Free eBooks Playful Parenting Available To Downloads
Have you ever stepped back to watch what really goes on when your children play? As psychologist Lawrence J. Cohen points out, play is children’s way of exploring the world, communicating deep feelings, getting close to those they care about, working through stressful situations, and simply blowing off steam. That’s why “playful parenting” is so important and so successful in building strong, close bonds between parents and children. Through play we join our kids in their world–and help them to• Express and understand complex emotions• Break through shyness, anger, and fear• Empower themselves and respect diversity• Play their way through sibling rivalry • Cooperate without power strugglesFrom eliciting a giggle during baby’s first game of peekaboo to cracking jokes with a teenager while hanging out at the mall, Playful Parenting is a complete guide to using play to raise confident children. Written with love and humor, brimming with good advice and revealing anecdotes, and grounded in the latest research, this book will make you laugh even as it makes you wise in the ways of being an effective, enthusiastic parent. --This text refers to the Paperback edition.
Audible Audio Edition
Listening Length: 6 hours and 51 minutes
Program Type: Audiobook
Version: Abridged
Publisher: Wyatt-MacKenzie
Audible.com Release Date: May 24, 2010
Language: English
ASIN: B003NYOB6Y
Best Sellers Rank: #60 in Books > Parenting & Relationships > Parenting > School-Age Children #368 in Books > Audible Audiobooks > Health, Mind & Body > Family & Relationships
The premise of the book is that children need a strong connection with their parents in order to have good self-esteem, self-confidence, happiness and good behavior. The author is a play therapist that feels that the key to getting and staying connected with our children aged three through the teen years is through play. If you think your child has great behavior then following the ideas in this book will still help foster close connections and reduce the minor issues such as whining, begging, etc. The author contends that simply by spending time playing with our children with the child in control of the nature of the play, that a strong connection can be made. Specific ideas for play "tactics" are given when the parent wants to solve some particular problem or fear. This book is not just for "problem kids" who have sought professional counseling with the author.The gist of the book is that at about age 3 and up children are in the play mode, they like to play, want to play, need to play. They also at this time live in a world where they feel powerless or isolated at least some of the time, even in the best family situations. The theory is that they have "cups" that fill with love and sometimes when feeling isolated or powerless the cups run low and need refilling. When the cup is low the negative behaviors begin. The author feels that at these ages 3 through teen years, the fastest and most effective way to fill the love cup is by playing with your children. Most of his examples are with the work he has done with his child and his patients. He tells of certain games that can be played to overcomethis or that, such as how to deal with the child who wants to play guns and shoot at the parent, how to deal with swearing, what to do when the child is hyper and aggressive, etc.
I had thought a lot about what parenting was going to mean for me and how I was going to go about it. I read a lot of different books covering all areas in great detail and discussedit with my partner. When my son arrived the experienced surpassed the greatest of expectations. Being the mother to a baby was just wonderful. BUT THEN one day, our baby was a boy who wanted to PLAY. He really showed that he needed me to get down on the floor and PLAY with him and his toys. I was totally unprepared for this. I could do it for a bit, but then after a while I was exasperated and he was restless. After some time of games like putting all the farm animals in the correct part of the plastic barn and pretend feeding them and putting them to sleep, it was just SO BORING and I couldn't think of what to do next. I felt terribly guilty about checking my watch throughout and then I felt like I was the most boring and unimaginative person ever. I felt there was obviously some wonderful world of fantasy and fun he was in which I as an adult had lost. For the first time I felt disconnected from him. After a few pages of this book, I got down on the floor with my son and played with gusto. I loved it and I could tell that my son was enjoying it. He was only one year and a half at the time. His eyes lit up and at the end of one game that same afternoon he really just looked at me into my eyes with some new curiosity and he stopped repeatedly and intermittently to give me huge hugs in a way which he had never done before.They were not the regular cuddly hugs, but more like "this is new, we're having fun together aren't we?" hugs. We'd started a new way of being together.
