Customer Reviews

Me, Myself and I: How Children Build Their Sense of Self 18-36 Months (Goddard Parenting Guides)

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(0)
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2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This beautifully written book on the critical development of self-esteem through the toddler years will be immeasurably helpful to any parent. If you have ever wondered why your young child does what she does, and whether or not you are responding in the best way, you will find a wealth of information in this book to guide you as you guide your child through the toddler years. Covering everything from brain development to discipline, you will find practical, helpful advice on how to strengthen your child's growth and development. It is thorough in its subject and includes all developmental areas such as language, the importance of play and how children learn from it, striving for independence and how this effects behavior, temperament, role modeling, how family and culture shape values and many other facets of daily growth and development. The key to being a good parent is in understanding why children do the things they do. This book will open your eyes to what is actually going on inside your little one, enabling you to be the most caring and productive guide and teacher you can be for your child. Another score for the Goddard Parenting series of books. Highly recommended! Christina Raley, Managing Editor of A Positive Parenting Website

Me, Myself and I should be required reading for all parents of children ages 18 to 36 months. Dr. Pruett has done an enormous service -- providing insights into temperament, style, communication, playing, and more. Parents shouldn't think twice about getting this book. They and their children will be happier, healthier, and better adjusted than those that decide to take a pass. Dr. Pruett shows parents how parenting can be made a little easier. Bravo to the author!

Dr. Pruetts book is loaded with great advice and research that I use to help me with my two year old. He offers good common sense perspectives that are very applicable in day to day child raising. I would recommend this book for all concerned parents as they raise happy , healthy kids.

Before children learn to read, they live in an oral world. Kyle Pruett knows toddlers and he knows they need to interact with grown-ups in a positive way in order to nurture their springboard to later learning and development. Talking to toddlers about the things they are engaged in doing, such as stacking blocks, helps them to talk about their actions. Whereas, playing make-believe helps them to development their language concerning their feelings and emotions. Dr. Pruett doesn't mention that regular exposure to foreign languages that they will later learn is also crucial at this stage (this can be accomplished via audio cassettes and child and parent listen and repeat together).

Nonetheless, there are several things that parents can do to nurture toddlers in this stage: 1) If a child is not talkative, examine whether or not you are stifling in your own talk or see if the child simply cannot talk and do something at the same time; 2) If a child says a word incorrectly, do not constantly correct because it is not "how" the child says it that is as important as "does" the child say it; 3) Engage the toddler in dialogue by sometimes playing interlocuter and mirroring the child's feelings and behavior in words; 4)Share your feelings about things with your child such as "I felt happy to get that letter from Grandma"; 5) Read children's books to your child; and 6) Allow your toddler some quiet time in order to rest and reflect.

In summary, toddlers live in an oral world and require lots of oral interaction with parents and adults who do not engage in "baby talk". The television is a poor surrogate teacher at this stage in your child's development. There is simply no substitute for one-on-one interaction.

This is a superb book. As a teacher, parent and grandparent, I was delighted to discover that an expert of Dr. Pruett's stature has put the emotional well-being of children right where it belongs: at the center of childhood development. Every parent should own this wise and well-written book.

Maybe I expect too much out of a book, but in order to get 5 stars out of me a book has to be an exhaustive review of the topic, enlightening or at least entertaining. This book was none of these.

It skims the many facets of raising a toddler, based on all the "current research", but doesn't go further than that. For example, my daughter has recently acquired a fear of the dark. They tell me this is normal. Gee thanks. No review of common fears, no clever ways to handle it, nothing.

It was like getting advice from a pediatrician who didn't go home and parent. Save your money.