Parenting That Works: Building Skills That Last a Lifetime

Being a parent is probably the most important job many of us will ever have. We recognize that it is not enough to simply raise a child who does what he or she is told or gets good grades. In this book, clinical psychologist Dr. Edward Christophersen and his colleague, child psychologist Dr. Susan Mortweet, show parents how to raise their child to become the adult we'd all like to be--one who is happy and compassionate, confident but not aggressive, and able to make and keep friends.

They point out that from babyhood on through the school years, children learn these qualities by observing and interacting with their parents. In clearly written, easy-to-follow chapters, parents are shown how to model and reward positive behaviors and avoid the need for ineffective, punitive discipline.

Two key areas are covered in the book: building one's own skills as a parent, and then building one's child's competencies. Scores of practical examples show parents how to teach their children what is important in life, how to communicate clearly, and how to effectively discipline their child. Special parenting topics such as managing a child's behavior in public, monitoring TV, toys, and games, and handling fallout from divorce are also discussed. Readers then learn how to build their child's basic skills by teaching him or her how to quickly get over upsets and how to play independently.

The authors also dispense wise advice on the all-too-common problems associated with bedtime and sleeping, toilet training, aggression, and tantrums. This book is a great resource that parents will find reassuring, comprehensive, and thought-provoking.

Edward R. Christophersen, PhD, ABPP, is a professor of pediatrics at the University of Missouri at Kansas City School of Medicine and a staff psychologist at the Children's Mercy Hospitals & Clinics in Kansas City. He received his doctorate in developmental and child psychology from the University of Kansas in 1970 and held faculty appointments in pediatrics at the University of Kansas Medical Center and at the Departments of Psychology and Human Development in Lawrence, KS. In 1984, Dr. Christophersen was elected a fellow of APA Division 12 (Society of Clinical Psychology). In 1997, he was board certified in clinical psychology by the American Board of Professional Psychology. In 1998, he was elected an honorary fellow of the American Academy of Pediatrics for his unique and substantial contributions to child health. In 1974, Dr. Christophersen established a distinguished research and clinical program in behavioral pediatrics at the Department of Pediatrics, University of Kansas Medical Center, which he moved to the Children's Mercy Hospital in 1988. His research and clinical findings have been published in more than 190 journal articles, edited books, book chapters, and conference proceedings. He has popularized treatments that work with children in more than 430 television and radio interviews and more than 320 print interviews. He has served as a reviewer or technical advisor on many federal grant study sections and task forces, including the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force, Bright Futures (American Academy of Pediatrics), and the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition, Primary Care Version. He has offered more than 500 talks at continuing education workshops and symposia at international, national, and regional meetings for trainees, psychologists, and pediatricians.

Susan Mortweet VanScoyoc, PhD, ABPP, is a licensed psychologist in primary care at Pediatric Associates of Iowa City and Coralville, serving families in southeastern Iowa. She is also on the faculty of the College of Social Sciences at the University of Phoenix. Dr. VanScoyoc received her doctorate in developmental and child psychology from the University of Kansas in 1996 and previously held a faculty appointment as associate professor of pediatrics at the University of Missouri at Kansas City School of Medicine. She was also a staff psychologist at the Children's Mercy Hospitals & Clinics, providing clinical care for children and families in the medical inpatient and outpatient settings. Dr. VanScoyoc was board certified in cognitive and behavioral psychology by the American Board of Professional Psychology in 2003.