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Find out moreThe world is changing rapidly, with technology advancing at breakneck speed and the constant bombardment of social media. The changes in the world are difficult to navigate as it is without the struggle of parenting. Our featured parenting books are here to offer some help. Whether it is an insight into the brave new world of technology through the eyes of a teenager, or perhaps information on the latest trends to keep you in the know. This selection hopes to offer you the information you need to help you do the best you can.
Your Baby Skin to Skin is a reassuring common-sense companion for new parents. There’s no such thing as ‘normal baby behaviour’ and no baby is going to fit in exactly with your expectations from before they’re born. In Your Baby Skin to Skin, midwife Rachel Fitz-Desorgher teaches you how to trust your baby’s instincts – and yours – from your baby’s birth and throughout their first year. The book explores your baby’s basic needs – food, comfort, love, care, sleep etc. – and how these vary and develop as your baby grows. It focuses on the fact that there is no ‘normal’. Your baby isn’t born with preconceived ideas or expectations – just survival reflexes and instincts, the same as all babies since primitive times, no matter how modern living has advanced since then. The author describes how you can use this knowledge to learn, understand, nourish and care for your baby. She explains clearly why babies may act in a certain way and how you can cope more easily – letting your baby take the lead. The book is written in an easy-to-read non-judgemental style with a sense of authority but not patronising, using realistic Q&As and easy-to-read practical explanations – as if you’re chatting to a midwife in the same room. There’s a lot packed within its pages, including separate chapters on ‘suckling made really easy’ (simplifying breastfeeding and dealing with any issues that may arise) and ‘suckling the bottle-feeding way’ (with details about making up feeds, choosing formula milks and how much to give your baby). Your Baby Skin to Skin makes perfect sense – taking away some of the stresses of new parenthood to put minds to rest. An ideal gift for new parents or parents-to-be!
Award winning author Katherine Rundell is as passionate about reading children’s books as she is about writing them. In this brief but and perfectly structured handbook she encourages all readers to think about the particular qualities of children’s books and about the special experience of reading as a child – which she remembers clearly. Drawing on her deep knowledge of children’s stories and supporting her arguments with endorsing quotes from writers of all kinds she sets out her defence of the book’s title in brief sections. She is as much at home in the factual – ‘On how children’s fiction came to be’ and ‘On children’s fiction today’ as the more personal which reflect her own views including ‘On wild hunger and heroic optimism’ and ‘The galvanic kick of children’s books’.
This is a book which any adult who deals with children, and not just teachers and others who work in school settings, would find enlightening, thought provoking and revealing. As we learn from the little snippets from the school reports of Paul Dix at the end of each chapter, the author has direct experience of being one of the ‘bad boys’ and now has more than 25 years of working to transform the most challenging behaviour in schools, referral units and colleges to call upon. As a 14-year-old he vowed he would change the way adults deal with behaviour and I defy any reader not to rethink their own strategies as a result of reading this book. Responsible adults should be just that – always in control of themselves before they attempt to take control of others. But this book is nothing to do with blaming teachers. Paul Dix is angry but he is angry with the lack of proper training in behaviour management and angry with the unrelenting drive for ‘progress’, pleasing Ofsted and analysing data which is destroying any ethos of pastoral care. Here chapter by chapter he asks hard hitting questions about school policies and behaviours and shows how these impact on students and often in a very counter- productive way. He writes with humour and the occasional frank expletive, he shares personal anecdotes, observations and tried and tested strategies backed up by theory, case studies and international examples. Each chapter concludes with three helpful checklists: Testing, Watch Out For and Nuggets which sum up, encourage and act as a quick aide memoire going forward. Ultimately the author’s message is about consistency and kindness. “ Visible consistency with visible kindness allows exceptional behaviour to flourish” This is a genuine must read that can genuinely transform schools and as his many examples show where improved behaviour leads, improved attainment follows. ~ Joy Court You can also access When the Adults Change, Everything Changes on Audible as an audio book here.
'You can be whatever you want to be, but that's nowhere near as important as knowing that you can be exactly who you are' Things My Son Needs To Know About The World is a tender and funny series of letters from a new father to his son about one of life's most daunting experiences: parenthood. In between the sleep-obsessed lows and oxytocin-fuelled highs, Backman takes a step back to share his own experience of fatherhood and how he navigates such unchartered territory. Part memoir, part manual, part love letter to his son, this book relays the big and the small lessons in life. As he watches his son take his first steps into the world, he teaches him how to navigate both love and IKEA and tries to explain why, sometimes, his dad might hold his hand just a little bit too tightly. This is an irresistible and insightful collection from one of the world's most beautiful storytellers.
