listening, peace time, Us Time, building positive behavior, developing responsibility and discipline while dealing with practical realities such as homework and how to get the kids to handle squabbles respectfully and independently. Suggestions and activities are shared to help parents help children, from toddlers to teens, use values to handle their challenges as well as to deal with bullying and prevent drug use and sexual abuse. This book is unusual not only for the variety of important topics addressed, but for its mindful approach in building healthy emotional and social skills while strengthening loving family relationships. An enjoyable read that parents will return to as a resource again and again, Diane brings guiding principles to life with stories about children, parents and educators.
Eight Sections – 34 Chapters
Section One: The Importance of Values
Two chapters offer a brief look at the effect of values and why teaching values is not as easy as it was decades ago when being a role model and sharing stories was often sufficient.
Section Two: Nurturing with Love and Wisdom
Seven chapters explore the importance of enjoying play and Us Time with children of all ages, the role of love, affection and attention, the uniqueness of each child, and practical guidelines for encouragement and building positive behaviors. Stories and examples of active listening give parents a wonderful way to help children accept and process their own emotions. Creating opportunities for children to be responsible is also addressed.
Section Three: Disciplining with Peace and Respect
Eight chapters explore values-based methods of guiding children, beginning with a discussion of “to cane or not to cane” and the dynamics of punishment. Practical steps are offered to implement peaceful effective timeouts, help children create positive alternatives, speak so children will listen, model desired behaviors, give choices, and use logical consequences to help children accept responsibility. A discussion of values is part of a four-step correction process when young people engage in wrong behavior.
Section Four: Healthy Food for the Body and Mind
Two chapters offer information on simple ways to provide a healthier diet and explore the use of humanizing versus dehumanizing video games and films.
Section Five: Taking Care of You – the Parent
Four chapters offer suggestions and research information to parents on nourishing the body, increasing happiness and nourishing the spirit, transforming negative mental habits, and mindful ways to keep love flowing with your partner and family.
Section Six: Practicalities in Everyday Life
Five chapters explore situations parents may encounter, such as when a child says “I Hate You” or is disrespectful, when there is resistance to doing homework, when there’s change and children feel insecure, and steps to begin repairing a relationship. The chapter on when siblings squabble and fight includes how to teach conflict resolution while incorporating peace, respect and love in the process.
Section Seven: Prevention and Intervention
Five chapters include suggestions and practical activities to help parents help children learn to calm down, prevent drug use, and deal with bullying and social media. A chapter on preventing sexual abuse offers suggestions to parents as well as scripted conversations to help build children’s awareness and protective social skills. The last chapter in this section is a step-by-step guide for families that have had a lot of anger in the home and wish to create more peace and harmony.
