and how to lessen it)

toddler attachment

When to Worry About Toddler Tantrums: Signs to Watch For

Potty Training Books: Best Picks for Toddlers

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Social-Emotional Development


what to do when kids are bored during summer

What to Do When Kids Are Bored This Summer (+ Free Quiz)

summer camp tips

The Benefits Of Summer Camp Are Real, But Leave the Phone at Home

The Scientific Reason Why Toddlers Whine (and how to lessen it)

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Amy Webb

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.

More about me

Latest Posts

Why conflict with your child might actually be healthy (according to research)

Sneak peek: Research shows up to 70% of parent-baby interactions involve some kind of mismatch — and that’s completely normal. Here’s why rupture and repair may be the most important parenting skill you’ve never heard of. If you’re on social media much, you’ve probably seen many different versions of parenting advice. One that I’ve noticed …

attachment parenting guidelines

More Than Just the Milk: Why Breastfeeding Struggles Don’t Have to Define Motherhood

Sneak peek: Breastfeeding struggles in the first months of motherhood are common but they don’t have to ruin those early motherhood moments. Breastfeeding can feel far more difficult than many new moms expect. From painful latching and sleep deprivation to worries about milk supply, the early weeks of breastfeeding often come with emotional and physical …

Will Co-Sleeping with My Kids Ruin My Marriage? Research-Based Answers

Sneak peek: Does co-sleeping affect marriage? This issue is a common question among parents. Luckily, research offers us some insight into this tricky topic Does co-sleeping affect marriage? Research suggests the answer is more nuanced than many parents think. Co-sleeping itself does not necessarily reduce marital satisfaction, but conflict around sleep arrangements and mismatched parenting expectations …

How to Stop Yelling as a Parent: A Science-Backed Way to Stay Calm

Sneak peek: Wondering how to stop yelling as a parent? Learn a simple, science-backed approach using self-talk and parenting mantras to stay calm—even in stressful moments. If you’ve ever yelled at your child—and immediately wished you could take it back—you’re not alone. We don’t want to yell. It happens in those moments when everything builds …

What We Can Learn from the Japanese Parenting Style

Sneak peek: Explore the Japanese parenting style and how it builds independence, confidence, and responsibility—plus tips you can use today. If you’ve seen Netflix’s series called Old Enough, you’ve witnessed the results of the Japanese parenting style that encourages independence in children from a young age. This is a sharp contrast to what we see …

Best Mobile Tracking Apps for 2026

Sneak peek: Mobile tracking apps have advanced to be a tool to help give you some peace of mind while your child is on the go. As parents, the balance between monitoring your child’s safety and allowing them some age-appropriate independence is always a challenge. Mobile tracking apps may feel a little invasive at first, …


Books and Courses

book for new moms

Tender Beginnings

child temperament

Tuning into Temperament

stay at home moms

The Intentional Stay-at-Home Mom

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