INA - International Nanny Association

It's So Much Work to Be Your Friend:
Helping the Child with Learning Disabilities Find Social Success
by Richard Lavoie

Paperback: 448 pages
Publisher: Touchstone (October 3, 2006)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0743254651
ISBN-13: 978-0743254656

Editorial Reviews:

Publishers Weekly
"Life without friends is a lonely and barren existence," but that's a common fate for children who fail to develop proper social skills, writes veteran special education teacher Lavoie in his insightful guidebook to helping children with learning disabilities overcome social skill deficits. Eschewing sink-or-swim and carrot-and-stick approaches, Lavoie stresses communication and patience for parents looking to guide their children through the maze of social interactions encountered daily, from arranging successful play dates and navigating the hidden curriculum of school, to language difficulties, social anxieties and family issues. Lavoie, who has taught and worked in the special education field for over 30 years, shows how to detect learning disabilities, discusses their impact on a child's social development and provides strategies (most notably his "Social Skill Autopsy") for implementing behavior change. Organized by the different types of social skills-those commonly used at home, at school and in the community-Lavoie's text is refreshingly free of jargon and is suitable for both spot- and cover-to-cover reading. Though aimed at parents of learning disabled children, this comprehensive guide will be handy for any parent whose child has trouble socializing at school or home.

Review
"Some learning challenged students are gifted socially, while others painfully struggle. Rick Lavoie's new book is a wonderful resource for parents and professionals alike who seek to guide those in need through their social and emotional hurdles."
-- Barbara Wilson, M.S. Ed., director, Wilson Language Training

Reader Reviews (Amazon)
 
5 stars
Extremely Useful
November 28, 2005 By  Valerie L. Mcenroe "mcenroe1" (Mason, OH United States)
 
This review is from: It's So Much Work to Be Your Friend: Helping the Child with Learning Disabilities Find Social Success (Hardcover)
My son is not ADHD or LD, but he does have problems with social situations, organizational skills, short attention span, etc. This book addresses a lot of those things. A good portion of the book does not apply to my son because academically he is ahead of his peers and this book assumes that kids with social deficiencies also suffer academically. There are several chapters devoted to specific LDs which I skipped. This book helped me to be more understanding of children with attention problems because there are neurological reasons that make it very difficult for them to make socially acceptable decisions and remain focused on tasks. In the beginning there is a long list of behaviors that these children have and so many of them described my son.

One part that I found very useful was the part in the introduction that explains why punishment does not correct poor behavior patterns. It will stop it for that episode, but not have lasting results. Also you should not say, for example, "If you behave in the restaurant then you can get dessert." Not getting dessert would be punishment. The child will be resentful and probably act the same way at the next restaurant. You should explain the expectation beforehand and then if the child behaves you would say, "You have been so good that I think you deserve some dessert." The child will feel a since of accomplishment which leads to them wanting to behave better.

Also in the introduction is a 5 step approach of how to analyze with your child a social problem he encountered to help him figure out on his own what he did wrong and what he should have done.

Another part that was extremely useful was the chapter on having friends over for visits and house "rules" you get your child in the habit of following so your child becomes a good host.

All in all this is one of the best books I have read on helping children cope with attention and social problems. Comment Comment | Permalink | Was this review helpful to you?  Yes No (Report this)

 
5 stars
Read this book!
June 18, 2006  By  zhivago (Nashua, NH USA)

This review is from: It's So Much Work to Be Your Friend: Helping the Child with Learning Disabilities Find Social Success (Hardcover)
Writing as someone who has lived with learning disabilities for nearly 50 years now, I cannot say strongly enough that I sincerely wish all of my teachers and parents had read this book. I will go a little further than that---I wish the pastoral counselor, psychologist, and psychiatrists that I have dealt with as an adult would read this book.

This book brought back memory after memory of times that I have been misunderstood (and rejected) by those around me, and also times that I have greatly misunderstood social and job-related incidents (and acted inappropriately as a result). Some of the long-lasting psychological damage that I have had as a result could have been alieviated if only those around me had been aware of the difficulties that I was having (and continue to have).

Notice that I did not say that the misunderstandings and social errors I make would have stopped. I don't think they would have.
The book does not offer any cure-alls. Its biggest contribution is to increase the understanding of the social ramifications of learning disabilities. I have found that very few normal people have any understanding of this at all; and their response can be quite damaging. Comment Comment | Permalink | Was this review helpful to you?  Yes No (Report this)

5 stars
Fills a huge void!,
September 25, 2005 By  L. Litzinger (Austin, TX USA)

This review is from: It's So Much Work to Be Your Friend: Helping the Child with Learning Disabilities Find Social Success (Hardcover)
Although there is often a social gap between children with disabilities and their peers, Lavoie thankfully gives parents the necessary skills to remedy this.

