Love, Laughter and Parenting Book

Those who were inspired by the authors' world-wide bestsellers The Secret of Happy Children and Raising Boys will love this book. Written in the same approachable and friendly style, though broader in its sweep, it's a beautiful mix of helpful, even touching, text and dazzling photographs. Peppered with pearls on every aspect of parenting "in the precious years from birth to six", Love, Laughter and Parenting is a refreshing break from some of the more solemn and dictatorial childcare books written in the past. Leaving the more obscure medical details to other worthwhile books, this one unashamedly encourages parents to relax and enjoy the experience. The Biddulphs focus less on the urgent nitty-gritty of childcare (though the basics are covered satisfactorily and with confidence) and more on the relational issues of parenting such as learning to communicate with your child and nurturing them as caring, intelligent human beings. Chapter headings are: Parenting and why it matters, Are we ready for a baby?, Babe in arms, The mobile baby, Toddlers! (for that topic see also the excellent and abundantly human Parentalk: the toddler years by Steve Chalke), The special job of father (nearly up there with The Sixty Minute Father by Rob Parsons) and The pre-school year. The text also includes amusing and light-hearted sections such as the so-called "ready or not test" and the best of popular Internet advice on "preparing for parenthood". Here is a short extract from "table manners": Hollow out a melon and make a small hole in the side. Suspend it from the ceiling and swing it from side to side. Get a bowl of soggy cereal and attempt to spoon it into the swinging melon while making aeroplane noises. Continue until half the cereal is gone. Tip the rest into your lap, making sure that a lot falls down your legs and onto the floor. Now you know what it's like to spoon-feed an infant. But for all the fun, this is serious too. There is a brief but essential guide to avoiding cot death and wise words on preventing child abuse. For many parent, the advice on how to both love and discipline a young child will be invaluable. --Rebecca PickeringRead More