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Parent School
Simple Lessons from the Leading Experts on Being a Mom and Dad
by Jerry Biederman (Compiler), Lorin Michelle Biederman (Compiler), Penelope Leach |
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Do you believe the old saying that 'kids don't come with instructions'?
While it is literally true (kids aren't born with an instruction manual), parents are often given advice and instructions on raising their kids every time they turn around. Whether it is from family members and friends, books, your Pediatrician, or online, advice on taking care of your children is usually readily available.
Who do you trust though? Visiting a bookstore or the library, it is easy to get overwhelmed by all of the parenting 'experts' and their advice about different parenting styles. Do you want a book by Dr. Sears? Or are you looking for another author that fits more into your own style of parenting?
Parent School offers some help in finding which expert is right for you by reading about 'leading authorities on parenting and child-care' who offer 'what they consider to be their most valuable tips or pieces of information or advice for parents.'
This book is not a general parenting reference or advice book. It is instead meant to be a 'critical catalog to guide parents through those packed shelves to the books that are most likely to fill their particular needs.'
Parent School is broken down into 78 short and easy to read 'Lessons' on topics ranging from baby sign language to helping kids cope with divorce. Other subjects include discipline, building their self-esteem, handling homesickness, teaching kids to share and encouraging other family values.
Lesson 13, Sleep Pretty Baby, with information on the importance of sleep in your child's life is a good example of how to use this book. The articles author, Inda Shaenen, also wrote the book The 7 O'Clock Bedtime, which you have likely heard about. After reading her article on the importance of sleep, how much sleep kids of different ages need, and the consequences of not getting enough sleep, you might be interested enough to get her book too.
Do you know what positive discipine is? Have you been interested in trying this parenting technique? You might after reading Lesson 27 by Jane Nelsen, Eighteen Ways to Avoid Power Struggles, and you might want to learn more from her other books, Positive Discipline for Preschoolers and Positive Discipline: A-Z. Have you 'tried everything' and are still having discipline problems and power struggles with your children? Jane Nelsen's techniques to have routines, following through, and learning how to talk to your kids will likely help.
Or would a technique of 'strict discipline' fit better with your parenting style? Lesson 30, The Best Discipline is Strict Discipline, by John Rosemond, illustrates his technique which is also described in his book John Rosemond's Six-Point Plan for Raising Happy, Healthy Children.
Although this book is a good guide to different parenting styles, the main thing that I didn't like about it is that many 'leading experts' are left out of the book. For example, you won't see any articles about the Baby Wise plan that is popular among many parents or Dr. Ferber's advice on getting kids to sleep though the night.
There also aren't any articles by Dr. Barzelton or Dr. Spock, which many people would consider to be THE leading experts in Pediatrics. Besides William and Martha Sears, many of the contributors are lesser known authors, but Parent School does offer a nice introduction to their work.
In addition to teaching you new techniques to incoporate into your own parenting plan, Parent School will help you to find the 'experts' that most fit with your own values and style of raising your children.
Rating: 4 stars
Find more books by Penelope Leach....
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