This book is also important to parents of children with physical disabilities, parents who are wrestling with the importance of teaching eye contact, body language, modulated voice volume, and cleaner eating habits to their non-LD, but spastic child. Lavoie provides such a kind way of encouraging success!

Fantastic book!

Say Good-Bye To Children’s Allergies
by Dr. Devi S. Nambudripad
An innovative, natural solution for children's allergies.

Paperback: 370 pages
Publisher: Delta Publishers (January 1, 2001)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0965824284
ISBN-13: 978-0965824286

This Book is a Life saver!, August 8, 2003
By A grateful NAET Patient and a Mom.

My children suffered from many food allergies. Our lives were on a standstill before we found out about NAET. Now after treating all known food and environmental allergies, we have our lives back. we go out to restaurants regularly. I don't have to read the fine labels on the products anymore when I shop in the super market. We can go camping, to the mountains, to the ocean without any trace of our past problems. Thank you Dr. Devi for writing and publishing this book.

Unbelievable! It works, January 11, 2008
By Lynda Spofford (Lanett, AL)

As a mother to a child with severe allergies, I tried NAET out of sheer desperation. A friend had experienced incredible success in treating (indeed CURING!) her autistic son with NAET. Slightly skeptical, I tried NAET for "clearing" my daughter's allergies. She started to improve almost overnight. It was incredible. She is now enjoying a totally unrestricted diet and is healthy and thriving. This treatment has been a blessing to our entire family. And it all started with this book. I've already given my copy away and I'm buying another one for a friend.

Helped in eliminating my son's food allergies, July 19, 2002
By A Customer

Although the book won't teach you how to get rid of food allergies it's a great resource for anyone who is or is thinking about getting rid of their child's allergies through NAET. The book is full of case studies that helped me see the not so obvious ways that my son's allergies where manifesting themselves. My son was allergic to soy, garlic, tomatoes, celery, bananas plus a whole lot of other things. The thought of eating in a restaurant was just a dream for our family. After being treated using Dr. Devi's technique we are cured and go out to restaurants all the time without any allergic reactions.

It didn't work, February 6, 2005
By Rhea Morales

We spent a lot of time and money on Naet and it simply didn't work.

An accurate blood test showed that none of the allergies that were supposedly cleared are still there. My son still reacts.

Paperback: 500 pages
Publisher: Delta Publishers; 3 edition (May 1, 2002)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0970434480
ISBN-13: 978-0970434487

Are hidden allergies slowing you down?, March 8, 2003
By Cathy M. Carlson (Buena Park, CA United States)

As many people know, suffering from allergies is often times easier than following the doctor's advice to control them. Nambudripad addresses this issue in her book, "Say Good-Bye To Illness."

The book "Say Good-Bye To Illness" is an excellent resource book. It is filled with practical advice and tips on how to treat allergies with complete success.

Over the years Nambudripad's name has been maligned and sneered at as she pioneered the idea that it's not just heredity or pathogens that lead to chronic illness but unseen allergies accumulated over time. Allergies have always been presented to Americans as the hay fever sufferer or the anaphylactic peanut-eater. But millions of Americans are suffering from allergies to things they come in contact with daily and don't show up as a sneeze or anaphylactic shock but eventually lead to serious chronic illness. Traditional medical treatments are a miserable failure as attested to by many of our chronically ill. As the drugs and medicines have been added to the mix instead of noninvasive NAET treatments, Americans are suffering complications and a prognosis of continual deterioration. Dr. Nambudripad's idea that treating allergies with NAET (Nambudripad's Allergy Elimination Technique) can lead to eradicating illness and better health for a host of chronically ill patients has been vindicated.

The NAET is a 4 step approach. Step 1 is where you begin treating the basic 10 immune boosters to tip the scale to bolster your immune system and get the immune system up and running to continue to Step 2. In this step you begin to treat individual allergies you may have to foods, substances, the environment, (any and all allergies and/or sensitivities) and these are continued based on your condition and rate of recovery. Some patients need three NAET treatments per week to start and then taper off as their condition improves. Step 3 is where you begin to assimilate and understand how NAET works to return you to a state of health and in Step 4 you learn to test and treat allergies on yourself. "Say Good-Bye to Illness" discusses each of these steps and concentrates mainly on Steps 3 and 4. "The Naet Guide Book" is the companion book to "Say Good-Bye to Illness" and it is a must read for every patient starting out on their NAET journey and it focuses mainly on Steps 1 and 2.

"Say Good-Bye To Illness" covers in great detail how Nambudripad's Allergy Elimination Techniques work. The first section of the book through Chapter 7 delves into what the techniques are and why and how they work. The second section, Chapter 8 through Chapter 11, describes NAET through the explanation of muscle response testing, causes of disease, and the discovery of NAET, to the role that Chinese medicine and the acupuncture meridians play in this exciting new health treatment.

