Book suggestions for parents of toddlers?

[rachie]

I've read the Sears "Discipline" book (it was a long time ago - I should probably re-read). I have some very spirited little ones (including a 4yo with sensory issues) and I would love to read a book that may offer some good insight into how to calm them down, keep routines, gentle discipline that actually helps at their level.

Any suggestions? A baby-wearing group online suggested so another member "The Happiest Toddler on the Block" but I think the references to my kids being "primitive" monkeys would bother me. I understand the author just trying to describe different developmental phases and such but it would just bother me because my children are created in God's image and I just would rather read from an author who recognizes that more (that my children are people, albeit little people who have plenty of growing and learning and developing to do).

I'm reading "Raising a Sensory Smart Kid" so I can get a better idea of how my 4yo and 8yo are feeling sometimes. (And planning to take them both to an OT for evals).

[Hannah Elise]

Raising a Sensory Smart Kid is, in my opinion, THE best sensory-related resource book available to parents right now. Have you ever looked into L R Knost's blog and books? She offers some great, developmemtally-appropriate tips, and doesn't talk about kids being monkeys. She is a Christian, though if I recall correctly, she doesn't blatantly proclaim that in her books - well, except for Jesus The Gentle Parent, from what I've heard, because that book is supposed to specifically be a rebuttal to the theories of Mezzo, Pearls, Dobson, etc. It's the only one I haven't had a chance to read yet, though.

Grace Based Parenting by Tim Kimmel is another good one about basing your parenting andnrelationships on grace, but I didn't find it to offer a lot of toddler-specific scenarios. Still a good one to read for the mindset, if you've got a little extra $$ for an additional book.

[sunflowermom]

[Aerynne]

Simplicity Parenting would be my top recommendation!

[Whirlwind]

I'm reading Playful Parenting by Cohen. I'm not finished yet, but I really like a lot of it so far.

[flowermama]

L.R. Knost is wonderful. I did a quick interview with her here: http://www.gentlechristianmothers.co...sandkisses.php

I've heard a lot of good things about the book that Whirlwind mentioned, Playful Parenting.

One of the books that really helped me when my first child was little was Raising Your Spirited Child by Mary Sheedy Kurcinka.

[Proverbs3Rubies]

[ShepherdsWife]

I have really loved the book, "Easy to Love, Difficult to Discipline" and really everything I have read so far by Beck Bailey. "I Love You Rituals" was also good but not nearly as "meaty" and helpful to me as the first one.

[flowermama]

In the past there have been several book discussions of the book "Easy to Love, Difficult to Discipline." Here's a link in case it might be helpful to look at the past threads to get a taste for what the book is like: http://www.gentlechristianmothers.co...d.php?t=438058

[rjy9343]

I got a lot out of The Out of Synch Child, sorry I don't remember the author. Living Sensationally by Winnie Dunn while written for adults was still really helpful for me because it still addressed sensory issues and how to deal with them in a really simple and easy way without being magazine articles.

[emerald]

Originally Posted by Aerynne

Simplicity Parenting would be my top recommendation!

I like Simplicity Parenting, too.

Also, I haven't read her book, but a lot of Janet Lansbury's blog posts on toddlers are great, IMO.
http:// www.janetlansbury.com/tag/toddlers-2/
one of my favorites: http:// http://www.janetlansbury.com/2010/04...-9-guidelines/