A field guide for humans? What does this mean? Field guides are reference tools for naturalists interested in enriching their experiences in nature by improving their stewardship of the environment. They guide observation - what should one look for? - and they offer suggestions for how to care for the ecology and it's natural elements, whether flora or fauna. 

Humans are also fauna [Homo Sapiens] who live in rich and varied ecologies, and when it comes to the care and keeping of our young, a simple shift in point-of-view can make a world of difference. For example, when caring for children is viewed like gardening (e.g., Gopnik, 2016), one's approach to supporting children's growth shifts into a headspace that centers on nourishing moments to bring about flourishing for that particular child. With a varied ecology that allows children to explore and grow following their own unique needs, children and families can thrive. Throughout human's protracted developmental-pathway journeys, threats to flourishing emerge. When carers know what to look for and how to respond, these momentary threats are transformed into inflection points. In each chapter linked below, you will learn more about this. 

Please note that this website is a collective effort undertaken by undergraduate students enrolled in a Psychology course on "Trends in Developmental Science." These students have taken what they've learned and formatted it into this digital "human flourishing" field guide so that others may benefit. What's the point of "doing science" if we don't share the outcome of our science with folks who can use it? We hope you enjoy your visit to this site, and wish you well on your caring journey. 

-- Professor Erica Kleinknecht 

January 23rd, 2026

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