My Parenting Book Pile ... So Far
This is for you MamaP ... I think this is a conspiracy to try to get me blogging about something other than snapshots of my kids. LOL ... just teasing! These are the books that I have bought about parenting. Sorry for no links or photos ... I ran out of time.
Love and Logic Magic for Early Childhood - Practical Parenting from Birth to Six Years (Fay)
I read the first 100 pages of this in the last two days and love it. Basic concepts are to build the self-concept, share the control, provide a strong dose of empathy before delivering consequences and share the thinking. They lay out clear strategies for specific common problems which makes it very easy to apply. I used their principles for the last two days and have been amazed by the results. I have never heard so many unsolicited "I love yous" from Johnny and had so much eager cooperation! This book was recommended to me by my sister Amy and also highly recommended in the Christian marriage seminar Keith and I recently attended. When talking to Keith about one of the principles in this book and how we should approach one area differently with Johnny, I discovered that Keith had total buy in and wanted me to change my approach with him in the same way. So, not only can I improve my parenting, but how I interact with my spouse too!
Parenting With Love and Logic - Teaching Children Responsibility (Cline/Fay)
Like the version for early childhood, these books aim to teach us how to teach our children to make good choices and grow up to be responsible and independant rather than mindlessly obeying our every command and never learning to think for themselves. This version will be more useful when the kids are a little older. It is laid out in two sections, one to explain the philosophy, and the second with a bunch (41) of real life scenarios and how to handle them. I love the ease of application! I've read the first 100 pages of this one as well.
Baby Sign Language (Rosenberg) -
Just started this today (yeah, yeah, I realize I'm behind schedule on all of this). I had already taught Sammy how to sign to me that he's hungry, thirsty, all done or wants milk and to get/sit down which he's using very well. I didn't know any other signs, so it stopped there. Now armed with 60 signs, we'll surely be communicating better and alleviating frustration for both of us. Funny story, today Sammy kept signing milk to me after mama's tap was dry and so I tried giving him some watered down soy milk (he refuses to drink cow's milk) and discovered he totally loves it! Way to go Sams!
Setting Limits - How to Raise Responsible, Independent Children by Providing CLEAR Boundaries (MacKenzie)
Recommended in the Christian marriage seminar, haven't read it yet.
What to Expect the Toddler Years
I read this trying to find some enlightenment about developmental stages, and found that while it does have some good information, it stops at 3 years of age. Great for Sammy, not so good for Johnny.
Touchpoints (Brazelton)
This book focuses on the touchpoints or stages of development from birth to three years and covers challenges and allies to development. Developmental stages are broken down by age and challenges are broken down by topic. Lots of useful stuff, but again it stops at age 3.
The Christian Family Answer Book (Yorkey)
I read the first 70 or so pages of this book and found it to be very helpful. So far it has covered Biblical views of family, discipline, how to become a listening parent, the great importance of physical contact, how children learn from our behavior modeling, family prayer and our role in our children's faith. I plan to finish reading this one as it has lots more practical, specific advice and even a chapter on fathers!
Siblings Without Rivalry (Faber/Mazlish)
Recommended by our pediatrician when I asked him (almost in tears many months back) how to stop Johnny from hating Sammy and trying to hurt him. This is supposed to be a tried and true favorite. I read very little of this book, but did read about why it is not productive to draw comparisons between your children and how it fosters resentment (e.g. Sammy eats his vegetables, why can't you?). Anything you need to tell your child can be done so without comparing them to anyone else, most of all their sibling. I plan to read more of this, but since the boys are in a sweet, loving stage, this dropped down my priority list ... what? Who has time to read all of this stuff at once?
How to Talk So Kids Will Listen & Listen So Kids Will Talk (Faber/Mazlish)
Recommended in the Christian marriage seminar, haven't read it yet.
