Parenting a preschooler is not for the faint of heart but Carol Baicker-McKee, Ph.D., shows parents how to make the most of the magical years of three and four by helping their children successfully negotiate new expectations and situations in the wider world.

The book focuses on the numerous transitions that occur as a child moves from a dependent toddler to a more social, independent preschooler. Each chapter begins with an introduction that highlights specific challenges, discusses relevant developmental issues, and offers ideas, strategies, and resources for how to handle new and often stressful situations. The book also considers the emotional challenges a preschooler can face whether it’s learning to make friends or managing separations through divorce or death.

In this one-of-a-kind parenting book written specifically for parents of preschoolers, Baicker-McKee shows moms and dads that there are few preschool problems that can’t be solved with a little patience, a spark of ingenuity, and lots of humor.