Raising Happy Children : What Every Child Needs Their Parents to Know - From 0-7 Years

by Jan Parker, Jan Stimpson

Raising Happy Children sets out to provide "real solutions for real families", focusing on child development from newborn to age seven. This may seem an overly ambitious target for a single text but Parker and Stimpson have succeeded on providing a readable, highly informative book which tackles some of the toughest issues facing parents and children today. The age-old problems of sleeping, feeding and discipline are addressed but so are the increasingly common childhood experiences of divorce, step-families and the pressure to succeed. All are approached with a realism and sensitivity that leaves the reader better informed rather than instructed, an achievement which is underpinned by useful contributions from parents and an impressive array of specialists.

The authors stress the importance of communication both for parents and children, and openly advocate the treatment of children as children but also as individuals deserving of respect. However, there is no dogma to this book, only advice and ideas offered in a non-judgmental, positive style. It is a book about helpful strategies for preventing problems occurring and imaginative ways of dealing with common problems where they do arise. It will not solve all your child-raising problems but it should supply some new ideas and, so often, that is exactly what we need. --Louise Ellison

Genres: Parenting

Paperback

Published January 1, 1999

About the author

Librarian Note: There is more than one author by this name in the Goodreads database.

Jan Parker is a former Guardian journalist.