More children than ever are being labeled learning disabled (LD), but despite reliance on the term, few agree on its definition or origins. This volume attempts to bridge that knowledge gap by bringing together experts from a variety of perspectives--biological, cognitive, educational, sociological, and interactive--to discuss the nature of LD, its origins, its diagnosis, and effective remediation.

THE MOST IMPORTANT GUIDE TO EARLY CHILDHOOD DEVELOPMENT EVER WRITTEN

First published in 1975, The First Three Years of Life became an instant classic. Based on Burton White's thirty-seven years of observation and research, this detailed guide to the month-by-month mental, physical, social, and emotional development of infants and toddlers has supported and guided hundreds of thousands of parents. Now completely revised and updated, it contains the most accurate information and advice available on raising and nurturing the very young child. White gives parents real-world-tested advice on:

* Creating a stimulating environment for your infant and toddler
* Using effective, age-appropriate discipline techniques
* How to handle sleep problems
* What toys you should (and should not) buy
* How to encourage healthy social development
* How and when to toilet-train

No parent who cares about a child's well-being can afford to be without this book.

Renowned child psychologist and New York Times bestselling author of Lost at School and The Explosive Child explains how to cultivate a better parent-child relationship while also nurturing empathy, honesty, resilience, and independence. Parents have an important task: figure out who their child is-his or her skills, preferences, beliefs, values, personality traits, goals, and direction-get comfortable with it, and then help them pursue and live a life according to it. Yet parents also want their kids to be independent, but not if they are going to make bad choices. They want to avoid being too overbearing, but not if an apathetic kid is what they have to show for it. They want to have a good relationship with their kids, but not if that means being a pushover. They don't want to scream, but they do want to be heard. Good parenting is about striking the balance between a child's characteristics and a parent's desire to have influence. Dr. Ross Greene "makes a powerful case for rethinking typical approaches to parenting and disciplining children" (The Atlantic). Through his well-known model of solving problems collaboratively, parents can forgo timeout and sticker charts; stop badgering, berating, threatening, and punishing; allow their kids to feel heard and validated; and have influence. From homework to hygiene, curfews, to screen time, Dr. Greene "arms parents with guidelines that are clear, doable, and sure to empower both parents and their children" (Adele Faber, coauthor of How to Talk So Kids Will Listen). Raising Human Beings is "inspirational...a game-changer for parents, teachers, and other caregivers. Its advice is reasonable and empathetic, and readers will feel ready to start creating a better relationship with the children in their lives" (Publishers Weekly, starred review).

Following on from the success of Promoting Positive Parenting, David Neville, Dick Beak and Liz King have now written this book which looks at the particular problems and challenges associated with working with parents of teenagers. The Centre for Fun and Families (from which the authors hail) is a national voluntary organization which was established in 1990. Its objective is to empower parents who are experiencing behaviour and communication difficulties with their children and young people, through the use of group work programmes. This book shares with readers the theoretical ideas that underpin the work of the Centre and provides a practical guide of how to undertake such a programme, thereby enabling the reader to react sensitively and productively to unforeseen circumstances which are inevitable when running groups. Professionals coming to these methods for the first time can work through the text safe in the knowledge that these are tried and tested ways of working, which are known to be effective. At a time when attention is focused on the importance of parenting and the way in which children are brought up and guided into adulthood, no practitioner working in this field should ignore the message within these covers.

If, like many parents of children with autism, you are tackling the job of raising your child on your own, Plan B: Parenting Solo With a Child on the Autism Spectrum is the resource you need. Plan B will help you to make your own road map towards thriving while you solo parent. How will you explain divorce, separation or death to your child with autism? How can you maintain consistency across two households? How can you adjust your budget and therapy schedule? What resources will you need? How can you build a new network of support? Plan B can help! With interactive lists to help you to create your own emotional, practical and actual Plan B, this book is the resource that every solo parent of a child with autism needs. Each child's journey towards adulthood and independence is unique. As each concept is presented, worksheets are provided for practical application of the solid advice that will help you and your child to thrive. If you are a single parent helping your child with autism on that journey, Plan B will help you to identify and tackle the unique challenges that you face.

