3 Review(s)

Between Parent And Child: The Bestselling Classic That Revolutionized Parent-Child Communication advises an empathetic approach to parenting. This book has been a valuable reference for parents for over 35 years. Summary Of The Book Parent child communication has always been a problem. The generation gap and the differing perspectives of the adult and child have always placed difficulties in the development of understanding relationships. Between Parent And Child: The Bestselling Classic That Revolutionized Parent-Child Communication is a book that came out decades ago. It had a great impact on the way parents viewed their relationship with children. The book mainly advocates an understanding and empathetic attitude in dealing with children. While not undermining the importance of discipline, it encourages parents to see the child’s viewpoint first. Acknowledging a child’s concern works better than arbitrary pronouncements, harsh discipline and judgment. When a child feels her parents understand her anxiety or her fears, she is better at handling her own emotions. This empathetic attitude also builds trust in the child, making her feel that she can come to her parents for support, without her feelings being dismissed in an offhand manner. For instance, there is an example in the book of how a mother dismisses her little girl’s sadness at parting from her cousin after she has stayed with them for sometime. She even calls her child a crybaby, hurting the child even more. Then, there is the example of another mother whose child, Alice, has forgotten about a Brownie meeting and has planned to spend time with her friend Lea. When she recalls her meeting and realizes she can’t spend time with her friend, Alice starts crying. Her mother, instead of asking her why she made that play date on the day of her meeting, empathizes. She says she understands how disappointed Alice must be at having to miss her play time with Lea. Alice soon gets over her disappointment when her mother acknowledges it, and calls up her friend to set up another date. Between Parent And Child: The Bestselling Classic That Revolutionized Parent-Child Communication is a valuable resource for all parents who want to understand and connect with their children. It provides advice for dealing with children of all ages, from young children to adolescents. About The Authors Dr. Haim G. Ginott was an American psychotherapist and psychologist. He is also the author of Between Parent and Teenager and Teacher and Child. Dr. Haim G. Ginott was born in 1922. Besides being a psychiatrist and psychotherapist, he was also a school teacher. H. Wallace Goddard is a family life specialist. His other books include The Marriage Garden, Soft-Spoken Parenting: 50 Ways to Not Lose Your Temper with Your Kids and Bringing Up Our Children In Light and Truth. H. Wallace Goddard works with the University of Arkansas Cooperative Extension Service as a Family Life Specialist. His Principles of Parenting and his youth identity program, The Great Self Mystery, have been adopted by many state and national agencies in the US. Dr. Alice Ginott is a clinical psychologist, lecturer and author. Ginott was born in Czechoslovakia. Dr. Alice Ginott was an Assistant Professor of Psychology at New York’s Hunter and Queens College. She wrote a column called Between Us, and also wrote articles like How to Help Children Mourn.