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Summary: Shows how parents can understand and help children socially
Review: After watching a feature documentary on the power of social relationships to shape a child's life into adulthood, I was already interested in learning more. This book filled the bill, especially the sections which revealed how children use power (and even bullying) to both include some children and exclude others. I think most of us remember the playground bullies but what this book did was show how parents can help to change bullying behavior, give their children skills to handle bullies and lessen the damaging effects of their behavior.
This book focuses on far more than bullies and those who purchase it will find it filled with rich insights into the social world of children and how they view their friendships and connections with other children.
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Summary: This book is important.
Review: Alice Miller (author of The Drama of the Gifted Child and Breaking Down the Walls of Silence) has long emphasized that if we are serious about solving society's problems, we must focus on how we treat children --- as individual families and as a cultural. This book is an excellent contribution toward that end.From thought-provoking observations to practical suggestions about solutions, Best Friends, Worst Enemies is an effective education about social problems that begin in childhood, but do not end in childhood. One point the authors make that interests me greatly is that when one child is being bullied by others, the majority of children witnessing the abuse will either do nothing to intervene or they will join in with the bullying. If you think that is not a reflection of the society in which we live, think again. As a psychotherapist and author (Embracing Fear, HarperSanFrancisco) who emphasizes personal responsibility and facing fears head on, I hope that more than just parents and educators will read this book. I think there is something here for us all to think about --- no, to do something about.
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Summary: Lighten up, parents!
Review: Don't sweat the small stuff! Relax. Take a chill pill. That is the important lesson this marvelous book imparts. Kids need their parents as moral and common sense guides, but kids need to learn their own lessons, too, from romantic bonding on down. With casual elegance, Thompson and Grace attempt to steer parents through the threacherous shoals of overwrought concern, fear and paranoia when it comes to raising children. Thompson's clinical expertise and Grace's mastery of simple clarity make this a hit. Now, I just hope the authors come through Chicago!!
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Summary: AN INSIDE LOOK AT THE SOCIAL ASPECT OF CHILD DEVELOPMENT
Review: For parents with a desire to learn more about the psychological development of their child and the profound impact of peer pressure, this book contains some valuable information. The book deals with various aspects of development such as rejection, neglect and acceptance. The book helps the reader to understand how those elements can have a psychological influence on the child and their social interaction with others. An extremely important section of the book deals with the school system itself and how changes need to be made to better adapt the learning environment to a childs emotional needs if the child is to development in a positive and socially acceptable manner. The book has been well researched and would be of particular interest not only to parents, but anyone invovled with the care and education of children.
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Summary: AN INSIDE LOOK AT THE SOCIAL ASPECT OF CHILD DEVELOPMENT
Review: For parents with a desire to learn more about the psychological development of their child and the profound impact of peer pressure, this book contains some valuable information. The book deals with various aspects of development such as rejection, neglect and acceptance. The book helps the reader to understand how those elements can have a psychological influence on the child and their social interaction with others. An extremely important section of the book deals with the school system itself and how changes need to be made to better adapt the learning environment to a childs emotional needs if the child is to development in a positive and socially acceptable manner. The book has been well researched and would be of particular interest not only to parents, but anyone invovled with the care and education of children.
Rating: 
Summary: Not as interesting as I'd hoped
Review: I guess I was expecting something more in-depth and less instructional. I am sure this is a fine book for a parent who isn't clued into how some kids are popular and some kids have no friends at all, but I was looking for a more psychological perspective. I did find the short sections about infants and toddlers very interesting. I think there should have been less emphasis on popularity and what it means to children. The section about people acting a certain way because of a group mentality rather than personal morals captured my attention.
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Summary: If you have children, or work with them, this is for you!
Review: Michael Thompson, Ph.D. is the author of the bestseller "Raising Cain: Protecting the Emotional Life of Boys. His latest, written with compassion, humor, and practicality, is an insightful look into the sometimes mysterious world of child development. As a special education teacher, and soon to be school counselor, I have long held that those who have children, and work with children need a keener understanding on why children do the things they do, if we are to care for them, and serve them better. This book will go along way in fostering this understanding among parents, teachers, and practioners because it helps us understand how a child views her world. Written in conjuction with journalist Catherine O'Neill Grace and Lawrence Cohen, Ph.D. "Best Friends, Worst Enemies..." provides such a keen insight into the social lives of children, it is almost as if it was written by a child, because they have such an excellent perspective.
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Summary: If you have children, or work with them, this is for you!
Review: Michael Thompson, Ph.D. is the author of the bestseller "Raising Cain: Protecting the Emotional Life of Boys. His latest, written with compassion, humor, and practicality, is an insightful look into the sometimes mysterious world of child development. As a special education teacher, and soon to be school counselor, I have long held that those who have children, and work with children need a keener understanding on why children do the things they do, if we are to care for them, and serve them better. This book will go along way in fostering this understanding among parents, teachers, and practioners because it helps us understand how a child views her world. Written in conjuction with journalist Catherine O'Neill Grace and Lawrence Cohen, Ph.D. "Best Friends, Worst Enemies..." provides such a keen insight into the social lives of children, it is almost as if it was written by a child, because they have such an excellent perspective.
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Summary: Children's social lives
Review: Outatanding book! It has valuable information for adults concerning what our kids social lives are like and how to help them when there is a problem. Children can be so cruel. The book sheds light on a world we as adults don't really understand. This book is well written and easy to read. I highly recommend it!
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Summary: AN INSIGHTFUL LOOK AT CHILDHOOD DEVELOPMENT!
Review: There are few things more disheartening than tales of bullying or watching your child be emotionally hurt by other children. The thoughtless teacher who allows other children to choose their team mates in activities can emotionally devestate a child who is chosen last. The child who is continually being physically threatened and tormented can leave a child in absolute terror of going to school. A birthday party that is eagerly anticipated by your child only to find that one, if anyone, actually shows up for the event is heartbreaking. As children, most of us have experienced at least one of these horrific experiences, but when it happens to your own child, it can be equally as traumatic for the parent as the child. The hurt and devestation can magnify if the child is low on self-confidence and self-esteem in the first place. As a counsellor, I found this book gave an insightful outlook and delivers support to parents whose child is a victim of vicious, reandom acts of physical and emotional cruelty by their peers. Families today come is all structures and sizes, but regardless of whether it is a one parent or two parent family, one of the best actions a parent can take is to ensure there child is raised in a loving, nurturing, understanding, encouraging family environment. This helps boost self-esteem, confidence and emotional strength. For any parent who feels their child is the victim of random acts of cruelty by others, this book will provide a clearer understanding of the ways this situation can be handled. It is an excellent book and highly recommended reading.
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