Virtual Encyclopedia of Early Childhood Development - This Encyclopedia covers 33 topics related to the psychosocial development of the child, from conception to the age of five. For each topic, a series of articles written by internationally renowned experts presents the most up-to-date scientific knowledge and addresses three questions: How important is it? What do we know? What can be done? Each topic is organized with key messages geared for parents and service providers. A summary of findings is provided with the complete articles also available.

Do Kids Really Want Limits? - This idea that children really want limits isn’t completely true. It is true, of course, that in the long run youngsters are more comfortable in a house where parents have clear, reasonable rules and enforce them consistently and fairly.

The Two Biggest Parenting Mistakes (PDF) - Dr. Thomas Phelan, of ParentMagic.com and 1-2-3 Magic, explains that the two biggest mistakes parents and teachers make in dealing with children are: Too Much Talking and Too Much Emotion. Talking is bad because it either doesn't work or takes you through the Talk-Persuade-Argue-Yell-Hit Syndrome.

CDC Warns Against Giving Cold Medicine to Kids Under 2 - More than 1,500 toddlers and babies wound up in emergency rooms over a two-year period and three died because of bad reactions to cold or cough medicine, federal health officials reported.

Feeling Invisible to Your Kids? Try Keeping Quiet - If you're a parent living with small children, you may often feel like you're invisible to your kids. After spending a day cajoling, reasoning, threatening and even screaming in an attempt to get your kids to behave, you may feel as if you simply didn't exist. But all that talking is precisely the problem. If you feel like you're invisible, you're probably way too audible.
 

Teen Moms Learn the Power of Singing to Their Babies - The simple crooning of a lullaby could change the lives of children born to single teenage mothers, educators at the Salvation Army say.

Some of the Best Baby Products are Delivered by Dads - The role of stay-at-home dad to colicky infant daughter Faye inspired CDs from Sherman Oaks, Calif., music producer Michael Preston, 35. Infant Calm features “white noise” from everyday baby-calming items (tracks include Clothes Dryer Hum and Vacuum Clearner Waltz). And Storieszzz: The Adventures of Faye & Fred is intended for nap and bedtime resistant toddlers. Steven Dunn, 48, of Los Angeles started an entire business in 1991 around his infant daughter. Steve Dunn’s Munchkin Inc. baby product line includes spoons that turn white when food is too hot and a bottle system with adjustable flow rates.

Why Counting Works - Perhaps the most useful—as well as the most simple—aspect of the 1-2-3 Magic program is the use of a procedure known as counting to manage behavior such as arguing, yelling, fighting, whining and tantrums. The counting method has preserved the sanity of many parents and according to those same parents, it has also saved quite a few marriages as well. Why does counting work so well? Because the procedure minimizes (A) cognitive confusion and (B) emotional aggravation.

Childproofing and Preventing Household Accidents - Is Your Home Safe? Although many people usually think of babies and toddlers when they hear the words "babyproofing" or "childproofing," unintentional injury is the leading cause of death in kids 14 years old and under, with more than a third of these injuries happening at home (also available in Spanish).
 

The Comfort of Limits - True or False? Self-esteem and creativity both are higher when kids can “do their own thing” without external limits imposed by adult power or authority. Believe it or not, this statement is false. Also included with this article is "Ask Dr. Phelan: Mealtime".

Studies Back Evidence Linking Lots of TV With Poor Academics - Too much television-watching can harm the ability of children to learn and even reduce their chances of getting a college degree, studies suggest in the latest effort to examine how television affects children.

Tots Take on Foreign Words - Susan Winchester knew that the foreign language classes her toddler was taking were having an impact one day at the diaper-changing table. The Orinda, Calif., woman, who is bilingual, asked Douglas in French, "What color is the sun?" "He looked up at me with a sparkle in his eye and said, 'amarillo.' And it wasn't a mistake."

Overparenting: Anxious Parent, Angry Child - Overparenting refers to unnecessary corrective, cautionary or disciplinary comments made by parents to kids. These parental comments can be unnecessary for several reasons.