The Parent's Handbook - by Gary McKay & Don Dinkmeyer (Paperback)

About the Book

One of the country's most popular parenting guides. Helps parents meet the challenges of raising a family today. The Parent's Handbook shows parents how they can become more knowledgeable, confident and successful in relating to their children. Discusses misbehavior, communication, encouragement, natural and logical consequences, family meetings, drug and alcohol abuse prevention.

Book Synopsis

One of the country's most popular parenting guides. Helps parents meet the challenges of raising a family today. The Parent's Handbook shows parents how they can become more knowledgeable, confident and successful in relating to their children. Discusses misbehavior, communication, encouragement, natural and logical consequences, family meetings, drug and alcohol abuse prevention.

The STEP approach to parenting is based on the belief that every child and every parent has equal human worth and dignity. All are entitled to mutual respect. The system of discipline taught in STEP stresses this type of relationship. The authors believe that parents should provide opportunities for children to make decisions, within limits, allowing children to be responsible for their decisions.

Other skills that are taught:

• identifying the four goals of misbehavior
• understanding beliefs and feelings
• encouraging your child and yourself
• reflective listening and I messages
• helping children cooperate
• discipline that makes sense

Each chapter has activities titled "This Week", "Just for You" and "For Your Family". When you study and apply the STEP ideas, you are on your way to becoming a more effective parent, building a happy home.

There is a Spanish edition of this book available: Guía para los padres.

Review Quotes

"The Parent'a Handbook has given me an entirely new perspective on how to deal with my children, as well as my husband."
--a parent, Saratoga Springs, New York

"The Parent's Handbook is one of the most useful pieces of parenting literature I have seen."
--a family counselor, Boulder, Colorado

"The STEP handbook is an easy-to-read guide with practical ideas that will help parents raise a confident and responsible child. It's a winner!"
--a parent educator, Melbourne, Florida

About the Author

Don Dinkmeyer, Sr., PhD (1924-2001), was a pioneer in the fields of elementary school counseling, Adlerian psychotherapy, classroom guidance, parent education, group counseling and marriage enrichment. He authored and co-authored 35 books and 125 professional journal articles, as well as psychological education programs like STEP in the areas of parenting, marriage enrichment, classroom guidance, and teaching. Dinkmeyer received lifetime achievement awards from several professional organizations.

Gary D. McKay, PhD (Tucson, Arizona) is the co-author of twelve books and programs, including How You Feel is Up To You, Raising Respectful Kids In a Rude World and Systematic Training for Effective Parenting (STEP), the world's leading parent education program. He is a retired psychologist and a diplomate in Adlerian Psychology (North American Society of Adlerian Psychology -- NASAP) who conducts workshops for his publications in North America and Europe.

Don Dinkmeyer, Jr., PhD, NCC, is co-author of the STEP (Systematic Training for Effective Parenting) parent education programs. He has also co authored numerous educational programs such as Systematic Training for Effective Teaching (STET), Preparing Responsible and Effective Parents (PREP), and the DUSO programs, as well as professional articles and textbooks. He has conducted workshops for parents, teachers and families across the world for more than 30 years, believing "every child has the right to an education - of their parents". He is the second generation of a family whose commitment to helping families has touched millions across all continents (except Antarctica!).