Raising Children Compassionately: Parenting the Nonviolent Communication Way (Nonviolent Communication Guides) Paperback – September 1, 2004

This book is absolutely brilliant! I felt like the author was speaking from my heart but knew exactly how to say it--how refreshing! He speaks from a place of love and "respect" for children. It's so intelligent and civilized--reminds me of how children would be treated in Star Trek: The Next Generation. :-) The only thing lacking is that while the ideas and values are so wonderful, there could be more tips included to help the reader. However, the book is short and serves as a great introduction to the "why's" of gentle parenting, and there are Non-Violent Communication centers around the country where I would guess one could get further help. For more tips and ideas of this nature, I recommend Two Thousand Kisses a Day: Gentle Parenting Through the Ages and Stages (A Little Hearts Handbook).

This little gem could serve as a useful entry point to Rosenberg's sometimes arcane philosophy, since parenting is the one relationship we can't simply walk away from. You're motivated.In this day and age, overt prejudice is shrinking, but there are a few that persist: The belief that children don't deserve the same respect as adults is almost universal, as Rosenberg shows early in this book. What if your child was your equal in some important way, that allowed you to still be their guide, but not their owner?With any luck, you who are reading this will someday be dead and your child will not. Children are our replacements, and as such, they want the exact same thing that we want: to grant us a kind of immortality. There is not, therefore, any basis for competition between parent and child. There is no conflict of interest.Master that in regards to parenting, and you may find that you can use it everywhere. Where is Jesus today, or Thoreau, or Ghandi? This is what "Advanced Getting Along" looks like in the 21st century.

This is a very concise little book that is written in friendly, conversational prose, as if the author were a good friend talking to you on your couch. As a busy, attachment-minded mother, I liked that it took me only half an hour or so to read, but I found myself spending more time reflecting on the lessons in the book because they were not what I was accustomed to thinking, even with my education and training as a psychotherapist. For example, our purpose-driven, aggressive society is not used to taking the time to speak very consciously and be aware of all the judgments we automatically make in our minds that manifest in our speech. This book is about becoming more aware of how we treat our children (we would seldom treat even a stranger with the everyday brusqueness and condescension we show our children, for example, the author states). I liked the small examples of everyday life that the author takes from his own experiences with his children. He talks about how our requests for things are actually thinly guised demands, and writes, "One of the most unfortuante results of making our objective to get our children to do what we want, rather than having our objective be for all of us to get what we want, is that eventually our children will be hearing a demand in whatever we are asking." The problem here is not honoring people's autonomy, which is an innate human quality that becomes threatened whenever we sense we are being forced or pushed into something. To become more effective, compassionate parents who enjoy our kids rather than resent their "disobedience", the author show us ways to guide them in life while respecting their autonomy and basic human needs to make independent choices. The author wisely distinguishes between age-appropriate choices within their reach -- the toddler, for example, who, when given the opportunity, after being role modeled generosity by his parents, chooses independently to share candy with his siblings -- and those choices that are non-negotiable, such as playing in the middle of a busy street.Though I haven't yet mentioned it, my favorite part of the book was learning about how just about every painful or uncomfortable emotion we experience is an unmet need. This shifts the thinking away from evaluating children and ourselves in a moralistic sense and moves towards "a language based on needs". Inside the back cover of the book is a helpful table listing emotions we feel when our needs are not being met, and very simple and respectful ways we can ask others to meet our needs without trampling upon theirs.

Some books only need to be 20 pages, and this book I am grateful is that. Concise and right to the heart of the matter - what needs do we have that are or are not being met.I actually felt anger at one of the low ratings given here - I couldn’t believe it! Then I took a U turn and contemplated what needs I have that aren’t being met to the point where I feel angry at such a thing.Can’t recommend this book enough!!

This is great and it hits on all the high points of nonviolent communication only aimed at relationships. It makes a perfect wedding gift.

I have Nonviolent Communication so this book was somewhat redundant for me. $6. for what is basically a glossy pamphlet with just the most basic of information seems like a waste of my money, AND if I'd had to pay shipping on it as well I would have felt even more ripped off. There are only 23 pages of actual information in this "booklet". This is something that should be available in a much less expensive format as a handout to parents in doctors' offices and social services where it could really make a difference to families. It is geared to people who can't or don't have the time to read much at all. It was about a 20 minute read, which might be right for people with a lot of kids, who also probably need this information the most. But, if you already have the original book, save your money.

Outstanding, helpful, and insightful book, especially for those who know NVC. The world will be a hugely better place if we dedicate ourselves to compassionate childrearing. ALL children will benefit.