Bringing Up Boys (Dobson)
A good friend from church gave this to me shortly after Johnny was born and sadly I haven't read it yet. I love James Dobson and used to listen to his Focus On the Family broadcasts every morning on the local Christian radio station.
The New Dare to Discipline (Dobson)
I saw this in the half-priced bookstore the other day and figured why not add it to my ever growing pile of books I need to read.
Making Kids Mind Without Losing Yours (Leman)
Recommended in the Christian marriage seminar, haven't read it yet.
The Discipline Book - Everything You Need to Know to Have Better Behaved Children - From Birth to Age Ten (Sears)
Recommended to me by two friends. One said it was a good middle of the road approach - nothing too drastic in either direction.
To Train Up a Child (Pearl)
Recommended to me by one of my best friends from church and mom of four. I read this a long time ago and I appreciated the concept of a lot of this book, however, some parts were too harsh for my taste. Some of my friends hate this book - it is not for the faint of heart. It teaches among other things to set up training scenarios where you tempt your child with a forbidden situation and then train them not to do it. As with everything, this takes a time commitment and practice.
Einstein Never Used Flashcards - How Our Children Really Learn and Why They Need to Play More and Memorize Less (Hirsh-Pasek/Golinkoff)
Recommended to me by a friend when I was asking about books that would describe the intellectual and emotional stages of development by age.
I'd love to hear anyone else's recommendations or feedback on parenting books. We parents need all the help we can get ... at least this one does.
Love and Logic Magic for Early Childhood - Practical Parenting from Birth to Six Years (Fay)
I read the first 100 pages of this in the last two days and love it. Basic concepts are to build the self-concept, share the control, provide a strong dose of empathy before delivering consequences and share the thinking. They lay out clear strategies for specific common problems which makes it very easy to apply. I used their principles for the last two days and have been amazed by the results. I have never heard so many unsolicited "I love yous" from Johnny and had so much eager cooperation! This book was recommended to me by my sister Amy and also highly recommended in the Christian marriage seminar Keith and I recently attended. When talking to Keith about one of the principles in this book and how we should approach one area differently with Johnny, I discovered that Keith had total buy in and wanted me to change my approach with him in the same way. So, not only can I improve my parenting, but how I interact with my spouse too!
Parenting With Love and Logic - Teaching Children Responsibility (Cline/Fay)
Like the version for early childhood, these books aim to teach us how to teach our children to make good choices and grow up to be responsible and independant rather than mindlessly obeying our every command and never learning to think for themselves. This version will be more useful when the kids are a little older. It is laid out in two sections, one to explain the philosophy, and the second with a bunch (41) of real life scenarios and how to handle them. I love the ease of application! I've read the first 100 pages of this one as well.
Baby Sign Language (Rosenberg) -
Just started this today (yeah, yeah, I realize I'm behind schedule on all of this). I had already taught Sammy how to sign to me that he's hungry, thirsty, all done or wants milk and to get/sit down which he's using very well. I didn't know any other signs, so it stopped there. Now armed with 60 signs, we'll surely be communicating better and alleviating frustration for both of us. Funny story, today Sammy kept signing milk to me after mama's tap was dry and so I tried giving him some watered down soy milk (he refuses to drink cow's milk) and discovered he totally loves it! Way to go Sams!
Setting Limits - How to Raise Responsible, Independent Children by Providing CLEAR Boundaries (MacKenzie)
Recommended in the Christian marriage seminar, haven't read it yet.
What to Expect the Toddler Years
I read this trying to find some enlightenment about developmental stages, and found that while it does have some good information, it stops at 3 years of age. Great for Sammy, not so good for Johnny.
Touchpoints (Brazelton)
This book focuses on the touchpoints or stages of development from birth to three years and covers challenges and allies to development. Developmental stages are broken down by age and challenges are broken down by topic. Lots of useful stuff, but again it stops at age 3.
