Active Parenting: First Five Years—Video 1: You and Your Child

New parents often wonder about what's going on in the minds of their babies—and how to respond in the best manner possible. Based on the concept of “active parenting” (which emphasizes bonding with children, encouragement, and non-violent discipline), You and Your Child—the first entry in the four-part Active Parenting: First Five Years series—helps parents understand why kids do some of the things they do at various ages. In an entertaining rap music segment, a teen girl and boy describe the normal behaviors and experiences of kids, including how infants explore their environment through touch (and put almost everything in their mouths), the tantrums of the terrible twos, the connection to parents through reading and story time, and more, as the tiny baby grows into a big kid. Acting out common situations, multicultural parents share their challenges and approaches. Topping the list, of course, is trying to figure out what a crying baby needs—quickly followed by learning how to function as a parent in the face of ongoing fatigue. Depicting various scenarios (including tough ones related to arguments and discipline), the program emphasizes that the challenges and triumphs in child-raising are similar for all. The other titles in the series are Preventing Problems, Encouraging Positive Behavior, and Preparing Your Child For School Success. Highly recommended. Aud: P. (C. Block)