For anyone considering or going through Fostering for Adoption, this book gives you a detailed, personal account of the process which takes you through all the stages and prepares you to cope with the highs and lows. Fostering for Adoption is a relatively recent initiative (Children and Families Act, 2014) in the adoption legal landscape, seeking early permanence for babies and young children where adoption is most likely to be the plan for the child. This is often cited as a route to be in the best interests of the child, enabling secure attachments and stability. However, for adopters it is inherently risky, it is the adopters who take on the risk in this situation, accept the placement on a fostering basis and hope that the final outcome will be adoption. There is currently a knowledge gap on experiences of Fostering for Adoption which this book tackles. Written from an adopters' perspective of the risks and challenges, as well as the benefits that it brings, it is perfect for those who are considering the process as well as their friends and family. A book on Fostering for Adoption can't just focus on one story and one outcome so we've included case studies which cover the key experiences adopters may face when agreeing to accept a baby on a Foster to Adopt placement such as: Caring for a baby a few days after birth The paperwork, rules and fostering process The uncertainty and risk Meeting with birth parents Contact Looking after a withdrawing baby A termination of placement Written in an engaging and friendly style, this book is perfect reading for anyone looking to adopt a child and for adoption professionals seeking to understand the experience of the adopter more profoundly. Praise for Fostering for Adoption "As someone who has been through a similar journey this book resonated with me. It is honest about the ups and downs and is a great, informative book for anybody thinking of taking this route or who have family or friends that are. I can say that this book will help anyone at the beginning of their journey, to help them through the process and - start the lifetime of learning about how we can support our children." Lisa Faulkner, Author, Meant to be "Alice's book will be a great companion to anyone considering or starting on the foster to adopt process. It is well-researched and written and doesn't shy away from the many complexities and the considerations that adults must make in the best interests of children." Sally Donovan, Author of No Matter What, and Editor of Adoption Today "I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book, I found myself laughing and getting emotional throughout. As someone who has themselves been adopted, but who is also a social worker who has now adopted a child, this book is brilliant from every angle. A must read for anyone considering Fostering for Adoption." Jo, Social Worker, Midlands "This book gives a balanced and honest view of the whole Fostering for Adoption journey. It gets to the emotions and seriousness of decisions being made about children's lives. This is an important read for any potential adopter and will be on our book lists for sure" Angi, Social Worker, Adoption Tees Valley

A volume in Lifespan Learning Series Editors: Paris Strom, Auburn University, and Robert D. Strom Arizona State University Parents feel that a fast-paced lifestyle requires constant hurry to complete the next task and causes them to lose control over how time is spent. This environment makes it more difficult to build relationships with their children and teach them to honor priorities, care about others, maintain health, manage conflicts, and achieve balance. Our cross-cultural studies of families have found that the most important gift parents can give their children is spending time together. Being together without multitasking or other interruptions increases sharing, in depth conversations, learning, and closeness. This book shows how to prepare children for school by providing the following experiences. Parents have a new obligation, introducing their children to the Internet. Parent and child Internet visits are presented for each chapter with guidelines for teaching online. Information about child development stages are provided for parents on additional Web sites. You can link to these Web sites at Information Age Publishing http: //www.infoagepub.com/stromyoung- children Parents and children spend more time watching television together than doing other things. Conversation questions are provided as a tool that parents can use to find out how children interpret events they see and detect learning needs. Children will more likely become creative adults if they receive support for imagination and curiosity. Examples illustrate the merits of playing alone, playing with friends, and pretending with parents. Boys and girls like bedtime stories and are motivated to read when they see parents read for pleasure. Children's books that are recommended for discussion reinforce values parents hope to convey. Parents are responsible for teaching foundation lessons about socialization. Methods are described to foster development of child self-control, getting along with others, managing fears, and setting goals. Parents benefit from feedback on how well their goals and practices reflect principles of child development. A parent self-evaluation form includes questions and answers to identify personal strengths and learning needs. This book is for parents, grandparents, and other educators of young children ages 3 to 8.

