How to Really Love Your Child (Signet) [Paperback]

Ross D. Campbell (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 1, 1982 | Series: Signet

The author describes how to communicate your love for your child in times of stress and when discipline is necessary. Many case histories are included for demonstration.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Dr. D. Ross Campbell is an adult, adolescent and child psychiatrist, noted author and lecturer on parent-child relationships. He was the founder of Southeastern Counseling Center in Chattanooga, TN, and served as its director until retiring in January 1996. Dr. Campbell serves as an Associate Clinical Professor in the Departments of Pediatrics and Psychiatry at the University of Tennessee College of Medicine. Dr. Campbell earned a B.S. degree from the United States Naval Academy and his medical degree from the University of Florida.

Dr. Campbell's first book How To Really Love Your Child, published in 1977, has sold over 1 million copies and is in its 35th printing. Revised and update in 1992, it continues to be an internationally acclaimed best seller. His book How To Really Love Your Teenager received the Gold Medallion Award.

In addition to writing, Dr. Campbell has lectured throughout the United States and in numerous European countries. He is currently a seminar leader and board member of Ministering to Ministers, an organization dedicated to the support of ministers and their families.

Dr. Campbell and his wife, Pat, have four adult children and one grandchild. They reside on Signal Mountain, TN where he is a member of Signal Mountain Baptist Church.

Current Title: How To Really Love a Child
How To Really Love Your Teenager

Brand: Life Journey

--This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

Product Details

• Paperback: 144 pages
• Publisher: Signet; later printing edition (November 1, 1982)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0451168356
• ISBN-13: 978-0451168351
• Product Dimensions: 6.8 x 4.2 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (31 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,406,301 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

64 of 64 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars "Mom, you need to get out THE BOOK"., May 27, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: How to Really Love Your Child (Paperback)

I was deeply offended when a friend gave me a copy of this book. How dare she insinuate that i didn't know how to love my children. Nobody loved their children more than I, but out of respect for her effort to help me to find better ways of living with my children as a single parent--I read the book. Just about everything Campbell said , I found contention with. why should I hug them when I didn't get hugs in my own childhood? or get down on their level when I was so busy? or look into their eyes when I was so tired? why? none of it made sense to me & I argued all the way through the book. I am a very stubborn person, so I set out to prove this obviously idiot author WRONG--BY EXPERIMENTING & DOING IT HIS WAY. Well, guess what, folks, I saw such a tremendous change in life with my children that "How to Really Love Your Child" became known as THE BOOK at our house. When life got tough & we'd be in the middle of some big fight...one of them would stop & say "Mom, you better get out THE BOOK". They knew its value because when I'd refer to THE BOOK & re-read what Campbell said about whatever problem we were having, I'd become more centered & balanced & back in control myself. My kids knew they'd GET IT when i figured out what to do, but they also knew that coming from THE BOOK whatever THEY GOT would be administered with real love. I came from a background devoid of personalized attention & hugs & most of the stuff THE BOOK advocates. I learned real fast that what i got when I hugged a child...was a hug for myself. and when I looked into little eyes, they were looking into mine. I felt that by parenting my children with the skills touted in THE BOOK I was making up for some of the loss of my own childhood. They were like little reflecting mirrors. Today my children are grown & I'm very proud of them & their abilities. This pride wouldn't have happened without the guidance I got from Campbell's "HOW TO REALLY LOVE YOUR CHILD".! Over the years I've probably given a hundred of these books away as gifts. One lady gave it back saying "i sure wish my kids were like yours, but it's just too much trouble." Well, I figured I had to live through 20 years anyway, so I might as well make it an investment in their lives rather than have to look back with regrets. My kids are great people...Thanks, Campbell, you did good!

36 of 36 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Biggest Impact in a Child's Life--Unconditional Love, October 25, 2000

By 

Aaron Meadows (San Antonio TX) - See all my reviews

This review is from: How to Really Love Your Child (Paperback)

An absolutely wonderful book! Dr. Campbell writes from a Christian perspective on how to REALLY love your child. He asserts that everyday a child is asking his parents, "Do you love me?", not only through his words, but more importantly through his behavior. It's our answer to this question that will have the biggest impact on his/her life. Loving UNCONDITIONALLY is the answer--this means loving your child no matter what and even when at times you detest his/her behavior.

Specifically, Dr. Campbell teaches that in order to love unconditionally, you must do four things: Show love through eye contact, show love through physical attention, show love through focused attention, and finally show love through discipline. He explains how important each of these things are and how big a mistake it is to only focus on discipline. I especially liked his discussion on what he thinks Proverbs 13:24 really means regarding "Not sparing the rod". "The shepherd's rod referred to in Scripture was used almost exclusively for guiding the sheep, not beating them." In other words, we need to guide and train our children, not beat them to instill obedience.

Can't recommend this book highly enough. It's a very easy read and it really convicted me to be a better parent by loving my kids unconditionally. Read it and see if you're not convinced it will make you a better parent.

20 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Must for Any Parent who wants to love their Child, December 18, 2002

By 

Tara Conklin (Newnan, Georgia United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: How to Really Love Your Child (Paperback)

I have two other sisters one younger, one older and we all have at least two children. My mother bought three copies of this book and sent one to each of us at the same time. By some grace I happened to have recieved my copy at a time when I was having horrible problems with my 3 year old son. At three he was on the verge of being expelled from the Christian Daycare he was attending. My husband I were at our wits end so when I got this book I immediately picked it up and read it.(I found out later that of us 3 girls I was the only one who did).I read the whole book in 3 days going over sections several times. My husband and I began putting Dr. Campbell's suggestions into practice right away and within one week it was like living with a completely different child. Once we understood the whole "Emotional Gas Tank" theory we began to recognize quite easily when our son was getting low. What a difference. We sat down and talked with the director of the school whom also helped us to identify some personalized areas that we were not setting limits for our son thus compounding the discipline problem. The frist week was very tough but it was so worth it. It has been over a year now and we continue to practice the things we have learned in this book. I have recommended it to many friends and encouraged my sisters to read it as they continue to have problems with thier children. It is written from a Christian Standpoint which I personally find a big plus. This book is worth its weight in gold.