Misbehavior Is Growth: An Observant Parent's Guide to the Toddler Years

Dealing with a toddler can be a worrisome experience. In some ways, babies are easier. Sure, babies are relentlessly demanding, but you mostly do what you have to. With a toddler, big questions arise. Does their newly rambunctious behavior need corrected? Is it just a stage? What approaches are effective? Misbehavior is Growth can help.

This work documents the age-related “stages” children go through. It is times when children “act up,” but on the other side of this behavior is an astonishing burst of new ability. Their brain was going through an “upgrade.” This book covers the ages from 18 months to 3 years old (ending at 3). During this timeframe, there is a new milestone about every month!

This book features the popular work as found on The Observant Mom plus more. At each milestone are conflict resolution ideas, as well as educational activities to nurture the growth. The idea behind Misbehavior is Growth is that the demanding behavior is an instinctual call from the child for an adult to come to them at a developmentally critical time. Don’t “ignore” them: go to them. It’s not “just” a stage: it’s growth!

Toddlers explode in language comprehension, the use of symbols, making deliberate decisions, creativity, imagination, and, eventually, short-term planning and following instructions. These new developments come rapidly, in seismic shifts. Meltdowns, possessiveness, bossiness, and rigidity are guaranteed! Let Misbehavior is Growth: An Observant Parent’s Guide to the Toddler Years be your month-by-month guide!