Hello! Just for fun, what is your favorite parenting book for toddlers? Give the title, author, and tell what you like about it. I look forward to everyone's responses.
Definitely the Parenting with Love and Logic. First one was for teens only. Now there are other age groups.
Before my son was born my mother gave us the book "Babyproofing Your Marriage" by Cathy O'Neill Stacie Cockrell, and Julia Stone,.
It is a really funny book written by three very different women and it talks about how to avoid major pitfalls that happen post-baby, including sex, money and parenting. Not only is it funny, but it offers the perspectives of their husbands as well. The message throughout the book is about communicating, remembering why you got married in the first place, remembering "how" you got preggers and not neglecting that arena, and making sure you stay connected when your children are young and you are crazy.
I have given it to several women as part of their shower gifts!
NurtureShock, by Po Bronson and Ashley Merryman
Favorite up till now - I love the whole "What to Expect" series
The Bible. It's appropriate no matter what age the kids are, although I admit to relying more on it since my son hit his teen years :-)
The Bible teaches patience, love, forgiveness, and understanding. It provides guidance and support, and is a great instruction manual for my whole life, not just parenting.
The only "parenting" book I ever read is called "The Blessing of a Skinned Knee" by Wendy Mogel. It has a Jewish bent to it, but it would be applicable no matter what your religious background, I would think. It's not so much a "how to" book as a way to think about the goals of parenting. It's kind of a meta-parenting book. Anyway, I loved it, and it affirmed a lot of what I thought about parenting, so I decided to stop there. : )
Smart Discipline by "Larry J. Koenig, Ph.D." is a great book. I currently use his techniques (adapted) with my 2 year old. Works Great:)
Love and Logic all the way (Parenting with Love and Logic book, the early childhood book, their website, audio downloads, the seminars offered at local churches). http://www.loveandlogic.com/
Raising Our Children, RAising Ourselves Naomi Aldort
Unconditional Parenting, Alfie Kohn
Connection PArenting Pam Leo
I've read quite a few parenting books, but the one that jumps out at me is Setting Limits with Your Strong-Willed Child by Robert J. MacKenzie.
I bought it to find out how to deal with my stubborn and wild 3-year-old daughter, but I found it had great advice for parents with any types of kids, not just the strong-willed ones!
Back to Basics Discipline by Janet Campell Matson. It is written by a grandmother who successfully raised her happy kids to be great parents. It is very clear and simple on how to enforce respectful mature behavior in children within a timeless loving approach. My kids (5, 3 and 19 months) are wonderful and happy and almost never need discipline and some of my best tips came from this book. You can preview it on the website to see if it's up your alley before buying:
www.backtobasicsdiscipline.com.
The specific Love and Logic for toddlers that I would recommend is the one that is The Magic of Early Childhood. It gives examples and solutions.
I leaned heavily on "The Happiest Toddler on the Block" by Dr. Harvey Karp (although we rented the DVD for it instead and it was easier to understand than reading the book).
Now, lean on Shepherding A Child's Heart by Tedd Tripp.
I love the Love and Logic books by Jim and Charles Fay. There is one for birth to age six. It's great!
