A parent/researcher - Rated 
Overall, this book is a good contribution to the question of how to parent boys. However, he uses the appearance of research to endorse his personal view that boys are best cared for during the day by family members. In fact, the weight of evidence demonstrates that good quality childcare outside the family is positively beneficial for pre-school children of both genders.
I would challenge Steve Biddulph to produce a revised edition that incorporates real, direct evidence.
yes, but.... - Rated
There are many good points in this book that were already mentioned by the other reviewers. I want to focus on the points that grated with me. First of all, the old out-dated 'research' that Biddulph cites that boys (and children in general according to his others books) are better off being raised at home. Negative research about day-care comes from the sixties when these institutions were little more than storage units for children (mind you, I only have very positive memories of the day-care in which I was raised in the sixties).
Newer research actually reveals that children who went early on into daycare are actually more popular and socially confident than their stay-at-home counterparts. This research comes from countries like Canada and Sweden where the majority of all children are raised in daycare and which extensively researched the well-being of their collective off-spring.
I am angry that yet another MALE child-expert who NEVER took off time his precious career to rear his children full-time adds to the guilt-inflicting bias against working mothers. I have seen so much suffering by new mothers who were made to believe that it was all their fault if they did not love their new role as a mother. In Britain today every fifth mother is diagnosed with post-natal depression - a mental health crisis of epidemic proportion. Yet, all of these mothers are told by their health-carers that it is their hormones (in other words their own fault) instead of seeing that the isolated way in which most of us live today puts so much pressure on the individual mother that depression is only a 'natural' outcome.
Isn't it time, Steve, that we care about boys, girls AND their mothers?
A must read! - Rated 
I have 2 boys and I was recommended this book by a Teacher of my youngest child (5 at the time) My eldest was 10 and I had never read any parenting help books before. What an eyeopener, I sat and read the book from cover to cover and it really does help you understand the differences between boys and girls, why they behave in a certain way and all about the testosterone surges that they get. I never really went along with all that stuffabout boys only behaving a certain way because they are programmed by society blah blah! There are big differences and they need to be understood not ignored pushed aside. I would recommend this book to all mothers of boys it really does help.
An Excellent Book - Rated
I bought this book when my kids were rug rats. They are now 13 & 11 and I still refer to it. Full of sound advice. Chapters include what is it with boys? The 3 stages of boyhhood, Testosterone, brain differences, dads, mothers & sport. A great book.
Steve Biddulph leaves no stone unturned with this wonderful book. - Rated
I'm sure you respect honesty, so i will be honest. When i first purchased this book i flipped through the pages like the robot on 'Short Circuit' and immediately thought oh my goodness (or words to that effect) i have just brought a paperback pamphlet, i won't like this at all. Boy was i wrong.
Steve, makes you feel like you have been his buddy for years with his unique style of writing. He gives an honest, sincere, detailed, and heart warming account of his beliefs and where he feels, in particular, Dads and Schooling can let children down.
He explains that parents should have a united front in dealing with issues, there should be more primary school male teachers and conversation regarding sex shouldn't be muted from a childs ears when they get to ten.
He describes schools that are making childrens' lives hell with excessive homework; around 3 hours per night! The dork dad factor, which isn't dads that like to play chess or watch trains go by, but dads that become another child in the house instead of acting like a man when discipline is needed. Also, that women can act seedy (as well as men) when they hang around men just for free drinks or use their sexuality in completely the wrong way, ideas that i had not even considered before.
I love my ten tear old son, like no other male that i have loved before, but there are times that i feel under loved or under appreciated. Steve again hits the nail on the head when describing young boys up to this age. The mummies boy has slowly turned towards his dad for encouragement and my time, wanting dads view on many issues. He still doesn't say that he loves me but when i slip into conversation "oh, he loves his dad", he will never deny it.
|
