CATEGORY

"For the most part, parenting is something we just do, without really giving it much thought," says Laurence Steinberg, one of the country's most distinguished psychologists. Most of us parent by instinct, he says, but with a better understanding of what works when you parent, and why, your instincts will get better and so will your ability to cope with the unique challenges -- and joys -- of being a parent.

Over his three decades of research on children and families, Dr. Steinberg noticed that the scientific evidence linking certain principles of parenting to healthy child development was so clear and consistent that these same principles could be applied universally, regardless of a family's income, race, or single- or two-parent status. He distilled these fundamentals into ten principles, and in The Ten Basic Principles of Good Parenting, he shows how they can help to sustain parents as they raise their children from infancy to adolescence. These principles articulate a philosophy of parenting -- a style of parenting -- and so they work whether parents are faced with a screaming toddler or a rebellious teen.

Dr. Steinberg explains and illustrates each principle with anecdotes and examples, from "What You Do Matters" (parents make an enormous difference; children are not simply the product of their genes) to "Establish Rules and Set Limits" (how to provide structure in your child's life, and how to handle conflicts over rules) and "Help Foster Your Child's Independence" (help your child think through decisions; don't just make them for him or her). The goal, says Dr. Steinberg, is to foster positive development in your child -- to help your child become competent, responsible, secure, and kind.

The Ten Basic Principles of Good Parenting is a map for the journey through parenthood, a book parents can read and then return to whenever they start to lose their way. Concise and authoritative, written with warmth and compassion, it is not only an intelligent guide to raising a happy, healthy child; it is also a guide to becoming a happier, more confident parent.