Listening to Children

Most parents assume they possess sufficient basic knowledge and life experience to raise children. Making mistakes seems inevitable. Where else would you learn to be a parent than through practical experience? Until recently, there wasn't a single training program or course for good parenting. American psychologist Dr. Thomas Gordon, confronted with problems in the parent-child relationship, teenage rebellion, and juvenile delinquency, sought the core of these problems. The method he developed and extensively tested in practice has rightly been called "revolutionary" in professional circles because Gordon succeeds in breaking down the long-standing controversy between parental authority and the freedom and independence demanded by the child. Gordon manages to build a bridge where both parties can meet without losing face.
Listening to Children contains a number of age-old wisdoms about parenting, supplemented and brought into our own time with modern insights on interacting with others in a changing society. Gordon's method assumes parents' willingness to acknowledge and learn from mistakes. Avoiding mistakes in parenting reduces conflicts and makes conflicts discussable and resolvable. A willingness to approach and listen restores natural mutual respect. Both parties benefit; no one is left behind with Gordon's method. This book serves as a guide and provides useful study material. It is intended for all educators who recognize that they too are fallible and want to actively address this—to bridge the generation gap. Various tests are included to help you measure your progress in listening to children.