Top 5 Books on Parenting Toddlers
Being the parent of a toddler is hard, and don't let anyone tell you otherwise. They've just discovered that they're their own little person, and the thought that they can do something even if you disapprove fascinates them. Keeping your patience while gently guiding them to make correct choices can be frustrating at best, and downright maddening at times. As parents of toddlers, we've all been in those moments where you just want to pull your hair out from frustration.
While there are no magic bullet systems to follow that guarantee a perfect angel and an easy ride through toddler-hood, there are some techniques to keep yourself sane while guiding your child to make the right decisions. Please look into the books below, which will provide valuable insight, especially if you are a Christian.
#1 Parenting Your Infant/Toddler by the Spirit, by Sally Hohnberger
This book is number 2 in a series, and deals specifically with the special challenges that arise in the baby and toddler years. With a unique approach to parenting, one that centers on allowing God to parent through you, it has proven a blessing in my own parenting attempts. Parenting takes time, and Sally points this out over and over. This is not a magic bullet, but a system, which, if implemented, will not only alter your child's life, but will radically alter your own relationship with Christ. Highly recommended!
#2 SOS: Help for Parents, by Lynn Clark
This book was written by a psychologist and parent, who approaches this from his background in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. The methods in this book are aimed at children ages 2-12, and are fairly simple to implement. Focusing mainly on Time-Out use, which isn't as simple as I used to think, it covers other kinds of punishments, using the psychological terms. It is written for lay people, and works very well with my own daughter, who is 2 1/2 right now. If you have the time, read it through a few times, once to get a feel for it, the with a highlighter, and the third time discussing each chapter with a partner or other person who is significant in the life of your child.
#3 What to Expect the Toddler Years
A mainstream, highly endorsed, book on the toddler years. It goes on a month by month basis as your child grows, telling you what milestones to expect, and what behaviors to look forward to (not that you necessarily are 'looking forward' to them). Offers advice from people who've been there, done that, in a simple, easy to understand Question and Answer format. With pediatric information, it may be a one stop shop if you can only afford one book for all of your child's needs. It is not Christian, if that is your preference.
#4 The Bible
We all need the emotional support that we can find buried in the precious promises of the Bible. Seeking out these promises can be a wonderful refresher, and should be a daily habit. A few minutes in the morning, or in the evening before bed, open your Bible. Read one of the Psalms, often written under duress. Read some of David's Psalms during his flight from Saul or Absalom, and be comforted, knowing you only have a toddler to deal with, and not an angry king!
All joking aside, this book can provide valuable insight into yourself as a person, and your child. With Christ, all things are possible, and to find Christ, you need to turn to this book. If you are already a Christian, you likely already have one. I recommend you start reading it, a little here, a little there. Share the stories with your children, and watch their faith bloom along with yours.
#5 My Bible Friends, by Etta Deegering
The previous 4 books I've mentioned have been for the parents, These are for the children. This is a series of Bible stories with full color illustrations on every page. There are 20 stories in the set, and you can either get them in a 5 volume or 10 volume set. We have the 10 volume, which is good, because our daughter won't let us stop reading until we finish the book! So only 2 stories at a time, instead of 4.
The stories are beautifully illustrated, and are Biblically accurate. These books have been around for decades, and are the best books for children I've seen. They are also good for early readers, so keep them around, and your child can read them for years to come (if they don't insist you keep reading them, just because they love the time with you). I spend time on each page pointing out the pictures, and it becomes a long activity for us, which my daughter loves.
Keep your spirits up, know that God is with you, and go forward in the parenting battle, knowing you can conquer the giants that seem to overwhelm you!