A new map of childhood. From first foods to restless nights, from the first "no" to the long road toward independence.

Children amaze us every day. Yet they also leave us with countless questions: Why won't my baby fall asleep? Why is my child so picky about vegetables? Why does my toddler have such explosive tantrums? ... and the questions keep coming. This book offers a surprising answer: children have good reasons for behaving the way they do. Many of the traits we find challenging today helped them survive and thrive throughout human evolution. Drawing on the latest findings from evolutionary biology, anthropology, and developmental science, Herbert Renz-Polster reveals the hidden logic behind children's behavior. The result is a fascinating new perspective on childhood—one that helps parents understand their children with greater confidence, patience, and trust.

"Kinder verstehen", the German original of this book, is one of Europe's bestselling parenting books and has helped hundreds of thousands of parents better understand their children.