Watch Me Grow: I'm One-Two-Three: A Parent's Essential Guide to the Extraordinary Toddler to Preschool Years [Paperback]

Maureen O'Brien (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 26, 2002

Now in a three-part edition that incorporates the latest research on pediatric brain development, Watch Me Grow: I'm One-Two-Three helps parents in their decision-making by explaining how children experience the world during the wondrous toddler years.

In addition to offering the most current research on age-appropriate behavior and sharing parenting stories, this book also gives sound advice from an expert on child development. Using wisdom and humor, Dr. O'Brien gives parents and childcare providers a deeper understanding of the hearts and minds of their growing one-, two-, and three-year-old children.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

O'Brien, formerly director of the Brazelton Touchpoints Center at Boston's Children's Hospital, and Tippins, a writer in the child development field, have reprinted their first two volumes (Watch Me Grow: I'm One; Watch Me Grow, I'm Two) and added a section for the 38- to 48-month-old preschooler to complete this set. Parents who derived help and comfort from the first two books will certainly enjoy this compilation. The authors combine the latest research in child development with an array of engaging and sometimes humorous child-rearing anecdotes (some from OBrien's own experiences with her twins) to make sense of the seemingly incomprehensible actions of a toddler or preschooler. For example, when a three-year-old deliberately misbehaves by eating cookies right before dinner, this child may actually be seeking reassurance that parental love is constant. O'Brien advises that when a child tests in this manner, parents should try to put their frustration with the behavior aside and provide their son or daughter with the limits they are seeking without anger. As in the first two volumes, O'Brien and Tippins discuss physical, cognitive and emotional development, stressing that children mature at different rates and their progress should be looked at individually. The strength of this guide lies in the author's ability to present children's actions and feelings from the child's rather than an adult's perspective. A clearly written, positive guide. Photos.
Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Library Journal

Child development expert O'Brien, a consultant to the Brazelton Touchpoints Center, has combined material from two of her previous books (Watch Me Grow: I'm One; Watch Me Grow: I'm Two) with information on three-year-olds. Using the latest pediatric brain research, she aims to help parents understand children at a particular stage in development and from a child's point of view, so that the typical issues of willfulness, control, and emotional meltdowns are minimized while opportunities for teaching and closeness are maximized. Written in clear, nontechnical language, each section ("I'm One," "I'm Two," "I'm Three") is organized into chapters addressing the physical, cognitive, verbal, emotional, and social development of that particular age, as well as each age group's special needs for routine and limits. This book stands up well against such classics as Penelope Leach's Your Baby and Child. Recommended especially for early childhood development collections.
Kay Hogan Smith, Univ. of Alabama at Birmingham Lister Hill Lib.
Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 736 pages
• Publisher: William Morrow Paperbacks (November 26, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 006050787X
• ISBN-13: 978-0060507879
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6 x 1.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.8 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,610,032 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

One mom, many ideas....

Maureen O'Brien (Dr. Mo to her friends) may have a Ph.D. in Child Psychology, but her credentials as the mother of 16-year old twin boys are just as important to her. She has dedicated her career to helping parents -- and those who work with families of young children -- to feel empowered, valued and less stressed out.

"Parenting is certainly challenging, but it should be joyful as well", Dr. O'Brien notes. "In today's busy world, parents often feel lost or in need of guidance as they make choices that influence their families. If I can help them feel good about these choices or reduce their anxiety, then I feel like I've done my job."

Her acclaimed book, Watch Me Grow: I'm One-Two-Three (available on Amazon.com) is one way she reaches out to parents. She is also a frequent speaker on parenting issues in today's society. Whether she's addressing one parent's questions or tackling wider trends in parenting and child development on radio or TV, her down-to-earth, approachable style resonates with parents and professionals alike.

Her latest book (2010) is Advantage, Mom: 20 Tips from a Parenting Pro, available exclusively on www.destinationparenting.com.

In 2007, she launched a website, www.destinationparenting.com, which is dedicated to providing information and resources to parents and those who work with them. As a parenting coach, she does home visits with families, holds consults via Skype and hosts seminars on parenting topics galore.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Love this book!!!, October 16, 2006

By 

daisy2147 (Virginia) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Watch Me Grow: I'm One-Two-Three: A Parent's Essential Guide to the Extraordinary Toddler to Preschool Years (Paperback)

Wow, I have the complete opposite take than the other reviewer. I absolutely love this book-it is so in depth and really explains children at every single developmental/emotional stage ages 1-3. Most books have a paragraph or maybe a few pages for every "problem" or developmental stage-this book has whole, very descriptive chapters. I recommend this book to all the new parents I know. There is a lot of reading but I love to read and soak in knowledge so this book is perfect to me.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Instantly useful and well laid-out, helps parenting be fun!, July 31, 2009

By 

Elizabeth Davis (Pacifica, CA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Watch Me Grow: I'm One-Two-Three: A Parent's Essential Guide to the Extraordinary Toddler to Preschool Years (Paperback)

After just a few pages of reading, I actively used some advice given and it made a real difference in relating to my 16 month old. Each section describes several aspects of a particular age group: Brain and cognitive development, physical and emotional challenges, and my favorite, the toddler's perspective. The "Toddler's Perspective" sections give a typical scenario seen through the eyes of a toddler with their limited language and logic. This was, for me, the most helpful and unique part of the book and it really did help me have more patience with my son. It also helped me use play-time to better advantage, matching his level of understanding and his needs. The author imparts scientific information in a highly readable way and I had a lot of fun reading Watch Me Grow and putting her advice to use.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A very helpful and easy to read book, March 7, 2011

By 

Lauren Hirs "new mom" (CT, United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Watch Me Grow: I'm One-Two-Three: A Parent's Essential Guide to the Extraordinary Toddler to Preschool Years (Paperback)

This is a great book for parents or caretakers of a toddler. The book is clearly laid out into sections by age (1, 2, and 3), and within each age, there are sections for the different types of development (such as motor, language, emotional). There is a checklist at the end of each section that helps you identify the key skills your child may be working on at different breakouts of time. From an organizational standpoint, this book is excellent.

I found the anecdotes and toddler-POV tales very helpful in understanding what is going on in my daughter's world right now. Most of them brought a smile to my face, and occasionally a happy tear as well.