Leonard Sax: How Our Parenting Practices are Hurting Our Kids by Treating Them Like Adults

Eilish Dant: Super easy read, easy to understand, amazing solutions, and great insight. I will be telling everyone about this book!

United States on Aug 23, 2023

Alexis J Kereakoglow: This book is incredible! I have two small children (5 and 4) and often find myself confused by what is expected of me as a parent. I also find that when it is clear what is socially expected I often question how healthy it is for my kids. If you find yourself in that situation then this book is for you!!! Honestly it should be required reading for all parents! It puts the modern parenting philosophy in its rightful place, trash bin, and tell you how to get back to normal with your child and not let them walk all over you and disrespect you. You want to take back control and teach your kids the right way to live and approach life then read this book! It is outstanding! I will be recommending it to all of my friends with children or planning to have them.

United States on Jun 26, 2023

Joseph Campbell: As a pastor and Christian school administrator, I found that Dr. Sax "hit the nail on the head!" Many of Dr. Sax' conclusions have Biblical truth at their core. This book should be required reading for all parents and teachers!

United States on Mar 08, 2023

Stavros: This book should be mandatory reading for all parents and adults. Very informative and enjoyable read.

Netherlands on Feb 23, 2022

Bloodedshoes: The book to read is truly amazing, leonard sax has always been my fav author. And the book as quality is great , the pages are crisp and nice. I got the hardcover, it was great.

India on May 13, 2021

FP: A commentary on modern American parenting, less of a how-to book. My biggest takeaway: how important conscientiousness and self control are for children's later success. Some topics might be controversial... example: finish your vegetables or no dessert actually goes against what most dietitians recommend re: picky eating (you decide what to offer and when, your child decides to eat it or not, no bribery or special emphasis on certain foods... just don't offer dessert that isn't fruit regularly).

Canada on Jul 14, 2020

Petisa: The book "Collapse of Parenting" is an excellent book. I am still reading it then will pass it on to my adult children.
We should not forget that growing up with strict discipline has serve most of us well. The schools then were also equipped with discipline, and not much interference from parents who were so lenient and scared of it.

A must read book. I do recommend it to those interested in learning more about how to love your kids.

Canada on Oct 04, 2019

A. Mann: My Top 5 Takeaways from this great book:

1. Teach your child people skills
2. Stop sedating your kids with powerful psychiatric drugs
3. Spend time with your child
4. Teach your kids humility
5. Educate desire in your child

Top 5 Quotes:

1. “The job of the parent is to teach self-control. To explain what is and what is not acceptable. To establish boundaries and enforce consequences”

2. “Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it. In other words, if you compel a child to behave virtuously, then when he is an adult he will continue to behave virtuously.”

3. “Train up children in the way they should go, and when they grow up and move away from home, you will have improved the odds.”

4. “People often believe that character causes action, but when it comes to producing moral children, we need to remember that action also shapes character. - Adam Grant

5. The average teenager spends 70 hours/week in front of a screen

Below, in a nutshell, are his best points:

-A shift today towards “soft parenting”
-The average teenager spends 70 hours/week in...

United States on Jun 25, 2017

Doc Smo: Doc Smo here. I have an exciting new pedcast for you today, a book review pedcast, that I hope will get you revved up to read and digest a new parenting book by Dr. Leonard Sax, a family doctor and clinical psychology. The book is called The Collapse of Parenting, and I must say that I think you will find it quite thought provoking. This is first of Dr. Sax’s book I have read and after reading it, I am excited to get his other books, Boys Adrift and Girls on the Edge. More on these in future pedcasts.

Here is a quick list of some of the problems Dr. Sax sees with current parenting practices in the U.S., as outlined in The Collapse of Parenting:

Parents are failing to teach a culture of respect to children.
Parents are treating their children like adults rather than children; consequently parents are having difficulty setting effective limits for their children.
Today’s American children are more fragile physically and psychologically than children have been in the past.
Attention and mood problems in children have become very common among U.S. children, as has the use of psychoactive medications
Far more children have low motivation and drive than in...

United States on Jan 21, 2017

S. Kedar: I have been a teacher for 30 years and this is an alarming situation I have see arise over the last decade. Parents who are loving and caring, but trying to be their children's friend instead of parent. It is right that children have a voice and learn to make decisions by sharing in the decision making process, but ultimately parents have the knowledge, experience and mature thought processes which mean that sometimes form guidance and over riding of children's demands is necessary.
Children have many friends, but hopefully only one set of parents. They really need parents!

This book is very American, but has an important message to convey.

United Kingdom on Mar 11, 2016