The New Hide or Seek: Building Confidence in Your Child [Paperback]

James Dobson (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 1, 2001

From the moment they are born, children experience an unfortunate value system that reserves respect and esteem for a select few. Those who fail to measure up end up resigning themselves to a lifetime of feeling inadequate and inferior. Over the past twenty-five years, more than a million parents and teachers have benefited from Dr. James Dobson's insightful counsel in his classic Hide and Seek. Now revised and updated, and in paperback, this book provides a new generation of parents with practical pointers for raising self-confident, healthy children.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"A warm book of rare understanding with much practical material for solving family problems of insecurity." -- L.A. Times

From the Back Cover

Our children are in the midst of a crisis of confidence! From the moment they enter the world, children are subjected to a value system that reserves respect and esteem for only a select few. Those who fail to measure up to society's standards--primarily in the areas of beauty and intelligence--must learn to cope with feelings of inadequacy and inferiority. Over the past twenty-five years, more than a million parents and teachers have benefited from Dr. James Dobson's insightful counsel in the classic Hide or Seek. Now revised and updated, The New Hide or Seek provides a new generation of parents with practical pointers for raising self-confident, healthy children. Dr. Dobson also offers specific instruction on how to: Ž build confidence from infancy onward Ž protect children from the pain of inferiority Ž compensate for ridicule and unfair value judgments Ž teach children to respect themselves and others Ž shape the will without breaking the spirit Ž avoid overprotection and dependency Ž maximize educational potential Each strategy is followed by an informative question-and-answer section discussing common problems that occur in the lives of children. The New Hide or Seek culminates in a discussion of the values parents should seek to impart to their kids. These values will give children the courage to seek their best rather than hide in fear. "A warm book of rare understanding with much practical material for solving family problems of insecurity." --L.A. Times "Dobson is specific in his advice . . . and balances the spiritual and psychological sides of the problem. " --Christianity Today

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Product Details

• Paperback: 240 pages
• Publisher: Revell; 3 edition (February 1, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0800756800
• ISBN-13: 978-0800756802
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.5 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #824,851 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

James C. Dobson, Ph.D., is founder and chairman emeritus of Focus on the Family, a nonprofit organization that produced his internationally syndicated radio programs, heard by more than 200 million people every day. A licensed psychologist and marriage, family, and child counselor, he earned a Ph.D. from the University of Southern California in the field of child development. The author of more than 30 books, including his most recent bestseller, Bringing Up Boys, he has been heavily involved in governmental activities related to the family. Dr. Dobson is married to Shirley and they reside in Colorado.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

53 of 54 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars One of the best child-rearing books available, October 15, 2003

By 

Karen Moffett (Terre Haute, IN United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The New Hide or Seek: Building Confidence in Your Child (Paperback)

Dr. Dobson does an excellent job of getting across the basics of child psychology and how they relate to self-esteem, without either talking over the readers' heads or talking down to them. He describes some of the ways that parents can untentionally weaken their children's self-esteem and many ways to prevent or remedy that situation, ultimately giving the child a self-image that is based on inherent worth rather than abilities, attractiveness, possessions or performance. This book is highly recommended to anyone who is disappointed in the prevailing current views on how to build a child's self-esteem, and wants to try a better way--God's way.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Self Esteem, February 26, 2006

By 

Chelsea M. Wilson - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The New Hide or Seek: Building Confidence in Your Child (Paperback)

Excellent Book, one every parent and/or parent-to-be should read! Timely delivery and in excellent condition!

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars excellent book for helping parents to build confidence in children, March 31, 2010

By 

Wayne S. Walker "Home School Book Review" (Salem, IL) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The New Hide or Seek: Building Confidence in Your Child (Paperback)

I have read a couple of other books by James C. Dobson, a psychologist and professor of clinical pediatrics who founded Focus on the Family, namely Dare to Discipline and Preparing for Adolescence. His books have been highly recommended, and everything that I have read by him makes sense. In Hide or Seek, his basic thesis is that the epidemic of inferiority is at the root of so many problems that young people face in our society, using Lee Harvey Oswald as an opening example. After discussing how failing to measure up to society's standards especially in the areas of beauty and intelligence can create feelings of inadequacy, he suggests ten strategies for helping parents to build self-esteem in their children.
I happen to have a copy of both the original Hide or Seek: Self-Esteem for the Child--A Compelling Approach for Parents and Teachers from 1974, and the Hide or Seek: How to Build Self-Esteem in Your Child, Expanded and Updated from 1979. The basic text in the two is the same. The only differences are that the revised edition has a new preface and also an epilogue that contains two further strategies. In that epilogue, Dobson does draw an important distinction between Biblical pride, which he defines as an arrogant self-sufficiency leading us to violate the two most basic commandment of Jesus about loving God and our neighbor, and true self-esteem which is self-respect or self-confidence, and even warns "that the quest for self-esteem can take us in the direction of unacceptable pride."
He concludes, "Hide or Seek does not reflect the philosophy of Me-ism. I have not suggested that children be taught arrogance and self-sufficiency or that they be lured into selfishness. (That will occur without any encouragement from parents.) My purpose has been to help mothers and fathers preserve an inner physical and mental and spiritual health." While Dobson clearly bases his suggestions on Biblical principles and even points out the benefits of following God's ways, which I appreciate, he does not come across as "too preachy," so that even those who are not strong believers should be able to find useful information in the book. Young parents will especially benefit from it, but I think that anyone will find it helpful in developing a proper positive attitude towards self. The newest edition, The New Hide or Seek: Building Confidence in Your Child was published in 2001.