On Becoming Preteen Wise. Parenting Your Child from 8 12 Years On Becoming. . .

Customer Reviews

stick w/ the babies

2008-07-28
I loved Babywise and swear by that book. This book didn't tell me anything that I didn't already know

solving a problem that doesn't have to exist

2007-11-05
This book is the first in what is going to be a big new wave of parenting books on a market. Why? Because preteen age is the new teen age!

Over the years, teen age had been stretched in length and developmental significance, and has gotten such a bad name due to all the supposedly inescapable problems and risks, that despite all the teen age parenting books out there, parents are ready to throw in the towel. Oh wait, Ezzo says, don't despair -- the solution is that you have to start reigning them in earlier, before they can fight back, you know.

I have read other book by Ezzo and am familiar with all the controversy surrounding his name and method. Considering that, this book is exactly what you would expect: authoritative parenting with a basis in religious doctrine, appropriately cushioned and secularized to appeal to an average Mom or Dad who looking for solid values in a rapidly changing world. There are valid points in it, e.g. everything re: the harm of mass culture and peer pressure. And I don't doubt that his method in its entirety will work perfectly for some people.

What I want to point out is that his book is a part of a larger trend, and that the very problem it purports to help solve doesn't have to exist. Adolescence and preadolescence don't have to be a difficult time requiring careful management. It is a time when a young person is at its prime in terms of energy, mental ability, and a desire to grow and learn. So treat him or her as such. Read 'The Case Against Adolescence' by Robert Epstein, and 'The Teenage Liberation Handbook' by Grace Llewelyn, and see if you still need PreTeen Wise after that.

give it a try

2007-10-10
Despite the negative press the Ezzos have gotten for their advice on infants, they know their stuff and have great lessons in how PARENTS need to take the time to raise their kids with manners, self control and respect. We have a 10 year old daughter that fits the mold of a preteen: forgetful, negative, needs to speak to adults with more respect. This book addresses those issues and gives practical advice on how the parents can change that behavior by presenting it to the preteen in a way that makes sense to them instead of the parent constantly nagging. As Gary says, these years are molding who they will be as teens and this is the time to train them to be respectful teenagers.

Excellent Resource for Pre-teen years

2004-07-18
I read this book when my daughter was in gr.4. The book provided excellent guidelines/principles in PREPARING me for the pre-teen years. Two most important ideas gained from the book were 1) the book served as a "map" for parents entering the pre-teen years (i.e. what to expect); and 2) the extent of a parent's "authority" has with one's child is contignent on the "relationship" that exists. Excellent resource for anyone who works with pre-teens.