Awards
2003 National Parenting Publications Award
2002 Parents' Choice Award for nonfiction
2003 National Parenting Center Award
Synopses & Reviews
Raising Children Who Think for Themselves offers a new approach to parenting that has the power to reverse the trend of external direction in our children and help parents bring up empathetic, self-confident, moral, independent thinkers. Children who are externally directed make decisions based on the peer groups, violent movies, sexually explicit television shows, and rap lyrics that permeate their lives. When children are self-directed, on the other hand, they use their power of reason like a sword to cut through the jungle of external influences. Fortunately, the author shows us, it is never too late to foster in our children the ability to weigh options, consider sources, and think for themselves.
Filled with real-life examples, humorous anecdotes, and countless interviews with parents, children, and teachers, Raising Children Who Think for Themselves
- Identifies the five essential qualities of self-directed children
- Outlines the seven strategies necessary for parents to develop these qualities in their children
- Addresses nearly one hundred child-raising challenges—from body piercing to whining wars—and offers solutions to help encourage self-direction
Review
"
Raising Children Who Think for Themselves provides plenty of sensible, down-to-earth advice for parents. A goldmine of suggestions and guidance."
—Thomas W. Phelan, PhD, author of 1-2-3 Magic
Review
"Rich stories and examples from her own parenting experiences and those of her patients make Medhus's book a comprehensive guide for teaching our children to become honest, intuitive, and independent thinkers, using not only their heads but their hearts."
—Jeanne Elium, coauthor of Raisin a Son and Raising a Daughter
Synopsis
With a special section on 100 childrearing problems and solutions, this book is a thoughtful guide that combines the practical with the spiritual to help make growing up less painful. 10 illustrations.
Synopsis
In Raising Children Who Think for Themselves, physician Elisa Medhus suggests a fresh approach to the ongoing domestic war between parents and children. She argues that young people learn to govern themselves through external influences -- peer groups, mass media -- rather than through their inner voice of reason. However, being externally directed creates problems by encouraging selfishness and self-deceit, antisocial and even self-destructive behavior. This book focuses on seven strategies to reverse this trend.
About the Author
Dr. Elisa Medhus is the author of Raising Children Who Think for Themselves, which won the 2002 Parents Choice Award, the 2002 National Parenting Publications Award, and the National Parenting Center’s Seal of Approval, as well as Hearing Is Believing (New World Library, 2004). A mother of five, Dr. Medhus lives in Houston, Texas, where she built and operated a successful private medical practice for thirteen years. As founder and president of the Medhus Youth Organization, Dr. Medhus has further dedicated herself to transforming our society to a responsible, self directed one.