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Summary: Finally! A common sense approach to parenting!!
Review: I also had the pleasure of recently hearing Dr. Taylor lecture at my daughter's school. So much of what he said rang true, not just with the expectations placed on our children by school and society. But those we burden them with as parents. How well I remember striving to do perfect work at school, not for me, but to please my parents.In raising my two children, I have tried my best to encourage them to give their best effort, in school and in sports or other activities. It is so wonderful to read a book that not only reaffirms my parenting, but will be a useful guide as we face new challenges together. I look forward to giving a copy of this book to my children should they become parents. Undoubtedly they will find it as encouraging and elightening as I have.
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Summary: This book is 2nd best to The Book of Proverbs .
Review: I found this challenging book a perscription for the parent of any child that is capable of setting goals and working toward emotional mastery. For us as parent, it is a clear cut guide that will empower and elevate our own beliefs about what is possible to help our god-given children excel and become all that they can. The author has a keen sense of application in his writing that makes the reader dig deep within their own psyche to divide and conquer self limitations that are inevitably affecting kids. There are so many hurting kids. Are we as parents aiding and ebbedding these children or are we doing everything we can to push them positively? My favorite piece toward the end of the book speaks to parents as emotional coaches. Is this not the most important role we have as parents? Many of the authors insights seem to reflect so much wisdom, I found myslef comparing the insights relative to emotional control, dilligence and perseverance to the BOOK OF PROVERBS. I loved it for it's ability to motivate and confirm me in my role s mother, teacher, supporter, nurturer, and model for my two precious children.
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Summary: "Positive Parents"
Review: I have had the pleasure of listening to Dr. Taylor speak and have read his book "Positive Pushing". I am a parent and grandparent and feel that I am an experienced parent. I usually take what the experts say with a grain of salt. I was very surprised by Dr. Taylor's book. "Positive Pushing" is presented in a down to earth, friendly way. Nicely organized. Good References. Personal experiences. All add character to the book. Each chapter summary is extremely helpful. But, its the content of the book that will make you keep reading and start you thinking.
Dr. Taylor introduces to parents the concept that "pushing" your child can be successful and painless, (well, relatively painless). His ideas have a common sense foundation. "Use boundaries." Set goals not expectations." My favorite, "be a parent, not a friend." The book almost is a "how to be a parents" guide, because you really must know who you are, your limitations and your strengths before you can be successful as a parent. Dr. Taylor talks not only to how to help your child in a positive way, but how to help yourself as a parent.
A very good read. I would recommend it to any parent. Raising you child takes dedication, understanding and love all directed "positively" to the child. Dr. Taylor's book will give you some new insights into "positive pushing". I also highly recomend attending one of Dr. Taylor's seminar if you have the oppourtunity. He speaks as he writes with humor and common sense. Dr. Taylor's books are worth a look at.
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Summary: Dr. Taylor gets it re: raising successful children.
Review: I read a fair amount of parenting books and, sad to say, many of them are little more than either "psycho-babble" or books on how to manipulate your child. Positive Pushing is a wonderfully balanced look at this little discussed aspect of childhood; raising your children to be successful. Dr. Taylor does a very thorough job of defining what true success is. He also does a very thorough job of delineating what the parental responsibilities are. I love the way he makes clear (throughout the book)how the parents themselves need to engage in defining their own values as well as resolving their own issues. This "parenting from the inside out" approach ensures that the parent does not work out his/her unresolved parental issues through their child, which, sadly, describes many, many parents. One of the main themes that underpines his work is "what is in the best interests of the child." If we, as a society, had our child(ren)'s best interest in the forefront of our thinking, how different our world would look! Parents would do well to read this book together, especially as their children approach school age. Yet, this book can be read and appreciated by parents who have children in the later grades. Caution: This is not a book one can just breeze through and "get." Dr. Taylor has buttressed his contention that children need to be positively pushed with a plethora of research, some longitudinal. He's done is homework, obviously, and the net result is this masterpiece that is destined to be an all-time classic in parenting literature. A book I will continue to consult, both as a parent and as a (one day) counselor. As solid a book as you will ever read on child rearing.
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Summary: High expectations
Review: If you're a type A personality this book is for you because that's Jim Taylor. On the other hand, if you're not a type A personality this book is for you too because you'll get a new perspective on life and kids. I'm sure Jim will have a sequel now that he's getting married, stay tuned!
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Summary: The ultimate resource!
Review: In today's world of overscheduling kids and trying to help them achieve success and compete, parents finally have a clear set of guidelines about when to push kids and when to back off. Dr. Taylor writes with a wonderful combination of expertise and common sense. He doesn't "tell" parents how to structure their kids' lives. He offers practical and proven information that makes the choices of how and when to "push" kids easier to make.
He addresses the issues of self esteem, time management, and helping a child maintain a sense of ownership over his or her own life and accomplishments. This is a book every parent should have who wants to help their child succeed not only in the eyes of the world, but in their own eyes, which is what makes the difference.
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Summary: A Common Sense, Balanced, Practical Guide.
Review: Jim Taylor has illuminated the common sense middle ground between controlling parents who exert unhealthy pressure on their children to achieve and laissez-faire parents who make no demands out of fear of harming their children's "self-esteem." He does not gloss over subtleties and distinctions in parent-child interactions, and he supports his positions with copious references to research. At the same time, Positive Pushing is a readable, practical guide, full of helpful, specific suggestions. As a parent, I found this the most balanced, relevant and useful book on child-rearing to appear in a long time.
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Summary: Positive Pushing
Review: Parents today are challenging the status quo of parenting and asking questions about what is appropriate and what is inappropriate and why. Positive Pushing addressing the challenging issue of "pushing" our children. Dr. Taylor brings the topic out in the open and provides great insight that is definatly thought provoking. This is a must read for all parents who want a balanced look at this parenting issue.
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Summary: Taylor Pushes Right Buttons
Review: Taylor's book's message resonates with much of what my wife and I are working on here with our children. Thanks so much for articulating some realities that our broader society seems to be missing. Parents seem to forget that children's feelings are important to acknowledge as they tackle new activities. Participation with the children makes all the difference in getting them to feel comfortable with new activities.
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Summary: Raising a child is part of changing the world.
Review: This book has the wrong title: Positive Pushing. It is not about "pushing;" it is about encouraging, inspiring and guiding children. Most importantly this is a book that teaches parents how to pay attention, how to respect, and how to respond to their children in ways that will contribute to their becoming satisfied and fulfilled in childhood and beyond. As a psychotherapist I spend a significant amount of my time helping people to break free from all or none, black and white thinking learned --- you guessed it --- in childhood. Dr. Taylor's emphasis on an expanded definition for success lays a solid foundation for teaching children how to experience themselves outside the box of such limited thinking, setting the stage for us to offer the next generation legitimate alternatives to double-binding, self-defeating concepts of success that have nothing to do with genuine happiness. Best selling author Alice Miller (The Drama of the Gifted Child, Breaking Down the Walls of Silence, etc) reminds us that if we are serious about changing the world, it can only begin with caring for our children. Positive Pushing will help you be a better parent --- definitely. But the book's own potential is bigger than that. Whether or not you have children, I suggest that you read this one. - Thom Rutledge, author of Embracing Fear (HarperSanFrancisco)
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