Customer Reviews

You and Your Only Child: The Joys, Myths, and Challenges of Raising an Only Child

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

What is wonderful about this book is that it includes and speaks directly to parents who may not have originally intended for their child to be an "only". Parents who may have wanted a larger family, but cannot due to circumstance are dealing with their own feelings as well and this book does a great job of identifing and advising on this aspect. This book is well written, well organized and offers practical advice in an intelligent and reassuring way.

This book provided me with all the answers I needed for those who said "You can't have just one child," and "He needs a playmate." Ok, my, then I'll get him a dog, response is not in here.. But better ones, ones for yourselves, about all the real benefits of being an only child, from better cognitive skills to assurances that your child will be able to make friends and won't necessarily be spoiled unless you spoil him or her (and how to be sure you don't). Some of the "evidence" was not documented well enough for me (maybe parents with better cognitive skills tend to have only one child, later in life?) but all in all it has good advice, good information and helps you and your spouse feel good about the family you have chosen to make.

I did not like that way that the book talked to me as if I were a patient instead of a concerned parent. Reading it, I felt like I was getting therapy instead of the advice I was looking for and need. A lot more factual information and specific direction, instead of so much "feel good" stuff would have been helpful.

I found this book disappointing. It was very basic and anecdotal, and seemed to only brush the surface of many of the issues I am seriously struggling with. Some may find it useful, but being fairly educated and knowledgeable as a parent, I found it rather insulting.

I've recently read 4 Amazon books on this subject. This one is the second best. Unlike two of the others, it does not get lost in personal narrative and anecdotal evidence. It offers support based on the experience and opinions of experts rather than simply relying on opinions of random individuals.

I believe this to be the best only child book written and a must read if you have an only, or are considering having a only child.

I found this book to be mostly a Feel Good About Yourself kind of book. The issues that were brought up were all issues those of us with onlies already know and are dealing with. The book offered very little advice or 'how to's' on how to deal with these issues, and the advice it did give was just common sense. Also, the constant references to "Studies" that show how great things are going to be for your only and how wonderful he/she is going to turn out, were a bit too much, in fact I began to doubt if those studies were real.

This is the right book if you're looking to come to grips with having an only child, and feel like you "need" to bring another child into the world for the primary purpose of keeping your already existing one company. This book will talk you out of that with kindness and care, and let you know your only will be ok, indeed probably better off. It will also help you see to it as a parent that they will, and not fall into the traps that some parents of onelies fall into.

I liked this book. It had some helpful tips on raising an "only" child. I grew up (happily) with seven siblings and was afraid that my son would be lonely but this book made me feel that he can have a perfectly happy childhood.