Books for Parents of Children from 18 Months to 3 Years:
Parenting Skills
 
Attack of the Toddlers! : Further Adventures on Planet Parenthood by Julie Tilsner
ISBN 007138099X
Author Julie Tilsner has a three-year-old who thinks she's a puppy, a newborn, and a husband starting law school. She deals with all this with grace and humor. She has also the author of Planet Parenthood: Adapting to Your New Life-Form.
To find out more about this topic, read the article: It's Nice to Know You're Not the Only Parent Under Pressure
 
The Organized Parent : 365 Simple Solutions to Managing Your Home, Your Time, and Your Family's Life by Christina Baglivi Tinglof
ISBN 007138099X
This book offers advice on creating an organized and efficient home and family schedule. Tips are categorized as "quick fixes" and "major tune-ups". Budgeting, housecleaning, family vacations and much more are covered in this helpful book.
To find out more about this topic, read the article: Should You Give Your Kids an Allowance?
 
Parenting From the Inside Out by Dan Siegel and Mary Hartzell
ISBN 1585422959
This book is inspired by Siegel's (a child psychiatrist) research on communication's impact on brain development. He and Hartzell, a child-development specialist and parent educator help parents build firm foundations for loving and secure relationships with their children.
To find out more about this topic, read the article: Have a plan and know yourself
 
Loving Each One Best: A Caring and Practical Approach to Raising Siblings by Nancy Samalin
ISBN 553378341
Parenting expert and author Nancy Samalin says that when parents ask how they can get their children to listen more, she replies: “The answer is simple to understand, difficult to do. It’s talk less. Whatever you can say in a paragraph, say in a sentence. What you can say in a sentence, say in a word.”
 
How Much Is Enough?: Everything You Need to Know to Steer Clear of Overindulgence and Raise Likeable, Responsible, and Respectful Children by Jean Illsley, Ph.D. Clarke, Connie, Ph.D. Dawson, David, Ph.D. Bredehoft
ISBN 1569244375
This site highly recommends this book. In it the authors offer their findings from research on adults who were overindulged as children and who today don’t know what is not enough, enough, or too much. The authors clarify the definition of overindulgence, and break it into 3 kinds: over-nurturing, giving too much, and too little structure. Advice, stories and strategies help the parent avoid overindulgence or repair the damage caused by overindulgence.
To find out more about this topic, read the article: Distinguish between your child's wants and needs
 
The Challenging Child: Understanding, Raising, and Enjoying the Five "Difficult" Types of Children by Stanley Greenspan
ISBN 201441934
In The Challenging Child, clinical psychiatrist Stanley Greenspan describes five inborn personality traits: highly sensitive, self-absorbed, defiant, inattentive, and active/aggressive, and shows how to match your parenting style to those personalities.
To find out more about this topic, read the article: Manage your emotions even when you're upset
 
The Over-Scheduled Child: Avoiding the Hyper-Parenting Trap by Alvin Rosenfeld, MD and Nicole Wise
ISBN 312263392
Alvin Rosenfeld, MD, founder of National Family Night, and journalist Nicole Wise present the concept of hyper-parenting: endless extra-carriucular activities, appointments, and to-do lists and fears of one's child's under-achievement and find ways to encourage raising happy and emotionally healthy children.
To find out more about this topic, read the article: Create space for joy, humor and spirit
 
Ask the Children : The Breakthrough Study That Reveals How to Succeed at Work and Parenting by Ellen Galinsky
ISBN 0688177913
Do you sometimes feel as though the debate over staying at home or going to work is designed to make stay-at-home-moms feel good and go-to-work moms feel guilty? Galinsky has done her research based on extensive interviews with children and she shows that children are no less happy or healthy when both parents work. However, they do suffer when the workplace is stressful and they have unreliable schedules. This can be a great book for parents who must work, or who are considering going back to work.
To find out more about this topic, read the article: Who Will Take Care of Your Children if You Have to Work?
 
Growing Up Again - Second Edition: Parenting Ourselves, Parenting Our Children by Connie Dawson and Jane Illsley Clarke
ISBN 1568381905
Clarke and Dawson use Erik Erikson's Stages of Development as a way to understand your child and find ways to nurture both them and yourself.
To find out more about this topic, read the article: Erik Erikson's Stages Recognize Life as Opportunities to Grow
 
Family First: Your Step-by-Step Plan for Creating a Phenomenal Family by Dr. Phil McGraw
ISBN 743264932
Dr. Phil McGraw gives advice on setting boundaries and structure for our children and outlines how we can build the family our children deserve. Highly recommended by this site.
To find out more about this topic, read the article: A Philosophy of Parenting Gained From Long Experience
 
The Hurried Child: Growing Up Too Fast Too Soon (3rd edition) by David Elkind
ISBN 0201039664
Elkind warns of the dangers of allowing your child to grow up too fast and offers advice on how to protect their childhood.
 