Over half a million people in Britain are somewhere on the autistic spectrum. It can be devastating to discover that your child has an ASD (autistic spectrum disorder) and even tougher helping them to cope with life. Many books will tell you the latest theories about what causes ASD, but what you really want to know is how to get a decent night's sleep, or stop your child flapping their arms, or find some time for your other children. This second, fully updated edition of this lifeline for parents helps them understand their ASD child and offers practical advice on all the problems that can make day-to-day life so tough.

The One Minute Father is the seminal One Minute book. A man who sees that he has been a better provider than parent learns by trial and error how to be more nurturing. He first learns a more effective way to discipline -- applying One Minute Reprimands. Then his children help him discover two even more important parenting methods -- One Minute Praisings and One Minute Goals. Using these practical methods, a father develops more confidence in himself as a parent, as he and his children enjoy a happier family life. The One Minute Father begins where most father are and takes them to where they want to be.

'An uplifting philosophy on childhood and life, and an absolute treasure trove of information for anyone who believes nature and childhood are perfect companions. Sally Schweizer manages to combine magic with common sense in this wonderful book, which is authentic from cover to cover. What she writes with such lively enthusiasm, she has also lived.' - Sally Jenkinson, author of The Genius of Play We are always hearing how our children's cultural landscape is plagued by inactivity, obesity, violent computer games and obsessive TV-viewing. But it doesn't have to be like that. Sally Schweizer presents a world of possibilities for children in urban or rural areas, throwing open the doors to the great experience of life in the open air. Packed with anecdotes, games and practical activities, Under the Sky is a vibrant resource for parents, teachers and carers. So what can you do outside? Well, how about singing, whittling sticks, chatting, climbing, digging and making dens? You can build, run, watch small creatures, count tree rings, listen to stories, perform puppet plays, learn woodwork, or investigate the many forms of bark. In the outdoors you can enjoy quiet conversations or make a big noise, be alone or be with others. And that's just for starters...Under the Sky is an invaluable guide for anyone wishing to cultivate children's play and imagination. It features ideas for planning expeditions and adventures, for toys and equipment, and activities for all four seasons and all four elements! It includes plans, tips and advice on child-friendly outdoor design, materials, surfaces, seating, gardening, pets, wildlife - even campfires, picnics and train journeys...Under the Sky also contains a chapter showing how educators can work towards formal Early Years government goals.

A revised edition of the bestselling and practical guide to the issues parents face in raising sons--including sex, violence, homework, sports, the Internet, and more--and how to best aid boys' development from birth to manhood.
Raising a happy, loving, responsible boy in today's world can be challenging. In this third edition of his international best seller, Steve Biddulph looks at the most important issues in a boy's development from birth to manhood. With gentle humor and proven wisdom backed by decades as a family psychologist and father, he shows parents how to provide the firm, loving guidance that boys need. Updates include information on mitigating the dangerous effects of online pornography, male specific hearing problems, and teen driving on boys. Biddulph also discusses:
- The three stages of boyhood, and how to help them go smoothly.
- Testosterone How it changes behavior and what to do about it.
- How boys' brain development differs from girls'.
- How to help boys cultivate a caring attitude toward sex.
- The impact of competitive sports on boys, and how to ensure it stays positive.
- Questions to assist in finding boy-friendly schools.

Stemming from a wealth of both professional and personal experience, this guidebook combines real-life stories of challenges and successes with practical ideas for handling autism, every day. Autism consultant Alyson Beytien outlines over 150 tried-and-true techniques for home, school, and community. Alyson's three boys cover the whole spectrum of autism--Asperger's syndrome, high-functioning autism, and classic autism. She understands the wide range of needs these children have and has discovered what helps and what hinders. Covering a full gamut of issues--from picky-eating and echolalia to IEPs and "The Woes of Walmart"--Alyson's ideas and interventions will inspire and inform all those who are connected to a person with autism. Alyson believes that each day brings more opportunities to learn, problem-solve, and celebrate the joys that children with autism bring to our world--after all, today's crisis is tomorrow's humor. Her family's motto will soon become your everyday mantra: "Improvise and Overcome "

