Written by parents for parents! We humans are pretty clever. We’ve mastered fire, invented the wheel, calculated the age of the Universe, sent people to the Moon, built machines that think, and cracked the genome. So you’d think that with all our smarts, somebody would’ve come up with a surefire formula for raising kids. Maybe that’s because every child, like every parent, is an individual, and no two parent-child relationships are ever the same. So, you can give up any notions of being a perfect parent. But, you can learn to keep the big mistakes to a minimum and make the parenting enterprise easier and more rewarding for your children and you. Which is where this book comes in. Whether you’re child is a newborn, a teen, or somewhere in-between, Parenting For Dummies gives you the scoop on parenting basics. From dealing with a crying baby and potty training, to building self-esteem and talking with them about sex, it offers a gold mine of up-to-date advice and guidance on how to: Learn to communicate with your kids Develop a good relationship with your kids Keep your kids safe and healthy Help your kids grow up to be good people Keep your cool and control their behavior Discipline constructively and with a minimum of stress Build self-esteem in your children Avoid committing the parenting sins your parents taught you Experts Sandy and Dan Gookin—she’s the parenting expert for Parents Magazine and Working Mother Magazine and he’s a father of four—avoid the psychological hype and medical terminology and give you the straight poop on all aspects of child-rearing, including: Speaking and listening to kids The importance of being consistent Keeping a sense of humor Dealing with babies Childhood growth and development Health and nutrition Kids’ changing physical needs Developing a good person Parenting For Dummies gives you the know-how and skills you need to be the parent of healthy, happy kids.

So, you wanna turn Junior into a smarty-pants? What parent doesn't? Thing is, kids nowadays are more independent than ever and aren't always receptive to what parents want. In fact, if you tell your kids that studying is "good for them," they're more than likely to mumble, "Yeah, sure," in your general direction and head off to do something "fun." Sharpening the minds of your youngsters presents more challenges than climbing Mt. Everest, and the responsibility of making your kids use more of their brain cells can be overwhelming – even when you don't encounter resistance. Raising smart kids requires long-term commitment, sacrifice, and diligence – not to mention the patience of a saint. And as long as you don't obsess about being the perfect parent, you will be able to enjoy your kids' journey of self-discovery right along with them. But how do you accomplish this? How do you overcome the resistance? How do you tackle the overwhelming task of not only helping your children succeed in school, but also increasing their ability to make their own way in the world? That's where Raising Smart Kids For Dummies steps in to help. Written in easy-to-understand terms (and absolutely no slick psycho-babble), this book gives you sound advice on encouraging your kids to set their sights high and achieve success, whether at school, with friends, or in your community. And you don't have to be a new parent to gain insight from this book; experienced parents can reap rewards with the help of this book in their effort to raise fulfilled children. Here's just a sampling of what you'll find in Raising Smart Kids For Dummies: Recognizing the characteristics of smart kids Knowing when to push – and when not to Disciplining your kids in a positive way Growing smarter kids from healthier bodies Planning the development of your kids' brains: From newborns to teenagers Taking your smart kids beyond high school Eliminating brain drain from school-skipping, drug abuse, and raging hormones Top Ten lists of family characteristics that nurture smart kids, what smart kids read, and resources for bolstering parents' confidence You've heard it said a thousand times: The children are the future. Children have such potential, but rarely live up to it. Why take this chance with your own kids? Make the commitment to prepare your kids for life on their own. With Raising Smart Kids For Dummies, you, too, can achieve success – and have a little fun along the way!

Welcome to the wild, wonderful world of single parenting—one of the toughest, most thankless jobs in Universe. The good news is that you’re not alone. Over the last decade the ranks of single parents has swelled to a whopping ten million in the United States alone, forcing business and government to accommodate more of your needs. Also, society’s perceptions of single parents have changed. It’s now perfectly acceptable, even admirable to be a single mom or dad. Still, unless you’re independently wealthy and have nothing to do but work at being a perfect parent, you can use all the help you can get in making single parenting work for you and your kids. Single Parenting For Dummies to the rescue! Whether you’re already a single parent or soon to become one, this warm, friendly guide will be a source of encouragement and ideas. Packed with proven solutions to most of the challenges single parents face, it show you how to: Balance work and family life Develop strong relationships with your kids Help kids adjust to the trauma of divorce Manage your time—and money Develop a successful co-parenting plan Deal with dating and remarriage Raise happy, healthy well-adjusted kids Know when to seek professional help and how to find it Drawing upon their own experiences and expertise and the experiences of single parents whose stories they share throughout the book, psychotherapist Marion Peterson and bestselling self-help author Diane Warner, cover all the bases, including: Adjusting to single parent status Managing your time and sharing resources with other single parents Avoiding the five biggest single parent money mistakes Keeping close to your kids and considering their point of view Developing a co-parenting plan and making sure all parties stick to it Dealing peacefully with stepparents and former in-laws Keeping your cool when resolving parenting problems Staying physically and psychologically fit Yes, you can raise happy, healthy well-adjusted kids while keeping your sanity and your health in tact, and now Single Parenting For Dummies shows you how.

