Parenting with Love: Making a Difference in a Day

by Glenn I. Latham

Parenting isn't easy. It's a lesson in patience, human behavior, and most important, it is a labor of love. In Parenting With Love, author Glenn Latham teaches parents simple and effective ways to change their own behavior and thus create an environment in which their children will behave well.

Genres: Parenting, Nonfiction, Self Help, Psychology

99 pages, Paperback

First published June 1, 1999

Reviews

[Liz · Rating 4 out of 5]

This definitely makes me reexamine the way I'm parenting. There is some wonderful advice in here, & I hope it makes the difference we're needing, in our children's behavior, as well as our own.

[Whitney Henrie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great parenting book full of practical tips.

[Kylie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is essentially the secular version of Christlike Parenting by this author. Still helpful, same principles. He is still patronizing in this one, too. I also wish there was more about how parents who weren't parented this way can overcome their inner struggles to be calm and emotionally intelligent enough to not be reactive. BUT he studies child behavior, so it makes sense that isn't part of it. I would suggest reading a more modern positive parenting book that also addresses self regulation.

[Megan Moss · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really liked the format and brevity of this book. I also appreciated how all of the suggestions were given based on well-researched principles of human behavior. I had heard some of the suggestions before but the author’s explanation and reasoning helped me understand how I could execute more effectively. The challenge of being positive and loving towards your kids the strong majority of the time can sometimes seem incredibly daunting but this book is empowering and inspiring.

[Jil Stucki · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really liked this book and I loved that it wasn’t too long. I’ve been using the strategies in the book and have come to realize that he doesn’t ever specify what to do when your child refuses to respond with the expectation (when dealing with consequential behavior). All of the examples show the child eventually answering with the appropriate response but I don’t think all children will reply like that.
My 5 year old will answer what my expectations are but my 3 year old will not when it comes to behaviors of biting, hitting and knocking his 1 year old sister down. I know he’s young but I try to give him the answer to repeat back to me until he learns what the expectation is but he refuses and it just turns into a power struggle.
I plan on reading the longer book “The power of positive parenting” maybe I’ll get more answers there.

[Amber · Rating 5 out of 5]

I gave this book five stars because over all I really love the ideas in the book on how to change our own behavior to improve the behavior of our children, and how changing the child’s environment changes their behavior. Over all the examples and tools in this book I can see being beneficial, and I have even seen some improvement in my own home when applying these strategies. However I thought about lowering my rating after reading the last chapter, as I felt Glenn I. Latham becomes very extreme in his thoughts, opinions, and words. When I read this book again I will skip the last chapter. Other than that the book, and strategies within it, are great!

[Natalie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brilliant. I noticed a difference right away. Kids fought less and everyone was happier. Some things I was already doing, but this book helped me to be more purposeful about it. It works in the classroom too.
I had read another of his book’s when my kids were younger. This one is similar but much shorter. Why not try it and see if it might help you?

[Haley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Straightforward and practical tips that are effective and help raise the overall mood of the home. This is a must-read for anyone trying to follow positive parenting--I'll for sure be reading his other books!

[Jodie · Rating 3 out of 5]

You know, it's very difficult to rate this book. This guy obviously had endless patience that I do not have. I was actually totally fine with the book unitl the last chapter. I really stuggled with his opinions there. Oh well.

[Camille Summers · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic book that helps to teach co-regulation old school there are some references to religion that I would remove if I could but overall this is a fantastic read and I recommend it to most of my parents.

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is brilliant. It beautifully explains and gives examples of what to do and not to do in situations. It’s a really short and easy read. I think every parent should read it.

[Danielle · Rating 5 out of 5]

So simple and so powerful. For sure one I am glad to own, I will be referencing this more. I love this- it is soooo wonderful to hear how to focus on the good. It should be intuitive, but it's not.

[Julie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Short but sweet, and definitely a book I’ll be going back to. Great tips and science-backed advice.

[NaDell · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great insight and ideas about how to parent positively to get better results. I wish I'd read this years ago, but there are suggestions in the book that I can start using now, even with older kids.

[Heatherterrybell · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book and have used the methods to find great success!! It’s been awesome. Quick read and will keep reviewing to remember. Thank you!

[Claire · Rating 5 out of 5]

The best parenting book I’ve read yet!

[Kristy Q · Rating 5 out of 5]

So much great informaron! I will be referencing this book often. I loved the examples of what to say in certain situations and can’t wait to keep practicing being a more positive and loving parent.

