somehow Sarah Mackensies book gives parents permission to truly simplify our interactions with our kids and just enjoy time reading together
585998
With all of the shoulds that go along with parenting these days, somehow Sarah Mackensies book gives parents permission to truly simplify our interactions with our kids and just enjoy time reading together. Having implemented this for a while now, it truly is amazing how impactful it is. This book and Teaching from Rest have been great resources and encouragements for our family.
2929500
I got this to read with my daughter, thinking that she might tolerate it. She loves it. She is actually pestering me to read it with her every night (I am so delighted). We read it together and discuss the stories. I think that is why she is connecting to it so much, the delightful stories.

Also, I think it is easy for parents to tell kids that they are not doing it right but harder to give positive examples/ideas of HOW to do it right. I like the book because it clearly defines things for us both. I am doing the same exercises, right along with my daughter and we are enjoying reading the book.

She is little young for some parts of the book so we are skipping over those a bit but overall, I would recommend this to most parents. And read it together. You'll get so much more out of it.

I read his dad's book and find this one easier to absorb. I think because the tone of the book is like a friendly older brother talking to you about life experiences it makes it easier to absorb the concepts.
1995182
Reading this book made me feel like I was reading something privileged. Sarah share's from her heart, and is the type of book I want my kids to read, and the type of book I would like to write for my own kids. Highly recommend!
1233379
We could all do with a dose of Lisa Sugarman. In a culture of helicopter parenting where the pressure we place on our kids is only eclipsed by the pressure we place on ourselves, Untying Parent Anxiety provides some welcome wisdom about how lowering the pressure all around may go a long way toward getting us closer to what all parents want--happy, healthy kiddos. I'm glad I took a pause in my parenting long enough to take a read---and you will be too. Broken up into easy, digestible bites, this book lends itself to being kept in your bag and pulled out when you're waiting to pick your kid up from school. Similarly, it's one to keep by your nightstand because it's worth a deeper read when you have the time. I'm breathing easier already ; )
3874957
We're reading this book as our parent book study at church. It's laid out with such simplicity and grace that it's easy for everyone to understand, yet it delves into some pretty deep subjects about the sacramentality of family life. I highly recommend this for Christian families wanting to connect with God in their homes as well as church. While it's written for Orthodox Christians, I think that my Roman Catholic, Episcopalian, Anglican, Lutheran, Mennonite, Moravian, and Methodist friends might also get a great deal out of it.
4780370
I am the director of a Toddler through 6th grade Montesori School in New York. I am also the parent of two beautiful and capable daughters ages 9 and 11. I read a lot of books and many of them focus on learning, child  development, parenting, and families. Every once in a while I come across a great book. The kind of book that makes me want to give it to every teacher and parent in my school to read ( that's what I plan to do by the way!). The kind of book I can use in a lively book club discussion. The kind of book I use for discussion at faculty meetings-earmarked, written in, and well loved. The kind of book that I go back to and reread. This is that kind of book. If you buy one book on parenting this year year, this is the one.

Bruce Howlett and Caitlin Howlett have done an incredible job of digesting a huge mass of current educational and psychological research and making it accessible to the reader through stories. It is well organized, easy to read, and filled with important ideas. I absolutely love the action steps at the end of each chapter. If you are an overtired parent or an overworked teacher who says you don't have time to read another book, buy it for these action steps summaries.

We all want to raise cable kids, here is a practical guide to help us support our children on their journey to independence.
3845713
A Quick and easy read which leaves you feeling like you can make a difference in your childrens lives and help prepare them for the future. It's packed with simple ideas that I can use on my 5 year old daughter and on my 10 year old son.
2363447
Scream-Free Parenting raises an important topic for parents and explains it in a simple, clear way. Any parent will benefit from reading this book. Even parents who don't scream will appreciate this approach to parenting, because this book has much more information in it than "don't scream." It really helps parents to take the driver's seat in THEMSELVES and in their homes. It address the anxiety that every parent must confront throughout the twenty or so years of raising children and helps parents calm and center themselves before dealing with their children. It helps parents think about the BIG picture in parenting instead of getting lost in the little daily details. I agree wholeheartedly with the author's philosophy and recommend it to my own clients and students.
Sarah Chana Radcliffe, author RAISE YOUR KIDS WITHOUT RAISING YOUR VOICE
4692332
Let me just start out by saying, I'm not a reader, but I love the simplicity of this book!  It's only 108 pages long & has lots of pictures & places to write notes!  It really breaks down how to talk to your kids about sex in a very nonthreatening way.  I love the step by step feel of it - it's almost like Mary Flo Ridley is sitting beside you encouraging you every step of the way!  Wonderful & IMPORTANT information every parent should know!  Fantastic book!
4709228
This is a must read for parents who want calm and real connection with their children and spouse. Alice will guide you with warmth, wisdom, and humor. The stories she shares are easy to relate to and allow you to see how Pause could impact your life. Pause is a quick read, with a BIG impact!
2955081
As parents of a large family, quiet moments for my wife and I are sometimes rare. We will often reconnect with each other by reading together. Often times I will read aloud, so that we can enjoy a book together.
I began reading "Gleanings" aloud to my wife and was only halfway through the acknowledgments when I heard one of my children say, "Hey, Dad is reading!" Sure enough, here they all came into the room, plopped down on the floor, and said, "Read to us Dad." So I began to read aloud again, this time to the entire family. I didn't even make it past the second paragraph of the Preface, before a rather deep discussion ensued with my young, teenage daughter concerning "Should We Lift Up Jesus?" Then we began "The Drama of Redemption." I honestly don't think I have ever seen my children so enjoying Biblical truths before. The entire family LOVED the analogy of dramatic performance used to portray redemption, but no one enjoyed it as much as my teenager! When I finished the article she said, "Can you read more, Dad? I love that book!" So...it looks like we will be reading "Gleanings" aloud as a family! It serves as a wonderful tool for family devotions! What is more, while leading a weekly Bible study group last night, the subject of "Grace" came up in our discussion. My mind immediately went to the article, "The Rest of the Story." Not only did I use this article in our Bible study, but afterwards I sent "Gleanings" home with a student as "homework." Needless to say, this versatile work of inspiration will be used to further the
Kingdom of God in many ways. I say, "Well done" to the author of this book.
3193285
I love reading this book to my kids, because it opens the door to asking questions. Sometimes as a mama you know something is up with your kiddo, but you can't get it out of her. This book gets kids talking and thinking. I also enjoy this book because it touches on being polite, being a good friend, and how to treat others. Also the illustrations are engaging. A fantastic book that you won't mind reading again and again.
79910
Being a parent of a 2 and a 4 years olds, I must say this book is doing wonders for them and us parents.

