Reading this book has helped make nine very enjoyable. This series of books is great. Understanding the different stages takes out the frustration and makes watching and helping your childern grow and develop a JOY.

When you know what behaviors are "normal" for your child's age you can relax, stop the worry, and focus on appropriate solutions. This whole series of books accurately defines the ages and stages of children. These books keep your expectations realistic and allow you to avoid anger caused by a lack of understanding of your child's developmental stages.

Louise Bates Ames give a wonderful detail of the traits we can expect from our toddlers through 10 year olds as their personalities develope with their complex minds. as they change into ten year olds. The characteristics she descibes in this book are extremely beneficial insights into the young minds we are in charge of forming. The benefit of this insight is very helpful for the new and seasoned parent as it gives answers to what to expect and many helpful suggestions for what to do to get the responses we are lookng for in our children. Her study of children's traits is extensive and complete with useful examples of actions to be taken and reactions not to use. I highly recommend this book to all parents.

I read this book as part of my research on a parenting presentation on Sibling Rivalry and Jealousy. It had some good components to it with practical advice on dealing with fighting dilemmas. As an educational consultant and parent of three fighting boys this book gave insight on why kids rival and fight as well as strategies to help deal with it and minimize it. A great resource to use. -Straightforward Parenting and Consultation.

This book is one of the best I've read so far, for many reasons: it's concise, it provides developmental and age-specific information and offers plenty of ideas and surefire don't dos for each age group, from 18 months up to ten years. The book opens with a general discussion on the theory of discipline, and the author clearly believes discipline is more the art of teaching and training a child, rather than the act of punishment. But, don't be put off if you're a hard-liner on matching punishment w/your discipline techniques because the book has something for everyone. The chapter on Ages & Stages breaks down typical behavioral challenges by age group, and then offers a laundry list of different approaches to modify, eliminate or avoid the undesirable behavior(s). The information presented in this section is a tightly condensed version of the lengthier books also offered by this author ("Your One Year Old", "Your Two Year Old", etc.) I had a very difficult time getting through the book, "Your Two Year Old" as I felt the information was scattered and rather unorganized, but I did recognize much of the same detail presented in Raising Good Kids, without all the anecdotal fluff and commentary. In addition to the vastly insightful approach to discipline, Raising Good Kids also offers info on how children differ, various forms of punishment, sibling rivalry, and discipline in day care and nursery settings. As the mother of a challenging child I've read dozens of books on child rearing and found this to be one of the best. The paperback version is only 124 pages, so it's a breeze to get through. Obviously I can't say enough good things about this book. If you're struggling with your child, or having trouble finding a successful approach to discipline, this book is definitely worth the read.

even though the doctors say it is impossible, i am going to have 400 babies promptly next at 3:00 pm SHARP! each of the babies will have 400 new babies themselves 3 months after birth, and so on with their children. we have used all the names in this book, and we need more names- SHORTLY! hey, Winthrop; when is the next addition coming out?

oh, and the names we have are all stupendous!

Kid Cooperation : How to Stop Yelling, Nagging and Pleading and Get Kids to Cooperate is a great book. I have thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. This is a book that I would recommend everone to read. There are great tips on how to get your kids to cooperate, even if your child is a toddler. My son is 18 months old and has responded very well to all of the techniques that I have used in this book. He listens to me the first time I tell him to do something, instead of me having to repeat myself numerous times to the point of yelling. This book will change your life and will give you a new outlook on how to parent your children. Its a definite must-read.

The minute I saw this book on the shelf I had to have it. I wanted to stop yelling, nagging, pleading and get my kids to cooperate. Who wouldn't? I have three children and have been using the many ideas in this book since I purchased it a year and a half ago. Each time I read it - either cover to cover or just glancing over the great reminder pages - I gain more useful ideas to help me be a successful parent. As my children enter new stages in their life and new parenting challenges are faced, I have the confidence to tackle them head-on by using the techniques that I have learned in this book. I have recommended Kid Cooperation to all my friends and I highly recommend it to you as well. I can't imagine what my family life would be like if it wasn't for this first rate parenting book. It is a must have for every parent.

