Four Wonderful Years

What is it about four-year-olds that makes them so lovable? What problems do four-year-olds have? What can they do now that they couldn't do at three? Drs. Ames and Ilg, recognized authorities on child behavior and development, discuss these and scores of other questions unique to four-year-old girls and boys, and they offer parents practical advice and enlightening psychological insights. Can Your Four-Year-Old make you a happier, less stressed, and more efficient parent? You bet! Find out about: • Embarrassing moments . . . how to deal with a four-year-old's fascination with bowel movements, belly buttons, body parts, and forbidden words—without turning red. • Words that will work a miracle . . . what to say to give your child and instant smile, raise self-esteem, and change behavior quicker than criticism. • Hyperactivity . . . how to determine if your “always on the go” four-year-old is truly hyperactive. • Kindergarten readiness . . . school too soon can cause lifelong problems, so note this warning for parents of “fall babies.” • Encouraging creativity . . . fifteen activities you can initiate to stimulate your child's natural talents and have a great time too! • Your child's body type: round and plump or bony and angular . . . does it predict behavior, temperament, and social success? . . . and more!

"A picture book comically following one girl through each of the four seasons"--

This book contains a distillation of eight plus years of both financial and cultural factoids abstracted from a plethora of sources and was originally accumulated for the authors personal use. Friends have asked for copies so often that I decided to publish the material as the simplest solution and those that want copies can now get copies! The material is presented in factoid format (as accumulated by my self) over the 8 years from numerous sources, many with attribution. The core eight years (2008 - 2016) was a remarkable period in American history with continuous improvements in both the stock market and the employment picture.

Young teens undergo multiple changes that seem to set them apart from other students. But do middle schools actually meet their special needs? The authors describe some of the challenges and offer ways to tackle them, such as reassessing the organization of grades K-12; specifically assisting the students most in need; finding ways to prevent disciplinary problems; and helping parents understand how they can help their children learn at home.

From America’s most trusted pediatric authority comes an indispensable, easy-to-use guide to helping your baby and young child flourish in the first five years of life—physically, mentally, and emotionally. The first five years of a child’s life are filled with major developmental and behavioral milestones. During this period your infant becomes an individual who has mastered a range of skills—from walking to making conversation–that prepares him or her to enter the world beyond home and family. For parents, this wondrous time provides an opportunity to help children fulfill their potential. The Wonder Years shows you how to make the most of it. Written in the same warm and accessible language that has endeared the Academy’s bestselling Caring for Your Baby and Young Child: Birth to Age 5 to millions of parents for over fifteen years, this doctor-approved resource features a variety of fun-filled activities, tips, and hints, and offers the most dependable, authoritative, up-to-date information on child development, including: • Ideal patterns of growth at every stage—and normal variances • Parent-child activities that help you monitor and promote your child’s development • Easy ways to create an enriching home environment • A “behind-the-scenes” look at what’s going on in your child’s developing brain • Information on aiding children with special needs–from ADHD, autism, and learning disabilities to those who are gifted • Advice on consulting specialists, including nutritionists, occupational therapists, and counselors • Tips on safety and injury prevention • How factors like birth order and gender impact development With five hundred full-color photographs and illustrations, developmental time lines, charts, and graphs, this family-friendly book is the definitive guide no parent or caregiver can afford to be without.

Learn how to pack up the family for a life-changing, long-term journey filled with education and adventure. If you’ve ever dreamed about an epic family adventure and heading out on the road for a few months or more, Wonder Year is for you. Part inspiration and part how-to, this book demystifies the seemingly outrageous prospect of embarking on a long-term family trip and using the world as a classroom for your kids—a trailblazing approach known as worldschooling. Packed with practical information, Wonder Year offers invaluable guidance to help transform your dream into a well-planned reality for your family. Woven throughout the book are evocative travelogues and photos from families sharing worldschooling experiences. Paddling a wild and scenic Oregon river, stargazing in New Mexico, and visiting World War II sites in France are just a few of the colorful stories that will no doubt stir you to envision your own journey. This book will show you how to: Explore funding options for long-term family travel—be it a summer, semester, year, or more Choose where to go and navigate the logistics of getting there Discover alternative education methods for teaching your kids on the road Travel responsibly and sustainably Identify ways to earn income while traveling Stay healthy and safe along the way Tap into a global community of worldschoolers and family adventurers You’ll learn that extended family travel is more attractive and attainable than ever before, and remote living and learning are not actually remote at all. Wonder Year will help you slow down, simplify, and wonder at all the world has to offer.

“This beautiful book, full of wisdom and warmth, teaches us how to protect and preserve our most valuable possessions—the relationships with those we love. It shows that the things that matter definitely aren’t ‘things,’ and how to empower your life in the right direction.” —Dr. Stephen R. Covey, author of The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People Four simple phrases—“Please forgive me,” “I forgive you,” “Thank you,” and “I love you”—carry enormous power to mend and nurture our relationships and inner lives. These four phrases and the sentiments they convey provide a path to emotional wellbeing, guiding us through interpersonal difficulties to life with integrity and grace. Newly updated with stories from people who have turned to this life-altering book in their time of need, this motivational teaching about what really matters reminds us how we can honor each relationship every day. Dr. Ira Byock, an international leader in palliative care, explains how we can practice these life-affirming words in our day-to-day lives. Too often we assume that the people we love really know that we love them. Dr. Byock demonstrates the value of “stating the obvious” and provides practical insights into the benefits of letting go of old grudges and toxic emotions. His stories help us to forgive, appreciate, love, and celebrate one another and live life more fully. Using the Four Things in a wide range of life situations, we can experience emotional healing even in the wake of family strife, personal tragedy, divorce, or in the face of death. With practical wisdom and spiritual power, The Four Things That Matter Most gives us the language and guidance to honor and experience what really matters most in our lives every day.