Your toddler: 34 months old

Talking the talk While his peers are managing to get along just fine with a few dozen words, a child with a big vocabulary has a question a minute. He has stories to share. Important stories. He's full of comments about every aspect of his life, from the minute he wakes up, chatting, until he falls asleep, still trying to squeeze those last few words in. Sure, life is never dull (or too quiet!), but it can sometimes to challenging living with a talkative toddler.

On the other hand, is your child’s speech difficult to understand? Most children this age have some cute mispronunciations — “aminal,” for example. But some children mispronounce so many words that they become confusing to listeners.

Read more: Does my child need speech therapy?>

The top 100 children’s books The best children's stories have a shelf life of eternity. From 19th-century classics to contemporary sensations, from picture books for wee ones to tomes for teens, here are 100 not-to-be-missed titles for kids.

“What a great kid!” A “great” kid is defined in different ways by different people, but we all hope our kids will turn out to be kind, interesting, intelligent people — individuals people love to spend time with. But what can parents do to raise a great kid?

Read more: How to build your child's self-esteem>

Fear factors It's very common for a toddler to have a fear or two — clowns, Santa, monsters, bugs, dogs and loud noises are all very typical. But it might be a glimpse of the unsuspecting man behind the counter at the quickie mart that causes your toddler to dissolve into tears. The potential list is long. It's understandable when you think of how big and unpredictable the world seems to a child. To help put your child at ease, try our tips for handling big fears in little people.

Read more: Monsters in the closet (how to help your child overcome fears of the imaginary)>

A real nail biter “My 2½-year-old has started biting her nails. Is this a nervous habit? How can it be stopped?” Read the answer.

Originally published on Oct. 23, 2011.