Full Description
This book presents a model of authoritative parenting that makes room for imperfection, focusing on the skills needed to build a strong parent-child relationship.
As parents, we often worry we amp rsquo re making the wrong decisions. The good news is, having a strong relationship with your child means you can make a parenting blunder from time to time, and exercise grace and patience to try again.
Written for parents of children from birth to young adulthood (ages -24), this book helps you examine your role as a guide, cheerleader, advocate, and most importantly, as a human being who doesn amp rsquo t always have the right answers. While your child amp rsquo s brain, body, emotions, and social abilities develop over time, author Dona Matthews shows how your skills as a parent can be developed too, by practicing relationship fundamentals such as acceptance, positivity, social support, boundaries, respect, self-care, and gratitude.
Rooted in the latest findings from neuroscience and psychology, this book presents a model of authoritative parenting that embraces imperfection. Each chapter focuses on a key relationship skill for parenting, with tips on how to practice it during different stages of your child amp rsquo s growth and in common stressful situations such as social, school, health, and family scenarios.
Contents
Acknowledgments
Introduction
Chapter . Who Are You As a Parent?
Parenting Styles
Good-Enough Parenting
Is Your Child Friendly and Optimistic? Or Fierce and Feisty?
Taking It Into the Community: Positive Connections
Key Takeaways: How to Be a Good-Enough Parent for Your Child
Chapter 2. How Human Beings Make Mistakes, Fix Them, and Grow
Examples of Mistakes People Make
Mindsets
Punishment, Time-Outs, and Consequences
Responding to Mistakes and Misbehavior by Age
Taking It Into the Community: Making Lemonade When Life Gives You Lemons
Key Takeaways: Using a Growth Mindset to Respond to Mistakes and Fix Them
Chapter 3. Accept and Be Mindful: Take a Breath, You Are Enough
Mindfulness Quiz
How Does Mindfulness Work?
Some Examples of Mindfulness in Practice
Mindfulness Meditation: Getting Started
Why It amp rsquo s Good to Be a Mindful Parent
Relax and Be Happy, Especially if You amp rsquo re a Mother
How to Be a Mindful Parent
Affirmations and Mantras
How to Nurture Your Child amp rsquo s Mindfulness
Taking It Into the Community: Being Mindful About Racism and Equity
Key Takeaways: Learning to Be Here Now
Chapter 4. Care For Yourself, and You'll Help Your Child Care for Themself
A Self-Care Quiz
The Early Years: Birth to 5
Childhood: to
Adolescence: to 8
Young Adulthood: 9 to 24
Taking It Into the Community: Sunnydale Elementary School amp rsquo s Garden
Key Takeaways: Self-Care Is the Foundation of Everything Else in Life
Chapter 5. Each of Us Is Unique: Brain Building Together
Neural Plasticity
The Early Years: Conception to 5
Childhood: to
Adolescence: to 8
Young Adulthood: 9 to 24
How to Support Your Child amp rsquo s Optimal Brain Development
Taking It Into the Community: Parenting Centers
Key Takeaways for Healthy Brain Building
Chapter . Don't Stop Learning: You Can Keep Getting Smarter
Controversies and Misconceptions
What Do IQ Tests Measure?
Abilities Develop
The Early Years: Birth to 5
Childhood: to
Adolescence: to 8
Young Adulthood: 9 to 24
Taking It Into the Community: Neighborhood Reading Circles
Key Takeaways for Healthy Learning Across the Lifespan
Chapter 7. Nurture Your Creativity and Creative Self-Expression
What Is Creativity?
Some Dimensions of Creativity
The Early Years: Birth to 5
Childhood: to
Adolescence: to 8
Young Adulthood: 9 to 24
Taking It Into the Community: Creative Problem Solving in Action
Key Takeaways for Weaving Creativity Into Everyday Life
Chapter 8. Choose Love, Positivity, Caring, and Connection
Empathy: Where Kindness, Compassion, and Happiness Begin
Friendship
Self-Control: Staying Calm, Focused, Present, and Reasonable
A Positive Attitude
Happiness
Self-Confidence
The Early Years: Birth to 5
Childhood: to
Adolescence: to 8
Young Adulthood: 9 to 24
Taking It Into the Community: Taking Social and Emotional Skills to School
Key Takeaways: It amp rsquo s All About Connection
Chapter 9. Be the Adult in the Room: Not Perfect, but Wise
Complications Quiz
Bullying
Technology: Use Mindfully
Separation and Divorce
Alternative Family Composition
Wise Parenting Practices for Alternative Families
The Early Years: Birth to 5
Childhood: to
Adolescence: to 8
Young Adulthood: 9 to 24
Complications Quiz Discussion
Taking It Into the Community: Acknowledge Your Wounds, Look for Help, and Reach Out to Others
Key Takeaways: Clearing a Path Toward Wisdom
Chapter . We're All in This Together: Listen, Connect, and Collaborate
Advocacy: Making Connections for Making a Difference
Eulogy Virtues Are More Important Than R amp eacute sum amp eacute Virtues
The Early Years: Birth to 5
Childhood: to
Adolescence: to 8
Young Adulthood: 9 to 24
Taking It Into the Community: Being the Village
Key Takeaways for Weathering the Storms That Life Brings
Notes
Index
About the Author
