Synopses & Reviews
To keep children clean is something that should never be attempted. It cannot be done. and#160;
The mere provision of the vegetable is not sufficient; it must be actually eaten.
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If there is room enough for somersaults, the child can be satisfied.
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These are just a few of the words of wisdom on offer in How to be a Good Parent, the latest in a series of delightful advice books from the Bodleian Library that also includes How to be a Good Husband and How to be a Good Wife. As developmental psychology began to show promise, beleaguered parents were drawn to the nascent discipline with the sorts of questions that will be familiar to any parent: How does one tell a toddler andldquo;noandrdquo; without triggering a tantrum? Are there circumstances in which itandrsquo;s acceptable to extract good behavior with bribery?
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How to be a Good Parent brings together bits from the best of advice books of the 1920s and andrsquo;30s, taking readers through all the challenges involved in raising a child. Among the topics discussed are goodandmdash;and badandmdash;behavior, how to dress oneandrsquo;s dear son or darling daughter, mealtime, and the dreaded morning and bedtime routines. A section on taking medicine offers sage advice: andldquo;Gargling is a useful accomplishmentandrdquo; (while perhaps not appropriate for the dinner table). In a section on playtime, parents tasked with planning their childandrsquo;s birthday will warmly welcome the bookandrsquo;s advice to andldquo;let the children give their own parties!andrdquo;
By turns humorously old-fashioned and timeless, How to be a Good Parent is a charmingly illustrated guide to what any parent can tell you is the worldand#39;s most difficult job.
Synopsis
Say no to waste, save pots of money and look good while doing it! Here is the best advice for enjoying life inexpensively when necessary, drawn from the collective wisdom of 1950s Britain, with numerous ways to get back to the best things in life: alternatives to retail therapy; suggestions for games, not games consoles; effortless eco-friendliness, and delicious meals from ordinary ingredients. From the post-war, Austerity era of British history comes advice on conservatism covering gardening, fashion, cooking and leisure time.
In 2011, as the 'new era of austerity' kicks in and it feels a bit like the post-war years all over again, The Austerity Book provides a survival guide and a perennial source of solutions for lean times, thanks to our cash-strapped forebears in Austerity Britain.
Synopsis
Jaqueline Mitchell is an experienced publisher and book editor with expertise in British social history. She lives near Cirencester in Gloucestershire.
About the Author
"...a compilation of housekeeping tips from booklets published in Britain in the 1950s, with still-great advice on everything from cheap but delicious food, mending clothes, keeping things clean around the house and crafts."
-Laura Crawley, www.kitchen-retro.com