In this book, the preeminent child psychologist of our time gives us the results of his lifelong effort to determine what is most crucial in successful child-rearing. His purpose is not to give parents preset rules for raising their children, but rather to show them how to develop their own insights so that they will understand their own and their children's behavior in different situations and how to cope with it. Above all, he warns, parents must not indulge their impulse to try to create the child they would like to have, but should instead help each child fully develop into the person he or she would like to be.
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Editorial Reviews
From Library Journal
Bettelheim doesn't offer another "how-to" book on childrearing but explores the vast complexity and richness of the parent-child relationship. From a psychoanalytic perspective, he discusses such topics as anxiety, school performance, discipline, fantasy, and adolescent rebellion, with an extended section on play and competition. He focuses on the child's struggle toward selfhood, with its conflicting currents of love and anger. The key to being a "good enough" parent is to explore relational needs and motivations; it is more valuable to understand emotions than to be "perfect" parents of "perfect" children. While denser reading than most parenting books, this is worth the effort for parents as well as professionals who work with families.Amy Goffman, Children's Rehabilitation Ctr., Charlottesville, Va.
Copyright 1987 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
Copyright 1987 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
From the Inside Flap
In this book, the preeminent child psychologist of our time gives us the results of his lifelong effort to determine what is most crucial in successful child-rearing. His purpose is not to give parents preset rules for raising their children, but rather to show them how to develop their own insights so that they will understand their own and their children's behavior in different situations and how to cope with it. Above all, he warns, parents must not indulge their impulse to try to create the child they would like to have, but should instead help each child fully develop into the person he or she would like to be.
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13 of 15 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Amazing...A Must have..,
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This review is from: A Good Enough Parent : A Book on Child-Rearing (Paperback)
This is a sophisticated read - but well worth it! I am a child therapist and child development specialist and believe this book to be the bible of healthy child-rearing. Bettelheim is brilliant, caring and compassionate. Take time to read this prize, maybe 6 months or so. Read it slowly so that you can pick up all the messages and insights that he offers. Other great reads are Rudolf Driekers, "Children the Challenge." Try reading, Adele Faber's "How to Talk So Kids Will Listen" or Mary Kurcinka's "Kids, Parents and Power Sruggles."Kimberley Clayton Blaine, MA, MFT Licensed Child Therapist founder, www.TheGoToMom.TV Author: Mommy Confidence: 8 Easy Steps to Reclaiming Balance, Motivation, and Your Inner Diva
24 of 30 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
He thinks it is ok for kids to believe in Santa, etc! Yay!,
By A Customer
This review is from: A Good Enough Parent : A Book on Child-Rearing (Paperback)
Marvelous book - have referred back to it many times for encouragement and reinforcement of my own parenting "beliefs". When I have grandkids, this will be my first gift to the prospective parents
10 of 12 people found the following review helpful:
1.0 out of 5 stars
A grain of salt,
This review is from: A Good Enough Parent : A Book on Child-Rearing (Paperback)
It is amazing to me that the psychological community is still putting Bruno Bettelheim out there as some kind of authority. This is the same man who made up a theory of autism -- that it was caused by "refrigerator moms" -- that caused intense pain for a generation of mothers trying to help their autistic children. (His theory was based on his opinion, not scientific research.) This is also the same supposed doctor who started a sham school for autistic kids that was later shut down by the University of Chicago. Bettelheim went on to write more interesting theories -- including one that blamed the Jews for not standing up for themselves and thereby suffering the Holocaust.Bettelheim never received a degree in psychology, as he purported when he emigrated from Europe during WW2. He managed to get himself on TV, though (our first Dr. Phil) and he could write convincingly. Please, before you read this book, consider the source!
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Inside This Book
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First Sentence:
THIS BOOK SUMS UP my lifelong effort to discover and test what is involved and required for successful child-rearing-that is, the raising of a child who may not necessarily become a success in the eyes of the world, but who on reflection would be well pleased with the way he was raised , and who would decide that, by and large, he is satisfied with himself, despite the shortcomings to which all of us are prey. Read the first page Key Phrases - Statistically Improbable Phrases (SIPs): (learn more)
asocial tendencies, good enough parent Key Phrases - Capitalized Phrases (CAPs): (learn more)
Santa Claus, Saint Nicholas, Civil War, United States, Blind Man's Buff, Tooth Fairy, Little League, Black Peter, The Swiss Family Robinson New!
Concordance | Text Stats Browse Sample Pages:
Front Cover | Table of Contents | First Pages | Back Cover | Surprise Me!
THIS BOOK SUMS UP my lifelong effort to discover and test what is involved and required for successful child-rearing-that is, the raising of a child who may not necessarily become a success in the eyes of the world, but who on reflection would be well pleased with the way he was raised , and who would decide that, by and large, he is satisfied with himself, despite the shortcomings to which all of us are prey. Read the first page Key Phrases - Statistically Improbable Phrases (SIPs): (learn more)
asocial tendencies, good enough parent Key Phrases - Capitalized Phrases (CAPs): (learn more)
Santa Claus, Saint Nicholas, Civil War, United States, Blind Man's Buff, Tooth Fairy, Little League, Black Peter, The Swiss Family Robinson New!
Concordance | Text Stats Browse Sample Pages:
Front Cover | Table of Contents | First Pages | Back Cover | Surprise Me!
Citations (learn more)
This book cites 12
books:
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cites this book:
- Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance: An Inquiry Into Values by Robert M. Pirsig on page 15, and page 17
- On Learning to Read by Karen Zelan in Front Matter, and Back Matter
- Lark Rise by Flora Thompson on page 312
- The Uses of Enchantment: The Meaning and Importance of Fairy Tales by Bruno Bettelheim in Front Matter
- Lark Rise to Candleford: A Trilogy (Penguin Modern Classics) by Flora Thompson on page 312
See all 12 books this book cites
- A Little Book of Parenting Skills by Mark Brady on page 41
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