Best Parenting Morals & Responsibility
Based on a true story, Call Me Tuesday recounts, with raw emotion, a young girl's physical and mental torment at the mercy of the monster in her mother's clothes--a monster she doesn't know how to stop loving. - Jayne L. Williams MS LPC, Mental Health Therapist & former Assistant Professor, Saint-Mary-of-the Woods College "A compelling portrayal of grief gone horribly wrong." - Alexandra Levit, a former nationally syndicated columnist for the Wall Street Journal, current writer for the New York Times, and bestselling author "This story was like a blueprint and a guidance for all children who have suffered from their loved ones." - David Lloyd, The Virtual Muser eBook Review "Despite the disturbing subject matter, the writing is well-crafted but never emotionally manipulative or maudlin, which made this a surprisingly enjoyable read." Call Me Tuesday is my small attempt to make as many people as possible aware that extreme maltreatment of a child at the hands of a parent does actually happen, an ugly truth I feel everyone needs to know.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"This book is very well written without going into extreme graphics about the abuse that was suffered."
"I loved this story and I wished I could hug this person! Now I'm on to the sequel Call Me Cockroach."
"I can't imagine a child having gone through so much torture."
"As a fellow survivor of physical and mental abuse I felt a rage toward her parents like I haven't felt in a long time."
"It is time for people in positions of power to stand up and help these children."
"I enjoyed it."
"What an amazing book."
"Any adult including the social worker should have seen by the way she was dressed and her physical condition that things were not good at home."
An outgrowth of the author’s extremely successful parenting website, How to Raise Happy Kids is comprised of 61 short chapters, each containing expertly reasoned, loving advice and practical tools for a different aspect of child-rearing. This book has contributed very much to us, considerably enriches, and gives us a different perspective on things. A very successful book in terms of: thought, creativity, a sea of patience, and lots of tenderness and love. I can say that the book gave me a better perspective and is a very effective tool for raising my children. Just open the book on any page you choose and start reading :).
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"Also, children often mirror their parents so to be a person you want your child to be one day is a great advice."
"I have a 4-year-old and things have been hard for her and I recently and I know it is my own fault as I have no patience and need to learn to step back a bit and not be so controlling all the time."
"This book has simple and practical answers for parents to build happy well behaved children."
"I enjoyed reading this book."
"The book gives easy and practical advices how to handle parenting easier and how to treat kids if we want them to grow happy."
"Excellent book."
"It becomes very obvious as you read through this page turner that the author is imparting his wisdom and understanding as to what happiness and family success really means. His words will help to better equip you to interpret and handle family life in a whole new way, which in turn will bring peace, love and joy into your life."
PLEASE NOTE: This is NOT a handbook for 'how to homeschool,' but rather a book that will help you with all of the responsibilities you juggle as you homeschool and how to cut through the chaos and overwhelm. “...This is THE Go-To book for homeschooling mamas who really do want to do it all without being burdened by overwhelm and just need someone to show them how to make it work…” Lisa Tucker, blogger at gracefulabandon.com and homeschooling mom of eight kids. Amber is a born again believer who lives out her faith by being a stay at home mom and wife.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"I recognized a lot of what Amber Fox is talking about."
"This is a wonderful book."
"Just like Sarah Mackenzie so graciously encouraged us in her must-read Teaching From A Place of Rest and Sally Clarkson spoke to our hearts in The Mission of Motherhood and also Educating The Wholehearted Child, so Amber speaks to us about what truly matters. The author shares encouragement and practical, hands-on wisdom that will help homeschooling moms whether they are just starting out, or have been on the journey for a decade or more. But Amber Fox spoke to me as a wife, as a daughter of God, as a mom, as a homemaker, AND as a homeschooling parent."
"There's only 1 chapter that is specifically about homeschooling, the others cover your relationship with God, marriage, friends, housekeeping, church, finances, etc."
"In it, you will find Biblically sound advice for all the most important areas of your life, from your relationship with God, husband, and children, to keeping a tidy and orderly home, to cultivating godly friendships, to managing your finances wisely. Throughout the book, I discovered wonderful gems of wisdom and insight that will be a huge help to me in my homeschooling efforts going forward."
