Good enough parenting A six-point plan for a stronger relationship with your child

Psychologists Cavell and Quetsch follow up Working with Parents of Aggressive Children with a wise look at building a strong parent-child relationship, especially for those with children exhibiting emotional or behavioral issues. Their plan includes three "core elements of a strong relationship" and three "foundational supports," each of which gets its own chapter. The latter includes "goals," in which parents are prompted to set their parenting objectives, and "health," which makes a case that one's physical and emotional well-being is "an essential ingredient in parenting." "Structure," meanwhile, emphasizes the importance of routines and rituals, such as at dinner and bedtime. As for the core elements, the authors encourage parents to accept their children and allow them to make mistakes (and note that letting kids express their emotions can turn tough conversations into "teachable moments"), to "contain" misbehavior with "effective discipline" that avoids "harsh, overly punitive" reactions, and to lead by example. Cavell and Quetsch relate every piece of advice to the larger goal of a strong relationship, and there are myriad worksheets to help parents put the methods into practice. This will be a boon to parents overwhelmed by a chaotic home life. (Dec.)