As They Grow (Book 1): Your One Year Old

The first time I picked up this book, I skimmed through it and then put it down. The format was so distracting--with headings, subheadings, sidebars, tables, and "features"--that I just didn't have the patience for it at the time. The next time I picked it up, I was able to read it cover to cover and was pleased with what I found. "Your One-Year-Old" is the first book in the As They Grow series written by the editors of Parents Magazine. It is well organized and is fast and easy to read. It has a friendly tone and is filled with mainstream advice. The reader is encouraged to "respect your child's uniqueness...support her development, be patient...and savor this exciting journey." It is meant as a guide to the ups and downs of raising a one-year-old--not only why they occur, but also how parents can respond. The book is divided into 9 chapters, each focusing on a different aspect of development (mobility, language, personality, sense of self, thinking and learning, feelings, fears, behavior, and relationships). Each chapter is divided into four sections (what you can expect at each milestone, changes in behavior that result from each milestone, how each stage affects you as a parent, and strategies and activities to enhance development). Each chapter also includes features such as How It Feels to Be Me, Do Say/Don't Say, and Safety First. Some pros: It covers only one-year-olds, instead of the more broad toddler phase. It does a good job of covering a wide range of topics in a fun, introductory manner. It gives good insight into a one-year-old's world-view and development. It offers many examples and specific suggestions. It offers lists of activities, toys, books, and games to enhance development. Although I have read many books that are quite similar to this one, I nevertheless learned several new ways of looking at and responding to my daughter's behaviors. In many cases, there are examples/advice geared toward different temperment types, instead of assuming that all one-year-olds are essentially the same. Some cons: There is no index. There are sometimes references to other chapters by number, but the chapters aren't numbered so you have to count on the table of contents to figure out which chapter to go to. There is no resource list for further, more in-depth reading.