"If you are looking for a practical, wise, science-based, and accessible guide to creating the kind of attachment your child needs to optimize development, you’ve come to the right place!…What a gift Raising a Secure Child is for us, for our children, and for the world….A masterpiece."from the Foreword by Daniel J. Siegel, MD, coauthor of The Whole-Brain Child "I love this book, and know it will be good to reread during the difficult moments of parenting! The best part of Raising a Secure Child is that you don't have to do anything 'extra' to help your child flourish. Instead, the book reminded me of the essential factor hidden in plain sightmy relationship with my child. It made me feel hopeful and confident about my natural ability as a parent."Kari G., Spokane, Washington "From the creators of the Circle of Security, which has changed parents' and children's lives around the globe, comes this remarkable guide. Down to earth, witty, and so, so smart about the complexities of parenting, Raising a Secure Child is a revelation. It provides a clear roadmap for all parents who want to give their children the very best beginnings possible. You will wish your parents had read this book, and if your children are grown, you will want to start all over again."Arietta Slade, PhD, Yale Child Study Center, Yale University School of Medicine "This book is outstanding in every respectbeautifully written, scientifically sound, loaded with excellent examples, and full of deep wisdom. What these authors have learned and are able to teach us can make a huge contribution to the well-being of your children and family."Phillip R. Shaver, PhD, Distinguished Professor Emeritus of Psychology, University of California, Davis "A 'must read' for parents of young children. The authors translate decades of psychological research into accessible and meaningful advice. Reading this book is an opportunity to learn about yourselfbecause, it turns out, knowing your own strengths and vulnerabilities is a vital key to parenting.”Charles H. Zeanah, Jr., MD, Mary Peters Sellars-Polchow Chair in Psychiatry and Professor of Psychiatry and Pediatrics, Tulane University School of Medicine
"A book like this can be a crucial tool for parents….Hoffman, Cooper, and Powell distill the wisdom of attachment theory into an accessible and practical approach called the Circle of Security….Through their kind and compassionate writing style, the authors model the tone they ask parents to take with their children….Raising a Secure Child is one of the most important contributions to the parenting literature in years. It is a much-needed correction to the confusion of ‘attachment parenting,’ and fills a gap by focusing on the elusive, ephemeral flow of emotions between children and adults who care for them. The guidance is offered with an understated grace and poetry, as the authors soothe the parents’ own attachment history to ease their relationship with their children.
12/01/2016
Attachments build confidence that enable children to find who they truly are and can become in the wide world, according to Hoffman, Glen Cooper, and Bert Powell's tome on nurturing emotional resilience and exploration. Twenty years ago, the authors created a 20-week program for parents struggling with their relationship with toddlers and preschoolers, which has been adapted in schools and therapeutic settings. Children with a secure attachment with at least one parent do better in school, have stronger friendships, enjoy better physical health, and go on to have more intimate, fulfilling, and enduring relationships, according to studies the authors cite from the 1950s. Hoffman et al. also believe one of the seminal mistakes of parenting is in placing focus on trying not to make mistakes. Instead of perfect parenting, the authors stress the need for present parenting. They believe being there for our children, mistakes and all, builds trust and frees our children to be who they really are in front of us. Security leads to confidence, which leads to self-reliance. Although the book is marketed to the average parent, its suggested audience seems to be professionals in the psychology or childhood development fields as the writing style is a bit more slow-paced and the authors make liberal use of charts and diagrams. VERDICT A parent with little to no reading time might prefer a format that gives simple suggestions rather than case studies and quotes from experts. Recommended for those already familiar with the Circle of Security method or for professionals.—Julia M. Reffner, North Chesterfield, VA