O'Brien, formerly director of the Brazelton Touchpoints Center at Boston's Children's Hospital, and Tippins, a writer in the child development field, have reprinted their first two volumes (Watch Me Grow: I'm One; Watch Me Grow, I'm Two) and added a section for the 38- to 48-month-old preschooler to complete this set. Parents who derived help and comfort from the first two books will certainly enjoy this compilation. The authors combine the latest research in child development with an array of engaging and sometimes humorous child-rearing anecdotes (some from OBrien's own experiences with her twins) to make sense of the seemingly incomprehensible actions of a toddler or preschooler. For example, when a three-year-old deliberately misbehaves by eating cookies right before dinner, this child may actually be seeking reassurance that parental love is constant. O'Brien advises that when a child tests in this manner, parents should try to put their frustration with the behavior aside and provide their son or daughter with the limits they are seeking without anger. As in the first two volumes, O'Brien and Tippins discuss physical, cognitive and emotional development, stressing that children mature at different rates and their progress should be looked at individually. The strength of this guide lies in the author's ability to present children's actions and feelings from the child's rather than an adult's perspective. A clearly written, positive guide. Photos. (Dec.)
