Books about Raising Kids

[14joa31]

Since I am The Oprah, I must start book threads I have been reading a lot of baby/toddler psychology books recently and I have found some good ones. Please add to this thread if you have read any good books in this vein, or any good articles.

I recently finished reading "How Toddlers Thrive" by Dr. Tovah Klein, and I just cannot stop thinking about it. Dr. Klein has been running the Toddler Center at Barnard College for over two decades - she knows about toddlers! And everything that she wrote just makes so much sense. She has three boys (now grown), one of whom ate cereal every night for dinner for a year! She said that he turned out just fine and now enjoys all types of foods. I feel like this book gave me so much insight into how DS is thinking and feeling - and how I can respond appropriately to him.

I also just re-read "Happiest Toddler on the Block," by Dr. Harvey Karp. A lot of what he says lines up with what Dr. Klein says. It's really good stuff - and it's laid out much more simply than Dr. Klein's book.

So please share what literature that you have found to be the most helpful!

[crimsonandclover]

I read a really awesome one about TV - it's 2 floors above me, so I'm not going to run and look at what it's called right now - but basically she just summarized all the studies that have been done so far on children and screen time. She does not judge at all and the bottom line is that no generalizations can be made - you have to look at the context and the content. When TVs were left on in the background, for example, it was found that toddlers learned language slower (because it was harder for them to differentiate their caregiver's speech from the background noise), while shows like Dora or Thomas the Train have been shown to have specific positive benefits (I can speak from my own experience on that one - my DDs went through a phase where they were obsessed with Dora, and in other contexts like at the playground they would whip out Spanish words).

I also loved, loved, loved Simplicity Parenting. I want to implement more of it and need to read it again. It's about reducing the amount of toys (especially the toys that are single-purpose) and bringing consistency into your child's life.

Recently I read From Diapers to Dating - it's about talking to your kids about sexuality and I found it excellent. She does not push any particular moral or religious philosophy, just talks about what is appropriate to talk about at what age (e.g. when to talk to your child about masturbation - but she leaves it up to you whether to say that it's fine but something that should be done in private or that it's something that your family discourages for whatever reason. Although she does ask that you don't claim it causes physical harm since that's been proven false.).

[pinktartan9]

I don't have much to add to this conversation unfortunately, but I am here for the knowledge and suggestions of you lovely ladies! thanks 14joa31 !

[scorpioscuba]

I need to check some of these out. I miss reading! But how do you find the time??

[crimsonandclover]

Sept 15, 2016 22:28:22 GMT -5 scorpioscuba said:

I need to check some of these out. I miss reading! But how do you find the time?

I've always been a fast reader, so I don't need to invest that much time to get through them. I also have a very strict policy of not working on Sundays, so when the girls are napping or in the evening I read. Depending on my workload and how bad the day was, I also sometimes read in the evening when the girls are in bed. When it comes to most of these parenting books, I can get through them in about 3 hours so I really only need one or max. two evenings. That helps a lot.

[14joa31]

I read during my commute since I take the train to work. I read about one book a week.
kelltothekell - I also really loved What to Expect, The First Year. I loved those lists at the beginning of each chapter about what your child could, should, and might be doing each month.
crimsonandclover - I will check out Simplicity Parenting - that sounds intriguing! DS has lots of toys but only plays with a handful of them. He plays with his Thomas trains, his Planes movie character planes, and with his Melissa & Doug reusable stickers. So Simplicity would definitely work for us! LOL! He also loves dirt, rocks and sticks! When you have time can you add the name of the screen time book?

[crimsonandclover]

Into the Minds of Babes, 14joa31. Lisa Guernsey is the author. When I was up in the office today I took a look

[icequeen]

Thank you for the recs!! I have so little time to sit down and actually read a chunk at a time but I'll definitely look into these books to purchase any way, even if it is just to reference them. 

[tez]

I am totally into Janet Lansbury. She has a Facebook page and podcasts for bite sized reading commitment. If you like Magda Gerber, you'll like Janet Lansbury. I got her podcasts free on SoundCloud, and listen to them while I fold laundry. I'd love to know what everyone else thinks of her, everything I've done with my LO is shaped by her philosophy.

[scorpioscuba]

I have read some of Lansburys blog since DS was little. I like some of the concepts. In today's world I just don't think a lot of her philosophies work real well. I mean according to her you are not supposed to sit your baby up, stand them up or do anything to them that they can't developmentally do themselves. I understand the point but it's just not realistic in my view. I do like the more gentle style and the explanations to the infant/child. I do that a lot. So I guess I'm mixed on her.