A pivotal sea change is happening in children’s development. The age of puberty has been trending earlier for decades and now starts as young as eight years old in girls and nine in boys. Bullying doesn’t just happen on the playground, but over text and DMs. Depression and anxiety are drastically on the rise. Couple earlier puberty with ill-equipped, developing brains and the onslaught of new media and stressors that never existed when we were kids, and it’s clear that parents need a new guide to raise this new generation. The Crucial Years is your essential handbook to navigating the often misunderstood and overlooked years of middle childhood (ages 6-12). As a mother and clinical psychologist, Dr. Sheryl Ziegler knows first-hand how challenging these years can be – yet she also recognizes that this is a tender age and pivotal opportunity to connect with your child before adolescence. Dr. Ziegler masterfully unlocks the enigma surrounding modern puberty and offers evidence-based strategies, interventions and answers to middle childhood’s most perplexing questions and concerns. The Crucial Years gives you everything you need to guide your child through the hazards and thrills of puberty and help them emerge as well-rounded, confident young adults.
