Favorite Books About Parenting Toddlers?

[not_telling]

I tried a search but didn't have the energy to go through all the unrealted threads that came up. Looking for a list of books that deal with:

*Understanding toddler development (social/emotional, physical, cognitive)
*Dealing with those many different kinds of exasperating "toddler moments"
*Raising wonderful kids
*Parental coping

I've seen Playful Parenting mentioned a lot. In reading the description I wasn't sure if it would be helpful or not. I'm already on board with "kids need to play, play, play and parents should play, too" - is it more than that? Will it help with the above-mentioned bulleted points?

DS just turned 2 and I'm feeling a little worried about these next couple years. Sometimes I can be very laid-back and give him space to go through what he needs to go through...and other times I'm just annoyed as all get-out and feel like all my buttons are being pushed and that I could probably be handling things in a better, more sanity-saving way.

[c'est moi]

on my local api listserv, i've heard the following mentioned. and after a recent especially exasperating toddler day, i requested ALL of them from my local library . was going to start reading any minute now.

• Nurtureshock : new thinking about children by Bronson, Po,
• The no-cry discipline solution : gentle ways to encourage good behavior without whining, tantrums & tears by Pantley, Elizabeth.
• Raising a thinking child : help your young child to resolve everyday conflicts and get along with others by Shure, Myrna B.
• The secret lives of toddlers : a parent's guide to the wonderful, terrible, fascinating behavior of children ages 1 to 3
• How to talk so kids will listen & listen so kids will talkby Faber, Adele.
• Parenting with love and logic : teaching children responsibility by Cline, Foster.

[Jayray]

I just finished reading most of "Making the Terrible Twos Terrific" by John Rosemond and I liked it. He's probably not super AP or completely "gentle" discipline, but he talks a lot about "management" as opposed to discipline--so you think ahead and try to avoid situations that will tempt your child to misbehave. If they have a tantrum, you take them to a place where they're allowed to tantrum, etc.

He talks a lot about development in the beginning of the book, too.

Anywho, my kid is only 14 mo, so I don't know how his suggestions will work out in practice.

[calebsmommy25]

I enjoyed reading Nurtureshock. It was full of intrigue. I'm also on the hunt for some good books. Whatever you do...don't get the Bringing Up Boys book by James Dobson. I skimmed through it once in the book store and was appalled.

[MamaLoveBug]

I would definitely recommend Playful Parenting! I picked it up, thinking I would get suggestions for good games with toddlers. Far, far more thoughtful and thought-provoking book. Its almost midnight, so I can't give you much better detail than that right now. But I found Cohen's take on what children think and feel, how they respond and why they respond the way they do and what they need from us- all enlightening to me.

Also, have you tried The Happiest Toddler on the Block? I've thumbed through this one and I think it would hit on most of the points you are looking for!

Happy book hunting!

[keeptryst]

"Raising Our Children, Raising Ourselves" by Naomi Aldort.

It is not about gentle ways to control a child, but about a way of being and of understanding a child so she/he can be the best of herself, not because she fears you, but because she wants to, of her own free will.

[MamaLoveBug]

Originally Posted by keeptryst

"Raising Our Children, Raising Ourselves" by Naomi Aldort.

It is not about gentle ways to control a child, but about a way of being and of understanding a child so she/he can be the best of herself, not because she fears you, but because she wants to, of her own free will.

Whole heartedly agree with this suggestion!!!

[AKislandgirl]

Originally Posted by keeptryst

"Raising Our Children, Raising Ourselves" by Naomi Aldort.

It is not about gentle ways to control a child, but about a way of being and of understanding a child so she/he can be the best of herself, not because she fears you, but because she wants to, of her own free will.

I just started reading this book and love it so far!