Playful Parenting by Lawrence J. Cohen Summary and Reviews
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Book Reviews of Playful Parenting
Book Review: I'm all business
Summary: 4 Stars
...at least I feel that way sometimes. At first I felt kind of silly buying this book, but I definitely am happy that I did - I have added it to a small list of books that provide useful parenting tools to me. I have this amorphous idea in my head about what kind of a mommy I want to be (I have a 17 month old son, and we're trying for the next one), but very little in the way of role models and examples to help flesh out that picture. This book is helping me to "get over myself" and be less business like. It has helped me strike a balance between the everyday routine and rituals that are really important for our sanity and the spontaneity that punctuates our day with joy, belly laughs and squeals. It will definitely grow with us, too!
One thing that really opened my eyes is the idea of undesirable behavior (hitting, biting, or even just anger) as a sort of ham-handed way for your toddler to try to connect with you. The language of answering a hit or some other behavior with a response that lets them know that you "heard" what they are really trying to tell you was fantastic. An example: my son has started going to school 2 mornings a week and is kind of going through a difficult time when I pick him up. When I used the technique from the book, I looked into his eyes and said, "I missed you, too and I am so glad we're together again" I swear he understood what I was saying, and it calmed him. Just as I learned a long time ago that babies' only way of expressing themselves is through crying, I realize now that my son still doesn't have the words to tell me how he really feels, so visceral expressions just make sense to him. I hope that this helps him put words to what he is feeling for the future.
I think that for new parents and parents of toddlers, especially, but also older children that the chapter entitled "Accept Strong Feelings (theirs and yours)" is actually a serious chapter with a lot of meat to help learn how to express and feel emotions, and deal with them in a healthy way.
5 stars because I was pleasantly surprised - even the material that seemed like it's been dealt with before is viewed in a refreshing new, playful way.
Book Review: If you read one parenting book, make it this one!
Summary: 5 Stars
I'll admit it, I am the type of obsessive mother who reads TONS of parenting books. But this is one of the best I've read and it is full of useful, practical and inspiring information. Cohen writes from experience as a parent, a therapist and someone who clearly adores children. His approaches to connecting with your children, disciple and problem behviors are thoughtful, fun, easy to implement, and above all compassionate. I also appreciated the tone he strikes. He is never melodramatic or suggests that you will cause your children permanent emotional harm if you make a mistake, and he acknowledges how hard it can be to parent in this involved way. I genuinely felt that his goal for his readers was the same goal we have for ourselves: to connect with our children so that our family time is enjoyable for all and to raise happy and confident kids.Book Review: Loved
Summary: 5 Stars
I loved this book. It gave me a different prospective on raising and understanding my child. It takes practice to get the hang of it but after I read this book, my baby whinned a LOT LESS. He seems happier.Book Review: More creative ways to parent postively
Summary: 5 Stars
Oh the creative ideas that flow from this book. It also explains the reasons and meaning of playing with kids. My son (2) hid under the bed after his bath the other day. I couldn't get him out no matter how I asked and positively prompted. Urgh! But......I flashed back to some of my reading. I said "Oooh, you look like a SNAKE under that bed! I am a mouse and snakes eat mice! EEK- don't eat me!!! Squeak squeak!" I got on the floor pretending to be so scared of him eating me. He immediately "slithered" hissing from under the bed to "eat" me! We both had our needs met without a hassle! Hooray!Book Review: Nice read
Summary: 4 Stars
Will use some of these ideas in my daily life-i got 2 sons (3&1 year) and really some of these ideas weren't new, but in our busy schedule it's good to have a book like this to remind us that all the kids need are play (among all other necessities :))