Letting Go as Children Grow : From Early Intimacy to Full Independence: A Parent's Guide

by Jackson, Deborah

• ISBN13: 9780747565765
• ISBN10: 0747565767
• Edition: Revised
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2003-07-01
• Publisher: TRAFALGAR SQUARE

Summary

This book considers the inner world of the child and argues that children are more capable than many of us realize. Babies make their needs known; toddlers can walk for miles; teenagers are equipped to make their own decisions. Children need adult support, but they do not need interference, which can damage their growth. If we learn to trust our children at each stage, they are more likely to find their own balance. The author suggests ways in which parents can break their own cycle of control, which includes judgement and punishment, coaxing, and overprotection, while also considering the needs of the parents.

Table of Contents

Preface to the 2003 Edition	ix
Introduction	1	(287)
1 The Intimate Conversation - babies are not blank sheets	11	(28)
2 The Safety Gate - demonstrating trust in toddlers' body skills	39	(32)
3 A Child Realises Himself - ways that small children explore their world	71	(29)
4 Balancing Acts - the everyday play that is a child's work	100	(28)
5 Hurry Up, Harry - parenting in a pressurised world	128	(30)
6 The Training Programme - teaching children to he useful and belong	158	(33)
7 The Roots of Discipline - real responsibility and the power of remorse	191	(34)
8 Show Some Emotion - is it safe to talk?	225	(29)
9 Breaking Away - why teenagers need us still	254	(34)
10 A Time and Place for Us - a charter for sane parents	288	(30)
Notes	318	(12)
Bibliography	330	(3)
Index	333