In the spirit of Wendy Mogel's The Blessing of a Skinned Knee and Po Bronson and Ashley Merryman's Nurture Shock, New York Times "Your Money" columnist Ron Lieber delivers a taboo-shattering manifesto that explains how talking openly to children about money can help parents raise modest, patient, grounded young adults who are financially wise beyond their years. For Ron Lieber, a personal finance columnist and father, good parenting means talking about money with our kids. Children are hyper-aware of money, and they have scores of questions about its nuances. But when parents shy away from the topic, they lose a tremendous opportunity-not just to model the basic financial behaviors that are increasingly important for young adults but also to imprint lessons about what the family truly values. Written in a warm, accessible voice, grounded in real-world experience and stories from families with a range of incomes, The Opposite of Spoiled is both a practical guidebook and a values-based philosophy. The foundation of the book is a detailed blueprint for the best ways to handle the basics: the tooth fairy, allowance, chores, charity, saving, birthdays, holidays, cell phones, checking accounts, clothing, cars, part-time jobs, and college tuition. It identifies a set of traits and virtues that embody the opposite of spoiled, and shares how to embrace the topic of money to help parents raise kids who are more generous and less materialistic. But The Opposite of Spoiled is also a promise to our kids that we will make them better with money than we are. It is for all of the parents who know that honest conversations about money with their curious children can help them become more patient and prudent, but who don't know how and when to start.

Why doesn't our child return our love? What are we failing to understand? What are we failing to do? These questions can fill the minds of adoptive parents caring for wounded, traumatized children.Families often enter into this experience with high expectations for their child and for themselves but are broadsided by shattered assumptions. This book addresses the reality of those unmet expectations and offers validation and solutions for the challenges of parenting deeply traumatized and emotionally disturbed children.

Pathological Demand Avoidance Syndrome (PDA) is a developmental disorder that is being increasingly recognised as part of the autism spectrum. The main characteristic is a continued resistance to the ordinary demands of life through strategies of social manipulation, which originates from an anxiety-driven need to be in control. This straightforward guide is written collaboratively by professionals and parents to give a complete overview of PDA. Starting with an exploration into the syndrome, it goes on to answer the immediate questions triggered when a child is first diagnosed, and uses case examples throughout to illustrate the impact of the condition on different areas of the child's life. Early intervention options and workable strategies for managing PDA positively will make day-to-day life easier for the child, their family and peers. New problems faced in the teenage years and how to assist a successful transition from adolescence to adulthood are also tackled. The book concludes with a valuable resources list. Full of helpful guidance and support, this user-friendly introductory handbook is essential reading for families, carers and anyone who knows a child with PDA.

Uses the Japanese philosophy of Shokuiku to teach parents how to maximize nutrition in their children's diets. Eating the Shokuiku Way teaches parents how to raise their kids with the life-long health benefits of the Japanese way of eating. The Japanese culture is known for its longest life spans and lowest obesity rates. Every child can grow up with maximum intelligence, longevity, and quality of life using this method. Here, parents learn why it's essential to start these habits with their children (to prevent diabetes, allergies, and obesity), and get step-by-step instruction on not only what to feed their kids, but how. Including time-saving cooking tips, ready-to-go bento box recipes, and knowledge how to teach kids to make better food decisions - limiting carbs, maximizing whole foods, the importance of protein for cell growth and immunity-this work is your go-to guide for learning how to respect and honor food and its role in nourishing our bodies and minds. Anyone can learn to eat the Shokuiku way. With a focus on simple ingredients to improve the sensitivity of growing taste buds, and an emphasis on slowing down in order to aid digestion and brain function, the Shokuiku way helps children and families appreciate food and the act of eating. A comprehensive approach, the Shokuiku way also encourages mindful eating and making healthful choices that will last a lifetime. Not just for children, but for anyone hoping to change their eating habits and improve their overall health and wellbeing, Eating the Shokuiku Way will guide readers on a better path.

The mental well-being of children and adults is shockingly poor. Marc Brackett, author of Permission to Feel, knows why. And he knows what we can do.

Marc Brackett is a professor in Yale University’s Child Study Center and founding director of the Yale Center for Emotional Intelligence. In his 25 years as an emotion scientist, he has developed a remarkably effective plan to improve the lives of children and adults – a blueprint for understanding our emotions and using them wisely so that they help, rather than hinder, our success and well-being. The core of his approach is a legacy from his childhood, from an astute uncle who gave him permission to feel. He was the first adult who managed to see Marc, listen to him, and recognize the suffering, bullying, and abuse he’d endured. And that was the beginning of Marc’s awareness that what he was going through was temporary. He wasn’t alone, he wasn’t stuck on a timeline, and he wasn’t “wrong” to feel scared, isolated, and angry. Now, best of all, he could do something about it.

