Share:

Category Books

Parent's Answer Book »

Authors: James C. Dobson
ISBN-13: 9780842387163, ISBN-10: 0842387161
Format: Paperback
Publisher: Tyndale House Publishers
Date Published: October 2003
Edition: (Non-applicable)

Author Biography: James C. Dobson

Book Synopsis

This comprehensive, easy-to-access book provides reliable, biblically based information to help parents raise healthy, God-honoring kids. Discipline, sibling rivalry, sex education, and spiritual development are just a few of the topics covered in this extensive reference.

	Appreciation Page	ix
	Introduction	xi
1	Understanding the Nature of Children	1
	The Influence of Culture	1
	Temperament	2
	The Innate Disobedient Nature	15
	Testing Authority	17
2	Raising the Preschool Child	21
	Fussy Babies	21
	Mental Stimulation	22
	Answering Difficult Questions	24
	Disruptiveness in Church	25
	Lying	26
	Violent Entertainment	28
	Teaching Politeness	29
	Encouraging Responsibility	30
3	Disciplining the Preschool Child	31
	Permissiveness	31
	Balancing Love and Control	34
	Instilling Respect	36
	Age-Appropriate Discipline and Responsibility	37
	Fussy Babies and Toddlers	41
	Toilet Training	45
	Discipline	46
	The "Terrible Twos"	51
	Avoiding Confrontation	52
	Anticipating the Future	53
4	Children's Health and Well-Being	55
	Sudden Infant Death Syndrome	55
	Failure to Grow	56
	Battles over Food	57
	Bed-Wetting	59
	Cruelty to Animals	61
	Nightmares and Night Terrors	62
	Dangers of Marijuana	64
	Alcohol during Pregnancy	65
	Eating Disorders	66
	Childhood Depression	67
	Long-Term Effects of Childhood Trauma	68
	Childhood Obesity	70
	Stuttering	71
	Preparing for Adolescence	72
	Parental Rights vs. Adolescent's Right to Privacy	73
5	Attention Deficit Disorder in Children and Adults	75
	Recognizing Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD)	75
	ADD without Hyperactivity	78
	Cause of ADD	79
	ADD as a Lifelong Condition	79
	Positive Features of ADD	81
	Treatment of ADD	81
	Disciplining/Managing the ADD Child	83
6	Effective Parenting Today	87
	Prioritizing Parenting	87
	The Challenge of Parenting	89
	Research on Parenting	94
	Discerming a Child's Needs	95
	Dealing with Grandparents	96
	Choosing Clothes	97
	Contemporary Music	97
	Teaching Courtesy in Addressing Adults	98
	Family Activities	99
	Raising the Adopted Child	100
	Dealing with Negative Feelings toward Your Children	106
	Gender Differences	106
	Importance of the Father-Daughter Relationship	107
	Sexual Attitudes and Behavior	108
	Television	110
	Video Games	113
	Violence in Media	114
	Protecting Your Children	115
7	Disciplining the Elementary School Child	119
	Guidelines for Discipline	119
	Shaping the Will without Breaking the Spirit	121
	Setting and Enforcing Boundaries	123
	Mutual Respect	128
	Presenting a United Front	129
	External Discipline vs. Internal Control	130
	Recognizing the Origin of Negative Behavior	131
	Venting Feelings	132
	Inappropriate Parental Anger	133
	Dealing with Your Mistakes	135
	Teaching Respect without Instilling Undue Fear	135
	The Habit of Saying No	136
	Disciplining Other People's Children	137
	Discipline in Single-Parent Families	138
	Shaping Moods/Attitudes	139
	The Timing of Negative Consequences	142
	Confronting Disrespectful Behavior	143
	Connecting Behavior with Consequences	144
	Dealing with Morning Dawdling	146
	Reinforcing Positive Behavior with Rewards	148
	Whining	151
	Teaching Responsibility	152
	The Scriptural Basis for Discipline	153
	Listening to Children	155
	Swearing	155
	Setting Boundaries on Family Vacations	155
	Apologizing to Children	156
	Avoiding Adolescent Rebellion	157
	The Bottom Line in Parenting	158
	Advice to Parents of Strong-Willed Children	159
8	To Spank or Not to Spank	161
	Effects of Spanking	161
	Dangers of Extremes	164
	Guidelines for Spanking	166
	Corporal Punishment and the Law	172