There are some great simple explanations of otherwise controversial topics like discipline, attitude etc.

Even though I understand where the author is coming from and why she built the content that way, I would suggest to future readers to skip part 1 and 2 in the beginning and go straight for part 3. Just after that they can return to part 1 and 2 and see why they are actually very important for the whole concept to work out.
1619804
Home Improvement: The Parenting Book You Can Read to Your Kids by Scott Turansky and Joanne Miller is another great snapshot of eight parenting tools you can put to use right away.  The unique thing about this book is that you can read it to your kids!  The beginning of every chapter is a story about a family who is experiencing a situation and needs some guidance.  They hear suggestions from a teacher, a neighbor, a pastor, a family member and dinner guests.  All offer practical advice in how to handle these dilemmas.  The second part of each chapter delves deeper into these tools.  Some of the tools outlined are encouraging without yelling, making discipline time constructive, helping children make lasting changes and more.  The situations are real, the tools are helpful and easily adapted.  And best of all, your journey as a parent is enriched with knowledge and ways to guide your children to have a better quality of life using God's principles.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book.  The stories of this family seem like what I confront in my own home.  I really like that I could relate to the characters and that my five year old son can too as I read the story to him.  The tools were extremely helpful and were broken down into steps.  I felt very inspired to work on these things in my own home.  If you are looking for some ways to build good relationships with your kids as well as train them, check out this book.  You will enjoy seeing some "home improvement!"
2695313
I purchased this book for my daughter from her Dad this Christmas.  They enjoy the activities together. We also have the Mom and me version and I just love the idea of sitting down and spending quality time.  Both books have fun quizzes to share.  Very nice book and a great way to spend time with your child one on one to make them feel extra special.
931041
EnchantingChildrensBookReviews

Let's face it moms and dads...sometimes, there are things that kids just do better than their parents, and that's okay! Some of the proudest moments as a parent happen when we see our children excel.

Am I the only parent who would love to be a fly on the wall, maybe throw on my invisibility cloak and watch my kids during a typical school day?  Are they polite? Do they raise their hands and wait to be called on? Are they respectful of their teachers and friends? Is their desk messy and gross, do they clean up and follow directions? Are they the talker in class?

What's great about The Day My Mom Came To Kindergarten is that it's not the student causing trouble, it's the parent proving yet again that kids are better at certain tasks than their parents.

This is a wonderful book for little ones getting ready to attend a school setting and it doesn't necessarily have to be kindergarten, preschool children would understand this book as well. It's a great way to enforce the dos and don'ts of school without harping on them and allow them to grow more comfortable with what they'll be doing at school.
794613
Once again, Sarah knocks it out of the proverbial park with The Read-Aloud Family. This book has something for every parent, no matter where you are on your parenting journey, or how you choose to educate your children.

For newer parents she offers encouragement and a simple plan for truly connecting with kids through books. Her friendly, conversational writing style puts the new momma (or daddy) at ease, and her generous anecdotes from her own family help the reader understand the value and worthy investment any (and all) reading aloud to our children provides. (Bonus: she keeps it real and doesn't just pretend to be perfect)

For those of us who are perhaps a little more seasoned as parents, or already listen to the Read Aloud Revival podcast, she didn't forget us either, writing fantastic chapters on mastering the art of conversation and asking compelling questions.

THEN she gets to her (in my opinion) wheelhouse...BOOKLISTS. The booklists AND the books she recommends throughout, are worth the publishing price. Period. My family has yet to be disappointed in any book she has recommended. What's even better is she has done the hard work of reading every single one cover to cover for us, categorizing them by age, and to an extent genre, and often times giving a short synopsis.

I thoroughly recommend this book, no matter where you are in your parenting (or even grand-parenting) journey. My copy is marked up and out on the counter for handy reference. After finishing the book, I went back and ordered 4 more copies to give as baby shower gifts, I think it is that worthwhile.

I received a free ARC copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.