Raising Great Kids [Paperback]

Henry Cloud (Author), John Townsend (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 1, 2000

What does it take to raise great kids? If you've read any books on parenting, conflicting opinions have probably left you feeling confused. Get tough! Show acceptance. Lay down the rules. Lighten up, already! - There's got to be a balance -- and there is. Joining their expertise with the wisdom of MOPS International (Mothers of Preschoolers), Drs. Henry Cloud and John Townsend help you provide both the care and acceptance that make grace real to your child, and the firmness and discipline that give direction. Avoiding the twin extremes of permissiveness and over-control, Drs. Cloud and Townsend show how you can help your child cultivate six necessary character traits: attachment, responsibility, reality, competence, morality, and worship/spiritual life. - At last, here is an effective middle ground for raising up children who will handle life with maturity and wisdom. Raising Great Kids will help you equip your son or daughter to accept life's responsibilities, grow from its challenges, and freely and fully explore all that it has to offer.

Editorial Reviews

From the Publisher

It Takes the Tender Strength of Grace to Raise Children of Character and Faith Some parenting books offer a by-the-numbers and keep-the-rules approach to raising and disciplining children. But Raising Great Kids offers a flexible, compassionate, and effective way to raise kids. >From the moment parents cuddle their infants to the day they wave good-bye to their high school graduates, raising children is a complex and often bewildering task. And every expert has a different opinion on how to discipline children so they will be polite, loving, and able to function as mature adults. Drs. Henry Cloud and John Townsend avoid the twin extremes of permissiveness and repression. The authors of the award-winning Boundaries now offer parents a sensible, biblical, and proven parenting plan that takes them from the newborn to teenage years. Raising Great Kids recognizes that parenting is not just intellectual work--it also demands emotional maturity and spiritual wisdom. It's a job as individualized as each child. So instead of taking a one-size-fits-all approach to parenting, this book enables moms and dads to be creative and compassionate, instilling character in their children without sacrificing the sense of love and security every child needs. In conjunction with MOPS? (Mothers of Preschoolers International), the authors have written this book in response to the growing need for a parenting resource that includes both developmental and spiritual perspectives. Written by two licensed clinical psychologists who have worked in private family practice for over 20 years, this guide helps today's parents raise their kids into tomorrow's mature, loving, and productive adults. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From the Author

Dr. Henry Cloud and Dr. John Townsend are popular speakers, licensed psychologists, co-hosts of the nationally broadcast “New Life” radio program, and co-founders of Cloud-Townsend Communications. They are best-selling authors of several books, including Safe People, Twelve “Christian” Beliefs That Can Drive You Crazy, The Mom Factor, Boundaries with Kids, and the Gold Medallion Award-winning Boundaries --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 18 and up
  
• Paperback: 240 pages
• Publisher: Zondervan (January 1, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0310235499
• ISBN-13: 978-0310235491
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.4 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #607,441 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

63 of 64 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Bringing up spiritually mature children in the 90's, March 17, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Raising Great Kids (Hardcover)

This is a surprisingly in-depth outline of how to grow great young adults from little rugrats. The authors are quite adept at explaining complex ideas in straight forward layman's terms which, considering that they are both board-certified psycologists, shows they have a unique talent for communicating.

The focus of the book is on character and spiritual development. Many examples from both Dr. Cloud and Dr. Townsend of real life (and biblical) situations helped me understand how to take my child from a self-centered kid to a caring, responsible young adult.

Several moms have not been able to put it down when they saw it at our house. It doesn't have the flashy layout and colors of many modern books, but apparently the message is still riveting for mothers looking for encouragement and ideas.

I wish this book had been around years ago when my kids were just starting out. Still, it has become an invaluable reference for my wife and I in dealing with day-to-day family life with kids.

26 of 30 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Possible the best child-rearing book available!!, July 30, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Raising Great Kids (Hardcover)

I loved this book. As a mother of a six month old it was a blessing to find this book. It opened my eyes to areas in my life that I needed to work on so that I will be able to teach my child when the time comes. It also gave me an outline of what I need to be mindful of as a parent raising a child. Excellent!!!

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Very helpful!, February 27, 2006

By 

Dana (Mountain View, CA) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Raising Great Kids (Paperback)

This is a great book that helps provide guiding principles on raising kids through the different stages in their lives. This is not a "how to" raise your kids methods type of book as much as one that integrates a balanced approach to child rearing.