Synopses & Reviews
For the most part, parenting is something we just do, without really giving it much thought, says Laurence Steinberg, one of the country's most distinguished psychologists. Most of us parent by instinct, he says, but with a better understanding of what works when you parent, and why, your instincts will get better and so will your ability to cope with the unique challenges -- and joys -- of being a parent.
Over his three decades of research on children and families, Dr. Steinberg noticed that the scientific evidence linking certain principles of parenting to healthy child development was so clear and consistent that these same principles could be applied universally, regardless of a family's income, race, or single- or two-parent status. He distilled these fundamentals into ten principles, and in The Ten Basic Principles of Good Parenting, he shows how they can help to sustain parents as they raise their children from infancy to adolescence. These principles articulate a philosophy of parenting -- a style of parenting -- and so they work whether parents are faced with a screaming toddler or a rebellious teen.
Dr. Steinberg explains and illustrates each principle with anecdotes and examples, from What You Do Matters (parents make an enormous difference; children are not simply the product of their genes) to Establish Rules and Set Limits (how to provide structure in your child's life, and how to handle conflicts over rules) and Help Foster Your Child's Independence (help your child think through decisions; don't just make them for him or her). The goal, says Dr. Steinberg, is to foster positive development in your child -- to help your child become competent,responsible, secure, and kind.
The Ten Basic Principles of Good Parenting is a map for the journey through parenthood, a book parents can read and then return to whenever they start to lose their way. Concise and authoritative, written with warmth and compassion, it is not only an intelligent guide to raising a happy, healthy child; it is also a guide to becoming a happier, more confident parent.
Review
"[Steinberg] helps parents apply the science of child development to their relationships with their children. It is warm, insightful, and eminently practical."
-- Lawrence Kutner, Ph.D., Codirector, Harvard Medical School Center for Mental Health and Media
Review
"Steinberg offers sage advice as well as pragmatic steps to follow, in the hopes that you can learn to become a more 'mindful' parent."
-- The Boston Globe
Review
"Distills decades of research into a simple guide for moms and dads in the trenches."
-- Newsweek
Synopsis
Most parents do a pretty good job of raising kids, says psychologist Laurence Steinberg, but truly effective parenting means not just relying on natural instincts but also on knowing what works and why. In
The Ten Basic Principles of Good Parenting, Dr. Steinberg distills decades of research into a parenting book that explains the fundamentals of raising happy, healthy children, giving readers an invaluable map to help them navigate parenthood from infancy to adolescence.
Most parents do a pretty good job of raising kids, says psychologist Laurence Steinberg, but truly effective parenting means not just relying on natural instincts but also on knowing what works and why. In The Ten Basic Principles of Good Parenting, Dr. Steinberg distills decades of research into a parenting book that explains the fundamentals of raising happy, healthy children, giving readers an invaluable map to help them navigate parenthood from infancy to adolescence.
Dr. Steinberg found that the basic principles for effective parenting are simple and universal, and apply to all parents and children regardless of background. He explains each principle and shows how to put it into action, using anecdotes and examples: from “What You Do Matters” (parents make an enormous difference; children are not simply the product of their genes) to “Establish Rules and Limits” (how to provide structure in your child's life, and how to handle conflicts over rules) and “Help Foster Your Child's Independence” (help your child think through decisions instead of making them for him or her). Concise and authoritative, written with warmth and compassion, The Ten Basic Principles of Good Parenting is an intelligent guide to raising a happy, healthy child and to becoming a happier, more confident parent in the process.
About the Author
Laurence Steinberg, Ph.D., is the Distinguished University Professor and Laura H. Carnell Professor of Psychology at Temple University. He is the author or coauthor of several books and his work has also appeared in many publications, including The New York Times and The Wall Street Journal. He lives in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.