"That's Amber."
"Amber Fox offers helps on juggling marriage, kids, friends, and managing the home from a Christian perspective."
Best Preschool & Kindergarten
But in How Children Succeed , Paul Tough argues that the qualities that matter more have to do with character: skills like perseverance, curiosity, optimism, and self-control. How Children Succeed introduces us to a new generation of researchers and educators, who, for the first time, are using the tools of science to peel back the mysteries of character. How Children Succeed is an attempt to answer those questions, which for many of us are big and mysterious and central in our lives: Why do certain children succeed while other children fail? Why is it, exactly, that poor children are less likely to succeed, on average, than middle-class children? That makes a huge difference in how children’s brains develop, and scientists are now able to trace a direct route from those early negative experiences to later problems in school, health, and behavior. And that’s a big part of why so many low-income kids don’t do well in school. Many readers were first exposed to your reporting on character through your article in the New York Times Magazine in September 2011, which was titled "What If the Secret to Success Is Failure?" A. That’s an idea that I think was best expressed by Dominic Randolph, the head of the Riverdale Country School, an exclusive private school in the Bronx where they’re now doing some interesting experiments with teaching character. That’s a skill that parents can certainly help their children develop--but so can teachers and coaches and mentors and neighbors and lots of other people. By not giving them the chance to learn to manage adversity, to cope with failure, we produce kids who have real problems when they grow up. *Starred Review* Debunking the conventional wisdom of the past few decades that disadvantaged children need to develop basic reading and counting skills before entering school, Tough argues that they would be better served by learning such skills as grit, conscientiousness, curiosity, and optimism. Tough (Whatever It Takes, 2008) spent two years interviewing students, teachers, and administrators at failing public schools, alternative programs, charter schools, elite schools, and a variety of after-school programs. He also interviewed psychologists, economists, and neuroscientists and examined the latest research on character education beyond the bromides of the Left and Right to discover what actually works in teaching children skills that will aid them in school and in life, whatever the circumstances of their childhoods. Most compelling are Tough’s portraits of adolescents from backgrounds rife with poverty, violence, drug-addicted parents, sexual abuse, and failing schools, who manage to gain skills that help them overcome their adversities and go on to college. Tough ultimately argues in favor of research indicating that these important skills can be learned and children’s lives saved.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"Following the footsteps of Jonathan Kozol, Paul Tough employs his significant storytelling abilities to help readers see and feel the plight of children, families and communities trapped in cycles of failure and poverty. How Children Succeed challenges some conventional wisdom on causes of failure (poverty, teacher quality) and contends that nurturing character in children and young adults is the key to success. Adolescent Character Formation. ==============================. Paul Tough highlights the work of school and support programs that intentionally focus on forming the character strength habits that enable children to learn well in schools, form healthy relationships, and avoid the destructive decisions and behavior patterns modeled in their communities. Just as early intervention with parents and young children yields wide ranging benefits for families in poverty, so character interventions in adolescence can and do enable young adults surrounded by cycles of poverty to learn self-control, perseverance and focus that are critical for escaping the gravitational pull of their communities. Tough shows compellingly that parents and children in poverty can and do overcome the powerful environmental forces of their communities - and that this is a beautiful and essential component of breaking cyclical poverty."
"I bought this book because it is a requirement for a Character Education course that I am taking for re-certification."
"He states: "[S]cientists have demonstrated that the most reliable way to produce an adult who is brave and curious and kind and prudent is to ensure that when he is an infant, his hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis functions well. First, as much as possible, you protect him from serious trauma and chronic stress; then, even more important, you provide him with a secure, nurturing relationship with at least one parent and ideally two." Tough also cautions us parents to balance "our urge to provide everything for our child, to protect him from all harm" against "our knowledge that if we really want him to succeed, we need to first let him fail." But those who remember a time when they cared about other people's children will eat up what is essentially Tough's second book-length New Yorker article examining the intersection of education and poverty (the first, "Whatever It Takes," is arguably an even more interesting read). molded, in measurable and predictable ways, by the environment in which children grow up," and even after the most formative years "are very much changeable - entirely malleable, in fact. Tough skillfully splices their stories together and distills complicated concepts into easily digestible explanations (e.g., "mental contrasting ."
