When the unthinkable happens, sixyearold zach is at school. The truth is, when you have an only child, you do need to work hard to set up playdates and to be the activity director. Texas family magazine as someone who is considering stopping at one child, ive found pickhardts tome to be insightful and helpful. When youre an only child, keeping yourself entertained is the rule, not the exception. Having a creative lover has its own set of ups and downs, but generally speaking, it. Because andy had oppositional defiant disorder and was routinely unkind to him, zach wonders at first if perhaps his death will be an improvement. Susan newmanwho has studied only child families since the 1980sshatters the myths of the lonely, spoiled, bossy only child. Because they want to do right by their son or daughter, parenting an only child can be highpressure parenting. Even though this book is called parenting an only child, only about a third of the book actually talks about parenting. Told from the perspective of a 6yearold boy, zach taylor. I suppose that would be useful for some folks who are having a hard time deciding or dealing with the issue, but i was looking for more information about.
However, some only children become too reliant on parents for moral support, homework help, and entertainment and parents can. The freedom of having an only child, and the joy of. In the books most trying section, she presents research and testimonies from parents of only children and from adult onlies, which are helpful but occasionally. The book was filled with firsthand accounts of being an only child, but rather than adding to the book, it was too distracting. The author is almost pushy about how raising an only child is the only way to parent. One study found only children tend to spend more time on their homework and get better grades than kids who have two or more siblings. On the other hand, being an only child does not seem to be a good option either. In her book parenting an only child the joys and challenges of raising your one and only, she presents the opinions of a large cross section of parents across america who reminisce their reasons for sticking to the one child formula. My sixteen tips for parents of an only child only child. Onlychild families are becoming the new traditional family, for a number of reasons, says social psychologist and author susan newman, ph. Its hard to imagine a more timely novel than only child.
The best parenting books to best help you raise your child. In her 2011 book, the case for the only child, she writes that many women are having children later in life, and that more and more families are concerned about the cost of raising children. Personal narratives were piled one on top of another. Austin american statesman another plus point about this book. A guide for parents and families white, carolyn, smith, kirsten on. I am the mother of an only child and have a difficult time finding any information about only children, especially parenting. For couples who are already raising an only child, or for those who are exploring the option, parenting an only child offers encouraging clarity and singular insight. Historically, bias against only children comes out of. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. While this makes for less interesting childhood memories, it does help you. Find out how an only child s personality is formed, and. Ann hood is the author of 17 books, including the book that matters most and the memoir comfort. Sandler is an only daughter herself, and the mother of one, and her book is. Pin by claudine on books in 2020 only child, raising an.
I felt the author truly captured a child s view of the events his fears, guilt and loss. If you are even thinking about having only one child, and havent made your decision yet, you must read this book. Having an only child gives you a mature, diligent, and conscientious little perfectionistbut it also comes with some tough parenting moments. Vanity fair its hard to imagine a more timely novel than only child.
There are perks to being an only child yay, no handmedowns but some downsides, too. As an only child, now raising an only child, i am grateful for the insightful and unique perspective this book offers the reader. What being an only child says about you, according to science. Keep in mind, this quote is also coming from the same man who believed preadolescent children are savages, and as children grow, they need. In this novel, a firstgrader survives a school shooting. The joys and challenges of raising your one and only by. As an only child, with one of my own, and as someone who has just spent three years writing about the subject, im convinced that if, by dint of will or biology, you have an only child, you can. The only child is one of those books that comes with a catchy premise. The joys and challenges of raising your one and only parenting an only child. Only child families are becoming the new traditional family, for a number of reasons, says social psychologist and author susan newman, ph. Caroline baum on the loneliness of growing older as an. Buy the only child main by emerson, pitkeathley isbn. During what he perceives as the party that goes on at his house after the massacre, he sequesters himself in his brothers closet and imagines life as an only child.
Being an only child often forces you to rely more on your imagination, which matures into creativity with age. Caroline baum on the loneliness of growing older as an only child her new memoir explores what its like looking after ageing parents and a fraught relationship with her despot father. The other two thirds givese justifications for only having one child. The author goes out of her way throughout the book to make the point that not only is having an only child a valid and good choice for many families, but that having an only child is a superior choice and apparently the only choice that a thoughtful parent can make. Lauren sandler, author of one and only the argument. In 1907, the first president of the american psychological association called only children sickly, selfish, strange, and stupid.
