Questions Parents Ask: Straight Anwers

by Louise Bates Ames

One of America's most respected child care experts addresses 30 topics that most concern parents today, ranging from toilet training to drug abuse and teen pregnancy.

306 pages, Hardcover

First published June 15, 1988

About the author

Louise Bates Ames was an American psychologist specializing in child development.[1] Ames was known as a pioneer of child development studies, introducing the theory of child development stages to popular discourse. Ames authored numerous internationally renowned books on the stages of child development, hosted a television show on child development, and co-founded the Gesell Institute of Child Development in New Haven, CT.

Ames's work found that children go through clear, discrete developmental phases based on age. She demonstrated that various age groups feature unique behavioral patterns, to be considered by parents and doctors in monitoring children's development. Perhaps the best-known legacy of her work was the coining of the term "Terrible Twos," to describe the rigid, conflict-laden behavioral patterns of two-year-olds.

Reviews

[Jodi · Rating 3 out of 5]

Picked this up off the free shelf at the library and thought it might have some simple reminders about being a good mother. My biggest take-away is not to nag or yell at my kids to do things. Instead tell them what they need to do and let them do it. If they don't, don't let them go to an activity, party or something else they want to do until it is done. Simple tell them, "you may go to.........when you ......." Hmmmm.......will have to see how that works for me!!

I was glad to read her recommendation not to push children to start school too early! As a second grade teacher, it was usually pretty easy to tell who the youngest were by their abilities. Those extra months do make a difference! I also kept my summer baby at home another year to give him time to grow and I believe it was the best decision I could have ever made for him! Nice to see it validated in a book!

I did disagree with one of the responses in the book. Someone asked if boys or girls were harder to deal with in the teen years, and the author responded boys were because they were more dangerous in their behavior. Yes, point taken.......but girls are not easy either. BOTH are hard.....different.....but hard. This is like saying which is tastier a chocolate chip cookie or a quality chocolate bar. Both are delicious but different. I think this would have been a more appropriate way to respond. As a parent to an almost 9 year old boy and a 10 1/2 year old girl, my boy may be more active but he is more laid-back. My girl may not be as physical but her words can really hurt! My boy thus far has been WAY easier to raise than my girl!!