This book covers the psychological, behavioural side of childcare more completely than any other. It traces all the key themes from birth to the start of adolescence, going into them in depth and parenting a psychological understanding and a philosophical approach that will help them through the challanges and make possible a happier family life. Although the book describes and suggests ways of handling every behavioural problem a parent could reasonably encounter, it is not just an agony column but also an optimistic account of the mental side of child development designed to show parents what, at any age, it is reasonable to expect, what constitutes a problem and what does not and, above all, how to keep it in perspective.