Rating: 
Summary: By far the best parenting book I have ever read
Review: Barbara Coloroso is right on target. This book has helped me understand and respect my son more. Yes, I am still the adult and he the child but I know that I will be able to raise him into a competent, caring, and contributing member of society with my own skills and the guidance of this book. IF only we could all treat each other the way Ms. Coloroso recommends treating our children. I also found this to be one of the few parenting books out there that explained how to apply these principles to the youngest children (even toddlers). Thank you for this book!
Rating: 
Summary: Too contrived to be useful
Review: Barbara Coloroso's comparisons between the "three types of families" is painfully contrived and unrealistic, serving only to provide "straw men" against which she can positively compare her "backbone family". This limits the useful applicability of much of her book. On the other hand, some of her examples of how to deal with common situations (most memorably, mild rebellion and "tattling") are well-thought-out and well-described and useful applications of clear insight and common sense to child-rearing situations. These individual gems of wisdom are, unfortunately, rather sparsely presented throughout the morass of overblown philosophy. So while the book is not without merit, I cannot recommend it.
Rating:
Summary: Right on Target
Review: Barbara has done an excellent job. This books has help me help my children be the best they can be. Teaching self confidence and self awareness, giving kids the tools they need to live. I love this book.
Rating: 
Summary: Everyone should read this
Review: Barbara lists the different type of parents, and gives examples of eahc.
There is the Jellyfish family
The brickwall family
and the back bone family.
We all need to learn to be the back bone fmaily.
The only thing I did not like was her sleeping advice. I do not agree with locking children out of the bedroom.
Rating:
Summary: An Extraordinary Gift to Parents Everywhere!!
Review: Colorosa's book is the best! She gives a realistic, practical approach to dealing with kids of all ages, along with helpful techniques to do the job without losing your own sanity. Parents, teachers and anyone working with kids can learn a lot from this useful book. It makes a great gift for any parent!! Read it without delay!
Rating:
Summary: Outstanding philosophy about parenting
Review: Coloroso knows her stuff. This book contains a fabulous foundation for family discipline and good behavior. I'd give it 5 stars, except it's a bit wordy, and takes some digestion to figure out how to make it work for you. I'd also recommend a new book called Perfect Parenting by Elizabeth Pantley.
Rating: 
Summary: Unreliable
Review: GREAT, GREAT, GREAT book. Barbara is my favorite author. I even saw her speak at a charity event when she was in our city and she is the best one to follow for the PROPER way to parent. Being that she is a teacher and counsellor she has dealt with all kinds. Barbara also wrote The Bully the Bullied and the Bystander. Another excellent book. She really respects the voice of a child. Read them both you won't reget it. I only wish every parent & teacher had a copy. The world would be a better enviroment for our precious children. Our children need this kind of nourishment and yes KIDS ARE WORTH IT!!!!!!!!!!
Rating:
Summary: Critics are missing the point -- read the book!
Review: Having just heard Ms. Coloroso speak, I can say with certainty that her critics here online who claim she teaches kids new-age ideas and is anti-family discipline are wrong. Her emphasis is emphatically on teaching kids to be respectful of themselves, people in authority, and their communities. She says that if you teach kids to do what you say just because you say so, they'll grow up to do what people in their peer groups do because they can't think for themselves. But you're still the parent and the one who draws the line in matters of security, morality, and legality. One of her shorthand references shows the differences between punishment and discipline. Her idea of discipline is to show kids what they've done wrong, and give them ways to solve the problems they've created, but allow them to keep their dignity. If your idea of traditional discipline involves shaming children when they make honest mistakes or "explaining" decisions by saying, "Because I said so, that's why," then she's not your kind of disciplinarian. But if you want to teach your children to think for themselves so that they can grow up to be less influenced by their peer groups and work well with other people at home and in their communities, her theories are worth a look. And as for the London reader who says the book is "Typically American," I suggest that person spend some time familiarizing himself or herself with the styles of parenting that actually prevail in this country. If her attitude were typically American, there'd be no need for this book.
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Summary: It's my bible.
Review: I am studying child and youth work at Fanshawe college and we use this book as one of our texts. The priciples that Coloroso teaches seem too easy but it is amazing how emotionally ditrubed children in group homes respond to her methods. This book is my bible!
Rating:
Summary: Good ideas!
Review: I bought this book before I was ever pregnant. I found a lot of great material in it presented very clearly. I have recommended this book to many friends and all have found it tremendously useful. I like its clarity and the fact that once the three family models are understood it is possible to read any section in the book. I didn't have to read them sequentially to get the info I needed.
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