Raising Human Beings: Creating a Collaborative Partnership with Your Child, by Ross W. Greene

[Bam cooks the books]

I am reading this for week 19--non-fiction. I was just approved for it on netgalley. Looking for some grandmothering tips. :-)

"In Raising Human Beings, the renowned child psychologist and New York Times bestselling author of Lost at School and The Explosive Child explains how to cultivate a better parent-child relationship while also nurturing empathy, honesty, resilience, and independence."

[Aglaea]

Oooh advanced copy. I can see you've written a review, but perhaps add a short blurb here too? Your rating is high :)

[Bam cooks the books]

Sure, Aglaea! I thought this was an excellent book on parenting skills--resolving problems with collaboration and teaching empathy and appreciation for another's point of view. Oh, if these skills could only be applied to the world at large, most especially the political arena!

[Jody]

I might try and get my hands on a copy. Sounds very much like what I try to do with the Spider - would be great to read a little about it.

[Aglaea]

Thanks! I just like the title - So Much!

I think too many try the old-fashioned ways of "because I said so" instead of thinking out of the child's perspective and honestly pondering why something is the way it is.

The only times I've disliked my parents is when they've been overly "strict" without thinking about my feelings that much, but being the analytical person that I am, some plain logic would have made me feel like part of the team rather than spoken down to a bit.

This type of parenting takes lots of work I imagine, you need to step outside of your primary, less "mature" reactions, and work on own shortcomings etc., too, which isn't always popular among adults.

[Bam cooks the books]

Yes, it's the opposite of 'because I said so!' His program has 3 steps and he gives lots of concrete examples. I think it would be hard to change but worth the effort, especially if you could learn to use the method when your child is young.

[Erica]

I'm excited to read this! It sounds like how I want to raise my baby.

[Bam cooks the books]

Erica wrote: "I'm excited to read this! It sounds like how I want to raise my baby."

That would be great, Erica! Another book I just heard about on NPR is How to Raise a Wild Child: The Art and Science of Falling in Love with Nature, about the importance of getting children out in nature every day--for their own health (less ADHD, stress, etc.) and for the future of the planet. I have to check that one out too!