How do men think about fathering? How does this differ across different regions of the world? And what effect does this have on child development? Fathering in Cultural Contexts: Developmental and Clinical Issues answers these questions by considering a broad range of theoretical and conceptual models on fathering and childhood development, including attachment theory, developmental psychopathology, masculinity and parenting typologies. Roopnarine and Yildirim provide a comprehensive view of fatherhood and fathering in diverse cultural communities at various stages of economic development, including fathers' involvement in different family structures, from two-parent heterosexual families to community fathering. This book's interdisciplinary approach highlights the changing nature of fathering, drawing connections with child development and well-being, and evaluates the effectiveness of a range of father interventions. Fathering in Cultural Contexts will appeal to upper level undergraduate and graduate students in human development, psychology, sociology, anthropology, social work, and allied health disciplines, and professionals working with families and children in non-profit and social service agencies across the world.

The majority of our eating and drinking skills are developed in the first two years of life. Parents can help with this process by using appropriate feeding techniques from birth. Every three months from birth, your baby will have a growth spurt in the area of feeding. Parents often receive very little instruction on ways to feed their children, yet good eating and drinking skills encourage the best mouth development and set up patterns for life. This book reveals secrets for better breast and bottle feeding, and feeding development for babies from birth to the toddler years.

In the US and around the world, people are striving to close the gender gap. Ranked fifth globally for gender equality, Sweden is doing something right. But to truly close the gap, Swedish experts Kristina Henkel and Marie Tomicic know that we have to start at the beginning, with the daily gender traps and stumbling blocks that cause us to view our children one-dimensionally and limit their potential. In The Swedish Way to Parent and Play, Henkel and Tomicic share practical strategies and tips covering play and friendship, emotions and self-esteem, and language and body, to help parents and teachers support children's development as unique individuals. The point is not that boys should wear dresses and girls can't play with dolls, or that all children should be the same. Gender equality is about variety; it's about showing children 100 possible ways to be instead of just two.

Approximately 2/3 of all children referred to mental health agencies are labelled as having Oppositional Defiant Disorder, Conduct Disorder, or Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. These children are at increased risk for poor outcomes including academic failure, deviant peer groups, drug use, violence, and delinquency. Identifying and treating these children as early as possible offers promise for strengthening child protective factors such as social, emotional, and academic competence and effective parenting, thereby preventing and reducing the development of conduct problems and other secondary risk factors. The book has two elements -- first it allows parents to tell their stories: sharing what it is like to have a "problem" child as well as the long and painful route to finding support and recovery through parent and child training. The book also elucidates in detail the "collaborative process" of therapists working together with families. This process combines the knowledge and expertise of the clinician with the unique strengths, perspectives, culture and goals of parents. Essentially the goal is to empower parents by making them active partners in the therapy process, teaching them parenting strategies to cope effectively with their child and strengthen their relationship as well as build support networks. The book uses case examples to illustrate these points and provides examples of how to tailor the parent programs for high-risk populations and multicultural families. Examples of when and how to add adjunct therapies such as child and teacher training are also discussed, providing a comprehensive guide for the collaborative process for therapists using the Incredible Years (R) programs.

From the New York Times best-selling author of Love & Respect comes the definitive book for mothers and sons.

Love is important but it is respect that is the key to your son’s heart. As Emerson Eggerichs transformed millions of marital relationships with a biblical understanding of love and respect, he now turns these principles to one of the most important relationships of all, a mother and her son.

The idea of moms respecting their sons may sound alien to some, but it seems to ignite curiosity across the board. It is easy to relate to the need for all of us to feel a mother’s love, but is that the same thing as respect? Even for young boys, the effect of respect is nothing short of astounding when applied properly. Moms yearn to learn anything that better helps them with their sons. After all, they love their boys, but many find them more difficult to parent than their girls, especially from age four and up.

What makes this all the more urgent is that moms are coaching fathers to love their daughters, but no one has said boo to moms on specific ways to show respect to their sons, at least not in a way that is applicable and fully explained. All realize that little girls need daddy’s love, but who is strongly promoting the truth that little boys (and big ones) need Mom's respect? No wonder mothers feel left in the dark on this topic.