[Nicole Lawrence · Rating 5 out of 5]

Short, quick, and excellent. I’ll be referring to this book often. I’m glad I bought it.

[Dorothy]

An older book but it had some good advice and insights into being a better parent.

[Kelsey Kacher · Rating 5 out of 5]

A quick read and one that parents should read often as a reminder to focus on the good—give positive reinforcement for good behavior and ignore the bad behavior. Kids will behave in the way that brings the reaction they want, so the negative behaviors will dissipate. So simple!

[Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Here are three of his techniques!!! Technique 1: When the child makes a wrong choice. Empathize with the child, Ask the child-how should you have responded, roll play the situation again with the correct behavior, ask the child what priviledges he/she gets when their behavior is pleasant...play w/friends, tv, books, treat, etc. Technique 2: Smile, wink, praise at whatever the child is doing that is good. We usually give our children attention when they are only doing the wrong choices. Technique 3: Safe talk..Have a conversation with your child about whatever but excluding any advice, corrections, or hidden agendas....just talk with them and let them talk to you.

(This is the 2nd time through this book.)

[Susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this book and try to refer to it often. For some reason, it is easier to ignore kids when they are behaving well and to pay attention to them when they are not. This book helps parents to learn how to focus on good behaviors, thus reinforcing them and creating a more positive environment. It also helps parents learn to listen attentively to their kids and to have "safe talk" with them, meaning the kids feel they can talk to their parents without feeling it will turn into a conversation that will rapidly decline in one form or another. I would recommend this book for any parent or person working with youth, it is a quick read and well worth your time.

[Candy · Rating 5 out of 5]

After reading some of the reviews, I just wanted to say that this may be common sense but you can't see common sense when all you know is corporal punishment. I grew up in a home that used corporal punishment as the main way to control us and keep us in fear. "Spare the rod and spoil the child!" is the only tool that was hammered into me as a child. My parents are great and they did the best they could but no one ever tells you what to do if you don't want to follow this mantra. Let me tell you that this stuff does work. Every parent should have to read this author's work the moment they find out they are having a baby. I wish I had found this earlier.

[Amber · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is basically a summary of Dr. Latham's book The Power of Positive Parenting. It was a good, fast refresher but not quite as interesting. Dr. Latham's books are widely appreciated because they are based on human behavior and not just someone's opinion. His approach to communication works for people of all ages (because we are all human)! Having used these methods with my kids (and even on my husband a couple of times :) I can tell you they always work. Overall, the information is valuable but I would highly recommend reading The Power of Positive Parenting instead.

[Carolyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

I want to give this book five stars because his examples of good parenting and the results are amazing, but I have yet to see anything that amazing at my house (especially in one day, as the title suggests). So, we'll see... Don't think I'll be giving any lectures on the subject, but he has some excellent ideas that I'm planning on using starting now! I also got Jeff to agree to read it, so we can be on the same page as parents. I really liked it.

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this book today as a quick Sunday read. I enjoed the basics of this book. I am aware of all the strategies and tips...it always good to read and remember to help me use them in my daily life. I realized as I was reading that I do teach and "parent" at school very consistently in the positive mode it is at home that I forget and there is my need to change!!! Nice reminder book. I still like Love and Logic as a good parent book too!

[Tereasa Boren · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this author! He writes so that everyone can understand and actually apply his teachings to their own lives without too much effort. This book covers the four basic principles of human behavior. It then details (with graphs and scenarios) strategies for dealing with both good and bad behaviors in children. The book is only 87 pages so you really can make a difference in just one day!!

[Jill]

I love all of Glen Latham's books. The books help me figure out how to discipline my children without making them scared of me. I love my children very much and I know that I need lots of help getting them to do what the Lord wants them to do, all of Mr. Latham's books help me to accomplish my goals.

[Katrina · Rating 5 out of 5]

I REALY enjoyed this book. Its focus was on me as a parent & how I can change the environment in our home, and gratitude for the things done the way you want them to be done. This in effect will change the self esteem of every family member. This has transformed my parenting as well as the way I can be a better wife.

[Marianne Orton · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wonderful book for parents. I like it because it's short and consice. Too many parenting books are filled with too much information. This is very easy to read. It taught me a lot about behavior and why my children act the way they do. I found that if I make my behavior more positive, my children will behave more positively. Go figure.