9	What's a Mother to Do?	173
	Creating a Network	173
	Child-Care Centers	174
	Full-Time Mothering vs. Career	176
	Dealing with Fears	181
10	Education: Public, Private, and Homeschooling	183
	Teacher-Led vs. Student-Led Education	183
	Public Schools	185
	Corporal Punishment in Schools	188
	Class Discipline	188
	Work/Play Balance	189
	Curriculum Issues	190
	Intellectual Potential	191
	Self-Esteem	194
	Developmental Issues	195
	Repeating Grades	198
	Benefits of Formal Education	199
	Disorganization	200
	Writing Skills	201
	"The Class Clown"	202
	School Choice	203
	Early Reading	205
	Grades	206
	Chaotic Classrooms	207
	Year-Round Schools	207
	Homework	208
	Underachievers	210
	Memorization	213
	Teaching Respect for Other Ethnic Groups	214
	Homeschooling	215
	Voluntary School Prayer	218
11	Sex Education: Where, When, and How	221
	Impact of Sex Education Programs	221
	Coed Sex Education	222
	Parental Involvement in Sex Education	223
	Timing of Sex Education	227
	Encouraging Abstinence	229
	When to End Formal Sex Education	230
	"Safe Sex"	231
	Obstacles to Abstinence Education	233
	What's Missing from Sex Education Programs	235
	Teaching Morality	236
	Sexually Transmitted Diseases	237
12	Spiritual Life of the Family	243
	Cultural Influences	243
	Parents' Responsibility to Teach Spiritual Values	245
	Family Devotions	246
	Conceptualizing God for Children	246
	A Critical Period in Spiritual Training	248
	Santa Claus	249
	Halloween	250
	"Forcing" Religion on Children	251
	Rebellion against Childhood Spiritual Training	252
	Praying for the Spiritual Welfare of Children	257
	Dealing with Past Mistakes	264
	The Role of Grandparents	265
13	Sibling Rivalry	269
	The Inevitability of Rivalry	269
	Minimizing the Rivalry	270
	Fighting to Attract Attention	274
	Establishing a "System of Justice"	275
14	Help for Single Parents and Stepparents	279
	Encouragement for Single Parents	279
	Blended Families	281
	Time Away	283
	Challenges of Noncustodial Parents	284
	Help for Single Mothers Raising Sons	285
	Visitation	286
	Helping Single Parents	287
15	Living with a Teenager	291
	Causes of Promiscuity	291
	Development Rates	293
	Challenges of Early Adolescence	294
	Power Issues	297
	Fatigue	303
	Self-Consciousness/Body Image	304
	Communication "Blackouts"	305
	Hormonal Influences	308
	Channeling Energy Positively	310
	Parental Influence on Smoking/Drug Abuse	311
	Masturbation	312
	Dating vs. "Courtship"	315
	Gender Roles	316
	Causes of Disrespectful Behavior	318
	Influences of Modern Music/Media	320
	Preparing Teens for Independence	323
	Picking Your Battles	325
	The Bottom Line on Surviving the Teen Years	329
	Absentee Fathers	329
	Creating a Father-Son Bond	330
	The Father-Daughter Relationship	333
	Mother-Daughter Friction	334
	Drawing the Line on Negative Behavior	336
	Teen Violence	337
	Motivating Teenagers	340
	Using Action, Not Anger	343
	Responding to a Teenage Pregnancy	345
	Symptoms of Drug Abuse	346
	Pros and Cons of "Privacy"	347
	Harmful Cultural Trends	348
	Moms at Home during Adolescence?	349
16	Building Self-Confidence in Children and Teens	353
	Causes of Low Self-Esteem	353
	Physical Attractiveness and Self-Esteem	354
	Intelligence and Self-Esteem	355
	Parental Influence in Self-Esteem	356
	Values That Support Self-Esteem	358
	The Influence of Painful Experiences	360
	The Influence of Toys and Culture	361
	Challenges of the Middle Child	363
	Negative Expectations	364
	Mental Blocks	365
	The Role of Teachers	366
	Teaching Empathy	370
	Self-Esteem and Sibling Rivalry	371
	Early Teen Issues	372
	Accepting Your Child's Basic Personality	373
	Humor vs. Ridicule	374
17	The Delicate Art of Letting Go	375
	Impact of the Empty Nest on Fathers	375
	Parental Reluctance to Let Go	376
	When Adult Children Return Home	378
	Easing the Transition to College	379
	Endnotes	381
	Index	387
	Index of Scripture References	409