Your Three-Year-Old: Friend or Enemy Kindle Edition

Other reviews have cited a lack of helpful hints in this book. Please know before buying, this is not a "how to" book. You won't find formulas for parenting. What you will find is an excellent study on the behavior and development of your child at any given age. This book is outdated in its look and in some of the scenarios presented. However, the observations and information laid out are timeless. A three year old is a three year - in 1972 or 2022. I see parenting as an adventure and a challenge, where each child is unique. It's my job to tailor the rearing of my child to suit him and these books help me do just that. This series has made me a more informed parent. For instance, in the 2 year old book I read that children at this age have a very hard time sticking to a decision. They want a drink, so you give them a drink. You then hear, "I don't want a drink!". So you take it back. Whereupon your child wails that he wants his drink. This can go on for an exasperating long while. The more informed I am on what's age appropriate behavior, the more I'm able to separate my reactions from the emotional frustration that might otherwise erupt. I can then spend more time thinking rationally about how I can help him through this, rather than becoming angry. I love these books and think that all parents would benefit from reading. As I stated above, these books won't show you HOW to be a better parent, just as reading a book on art history won't show you HOW to be a museum curator. But knowing and understanding art history is a must in order to be a great curator. Same with kids and same with these books.

I give this book to all new parents! The Gesell Institute series (1 year to 10-14) is the result of observing hundreds of children in each age group. You learn typical behaviors for each age. So, when you're 3-year-old is having tantrums or being defiant, you read that this is typical of the age. The knowledge helps you to have compassion for your child (just doing what 3-year-old's do,) and yourself (you're not doing anything wrong, it's just the age.) Additionally, they're thin books with indexes. You can turn to the page on 'defiance' and only read that tiny chapter. Perfect for overwhelmed parents. Just so helpful!! Buy one for every year of development; you won't be sorry.

This is my favourite of the "Your x-year-old.." books, perhaps because I found 3 the most difficult age (I have also read 1- and 4-year old versions). Yes some of the advice is dated as others have pointed out, but unlike most books on kids, it helps you see the world through their eyes which is incredibly helpful! A lot of big emotional and psychological changes happen between 2.5 and 3.5 years old -- takes a lot of people by surprise. This explains why they begin to become more deeply upset, scared of the dark and 'monsters', act out aggressively to other kids, say nasty things to parents & other beloved adults, etc.One small example that sticks in my mind - the book describes that kids this age often find the concept of "broken" things very distressing. It was very helpful to know this for both big and small 'breaks' we encountered.I also quite like their advice to hire a babysitter as much as possible if kids are anti-mother at this age. Yes it's not always feasible, but worth considering if it is possible.

Although there are parts of this book which show its age (it's comfortable with spanking, if that's what the parent believes in, and differentiates quite a bit between behaviours associated with girls and boys for example) I found it really really useful and reassuring. It really painted such a clear picture of the age group, and I've seen basically everything that they speak about in my son, who is now three-and-a-half. I'm glad to know it's not just me, and that I'm not necessarily entirely failing with this parenting thing, and that so many of my son's challenging behaviours are age appropriate. I appreciate the advice given, which says that at this temperamental and trying age, you don't always have to "win" in a battle of wills with your little tyrant but should rather just try to get through each day in one piece.

Great set of books. As a psychologist, I’ve been recommending them for years. Some of the toy recommendations may be a little dated now but otherwise information is still accurate. I’ve recommended them to patients and to my children for use with my grandchildren. Chapters are brief and not overwhelming. Divided into logical sections, eg, social, behavior etc.