Product Description

John Rosemond is a renowned child psychologist who has helped millions of parents learn to raise their children and remain sane. In Teen-Proofing, now available in paperback, he tackles the challenges of raising a teenager with his trademark user-friendly, humorous, and commonsense style. Rosemond lays out a perfectly sound and logical case for recognizing the realities of the teen-parent relationship, forming the foundation, and parenting with the "Long Rope Principle." In short, the author demonstrates how Mom and Dad can avoid the pitfalls of becoming dictatorial "Control Freaks," skirt the potholes of turning into permissive "Wimps," and enjoy the freedom and rewards of parenting in a controlled (but not controlling) and relaxed manner. Teenagers, Rosemond readily admits, can be a challenge. But infusing young adults with a sense of personal responsibility, then showing them the results of good and bad choices, is a goal every parent can achieve.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #31513 in Books
• Published on: 2000-09-15
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 224 pages

Amazon.com Review
Parents can protect toddlers--with their maximum mobility and minimum logic--by pasting plastic on electrical outlets and putting poisons out of reach. But protecting teenagers is not so simple, says family psychologist and author of Raising a Nonviolent Child John Rosemond. "Short of solitary confinement, you can't guarantee that a teen won't use drugs, shoplift, drink or crash the car. In the final analysis, teens must protect themselves." Rosemond's Teen-Proofing provides parents with tough-love strategies for managing teens so they make self-protective, rather than self-destructive, decisions.

Many parents will recognize the error of their ways in Rosemond's portraits of parents as "micro-managers" who try to control their children and "wimps" who let their children control them. He offers a compelling alternative by urging parents to be "mentors, who realize they can control the parent-child relationship, but not the child." The author explores critical parent-teen issues including curfews, cash, cars, and cohorts--detailing an approach that gives teenagers a "long rope" to make their own mistakes and also offers "creative consequences" to encourage responsible decision making.

The author offers smart and seasoned advice--from coping with middle school "tweenagers" to understanding why teens are vulnerable and how the culture diminishes a parent's influence. Yet he undermines his clarity with snide asides about mental health professionals and one too many smug and self-congratulatory examples of his own parenting of a son and daughter. These distractions are unnecessary; the book's unconventional and provocative suggestions will speak volumes to parents of teens. --Barbara Mackoff

From Publishers Weekly
RosemondAsyndicated newspaper columnist, family psychologist and author of numerous child-rearing titles (Because I Said So!)Awrites about the angst-ridden teen years with a keen sense of humor. Rosemond's message that teens need to be "mentored" rather than "micro-managed" by their parents is clear and quite reasonable, but readers unfamiliar with his often unconventional attitude may be put off when he turns his acerbic wit toward mental-health professionals, including Selma Fraiberg, who he says promote "parentbabble." The book clearly outlines what to expect of teens and how to deal with peer groups; gives solid advice on how to set limits and communicate with adolescents; and covers more troubling subjects such as drugs and depression. The author slips too often into a q&a format that seems better suited to a newspaper column, and offers only scant information on school problems and how to approach the subject of college. Fortunately, Rosemond's main text is peppered with entertaining anecdotes from his family and amusing tit-for-tat tales of raising his own son and daughter. Rosemond followers will no doubt be delighted to add this book on teens to their parenting libraries, but newcomers may have to adjust to the author's unsentimental attitude toward kids and may find his advice to let the teen "stew in his own juices" just a bit tough to swallow.
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Library Journal
Based on the premise that child rearing is largely a "commonsensical" rather than an intellectual enterprise, psychologist Rosemond's book leads readers into the world of adolescent behavior management. Critical of traditional psychology, Rosemond (e.g. Because I Said So!, Andrews McMeel, 1996) crafts a "tough love for the thinking person" approach, emphasizing open communication, real-world consequences, self-respect, and mentoring. His advice on topics ranging from cars, cleaning, and sex education to drug use, depression, and obsessive-compulsive tendencies is sound and refreshingly frank. Parents are told never to micromanage errant teens but to act strategically instead. Useful ideas are presented, but many of them will require a high level of parental commitment to implement. The book itself may be most useful to those who need it least: parents with resources and minimally disruptive teens. The presentation is readable, humorous, and moralistic. Recommended for public libraries as demand warrants.?Antoinette Brinkman, Southwest Indiana Mental Health Ctr. Lib., Evansville
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Customer Reviews

Rosemond makes parenting fun again.
When I read Teen-Proofing I was on the way to micromanaging my terrific teen into rebellion, and John saved me (and my son) a lot of trouble I think. His advice (6-Point Plan, Making the Terrible Two's Terrific) was excellent, effective and enjoyable when my children were younger, and I anticipate Teen-Proofing will prove just as useful.

Great Book for parents of pre-teens and teenagers
This book is a must read for all parents of teenagers. John Rosemond's logical approach to parenting is refreshing and incredibly helpful. His practical approach gave me much insight into the parenting of my 13 year old. I've recommended the book to all my friends with similar aged children.

Also, the best book ever
This book is also one of the best books I've ever read. I've read most or all of Rosemonds books and I've seen him speak at two seminars in my area. I have a 14 year old and this book was full of great information. I wish, however, that I had read this book a couple of years ago. I'm now backtracking some with him but still trying to implement the ways Rosemond says to dicipline. It has lots of relatable stories from people he talks to. I mostly thought he was talking about our family in all the different stories. A very easy read and full of wise information.