Bowlby
1907–1990 · UKAttachment theory
Bowlby shaped discourse on autonomy and language through research and public writing.
Toddler drew researchers from psychology, paediatrics, education, and anthropology.
Eight influential figures below span theory, clinical work, and global policy.
Eight guides worth knowing
Steinberg
b. 1952 · USAdolescent brain
Steinberg shaped discourse on autonomy and language through research and public writing.
Mark Hinkley
b. 1970s · AustraliaScreen time research
Mark Hinkley shaped discourse on autonomy and language through research and public writing.
Ainsworth
1913–1999 · USStrange Situation
Ainsworth shaped discourse on autonomy and language through research and public writing.
Faber & Mazlish
20th c. · USParent communication
Faber & Mazlish shaped discourse on autonomy and language through research and public writing.
John Gottman
b. 1942 · USEmotion coaching
John Gottman shaped discourse on autonomy and language through research and public writing.
Baumrind
1927–2018 · USParenting styles
Baumrind shaped discourse on autonomy and language through research and public writing.
Jane Nelsen
b. 1940 · USPositive Discipline
Jane Nelsen shaped discourse on autonomy and language through research and public writing.
Together they moved toddler from opinion columns toward evidence-informed frameworks still debated today.
Keep exploring
More in Developmental stages
👶
Newborn
The first 28 days after birth — physiology, bonding, feeding rhythms, and the shift from womb to world.
Evidence 88 🍼Infant
From one month to twelve months — motor milestones, first foods, attachment deepening, and emerging sleep patterns.
Evidence 90 ✏️Preschool
Imaginative play, peer entry, and executive function growth define the preschool years before formal schooling.
Evidence 82 📚School Age
Industry, friendships, and academic skill-building mark middle childhood between toddler chaos and adolescent identity work.
Evidence 78 🧑🎓Teenager
Brain remodeling, identity formation, and increasing autonomy define adolescence — risk and capability both rise.
Evidence 80