{Looking for an alternative to Elf on the Shelf? A few reasons to consider looking for a more thoughtful holiday tradition.} When my older son was in about 2nd grade, he came home one day after Thanksgiving with news that “all” his friends had elves that “comes alive” at night. The underlying question, of course, […]
The Thoughtful Parent
A blog that translates research-based child development information into parent-friendly articles.
Main Content
7 Reasons to Ditch Elf on the Shelf {and an alternative tradition we love}
End the Gift-Giving Regret: Tips for Choosing Age-Appropriate (and Fun) Toys
{Choosing age-appropriate toys for your children that they will actually like is not always easy. Using a few child development hints, you can choose items that your kids will love for years} I’ll be honest–last Christmas we made a big mistake. We bought our boys toys that were bad choices. There’s no sugar-coating it, we […]
7 Advent Calendars that Foster Kindness
{Are you trying to focus your kids more on kindness than consumption this season? This collection of ideas for starting an advent calendar of kindness will set you on the right track.} I’ve always loved advent calendars. Something about the idea of tiny boxes, bags or drawers that open up a surprise each morning just […]
3 Important Parenting Lessons that Child Development Books Didn’t Teach Me (but my kids did)
{After 10 years of parenting, I’ve begun to consider what my child has taught me about child development (and life). A few child development lessons with insights for all parents.} This year marks my 10th year as a mom! Wow! The classic saying is really true, “the days are long but the years are short.” […]
