This volume is the result of over twenty years of therapeutic interventions with families within the Tavistock Clinic's Under Fives Service. It describes in detail the process of understanding young children's communications and behavior and the dynamics of family relationships within the consulting room in a lively, accessible style. It covers common themes in work with young children such as disruptive, angry behavior, separation and sleep difficulties, and problems in the parent/couple relationship. This book is essential reading for all early years professionals hoping to gain a greater understanding of the technique, observational skills and theory which underlie a psychodynamic approach to work with the under fives.

This book describes the particular approach to clinical work with under fives that has been developed at the Tavistock Clinic. It sets out new approaches in the understanding and treatment of psychological disturbance in children, adolescents, and adults, both as individual and in families.

What changes when a young child begins to leave toddler-hood behind him? How do you keep track of your child's good and bad experiences at nursery and kindergarten and support her through them? What is the best way to cope with temper tantrums, and why do temper tantrums happen? Louise Emanuel presents practical tips and a great deal of emotional reassurance for the new and experienced parent. She offers helpful guidance on topics as diverse as how to ensure everyone in the family gets a good night's sleep, how to manage sibling rivalry, and how to encourage imaginative solitary and social play and conversation.