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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


best toys for social play

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

Laid Back Summer Activities That You and Your Kids Will Enjoy

choosing toys for your child

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

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Toddler Development


The Fascinating Roller Coaster of Child Development: Physical and Cognitive Growth Spurts

best advice for new parents

Do “Educational” Videos Help Toddlers Learn?

best toys for social play

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

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Social-Emotional Development


Why Boys Sometimes Struggle With School: What the Research Really Says

girl and mom reading

How Reading Classic Books Can be a Powerful Form of Self-Care {for kids and adults!}

kids holding hands

Acts of Kindness for Kids

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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

mirror test babies

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 …

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 …

Hypnopompic hallucinations

What Are Hypnopompic Hallucinations in Children?

Seeing your child feeling an unknown symptom or unusual experience can be scary as a parent. That’s why I’m sharing a guest post from Ubie Health to help us understand this common, but often unknown experience: hypnopompic hallucinations in children. Ubie Health sponsors this post. Few things are more alarming for a parent than a …

finding purpose as a stay at home mom

The Mindset Shift that Will Stop Mom Shaming in its Tracks

Sneak peek: Mom shaming is unfortunately not uncommon in today’s world. A mindset shift we can all take to stop mom shaming and help support all moms. At my mom’s group last year, somehow the topic of “unwanted” parenting advice came up in discussion. I was shocked to hear so many other moms with stories …

preschooler playing with blocks

The Best Toddler Toys for Development and Learning

Sneak peek: Play is the engine of learning in early childhood. Here’s my list of the best toddler toys to support their development and learning. What is your child’s favorite toy right now? Have you ever thought about why this toy is their favorite? Does it provide comfort? Was it given to them by someone …

parenting blogs

Meaningful Gift Ideas for New Moms

Sneak peek: Becoming a mom for the first time is joyful and exciting, but can also be a bit overwhelming. Support a mom in your life with these thoughtful gift ideas for new moms. Bringing home your first child begins the unpredictable, exciting journey that is parenthood. Although greeting card commercials would have us believe that …


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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