'Funny and frank' DAWN O'PORTER 'Truly brilliant' EMMA GANNON Two mothers. Two daughters. One school place. Imogen and Lily are old friends - they've shared hangovers, unsuitable boyfriends and wild nights out together. But now they're mums, and their partying days are behind them. When a place comes up at one of the best primary schools in the area, both women want it for their daughters. From faking religious beliefs to bogus break-ups, Imogen and Lily will go to any lengths to secure the perfect school for their children - and so will all the other mothers. Will their friendship survive the strain? Will their marriages take the pressure? And when a sexy new vicar arrives on the scene, will the mothers' keep focus for long enough to keep their eyes on the prize? A hilarious, heartwarming read, perfect for fans of Sophie Kinsella and Fiona Gibson.
Every parent wants their child to be happy and every parent wants to avoid screwing them up. But how do you achieve that? In this absorbing, clever and funny book, renowned psychotherapist Philippa Perry tells us what really matters and what behaviour it is important to avoid - the vital dos and don'ts of parenting. Instead of mapping out the 'perfect' plan, Perry offers a big-picture look at the elements that lead to good parent-child relationships. This refreshing, judgement-free book will help you to: · Understand how your own upbringing may affect your parenting · Accept that you will make mistakes and learn what you can do about them · Break negative cycles and patterns · Handle your own and your child's feelings · Understand what different behaviours communicate Full of sage and sane advice, this is the book that every parent will want to read and every child will wish their parents had.
Born from Elaine Halligan’s experiences of raising her son Sam, each chapter in My Child is Different deals with a specific stage of childhood and development. The format is simple and easy to follow when reading the book from cover to cover, or locating a specific age or time frame. Elaine’s story in its own right is insightful and honest, allowing the reader to find out about Sam’s development and some of the obstacles that were faced by the entire family. The additional content from Melissa Hood deals specifically with the events in each chapter, any specific underlying causes as well as broader behaviour examples before efficiently providing a range of possible solutions or parenting changes that could help to provide a marked improvement. This book has something for everyone. The recollection of Elaine and Sam’s hard work and endurance is compelling; Melissa's helpful advice, explanations and techniques are perfect not only as parenting techniques but also as points for reflection for interacting with people in the world around you. In the Epilogue, Elaine states the ways that using positive parenting skills has made her more accepting and can help to get the best out of everyone. I would definitely recommend.
Babies & Toddlers for Men offers a fantastic ‘hands-on’ approach to parenthood, written by a journalist dad, covering the good, the bad and the demanding. This practical guide takes new dads on an emotional rollercoaster journey, from the moment of their baby’s birth to having an inquisitive chatty toddler roaming around. Through nappies, sleep deprivation and feeding choices to teething, crawling and walking, playing and first aid, there isn’t much (if anything) this book doesn’t cover. While this is a ‘man’s guide’ to fatherhood, it’s also about (and for) the whole family – dealing with baby while also supporting (and understanding) their partner’s needs. The book includes ‘Words from your fellow fathers’, offering not just practical tips but also honest comments about dads’ emotions at different stages of their child’s life. The book is written in a fun, chatty and straight-talking style. It’s split into sections according to the baby’s age, so Months 0-3, Months 4-6, Months 7-9 and so on, which makes it very easy to navigate. The factual content is based on scientific research and official guidance (references are listed at the end of the book, along with a bibliography and index). At the end of each chapter, there’s ‘Your progress report’, which summarises how baby has developed and how mum and dad are likely to be feeling too. The book emphasises (very well) that there’s no ‘single approach’ to parenthood and also that it’s normal for dads to feel overwhelmed and exhausted at times. I really love this book and wish it had been around when my two teenagers were born.
As the parent of a son who intends to go to university later this year, A Guide to Uni Life is a welcome read – and a reminder of my own university days. The book covers all of the excitement and enthusiasm, fears and worries of any new student as they venture into the unknown, often living away from home for the first time. This book covers pretty much everything a student will need – and want – to know, from what to pack before they go and how to make the most of freshers’ week to managing finances, halls and housing and dealing with any health needs. There is information on cooking and food hygiene (including some simple recipes to get students started) and, of course, the reason why students will be at university in the first place – to study. A Guide to Uni Life provides realistic insight into what to expect, with useful tips from current and previous students. It’s fun to read, well-planned and well-structured, making it easy to dip into, and provides helpful reassurance for students (and their parents). It covers topics that students may not even consider, such as security and safety, and budgeting and finding work. There’s also a chapter on when things don’t go to plan – the wrong university, the wrong course, the wrong accommodation, and so on – so that students realise they’re not alone and help is available rather than panic instead. If you know someone going to university, this would be a useful gift – ideally read before they go so they can plan in advance, but helpful once they’ve arrived too.
The world is changing rapidly, with technology advancing at breakneck speed and the constant bombardment of social media. The changes in the world are difficult to navigate as it is without the struggle of parenting. Our featured parenting books are here to offer some help. Whether it is an insight into the brave new world of technology through the eyes of a teenager, or perhaps information on the latest trends to keep you in the know. This selection hopes to offer you the information you need to help you do the best you can.