Some of my favorite chapters are found in the third section of the book. Chapters 12 through Chapter 22 detail how specific allergies affect different organs in the body from the digestive system, respiratory system, skin, joints, genitourinary, circulatory, and nervous systems to the myriad of miscellaneous disorders like addictions, yeast, candidiasis, mold, fungus, CFS, eye disorders, pain disorders, autism, asthma and so many more.

This section's explanations are dotted with over 100 success stories to give the reader a pleasant break from the medical detail and also affords the reader a moment to reflect how patients have backed up Nambudripad's medical explanations in these chapters. Extraordinary, yummy stories from patient-volunteered testimonials, these are patients' tales about their NAET journeys and amazing successes. Stories of people having rid themselves of plaguing pains and illnesses and how NAET successfully eradicated health conditions like peanut anaphylaxis, allergy to shellfish, constant sciatic pain, food allergies, hives, irritable bowel syndrome, Crohn's disease, colitis, lactose intolerance, hay fever, bronchitis, asthma, dust allergy, eczema, hair loss, arthritis, osteoarthritis, sports injury, psoriasis, lupus, bed wetting, allergy to dairy, PMS, sinus headaches, migraines, multiple sclerosis, insomnia, osteoporosis, diaper rash and so many more which all help the reader truly understand the miracle that is NAET.

YES you can eat anything you want again! You can eat dairy, gluten or peanuts and have pizza, cake or even shellfish, wine or coffee. The key of course is eradicating the allergies you have to the foods you love. You can learn to handle your allergies on the fly after a night out where you know you have sinned. Just keep a little of what it was you ate and self treat it! This book includes a tip to master self-testing.

This 500-page book includes information for the multiple chemical sensitive patient as well as vital nutritional advice to maintain good health.

The book "Say Good-Bye to Illness" makes living a fun and active life a real possibility again for so many of us, and it is an enjoyable read I highly recommend!

A FANTASTIC BOOK!, August 8, 2003
By Karen (CA)

First I was introduced to the book, "Say Good-bye to Your Allergies," by Dr. Devi S. Nambudripad. That was an excellent book! Then I bought this book. This book is certainly surpassed the meaning of its title. It is indeed going to show you a way to Say Good-bye to your Illness, no matter what kind of illness you are suffering from. The NAET technique is definitely a revolutionary treatment to eliminate allergies, the cause of most human illnesses! The procedure is very simple and noninvasive and drug-free just the way it says on the cover of the book.

I suffered from severe food allergies since childhood. I was treated in Dr. Devi's office by Dr. Mala. After seven treatment, I was relieved from my usual devastating allergy symptoms. So I am a true believer in this treatment.

This book is full of true testimonials from Dr. Devi's patients who got well by treating with NAET. I was hesitant to begin this treatment when I found out about it. So, I talked to some ex-NAET patients before I went in for the treatment. Some of them were treated by Dr. Devi years ago and they are still remaining free of their allergies. That gave me courage to try NAET.

This book is well written, quite educational, easy to understand. There are some self-help tips very useful for the laymen to help with acute problems. In chapter 7 she has given the reader step-by-step instruction to test your own allergy using simple procedures. These testing techniques are very helpful. Everyone must learn them. These techniques can help you locate the cause of your allergic reactions easily in your privacy without going through expensive testing procedures. Once located you have two choices: you can avoid it or find an NAET practitioner to help you.

I highly recommend this book to everyone. This pertains to Say Good-bye to Illness, 3rd. edition.

This is the book that saved my life, August 6, 2003
By A Customer

I am a patient suffering from allergies all my life and for the past 10 years they got much worse. I was diagnosed with autoimmune hepatitis and finally lupus. The pain and suffering was unbearable, to the point where I thought I'd rather be dead than going through all the pain. Finally I found "NAET" read the book and with much happiness I can say I'm pain free! The book "Say Goodbye to Illness" gave me confidence I needed to go through the treatment. I can't believe it took me so long to find the cure to my problem. Thanks to Dr. Nambrudipad's Allergy Elimination technique, I'm a whole new person. I can't ever thank her for all she's done for me. She is giving me back my life and a good understanding of it too.

Consumer Reports Guide to Childproofing & Safety:
Tips to Protect your Baby and Child from Injury at Home and on the Go by Jamie Schaefer-Wilson

Paperback: 208 pages Publisher: Consumer Reports; First Edition edition (May 13, 2008) Language: English ISBN-10: 1933524170

Your home. Your yard. That great big world out there. Hazards waiting to seriously injure your child are everywhere. Each year, millions of children sustain an injury serious enough to require medical care. The majority of these accidents can be prevented.

