What is it about rocks? Is it that you can sort them and count them? Or that each one feels and looks entirely unique in your hand?

Creativity gives children a powerful way to explore ideas, express themselves, and make sense of the world. Yet many parents aren’t sure how to encourage it at home, especially if they don’t consider themselves “artsy.”

Dear Molly,

I always imagined I'd be a calm, patient mom. I love my children more than anything, but motherhood has brought out a side of me I don't recognize. I find myself yelling more than I ever thought I would, and afterward I'm crushed with guilt. I worry that these moments are becoming my children's childhood memories and that I'm doing permanent damage to our relationship. I always apologize, but sometimes I wonder if apologies even matter when it keeps happening. How do I know if I'm hurting my kids, and if I am, how do I start repairing the relationship?

We champion teachers because we know the research: their work is foundational to children’s cognitive, social, and emotional development. At a time when the value of educators and the support they need is too often overlooked, it is more important than ever to name and uplift their impact. In partnership with families, teachers help build the foundation for children’s early development and lifelong learning.

Dear Molly, I received an email from my kindergartener’s teacher saying he kissed a boy in class and had tried to kiss a girl the day before. The teacher told the children that kissing is for family and asked me to talk with him about “sharing love in a different way.”

A therapist and new mom shares her personal journey with parenting anxiety, self-judgment, and the "comparison conundrum," inspired by a viral Bluey episode. Learn simple strategies for self-regulation and finding perspective to combat parental overwhelm.

A guide for parents navigating divorce, focusing on the first steps to support children's healthy adjustment. Learn how to minimize parental conflict, maintain routines, align on co-parenting structures, and understand age-specific needs for children (ages 2–18) to thrive post-separation.

Discover why "protective optimism"—the tendency for young children to overestimate their abilities—is a crucial factor for persistence, self-efficacy, and positive early childhood development.

As another year comes to a close, we find ourselves reflecting on the extraordinary moments of play, learning, and community that have filled 2025.