What Great Parents Do: 75 Simple Strategies for Raising Kids Who Thrive

by Erica Reischer

A golden rule book to parenting best practices, What Great Parents Do concisely presents key strategies to help parents reshape kids' challenging behaviors, create strong family bonds, and guide children toward becoming happy, kind, responsible adults.

What Great Parents Do is an everything-you-need-to-know road map for parenting that you will consult again and again. Psychologist Erica Reischer draws on research in child development and cognitive science to distill the best information about parenting today into bite-size pieces with real examples, useful tips, and tools and techniques that parents can apply right away. This book will show you how to do what great parents do so well,

- Great parents start with empathy
- Great parents accept their kids just as they are
- Great parents avoid power struggles
- Great parents see the goal of discipline as learning, not punishment
- Great parents know they aren't perfect

A toolbox of the most effective parenting strategies, What Great Parents Do is accessible, actionable, and easy to follow.

Genres: Parenting, Nonfiction, Self Help, Audiobook, Psychology, Childrens

240 pages, Paperback

First published June 7, 2016

Reviews

[Jenny · Rating 3 out of 5]

The format of this book is readable and easy to follow - most strategies include a tip for how to apply or practice it in real life. Her many examples made it possible to visualize what the strategy means and looks like.

It could probably have been "50 Proven Strategies" since some of them were repetitive or just an expansion of others. Overall, I felt like I learned both new parenting strategies as well as new ways of thinking about things I'm already doing or trying to do.

[Gela · Rating 3 out of 5]

First-reads Win-Goodreads.

I would honestly give this book a 3.5. It's not a bad book but to me it's a lot of matter of opinion. Helpful hints yes, but I can't see anyone but a psychiatrist responding to and having a family that communicates like this in this book. I don't know if its also a culture clash for me. I didn't agree with some methods. No disrespect to the author, but a bit seems phony-fake to me. Also the whole time I'm reading it, I'm picturing that tv special with Martha Stuart and Ms. Piggy and Ms. Piggy gets irritate with Martha's, "That's why I," am perfect, perfect, perfect (basically.)

[Blurooferika · Rating 5 out of 5]

Easy to pick up and put down, these quick chapters focus on one small aspect of parenting and how exactly to implement it. Full of a few good reminders:

Great parents:
* show empathy for the way their kids experience the world
* see the goal of discipline is learning, not punishment
* help their children improve their self-control in order to achieve a goal
* give kids previews of the bad things that might happen and give them the freedom to decide whether to proceed. (Then review later in a nonjudgmental way, i.e., observe what happen. express how you think they feel. then ask if they want to make the same choice over again).
* are warm, but not indulgent, firm, but not forceful
* Avoid using shame, blame or fear to enforce rules. Instead, they rely on reasons, are matter-of-fact and consistent, use empathy and fair warning, and focus on the relationship (long-term goal).
* keep the main message: “I love you all the time even when I don’t like your behavior in this minute.”
* provide scaffolding, i.e. as much support as they need in order to progress to the next step in the skill they’re developing.
* walk their kids through how they function (e.g. organize their to-do list) so their child can see how they might do the task or planning their activities for themselves.
* explain how and why they come to decisions that are important to the child
* In advance, create consequences that fit the “crime” i.e. they are 1) meaningful, 2) relevant, 3) proportionate, and 4) actionable (capable of being acted on).
* Teach happiness habits: engagement (activity in which they can experience “flow”; meaningful work/play; gratitude; exercise.
* Teach them the 3 P’s in trying to achieve a goal: practice, patience, and perseverance
* Encourage sensible risk-taking
* Pivot, i.e. use yes instead of no when meaning the same thing. Instead of "No, we can’t go to the park until after your nap” we say “Yes, we can go to the park after your nap”.
* Pause the action then reframe the situation or elect to discuss a consequence at a calmer time.
* Stage rehearsals. Coach real-life scenarios before a potentially stressful event so child can master the situation ahead of time and feel confident they can handle something (like being offered drugs at a party).

[Kateřina Valová · Rating 3 out of 5]

Přehledné shrnutí základních principů férové komunikace a nastavení zdravého vztahu s dětmi, praktické příklady (stručné, ale výstižné) a četné odkazy na zdroje a další prameny. Nedozvěděla jsem s nic moc nového ani převratného, spíš to bylo užitečné zopakovaní většiny důležitých věcí týkajících se výchovy - a právě k tomu je myslím publikace ideální, protože nejde nijak do hloubky, nabízí zkratkovitý přehled. Body plus za důraz na budování vztahu, začínání u sebe, práci s emocemi a pozitivní přístup. Zhruba od poloviny už se autorka začíná trochu cyklit a opakovat.
Každopádně je fajn si při výchově dětí jednou za čas připomenout, že doma nemáte malou zrůdu, která se vás snaží zničit nebo alespoň přivést do blázince, ale spíš neuvěřitelně vytrvalého malého badatele, který se jen snaží co nejdetailněji prozkoumat svět kolem sebe.

