Publisher's Synopsis
Most parents want to understand their children. Having or not having this desire to understand will determine in part whether or not they will be good parents. Parents may make mistakes in bringing up their boys and girls, but it is possible to do a generally good job, in spite of the mistakes, if they make use of what they are learning about the physical, mental, and emotional growth of children and the conditions that affect that growth. Children grow in security from living in a family in which father, mother, boys, and girls work and play together. Sometimes, parents are so concerned about the problems of bringing up a family that they forget the fun of being parents and children together. A family feeling of belonging together makes the problems easier, helps boys and girls to develop to the best of their capacities, and adds greatly to the enjoyment of being parents. A child, then, if he is to learn how to live in our world, needs to be wanted, loved, enjoyed, and guided. He has a lot to learn, but he will be better able to learn if his relationship with his mother and father is warm and comfortable, and they are willing to teach slowly and wait until the child has reached the point at which he is best able to learn what they want to teach him.
