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Overview
In this book, the preeminent child psychologist of our time gives us the results of his lifelong effort to determine what is most crucial in successful child-rearing. His purpose is not to give parents preset rules for raising their children, but rather to show them how to develop their own insights so that they will understand their own and their children's behavior in different situations and how to cope with it. Above all, he warns, parents must not indulge their impulse to try to create the child they would like to have, but should instead help each child fully develop into the person he or she would like to be.
The preeminent child psychologist of this time gives the results of his lifelong effort to understand what is most crucial in successful child-rearing, stressing that it is an art, not a science.
Synopsis
In this book, the preeminent child psychologist of our time gives us the results of his lifelong effort to determine what is most crucial in successful child-rearing. His purpose is not to give parents preset rules for raising their children, but rather to show them how to develop their own insights so that they will understand their own and their children's behavior in different situations and how to cope with it. Above all, he warns, parents must not indulge their impulse to try to create the child they would like to have, but should instead help each child fully develop into the person he or she would like to be.
Publishers Weekly
In this sensible, humane, if opinionated tract, Bettelheim offers practical advice that encourages parents to develop their own child-rearing approaches. The eminent child psychologist (The Uses of Enchantment, etc.) strongly believes that severe punishmentphysical or emotionalinstills resentment in the child. Arguing that bottle-feeding, if done lovingly, can be an effective substitute for breastfeeding, he turns to Japanese mothers for examples of technique. Chapters on play describe cops and robbers, chess, dolls, war games and other activities as ways by which children can master reality. Bettelheim urges parents to recognize that children are ultrasensitive to adults' inner feelings. He brings deep insight to such everyday problems as temper tantrums, schoolwork, putting kids to bed and explaining Santa Claus. BOMC alternate. (May 11)