As a parent, you want to do everything in your power to arm yourself with the best and most complete safety information available. But finding and keeping track of all of this essential information is a daunting task. This book, chock full of easily readable tips, advice, and clear illustrations compiles all the information time-crunched parents and caregivers need to keep their children safe both at home and on the go ? so you can spend less time worrying, and more time enjoying your kids.?

- Which products are safe to use with your children and how to identify products that are not
- How to eliminate potential hazards in every room in your home
- Tips for your babysitters, grandparents and other caregivers
- Tips beyond childproofing, from basic bite and sting care to more serious problems such as poisoning, choking, and food allergies.
- Playground, beach, water safety and MORE.
- Clear advice for choosing the right car seat and illustrated instructions for proper installation
- Special section on the hazards of LEAD and what you can do about them.

From one of the most trusted sources of safety information, here is an invaluable baby and child safety resource every parent and caregiver should own.

Published by Ballantine Books,
Hardcover 2007 ISBN # 0345494504. 458 pages
Paperback April 2008 ISBN # 0345494512. 480 pages

Description:

This book links the four disorders, one of which strikes one of every three children in America, and offers a comprehensive program to help children everywhere.

From Publishers Weekly:

Almost half of all American children today are diagnosed with autism, ADHD, allergies or asthma, an "undeniably epidemic" statistic that physician Bock (The Road to Immunity) and author Stauth (Brain Longevity) use to launch an investigation into potential causes of and treatments for these conditions, while demonstrating Bock's unusual approach through numerous case studies. According to the authors, genetics "load the gun, and environment pulls the trigger": bodily toxins like heavy metals, exposure to viruses through vaccination and poor nutrition create "a veritable perfect storm of physical and neurological insult" that hits hardest those still developing their immune systems. In case studies, Bock approaches each patient like a puzzle waiting to be solved, a refreshing, multi-pronged strategy to healing: finding and treating the root cause of illness rather than its symptoms, reducing the body's toxin load and helping the body heal itself through nutritional and medical therapy. Empathetic and encouraging, this highly readable guide breaks down complex biomedical concepts clearly, keeping frustration at bay. Parents of affected children will appreciate the guide to action, but they, along with medical professionals, will probably wish for endnoted references rather than a general bibliography, and further statistics on treatments.

Reader Review:

K. Hurst Springville, UT

Dr. Bock has done a FANTASTIC job of explaining why the rates of these 4 diseases have gone up and how we can help to heal our kids who have them. Since we're all focused on helping our kids, here are the 4 parts of his healing program: 1) Nutritional Therapy, 2) Supplementation Therapy, 3) Detoxification, 4) Medication, and Putting these 4 therapies together. The 4 changes that he feels strongly have caused these diseases to now effect 1 in every 3 kids are: 1) Toxins Proliferated (in the air, oceans, foods, etc.), 2) Nutrition Deteriorated (fast foods and processed foods), 3) Vaccinations Increased (doubled since 1991), 4) Ability to Detoxify dwindled (methylation and sulfation damage or not working properly).

This is a great book for those who are just starting down the road of Autism, ADHD, Asthma or Allergies. It is NOT however, the book that old timers who have been doing Biomedical for years will get much from. It is similar to Jacqueline McCandless' book "Children with Starving Brains" but with much more explanation and details behind it and a great approach that goes beyond just one of the four epidemics.

If you have to choose just one book for a new parent to read to get them off the ground and jumping towards Biomedical approaches for their child's A-disease, this is it.

My Nanny and I
by Hilary Lockhart
(INA member, agency owner and former nanny)

Board Book: 20 pages
Illustrated by Edison Goncalves
Publisher: Children First Publishing (September 7, 2007), Mesa, AZ
ISBN: 0755475526
www.mynannyandi.com

Publisher's Description

Hilary Lockhart's "My Nanny and I" helps transition young children into their new child care setting. In fewer than 200 words the author describes a day with the nanny that is filled with activities, fun and learning. Going to the park, playing dress-up and making arts & crafts are all part of this wonderful book. Fear of being left with a 'stranger' is quickly forgotten as children are introduced to their new care provider.

My nanny is coming
We're going to have fun
We'll play in if it rains
Or play out if there's sun

She will teach me to count
Play puzzles and blocks
To help me get dressed
And put on my socks

Featuring 3 different nannies and full of life illustrations by Edison Gonclaves, this high-quality 'lift-the-flap' book features a photo frame where you can personalize your copy by inserting a picture of nanny and child.

Most importantly, children come to understand that at the end of the day a parent will return home.

My Nanny and I will help ease the transition of bringing a new nanny into the family, break the ice for the child and their new caregiver and help create a loving bond between nanny and child.

Reader Review

This book is so cute, so adorable and so absolutely necessary.

