Are two-year-olds really so terrible, or does the world have a slightly skewed view of this sometimes difficult, sometimes adorable lot? Drs. Ames and Ilg, recognized worldwide as authorities on child behavior and development, offer parents practical advice and enlightening psychological insights on children this age. What are two-year-old girls and boys thinking and feeling? How do they see others around them? With humor and compassion, the authors describe the general characteristics of these complex toddlers: their physical growth trends, their emotional and psychological maturation. Also included are insights into how two-year-olds behave with family and other children, and advice on how to handle them, as well as tings to avoid. Included in this book: • A two-year-old’s view of the world—and himself • Bath and dressing routines • Sex differences • Stories from real life • A list of age-appropriate toys and books • A bibliography for parents “Louise Bates Ames and her colleagues synthesize a lifetime of observation of children, consultation, and discussion with parents. These books will help parents to better understand their children and will guide them through the fascinating and sometimes trying experiences of modern parenthood.”—Donald J. Cohen, M.D., Director, Yale Child Study Center, Irving B. Harris Professor of Child Psychiatry, Pediatrics, and Psychology, Yale School of Medicine

Written in a child's voice there are 71 short-stories addressing specific challenges of parenting a two-year old.

No one captures the messy but heartwarming experience of becoming a mother as accurately and hilariously as Messycow Comics In what ways is a toddler like a deadly weapon? What would it look like if your 2-year-old was an office worker? And how does being a parent completely transform one's sense of fashion? These questions and many more are the focus of the hilarious and relatable comics by Weng Chen, a thirtysomething Chinese-American cartoonist who details the realities of raising small children, growing older, and how technology and mass culture shape today's parenting experiences. The debut book collection of her Messycow Comics presents one mom's fresh, insightful, and hilarious take on the joys, absurdities, and anxieties of modern parenting.

Your Seven-Year-Old is devoted to the delightful but often anxious and withdrawn child of Seven. Although any seven-year-old will have moments of exuberance, security, and happiness, in general this is an age of introspection. As it begins, parents and teachers may welcome the quiet after the tussles and tangles of Six. But once the child of Seven starts to withdraw it’s almost as though he doesn't know where or when to stop. Seven-year-olds feel picked on by family, friends, and teachers alike; they worry that no one likes them; they expect every little task to prove too difficult to handle; tears come easily at this age. With wit and wisdom, Dr. Ames of the highly respected Gesell Institute and Carol Chase Haber offer insights into what children this age are feeling and thinking, and how parents can best deal with these moody, serious Sevens. Included in this book: • New body awareness • Sulking • Concerns about fairness • Stories from real life • Fascination with horror, gore • Threats of running away from home • Life in the second grade • Books for Sevens and the parents of Sevens “Louise Bates Ames and her colleagues synthesize a lifetime of observation of children, consultation, and discussion with parents. These books will help parents to better understand their children and will guide them through the fascinating and sometimes trying experiences of modern parenthood.”—Donald J. Cohen, M.D., Director, Yale Child Study Center, Irving B. Harris Professor of Child Psychiatry, Pediatrics, and Psychology, Yale School of Medicine

A three-year-old is a real puzzle to parents, sometimes anxious to please and befriend, sometimes strong-willed and difficult to get along with. At the heart of the three-year-old’s personality is often an emotional insecurity—and this causes a host of problems for parents! Drs. Ames and Ilg, recognized authorities on child behavior and development, help parents understand what’s going on inside that three-year-old head, what problems children have, and how to cope with the toddler who is sometimes friend, sometimes enemy. Included in this book: • Jealousy of a new sibling • Toilet training • How to improve a child’s eating habits • Friendships with peers • Common fears • Developing language skills • Nursery school • Books for parents and three-year-olds “Louise Bates Ames and her colleagues synthesize a lifetime of observation of children, consultation, and discussion with parents. These books will help parents to better understand their children and will guide them through the fascinating and sometimes trying experiences of modern parenthood.”—Donald J. Cohen, M.D., Director, Yale Child Study Center, Irving B. Harris Professor of Child Psychiatry, Pediatrics, and Psychology, Yale School of Medicine

The child from twelve to twenty-four months of age is a joy to have around—some of the time, that is. This child is growing at an incredible rate, learning to walk, learning to touch, learning to love, and learning to say “No!” for the first time. All of this can be quite a handful for the new parent. In this first book in the series from the renowned Gesell Institute, which includes Your One-Year-Old through Your Ten- to Fourteen-Year-Old, the authors discuss all important questions that concern the twelve- to twenty-four-month-old child. They examine the various stages of development between infancy and toddlerhood: what new things the child can do; how the child acts with parents and other people; what the child thinks and feels. Included in this book: • Sleeping and feeding routines • A one-year-old’s view of the world—and herself • Accomplishments and abilities • The basics of toilet training • Stories from real life • A list of age-appropriate toys and books • A bibliography for parents “Louise Bates Ames and her colleagues synthesize a lifetime of observation of children, consultation, and discussion with parents. These books will help parents to better understand their children and will guide them through the fascinating and sometimes trying experiences of modern parenthood.”—Donald J. Cohen, M.D., Director, Yale Child Study Center, Irving B. Harris Professor of Child Psychiatry, Pediatrics, and Psychology, Yale School of Medicine

What is it about four-year-olds that makes them so lovable? What problems do four-year-olds have? What can they do now that they couldn't do at three? Drs. Ames and Ilg, recognized authorities on child behavior and development, discuss these and scores of other questions unique to four-year-old girls and boys, and they offer parents practical advice and enlightening psychological insights. Can Your Four-Year-Old make you a happier, less stressed, and more efficient parent? You bet! Find out about: • Embarrassing moments . . . how to deal with a four-year-old's fascination with bowel movements, belly buttons, body parts, and forbidden words—without turning red. • Words that will work a miracle . . . what to say to give your child and instant smile, raise self-esteem, and change behavior quicker than criticism. • Hyperactivity . . . how to determine if your “always on the go” four-year-old is truly hyperactive. • Kindergarten readiness . . . school too soon can cause lifelong problems, so note this warning for parents of “fall babies.” • Encouraging creativity . . . fifteen activities you can initiate to stimulate your child's natural talents and have a great time too! • Your child's body type: round and plump or bony and angular . . . does it predict behavior, temperament, and social success? . . . and more!