Ainsworth
1913–1999 · USStrange Situation
Ainsworth shaped discourse on executive function and social entry to school through research and public writing.
School Readiness drew researchers from psychology, paediatrics, education, and anthropology.
Eight influential figures below span theory, clinical work, and global policy.
Eight guides worth knowing
Faber & Mazlish
20th c. · USParent communication
Faber & Mazlish shaped discourse on executive function and social entry to school through research and public writing.
John Gottman
b. 1942 · USEmotion coaching
John Gottman shaped discourse on executive function and social entry to school through research and public writing.
Baumrind
1927–2018 · USParenting styles
Baumrind shaped discourse on executive function and social entry to school through research and public writing.
Jane Nelsen
b. 1940 · USPositive Discipline
Jane Nelsen shaped discourse on executive function and social entry to school through research and public writing.
Ross Greene
b. 1957 · USCollaborative problem solving
Ross Greene shaped discourse on executive function and social entry to school through research and public writing.
Piaget
1896–1980 · SwitzerlandCognitive stages
Piaget shaped discourse on executive function and social entry to school through research and public writing.
William Sears
b. 1939 · USAttachment parenting
William Sears shaped discourse on executive function and social entry to school through research and public writing.
Together they moved school readiness from opinion columns toward evidence-informed frameworks still debated today.
Keep exploring
More in Everyday issues
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Sleep
Circadian development, night waking, and safe sleep environments — among the most researched and debated parenting topics globally.
Evidence 91 🍽️Feeding
Breast, bottle, solids, and picky eating — Ellyn Satter's division of responsibility frames feeding as a relational not battlefield task.
Evidence 93 📱Screen Time
Screens displace sleep, movement, and conversation — WHO, AAP, and UNESCO guidance converges on limits under five with quality over quantity debates.
Evidence 82 🚧Discipline Conflicts
When limits meet resistance — discipline conflicts escalate when stress, inconsistency, or developmental mismatch go unaddressed.
Evidence 79 👯Sibling Rivalry
Competition for attention and resources — Judy Dunn's sibling research shows conflict is normative but manageable with fair attention and teaching repair.
Evidence 76