by Tracey L. Howard

Created on: June 16, 2009

As the owner and operator of a Children's Early Development Center, I've interacted with over 700 families in the last 5 years. As children progress from infant to toddler the question emerges, "I've got a good handle on caring for my infant. I know I'm a good parent. But now my child can walk, talk and has OPINIONS. What do I DO?" The primary worry seems to be that you aren't helping your child not only thrive, but excel during the developmental years. The secondary worry is that you're going to lose your cool, patience and mind before your child enters Kindergarten.

The toddler years are difficult to navigate because they're times of such dramatic change. They're also the most rewarding and enjoyable years, for the same reason. I noticed that if a parent is asking questions and looking for books, they're already good parents - likely overachievers- and they are adept at basic care and nurturing. They want two things: a sanity check for middle-of-the-night worries and to build a good foundation for the future.

In determining the top 5 books on parenting toddlers, I went to my own bookshelves and realized that over the years I've built up a collection that's better stocked than most bookstores and several libraries. So the question became of all of the books I have, which ones do I REALLY use - which ones are dog-eared, worn and repeatedly loaned out?

1. "What to Expect the Toddler Years" by Eisenberg, Murkoff and Hathaway. Unquestionably a must-have reference, this is a continuation of the series that began in "What to Expect When You're Expecting." Written to reassure and inspire parents, it's a wonderful guide to toddler behavior, by age. Each section has milestones you can realistically expect, things you may be concerned about and actions to take to resolve common problems. The only downside to the work is that it's so comprehensive; it's occasionally difficult to pinpoint specific answers. Perhaps the most useful section of the book is the Ready Reference of common ailments and illnesses, complete with home treatments and a list of symptoms that require immediate doctor attention.

2. "The Social Toddler" by Helen and Clive Dorman. This book stands out because it addresses parenting during the toddler years from the TODDLER'S point of view. That it does so with picture stories of real children and their parents makes it fabulous. The authors' premise is that for parents to truly understand and effectively interact with their child, they must understand

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