"It should be clear that strong character is not a given for people and that we need instruction, correction and, to some degree, material assistance to develop it. Paul Tough lays out what, I suppose, must be presented as an existential appeal with stories about young people who overcome weaknesses in character."
Best Children's Studies
Based on a true story, Call Me Tuesday recounts, with raw emotion, a young girl's physical and mental torment at the mercy of the monster in her mother's clothes--a monster she doesn't know how to stop loving. - Jayne L. Williams MS LPC, Mental Health Therapist & former Assistant Professor, Saint-Mary-of-the Woods College "A compelling portrayal of grief gone horribly wrong." - Alexandra Levit, a former nationally syndicated columnist for the Wall Street Journal, current writer for the New York Times, and bestselling author "This story was like a blueprint and a guidance for all children who have suffered from their loved ones." - David Lloyd, The Virtual Muser eBook Review "Despite the disturbing subject matter, the writing is well-crafted but never emotionally manipulative or maudlin, which made this a surprisingly enjoyable read." Call Me Tuesday is my small attempt to make as many people as possible aware that extreme maltreatment of a child at the hands of a parent does actually happen, an ugly truth I feel everyone needs to know.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"This book is very well written without going into extreme graphics about the abuse that was suffered."
"I loved this story and I wished I could hug this person! Now I'm on to the sequel Call Me Cockroach."
"I can't imagine a child having gone through so much torture."
"As a fellow survivor of physical and mental abuse I felt a rage toward her parents like I haven't felt in a long time."
"It is time for people in positions of power to stand up and help these children."
"I enjoyed it."
"What an amazing book."
"Any adult including the social worker should have seen by the way she was dressed and her physical condition that things were not good at home."
Best Parenting Emotions & Feelings
While anger deserves our attention and respect, women still learn to silence our anger, to deny it entirely, or to vent it in a way that leaves us feeling helpless and powerless. “Of all the books that have been written about the personal relationships of women and what to do about them, this is the most sound. Like a family heirloom, it can be passed from generation to generation as it is based on profound and lasting truths.” (Peggy Papp, M.S.W., The Ackerman Institute for Family Therapy) The renowned classic and New York Times bestseller.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"Listen to it many times to get the full benefit."
"I would give this to all my female friends."
"I ordered this book for my mom."
"my girlfriend to me to get this book and that it will help me."
"I love this book."
"Very well written ."
"Its pretty good."
"It is not very clear... and slightly confusing to follow."
Best Parenting Babies & Toddlers
Current lifestyle trends are incorporated, too: juice bars, raw diets, e-cigarettes, push presents, baby bump posting, the lowdown on omega-3 fatty acids, grass-fed and organic, health food fads, and GMOs. A brand-new fourth edition—filled with the most up-to-date, accurate, and relevant information on all things pregnancy. Realistic, supportive, easy to access, and overflowing with practical tips, covering everything you'll need—and want—to know about life's most amazing journey, from preconception planning to birth to those first miraculous weeks with a new baby. She is also the creator of WhatToExpect.com and the WhatToExpect app, which reach over 11 million expecting and new parents, and the What to Expect Foundation, a nonprofit organization dedicated to helping underserved families expect healthy pregnancies, safe deliveries, and healthy, happy babies.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"I purchased two other baby books that we’re supposed to cover all you need to know but left me wanting more info."
"This book is a MUST for expecting moms - new or repeats."
"Good to read book, I would recommend to everyone - however, many of the items in there you already know from Google or your doc - but still a quick read through each trimester."
"A good book for first time moms, though there are not any references in the book so it often led me to believe it was personal biases rather than scientific information."
"There's definitely a reason this book has been around so long."
"Loved this book!"
"Bought this for a friend - even though they have beat apps now sometimes it's nice just to have an actual book to read!"
