From Booklist
Child psychologist Biringen draws on 16 years of research to help parents understand the tie between their parenting and the emotional health of their children. She begins by describing well-established attachment theory and critiques the attachment parenting techniques that have been popularized by parenting books. According to research, 25 to 30 percent of families have children who do not feel secure in their relationships with their parents, even though strong parent-child relationships are predictors for happy lives and healthy relationships with others. Using interviews with parents and children, and personal stories, the author describes how to assess the quality of the relationship at different stages of development and focuses on teaching skills to parents to help ensure a nurturing and healthy relationship with their children. Biringen provides examples of healthy, affectionate relationships and troubled, insecure relationships, explaining, for example, the difference between strong attachment and clinginess. Parents will appreciate this highly accessible and useful resource that includes practical suggestions for strengthening ties between parents and children.
Vanessa BushCopyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved
Product Description
A new perspective on parenting and connecting with children...
Written by the foremost researcher on emotional availability in parent-child relationships, this guide will change the way parents relate to children, resulting in more fulfilling relationships on both sides. The first part of the book explains the eight general principles of emotional availability, and uses a wealth of examples to illustrate these principles in action.
First, readers will learn how to identify their own strategies for creating an emotional connection with their children, assess the strengths and weaknesses in their current parent-child relationships, and develop new ways of creating stronger, more nourishing emotional bonds with children of any age. The second half of the book applies the principles of emotional availability to a wide range of ages, situations, and special needs.
See all Editorial Reviews