Parenting would have to be the most difficult (yet rewarding!) job in the world. Of all parenting challenges, discipline is probably at the top of most parents' list. Every parent wants to raise kids who are responsible and caring people. But HOW on earth are we supposed to achieve this? Often the only blueprint we have for discipline comes from our own parents, and involves methods such as spanking and shouting, which are neither effective nor respectful to children.

Thank goodness for Elizabeth Pantley and her wonderful book Kid Cooperation: How to stop yelling, nagging and pleading and get kids to cooperate! I must admit to being somewhat sceptical when I come across claims such as those in this book title. "If it sounds too good to be true then it probably is", rings in my ears. However, I am DELIGHTED to be able to say that this book not only lives up these claims but MORE.

In Kid Cooperation, Elizabeth Pantley shares parenting skills that are LIFE CHANGING! I do not say that lightly! This book will change your life! The wonderful thing is that the skills outlined are easy to learn and implement, they actually WORK, and probably most importantly in my opinion, they are kind to and respectful of children. Elizabeth's style is very readable, positive and not at all preachy. She allows you to determine areas needing improvement in a way that leaves you feeling both hopeful and positive.

The first chapter comprises a quiz to determine your current discipline style. Are you permissive, democratic, balanced or autocratic? (I erred on the "too democratic" side!) The good news is that, whatever your current style, you CAN find help in this wonderful book.

The remaining chapters contain the gems of wisdom which fulfil the claims on the front cover! Chapter 2 teaches the keys to successful parenting - take charge; think; when you say it, mean it; use skill. Chapter 3 covers cooperation and how to achieve it in your home. Chapter 4 discusses punishment versus discipline. Chapter 5 teaches ways to build your child's self-esteem. Chapter 6 is all about sibling relationships. Chapter 7 deals with parent anger. Chapter 8 discusses ways to look after yourself and the relationship with your parenting partner. Chapter 9 consists of some common discipline questions with several suggestions on how to deal effectively with each. Each chapter ends with a very helpful "reminder page", which can be copied and placed in appropriate spots around the home. This really makes learning the new skills manageable!

Throughout the book, examples of situations and dialogue (some from the author's own family experiences) make understanding easy. Many readers will see themselves and their kids in the examples (I know I did!) Elizabeth makes it simple to identify ineffective parenting AND to replace it with techniques that actually WORK. I have personally used many of the skills taught in this book with my own child and am thrilled to report the improvement in harmony in our household. Some examples which have been particularly useful to us are the "5-3-1-go" (when leaving a playground for example), making objects talk (great for things like teeth cleaning time!), and using happy faces and sad faces on a daily chart.

I thoroughly recommend this book! My ONLY complaint is that I didn't get it when my child was younger!

I've read all the other books in this series. Usually, these books have insightful information about a child's developmental stages. This book tries to do the same; however, I think that the authors grouped too many age groups together. There's a BIG difference between ten-year olds and fourteen-year olds. Much of the information seemed dated (it was from the 1970s).

This book gives you both physical and emotional milestones of children in this age group separated by gender. It maps how to read your child's moods and changes. As well as physical changes in devlopment--like the inherent clumsiness of puberty. I read or re-read sections when I get to a new stage with each my 3 children. This book has warned me of danger spots--especially emotionally and calmed my concerns when I could see it was 'just normal'. I've read each book from 1 year to 14 and found them to be fabulous mounds of information.

Information is provided about the common developmental traits of ten to fourteen year olds. This book is intended to be used as a handbook for parents. It is easy to read, not a dry textbook. Your child is changing. (You know this SO well!) What might be next? Areas of development presented include physical, social, emotional, school life, interests, and ethics. I refer to my copy often as a sixth grade teacher and the proud parent of a fourteen year old.

A nice, reassuring read for parents in the throes of the "No!"s. It's heartening to learn that your kid isn't the only one who's suddenly become stubborn and negative. But some of the advice seems to be based on conjecture rather than solid, large-scale studies of kids. The authors, for instance, never make a cogent case for limiting toddlers' choices. And their contention that bright toddlers often dim as they get older is dated at best; more recent research supports continuity in cognitive development. A MUCH better book: Becoming the Parent You Want to Be.