In the decades since, Marc has led large research teams and raised tens of millions of dollars to investigate the roots of emotional well-being. His prescription for healthy children (and their parents, teachers, and schools) is a system called RULER, a high-impact and fast-effect approach to understanding and mastering emotions that has already transformed the thousands of schools that have adopted it. RULER has been proven to reduce stress and burnout, improve school climate, and enhance academic achievement. This book is the culmination of Marc’s development of RULER and his way to share the strategies and skills with readers around the world. It is tested, and it works.

This book combines rigor, science, passion and inspiration in equal parts. Too many children and adults are suffering; they are ashamed of their feelings and emotionally unskilled, but they don’t have to be. Marc Brackett’s life mission is to reverse this course, and this book can show you how.

Draw out the best in your children--by understanding the way they learn. If you're frustrated that your child isn't learning the way you did, chances are they are too In this practical resource, Cynthia Ulrich Tobias explains that understanding how you both learn can make all the difference.Using expertise in education and learning styles, Tobias offers practical guidance for teaching to your child's strengths--both at home and in school--even when his or her learning style is very different from your own. Enlightening and informative, this book will help with these issues: The different ways children perceive and order informationFour learning styles and how your style and your child's may differHow to bring out your child's greatest strengthsWays to help your child grasp and remember what's being taughtTips for advocating for your child with teachersHow your involvement can increase your child's success at schoolWhether you're a parent, grandparent, or teacher, this book offers concrete help for guiding the children in your care onto their very best path to learning--now and for a lifetime.

This beautiful color guide was designed to help address the needs of picky eaters that need to eliminate gluten from their diet. Is is also very beneficial in helping anyone go gluten-free by providing the essential information needed to get started. You will learn more about the Celiac Disease and how you don't have to sacrifice taste when gluten is erased from your diet. These recipes are bound to tempt anyone - regardless of their dietary needs or age, or whether they are picky eaters, vegans, or vegetarians, or allergic to dairy. It's all here in this guide and information conveyed visually with a dietary legend that can be followed easily by anyone. This book is your complete guide to eliminating gluten from your diet. It includes foods to shop for that are gluten-free, as well as what to avoid. It also includes quick and easy tips for going gluten free, gluten free vegan recipes, gluten free recipes for kids - as well as a guide for caregivers of these children that are unfamiliar with their specific dietary needs. It's the perfect reference guide for anyone wanting more guidance on gluten free foods - including some they might not have known existed - like unique flour types, as well as those people too busy to research that just want a quick and easy meal to prepare for dinner guests - guaranteed.

"Parenting: The Bottom Line" was born out of the never-ending controversy of whether or not spanking should be used as a disciplinary tool by parents. In response to this hot topic, author Ron Mackey examines the role of the parent as disciplinarian and the importance of raising children to understand the difference between good and bad behavior. Guiding and nurturing children with love and patience will establish a solid foundation allowing them to grow up to become responsible adults. All too often, parents in today's society postpone using any kind of discipline with their children until they are old enough to understand the reason for the punishment. But by postponing this critical part of the growth cycle, they discover that their children have developed behavior that has become so deeply ingrained that the habits can't be easily broken. "Parenting: The Bottom Line" provides insight and useful information that is designed to help parents overcome some of the difficulties that they may encounter, as they raise their bundles of joy from infancy to adulthood.

This is a guide to all the developmental milestones of childhood - physical, emotional and cognitive - covering ages 3 to 14. Whether you want advice for several children of different ages, or you want to follow the progress of one, this book is just what you need, giving you all the information for caring and raising children. Understand every stage of your child's physical, emotional and cognitive development, and pick up essential advice on how to make a success of being a parent. Question and answer boxes give realistic and practical advice and strategies on how to deal with common problems and stressful situations from 'how can I help a child who is shy' to 'how can I tell if my child is being bullied at school?' It cames from a team of top-selling authors and childcare experts in child health, psychology, parenting and childcare, with a foreword by Dr Tanya Byron.