Since almost a third of todays american parents are opting for onechild families, only children have become a popular subject for books in the past year ellie. The joys, myths and challenges of raising an only childnew york. The second half of the book deals with parenting an only child and is a very good resource for those who have already made the decision. Onlychild families are becoming the new traditional family, for a number of reasons, says social psychologist and author susan newman, ph. By a childcare authority and mother of an only child, this. She has plenty of time and energy to play with her 3yearold daughter, grace. Nancy is the founder and director of parent guidance workshops, a renowned keynote speaker, and author of four best selling books on raising children. The concept of writing this book through the eyes of a 6 year old was brilliant. The only child project is a community for parents raising an only child. Raising an only child gives you a superclose relationship with them. Raise a happy only child parent guidance workshops. The author is almost pushy about how raising an only child is the only way to parent. In her 2011 book, the case for the only child, she writes that many women are having children later in life, and that more and more families are concerned about the cost of raising children.
For couples who are already raising an only child, or for those who are exploring the option, parenting an only child offers encouraging clarity and singular. Jan 31, 2012 parenting an only child comes with plenty of perks. The reasons given for this sad prediction tend to be three. Focused on temperament and child development, this parenting book helps you lay groundwork for strategies that will teach your kid responsibility and build character, without the anger, nagging or bribery. In her book one and only, journalist lauren sandler, an only child and mother of one, takes on these stereotypes and explains the joys of raising just one. Why you are the way you are revell, only children can be so logical, scholarly, and straight. And more american parents are pondering the only child, because more american parents are raising them. For couples who are already raising an only child, or for those who are exploring the option, parenting an only child offers encouraging clarity and singular insight. I am the mother of an only child and have a difficult time finding any information about only children, especially parenting.
If you have just one kid or your kid is just sick of their siblings at the moment, here some terrific kids books that really show what it means to be an empowered. This is a place where you share your stories, spread the love, discuss issues, and find solutions to parenting. Harper collins useful material for parents, with an us slant. If youre seeking an owners manual book on raising your children to be responsible and ready for the real world one day, this is it. Lauren sandler grew up as an only child, never giving it much thought until she became a mother and decided she was happy raising one kid. In the book s most trying section, she presents research and testimonies from parents of only children and from.
Susan newman lets you know that far from being damaged, only children. We had the chance to speak with susan newman on our radio show radio health journal about the challenges and triumphs of raising only child. The joys and challenges of raising your one and only a clear and helpful guide to parenting the only child. The reader understands things that he cant possibly fathom at his age. I felt the author truly captured a child s view of the events his fears, guilt and loss. Deborah siegel, phd, coeditor of only child this book, like everything lauren sandler writes, is lush and riveting. Raising the only child hardcover october 1, 1975 by murray kappelman author 5. My daughter was born at 28 weeks due to an emergency csection as a result of my chronic hypertension. Only child is a book i was hesitant to read, because it is told from the perspective of a young child, however, any concerns i had on this front were for nothing. Having an only child gives you a mature, diligent, and conscientious little perfectionistbut it also comes with some tough parenting moments. Sep 22, 2010 useful book for parents and by a british researcher, somewhat polemical in saying the only child experience is not different, and unfortunately out of print.
Newmans book is based on her personal experience of raising an only child. Being one, loving one, understanding one, raising one sifford, darrell on. This is book is part of a series of the best little books about child development. The topic is, of course, timely weve been talking a lot about this and i knew the book would be thoughtprovoking. Personal narratives were piled one on top of another. Apr 10, 2017 there are perks to being an only child yay, no handmedowns but some downsides, too. A type of family that has always interested me is the one with a single child.
However, formatting rules can vary widely between applications and fields of interest or study. The best parenting books to best help you raise your child. In her new book one and only, the writer lauren sandler describes what. Given that about one in five american families now have just one child, this seems like a good time to question the misconceptions about only children and the dangers of raising a child. I love books that present good news most people dont know about.
