Determining whether one's child is just "going through a phase," is just a bit quirky but developing normally, or is in need of professional help can be a complex and confusing process for parents. This book provides parents and caregivers with practical information to differentiate normal and problematic child development, offers tips for parents to try at home, and suggests ways for parents to decide whether it is time to seek professional assistance. Following introductory remarks discussing the basic principles underlying the book, the chapter topics are: (1) normal and abnormal child development; (2) childhood fears and anxieties, including information on medication and types of anxiety; (3) problems with sleeping, eating, and toileting; (4) attention deficit, hyperactivity, and impulsivity; (5) mood problems, including depression, mania, and suicidal or self-destructive impulses; (6) sexual development and social skills; (7) stress and trauma; (8) problems with resistance, disobedience, and anger; (9) aggression, destructiveness, and other serious behavioral difficulties; (10) unusual or severe problems requiring professional help, including learning disabilities, severe eating difficulties, hallucinations, panic attacks, and obsessive-compulsive disorders; (11) professional assistance available, including information about various professionals, deciding how to pay for services, and deciding whom to consult; and (12) making the decision to obtain assistance, including ways to reassure the child and confidentiality issues. Appended are answers to frequently asked questions. Each chapter includes print and Internet resources for parents, with some chapters suggesting books for children. (KB)