Self-esteem, a family affair [Paperback]

Jean Illsley Clarke (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: 1978

Strong self-esteem is a critical ingredient for human happiness--and its development begins at home in the nurturing interactions between children and adults. Clarke's unique approach to building self-esteem begins with her belief that this is indeed a "family affair." Rather than offering collection of dictatorial "shoulds," Self-Esteem: A Family Affair instead serves as a source of parental support, providing a broad range of imaginative and effective suggestions for dealing with individual family members in ways that nourish self-esteem for all involved.

Throughout her book, Clarke encourages parents to claim their strengths and to trust their judgment as they make decisions about appropriate child care. Recognizing, too, that kids' needs are best met by adults whose own needs have not been neglected, Clarke offers a range of creative and workable options for parents to build the self-esteem of children while also caring for their emotional needs.

Jean Illsley Clarke, author of Hazelden's Growing Up Again: Parenting Ourselves, Parenting Our Children, is a writer and an internationally recognized parent educator who specializes in the areas of parenting, self-esteem, family dynamics, and adult children of alcoholics. She currently directs the Self-Esteem Center, which she founded in 1975, and lives in Plymouth, Minnesota.

--This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Jean Illsley Clarke recently authored two books, Connections: The Threads That Strengthen Families and Time-In: When Time-Out Doesn't Work, which received a Parent's Choice Award. She is a parent educator and a trainer of parent educators. She holds a Master of Arts degree in Human Development and was awarded an honorary Doctorate of Human Services by Sierra University. She is a teaching and supervising member of the International Transactional Analysis Association and a Nationally Certified Family Life Educator. Last year she was named Distinguished Alumna of the Year by the College of Human Ecology at the University of Minnesota. --This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

Product Details

• Paperback: 280 pages
• Publisher: Winston Press (1978)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0030439167
• ISBN-13: 978-0030439162
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 7.1 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,715,325 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Good advice, but focuses only on what we say, June 14, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: Self Esteem A Family Affair (Paperback)

There is good advice here, and know I will refer to the book often. But, there were two things that bothered me while I read it. First, some parts are hard to follow. An example is when the author gives real life examples of families. Family members and friends are often mentioned when they haven't been introduced yet, so as I read along, another name suddenly pops up,and I must stop and figure out "who is this?" Only after going back and then reading all the way through the paragraph again do I figure out the relationships. Second, the advice is really only based in the things we say to our loved ones. Communication is great, but simply saying these "magical phrases" alone is not enough. Before saying any of these affirmations to someone, it might be useful to ask questions to understand where they're coming from and if they even want affirming. It seems like the author presumes you already know when these affirmations are useful.

5.0 out of 5 stars parents can help a lot their children, April 9, 2011

By 

regina - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Self Esteem A Family Affair (Paperback)

How parents treat their children it is determinating for them. The influence parents have on their children is important enough to make them paying attention how they behave with them. This book helps me to understand how the massages we send to our children when we say or we act can help them or tear them down. I love the "four ways of parenting" that explains in theorical and practical way. I strongly recommend this book for parents.

5.0 out of 5 stars Parent Must Read, October 20, 2008

By 

Patricia L. Pritchard "believe in family" (Salem, Ore) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Self Esteem A Family Affair (Paperback)

Emotional development is the key to childhood success and happiness. This book provides basic stages of developmental stages that children grow through that helps validates the child, and allows the parents a whole new level of understanding of what it is they did to do to support that growth. My "lists of affirmation"s and reminders of what my children's needs were at each level, helped me appreciate and lowered my anxiety with the changes that naturally occur at each stage they went through. I wish all parents were given this book when they left the hospital with their little bundle of joy!