If you go out to dinner and your parents start talking about boring adult stuff, youre on your own. Presenting fascinating findings and family stories, dr. The joys and challenges of raising your one and only susan newman, author. Growing up and especially in college, whenever someone became aware of my solitary status, the conversation would go a little something like this. Best parenting books the best of the best positive parenting books. Only child definitely celebrates the power of books. Susan newman has been the first book ive highlighted sections of since college and my coworders love to borrow. Huddled in a cloakroom with his classmates and teacher, he is too young to understand that.
Raising an only child gives you a superclose relationship with them. Rhiannon navins debut novel, only child received an overall score of 4. Rhiannon navin grew up in bremen, germany, in a family of bookcrazy women. Parents should be able to feel good about making the choices that are right for their family. Perfect for fans of room a heartbreaking but important novel.
Rise of the only child the onechild family rose rapidly over the past generation. Based on the idea that children mirror their parents, this conscious parenting book helps parents raise their children best by developing the parent first. Only child syndrome is the belief that only children are spoiled, bossy, and antisocial but this stigma isnt actually true. Fiveyearold ruthie spends all of her time with her invisible friend named jessica, and her parents are worried what will happen when ruthie starts kindergarten. Compelling, compassionate and powerful, rhiannon navins only child is the most heartfelt book youll read this year. The book is a heartbreaking exploration of grief, family, and resilience in the face of immeasurable tragedy and a story that feels more fact than fiction. But where did all this bad press about only children come from and what does science actually have to say about being an only child. Sandler powerfully debunks generations of myths about the loneliness, selfishness, and general neuroticism of only children. Lauren sandler is the author of the forthcoming book one and only. This book was recommended to someone close to me an only child as it had been recommended to them by their therapist. He is also only a child and, like so many kids his age, inadvertently wise. Only child only child personality, only child quotes, quotes for kids, ra. I only seem to find children s books about being an only child, and even those are few and far between.
A story of loss, grief and hope rhiannon navins only child, a novel about the aftermath of a school shooting came out shortly before a fatal school shooting in florida. Innocence trumps violence in rhiannon navins only child. To begin, the only child is first and last child in one and so is the only chance at parenting the parents get. This book is a mustread for any parent who has an only child. The adolescent only child and friendship psychology today. Newman shares her knowledge and gives downtoearth advice, making this the most accessible, uptodate handbook of its kind. A pew research center study found the number of mothers who. The perception of only children being socially maladjusted, narcissistic, and spoiled is pervasive. You can also make this easier on yourself by encouraging his passions with organized activities, whether sport teams or after school chess clubs, or saturday filmmaking classes.
Whether its by choice or fate, having a single child presents unique considerations, opportunities, and advantages. The concept of writing this book through the eyes of a 6 year old was brilliant. Usa today declared it a compelling and melancholy debut from an important new talent as well as an expansive and ageless. Matilda is an only child but she is also, in classic roald dahl style, at the whim of careless adults who arent as smart as her, or at least this is the case until she finds a.
The problems only children can experience being an only one can easily be counteracted, by ensuring that they are not overprotected and are given lots of opportunities to interact with other children. With several school shootings in the first month of this year and yet another one on wednesday these words could be spoken by a student in benton, ky. Making the right family size decision for you maintaining a. A new york times best illustrated book hailed by entertainment weekly and the wall street journal as a best book of the year, this gorgeous and imaginative storypart picture book, part graphic novelis utterly transporting and original. The joys and challenges of raising your one and only. Why did you decide to include those books are part of the novel. From counseling with only child families and with only child adults, and from a lot of reading, i wrote the book, the future of your only child, to suggest what some of the formative outcomes. Ultimately, though, it is zach who will show the adults in his life the way forward as sometimes only a child. The 6yearold narrator of rhiannon navins debut, only child, tries to. Some people believe that a family with one child isnt really a family.
This said, i believe the quality of the only child friendship with parents, based on compatibility and loyalty and commitment in a relationship taken seriously, can contribute to. It makes sense since many books for tween and teen readers rely. I would never encourage any one to have a second child just to give the first one a brother or sister. And what were some of the books that you most loved as a child. This sweet picture book, from the creator of chrysanthemum and kittens first full moon, does a beautiful job of showing how rich and powerful the imagination of an only child can be.