[Ryan Work · Rating 3 out of 5]

As a parenting book, I like the format. As advertised in the title, it gives 75 quick tips for parenting. Many of them overlap as would be expected. The nice part is they are quick and to the point. Here's the tip, here's why it's important, here's a sample way to implement it. Many other books on this topic get preachy. This is a very quick read for these reasons. Many of the tips will seem like common sense. For instance, don't yell at your kids. I knew that but I yell at mine anyway. I like that it gives alternatives and advise on how to reduce yelling instead of just saying it's bad.

[Malin Friess · Rating 2 out of 5]

Great parents.....start with empathy, accept their kids just as they are, give a reason, share their power, practice emotion coaching, teach happiness habits.

Reicher's style comes across to me as permissive, indulgent, too much negotiating with children.

2 stars. Be a parent that is in charge, firm, consistent, loving, but also aware that the prefrontal cortex of the brain does not completely form until age 25 so kids will make bad decisions. That's my explanation.

[Roșca Georgiana Larisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

An interesting synthesis with very precise examples, easy to read, more difficult to follow, especially when you are sleep deprived and with zero patience. I see it as an easy to access and handy guide.

[Becca · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've read a lot of parenting books, and this was definitely one of the best. Concise, practical, and very on point with good strategies.

[Mariah Van Hoose · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thought this book had useful info and there were also a lot of examples of how to implement these strategies into your family.

[Emily · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of the most helpful and best authoritative parenting books I’ve read (and I’ve read a lot!!). Her advice is concise, ACTUALLY gives examples, and is research-backed. What more could you want? Borrowed from the library but might purchase to use for future reference

[Cherniakhivska]

Почала колись під час заняття в Інвенторі, не дочитала, але вже й не буду, тож перенесу в папку прочитаних.

[Ellie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lots of simple techniques to become better parents. Some get a bit repetitive and a lot are common sense, but the book is easy to pick up and put down, and it is simple and concise.

[Stephanie Sheaffer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Picked this one up off the library shelves without knowing anything about (which I rarely do).

I was pleasantly surprised. The chapters are bite-sized and organized, giving specific strategies and ideas for parenting kids of all ages. Nothing revolutionary, but always helpful to be reminded of ways to improve myself.

Overall? This is a good resource and I recommend.

* I'd probably give this a 3.5, but .5's aren't possible on goodreads. ;)

[SahooraQ · Rating 4 out of 5]

~ تعرض الكاتبة خلاصة التجارب ونتائجها على الأبناء..تعطي النصائح وطرق التعامل مع صغارنا بنقاط بسيطة..كما أعطت بعض التدريبات لتعزيز السلوكيات المطلوبة سهلة التطبيق..غطت الكاتبة أهم الجوانب التي تأرق أولياء الأمور بأبنائهم وتساعدهم في تخطي صعوبات التربية التي قد تكون مبهمة..
وهو كتاب مهم لكل من يسعى لتحسين أسلوب تعامله مع أبنائه...
.

[Huraira Maneer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Extremely surprised this book has received less than 4/5. An amazingly compact book which ignores the fluff and teaches key skills needed by every parents. Usefully titles each habit, gives examples of how to use it and the Ill effects of not using it. Often links between skills when giving example conversations.

[Lindsay · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you are looking for a concise book of parenting advice across a multitude of themes, this is a great one. The chapters are short, and I love the cross referencing throughout the book pointing to where subjects overlap.

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Giving this one four stars mostly because the principles are sound, not that there's anything especially new for me here. Good examples, though, and I liked the concise format.

[محمد الحمدان · Rating 5 out of 5]

كتاب مميز في مجاله .. أطلت مدة قراءته عمدنا لأقف على تدريباته ومحاولاته فهو عملي بدرجة كبيرة ويغذي الجانب التواصلي مع الطفل
أنصح بقراءته والوقوف على نصائحه

[Mona · Rating 5 out of 5]

الكتاب راااائع يشرح اسلوب التربيه بطرح امثله وااقعيه ..ممتاز جدا

[Elizabeth · Rating 2 out of 5]

I've been in a reading slump for a couple of months now, so maybe it's me, but I found this book tedious, repetitive, and difficult to get through despite its brevity. Not because the content itself is difficult to understand (quite the opposite), but because so much of it cross-references and repeats.

