Becoming the Parent You Want to Be: A Sourcebook of Strategies for the First Five Years

I gift it again and again. Focuses on fulfilling needs and building trust for strong relationships and families.

I'm extremely happy with this book! I'm reading it little by little and I know I will get back to it many times. The authors start with the premise that there's no one-fits-all advise or theory for successful parenting because each parent comes with a complex and huge cultural and personal background. The guidance from this book is therefore very respectful to the diversity and individuality of each parent; and offers excellent principles, examples and small but helpful reflexion questions at the end of every key topic. I can't recommend it enough.

As a mother to 3 young children, this book has not left my bedside. Whether it's tantrums, conflict resolution, or managing the balancing act, one look through the index gives me the page number(s) for the answers that I seek and steps to handle the situation in a way I will be proud of. Frustration turns to understanding and a feeling of competence. I love that this book explains what is going on from our children's perspective and their developmental stages, and has practical testimonials of other parents (so we know we are not alone!). This book has given me the tools I need to navigate the difficult situations with my kids and to "become the parent I want to be." I have bought at least 3 copies of this book for friends who are expecting and recommend this book before any other to new parents.

This is a wonderful book. It's full of useful information. The authors are open and accepting of a variety of parenting practices and styles. The aim really seems to be about helping parents figure out what strategies make sense for their children, their families, and their values. The book does tend to read like a textbook, and it is very long, but I think it makes a wonderful resource book to refer to when parenting challenges arise.

I took my time reading this book. I read tiny sections every day for about a year and a half. Nothing longer than an Instagram post, really. If you're a very busy parent, that's one way to digest a book! A lot of these topics are covered in other books that I've read, but this is the only one that includes it all in one place. If you want to understand your child and parent from a place that honors your child, then I highly recommend this book!

This book is brilliant to help you understand the world of the little ones through their eyes and truly teach emotional intelligence, not only to the kids, but also to parents. It's helped me have much healthier dynamics with my 3 year old and enjoy parenting a lot more. I wish I had discovered it earlier.

This book can be refreshing to read, fun, informative and even personal. It makes you think about you and your child rather than giving you advice how to be perfect. It is nice that families of different ethnic origin are pictured - it makes the world more round and gives a clear message. It's readable for specific topics or chapter after chapter, you don't need to know the last few sequences to understand the one that really interests you. Two thumbs up for 'Becoming the parent you want to be'.

Laura and Janis have been there, done it, and not without the struggle and strife that allows them to be real. The book is incredibly huge, tough for a mom of a 1 and 2 year old. Yet each page is full of wisdom, humor, reassurance, and some good old-fashioned know-how. Also, while Laura doesn't disclose in this book that she experienced abuse as a child, she has in her other works. I say this to say, she's overcome very real hardships and struggles to give us real words.

One of the best books on parenting. Very practical books, gives not only theory but mostly examples ,explains so many situations and the way you can understand and communicate with a kid. HIGHLY HIGHLY recommend.

Excellent book

Non, ce livre ne m’a pas appris à être le parent que je souhaitais être, malgré ses 600 pages, que j’ai lu. Conçu comme une longue discussion entre parents sur des thèmes concernant bébé et jeune enfant. Tout le monde donne son opinion. Tout le monde a une idée. Des fois ça marche, la plupart du temps non. Pour certains ça peut être rassurant de savoir que tout le monde est complétement perdu.

This book is super long and kind of old, but it should be required reading for every single parent out there. It has everything in it, from the science of early childhood development to lots of concrete examples and testimonials from diverse families. It is easy to read and interesting.

I did not like this book... I found it was very modern parenting...basically 'let your kid do whatever they want'...I was especially shocked with the bits on sexual education. Not a book for conservative parents who want their children to grow up with some innocence.