
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
7 Advent Calendars that Foster Kindness
Sneak peek: Are you trying to focus your kids more on kindness this holiday season? This collection of kindness advent calendar ideas 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 takes me back …
Why You Keep Losing Your Temper With Your Toddler—and What Helps
Sneak peek: Losing patience with your toddler is not something most of us would hold up as our best parenting moment, but it happens. Research offers us some insight into the underlying reason why it’s hard to keep your cool. As most parents know, feeling some degree of fatigue on a daily basis is an …
How to Be a Happy Stay-at-Home Mom: 11 Realistic Tips
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 …
Stay-at-Home Mom Routine: 3 Simple Habits That Make Moms Happier
Sneak peek: Feeling overwhelmed as a stay-at-home mom? Learn what research says about routines, child development, and creating a realistic stay-at-home mom routine that benefits you and your child. I still vividly remember the day my husband went back to work after the birth of our first son. It was my first day at home …
LIfe 360 Alternatives: The Best Family Safety App for 2026
Sneak peek: Looking for Life360 alternatives? One parent’s take on the best family safety apps for 2026…and the private tracking option they found. This post is sponsored by HeyPolo. All opinions, stories, and experiences shared are my own. My son had just started driving, and like a lot of parents, I downloaded a tracking app …
Teen Driving Safety Tips for Nervous Parents (From One Who’s Been There)
Sneak peek: Teen driving safety tips from a parent who’s been there. Tips for coaching better habits, spot risky driving, and monitor without hovering This post is sponsored by HeyPolo. All opinions, stories, and experiences shared are my own. My 17-year-old son has been driving for a few years now (if you count the permit …



















