Imperfect Parenting

Dona Matthews, PhD, has worked with children, families, and schools since 99 , and is currently in private practice in Toronto, Canada. She was executive director, Millennium Dialogue on Early Child Development, University of Toronto, and founding director, Hunter College Center for Gifted Studies and Education, City University of New York. She has published widely on child and adolescent development, education, and supporting special needs. She frequently shares with parents ways to practice love and respect during each phase of their child amp rsquo s development, learning and growing alongside their children. Follow Dr. Matthews at her Psychology Today blog, amp ldquo Going Beyond Intelligence. amp rdquo

• AcknowledgmentsIntroductionChapter . Who Are You As a Parent?Parenting StylesGood-Enough ParentingIs Your Child Friendly and Optimistic? Or Fierce and Feisty?Taking It Into the Community: Positive ConnectionsKey Takeaways: How to Be a Good-Enough Parent for Your ChildChapter 2. How Human Beings Make Mistakes, Fix Them, and GrowExamples of Mistakes People MakeMindsetsPunishment, Time-Outs, and ConsequencesResponding to Mistakes and Misbehavior by AgeTaking It Into the Community: Making Lemonade When Life Gives You LemonsKey Takeaways: Using a Growth Mindset to Respond to Mistakes and Fix ThemChapter 3. Accept and Be Mindful: Take a Breath, You Are EnoughMindfulness QuizHow Does Mindfulness Work?Some Examples of Mindfulness in PracticeMindfulness Meditation: Getting StartedWhy It amp rsquo s Good to Be a Mindful ParentRelax and Be Happy, Especially if You amp rsquo re a MotherHow to Be a Mindful ParentAffirmations and MantrasHow to Nurture Your Child amp rsquo s MindfulnessTaking It Into the Community: Being Mindful About Racism and EquityKey Takeaways: Learning to Be Here NowChapter 4. Care For Yourself, and You'll Help Your Child Care for ThemselfA Self-Care QuizThe Early Years: Birth to 5Childhood: to Adolescence: to 8Young Adulthood: 9 to 24Taking It Into the Community: Sunnydale Elementary School amp rsquo s GardenKey Takeaways: Self-Care Is the Foundation of Everything Else in LifeChapter 5. Each of Us Is Unique: Brain Building TogetherNeural PlasticityThe Early Years: Conception to 5Childhood: to Adolescence: to 8Young Adulthood: 9 to 24How to Support Your Child amp rsquo s Optimal Brain DevelopmentTaking It Into the Community: Parenting CentersKey Takeaways for Healthy Brain BuildingChapter . Don't Stop Learning: You Can Keep Getting SmarterControversies and MisconceptionsWhat Do IQ Tests Measure?Abilities DevelopThe Early Years: Birth to 5Childhood: to Adolescence: to 8Young Adulthood: 9 to 24Taking It Into the Community: Neighborhood Reading CirclesKey Takeaways for Healthy Learning Across the LifespanChapter 7. Nurture Your Creativity and Creative Self-ExpressionWhat Is Creativity?Some Dimensions of CreativityThe Early Years: Birth to 5Childhood: to Adolescence: to 8Young Adulthood: 9 to 24Taking It Into the Community: Creative Problem Solving in ActionKey Takeaways for Weaving Creativity Into Everyday LifeChapter 8. Choose Love, Positivity, Caring, and ConnectionEmpathy: Where Kindness, Compassion, and Happiness BeginFriendshipSelf-Control: Staying Calm, Focused, Present, and ReasonableA Positive AttitudeHappinessSelf-ConfidenceThe Early Years: Birth to 5Childhood: to Adolescence: to 8Young Adulthood: 9 to 24Taking It Into the Community: Taking Social and Emotional Skills to SchoolKey Takeaways: It amp rsquo s All About ConnectionChapter 9. Be the Adult in the Room: Not Perfect, but WiseComplications QuizBullyingTechnology: Use MindfullySeparation and DivorceAlternative Family CompositionWise Parenting Practices for Alternative FamiliesThe Early Years: Birth to 5Childhood: to Adolescence: to 8Young Adulthood: 9 to 24Complications Quiz DiscussionTaking It Into the Community: Acknowledge Your Wounds, Look for Help, and Reach Out to OthersKey Takeaways: Clearing a Path Toward WisdomChapter . We're All in This Together: Listen, Connect, and CollaborateAdvocacy: Making Connections for Making a DifferenceEulogy Virtues Are More Important Than R amp eacute sum amp eacute VirtuesThe Early Years: Birth to 5Childhood: to Adolescence: to 8Young Adulthood: 9 to 24Taking It Into the Community: Being the VillageKey Takeaways for Weathering the Storms That Life BringsNotesIndexAbout the Author