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  • The Collapse of Parenting

  • How We Hurt Our Kids When We Treat Them Like Grown-Ups
  • By: Leonard Sax MD PhD
  • Narrated by: Malcolm Hillgartner
  • Length: 5 hrs and 46 mins
  • 4.8 out of 5 stars (52 ratings)

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The Collapse of Parenting

By: Leonard Sax MD PhD
Narrated by: Malcolm Hillgartner
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Publisher's Summary

In The Collapse of Parenting, Leonard Sax, an acclaimed expert on parenting and childhood development, identifies a key problem plaguing American children, especially relative to other countries: the dramatic decline in young people's achievement and psychological health. The root of this problem, Sax contends, lies in the transfer of authority from parents to their children, a shift that has been occurring over the last 50 years and is now impossible to ignore.

Sax pinpoints the effects of this shift, arguing that the rising levels of obesity, depression, and anxiety among young people - as well as their parents' widespread dependence on psychiatric medications to fix such problems - can all be traced back to a corresponding decline in adult authority.

Sax argues that a general decline in respect for elders has had particularly severe consequences for the relationships between parents and their children. The result is parents are afraid of seeming too dictatorial and end up abdicating their authority entirely rather than taking a stand with their own children. If kids refuse to eat anything green and demand pizza instead, parents give in, inadvertently raising children who expect to eat sweets and junk food and are thus more likely to become obese. If children demand and receive the latest smartphones, tablets, and other gadgets and are then allowed to spend the bulk of their waking hours texting with friends and accessing any website they want, they become increasingly reliant on peers and the media for guidance on how to live rather than their parents. And if they won't sit still in class or listen to adults - parents or teachers - they're often prescribed medication, a quick fix that doesn't help them learn self-control. In short, according to Sax, parents have failed to teach their children good habits, leaving children with no clear sense of the distinction between right and wrong. But, Sax insists, there is hope.

To start with, parents need to regain central places in the lives of their young children, displacing same-age peers who can't provide the same kind of guidance and stability. Parents also need to learn that they can't be best friends and parents at the same time. They'll make their children's lives easier if they focus not on pleasing their kids but instead on giving them the tools they need to lead happy, healthy lives.

Drawing on over 25 years of experience as a family psychologist and hundreds of interviews with children, parents, and teachers in the United States and throughout the world, Sax makes a convincing case that if we are to help our children avoid the pitfalls of an increasingly complicated world, we must reassert authority as parents.

©2016 Leonard Sax (P)2015 Blackstone Audio, Inc.

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Thought Provoking.

Will definitely be reassessing the way I parent, in more ways than one. Excellent and eye opening book.

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Much needed, very refreshing

I’m an Australian reader and I think a lot of what Sax said is applicable here as well. Modern parenting literature says a lot about empathy, negotiating with children, explaining reasons why, etc. I think these methods have something to offer us, but I need a bit of a slap in the face occasionally to remind me that I’m in charge and that my children need me to be.

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Really interesting to listen to

Thoroughly enjoyed listening to this book. The ideas are presented well and they make sense, the idea to parent well rather than take the easy road is mapped out here. Have recommended to friends and will influence my own parenting

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Parenting on the Same Page

Thoroughly enjoyable, discussed ideas with friends and family. Thought provoking content which challenges the reasoning of why.

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Boomer telling millennials how to raise alpha gen children

Author is living in the 20s telling young whippersnappers to get of their lawn. He preaches agism against children which is about to become illegal. Encourages kids to work even when they prefer to sit at home and do what’s right for them. Had I had a choice of not needing to work, I would have preferred this too.

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Highly recommend

I’m a high school teacher with a masters in behavioural psychology and I highly recommend this to all parents to read BEFORE your children become teenagers!

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An absolute must for parents!

This book was recommended to my wife and I and we both read it. To me, the main points of this book made absolute sense. As a father is MY responsibility and ONLY mine to do my job and lead this little one, to prepare them for real life, to understand that life has goods, very goods, bads and very bad. That life gives you wonders but also deep deep dissapointments. To work hard, to respect, to listen, to keep going when you don't get what you dream. To enjoy and feel happiness, sorrow, love and broken heart. That is not about me.

Give yourself the chance to read the book with no pre set judgement, let it talk to you and then you decide.

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essential reading for parents

Excellent advice. Highly recommended. A must read for every parent, grandparent or child care worker.

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