During his years as director of the child development institute at Yale University, Arnold Gesell pioneered techniques for observation of infants, children, and adolescents. He emphasized the kinds of norms or behaviors found to be associated with certain ages. Gesell is the father of developmental norms. This book, as well as the others, are developmentally based. Many books out there are not. This book is terrific for 1st time parents and others who simply don't know what is normal behavior.

Yes, this series of books can be a bit out of date in places. But if the reader recognizes and accommodates that, these are still -- by far -- the best books of their kind on the market. Like the others in this series, this book addresses the timeless issues of appropriate developmental milestones, including cognitive abilities, interaction with others, attention span, language recognition, interpersonal relationships, etc.

The text is reasonably neutral and instructive on hot topics such as discipline, sleep habits, and diet.

We have found this series of books to be an outstanding resource. If you look in the back of the popular Doris Herman book about preschool, you will find that she does, too.

Some parts were very helpful, but I had issues with some parts. It was difficult to come up with a rating. I guess if I took the helpful parts and ignored the problem areas I would still say I learned things from the book and it was helpful.

I will write about the parts that I disagree with, in no special order:

1. Swearing is considered normal behavior, there are several references, and two are found on page 25 and 34. I disagree that this is normal. I feel the children will act and speak as they are spoken to, but the authors never state this. The recommendation is to ignore such talk completely. I feel this is the first of several areas where the role of the environment (family life, preschool, etc.) are completely ignored. Sometimes it seems as if the children are being evaluated in isolation instead of considering their environment. I'd rather have seen something said to the effect that if the child is exposed to profanity then they might repeat it so parents should not use language that they don't want their children to use.

2. Spanking is mentioned as one option for punishment methods. I feel this is an out of date recommendation as now child psychologists, the American Academy of Pediatrics, and other experts are advising not to spank or use other such pain-inflicting methods as punishment.

3. TV viewing is pushed as a "great new things society has to offer for the preschooler". The authors write in a patronizing manner stating the stay at home mother has too much to do and can't possibly do it all so let the child watch TV. They state on page 32 that "it can be one of the best techniques for filling some of the day and for meeting Four's high demand for excitement, activity, and drama." They then go on to gently guide toward not showing programs that go beyond his comprehension but that shows that "attempts to teach letters and numbers or sizes and shapes, and he responds to this teaching, let his interest be your guide. It won't make him smarter, and it probably won't make him read any earlier than he otherwise would have." I was just surprised at the idea of having the child watch meaningless programs as fine but then to even hint that an educational program won't make him smarter? Huh? Is this really the writing of an M.D. and a PhD? Also these TV recommendations are not in line with the current policy recommendations of the American Academy of Pediatrics which has strong things to say about limiting TV viewing and to what type of content. Pages 56-7 also discuss using TV as a babysitter and with a patronizing manner toward parents but advocate its use since "it keeps him quiet and entertained".

4. A horrible section states that mothers at home are incapable of providing enough stimulation for their child on pages 22-24. The authors state that preschool and even daycare providers can do a better job at giving the four-year-old adequate stimulation. "Teachers, unlike mothers, are not looking after the child in the midst of other duties." And it goes on from there. I beg to differ, how would a mother with one or more children compare with watching over her own children as compared to a preschool teacher who may have 20 students to watch out for? I feel a child of age four should definitely be able to play alone or with their siblings long enough for their mother to get some things done that she'd prefer to do alone (some cooking, etc.) I disagree with the implication that the child must rely on the parent to constantly engage them and entertain them. I feel that a child can happily do this while mother is doing something else in the same room or even the next room over.
5. I found the section about this age child telling violent stories including death, murder, etc. as strange. I disagree that all children of this age make up their own stories of horrible murder, etc. I feel that if a child is telling such stories they must be seeing them on TV, movies, heard stories in books on the subject, or have some horrible experience in their lives going on to then tell such atrocious stories. I feel that such angry stories must have a root somewhere and just don't appear out of nowhere in a child with a healthy living environment who does not have any kind of abuse inflicted on them, including spanking.
6. The chapter titled "individuality" is based on Dr. William H. Sheldon's theory as written in "Varities of Temperament". I disagree with both the chapter title and the theme here as they mean opposite things. The gist is that there are (only) three different types, endomorph, ectomorph, and mesomorph. Each category is supposed to act a certain way regarding eating, sleeping, emotions, and other issues. My own child is all over the place with regard to these categories so I disagree with the general theory. The author's intent to have a chapter on individuality is smashed by the application of Dr. Sheldon's theory! I don't see any benefit to this entire chapter and feel that some parents may worry that their child is not falling into one proper category as Dr. Sheldon has created.
7. I would like to see more about whining (a behavior my four-year-old suddenly developed out of nowhere). The only mention was on page 114 where a mother wrote a letter asking for help with whining. The reply was to spend time with the child and do less housework when the child was not in preschool, which I agree with. They then suggest getting a babysitter for two afternoons a week since he is less likely to whine to a babysitter. I find the two statements contradictory. If the child needs more attention from mother when not in preschool then he should get it.