The advice is clearly well-intentioned, but the bite-sized chapters are too brief to be meaningful, and the constant cross-referencing between tips made me feel like I was reading the index pages of a much more helpful book on the topic of parenting.

[Mokhalad Hikmat · Rating 4 out of 5]

رأيي عن الكتب التي تتناول مسألة التربية أنه لا يوجود كتاب واحد يمكن أن يغطي كل نواحي الموضوع
من الطبيعي بالنسبة لي أن أعتبر الكتاب ناجح حتى لو لم أحصل منه سوى على معلومة واحدة أو أسلوب واحد أحس أنه كان غائب عني أو دفعني خطوة بسيطة في هذا الطريق الطويل والمتعب
في مسألة التربية مشاركة التجارب شيء مفيد جدا وضروري جدآ
صعوبة واجهتها غي هذا الكتاب حاله حال كل الكتب غير العربية غي موضوع التربية وهي مشكلة أجزم ان كل القراء العرب واجهوها مثلي وهي صعوبة توأمة أو أسقاط جزء كبير من فقرات الكتاب على واقع مجتمعاتنا العربية

[Oksana Cheberiak · Rating 4 out of 5]

Практична книжка, головним посилом якої буде - проявляйте емпатію до своїх дітей, будьте послідовними у вихованні, виконуйте свої обіцянки, розвивайте стійкий емоційний зв'язок з дитиною. Також, було декілька практичних порад як вирішувати ті, чи інші проблемні ситуації або конфлікти з дитиною. Так, як я не супер обізнана в літературі з педагогіці, мені книжка загалом сподобалась - легко читається, мало води та містить практику, однак багато стратегій дублюють самі себе. Прочитавши рецензій англійською, зрозуміла, що не одній мені так здалось, можна скоротити на 25 стратегій.

[Barbara Frandsen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Erica Reischer has written one of the finest parenting books available today. Her ideas feel practical, easy to follow, and beneficial to children. Families following her suggestions will be healthier. When I wrote my parenting book, I repeatedly returned to Reischer.

Reischer's suggestions come from professional experience, as well as personal concerns for children. Although not a touchy-feely text, the suggestions will foster family love as well as a commitment to raising healthy children.

[Jadelyn Bailey · Rating 3 out of 5]

Dr. Reishcher takes a wealth of parenting, nurturing and counseling resources and skills, simplifies them and lays them out for nurturers to skim or devour. A handy guidebook for raising children from early years through young adulthood. Her first strategy is empathy. Reischer has example scripts for parents to practice and examples of how to implement empathy and the other strategies. These strategies are useful in the workplace and in volunteer situations as well as in the home.

[Katie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Easy to read, lots of information, and very straightforward. I would highly recommend this for new parents, parents who feel like they are having trouble connecting or communicating with their children, and parents who need help getting back on track after a major life disruption (divorce, mental heath lapse, a period of unemployment, etc) which may have affected their relationship with their kids.

[Mohammed Yusuf · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great book in helping to understand the Psychology of children/parents and interactions between the two. A few strategies (like 'replaying') reoccur more often than others throughout the book, highlighting their importance in changing behaviour.
Evidence based, with alot of practical tips and examples parents can use with their children. Comprehensive as it touches on alot of different aspects of child rearing.

[Tanya Hill · Rating 4 out of 5]

Easy to read with bite size chapters with ideas and tips on parenting. I found this insightful and thought provoking on what not to say/do and alternatives which I will already be trying to take on board in day to day life. I would have liked a little more science and psychology but think it will be great for my husband to read.

[Celine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great, quick read to solidify parenting approaches we have in place as well as consider new ones. It’s often about being open to different perspectives of situations, behaviors and feelings and this book gave a lot of food for thought for how to view things in a new light. The examples make it easy to act and relate. Would recommend to other parents.

[Hayley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Best parenting book ever, maybe, which I don’t say lightly. Fast, readable tips that are 1-4 pages long,are concise, offer examples and recommendations on how to enact them including scripts on what to say and how to say it, all backed by research. Basically compiles all the best parenting advice in one book and tells you how to put it all together. The best.

[Noel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Let's of great, immediately actionable suggestions. No need to read in order, or even cover to cover if you don't want to. Just flip to the relevant number/numbers to address the behaviors you want to target for improvement and you're good to go. I love that many of tips support and reinforce the underlying characteristics of being an authoritative parent.