With text and beautifully effective illustrations describing everyday activities, My Nanny and I teaches very young children in a reassuring way that the nanny will be there while parents are away, and that mom or dad will be home at the end of the day. The book, entirely self published and printed by the author with resources from around the globe, is of excellent quality -- notwithstanding some punctuation choices that bear the mark of rushed editing.

It's a simple idea that as adults we take for granted.

No less frightening than being left at school, the idea of being left at home with a stranger can be terrifying for a child. My Nanny and I helps teach toddlers what to expect while in the care of a nanny.

The deceptively simple, rhyming text and first rate illustrations make this a great story-book. When introduced as part of your child's 'read-aloud' bedtime repertoire it will help prepare him or her for life with nanny.

Think of My Nanny and I as "Stress-Relief for the Nanny-Set".

US $7.99  www.MyNannyAndI.com

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The Feminine Mistake: Are We Giving Up Too Much?

by Leslie Bennetts

Hyperion Books - Hardcover: April 2007; $23.95US/$29.95CA ISBN10: 1401303064; ISBN13: 9781401303068

Book Description

Women are constantly being told that it's simply too difficult to balance work and family, so if they don't really "have to" work, it's better for their families if they stay home.

Not only is this untrue, Leslie Bennetts says, but the arguments in favor of stay-at-home motherhood fail to consider the surprising benefits of work and the unexpected toll of giving it up. It's time, she says, to get the message across -- combining work and family really is the best choice for most women, and it's eminently doable.

Bennetts and millions of other working women provide ample proof that there are many different ways to have kids, maintain a challenging career, and have a richly rewarding life as a result. Earning money and being successful not only make women feel great, but when women sacrifice their financial autonomy by quitting their jobs, they become vulnerable to divorce as well as the potential illness, death, or unemployment of their breadwinner husbands. Further, they forfeit the intellectual, emotional, psychological, and even medical benefits of self-sufficiency.

The truth is that when women gamble on dependency, most eventually end up on the wrong side of the odds. In riveting interviews with women from a wide range of backgrounds, Bennetts tells their dramatic stories -- some triumphant, others heartbreaking.

The Feminine Mistake will inspire women to accept the challenge of figuring out who they are and what they want to do with their lives in addition to raising children. Not since Betty Friedan has anyone offered such an eye-opening and persuasive argument for why women can -- and should -- embrace the joyously complex lives they deserve.

Editorial Reviews

"Leslie Bennetts tackles head-on the popular myth that a man is a financial plan. In this hard-hitting, eminently readable book, she explains why every marriage license should come with a warning label: Beware! Economic dependency can be dangerous to your health, happiness, and financial security. Should be required reading for all young women contemplating marriage and a family." --Ann Crittenden, author of The Price of Motherhood and If You've Raised Kids, You Can Manage Anything

"Leslie Bennetts' powerful book should be a wake-up call for women of every generation. No woman could possibly confuse care and cash again after reading about the true price women pay for economic dependence." --Liz Perle, author of Money, a Memoir

"In a time of trumped-up "opting-out" and "nesting-fever" trends, The Feminine Mistake comes as an essential corrective. With good sense, hard facts, ample wit and compelling urgency, Leslie Bennetts delivers an incontrovertible argument for economic self-sufficiency as the fundament of women's well-being. The Feminine Mistake should be required reading for all young women, and a lot of older ones, too." --Susan Faludi, author of Backlash

"OMG. A must read for everywoman! The Feminine Mistake reveals the truth about women and work and forces us all to rethink the social contract for females in our society." --Louann Brizendine, author of The Female Brain

"This is a book every mother should give her daughter -- I LOVE IT. It has a swift, urgent passion that makes it a real page-turner, and the message is of huge importance. The Feminine Mistake will inspire a new generation to celebrate the promise and the power of being a woman whose first line of defense is herself." --Tina Brown

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Searching for Mary Poppins:

Women Write About the Intense Relationship Between Mothers and Nannies
by Susan Davis (Author), Gina Hyams (Author)

Publisher: Hudson Street Press Hardcover: 320 pages Publisher: Hudson Street Press (September 21, 2006) ISBN: 1594630232

Once upon a time, nannies belonged only to the world of the rich. But that has changed in recent years as more and more women have begun to work outside the home. Increasingly, the person providing child care is the nanny. As many women find out, it can be one of the most complicated emotional relationships there is.

In this collection of essays, writers explore the "nanny conundrum," delving into the issues and emotions mothers experience when they turn the care of their children over to other people. Questions of money, race, class, immigration, and legality all coincide in the decision to hire a nanny.

Book Description
Twenty-five bestselling and award-winning female writers explore the emotional minefield of mother-nanny relationships

From coast to coast, articles and commentary on the new nanny culture abound. Nanny novels have captured public imagination to bestselling results, and thousands of “how to hire a nanny” guides are purchased every year. But no book has addressed the unique intimacy and intensity of the nanny-mother relationship through narrative with the depth and sensitivity found in Searching for Mary Poppins.