"So much info."
Best Parenting Teenagers
NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • Lisa Damour, Ph.D., director of the internationally renowned Laurel School’s Center for Research on Girls, pulls back the curtain on the teenage years and shows why your daughter’s erratic and confusing behavior is actually healthy, necessary, and natural. In this sane, highly engaging, and informed guide for parents of daughters, Dr. Damour draws on decades of experience and the latest research to reveal the seven distinct—and absolutely normal—developmental transitions that turn girls into grown-ups, including Parting with Childhood, Contending with Adult Authority, Entering the Romantic World, and Caring for Herself. When parents know what makes their daughter tick, they can embrace and enjoy the challenge of raising a healthy, happy young woman. “Anna Freud wrote in 1958, ‘There are few situations in life which are more difficult to cope with than an adolescent son or daughter during the attempt to liberate themselves.’ In the intervening decades, the transition doesn’t appear to have gotten any easier which makes Untangled such a welcome new resource.” — The Boston Globe. “An essential guide to understanding and supporting girls throughout their development.” —Rosalind Wiseman, author of Queen Bees & Wannabes “A gem. and colleagues, and using it as a refreshing guide in my own work with teenagers and their parents.” —Wendy Mogel, Ph.D., author of The Blessing of a Skinned Knee. “Finally, there’s some good news for puzzled parents of adolescent girls, and psychologist Lisa Damour is the bearer of that happy news. [ Untangled ] is the most down-to-earth, readable parenting book I’ve come across in a long time.” — The Washington Post “Anna Freud wrote in 1958, ‘There are few situations in life which are more difficult to cope with than an adolescent son or daughter during the attempt to liberate themselves.’ In the intervening decades, the transition doesn’t appear to have gotten any easier which makes Untangled such a welcome new resource.” — The Boston Globe “Damour offers a hopeful, helpful new way for parents to talk about—and with—teenage girls. and colleagues, and using it as a refreshing guide in my own work with teenagers and their parents.” —Wendy Mogel, Ph.D., author of The Blessing of a Skinned Knee “An arsenal of strategies to respond to your daughter’s ever-changing brain, feelings, and choices, Untangled will become your dog-eared travel guide to the mysterious world of teenage girls.” —Rachel Simmons, author of Odd Girl Out “So chock-full of practical wisdom that I read it straight through twice, then recommended it to every person I know who has a daughter. With palpable empathy and understanding for adolescent girls and their families, Damour equips parents with a flexible blueprint for anticipating challenges and encouraging growth in their daughters. As the father of three teenage girls, I wish I’d had this book years ago—and I hope that it is read by every parent, teacher, coach, administrator, and human being who wants to help girls grow and thrive in today’s world.” —Daniel Coyle, author of The Talent Code “In exceptionally clear prose, Lisa Damour—a clinical psychologist—skillfully blends research analysis, psychological insight, and stories of girls and their families into a compelling narrative about what’s right about our daughters.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"They are 1) parting with childhood, 2) joining a new tribe, 3) harnessing emotions, 4) contending with adult authority, 5) planning for the future, 6) entering the romantic world, and 7) caring for herself. Damour helpfully illustrates and clarifies her points with engaging and realistic anecdotes, many taken from her years of experience working as a psychiatrist and director at Laurel School's Center for Research on Girls. I think the most powerful aspect of Untangled, though, is Damour's ability to talk about this potentially tense subject in a straightforward and honest way while also remaining patient with and kind to both young girls AND their parents."
"It would perhaps take a different book to discuss some of these issues, and different strategies, as the same ones that you can use when they're 14 don't work at 16 or 17 when they are becoming more independent, almost adults, and can drive themselves. I also believe that social media has really changed how teenagers interact, and though this book covers the impact and gives some helpful strategies, teenagers are always a step ahead of their parents. The author delves into social anxiety but does not provide in-depth discussions on topics like severe anxiety, anorexia, cutting, and other issues that affect a vast number of teenage girls, but those are tough topics and each of them requires a book on its own."
