The Key to Your Child's Heart [Mass Market Paperback]

Dr. Gary Smalley (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 12, 1995

In this child-rearing classic, Gary Smalley cuts to the relational heart of parenting to show readers proven methods that can spell the difference between an angry, rebellious, distant child and a happy, cooperative one.

Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 192 pages
• Publisher: Thomas Nelson; Rev Upd edition (October 12, 1995)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0849938864
• ISBN-13: 978-0849938863
• Product Dimensions: 6.9 x 4.1 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (13 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,487,278 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Gary Smalley is one of the country's best known authors and speakers on family relationships. He is the author and coauthor of 16 best-selling, award-winning books along with several popular films and videos. He has spent over 30 years learning, teaching, and counseling. Gary has personally interviewed hundreds of singles and couples and has surveyed thousands of people at his seminars, asking two questions: what is it that strengthens your relationships and what weakens them?

Gary's books combined have sold over 5 million copies. Many of them have even been translated into various languages. "The Blessing" and "The Two Sides of Love" have won the Gold Medallion Award for excellence in literature. "The Language of Love" won the Angel Award as the best contribution to family life. All other titles have been top-five finalists for the Gold Medallion Award.

In the last 30 years, Gary has spoken to over 2 million people in live conferences. He has been presenting his live two-day workshop, "Love Is a Decision," once a month for the last 20 years. Television audiences all over the world have viewed his award-winning infomercial, "Hidden Keys to Loving Relationships." Several versions of the infomercial--first with Dick Clark, then with John Tesh and Connie Sellecca, and also with Frank and Kathie Lee Gifford--have been aired. This 18-videotape series has sold over 4 million tapes.

Gary Smalley has appeared on national television programs such as "Oprah," "Larry King Live," "Extra," "The Today Show," and "Sally Jessy Raphael," as well as numerous national radio programs. Gary has been featured on hundreds of regional and local television and radio programs across the United States.

Gary and his wife, Norma, have been married for 40 years and live in Branson, Missouri. They have three children, Kari, Greg, and Michael, and six grandchildren.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

27 of 28 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This book made me see my children in a whole new way!, August 27, 1999

By 

cheryl kinney ([e-mail]) (USA - Texas) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Key to Your Child's Heart: Proven Steps That Will Help You Raise Motivated, Obedient, and Loving Children (Hardcover)

I can not recommend this book enough to all of the parents I know. After reading "The Key to your child's heart", my parenting techniques where quickly and definitely being improved and empowered. My children began to respond to me in a much more positive fashion 'cause they knew my heart was in the right place. In summary, a parents ultimate goal is to work themselves out of a job by raising self sufficient, confident and independent young adults! Thanks Mr.Smalley!

15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Sharing Life together in the Family, August 11, 2000

By 

David Robinson - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Key to Your Child's Heart (Mass Market Paperback)

Smalley's book on parenting, "The Key to your Child's Heart" invites parents to share life together with their kids, heart to heart, at the daily, emotional and spiritual level of life. His over-indulgence in lists (84 ways, 4 basic types, 2 factors, 3 powerful ways, 19 ways, 6 characteristics) cheapens the material in this book in my opinion. But Smalley had condensed into this volume a wise perspective on parenting and dozens of practical ideas for improving your family life.

Also recommended--THE FAMILY CLOISTER: BENEDICTINE WISDOM FOR THE HOME, by David Robinson (New York: Crossroad, 2000, 192pp., trade paperback).

31 of 35 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars My parenting textbook, February 6, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: The Key to Your Child's Heart (Mass Market Paperback)

This is the book I turn to every time I have an issue with my kids that needs to be resolved, or even when I just need to be re-ignited with a passion for pouring my life into my kids. Besides his easy-flowing, excellent writing, the principles he teaches are unbeatable. Unlike the other reviewer who disliked the lists, I found them to actually be a helpful part of the book and I didn't skip over them as I tend to skip over lists in other books.

Yes, Gary is an advocate of spanking, which I will make no comment on here other than to say that I also believe in it. But throughout the whole book, including the parts about spanking, it is so easy to see the tender, loving parent that he was/is, as he encourages me to be as well. I was actually encouraged by the creative types of discipline that he suggested as well.

I've decided to read this book again every year as my children enter new phases of life so that I will be able to remind myself of these principles and apply them to my changing family. Thank you, Gary, for your encouraging wisdom!