The Christian Family Answer Book (Yorkey)
I read the first 70 or so pages of this book and found it to be very helpful. So far it has covered Biblical views of family, discipline, how to become a listening parent, the great importance of physical contact, how children learn from our behavior modeling, family prayer and our role in our children's faith. I plan to finish reading this one as it has lots more practical, specific advice and even a chapter on fathers!
Siblings Without Rivalry (Faber/Mazlish)
Recommended by our pediatrician when I asked him (almost in tears many months back) how to stop Johnny from hating Sammy and trying to hurt him. This is supposed to be a tried and true favorite. I read very little of this book, but did read about why it is not productive to draw comparisons between your children and how it fosters resentment (e.g. Sammy eats his vegetables, why can't you?). Anything you need to tell your child can be done so without comparing them to anyone else, most of all their sibling. I plan to read more of this, but since the boys are in a sweet, loving stage, this dropped down my priority list ... what? Who has time to read all of this stuff at once?
How to Talk So Kids Will Listen & Listen So Kids Will Talk (Faber/Mazlish)
Recommended in the Christian marriage seminar, haven't read it yet.
Bringing Up Boys (Dobson)
A good friend from church gave this to me shortly after Johnny was born and sadly I haven't read it yet. I love James Dobson and used to listen to his Focus On the Family broadcasts every morning on the local Christian radio station.
The New Dare to Discipline (Dobson)
I saw this in the half-priced bookstore the other day and figured why not add it to my ever growing pile of books I need to read.
Making Kids Mind Without Losing Yours (Leman)
Recommended in the Christian marriage seminar, haven't read it yet.
The Discipline Book - Everything You Need to Know to Have Better Behaved Children - From Birth to Age Ten (Sears)
Recommended to me by two friends. One said it was a good middle of the road approach - nothing too drastic in either direction.
To Train Up a Child (Pearl)
Recommended to me by one of my best friends from church and mom of four. I read this a long time ago and I appreciated the concept of a lot of this book, however, some parts were too harsh for my taste. Some of my friends hate this book - it is not for the faint of heart. It teaches among other things to set up training scenarios where you tempt your child with a forbidden situation and then train them not to do it. As with everything, this takes a time commitment and practice.
Einstein Never Used Flashcards - How Our Children Really Learn and Why They Need to Play More and Memorize Less (Hirsh-Pasek/Golinkoff)
Recommended to me by a friend when I was asking about books that would describe the intellectual and emotional stages of development by age.
I'd love to hear anyone else's recommendations or feedback on parenting books. We parents need all the help we can get ... at least this one does.
posted by Mandy Klevenski | 11:57 AM
4 Comments:
Whoa! That's some library you've amassed, girl!
I wonder if I should have read any of those...?
I've also heard good things about Shepherding a Child's Heart by Ted Tripp. In fact, we are going to start reading that book in another 2 months in our Mother's Refuge Group. You are welcome to join us! - Rachel
Thank you so much! That is so helpful. Especially with the references to Christian parenting as I've been really soul searching about my life, religion, etc. NOW I want to know about your views on Christianity and if it brings you as much peace as it's supposed to. I am a Christian, but sometimes I vacillate. But that is a personal question and not one for a post perhaps. Maybe I'll email you one day. Thanks again. VERY helpful info. (Oh, and my recommendation? Not a book one, but one from a Bible verse I do know. "Love is Patient, Love is Kind." Don't forget to apply that to yourself, Super Mom.
Teri - I wonder if I should have read any of them sooner? Oh well. ;)
Rachel - Thanks for the recommendation! We missed church again today due to Johnny and me being totally sick - Sammy had it first and he's doing better, but J & I are still in the feverish, pus covered tonsil, aching body awful stage. Bah!
Mama P - well, I don't know how much peace Christianity is supposed to bring me, but I will say having faith doesn't remove all doubt and certainly doesn't remove all pain or challenges from my life. I look forward to your email! ;) Yeah, I definitely need to focus on the patience. Working on that.
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