Playful Parenting by Lawrence J. Cohen Summary and Reviews
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Book Reviews of Playful Parenting
Book Review: Terrific..a valuable parenting resource!
Summary: 5 Stars
I got more out of this book than I thought I would. I was expecting some hints on playing with small children. But the idea of play as a form of therapy had never crossed my mind. But I am delighted that it did. My son is nearly 5 and suffers with social phobia and selective mutism. With that in mind I jumped ahead to the chapter on 'Encourage their confidence' and discovered the "Poopyhead game". What a fabulously fun way to give a child a bit of power in such a safe way. I tried it with two 5 yr olds. One quiet and shy, the other boisterous and confident. They got to break a funny rule and laugh at me. They felt strong..it was obvious. These kids got that from a completely non physical game. I went from there to the chapter on 'Learn to roughhouse'. My husband plays it with our son, but I wanted some ideas on it for me as this is said to be a wonderful confidence game for shy kids. Well I got a few rules to help create a safe environment and an insight into the emotions attached to the game - playfullness, confidence, determination and power to name but a few, and how I might bring those out. Add to that the connections based on love and trust and it's a winning conbination. I then flicked ahead to the chapter on discipline. I certainly expected (and got) a non smacking approach..but this..it was different, and it worked! I'm used to using 'time-out' with varied success. My son reacts to that just how the author writes it. Word for word. So I gave this new approach a try. Success. The idea of instilling good judgement with clear limits from a young age is empowering to kids and builds confidence. It also lends itself very easily to prevention rather than cure. I've had the book for about one week. I've tried a few new approaches to parenting from the book, and for my son it has switched on the power within. This socially phobic child has attended a pre-school Christmas party (approx 60 people), a visit to a friends house (10 poeple)and sat alone on Santa's knee for a chat and photo for the first time. He did all this with an enthusiasm and confidence unseen in him. I am bursting with pride at his achievements of the last week and our household is much happier and calmer for it. I've still got much more reading to do and am loving the new stratedgies to manage time old parenting issues. My only criticism is that the reading can be a bit heavy going at times. For a book about play, it's not what I would call a light read. But really, it's certainly worth persisting to find the gems within, and I'm looking forward to it.
Book Review: The BEST Parenting Book Around
Summary: 5 Stars
I whole heartedly recommend this book to ALL parents. Dr. Cohen's ideas completely changed the tone of our household. We were going through a very difficult phase with our 3 year old that was turning into a downward spiral of negativity. Nobody liked the way things were going. We'd read a mountain of "discipline" books, none of which was helpful in our situation. However, reading & following through on Dr. Cohen's book helped us completely turn our situation around - we now have a very HAPPY, joy-filled and fun home. Using the suggestions in this book I was better able to understand my daughter's behavior and I used many of his suggestions to connect with her. She has literally *blossomed* under this treatment - she's just a fantastic, happy little girl. I am SO grateful to Dr. Cohen - he has helped me to become a much, much better parent and has given us a whole arsenal of wonderful parenting tools to help shape our children in very positive ways. If I could pick only one book on parenting and discipline, this would be it.
Book Review: The most HELPFUL parenting book out there
Summary: 5 Stars
I can't believe I didn't read this book sooner! For whatever reason, I was resistant to reading this book, probably because I thought it would make me feel guilty for not playing with my kids enough. What a fool am I! This book helped me to really realize what a powerful tool play is in the parenting toolbox. After reading this book, I finally understood how to make clean-up and leaving the house FUN, heretofore, two of the most difficult times of the day for us. I have three kids ages 6 and under and having all of them cheerfully putting on their own shoes and actually racing to the car, laughing, is simply not something I ever thought possible. But thanks to Playful Parenting, it is.
I'm not doing the book justice by giving such a small example, the book encompasses so much more than just making something into a game. It's really a whole philosophy of parenting (very Alfie Kohn friendly, for those Unconditional Parenting fans out there). Honestly, I can't imagine anyone reading this and not coming away a better parent. And the best part is that you'll actually have fun following his advice
Book Review: The only parenting book anyone needs past age 1.
Summary: 5 Stars
Wow. There's no real way to describe how deep and rich this book is. The basic concept is so simple, and even just reading the first chapter changed my attitude toward interacting with and disciplining my toddler. But then the more you read the more you really understand just how desperately kids need and want our connection, and that many of the traditional ways of disciplining kids (even "positive parenting" methods like time-outs) just create distance and can backfire. So, of course it works with a toddler. I mean, the biggest problems with toddlers are changing their diapers without fits and getting them to stop throwing food off the high chair. But it also works with older kids. I've been trying the tips out on all the bigger kids at the playground and have been amazed at the results. It's basically just reframing the way you see kids and what their motivations are.
Some reviewers have commented that Cohen talks too much about what he's done. Well, of course he has! He's a therapist who uses play. By telling his own stories about what he's done with clients and with his own daughter, it gives you examples of how to think on your feet and figure out what a kid needs without being a therapist yourself.
I have been recommendiing this book to every I know, even people who aren't parents but just interact with kids. I just think that if everyone who deals with kids could read this book it would make everything so much easier and more fun for the adults *and* the kids. And that we'd all have closer connections with our family members. So this is going to be my standard gift for people having children from now on. It's definitely worth the money.
Book Review: This is a great book and a wonderful new outlook!
Summary: 5 Stars
I do, however, *highly* disagree with Amazon.com matching it with 1-2-3 Magic as something to buy at the same time. I've read both books and they are extremely different in their views on parenting and discipline! I cannot imagine that Mr Cohen would appreciate the pairing, either.--Editing this to add that I am glad to see that Amazon.com is no longer pairing it with 1-2-3 Magic! Playful Parenting is an awesome book and I encourage every parent to read it and apply it. Your relationship with your child/ren will never be the same.