The Intentional Family: Simple Rituals to Strengthen Family Ties by William J. Doherty, Ph.D.
ISBN 038073205X
Family therapist Doherty describes rituals that can be used to bring a family back together amid the rush of competing schedules and activities that take us away from the family center.
 
New Skills for Frazzled Parents: The Instruction Manual That Should Have Come With Your Child by Daniel G. Amen, M.D.
ISBN 1886554021
Dr. Amen is a neuroscientist, psychiatrist and Director of the Amen Clinic. This manual is based on his parenting course. Amen has done extesive study on brain scaning and imagery.
 
Love & Limits: Guidance Tools for Creative Parenting by Elizabeth Crary
ISBN 1884734049
Crary provides tools for parenting to help set limits and avoid powerstruggles in a way that is respectful of childrens' feelings. She uses a STAR principal (S-stop and focus; T-think of ideas; A-act effectively; R-review, revise, reward) as a way problem solve.
 
Books to Grow With: A Guide to Using the Best Children's Fiction for Everyday Issues and Tough Challenges by Cheryl Coon
ISBN 0974802273
This guide lists picture books and chapter books that address different issues children encounter including bullying, emotions and even the death of a parent. A good way to introduce difficult subjects and encourage your child to discuss these topics with you.
 
Zen Parenting: The Art of Learning What You Already Know by Judith Costello and Jurgen Haver
ISBN 1589040171
Costello and Haver are the founders and editors of Parenting with Spirit, a magazine dedicated to examining child rearing from a spiritual perspective. Using short stories, they illustrate Zen concepts and provide examples on how to incorporate them into your parenting.
 
Parenting that Works: Building Skills that Last a Lifetime by Edward R. Christophersen, Ph.D., and Susan L. Mortweet, Ph.D.
ISBN 1557989249
This comprehensive guide provides strategies on modeling positive behavior, toilet training, managing tantrums, and instilling independence.
 
Win the Whining War & Other Skirmishes: A Family Peace Plan by Cynthia Whitham, M.S.W.
ISBN 0962203637
Illustrating techniques from UCLA's Parent Training Program, therapist Cynthia Whitham has written a book to help parents increase cooperation and reduce conflict.
 
The Power of Positive Talk: Words to Help Every Child Succeed : A Guide for Parents, Teachers, and Other Caring Adults by Douglas Bloch, M.A., with Jon Merritt, M.S.
ISBN 1575421275
We know that affirmations can help kids self-esteem. This classic book helps parents and caregivers teach their children how to use affirmations in different daily situations and turn off those negative internal voices.
 
The Five Love Languages of Children by Gary Chapman and Ross Campbell, M.D.
ISBN 1881273652
Chapman and Campbell assert that children respond best to one of five modes of communication: physical touch, quality time, words of affirmation, gifts, and acts of service. Recognizing and using these "love languages" can help parents guide their children in a way they understand the best.
 
How to Behave So Your Preschooler Will, Too! by Sal Severe, Ph.D.
ISBN 0142004588
Sal Severe's books encourage parents to look to their own actions toward and reaction to their childrens' behavior, and suggests ways we may inadvertantly encouage "acting-out". Once we have a level of self-awarness, we can then interact with our children more successfully. While a little heavy on rewards-based parenting, this book has some very good ideas on how to parent consistently and positively. Severe is also the author of How to Behave So Your Kids Will, Too!
 
Reclaiming Childhood: Letting Children Be Children in Our Achievement-Oriented Society by William Crain
ISBN 0805075135
Developmental psychologist William Crain reminds us that there is more to chilhood than standardized tests, extra curricular activities and college applications. He recommends focusing on "child-centered" parenting. Chapters emphasize the "Child as Naturalist", "Child as Poet", and "Child as Linguist".
 
How to Talk So Kids Will Listen & Listen So Kids Will Talk by Adele Faber and Elaine Mazlish
ISBN 0380811960
We hear a lot about how to use communtication skills in the workplace. This book demonstrates how to use effective communication strategies with your children. Step-by-step techniques, illustrative cartoons, and useful tools make this an excellent book for an indiviudual parent or in a group workshop situation.
 
The American Academy of Pediatrics Guide to Toilet Training by Mark Wolwraich and the American Academy of Pediatrics
ISBN 0380811960
A reassuring helpful guide for parents who are ready to start toilet training their child. It answers the all important questions: When? and How? This guide focuses more on physical and developmental readiness than on chronological age.
 
Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Child by Marc Weissbluth, M.D.
ISBN 0449004023
New parents know the importance of a good night's sleep — both for themselves and their child. Instilling a happy healthy sleep routine your child is invaluable. Dr. Weissbluth, a reknowned sleep researcher gives practical advice on what to do and what not to do to help your child sleep.
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