Guiding Parents of Young Children

By Jean Wixson Gowen, Ph.D., & Judith Brennan Nebrig, L.C.S.W.

During their first two years, children form attachments with caregivers that profoundly affect their emotional lives. This engaging book helps professionals who work with families of young children nurture those crucial bonds, giving parents the support and guidance they need to identify their children's needs, enhance interactions with their children, and address any factors that may prevent them from building a strong relationship with their infant or toddler. Readers will get an in-depth look at children's emotional development at five stages from birth to 24 months, examine challenges to effective parenting, and learn from realistic vignettes that demonstrate appropriate interventions. With this easy-to-read, non-judgmental resource, professionals will have the tools they need to help parents promote the healthy emotional development of their babies and toddlers.

About the Authors
Acknowledgments

1. Nurturing Babies, Toddlers, and Their Parents
   
   
   1. It's All About Relationships: Principles for Guiding Parents
      
      
   2. Laying a Strong Foundation: The Building Blocks of Emotional Development
      
      
   3. Heart to Heart: Strategies for Guiding and Supporting Parents
      
      
2. Promoting Emotional Development During the First 2 Years
   
   
   4. Getting to Know You: The First 3 Months
      
      
   5. Let the Games Begin: 3 to 7 Months
      
      
   6. Expanding Horizons: 7 to 12 Months
      
      
   7. Venturing Forth: 12 to 18 Months
      
      
   8. Me, Myself, and I: 18 to 24 Months
      
      
3. Understanding the Caregiving Environment
   
   
   9. Parents Are Babies Grown Up: How Parents' Early Emotional Experiences Influence Caregiving
      
      
   10. What Parents Bring: How Parent Characteristics Influence Caregiving
       
       
   11. Families Matter: How Family Circumstances Influence Caregiving
       
       
   12. Weaving a Safety Net: How Communities Support Caregiving
       
       

References
Appendix: Disorders of Attachment in Early Childhood