When my daughter, Ruby, decided at the wise old age of age of eight that she wanted to work with families when she ‘grew up’ I found ‘Kids are Worth It’ by Barbara Coloroso in a Bookshop in Queenstown.

Reading began on the journey home that evening.
She was thrilled with my find and especially more so when she discovered a few pages into the book that this book backed up my own personal parenting style!
A sheer fluke as I had never read the book!

A few days later whilst at the breakfast table, Ruby proudly informed me that there were three types of parents; Brickwall, Jellyfish and Backbone.
“And you are a backbone parent Mum.”
A proud moment for me!
With each year of maturity Ruby gained more out of the book.
Child Psychology totally captivated her hence the subject was incorporated into our Home School Curriculum.

Every parent and grandparent should have, “Kids are Worth It” in their home library along with another book that Barbara has written ‘The Bully, the Bullied and the Bystander.’
Both books will enhance your ability and confidence to parent effectively.

“Compliant children are very easily led when they are young, because they thrive on approval and pleasing adults.
They are just as easily led in their teen years, because they still seek the same two things: approval and pleasing their peers.
Strong-willed children are never easily led by anybody–not by you, but also not by their peers.
So celebrate your child’s ‘strength of will’ throughout the early years…and know that the independent thinking you are fostering will serve him well in the critical years to come”

Barbara Coloroso