Madeline Levine has been a practicing psychologist for 25 years, but it was only recently that she began to observe a new breed of unhappy teenager. When a bright, affluent 15-year-old girl, a seemingly unlikely candidate for emotional problems, came into her office with the word 'empty' carved into her left forearm, Levine was shaken. The girl and her cutting seemed to personify a startling pattern Levine had been observing among her teenage patients, all of them bright, affluent, and clearly loved by their parents. Behind a veneer of strength, many of them suffered extreme emotional problems: depression, anxiety, and substance abuse. What was going on?Meticulous research confirmed Levine's worst suspicions. Privileged adolescents nation-wide are experiencing epidemic rates of emotional problems, more than children from any other socio-economic group, including those in dire poverty. The various strands of this perfect storm - materialism, pressure to achieve, and parental difficulties with attachment and separation - point to a crisis in America's culture of affluence, a culture that is as unmanageable for children as it is for their parents, particularly their mothers. While many privileged kids have the ability to make a 'good' impression, alarming numbers lack the basic foundation of psychological development - the self. They are bland, disinterested, uncreative, and most of all unhappy. And their parents often fail to see that anything is wrong. A controversial look at privileged families, this book disposes of the 'overparenting' paradigm now in vogue, exploding one child-rearing myth after another.

"A remarkable book . . . I found myself thinking that all expectant and new parents should read it." -Michelle Slater A New York Times Book Review Editors' Choice In Raising a Rare Girl, Lanier explores how to defy the tyranny of normal and embrace parenthood as a spiritual practice that breaks us open in the best of ways. Like many women of her generation, when Heather Lanier was expecting her first child she did everything by the book in the hope that she could create a SuperBaby, a supremely healthy human destined for a high-achieving future. But her daughter Fiona challenged all of Lanier's preconceptions. Born with an ultra-rare syndrome known as Wolf-Hirschhorn, Fiona received a daunting prognosis: she would experience significant developmental delays and might not reach her second birthday. The diagnosis obliterated Lanier's perfectionist tendencies, along with her most closely held beliefs about certainty, vulnerability, God, and love. With tiny bits of mozzarella cheese, a walker rolled to library story time, a talking iPad app, and a whole lot of pop and reggae, mother and daughter spend their days doing whatever it takes to give Fiona nourishment, movement, and language. Loving Fiona opens Lanier up to new understandings of what it means to be human, what it takes to be a mother, and above all, the aching joy and wonder that come from embracing the unique life of her rare girl.

Baby food finally goes plant-based in this cookbook featuring 300 easy, delicious recipes that any parent can make to ensure their babies and toddlers get all the nutrients they need...without any of the ingredients they don't. Every parent wants to make sure their baby is eating the freshest, healthiest food possible, whether their baby is eating mashes and purees or simple finger foods. The Big Book of Plant-Based Baby Food makes preparing baby food easier than ever with these 300 simple, plant-forward recipes that give your children the nutrients they need, all while being delicious to eat! Focused entirely on whole, natural foods from plant-based sources, this book includes recipes like: -Basic baby-approved purees that feature a wide range of fruits and veggies, from the simplest applesauce to a tasty garden vegetable and lentil mash -Functional snacks like teething biscuits for babies to chew or homemade puffed treats that toddlers will love to pick up for improved motor skills -And finger foods that sound so delicious you'll want to try them yourself, like sweet potato fries, strawberry raspberry muffins, and whole wheat mac 'n' cheese These easy, appetizing recipes will ensure that your kids are getting all the nutrients they need with ingredients you love!

This highly practical book contains strong messages about the need to develop independence in boys, the importance of male role models within the close (and extended) family and what to look out for in school, including signs of peer pressure and limiting negative self beliefs. It gives advice on how best to support boys in their learning and in developing self esteem.At least once a year, around the time of examination results, the papers are full of stories of how boys are underachieving in comparison to girls. While arousing the curiosity, and often deeply troubling the parents of boys, the press, and indeed the government, rarely offers more than the 'laddish culture' or 'anti social behaviour' as the root cause. Parents deserve and need to know the full range of reasons why boys are underachieving and, fundamentally, what they can do to help prevent disaffection and underachievement in their boys.Help your child to succeed.