Raising Good Children: From Birth Through The Teenage Years

by Thomas Lickona

Raising decent, caring, and responsible children is the most complex and challenging job in every parent’s life—and an increasingly difficult one in today’s society. Here is the most authoritative book available on this crucial subject, a valuable and sensitive guide for parents who want their children to grow up with lifelong positive values.
 
Based on fascinating research, this groundbreaking work by psychologist and educator Dr. Thomas Lickona describes the predictable stages of moral development from birth to adulthood. And it offers you down-to-earth advice and guidance for each
 
• Seven caring ways to discipline “terrible twos”
• Why your preschooler “lies” and how to handle it
• What to do about a four-year-old’s back talk
• How to handle your seven-year-old’s endless negotiations about what’s “fair”
• Why teens have trouble with peer pressure—and how to help them
• How to talk to your child about drugs, drinking, and sex
• How to help children of any age reason more clearly about what’s right and wrong
PLUS . . . A list of more than one hundred children’s books that teach moral values, and much more.
 
“An excellent book on a vastly neglected aspect of raising children.”—Dr. Fitzhugh Dodson, author How to Parent, How to Father
 
“We have been waiting for a book like this for a long time—a readable work that translates a moral development into parents’ language and experience.”—Dolores Curran, author of Traits of a Healthy Family
 
“Truly integrates a moral development theory into a consistent approach to childrearing. . . Word-of-mouth recommendations from parent to parent may lift it to the level of popularity once held by Dr. Spock’s book on child care.”— Moral Education Forum

Genres: Parenting, Nonfiction, Psychology, Education

464 pages, Paperback

First published August 1, 1983

Reviews

[Bird · Rating 1 out of 5]

If I had realized how long ago this book was written (almost 30 years), I never would have picked it up. It is incredibly outdated in so many ways. The "real life" conversations the author includes are laughably unrealistic, the examples are overblown to the point of being eyeroll-inducing, and the way controversial subjects are handled is cringe-worthy.

The author is a huge advocate of abstinence. He claims parents shouldn't give their kids access to birth control or teach them about contraceptives because it will only make them more likely to have sex before marriage. RESEARCH HAS SHOWN AGAIN AND AGAIN THAT ABSTINENCE-ONLY EDUCATION DOES NOT WORK. Full stop. Teenagers are NOT less likely to have sex and NOT less likely to get pregnant if they are given the message that sex is for marriage. The author also claims teenagers should be told not to masturbate because it's "sex with yourself," and goes against religious beliefs, and it makes teenagers less likely to be able to control their sexual urges with one another if they give in to their urges when they're alone. WHAAAAAAAAAATTTTTTTT?????

[Anne · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an awesome resource for parents and teachers, and I am so thrilled that I stumbled upon it. It explains the stages of moral development, offering concrete strategies for living with/working with people in each stage and helping them transition to the next one. It speaks specifically about moral development, rather than religious or faith development, so it is recommendable to literally everyone who wants to help kids become responsible and moral citizen- adults. I also really appreciated the appendix containing fiction book recommendations for children of all ages. It was written in the 80s and is somehow both a little dated and totally relevant at the same time. Totally worth owning, and I will refer to it again both as a parent and a teacher.

[Julie Hughes · Rating 5 out of 5]

I picked this up on a recommendation form a friend, after I complained to her about the behavioral problems my son has been having. This book helped me so much. It was really interesting, and useful. I love that it focuses on moral development, which is really what I care most about.

[Jenny]

It is a great reference to have. RGC helps me see the different stages of development that our kids are in, give or take a little, and what is going on inside their heads.

[Lolakay]

highly recommended by my sister.

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

a lot of perspective about the motivation behind behavior from a developmental stance

[Alexis]

Reading for Fordham

[Janet Richards · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a strong reference to the moral development of children. Have used this as a resource for loads of presentations.

[Kiki · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a very helpful book.

[Amoga · Rating 5 out of 5]

good read

[Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

helpful book that breaks down chapters by stages of development so you can refer to what applies