Nugget is 2 years and 3 months – right in the beginnings of the “terrible twos” and what will surely be terrible threes and fours. There have been many battles since his second birthday that we never had before: eating, sleeping, and sharing amongst the many others. Fortunately, this age group doesn’t have to be the struggle we all know it can be.
In How Toddlers Thrive, Tovah P. Klein, PhD empowers parents everywhere to understand the often-mystifying aspects of toddler behavior. Going deeper, she delivers an eminently practical program for ensuring toddlers receive the right kinds and amounts of attention, guidance, and reinforcement they need to develop such key skills as resilience, self-reliance, and empathy. Her extensive research and interaction with thousands of toddlers makes her uniquely qualified to show the way to “toddlertopia” — where the little ones are happy and flourishing while parents watch with proud smiles on their faces.
Beginning with a relatable, down-to-earth foreword by Sarah Jessica Parker — one of the many parents in New York City and beyond whose children have benefited greatly from Dr. Klein’s guidance — How Toddlers Thrive unpacks the toddler mind, making sense of the unique combination of headstrong independence and close attachment that can be perplexing to both new and experienced parents.
Dr. Klein then breaks down the latest scientific understanding of toddler brains to definitively show that these are the years when the neural pathways needed for thriving in life are laid down. After finishing the initial section, parents will be far more effective with their toddlers, as they will have the ability to see the world from a toddler’s viewpoint and understand the critical question of why their little ones do the (sometimes inscrutable) things they do.
In the second half to the book, readers get a practical, adaptable set of techniques for “cracking the code” of toddler behavior, from how to handle specific challenges like eating, sleeping, and toilet training to broader concepts like managing change and sharing. Dr Klein’s groundbreaking and essential insights include:
- Why “The Terrible Twos” is a myth, and how accepting it as a given is a mistake.
- The inadvertent ways well-meaning parents “shame” toddlers and in doing so harm their development.
- Why taking a “seven day” view of a toddler’s eating habits – as opposed to strictly enforcing every single meal – is the only approach to healthy eating that is unlikely to backfire.
- How parents can identify and learn from the important links between how they were parented and how they approach raising their toddlers.
- Why telling a toddler to share can be a bad idea.
- Everything you need to know about tantrums – when and how to nip them in the bud, and when to let them be.
How Toddlers Thrive concludes with a motivating “Fifteen Seeds of Success” plan that crystallizes why the toddler years are a true lab for later, and lays a strong foundation for long-term happiness and fulfillment – for parent and toddler alike.
This book was FABULOUS! There have been so many days where I ended up yelling and feeling terrible because I just couldn’t understand why Nugget wouldn’t share or would freak out because I gave him a broken cracker. Dr. Klein not only does a great job at explaining how the toddler mind works, but she does it in an easy to understand way that truly helps you to get it without feeling overwhelmed. She also gives suggestions and ways to handle many of the everyday situations that happen and can cause the meltdowns like eating, change, sleep, and learning.
I feel so much more knowledgable about my 2-year old now. I know that I need to see things from his point of view and I understand that his brain is still growing and developing to be able to handle life’s situations. He isn’t always going to do things the way I might want him to and that’s ok. Dr. Klein is trying to help you create a meaningful relationship with your child without doling out the usual parenting advice. I felt like I really got the advice of an expert and will have a much better relationship with my son from here on out because of it.
Connect:
You can connect with Dr. Klein and How Toddlers Thrive on their website, Facebook and at @tovahklein on Twitter.
Buy It!
You can buy the How Toddlers Thrive on Amazon and Barnes and Noble for SRP $25.00
