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Early Learning & Parenting Research

Father sitting patiently with his upset young son
Tantrums by Age: What Changes at 18 Months, 2, and 3
The brain science behind tantrums is the same at every age. What actually works to help changes a lot between 18 months and age 3. Here is what to do... Read more...
Toddler having fun with mother in the nursery room
Kind and Firm in Practice: Scripts for the Moments That Test It Most
Our piece on kind and firm parenting covers the why. This is the practical part: exact scripts for the five moments that test the approach most. Read more...
Father and daughter watching cartoons together on a tablet
How Much Screen Time Is Okay for Toddlers? A Calm, Realistic Answer
The guilt around screen time is often heavier than the screens themselves. Here is a calm, realistic look at what actually matters, and what does not. Read more...
Happy mother bonding with her child
Why Naming Feelings Actually Calms Toddlers Down (And How to Teach It)
The real reason naming a feeling calms a toddler down, why most cartoon feelings books miss the point, and how to actually build this skill before the next meltdown. Read more...
Mother feeding her toddler on the couch at home
Kind and Firm: The Parenting Shift Replacing Gentle Parenting in 2026
Gentle parenting's biggest 2026 shift, kind and firm boundaries backed by real research, what it looks like day to day, and why the online backlash to permissive parenting is actually... Read more...
Toddler girl at the table not wanting to eat lunch
Toddler Picky Eating: Why It Happens and What Actually Helps
Picky eating is a normal developmental phase, not a failure. Why toddlers get picky, and the low-pressure approach that actually eases mealtime battles. Read more...
Mother and daughter standing by an open door to the garden
Separation Anxiety in Babies and Toddlers: Why It Happens and What Helps
Separation anxiety is a sign of healthy attachment, not a setback. Why it happens, when it peaks, and gentle strategies for goodbyes, bedtime, and beyond. Read more...
Mother teaching her son to draw at a small table
Toddler Hitting and Biting: What It Really Means (And What to Do)
Toddler biting and hitting explained by developmental science. The 4 triggers, in-the-moment response scripts, and prevention strategies that actually work. Read more...
Father and son sharing a warm connected moment
Beyond Gentle Parenting: How to Set Boundaries Without Losing the Connection
Gentle parenting burnout is real — and it usually comes from a misapplication of the philosophy, not the philosophy itself. Here's how to keep the warmth and add back the... Read more...
Happy family sitting together in the park at sunset
What Parenting Style Is Actually Right for My Family? The Honest Guide to Hybrid Parenting
Hybrid parenting — deliberately combining the strongest elements from multiple parenting philosophies — is what most thoughtful parents are actually doing. Here's the research behind it and how to build... Read more...
Little girl watching stories on a tablet
How Much Screen Time Is Too Much for Toddlers? What the Research Actually Says (And What to Do Instead)
The real answer on toddler screen time limits — what pediatricians recommend, what the research shows, and what to do instead that actually works. Read more...
Mother comforting a crying toddler with a warm hug
Toddler Tantrums: The Brain Science Behind Why They Happen and Scripts That Actually Help
Toddler tantrums are not manipulation or bad behavior. They are the result of a nervous system that is not yet equipped to regulate overwhelming emotion. Here is the brain science... Read more...