There is a tension between our desire to get our kids to turn out a particular way versus letting them develop to be their own person. If there were a pill that would make my child turn out the way I wanted, I'm not sure I'd take it.

Adults often assume that most learning is the result of teaching and that exploratory, spontaneous learning is unusual. But actually, spontaneous learning is more fundamental.

Becoming an adult means leaving the world of your parents and starting to make your way toward the future that you will share with your peers.

Caring, whether for children or the dying, shouldn't be instrumental. It should be an intrinsic, moral good.

I'm afraid the parenting advice to come out of developmental psychology is very boring: pay attention to your kids and love them.

Owning our past allows us to own our future.

Adults tend to think they have much free will. Kids younger than six are less sure. They may be more realistic!