Susan Cheever, Marisa de los Santos, Joyce Maynard, Daphne Merkin, Jacquelyn Mitchard, Roxana Robinson, Rebecca Walker, and Elizabeth Graver, along with seventeen other leading women writers, explore the nanny conundrum, delving into the complex issues that today's mothers experience when they turn the care of their children over to a stranger. Raising questions that reach beyond money, race, class, gender, immigration, and legality into the darkest areas of love and fear that a mother feels, they offer viewpoints both rivetingly disparate and hauntingly familiar.

“This marvelous, often moving, collection of essays contains at least two deeply comforting lessons: one: there are no perfect nannies; two: there are no perfect mothers. How miraculous then, that so many of us manage to produce perfect children. And, with insights from this book, they will multiply.”
—Susan Stamberg, Special Correspondent, National Public Radio

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly
Happy families may be all alike, but as it turns out, so are families that hire nannies. In this collection of 24 essays, Davis and Hyams have selected essays that examine the relationship between mothers and their child-care givers. "Employing a nanny is beyond a necessity," they assess. "It becomes a question of identity." The very nature of an anthology—writers writing about their lives—also leads to this collection's main problem: the vast majority of these mothers are looking for help while they stay at home to write. There are no CEOs who must desperately look for backup care when the nanny is sick, no blue-collar workers who must figure out how to make a living while still paying for child care. Each mother is trying anxiously to please both nanny and child. When the circumstances are exceptional, so are the essays, as Andrea Nakayama's story of the "manny" hired as her husband was dying, and Ann Hood's piece about the nanny who cared for her now-deceased daughter. Daphne Merkin's essay is the strongest, focusing on her own childhood experiences with a nanny. Mothers who hire nannies will certainly appreciate this anthology, but the complete story surely lies somewhere between The Nanny Diaries and this. (Sept.)
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Kirkus Reviews
Sometimes humorous and often touching, an honest exploration of the well of feelings inspired by the nanny-mother relationship.

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101 Secrets a Cool Mom Knows

by Walter Browder, Sue Ellin Browder

Paperback: 240 pages Publisher: Rutledge Hill Press ( March 7, 2005) ISBN: 1401601359

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com
Make your children feel special by teaching them a "secret" their friends don't know. Cool moms go straight to the heart of whatever problem a child might encounter to solve it quickly and effectively, no nonsense, no fuss. And at the same time the child is learning a handy new skill, he or she is also learning a deeper life lesson about perseverance, patience, honesty, or courage.

Using Cool Mom secrets, you can teach a child . . .

How to Use Chopsticks, How to Throw a Spiral Pass, How to See Better in the Dark, How to Spin a Basketball on One Finger, How to Make the World's Best Caramel Corn, How to Cruise on a Skateboard, How to Identify a Poisonous Spider, How to Hang a Spoon on Your Nose, How to Crack an Egg with One Hand, How to Weigh a Cloud… and 90 other ageless, practical lessons. Years later, whenever your child uses any of these skills, he or she will proudly say, "My mom taught me that." Now, is that cool, or what?

Reader Reviews

This is such a great book! There are so many fun and important things to learn in this book, like how to tell if a snake is poisonous! Done with love, this book is full of wonderful thoughtful thoughts at the end of each chapter - "COOL MOM THOUGHTS", obviously written with such love and enthusiasm about being a mom.

So many times moms have so much "momming" to do that they can't spend the time they would like with their children - and THAT IS WHERE GRANDMAS come in! There are great and fun things I look forward to teaching MY grandson - things I never would have known how to do (we will view a hummingbird up close!) THIS BOOK IS A GIFT TO ALL WHO LOVE CHILDREN!

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How to Save Your Child's Life: What to Do After You Call 911

by Debra Brady

Paperback: 256 pages ISBN: 0312281765

Reader Reviews

Reviewer 1: I just finished reading it. It is a must!. Covers what to do while 911 arrives and what to expect when you call 911 the role and expertise of the different health care workers you are bound to encounter and what they can do for you. Besides of the mandatory CPR overview it includes tidbits of the author experience that make reading it again worthwhile. It also informed on the gap between states on EMT service providers certifications and capabilities. Great read, well written, clear, concise, not chatty, and a possible life saver.

Reviewer 2: Am I ever impressed! This book will be the first on my list for Baby Shower Gifts. This book is comprehensive and covers many unthinkable emergencies. Every parent or parent-to-be should read this from cover to cover and then keep it in a handy place for easy reference. Put an extra copy in your glovebox. Written from the point of view of an experienced EMT, the first hand life-saving information is invaluable.

