Self-discipline, consideration, and kindness

Peer pressure and bullying

Allowances and spending money

Body image and healthy eating

Sex and puberty

Family disruptions

Risk, danger, and responsibility

School problems and work pressure

Nurturing self-esteem and identity

Demonstrating the use of praise, play, time, touch, and talking, expert and popular author Elizabeth Hartley-Brewer speaks to new and experienced parents alike, helping them encourage their children to develop into well-adjusted and happy people. With clear and simple advice-in the form of tips, techniques, and tools--Raising Happy Kids is an essential guide for parents striving to be nurturing and influential in this crucial role.

Boys need encouragement and praise to develop healthy self esteem, but they can also feel swamped and suffocated by what they see as constant commentary on their every move-and as a result they can be inclined to act out. How can parents strike the right balance between giving effective praise and not going overboard? How can we help our boys to feel proud without inspiring a false sense of confidence or making them praise dependent? Praising Boys Well shows parents and teachers alike what boys need to hear along the developmental continuum and offers countless tips on what to encourage; which phrases to use-and to avoid; when incentives are appropriate; and how to incorporate praise into our boys' everyday activities.

Author Elizabeth Hartley-Brewer's advice is thankfully based on common sense and is refreshingly free of the jargon so often found in parenting books these days. She includes a personality quiz so parents can determine what kind of child they're dealing with, and encouragement and discipline can then be effectively tailored to maximize the child's self-motivation. For parents looking for a succinct, practical reference for all ages, Raising a Self-Starter promises to make parenting just a little bit easier.

Girls like to have their accomplishments noticed, but sometimes the need for praise can spiral into a constant quest for perfection. Girls may have a propensity to do things not because they judge it to be right or helpful but rather to stay in people's good graces. The result is that they can become cut off from their own true selves. Praising Girls Well points the way to using praise in a manner that will boost a girl's inner confidence, help her to understand it's okay to make mistakes, and guide her to trust in her own judgment. Brimming with practical tips for everyday use, this is a handbook to revisit time and again for our girls' grandest-and smallest-successes.

Explaining her model for motivating children through colorful real-life examples, expert Elizabeth Hartley-Brewer shows how, from the start, we can create a climate at home that fosters self-motivation and encourages self-managed achievement across a range of skills--from study habits to making friends. Full of practical strategies and tips to help children help themselves, Raising a Self-Starter is an essential guide for parents who want the best for their children.

Child expert Elizabeth Hartley-Brewer addresses children’s friendship styles at key ages and stages, and answers questions for parents: Should you worry when the imaginary friend sticks around past kindergarten? How do you guide your child when “mean girls” taunt her at recess? What should you do if you don’t like one of your child’s friends? Sure to be an invaluable resource for any parent, Making Friends weighs in on a timely and important topic.