8 Keys to Old School Parenting for Modern Day Families

Does it ever seem to you like kids these days are in control of their parents? Having a strong sense of yourself as a parent is key to raising a resilient, independent, thoughtful, and solution-focused child. But over the last several generations, parents have been immersed in the well-intentioned idea that parenting should be child-centered rather than adult-centered. Many parents have begun to follow their children's lead rather than insist that children adapt to parental prerogatives. Parental authority has come to be seen as a bad thing. The 8 keys presented in this book focus on valuing your own authority as a parent; cultivating your child's character; applying discipline instead of punishment; strategies to motivate compliance; fostering emotional development; problem-solving; conflict management; and effective communication. They will help parents raise self-directed children who are active learners, feel good about themselves, take initiative, and have a strong moral compass.

"Parents seeking good expert advice about how best to raise their children will benefit from this invaluable and singularly creative resource. In , Michael Mascolo uses his deep knowledge of contemporary scientific theory and research to provide clear and wise recommendations that will enhance parenting and positively impact the lives of children. Accessibly written, the pathways the author presents for effective parenting will give parents the intellectual and behavioral tools they need to optimize their children's development." Richard M. Lerner, PhD, Bergstrom Chair in Applied Developmental Science, Director, Institute for Applied Research in Youth Development, Tufts University

"An enlightening, engaging, and informative guide to parenting. This book offers a thorough examination of the literature and insightful illustrations to support the significance of parental attitude and action on the dynamic nature of the parent-child relationship, providing testimony to the longevity and success of parenting that combines nurturance and high expectations. A must-read for parents, grandparents, child psychologists, educators, and child-care providers." Dante Cicchetti, PhD, McKnight Presidential Chair and William Harris Professor, Institute of Child Development and Department of Psychiatry, University of Minnesota

"Michael Mascolo's may be the most valuable parenting book of the 21st Century. In this wise and balanced book, Mascolo offers parents realistic ways to cultivate character strengths that children will need for success and good citizenship in today's world. Based in solid scientific research findings, the book is bold in taking on recent cultural misdirections. Mascolo's book is a gift to contemporary parents everywhere." William Damon, Professor and Director, Stanford Center on Adolescence, author of The Path to Purpose: How Young People Find Their Calling in Life

Raising secure and confident kids using best parenting practices from the past.

"Helicopter parenting" and "child-centered parenting," two of the latest parenting fads, have resulted in a new generation of highly dependent, overly sensitive children who demonstrate few qualities of resilience and confidence. Perhaps as a response to the strict parenting of yesteryear, we have now seen the pendulum shift to an overly permissive style, where crying and punishment must be avoided at all costs. But having high expectations of kids and teaching them to be self-sufficient does not mean a return to the Bad Old Days of parenting.

Michael Mascolo, PhD,, is a professor in the Department of Psychology at Merrimack College in North Andover, Massachusetts. He publishes a popular parenting advice magazine and lives in Salem, Massachusetts.Babette Rothschild, MSW, LCSW, has been a practicing psychotherapist since 1976. Author of 8 Keys to Safe Trauma Recovery and the best-selling The Body Remembers, and member of the International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies, she gives lectures and professional trainings around the world. She is the editor of Norton's 8 Keys to Mental Health Series. She lives in Los Angeles.