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The Other Parent: The Inside Story of the Media's Effect on Our Children

by James P. Steyer, Chelsea Clinton

Hardcover: 288 pages Publisher: Atria Books ( June 3, 2002) ISBN: 074340582X

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal, Leroy Hommerding, Fort Myers Beach P.L. Dist., FL :
In this balanced and stimulating study, Steyer, a professor of education and political science at Stanford, CEO and chair of family media company JP Kids, and father of three, addresses the media's influential presence in kids' lives as "the other parent." Without demonizing the media, Steyer offers an in-depth look at the effects of TV, video games, and the Internet on today's kids and explains the lack of social responsibility in many media companies as they cater to stockholders over children. Backing up his convincing argument with dependable statistics, Steyer discusses the consequences of exposure to sex, coarseness, violence, and commercialism long before children are ready to understand them and offers real-world solutions that encourage a more active parental and citizen role. Also included are practical strategies for parents, educators, and even the government. This study successfully tackles a serious issue and as such deserves a place in all public, high school, and academic libraries.

Donald Kennedy President emeritus, Stanford University and editor in chief, Science magazine:
As a respected teacher, advocate, entrepreneur, and caring parent, Steyer is perfectly positioned to rewrite the rules for media and kids. No one else could have written this book with as much authority and passion as Steyer brings to his subject.

Reader Reviews

Steyer not only outlines the negative impact of the media on all of us and children in particular; he offers a workable solution, one that concerned individuals can and should begin to implement and fast!

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When You're Expecting Twins, Triplets, or Quads: A Complete Resource

by Barbara Luke, Tamara Eberlein

Paperback: 320 pages Publisher: Perennial; ( June 1, 1999) ISBN: 0060957239

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com:
The double whammy of successful infertility treatments and an increase in the number of women having children later in life has resulted in a staggering--but perhaps not surprising--phenomenon: a tremendous increase in twin, triple, and quadruple births. When You¹re Expecting Twins, Triplets, or Quads is an outstanding, much-needed addition to the pregnancy genre for women who face the alternating joy, terror, and ambivalence associated with carrying, delivering, and coping with young multiples.

Subjects like nutrition, mom's changing body and emotions, fetal development, potential complications, and labor and delivery take on new meaning when you add another baby or two to the standard equation. With the goal of minimizing risk factors associated with multiple births, Dr. Barbara Luke and her team of writers cover each subject with a buoyant determination to tell it all and tell it well--avoiding the typical "how to name and dress your twins" issues. Accompanying the detailed medical perspective of Dr. Luke are personal experiences gathered from the journals of a few articulate moms, making each subject as real as it is educational. Simple illustrations, valuable charts (including one to plot and monitor fetal growth in grams or pounds), specific menu examples (like how can you consume 4,500 calories if you're expecting quads???), and lots of reassurance make this book a winner.

Reader Reviews:

I have several of the leading books that cover twin and supertwin pregnancy, and this is by far the best of them all.

First, this is one of only a handful of books devoted primarily to multiple pregnancy, as opposed to what to do with the babies once they are born. It therefore covers in much greater depth issues like special dietary requirements for multiples, signs of preterm labor, how to cope with bedrest, and more. I bought this book shortly after my multiples were diagnosed because I didn't want advice on whether to give the babies rhyming names or let them sleep in the same crib -- I wanted guidance on how to get through my high-risk pregnancy with as few complications as possible, so that I would be able to go home with two healthy babies. This book does an excellent job of educating you about potential problem areas (without being unduly scary) and more importantly, listing concrete and do-able things that will maximize your chances of avoiding these problem areas.

Second, this is one of the few pregnancy books that isn't patronizing, cloying in tone or hopelessly dumbed down. The authors clearly respect their audience and this comes through in the style and tone.

Third, this book is written by people who know of what they speak: a physician who runs a Moms of Multiples' clinic at a well-regarded teaching hospital, and a medical journalist who has twins herself. Also, anecdotes taken from real moms who survived multiple pregnancy are interspersed throughout, giving excellent tips and helping reduce that "I'm a freak" feeling one can get when instead of having a blissful trouble-free pregnancy, one has to deal with serious medical issues. If you are pregnant with twins or supertwins, you owe it to yourself and your babies to read this book and discuss it with your doctor.

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The Secure Child: Helping Children Feel Safe and Confident in a Changing World

by Stanley I. Greenspan

Hardcover: 160 pages ISBN: 0738207500

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com:
When faced with circumstances utterly beyond our control, it's hard enough for adults to remain grounded; children can have an even more difficult time of it when their parents are feeling this way. The Secure Child doesn't promise to make everything all right, but it does provide some basic guidelines that can help pull families in crisis more tightly together.

