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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
  • Parent Coaching

Parenting with Research, Insight, and Love

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

Play-Based Learning


choosing toys for your child

Age-Appropriate Toys that Won’t Give You Buyer’s Regret {ages birth-10}

The Hidden Power of Hand-Clapping Songs: How Simple Rhythms Boost Kids’ Learning

toddler playing blocks

Why Guided Play is the Secret to Playtime with Your Kids

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Toddler Development


choosing toys for your child

Age-Appropriate Toys that Won’t Give You Buyer’s Regret {ages birth-10}

toddler playing blocks

The Most Underrated Brain-Boosting Toy in your Kids’ Toy Box

Parenting Survival Tips for Doing Disney World with Young Kids

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Social-Emotional Development


upset girl

Are Screens Making It Harder for Kids to Regulate Emotions?

toddler emotional development

Self-Regulation for Kids: A Lifelong Lesson

social-emotional development

Toys for Emotional Development: Gifts that Keep Giving

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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

is baby babbling a good sign

The Fascinating Reason Why You Should Care About Your Baby’s Babbling

Sneak peek: Is baby babbling a good sign for your infant’s development? Your babbling baby sure is cute, but are those sounds they make just useless gibberish, or does it aid in development? Research points to the role of parents in how infants develop language. I still remember the first time my oldest son started babbling …

mirror test babies

Child Psychology Classics: The Mirror Test

Sneak peek: What does the “mirror test” in babies tell us about their self-awareness? At some point or another, many parents have placed their infant in front of a mirror and wondered if their child could understand that it was their own reflection they were seeing. In the realms of child development and parenting, this …

parenting tips

Parenting Tips to Try When Nothing Else Seems to Work

Sneak peek: Parenting tips to help you understand the “why” behind your child’s behavior. Positive parenting tips and ideas to try when nothing else seems to work. I thought I was a fairly good, patient parent until my youngest son reached toddlerhood. Although I have a Ph.D. in Human Development, his behavior baffled me. The typical parenting tips I …

Books to Help You Feel More Confident and Peaceful as a New Mom

Sneak peek: These wonderful books for new moms offer insight into motherhood and infant development. Ease the transition to motherhood by reading these books to prepare your mind and emotions. Becoming a mother is perhaps one of the most transformational life experiences a person can experience. Motherhood influences almost every aspect of life—emotional, physical, psychological, social (hello, …

3 Totally Realistic but Powerful Ways to be a Happy Stay-at-Home Mom

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 …

crying baby

6 Fascinating Newborn Reflexes that May Surprise You

Sneak peek: Newborn reflexes are a fascinating aspect of early development. Let’s explore the meaning behind some of these “hidden” behaviors that are present in newborns. Newborn reflexes are innate behaviors that mysteriously disappear after the first few months of life. For some, their function is clear; they usually help the baby survive in some way. …


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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