Your Two-Year-Old : Terrible or Tender

Rating:
Summary: Good basic information but more detailed stuff is out-of-dat
Review: A nice, reassuring read for parents in the throes of the "No!"s. It's heartening to learn that your kid isn't the only one who's suddenly become stubborn and negative. But some of the advice seems to be based on conjecture rather than solid, large-scale studies of kids. The authors, for instance, never make a cogent case for limiting toddlers' choices. And their contention that bright toddlers often dim as they get older is dated at best; more recent research supports continuity in cognitive development. A MUCH better book: Becoming the Parent You Want to Be.

Rating:
Summary: Good basic information but more detailed stuff is out-of-dat
Review: A nice, reassuring read for parents in the throes of the "No!"s. It's heartening to learn that your kid isn't the only one who's suddenly become stubborn and negative. But some of the advice seems to be based on conjecture rather than solid, large-scale studies of kids. The authors, for instance, never make a cogent case for limiting toddlers' choices. And their contention that bright toddlers often dim as they get older is dated at best; more recent research supports continuity in cognitive development. A MUCH better book: Becoming the Parent You Want to Be.

Rating:
Summary: Your one-year-old: The Fun loving fussy 12-24 month old
Review: During his years as director of the child development institute at Yale University, Arnold Gesell pioneered techniques for observation of infants, children, and adolescents. He emphasized the kinds of norms or behaviors found to be associated with certain ages. Gesell is the father of developmental norms. This book, as well as the others, are developmentally based. Many books out there are not. This book is terrific for 1st time parents and others who simply don't know what is normal behavior.

Rating:
Summary: Dated is right!
Review: I haven't finished this book yet but its one-parent perspective is obsolete, at best. Phrases like "when Daddy helps out" just make my skin crawl. And who should the mother turn to when she needs a break? A sister, grandmother, or aunt. Hello? I don't personally know any families, even with one parent at home, who don't share childcare responsibilities. It's hard to take any of her insights without a grain of salt. Desperately in need of an update/revision.

Rating:
Summary: Superb!
Review: My daughter is now 19. The only way I made it through the "twos" was due to the sensibilities and information contained herein. A must have!

Rating:
Summary: The best ever written for understanding two year olds.
Review: The book offers a parent an understanding of both the physical and emotional development of two year olds. It shows how the two relate to behaviors and how different personalities handle this stage of development. The information is well organized and easily understood.

Rating:
Summary: Dated but Succinct, Relevant & Nonjudgmental
Review: This book is great at describing child behavior for this turbulent year. Its strength is in giving comfort to parents that they are probably doing a pretty good job. Yes, everyone tells you twos are hard, but this book spells out exactly how and why. Really leaves you with a sense of comfort that the spoiled egocentric behavior is not lifelong, but a necessary development.

The book does not claim to offer a solution or be the perfect expert (thank you!), but gives a few suggestions to parents to get through this period of development. I left my reading of it feeling much better about my parenting job.

Some of the language is dated (as are most classics), but I hang onto the statement, "every mother of a 2 1/2 year old needs plenty of breaks." Although one commentator questions the author's suggestion to limit choices at 2 1/2, she seems to limit that to this tough period where the child has a lot of new things happening. Limiting choices really helped in our case.

I recommend this book for any parent with a two year old.

Rating:
Summary: Dated but Succinct, Relevant & Nonjudgmental
Review: This book is great at describing child behavior for this turbulent year. Its strength is in giving comfort to parents that they are probably doing a pretty good job. Yes, everyone tells you twos are hard, but this book spells out exactly how and why. Really leaves you with a sense of comfort that the spoiled egocentric behavior is not lifelong, but a necessary development.

The book does not claim to offer a solution or be the perfect expert (thank you!), but gives a few suggestions to parents to get through this period of development. I left my reading of it feeling much better about my parenting job.

Some of the language is dated (as are most classics), but I hang onto the statement, "every mother of a 2 1/2 year old needs plenty of breaks." Although one commentator questions the author's suggestion to limit choices at 2 1/2, she seems to limit that to this tough period where the child has a lot of new things happening. Limiting choices really helped in our case.

I recommend this book for any parent with a two year old.

Rating:
Summary: excellent reference series
Review: This series of books (Your "X" Year Old) is a helpful reference for the parent. While in certain places the information seems dated or offbeat, generally the books are very helpful. They are at their best when recounting detailed observations of what "typical" two year olds say and do. Suggestions for "techniques" of getting through daily tasks with the two year old are helpful. A needed reassurance that neither you, nor your child, is abnormal.

Rating:
Summary: Wonderful reference
Review: Yes, this series of books can be a bit out of date in places. But if the reader recognizes and accommodates that, these are still -- by far -- the best books of their kind on the market. Like the others in this series, this book addresses the timeless issues of appropriate developmental milestones, including cognitive abilities, interaction with others, attention span, language recognition, interpersonal relationships, etc.

The text is reasonably neutral and instructive on hot topics such as discipline, sleep habits, and diet.

We have found this series of books to be an outstanding resource. If you look in the back of the popular Doris Herman book about preschool, you will find that she does, too.