Joyful Toddlers and Preschoolers: Create a Life that You and Your Child Both Love

In nearly 15 years of parenting, I've read my fair share of parenting books (because let's face it, parenting is not easy). This book is one of my favorites and has become my number one pick for this age group- toddlers and preschoolers. I love that Faith has brought together the best of mainstream child development research right alongside the holistic Waldorf approach to working with children in her book. She's got the book smarts (master's degree in early childhood studies plus training as a LifeWays educator) combined with real life experience (years of working with children) and a lovely way of imparting her knowledge and making it easy for readers to implement.This book will teach you how to get your child to do as you've asked using singing, movement, imagination, love & appreciation, and exaggeration instead of explaining, convincing, punishing, or bribing. You'll also look at your children differently when you begin to understand their core needs- for connection, competence, and to contribute. With these concepts in mind, you'll move through your day with your child with a sense of ease, grace, and spaciousness. You'll even get your housework done too! Faith will show you how.

This book is ESSENTIAL in every parent, grandparent, auntie, uncle, child care worker’s life. I have worked with children for decades, am raising my own and have read other great books such as “the awakened family” and “how to talk so little kids will listen”. “Joyful Toddlers and Preschoolers” combines so many of the lessons in those books while also wrapping it all in the Waldorf way of child/family centric techniques, philosophy, and rhythms. After reading you will find yourself with a deep tool box and understanding of how to truly CONNECT with the children in your life building a home where everyone is on the same team. You will learn to speak their “language” and read their cues making almost all of those “no’s” melt into “yes”. I’m not saying that there won’t be work to be done; so many of us have been trained to discount each other’s feelings, and want to be in “control”, and don’t know how to set firm boundaries while still maintaining a loving relationship. But day by day and week by week, these “technique muscles” Faith Collins (SO clearly and lovingly) shares get stronger and stronger and become the new habit. Everyone will create a “habit of YES”. YES to hearing and responding to each other. YES to allowing your children to blossom into whole confident people. YES to enjoying your life and children more than struggling with it/them. The truth is, children are mirrors, so a lot of parenting will be confronting and challenging no matter what. But, through Faith’s eyes and all the scientifically supported data she provides, and slowing down, you see that you and your child can feel way more joy and ease throughout each day. It will teach you how to live in the present with your children and creating the life you want NOW.Get this book. Enjoy learning the lessons (laugh and cry as you do). And watch how you become not only a better parent or care taker but a better person in the world.Hip hip hurray for Faith Collins! Thank you for sharing!

Reading this book was like getting to watch Faith's amazing work with young children in person. It is well laid-out with easy to understand, actionable ideas. This book is so wonderful that my husband literally requested his own copy so we can each delve into it at our own pace (you can read it cover to cover or jump around if you're looking for something specific) and then discuss the ideas together. If you appreciate Kim John Payne's book "Simplicity Parenting" then you will absolutely love this book as well. I cannot recommend it enough!I first witnessed Faith Collins' magic with young children when I was hired to work as her assistant in a Waldorf kindergarten/preschool more than a decade ago. She is truly amazing with toddlers and young children. Everything she modeled completely shaped who I am now as a parent and how I interact with both my own children and the children in the family child care program I now run.The foundation of Faith's philosophy is connection. When children act out, it is a call for one of several things (simplifying, boundaries, etc) and Faith lays out simple ways to be firm but kind in meeting the child's need. She gives examples of how empathy and connecting first can transform your relationship with your child. I often recommend this book to parents of children in my care - it is hands down one of my favorite parenting resources.

I love this book! There are so many useful tactics in the beginning that can really help you relate to your young children. Additionally, it has really helped me go about my day integrating my 4 year olds in my life, vs. “tip-toeing” around them to get everything done while they are sleeping or distracted. It feels very freeing to know that I can find ways to actually include them, help them learn skills, and improve our relationship - all at the same time! I feel like I have gained patience because I have learned a lot about how to interact in a more productive way.

As a play at home mom of a 1 year old and Newly 3 year old,I have been looking for a book that explains with examples how to approach certian typical behaviors of toodlers and preschoolers. This book was exactly what I have been looking for. I love the Waldorf method and schooling which is how I found this book and she gives you the nitty gritty on how to handle tantrums, meltdowns in a positve loving manner but also not giving into what the toddler is demanding all the time. She gives you tools that I find to be so wonderful and perfect to make sure your precious ones feel loved and safe. Worth the buy 100 percent!!!

Really interesting book with lots of practical ideas. Helped me to understand and enjoy my toddler even more. Highly recommended!

I recently attended a workshop delivered by Faith, the author of this book and would highly recommend her book to EVERY parent of a child of any age. Her description of parenting styles, encouragement for self-reflection, and ability to summarize what children of any age are seeking motivated me to understand more about how to connect with wee ones. She offers practical strategies and humorous antidotes that can be applied in everyday situations with all children (and even adults, if you are brave enough). If you can't get to one of her workshops, then definitely buy her book and find a way to read it! I'm sure you will notice changes in your child immediately, and more importantly, in the relationships you are creating with them. Jan Pringle. Child and Parent Educator.

Someone recently recommended the book Joyful Toddlers & Preschoolers to me and it was one of the most helpful toddler parenting books I’ve read. A lot of parenting books seem geared towards older kids that you can have conversations with but this one was really more oriented towards non-verbal/early verbal toddlers. I found a lot of the strategies helpful and I’ve even sidestepped a couple tantrums! .

It can be so hard to overcome the habits we learned from how we were parented. I love the non-judgemental approach here that mixes in anecdotal pieces and research. I highly recommend this for any parent but especially those that are curious about Waldorf/Lifeways.

A very encouraging read; the book maintained a positive tone throughout its entirety and really motivated me to try Faith's techniques. All of her advice is realistic and able to be put into practice right away. I saw an improvement right away (in myself and my kids). Thank you! (Mom of toddler twins and a preschooler)