The Whole Parenting Guide: Strategies, Resources and Inspiring Stories for Holistic Parenting and Family Living [Paperback]

Alan Reder (Author), Phil Catalfo (Author), Stephanie Renfrow Hamilton (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 20, 1999

A complete, holistic guide to:

Pregnancy, birth, and infancy
Fostering family values
Nutrition and wellness
Learning, play, and creativity
Environmentalism
Community-building
Money matters
Spirituality

At last, here is a practical and inspiring guide to holistic parenting written for all parents who want to promote the growth and well-being of their children's minds, bodies, and spirits while improving their communities and the planet as a whole. The Whole Parenting Guide is the first parenting book to comprehensively explore and integrate the physical, mental, spiritual, and social tasks of childrearing. Featuring profiles of families involved in a variety of progressive parenting approaches, photographs and illustrations, and extensive source listings of publications, products, online sites, and organizations, The Whole Parenting Guide will enrich and instruct families for years to come.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

There are many parenting books available, but few approach the subject from a politically and culturally progressive slant. The Whole Parenting Guide presents a cohesive approach to family life and values that encompasses holistic health, interest in personal growth and spirituality, environmentalism, social conscience, appreciation of diversity, and rejection of materialism. Authors Alan Reder (writer for New Age magazine), Phil Catalfo (Raising Spiritual Children in a Material World), and Stephanie Renfrow Hamilton (former editor for Parenting and Essence) cover seven key areas of family life, including nutrition, alternative medicine, creativity, money matters, and community building. They include the practical--nonjudgmental and balanced information on sensitive and highly politically heated issues such as circumcision, vaccinations, and cloth vs. disposable diapers--as well as the philosophic--including keys to raising ethical children. From pregnancy to home schooling to community activism, this comprehensive guide book, complete with detailed sidebars, personal anecdotes from parents, and extensive listings of publications, will be a welcome addition to the progressive parent's library. --Ericka Lutz

From Library Journal

The authors, all parents as well as editors and writers specializing in family issues, aim to help parents do their job better. They deal with everything from pregnancy to toys, diet, play, and investing for college. Their text stands out from the field because of its holistic approach; for example, in discussing wellness they include information on alternative physicians and organic foods. There are sections on alternative schools and home schooling, recycling, volunteering, and socially responsible consuming. There is more background information here than similar texts provide, and the inclusion of actual family stories makes it all the more interesting. Libraries with parenting texts would do well to include this alternative approach.AJohn Moryl, Yeshiva Univ. Lib., New York
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 448 pages
• Publisher: Broadway (April 20, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0767901339
• ISBN-13: 978-0767901338
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 7.4 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,477,049 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Not as "whole" as the cover led me to believe, January 11, 2001

By 

Amy J - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Whole Parenting Guide: Strategies, Resources and Inspiring Stories for Holistic Parenting and Family Living (Paperback)

This isn't a bad book - in fact, it's a GREAT choice as a gift to a mainstream parent who is "teetering on the edge" of becoming a more alternative parent. It is NOT the best choice for the already-alternative parent.

This book has a very well written section on feeding your family healthy, organic foods. It explains why organic is better, offers alternatives for buying organic and whole foods less expensively, and has good nutrition information. It also has interesting sections on what you should allow your children to view on TV and in movies, educating your children, and earth conservation.

Strangely, although this book seems to want to be a guide for the "natural" family, it has sections emphasizing the benefits and importance of vaccinations. It also extols the religious virtues of circumcision. I found these two viewpoints in opposition to the rest of the book. There isn't even the slightest hint of suggestion that there ARE reasons to be concerned about vaccinations.

I was disappointed that this book wasn't all that I wanted it to be. For families who find themselves in the space between "Mainstream" and "Alternative", it might be a very good option. It would probably be valuable to demonstrate to mainstream family members that some of your beliefs aren't completely "out there."

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great book!, October 31, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: The Whole Parenting Guide: Strategies, Resources and Inspiring Stories for Holistic Parenting and Family Living (Paperback)

"Family life is transforming for the better for millions of American parents and children. They examine what mainstream society hands down as received parenting wisdom with a critical eye. They welcome the unconventional, as long as it works." And that's what this rich parenting book that advocates whole parenting is all about. It embraces what many in the recent past had thrown out as primitive--natural birthing, breastfeeding, natural healthcare and holistic nutrition. The authors examine the historical issues that contributed to the development of parenting styles from the turn of the century on and discusses how "cultural creatives" came to be. These are families hoping to instill progressive values in their kids in the face of commercialism, prejudice, drugs, inadequate public education and a whole host of other modern issues. This book pledges to help parents sort through the alternative parenting ideas and find the ones that truly hold some answers for today's parents. It lives up to it's goal marvelously. This book recommends natural, organic and healthful eating and touches briefly on health, ethics and environment concerns as they relate to vegetarianism.

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful resource for diverse, holistic families!, October 28, 1999

By 

Hetty Watters (Seattle, Washington, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Whole Parenting Guide: Strategies, Resources and Inspiring Stories for Holistic Parenting and Family Living (Paperback)

This excellent book has parenting information for families who are pondering pregnancy, planning for birth, and for those engaged in actual parenting. There is wonderful information on nurturing children's physical, mental, spiritual and social natures. The inclusive nature of this book will be appealing to diverse families. I particularly like the concern for parenting that not only promotes optimum growth of children but also includes concern for community & the planet.

This is a superb book...I recommend it both as a professional and also personally as a grandmother and concerned world citizen!