Early Childhood is a period of constant change. From birth to age five, a child goes from being a totally dependent being to a talking, thinking and more or less independent individual. Because of the tremendous amount of change taking place, as parents we constantly feel under siege. We finally get those two-year-old temper tantrums under control and then we may be thrown right into toileting difficulties. We deal with toilet learning and then the temper tantrums come back. Sometimes we parents look around at the end of the day and the only word that comes into our minds is....HELP!

That's what we're here for: To give you that help. We're here to give you suggestions on how to deal with the daily stresses of parenting a young child and provide information to help you manage to make it through each successive crisis successfully.

More importantly, however, we want to be here to help you appreciate being the parent of a young child. In our efforts to just "get through" the day, it's easy to forget to take the time to sit back and wonder at the gifts that young children can give to us.

Appreciate the feel of your child's body folding into your own as you read him a book at bedtime.

Look at the smile on his face as he finds a different color leaf on the lawn or figures out how to build a new type of car out of Lego.

Remember the first time he fills in the correct word at the end of a song.

As I write these words, I do not only speak to you, the readers, but also to myself. I cannot count the number of days I get home from work and rush to make supper instead of taking a few moments to look at the picture my son drew in pre-school that day. I wish that I had a dollar for all the times I used the word "later" with my five-year-old.

These are the magic years - together let's share and appreciate them. Let us grow together as parents and individuals, for it is only by sharing and learning that we can truly give our children the skills they need to tackle the challenge we call life.

HERE ARE SOME ARTICLES YOU MAY WANT TO CHECK OUT:

Early Childhood Crisis Control

Make the Punishment Fit the Crime
Time Out
Disciplining Toddlers
Volcanic Ash

Child Development

Understanding Early Childhood Speech and Language Development
What to Expect (ages 1-3)
What to Expect (ages 4-6)

Fun With Your Kids

Great Recipes
Cooking with Kids Can Be Fun
Arts and Crafts Activities
Reading With Young Children
Books to Grow On

AND MORE…….