Postscript: Immediately after reading this book I read "Playful Parenting" by Lawrence Cohen PhD, a play psychologist. Cohen feels the negative behaviors described in the above book are signs the child is in need of connection and love from his parents. Once given, by playing with the child, these negative behaviors disappear. It sounds too easy to be true but it does work. Check out "Playful Parenting" for solutions!

I love these line of books by Frances L. Ilg. This book is worth it just for the advice on what sort of birthday party to throw for your child. The birthday party recommendation section is definitely my favorite. She explains exactly the sort of party a child this age can manage. I've bought this book every year before my child's respective birthday, and each party I've planned according to this book has been a great success.

These books pretty much take you through the personality of your child by telling you how a typical child this age acts. She's pretty accurate in her assessments, and it's a great guide on how to react to different situations. It also takes away the worry about your child's many mood changes.

This series of books is still the best in helping parents to understand the behaviors, and underlying causes and feelings, of their child at each age. Based upon sound research, they document the "average" child, but identify the range of possibilities. If nothing else, these have helped me to understand what is coming and different ways that I can deal with it, as opposed to simply dealing with behavior as isolated instaces.

These books are a must for the considered parent. There is no need to read an endless pile of books - simply get one of these books for each year and you will be far better equipped to be the best possible parent you can be for your child. It's a great investment in your child (and your own sanity, trust me ...:-)

I have not read this book cover-to-cover, but I think I get the idea from reading large sections throughout the book. I don't like it. First of all, much of the contents is OK, but seems like very basic common sense, so I didn't find it that useful. Things that bugged me, though, were:

Talking about how this age is good for using a harness and leash. (not that I haven't considered this!! :-) )

They gave an example of a child's dexterity by talking about how she picked up a toy simultaneously with a cigarette that had fallen out of her father's cigarette pack. I think the authors are European, so smoking is rampant in Europe. But to me, this is an odd example in a book that's supposed to be teaching good practices for parents.

Lastly, they talk about how children at a certain age aren't very social and how they consider people to be like inanimate objects. They gave the example of how toddlers in a stroller don't engage at all with the person pushing the stroller, and that there may as well be a machine pushing the stroller. Therefore, they don't like engaging much with people. Well . . . can you imagine sitting in a stroller facing out and trying to engage with the person pushing you from behind? My child loves to engage with me and others, but in a stroller it's practically impossible!

These examples, and the fact that they totally miss the mark in describing my child - saying they aren't interested in books at all at this age (she loves books! And spends long periods flipping through pages, babbling away, and letting me read to her), among other strange generalizations, make me glad i bought this book used instead of new. It may be helpful to someone out there, but didn't help me.

This book is very outdated. ... says it has been revised, but mine was 15 years old, with no revisions. I returned it.

I must disagree with the above reviewer who complained that the book is 15 years old and is therefore outdated. That criticism would be more vaild if it concerned a book about teenagers or pre-teens, since our culture has changed so much in just 15 years. However, one-year-old children have behaved in similar fashion since the beginning of time. They learn to stand, to totter, they grab ahold of everything in sight. This book is short, easy to read, and packed with a lot of insight. I especially like the suggested toys section--old magazines, blocks, plastic play hammer, old purse, etc. One-year-olds are fascinated by everything, so concentrate on simple, unbreakable items instead of spending hundreds on smashable toys. Good read!