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Original poster

Positive parenting books.....

22 replies

CarlyP · 17/08/2006 09:45

any one got any recommendations.

I usually read auto biographies and comical books!!

thanks

p.s. if anyone hasnt read 'we have to talk aobut kevin' its fab.

OP posts:
Tatties · 17/08/2006 09:48

I love Deborah Jackson. She gives you confidence in yourself and your children.

Original poster
CarlyP · 17/08/2006 10:25

thanks, ill take a look

OP posts:
blueshoes · 17/08/2006 10:46

My fave are these two from Faber and Mazlisch: How to Talk to Children ... and Siblings Without Rivalry. A bit American and more for pre-schoolers and older, though.

Original poster
CarlyP · 17/08/2006 10:54

BOTS ARE AGED 1.5 AND 2.5 AND I THINK I SHOUT AT THEM TO MUCH.

OP posts:
liquidclocks · 17/08/2006 11:17

I quite enjoyed a book called 'How to be perfect' by catherine fox - not quite parenting but just general being a mum/housewife stuff.

liquidclocks · 17/08/2006 11:20

Also like my 'pocket parent' - full of little insights into why kids do the things they do an what to do about it - helps me be more patient!

Original poster
CarlyP · 17/08/2006 11:21

thanks, will have a look on amazon for that book.

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UnquietDad · 18/08/2006 00:13

a great one for dads

And there are precious few of those.
Ignore the one-star reviewer - I don't think he's really got a handle on what it's meant to be!

bumbleweed · 18/08/2006 10:30

Steve Biddulph is fab (secrets of happy children of something like that)

Alfie Kohn has been recommended on here before

Deborah Jackson is great

Faber and Mazlish - How to Talk so Kids Listen and Listen so Kids Talk is really really good and will stop you shouting!

My dd is only 10 months but I have already changed the way I talk to her because of that book.

Happy reading and let us know if you find any more.

What is 'We have to talk about Kevin' by the way?

Original poster
CarlyP · 18/08/2006 21:13

We have to talk about kevin is a great fiction book abou a hig school killer written from the mums point of view. nature or nurtutre etc... v good, deep reading!

will chk out that faber book

cx

OP posts:
flossieteacake · 25/08/2006 13:56

STEVE BIDDULPH is ace - makes you feel happy and not guilty, really light hearted with great messages - the secrets of happy children plus more secrets of happy children - he's also written "raising boys" all about... er... boys! I think secrets.... and more secrets... come in a bargain 2-pack if you look out for them - Hope that helps

mummycan · 25/08/2006 16:07

Have to add here that Steve Biddulph is only good if you don't have to put your kids in to childcare - I liked all of the book but felt like shit when he started going on about the evils of childcare - some of us had no choice - we had to work - am SAHM now but wasn't always able to afford the luxury

mum2monkeys · 25/08/2006 22:19

A nice book to make you feel better is 'What mothers do even when it looks like nothing' Can't remember author now but you'll find on Amazon....

mum2monkeys · 25/08/2006 22:22

Me again, 'confessions of a bad mother' by stephanie calman is good too.

nearlythree · 25/08/2006 22:24

Steve Biddulph. And 'Playful Parenting' by Lawrence Cohen (I think), it's a US title you can get on Amazon. Also anything by Elizabeth Pantley and Libby Purves.

themoon66 · 25/08/2006 22:27

Libby Purves - How not to be a perfect mother.

UnquietDad · 25/08/2006 23:50

yeah, DW felt the same about Biddulph, mummycan. Annoying, as he seems good in so many other ways.

nearlythree · 26/08/2006 15:31

But Biddulph is only calling it as he sees it and has several top people agreeing with him e.g. Penelope Leach. I know it's hard and unpopular but if it brings about a rethink as to how we care for our children then that has to be a good thing IMO.

bumbleweed · 26/08/2006 19:26

Partially agree - reading Biddulph can make you feel guilty about childcare decisions, especially if you feel you would rather stay at home but have no option (same for me).

But he is only giving information and we have to read it and use it as we see fit. I think you can balance his views by other info all around you about happy and well-balanced children who have been to nursery/childminder.

UnquietDad · 27/08/2006 11:19

this is coming soon

Looks as if Stephanie has Impostor Syndrome...

beddy · 29/08/2006 21:40

Can anyone tell me whay siblings without rivalry is like, I have a 3yr old and a 6wk old..will this book be relavent?

curlew · 29/08/2006 22:35

My response to any crisis in my life is to find a book about it - so I've read practically every pregnancy/baby/childcare book going. 10 years down the line, I have ditched most of them. However, the ones I go back to are Libby Purves - old fashioned now, but reassuringly normal and real lifish, Deborah Jackson, because she agrees with me(lol) the What to Expect...books because they have lots of practical advice on things like what rash is which, Strphen Biddulph because I'm sure there's a better way of raising boys than the way most people (and me!) seem to be doing it and The Continuum Concept, because in an ideal world that's how I would like to have done it.

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