Best Health & Nutrition for Parents
Contrary to popular belief, there is no research that supports the current mainstream view that babies should be weaned by being spoon-fed purées. With practical tips for getting started and the low-down on what to expect, Baby-led Weaning explodes the myth that babies need to be spoon-fed and shows why self-feeding from the start is the healthiest way for your child to develop. "It sounds like common sense: after all, would you want to be strapped into a high chair and force-fed spoon after spoon of bland vegetables?
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"Yes, your baby will be a mess every time they eat."
"4 out of 5 stars only because I found it a bit too long but I would still reccomend reading it for anyone with a baby, especially before 4 months as that's when some "baby experts" say you can start introducing solids."
"If you'd like to introduce this idea to a new parent, aren't certain when or how to start feeding your baby solids, or need support for when Grandma is horrified, this is the book to buy."
"This is how I imagine solids were introduced before food processors and pre-packaged baby food."
"I found this book very useful, as I have just started to wean my twin boys."
"Great book for getting started with baby led weaning."
"I don't necessarily believe solely in BLW but I really like the ideas it provides for finger foods and introducing all types of foods early enough for baby."
"It offers a good initial guide to those parents interested in staring complementary feeding using this method."
Best Child Discipline
Positive Discipline A-Z: 1001 Solutions to Everyday Parenting Problems (Positive Discipline Library)
This newly revised and expanded third edition contains up-to-the-minute information on sleeping through the night, back talk, and lack of motivation as well as tips on diet, exercise, and obesity prevention, and new approaches to parenting in the age of computers and cell phones. As the mother of. an almost-four-year-old and a one-year-old, I am working on incorporating PD ideas into my parenting, and we look forward to starting family meetings soon!”. —Janet Frick, associate professor, Department of Psychology, University of Georgia. “The Positive Discipline series has empowered me and my husband to be the kind of parents we want to be day-in and day-out in the face of any and all circumstances. “Thank you so much for all of the wonderful parenting tools—we have a much happier family since discovering your books!”. —Krista Schelhaas.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"The format of this book is conducive to implementing the recommendations immediately and easily."
"Helpful resource for parenting."
"I use it as recipe guide for everyday issues parents deal with."
"Learned need to be respectful to kids."
"This is the best every to help parents with their children."
"This book is next to my bible on the coffee table!"
"This is an amazing book.After reading only the first chapter and a few of the A-Z topics that was related to a few struggles I had with my 7 and half year old son, I definitely see the improvements."
"This is an easy read that I purchased for myself after having read through it at the clinic."
Best Child Care
For over 20 years, On Becoming Babywise has been the de facto newborn parenting manual for naturally synchronizing your baby’s feeding time, waketime and nighttime sleep cycles, so the whole family can sleep through the night. Practical discussions then focus on broad and niche topics including feeding philosophies, baby sleep problems, baby scheduling challenges, nap routines, sleep training multiples, baby sleeping props, Colic and Reflux and many other dimensions which impact breast feeding schedules, bottle feeding tips and baby sleep training. 1) Taking care of baby and mom. 2) A timeline of what to expect and when. 3) Baby Sleep Training Problems and Solutions. 4) Monitoring Your Baby’s Growth. 5) Healthy Baby Growth Charts. My residents report a positive difference in the confidence of new mothers who work with this plan compared to those who do not. They consistently produce babies who are healthy, content, and who sleep through the night at an early age. "Since being introduced to the principles of Babywise, I have been convinced of its effectiveness in establishing sleep patterns and in decreasing the frequency of problems associated with infant feeding." This is the current and completely revised & updated version of On Becoming Babywise (the 5th edition, February 2012). It has a new chapter, several important revisions, the latest in medical updates, and is 19% longer than the former version. In becoming one of America's leading infant management guides, On Becoming Babywise has continued to improve its methods and practices throughout its 30 years and this latest version is the result of all the best over the last three decades. The Babywise method continues to gain global recognition for its common-sense approach to parenting a newborn. and co-author Gary Ezzo which helps parents successfully and naturally synchronize their baby's feeding time, waketime and nighttime cycles. Rather, our larger objective is to help prepare minds for the incredible task of raising a child. Your baby will not care if his head rests on designer sheets or beside Disney characters, nor