If you could choose one toddler/young child AP resource

[mtbmomma]

I'm not sure if this is the right thread to put this, but I was wondering if anyone could recommend a book for APing a toddler/young child. I know there are probably a lot out there, but finances are short and I would love to know which, if just one, you would recommend. I may just check it out of the library, but it would be nice to have something around to refer to when things come up. I feel like APing a baby was easy, but I have this feeling I am going to do the wrong thing with my toddler/child and screw her up or something. I know it's unlikely, but I worry just the same.

[meemee]

unfortunately there is no easy answer.

there is no one great book.

it all depends on your philosophy and your child's personality.

what book might work for me might be a total misfit for your child.

honestly more than a book, mama's here and the gentle discipline thread have helped me much more.

you will screw up your kid. there is no avoiding that. not to the extreme level but you will do something that will not be right. but they survive and live thru it. part of it is coz its their experience and you can do nothing to influence that.

for my then 2 year old, inspite of all her toys and other stuff, she told her teacher her favourite game was blowing dandelions with mama. yet that same game was a no brainer for me. it was so unimportant. i had no idea it had such an impact on her.

teh other day now 7 year old expressed a need. which surprised me because i thought i was meeting it. yes i was but not in the way she wanted it.

for me the key was perspective. perspective that i got from the gentle discipline forum. that your child is just struggling to learn the rules of society and how to express emotions.

another big key was you taking care of yourself. a happy mama, a happy baby. you get enough rest or adult company or whatever you would like to do and you dont get that frustrated anymore.

my 'book' was MDC and other mothers.

[Carlyle]

"Becoming the Parent You Want to Be." It's my gift at every baby shower since it was given to me before my dd's birth. I love it.

[TiredX2]

Moved to Books, Music & Other Media

[mtbmomma]

Thanks for the advice I will check out that book. I know there are many options, and I can't just rely on a book, but it would be nice to have some resources. Thanks for moving, I guess I should have realized that would be a better location to post.

[treespeak]

I got a lot out of Naomi Aldorf's Raising Our Children, Raising Ourselves when DS was about that age

[contactmaya]

"Connection Parenting" by Pam Leo. Powerful in its simplicity.

[aprons_and_acorns]

Originally Posted by Carlyle

"Becoming the Parent You Want to Be." It's my gift at every baby shower since it was given to me before my dd's birth. I love it.

I agree, that's the book that came to mind for me as well. What a great baby shower gift! I may steal your idea.

Not only is it an awesome parenting book, it's also one of the most universal. Whether you are working or staying home, married or single, bf'ing or ff'ing, religious or not, etc, etc, the book can be a helpful resource and a source of encouragement.

[aprons_and_acorns]

Sorry for the double-post, but I just had another suggestion too. It's out of print, but if you can find a copy of Mister Rogers Talks With Parents, that is an awesome AP-style book for parents of toddlers/preschoolers. Used copies are available on Amazon for just a couple of dollars, but I got it from our library.