I'll start by saying I liked the book. I read a lot of parenting books because 1) I have a rather spirited two year old (and an infant) and 2) I happen to find this particular genre of study fascinating. Since I read so many and am familiar with the kid-help writing style, I tend to be skeptical of any parenting book that has found "the way," even while realizing that if you are going to write a book, you might as well give your opinion with confidence (I worry more about a person who reads one book and thinks they have discovered the meaning of parenting because Dr. So and So told them all studies point this way). I can't give the book five stars because it feeds into the "you are never playing enough with or doing enough for and if you did cry it out you have scarred your children even though I have no evidence other than a hunch" theories. Let's face it, parents spend more time playing with their children today than likely any other time in human history. We are doing enough. That said, we probably aren't playing smartly, and this is where the book had great value and why I would ultimately recommend it. I've tried a couple of the techniques, like pretending to scream and making it a game when you actually really want to scream, or singing instructions, or my favorite-grabbing a toy and running when two kids won't stop fighting over it-and they all helped the mood in our family a lot. Simply by reading this book, I find myself engaging more when I play with my daughter (I'm a stay at home mom, so I have a lot of time to play). When she clings to me, I turn the tables and pretend like I can't let her go until she is the one complaining about me clinging. I would never have thought of that.
PARENTING: Single Parenting For Moms: A Guide in Raising Your Family and Being a Successful Mom (Parenting, Single Parent, Single Mother, Parenting Boys, Parenting Girls, Raising kids, Healthy child) Parenting: SINGLE PARENTS' BOOK: HOW TO BE THE BEST MOM AND DAD AT THE SAME TIME! 11 RULES ON HOW TO RAISE GREAT KIDS ALONE (Single,Parenting,Parenting Toddlers,Single Parenting) Playful Parenting Step Parenting 101: How to Be Successful at Step Parenting and Have a Happy Blended Family Forever (Step Parenting and The Blended Family) Blended Families: Steps to Help You Succeed in Step-Parenting and Become A Strong Family (Blended Family, Step Parenting, Parenting-Help) Parenting For Single Mothers: Being A Good Mom And Raising Great Kids (Single Parent, Single Mom, Parenting Boys, Parenting Girls) Positive Parenting: How to talk to your kids so they listen...Your guide to everything you need to know about positive parenting and raising children to ... Positive Discipline, Parenting Books) Swallowing Clouds: A Playful Journey through Chinese Culture, Language, and Cuisine Cory Helps Kids Cope with Sexual Abuse: Playful Activities for Traumatized Children Games for Math: Playful Ways to Help Your Child Learn Math, From Kindergarten to Third Grade Everyday Games for Sensory Processing Disorder: 100 Playful Activities to Empower Children with Sensory Differences The Playful Brain: The Surprising Science of How Puzzles Improve Your Mind Parenting: Parenting Toddlers: An Effective Child Care Guide To Potty Training, Nutrition, Hygiene, & Proper Sleeping Habits For A Happy Healthy Toddler Step Parenting: Crucial Steps on How to Be A Good Stepmom - Step Parent Books for Stepmothers (Step parenting book, Stepmother, How to be a good stepmom, Blended Family, Stepfather, Stepmom) Foster Parenting: The Ultimate Guide To Foster Care - How To Create A Comfortable, Loving And Stable Home For A Foster Child (Adoption, Parenting, Child Care) Positive Parenting in Action: The How-To Guide for Putting Positive Parenting Principles into Action in Early Childhood PARENTING THE STRONG-WILLED CHILD: MODERN PARENTING METHODS THAT WORK (GET RESULTS IN 30 DAYS) Single Mom: The Ultimate Guide to Single Parenting: How to Be Successful at Single Parenting and Raise your Kids Easily (Single Mom Books) The Single Parent Dating Solution: A Guide Through Roadblocks In Dating And Romance While Single Parenting (Single Parenting For Mothers, Dating Advice For Women) Parenting: 14 Gospel Principles That Can Radically Change Your Family
