Unconditional Parenting

by James Stark

One basic need all children have, Kohn argues, is to be loved unconditionally, to know that they will be accepted even if they screw up or fall short. Yet conventional approaches to parenting such as punishments (including "time-outs"), rewards (including positive reinforcement), and other forms of control teach children that they are loved only when they please us or impress us. Kohn cites a body of powerful, and largely unknown, research detailing the damage caused by leading children to believe they must earn our approval. That's precisely the message children derive from common discipline techniques, even though it's not the message most parents intend to send.

268 pages, Paperback

Published March 25, 2018

About the author

James Stark is a singer, vocal instructor, and musicologist with a deep interest in vocal pedagogy. He has taught for over twenty-five years at Mount Allison University in New Brunswick. His work focuses on the history and techniques of singing, particularly in relation to the bel canto tradition. His book, Bel Canto: A History of Vocal Pedagogy, is a significant study that explores historical singing methods and analyzes them using scientific research, making it a valuable resource for vocalists and scholars.