is your success tied to his wardrobe or bedroom accessories, but rather to the beliefs and convictions that will eventually shape your parenting experience. It is our opinion that the achievements of healthy growth, contented babies, good naps, and playful wake times, as well as the gift of nighttime sleep, are too valuable to be left to chance. We realize there are a number of parenting theories being marketed today, most of which come gift-wrapped with unrealistic promises and unnecessary burdens. Spend time with relatives and friends who follow the Attachment Parenting style of infant care. The Appendices section in On Becoming Babywise contains charts, worksheets, and additional information relating to infant care. And while 70% of our mothers are still breast-feeding after six months, the national average encourage to follow demand feeding without any guidelines is only 20%. The authors demonstrate how order and stability are mutual allies of every newborn's metabolism and how parents can take advantage of these biological propensities. In particular, we note how an infant's body responds to the influences of parental routine or the lack thereof. Examine carefully the alternative theories and approaches, and specifically observe the end results. The best evaluation of any parenting philosophy, including Babywise, is not found in the reasoning or the logic of the hypothesis. " As family physicians and a husband-wife team, we are often asked questions related to parenting and the general care of children.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"On Becoming Babywise taught me to tap into my God-given parental instincts while providing me medically-sound advice to equip me in teaching my infant to sleep through the night."
"I remember a few friends and family members being concerned that it was a bad idea to wake up a sleeping baby to feed her or to put her down for a nap before she started crying from fatigue. Furthermore, the same people who worried back then, now ask me to help their own friends and family train their children to sleep."
"My baby was sleeping 8 hours at night at 8 weeks old thanks to this book."
"Has helped out greatly in giving pointers on getting your baby on a schedule."
"Very informative book, looking forward to putting into practice."
"The tips in this book are great."
"Good book and easy read."
"Good guidelines like the pattern of "feed, wake, sleep" but I could have used more guidance like, how long do we let our 4 week old cry in her crib before picking her up to soothe her?"
Best School-Age Children
You know you love your child. Discover your child’s love language Assist your child in successful learning Use the love languages to correct and discipline more effectively Build a foundation of unconditional love for your child. I wish every parent, grandparent and educator had The 5 Love Languages of Children (The Secret to Loving Children Effectively) to read. I have been a lover of the 5 love languages since I first stumbled upon it and I love that this helps in opening the door when dealing with children. Each child is different so I love the practical and useful ideas not just in loving them and making sure they know that they are loved but for discipline and everyday interactions." You love your child, but does your child feel loved? Every child has a unique way of feeling loved. Use the love languages to help your child learn best Discipline and correct more lovingly and effectively.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"The love languages (Words of Affirmation, Physical Touch, Quality Time, Acts of Service, and Gifts) are the same. Also, there were sections devoted to parenting philosophy and the nature of children whereas the original book focused more on the spouse and romantic love relationships. Gary Chapman and Ross Campbell had plenty of good and wise things to say about raising children and I highlighted up a storm. -Affection and love mean expressing appreciation for the very being of a child, for those characteristics and abilities that are part of the total package of the person. The goal is that the child would reach a level of maturity that will allow him one day to function as a responsible adult in society. While I without a doubt knew that both of my parents loved me I definitely grew up in a household where punishment was the main form of discipline. It's an information packed book with easy concepts to implement into your daily life in hopes that your children will feel more loved."
"I have used the concepts presented in the original 5 Love Languages book with my clients for many years. However, it can be a bit of a challenge for clients to translate the concepts presented in that book to interactions with their children."
"If you've read The 5 Love Languages, you will recognize the same elements discussed in that book but this time, they apply to children, which is where Ross Campbell's expertise comes in to play. There is also a chapter to help you find your child's love language, although this can be difficult because children are constantly changing so it's definitely a great idea to learn how to speak all five to them! I've been thinking about what their love languages could be and it's actually a bit difficult to pinpoint but now I've got the tools to help figure it out!"
"I enjoyed reading this book."