Play
How Play Teaches Emotional Regulation
Play is where children first learn to manage their emotions. When a child plays out a scary situation with toys, they're practicing how to handle fear...
6 min read
20 articles found
Parenting
What Resilience Looks Like in Young Children
When we think of resilience, we might picture someone facing major adversity and bouncing back. But in young children, resilience looks quite differen...
6 min read
Parenting
Books on Attachment and Child Development
Attachment theory has become central to modern parenting discourse. You've probably heard the term "secure attachment" and wondered what it means, why...
5 min read
Emotions
Emotional Development in Children 0–5: A Parent's Guide
Emotional development is one of the most important—and often misunderstood—aspects of early childhood. From a newborn's first cries to a five-year-old...
7 min read
Emotions
Why Early Emotional Support Matters
The emotional support your child receives in their first five years isn't just about making them feel better in the moment—it's building the foundatio...
4 min read
Emotions
The Role of Parental Voice and Facial Expressions in Emotional Development
Long before an infant can understand language, they are extracting rich emotional information from the faces and voices around them. The interactive b...
3 min read
Emotions
Children's Emotional Responses to Changes in Environment
Your toddler's world is built on patterns and predictability. When that familiar environment changes—whether through a house move, a new caregiver, or...
4 min read
Emotions
Emotional Reactions in Children Aged 6–12 Months
The 6–12 month period is one of the most emotionally eventful in the first year. The relatively undifferentiated distress-calm emotional range of earl...
3 min read
Emotions
Emotions and Personality Formation in Early Childhood
Parents frequently describe noticing their child's "personality" emerging in the first year — a characteristic way of relating to novelty, intensity,...
3 min read
Emotions
The Role of Physical Contact in an Infant's Emotional Development
The question of whether it is possible to hold a baby "too much" reflects a cultural anxiety that has little basis in developmental science. For infan...
3 min read
Emotions
Normal Versus Concerning Emotional Responses
Parents often worry whether their child's emotional responses are normal. Is this tantrum typical? Is this anxiety concerning? Is this aggression some...
4 min read
Emotions
Emotional Adaptation of a Newborn to Life Outside the Womb
The newborn period is often discussed in terms of feeding, sleep, and physical milestones. Less often discussed is the emotional dimension of what a b...
3 min read
Emotions
Emotional Learning Through Everyday Interaction
Parents who feel they need to do something special to support their child's emotional development often already have the most powerful tool available:...
3 min read
Emotions
Early Signs of Independent Emotions After the First Year
In the first year, a baby's emotions are largely about immediate states — hunger, discomfort, pleasure, fear. After the first birthday, a new category...
3 min read
Emotions
Emotional Development in Children Aged 24–36 Months
Parents who have survived the worst of the two-year period often describe a noticeable shift around the third birthday — a child who is still passiona...
3 min read
Emotions
Emotional Development in Children Aged 12–18 Months
Parents who described their 8-month-old as "easy" and their 14-month-old as "a completely different child" are observing a real developmental shift. T...
3 min read
Emotions
Emotional Development in Children Aged 18–24 Months
The 18–24 month period is frequently described by parents as "the most challenging yet." Understanding what is driving the emotional intensity — rathe...
3 min read
Emotions
When to Consult a Child Psychologist
Many parents wonder whether their young child's behavioral or emotional difficulties warrant professional help. Some concerns are normal developmental...
5 min read
Emotions
Attachment Formation During the First Six Months of Life
Attachment theory, developed by John Bowlby and extended by Mary Ainsworth, provides the most influential framework for understanding how infants deve...
3 min read
Daycare
How a Good Caregiver Supports Emotional Development
A good caregiver does far more than manage logistics. They actively support your child's emotional development through daily interactions that teach e...
6 min read