CHILDHOOD STRESS: Don't Let Your Child Be a Victim

by Barbara Kuczen ‧ RELEASE DATE: Sept. 2, 1982

Purportedly aimed at helping parents and children deal with stress, this is a patchwork of child-rearing theory and opinion with little to recommend it beyond a timely title. Twenty-two simplistic checklists will supposedly tell parents if they are likely to suffer a major illness soon; whether their children are hyperactive, gifted, or spoiled; how sexist the schools are; and, oddest of all, if their homes are energy-efficient. The chapter exhorting ""Accentuate the Positive"" gives ten examples of parental abuse of praise, but only a paragraph about appropriate praise. The ""Eliminate the Negative"" chapter is more than twice as long, and contains brief alphabetical entries on diverse topics from aggression and hostility to shyness. (Rx for the latter: ""Ask the teacher to seat your child next to another child with a similar problem.') In yet another catalogue of ""Heart to Heart"" issues, Kuczen hardly mentions stress--instead proffering platitudes like ""your religious or moral background will no doubt influence your discussion"" of abortion or ""don't allow your child to patronize the elderly."" Less than a sixth of the book, finally, is devoted to managing stress, and even that is extended with suggestions on keeping your child's immunizations up and choosing appropriate child care. Inconsequential.

Pub Date: Sept. 2, 1982

ISBN: N/A

Page Count: -

Publisher: Delacorte

Review Posted Online: N/A

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Sept. 1, 1982

Categories: NONFICTION