In "It’s OK Not to Share," the author challenges conventional parenting wisdom about sharing, inviting readers to reconsider the emotional world of children. Through engaging anecdotes and insightful research, the book reveals how teaching kids to set boundaries can cultivate empathy and stronger relationships. It encourages parents to embrace their children's unique personalities while fostering healthy communication. With a blend of humor and heartfelt advice, the author illustrates that prioritizing emotional intelligence over enforced sharing can lead to happier, well-adjusted kids. Are you ready to rethink how you guide your child through social interactions?
By Heather Shumaker
Published: 2012
"Sometimes it's okay to keep things to ourselves."
Parenting can be such an overwhelming job that it’s easy to lose track of where you stand on some of the more controversial subjects at the playground (What if my kid likes to rough house—isn’t this ok as long as no one gets hurt? And what if my kid just doesn’t feel like sharing?). In this inspiring and enlightening book, Heather Shumaker describes her quest to nail down “the rules” to raising smart, sensitive, and self-sufficient kids. Drawing on her own experiences as the mother of two small children, as well as on the work of child psychologists, pediatricians, educators and so on, in this book Shumaker gets to the heart of the matter on a host of important questions. Hint: many of the rules aren’t what you think they are! The “rules” in this book focus on the toddler and preschool years—an important time for laying the foundation for competent and compassionate older kids and then adults. Here are a few of the rules: • It’s OK if it’s not hurting people or property • Bombs, guns and bad guys allowed. • Boys can wear tutus. • Pictures don’t have to be pretty. • Paint off the paper! • Sex ed starts in preschool • Kids don’t have to say “Sorry.” • Love your kid’s lies. IT’S OK NOT TO SHARE is an essential resource for any parent hoping to avoid PLAYDATEGATE (i.e. your child’s behavior in a social interaction with another child clearly doesn’t meet with another parent’s approval)!
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“Sometimes it's okay to keep things to ourselves.”
It's OK Not to Share and Other Renegade Rules for Raising Competent and Compassionate Kids
By Heather Shumaker
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Heather Shumaker is an award-winning author known for her engaging children's books and insightful parenting guides. With a passion for nurturing creativity and curiosity in young minds, she has written titles like "It’s Okay to Make Mistakes" and "The Well-Behaved Child." Heather's work emphasizes the importance of play and imagination in child development, earning her recognition from educators and parents alike. She holds a degree in English from the University of Michigan and has contributed to various publications on parenting and education. When she's not writing, Heather enjoys exploring the outdoors with her family in their home state of Michigan.
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