Your Nine Year Old: Thoughtful and Mysterious

This book serves as a great tool for me in raising my nine year old twins! It provides a great assessment as to what I can expect from my children, and explains the reasoning for some of the issues that go on with their behavior. I wish more adults in the education profession and politics would use the information provided in this book in an effort to get a better perspective on what it's like to be nine. Particularly as we continue to hold our children more and more accountable for reaching such rigorous education standards.

I recommend these books (Your ONE Year Old, Your TWO Year Old, Your THREE Year Old, Your FOUR Year Old, Your FIVE Year Old, Your SIX Year Old, Your SEVEN Year Old, Your EIGHT Year Old, Your NINE Year Old, Your TEN-to-FOURTEEN Year Old. These books were writtten by Louise Bates Ames, PhD, Fances L. Ilg, MD and Sidney M. Baker MD of the Gesell Institute of Human Development. They are NOT a "how to" book for parents -- but rather provide a perspective of life from the child's various ages. I found the books to be of such value that I purchase the entire series for new parents. Somehow I forgot to purchase these books for my niece when she started her family. She expressed some concerns about her seven year old son's behavior (that I knew from experience to be that typical of seven year olds). I purchased the books from the series that will help my niece from here on. She LOVES them! I have a feeling she will use them and pass them along to other parents. My original set are part of my permanent library. I highly recommend these books for your permanent library as well!

If you want to take the guesswork out of understanding your kids, read her series, it's excellent!! Sections are broken down for quick read...no need to read cover to cover, just whats baffeling you at the moment. You'll tune into your kids incredibly. Instead of thinking "If I repeat myself one more time..." you'll understand their developmental stage and see in their other actions why you are repeating. Try to get the book one yr behind and one yr older in addition to your childs age. You will find your child may have some older characteristics at his/her age or not have quite developed a certain cognitive skill yet. We're so focused on "Babies Development" that sometimes we forget every year is a developmental process thru adulthood. I'm a much better parent having kept up with her series from year 3 forward. I'm at year 9 now. I get comments all the time from how well behaved my child is and how tuned in I am to him from teachers and friends. If you want parenting confidence....you'll definitely get it with this series.

Reading this book has helped make nine very enjoyable. This series of books is great. Understanding the different stages takes out the frustration and makes watching and helping your childern grow and develop a JOY.

When you know what behaviors are "normal" for your child's age you can relax, stop the worry, and focus on appropriate solutions. This whole series of books accurately defines the ages and stages of children. These books keep your expectations realistic and allow you to avoid anger caused by a lack of understanding of your child's developmental stages.