Description "A child with good character who builds strong friendships, a child who studies eagerly with curiosity and a spirit of exploration" — this is probably what most parents wish for their children. And every day, moms are working hard to make it happen. To make sure that effort isn't wasted, we need to pay close attention to our child's "critical period." This book is the definitive parenting guide from an author who has spent over 20,000 hours across 15 years counseling mothers and children, and who has become a trusted mentor to moms through her bestsellers The Way Moms Speak and Hurting Others Is Also a Habit. After years of counseling parents and children and observing children's growth firsthand, the author came to realize that everything hinges on how a child spends the years between ages 3 and 7. If parents can truly understand their child's heart during this period and nurture both character and learning ability in balance, it will change the course of that child's entire life. Most parents have heard at least once or twice about how important this period is. And yet, caught up in the daily struggle of raising a child, it's all too easy to let this time slip by unnoticed. If you want to raise a child who is curious and self-motivated to learn, who has healthy self-esteem, and who believes in themselves, this book offers clear answers on exactly what to do during this critical window. Prologue: What It Means to Raise a Child Well Part 1. The Critical Period for So Many Things - Two Deep Wishes of Every Parent - Why Hard-Earned Attachment Bonds Break Down - What Were Mom and Dad's Own Early Years Like? - Parents Who Try to Teach but End Up Doing Harm - 10 Questions That Reveal Your Child's Heart Part 2. What Parents Must Instill in Their Children - What Determines a Child's Behavior? - Children Do What Mom and Dad Do - 7 Parental Phrases That Lead Children the Wrong Way - What Parents Must Instill During the Critical Period - Help Your Child Believe in Themselves Part 3. What Kind of Child Is Mine? — 3 Areas of Child Psychology for Understanding Temperament and Needs - What Should Children Learn in Early Childhood? - What Needs Are Strongest in Your Child? - What Is Your Child's Temperament? - Mothers Who Turned Frustration Into Hope Part 4. 4 Attitudes Every Parent Must Have - A Parent's Attitude Shapes a Child's Heart - Cheerfulness — Laugh Together and Speak with Delight - Acceptance — Smile and Empathize with Your Child's Feelings - Curiosity — Wonder About Your Child's Behavior - Empathy — Respond with Enthusiasm and Admiration - How Do Other Countries Raise Their Children? ① ... Child-Rearing Advice from the American Psychological Association Part 5. The Time When Character Is Shaped - Is Your Child's Character Developing Well? - When Should It Begin? - The 2 Best Ways to Build Good Character - Picture-Book Parenting to Support Emotional Growth - How Do Other Countries Raise Their Children? ② ... A French Mother Met on the Subway Part 6. The Time When Learning Ability Is Shaped - The First Step Determines the Direction of Learning - Knowledge Is Absorbed Naturally, Without Being Forced - Learning Hangul Through Picture Books - Learning Math Naturally Through Play - How to Give Rewards and Praise Effectively - Never Start English Through Private Tutoring - Should Young Children Practice Writing, Too? - How Do Other Countries Raise Their Children? ③ ... The Happiest Children in the World: The Dutch