Hirshpasek pointed out, whether youre an only child or you have tons of siblings around, knowing that theres a hug waiting on the other end when everything else has been. Theres a certain look that only children get when they reveal that they. The focus of the book, however, is on dissecting the research surrounding the myth of the lonely, selfish, maladjusted only child. A guide for parents and families white, carolyn, smith, kirsten on. Book recommendations only child experience and research. Suddenly, making the same choice her parents had made. As i set forth in my 2008 book, the future of your only child, i disagree. Jul 24, 2019 lauren sandler grew up as an only child, never giving it much thought until she became a mother and decided she was happy raising one kid.
In this book, susan newman gives her advice to parents about how to raise an only child and helps them defeat the only child stereotypes. Jun 11, 20 in her book one and only, journalist lauren sandler, an only child and mother of one, takes on these stereotypes and explains the joys of raising just one. The joys and challenges of raising your one and only susan newman, author. She spent about 3 months in the nicu but now is a healthy 16 month old, only with a slight delayed development. The adolescent only child and friendship psychology today. Darrell sifford, an only child himself, has drawn from countless case. The book was filled with firsthand accounts of being an only child, but rather than adding to the book, it was too distracting. What i wasnt expecting was that it was also emotional and vulnerable, sometimes in subtle ways, sometimes through sandlers anecdotes about being an only child raising an only child.
Being one, loving one, understanding one, raising one. From counseling with only child families and with only child adults, and from a lot of reading, i wrote the book the. I am an only child myself and have a son who i suspect might be an only child, and found the discussion of what that means in terms of emotional, social, and academic development to be fascinating. Through subsequent editions, kelley expanded and updated the book to reflect new developments in the bleeding disorders community. The book has something of room by emma donoghue, which is also narrated by a child, and both offer an interesting perspective in looking at a situation that, when described by an. The clinical psychologist linda blair, author of the book birth order, says there can be huge benefits to this family structure, as parents can focus all their time and energy on an only child. Because parenting presents one of lifes most complex challenges, we will never know for sure which precise combination of. Having an only child is not something that was on my radar, but it may be what is in our future.
By a child care authority and mother of an only child, this useful, knowledgeable book provides sound advice on creating an enriching environment thats stimulating and enjoyable for only children and their parents alike. Newman shares her knowledge and gives downtoearth advice, making this the most accessible, uptodate handbook of its kind. The joys and challenges of raising your one and only. He is also only a child and, like so many kids his age, inadvertently wise. Only children or people who have only children will find comfort in these pages, and parents generally should read it to understand their own choices.
This book is a labor of love, helping parents from birth to one year. In easily understood language, raising a child with hemophilia covers such topics as medical treatment, genetic transmission, child development, consumer issues, school and sports. From her book, we can glean the joys and challenges of raising only kidsparticularly if they turn out to be as high achievers as jeanpaul sartre, hans christian andersen, albert einstein or leonardo da vinci. Jun 17, 2014 the book is a thorough and interesting exploration of the many aspects of being and having an only child. Kappelman, a professor of pediatrics and author of what your child is all about, indicates how modern timesdissolution of the family, womens lib, the rise of divorce, etc. Aug 14, 2001 i would recommend this book to anyone thinking about having an only child. Sandler reports that only children are not lonelier, that they have higher levels of aspiration, motivation, and success, and that even when their parents divorce, they may well become better adjusted than kids. May 31, 2018 the clinical psychologist linda blair, author of the book birth order, says there can be huge benefits to this family structure, as parents can focus all their time and energy on an only child.
Based on the reallife experiences of carolyn whiteeditor of only child, parent, and educatorand hundreds of interviews with only children and parents of only children, the seven common sins of parenting an only child celebrates the special rewards and opportunities of the singlechild family and offers a practical and often humorous. This is a place where you share your stories, spread the love, discuss issues, and find solutions to parenting problems you might be facing. The key to raising a wellrounded child is to establish a solid support system at home so that she grows up satisfied with her achievements and ambitions. However, some only children become too reliant on parents for moral support, homework help, and entertainment and parents can. Rhiannon navins debut novel, only child received an overall score of 4. Presenting fascinating findings and family stories, dr. Offers sound and practical advice in areas potentially worrisome and problematic for parents of only children.