1,2,3...The Toddler Years offers practical help in an entertaining fashion on the many issues parents and caregivers face as young children experience the toddler years. The true life examples, humorous approach and clear format make the book easy to read and use. These methods have been applied successfully for over 30 years by the Santa Cruz Toddler Care Center, which has built its program around the belief that what young children learn about themselves and their world during their toddler years will affect the rest of their lives. Topics include: - Settling limits - Biting, - Sharing - Sleeping - Eating - Separation - Toilet learning. There is also a section on successful parenting including - Learn from others - Trust yourself - Take care of yourself - Stop feeling guilty - Enjoy your child - Finding and keeping quality child care. "Reading this book is like looking through a one-way mirror into daily life with a toddler. I recommend it highly..." -- Maga Gerber, Founder of Resources for Infant Educarers (RIE) "Concise, easy-to-read, informative guide gives wonderful, real-life examples of toddler behavior and offers creative, respectful strategies..." -- Janis Keyser, Family and Program Support Manager of Google's Children Center "... a treasure house of information and examples of respectful interactions with toddlers...I heartily recommend this book..." --Janet Gonzalez-Mena, Faculty at the Program for Infant-Toddler Caregivers (PITC) and author of 13 early childhood books Irene Van der Zande lives in Santa Cruz, California. She utilized her Psychology degree from UCLA and her experience as the mother of two children to life the ideas presented in 1,2,3...The Toddler Years. Irene is currently the Executive Director of KidPower, a non-profit national organization that teaches safety and confidence to children. Founded in 1976 by two women who were concerned about the lack of quality care for young children, the Santa Cruz Toddler Care Center has grown into a model program visited by people from as far as New Zealand and Japan. The Toddler Center is inspired by the approach presented by Infant care specialist Magda Gerber, known as the RIE philosophy.