From America's #1 family magazine, a guide to your three- and four-year-old's emotional and cognitive milestones. The little person running around your home will amaze and amuse you as he asserts his newfound independence- and provides a running commentary on every day's events and activities. In "Your Three- and Four-Year-Old," the expert editors of Parents magazine give a fascinating peek into your child's perpetually active mind, explaining why and what your three- and four-year-old may be thinking and feeling throughout the metamorphosis from baby to miniature individual. At the same time, you'll discover how to promote a stimulating, supportive environment in which your child can blossom. Each chapter focuses on a unique developmental milestone- from verbalizing feelings and using his imagination to learning responsibility and appreciating the needs of others. "Your Three- and Four-Year-Old" helps you to understand your child's evolving and often erratic behavior by sharing his perspective on the world and the people around him, and offers specific advice for easing the inevitable conflicts that arise during his quest for independence, while he's still not physically and emotionally capable of doing everything he wants to do. This essential resource also provides straightforward, practical advice on dealing with issues from imaginary friends and increasing gender awareness, to common pre-schooler fears (of darkness, dreams, and being hurt) and frustrations. "Your Three- and Four-Year-Old" will help you and your child to grow and enjoy these wonderful years. Each chapter highlights four main areas: * Developmental Milestone (what you can expect)* Conflict (changes in behavior that result from this milestone)* You and Your Child (how this stage of development affects you as a parent)* Helping Your Child Grow (strategies, activities and ideas for creative play that enhance development) Informative, recurring features include: * How It Feels to Be Me (common scenarios explained from a child's perspective)* Do Say/Don't Say (scripts of appropriate responses to various situations)