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
potty training
Potty Training Readiness Calculator Select an answer for each question: 1. Shows discomfort with dirty diaper Not yet Sometimes Yes 2. Signals when they go Not yet Sometimes Yes 3. Interested in the bathroom Not yet Sometimes Yes 4. Stays dry 1.5–2 hours Not yet Sometimes Yes 5. Can pull pants up/down Not yet Sometimes …
Why is Positive Parenting Important and How Does it Help My Child?
Sneak peek: We hear the phrase “positive parenting advice,” but what does it really mean? An overview of positive parenting, plus a look at how it helps you focus on the long view of parenting. We hear the phrase “positive parenting advice” tossed around a lot in the media and parenting circles, but oftentimes, there …
Classic Baby Books that Boost Brain Development
Sneak peek: What are the best books for newborns? New research helps us sort through classic baby books and points to a certain type of book. Do you remember when you first read your own child your favorite classic books? Maybe they were so tiny they couldn’t even hold their head up. You knew they …
Do “Educational” Videos Help Toddlers Learn?
Sneak peek: Parents often wonder: are educational videos good for toddlers? Research shows toddlers learn far less from screens than from real interaction. Here’s what studies reveal. Parents today are surrounded by media claiming to help young children learn. Streaming platforms, YouTube channels, and apps all promise to teach toddlers language, numbers, and social skills. …
Acts of Kindness for Kids
Sneak peek: Acts of kindness for children that can help them learn about caring for others. All of us, even our children, face daily challenges and struggles. Through my research on stress and coping that I did in grad school, one big point that was reiterated repeatedly was that how well individuals cope with stress …
Understanding How Stress and Adverse Childhood Experiences Affect Children’s Development
Sneak peek: The stress of the pandemic raised our attention even more so to how these traumatic events affect children’s development. A look at the research on adverse childhood experiences. To say that pandemic living was stressful for parents and children is an understatement. Parents often wonder what impact this stress (and related stressors) will have …
Books and Courses
