A child with special needs is a child first and foremost. As such he needs everything that has already been talked about in this guide: warm, responsive, sensitive parenting with firm and consistent boundaries, as well as plenty of opportunities for play, exploration, and fun. “A child’s special needs are as much a part of … Read more

Toddlers usually grow out of the habits that make adults feel uncomfortable, although occasionally these may be a sign of deeper distress. This section looks at common types of behavior that sit on the borderline between acceptable and unwanted toddler behavior, and suggests coping strategies. “Make sure your child has plenty of opportunities to be … Read more

The subject of child abuse is a very difficult one to read about and harder still to acknowledge if it occurs within your own family. However, the reality is that in the vast majority of cases, child abuse is committed by someone who is already known to the abused child. “Children are vulnerable and need … Read more

Seeing you relax will allow your children to get to know you as a whole person, rather than simply the person who comes home from work and takes care of his every need. However, in reality, the needs of adults who want to unwind don’t always mix smoothly with the needs of toddlers. “The true … Read more

If taking care of the basics sounds tedious to you, remember that a little time invested to make your family’s basic life run smoothly will allow everyone to enjoy the special activities even more. In this section, you’ll learn how to build a schedule that accommodates the demands of your job, along with the necessities … Read more

Caring for the People in Your Family When we work on putting together a family schedule, we completely forget about the essentials needed to take care of the people in our family. As we mentioned before, we get so caught up in the extra, special activities that we overlook the basics that are crucial to … Read more

Caring for the Pets in Your Family People aren’t the only ones whose needs you must consider. Family pets come along with their own list of care requirements. If you are still at the stage of deciding whether to get a pet or what kind of pet to get, then you should choose responsibly by … Read more

Your baby’s first birthday will be a major milestone for all of you. Just when you think you have your routine figured out, and know what to expect, your rapidly developing baby may start to resist your attentions and show every sign of developing an independent mind. Welcome to the toddler years! “The first year … Read more

Your hopes There are as many personal reasons for having children as there are for not having children. For some parents, children represent the hopes, dreams, and ideals that are unmet in their own life; they represent the chance to “put right the wrongs” of the past; for others, having a child is the natural … Read more

Your Premature Baby If your baby was born prematurely, she may have spent time in a neonatal intensive care unit. Such a challenging start is bound to impact the early years of parenting, but it is important to try to come to terms with and handle your feelings. “I can reassure you that most premature … Read more

You will want to give your children the best direction and care, but at some point you are likely to slip into a style of parenting that is convenient and instinctive, rather than developed consciously. How do you find a way of parenting that works for you and your family, and what should you avoid? … Read more

Your child’s experience of the world will be shaped by you and drawn from a range of influences that will all have their roots in your past. She will naturally look to you for guidance on what is “right and wrong”—and will push the boundaries of acceptable behavior during the learning process. “Your child has … Read more

Shared parenting Raising children together needs to be a cooperative partnership—and the more honest you can be with yourself and with one another, the easier it will be. Although a challenge, this is especially true when parents live apart. Some compromises will be necessary, for the good of your children—and your sanity! It is not … Read more

Giving and Getting Respect Challenging behavior Q: My son has set up a diary on the computer and won’t let me read it. Should I insist he let me? A: Your son’s diary is a dialog with himself that allows him to explore his experiences, hopes, and fears. Closing the screen is his way of … Read more

Building trust Teaching your adolescent The trust that flows between you and your child begins at birth and changes as he grows and develops. In his babyhood and early years he must trust you completely to meet his emotional and physical needs. As he gets older, the balance shifts as you teach, guide, and accept … Read more

Tough times Helping with harmful situations A small number of teenagers do go “off the rails” during adolescence and present you with exactly the situations you had always hoped to avoid. It is normal for your teenager to be impulsive, reckless, and consider himself indestructible, but not to deliberately put himself in danger, willfully harm … Read more

Parenting trends and expert opinions come and go as society changes, and every generation of parents wants to do things “better.” In reality, however, children’s needs and wants remain unchanged. The challenge is to listen to the combined wisdom of the “experts” and decide what is right for your child. “Avoid making unfair comparisons between … Read more

Understanding your child’s temperament Much of what we understand about children’s temperament derives from a study of 233 children age 0–8 that began in the US in the 1950s. Known as the New York Longitudinal Study of Child Temperament, it is still going strong today. Although times have changed, young children haven’t, and so the … Read more

Avoiding labels Every child is a unique mix of the traits, but there are three clusters of traits that the New York study (see Understanding your child’s temperament) showed were more common than others. Although it is important not to straight jacket your young child with a rigid label, it can be useful to understand … Read more

Dear Tanya Q: My girlfriend seems to have changed since we had our daughter. She is the perfect mother and takes pride in making our home immaculate, but I am beginning to wonder where the fun person has gone. A: Becoming a parent is a life changing event and a period of great personal transition. … Read more