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The City Parent Handbook: The Complete Guide to the Ups and Downs and Ins and Outs of Raising Young Kids in the City
For adults, the frenetic pace, constant movement, and variety of cultural, social, and retail offerings of life in a big city can be as exhilarating as a day at Disneyland. But, for an unprepared parent, those very same attributes can make raising small children in the city as jarring as a ride on Magic Mountain. Fortunately, family life in an urban setting can be a stimulating and enriching experience, just as long as parents are armed with the information they need to navigate the unique waters of city life and kids.
THE CITY PARENT The Complete Guide to the Ups and Downs and Ins and Outs of Raising Young Kids in the City (A Rodale Trade Paperback Original; Publication September 1, 2004; $17.95) by Kathy Bishop and Julia Whitehead is a practical advice book, reference guide, and survival manual all rolled into one. Written with insight and humor by two New
York City mothers, it provides invaluable information from a slew of experts across the country as well as insider tips that can come only from those who have been there. Geared to people just considering raising kids in a city as well as to parents who already shiver with night sweats over how to get in to that great city school or whether they will be evicted because their tots are being, well tots, it provides the city spin on a plethora of child-rearing topics.
Starting with finding the right neighborhood for raising little ones, authors Bishop and Whitehead walk readers through virtually every imaginable aspect of child rearing in urban areas. Part One deals with the all-important the fundamentals of family apartment living; staying sane in small spaces; handling those urban health hazards and safety issues; and the nuances of city childcare. Part Two takes the reader out and about, providing a primer on playgrounds; ways to help kids connect with nature and fitness when open spaces are in short supply (of course, it includes a list of the best city pets); tactics on getting around with kids in tow-from strollers to breastfeeding-on-the-go; ideas for making the most of city culture and all things entertainment, including museums, performing arts, theatre, ethnic celebrations and dining out. And it deals with the psychosocial impacts a city can have on even the youngest children, giving advice on how to turn the potential negatives of city exposure - jadedness, rudeness, intolerance - into the character-forming experiences you always hoped to offer your child. Part three focuses on education, providing ground rules valuable to any parent dealing with the urban education conundrum, a solid digest of the basics of private and public city systems and actions the smart city parent should take to obtain a great education for their child.
Throughout THE CITY PARENT HANDBOOK are helpful "City Savvy Tips," "City Parent Rules," "Urban A-Lists," and "City Wise Warnings," which deliver constructive, real-life suggestions and information
̈The four rules for choosing the best city neighborhood for your family
̈Ten must-haves for making the most of storage in cramped quarters
̈How and why you must talk the ER talk with your pediatrician
̈Why urban lead is more of a problem than you may have thought, and the easy steps you can take to protect your child against poisoning
̈Three critical rules for negotiating traffic with children, and the stupid but common traffic moves that need to be avoided at all costs
̈Potentially lifesaving lessons to teach children and caregivers about fire safety
̈Why city caregiving is different and what you need to know to make it work (questions you should ask during interviews, how to work with a nanny who doesn't speak your language, where to find the best caregiving for your family and how to make sure everyone flourishes).
̈What private school admissions directors look for when deciding whether to admit
THE CITY PARENT The Complete Guide to the Ups and Downs and Ins and Outs of Raising Young Kids in the City (A Rodale Trade Paperback Original; Publication September 1, 2004; $17.95) by Kathy Bishop and Julia Whitehead is a practical advice book, reference guide, and survival manual all rolled into one. Written with insight and humor by two New
York City mothers, it provides invaluable information from a slew of experts across the country as well as insider tips that can come only from those who have been there. Geared to people just considering raising kids in a city as well as to parents who already shiver with night sweats over how to get in to that great city school or whether they will be evicted because their tots are being, well tots, it provides the city spin on a plethora of child-rearing topics.
Starting with finding the right neighborhood for raising little ones, authors Bishop and Whitehead walk readers through virtually every imaginable aspect of child rearing in urban areas. Part One deals with the all-important the fundamentals of family apartment living; staying sane in small spaces; handling those urban health hazards and safety issues; and the nuances of city childcare. Part Two takes the reader out and about, providing a primer on playgrounds; ways to help kids connect with nature and fitness when open spaces are in short supply (of course, it includes a list of the best city pets); tactics on getting around with kids in tow-from strollers to breastfeeding-on-the-go; ideas for making the most of city culture and all things entertainment, including museums, performing arts, theatre, ethnic celebrations and dining out. And it deals with the psychosocial impacts a city can have on even the youngest children, giving advice on how to turn the potential negatives of city exposure - jadedness, rudeness, intolerance - into the character-forming experiences you always hoped to offer your child. Part three focuses on education, providing ground rules valuable to any parent dealing with the urban education conundrum, a solid digest of the basics of private and public city systems and actions the smart city parent should take to obtain a great education for their child.
Throughout THE CITY PARENT HANDBOOK are helpful "City Savvy Tips," "City Parent Rules," "Urban A-Lists," and "City Wise Warnings," which deliver constructive, real-life suggestions and information
̈The four rules for choosing the best city neighborhood for your family
̈Ten must-haves for making the most of storage in cramped quarters
̈How and why you must talk the ER talk with your pediatrician
̈Why urban lead is more of a problem than you may have thought, and the easy steps you can take to protect your child against poisoning
̈Three critical rules for negotiating traffic with children, and the stupid but common traffic moves that need to be avoided at all costs
̈Potentially lifesaving lessons to teach children and caregivers about fire safety
̈Why city caregiving is different and what you need to know to make it work (questions you should ask during interviews, how to work with a nanny who doesn't speak your language, where to find the best caregiving for your family and how to make sure everyone flourishes).
̈What private school admissions directors look for when deciding whether to admit
384 pages, Paperback
First published August 25, 2004
6 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
June 25, 2009
Did you know you can form a bond with a rat? While they’re well known among city dwellers as carriers of disease, and their extermination is the aim the aim of many poison potions, if you had the City Parent Handbook by Kathy Bishop and Julia Whitehead and were looking for a pet to entertain your youngster, you’d know a “fancy rat” was a good choice.
The unadvisability of rats as pets for a pet wouldn’t be the only "truism" this book might erase. To many parents out there, having a child in the city seems just as odd. It needn’t be--when you have this guide to the ups and downs, ins and outs, of raising young kids in the city.
MORE: http://www.newcolonist.com/br-citypar...
The unadvisability of rats as pets for a pet wouldn’t be the only "truism" this book might erase. To many parents out there, having a child in the city seems just as odd. It needn’t be--when you have this guide to the ups and downs, ins and outs, of raising young kids in the city.
MORE: http://www.newcolonist.com/br-citypar...
October 7, 2007
Great guide for city parents trying to figure out the basics, like how to get around with a little one in tow, childcare options, and how to fit a baby and all their gear into an already crowded apartment.
June 4, 2009
Just the focus I needed when I first had my son. It is written buy two NYC residents. Most of the book is relevant to anyone who does/desires to live in smaller residences. This is a mainstay on my bookshelf.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews