The years before school starts are full of challenges and learning experiences for your child, when they learn to talk and start to learn that words have meaning. Children also start to gain independence at this age.
Love, laughter and parenting: in the years from birth to six
Steve and Shaaron Biddulph
A well laid out and easy to read book from the well informed Biddulph couple from Australia. This book is packed with reliable information as well as heart felt wisdom that will appeal to busy parents. Providing support while not pulling any punches, this book is a must read.
Reviewed by Erika
Brain child: How smart parents make smart kids
Tony Buzan
This book brings together ideas about child development that have been talked about for years into one easy to handle book. It brings together the theory and personal stories to show how the littlest things that parents do can greatly improve the development of their children. Something as simple as playing music to your unborn child or reading to them daily can improve their rate of development. A great resource for parents.
Reviewed by Erika
Move baby move: A New Zealand guide to fostering your child's brain development through everyday activity
Sophie Foster and Jerome Hartigan
Laid out in the form of questions and answers under four main sections, this book is packed with helpful and supportive advice. Covering different stages of child development, this book reassures about normal stages of development, while also encouraging parents to support their children becoming well developed physically and emotionally.
Reviewed by Erika
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Fit kids: A practical guide to raising healthy and active children – from birth to teens
Mary L. Gavin, Steven A Dowshen, and Neil Izenberg
This is another great book from Dorling Kindersley that is focused on helping you to raise healthy and fit children and teenagers. There is good information for parents to help them understand more about dietary and nutrition needs of children and teenagers, as well as the pitfalls of modern diets. There is also a great section of exercises for older children, and ideas for helping you to make the whole family fitter and healthier.
Reviewed by Erika
Beyond toddlerdom tips: Quick fixes for keeping children five to twelve on the rails
Dr Christopher Green
Focused on positive parenting, this little book is full of good ideas for parents of children who have started school right up until the ‘tweens start. Well laid out, with short, punchy sentences, this book is also great for parents on the go or for parents who are looking for an answer to a specific question. A great read from one of the worlds best known experts about raising children.
Reviewed by Erika
Tantrums: Understanding and coping with your child's emotions
Eileen Hayes
There is nothing more frustrating than having your child throw a tantrum – especially in public. This book is a great introduction to the world of temper tantrums – explaining why children throw tantrums. As well as providing strategies for dealing with tantrums, it offers advice on dealing with tantrums and the warning signs that a tantrum is evident.
Reviewed by Erika
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Positive discipline: The first three years
Jane Nelsen, Cheryl Erwin and Roslyn Duffy
Should I let my child watch television, should I let them sleep in bed with us? And what should I do if they bite, lie, have tantrums or hit other kids? This book contains information on learning, discipline and child development. It contains plenty of case studies and examples to keep it interesting. However, the information is fairly conservative, so take some of it with a grain of salt.
Reviewed by Lara
Kid cooperation: How to stop yelling, nagging & pleading and get kids to cooperate
Elizabeth Pantley
Told with a sense of humour, this book tackles the topic of parenting in a light manner that still provides really good foundations for parenting your way – but without fussing and fighting with your kids. Starting from the parenting style quiz, there are practical suggestions, questions and answers, and plenty of positive examples. If you are after a more “child whisperer” approach to raising your children then this could be the book for you.
Reviewed by Erika
Ages and stages: a parent's guide to normal childhood development
Dr. Charles E. Schaefer and Theresa Foy DiGeronimo
This book provides a general over view of what milestones children normally reach by certain ages. The information is well laid out and is based on scientific information from various American studies, and practical observations of children. Although children develop differently, this book helps you to decide when it may be time to seek help from a professional. Highly recommended reading.
Reviewed by Erika
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Springboard to reading and writing: How parents can help their children 3 to 6 years
Kerrie Shanahan
This is a very practically focused book that encourages parents to focus more on their own childs achievements rather than what is “normal”. There is practical advice to help parents encourage language development and other literacy skills based around everyday things that everyday parents can do. It is a well laid out book which is easy to understand. A highly recommended read.
Reviewed by Erika
From birth to five years: Children's developmental progress
Mary D. Sheridan
This is a helpful book, particularly if you have concerns that your child may not be developing at the same rate as other children. The well structured layout of this book is particularly helpful, and the information can help you decide when it is time to seek professional advice about your childs development.
Reviewed by Erika
Bright start: Understand and stimulate your childs development from birth to 5 years
Dr. Richard C. Woolfson
A carefully structured book full of photographs and descriptions that allow you to appraise how your child is developing in comparison to what is normal, activities you can do to help your child, and questions and answers about common issues. This book is a valuable tool for parents, particularly if they are concerned about aspects of their childs development.
Reviewed by Erika
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