A complete and comprehensive guide to why kids behave and think the way they do-and how to bring out the best in them. In the U.S., more than 10% of children are diagnosed with psychiatric disorders, while countless others remain undiagnosed. Defining what is "normal" and what is not is of great concern to anyone who works with, guides, nurtures, teaches, or parents children. With new discoveries in mental disorders that affect children, Child Psychology & Development For Dummies provides an informational guide to cognitive development at every stage of a child's life, as well as how to diagnose, treat, and overcome the cognitive barriers that impede learning and development. How to identify and treat mental disorders Covers behavior disorders, autism, attention deficit disorder, reading disabilities, bipolar disorder, and more Guidance on helping a child control impulses, develop self esteem, and have good relationships An essential guide for parents, teachers, and caregivers, Child Psychology & Development For Dummies provides a detailed overview of an average child's cognitive development, how to detect abnormalities, and what to do next.

Everything new and experienced parents need to know about their baby’s first 12 months to give them the best start in life Each year, more than 4 million babies are born in the United States-and the first year of a baby's life is a joyous, challenging, and sometimes overwhelming time. Your Baby's First Year For Dummies serves as a complete guide for baby's first twelve months, from what to do when arriving home from the hospital to handling feeding, bathing, and sleeping routines to providing the right stimuli for optimal progress. This comprehensive yet no-nonsense guide can help new or even seasoned moms and dads looking for tips and advice to help with every aspect of their baby's development. During Baby’s first year, at times things will go well: Baby’s sleeping and eating well, she’s hitting milestones on time, and you’re balancing childcare with work or with housekeeping. Then again, there are times when things aren’t great. This jargon-free book takes a realistic look at what Baby’s first year might be like, month by month. You’ll find it helpful if you’re pregnant and wondering what Baby’s first year will be like; you have given birth and want to know what the months ahead hold; you have given birth and need advice from a book that doesn’t talk down to you or make you feel as though there’s something wrong with you (because there’s not) if you’re having a hard time making the adjustment to parenthood. Packed with tips on every aspect of baby's physical, emotional, and social development, Your Baby's First Year For Dummies gives you advice on topics like the following: Bonding with Baby Breastfeeding vs. bottle-feeding Baby’s first checkup Baby’s checkups at two months, four months, six months, nine months, and twelve months Sleeping habits Teething Baby toy safety and preventing injuries Food preparation and food allergies Traveling with your baby Signs of common illnesses Planning Baby’s 1-year party And much more Additionally, Your Baby's First Year For Dummies provides tips for surviving the first few weeks, Daddy survival tips, and advice on when to call your pediatrician (and when not to). If Baby has arrived or you expect her soon, get your copy to make every moment count.

The demand for child-care spaces is huge. According to the National Center for Education Statistics, approximately 13 million children under the age of six spend some or all of their day being cared for by someone other than their parents. The child-care shortage is everyone's problem – for parents (whether you work outside the home or not), employers, and the children. The prospect of choosing the right childcare can be overwhelming. Put your mind at ease with Choosing Childcare For Dummies. This reference guide is brimming with practical advice to help you find high-quality childcare for the child in your life – whether he or she is a biological child, stepchild, grandchild, foster child, or the child of your significant other. From figuring out affordability to knowing what to do if you suspect neglect or abuse, Choosing Childcare For Dummies covers it all. Inside the book you'll find out how to Weigh the pros and cons of your various child-care options Determine high quality childcare Evaluate out-of-home childcare Hire a nanny or a relative for in-home care Get guidance on the legal issues of being an employer Conduct a reference check Determine if you need a "nanny cam" Recognize the ten signs that your child-care arrangement is in trouble Ease your child into a new child-care arrangement Find back-up childcare Because the United States has no countrywide child-care “system” in place, we’ve ended up with a patchwork quilt of regulations that don’t quite mesh the way they should. This is why so many child-care programs are exempt from the child-care legislation that’s intended to protect children. The bottom line? You can’t count on anyone else to guarantee your child’s health, safety, and well-being in a particular child-care setting. Like it or not, the buck stops with you. That’s why you owe it to yourself and your child to read books like this one that show you how to be a savvy day-care consumer.

"New stories & strategies based on ... 'How to talk so kids will listen & listen so kids will talk'"--Cover.