The Secret of Happy Children  by Steve Biddulph

A humourous, easy read, giving insight into what is happening in children's minds and practical ideas about what to do about it. Subjects covered include: stopping tantrums before they start, dealing with shyness, kids and TV, food and behaviour, and how to deal with whining. Written parents, but also useful for those who work with young children.

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Helping Young Children to Develop  by Jacki Harding and LIz Meldon-Smith

A straightforward account of children's developmental milestones, which encourages child care students to value diversity - gender differences, ethnic diversity and so on - amongst children. Age-appropriate activities provide opportunities for students to observe and record developmental progress.

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What's going on in there? How the Brain and Mind Develop in the First Five Years of Life  by Lise Eliot

What's Going on in There? presents a comprehensive overview of current scientific knowledge about infant and early childhood brain development with impressive depth and clarity. Eliot, a neuroscientist and mother of three, starts her immensely intelligent labour of love with a richly detailed yet accessible tour of the growing embryo, guiding readers through the developing sensory, motor, emotional and cognitive systems. You'll understand the inner workings of the brain like never before. You'll learn the latest thinking on the nature vs. nurture question. You'll gain invaluable insights into the evolution of the senses, motor skills, social and emotional growth, memory, language and intelligence.

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The Social Toddler: Promoting Positive Behaviour  by Penelope Leach (Foreword), Helen Dorman, Clive Dorman

The Social Toddler offers an in-depth look at the world of pre-school children. Much maligned and frequently misunderstood, the toddler years are dreaded by many parents. Toddlers can be seen as willful, destructive and non-cooperative - often a terrible disappointment after what has been delightful babyhood. How does the toddler view this stage? The Social Toddler explains why behaviour patterns emerge and offers simple, effective strategies to diffuse situations that are regularly encountered. The book covers: role reversal: experience the toddler's world; use of language by parents/adults; development of social skills; importance of learning through play and discovery; peer relationships; separation and reunion; shifting attachment from parent/carer to another; patterns of behaviour - promoting positive/ignoring negative behaviour, techniques for distractions; feeding; and the need for independence and self esteem.

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The Attachment Parenting Book: A Commonsense Guide to Understanding and Nurturing Your Child  by William Sears, MD. and Martha Sears, RN.

Dr William Sears, paediatrican and proponent of 'attachment parenting', explains in this book how how this style of parenting improves development, makes discipline easier, and promotes long-term independence  Attachment parenting is a highly intuitive, high-touch style of parenting that encourages a strong early attachment, and advocates consistent parental responsiveness to babies' dependency needs. Rather than give parents a strict set of rules about when to breastfeed or when to respond to a cry, The Sears' approach encourages parents to learn and work with their baby's particular cues. There is further information on attachment parenting for working parents and on weaning your child from attachment parenting, along with the scientific research that explains why attachment parenting works.

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