The first chapter introduces four basic principals: spending time together, expressing feelings, reassurance, and helping others. Whether your child is 2 or 17, these fundamentals vary only in the presentation, and specific details are addressed to each age group in later chapters. Author Stanley Greenspan discusses the characteristics that secure children show, and how those traits are expressed at every age. Also incorporated are simple ways--through play, daily chats, and volunteer activities--that allow parents to easily interact with their kids to relieve tension and supply real nurturing. Elementary parenting techniques are used, with reminders about choosing your battles, maintaining empathy, and setting limits attached to age-appropriate actions.

Helping someone else feel secure when you're afraid can be extremely challenging, but this short, simple guidebook will help your whole family rest a little easier.

From Library Journal:
From playground bullies and overfilled schedules to the aftershocks of the September 11 terrorist attacks, these books address contemporary childhood stresses.

Greenspan (The Irreducible Needs of Children) notes that our culture can create "deep insecurity" but that children can become successful by creating and maintaining relationships with others.

Unlike some of his contemporaries, however, Greenspan did not cobble this together in response to September 11. Greenspan argues that the child who "can figure out the world and understand how emotions and relationships work" is termed "resilient." Against the backdrop of four guiding principles (spend time together, offer reassurance, express feelings, and help others), chapters illuminate developmental stages in nurturing resiliency. Offered tools include the adaptable "floor-time," where adults follow "the child's lead helping him to engage with others, communicate," explore feelings, etc., in the "safe" environment of home. Greenspan's tone has a wise-old-man-on-the-mountaintop quality, but the book's brevity can make some material feel underdeveloped. Yet overall, his developmental approach is tried and true and will attract many readers looking for thoughtful advice.

Reader Reviews

Although this book is a response to Sept. 11, it is useful to any parent with a child who at times experiences rejection, insecurity or awkwardness. In other words, any parent. Among Greenspan's recommendations are daily "floor time" of at least 30 minutes with each child and being empathetic with your children even after they have misbehaved. I plan to focus on floor-time and empathy with my 5-year-old, and I believe doing so will improve our relationship.

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How To Hire & Retain Your Household Help A Household HR(TM) Handbook

by Guy Maddalone

ISBN # 0-9754018-0-7 - 250 pages - Paperback
Publisher: GTM Household Employment Experts (August, 2004)

Book Description

GTM's Founder and CEO Guy Maddalone has written this handbook to help guide families through the hiring and employment stages of household help. This one-of-a-kind handbook guides household employers on how to hire, manage and retain household employees via professional management, effective employment practices and procedures, and open communication. Directs employers on implementing rules, policies and practices and helps to ensure professional, just and lawful employer activity while setting the stage for a satisfying employer-employee relationship that assists the household employer in achieving work/life balance.

The handbook offers invaluable insight from household employers, employees, placement agencies and industry leaders, along with easy-to-follow guidelines, eye-opening examples, helpful tips - and much more. This exclusive content is dedicated to household help with over 20 actual case studies, including real world examples. To help household employers, this HR handbook contains over 25 appendices including many template forms from work agreements to job descriptions.

Editorial Reviews

Annie Davis, President, Alliance of Professional Nannies Association, and President "Guy Maddalone has done it again. After many hours of hard work, he has created an important tool for households."

Rep. John E. Sweeney, Member of US Congress (NY-20) "I applaud Guy's efforts to educate household employers about labor and tax laws."

Reader Reviews

Reviewer: M. Mahoney (Washington, DC) A "must-read" for anyone hiring household employees. What I liked most about this book is that it not only covers the full range of domestic help issues, but it also breaks the subject down into easy-to-understand language.

I have employed both domestic help and nannies for years and have searched for information - a handbook, really - that would make the hiring and employment process smoother and more professional. This is that handbook. At last!

Guy Maddalone really IS the nation's household help expert and he's done us all a favor by writing this book.

Reviewer: Heather Cohen "Mom of Four" (Fredericksburg, VA USA) Raising our four children is a lot of work, as anyone with even one child knows. Having a nanny and also someone to help do the cleaning is what keeps us sane. Guy Maddalone's book is an invaluable resource in finding, hiring and then managing household help. It put a lot of structure to the situation and what we needed to do to make sure that the relationship was organized in a professional manner. This is a must-read for anyone considering or who already has household help.

Amy Anton (Paradise Valley, AZ) This is the only book you'll ever need for household help. I have never taken the time to write a review of a book. This one was so awesome that I had to write.

Thank goodness for this book. It has saved me hours of frustration in trying to do what is legal and right. In the process of hiring domestic help, I have encountered too many people (i.e. gov't or employment agencies) who should know the answers to my questions but were either too lazy or dumb to search them out. This book answered all of my questions and then some, including some that I'd never considered.

I now know that I am hiring not only ethically, but also legally. I am so glad that this book had been recommended to me.

Buy it today, it could save you thousands later.

Reviewer: Michelle LaRowe "2004 INA Nanny of the Year" (Boston, MA) A must have for all involved in the nanny world. As president of Boston Area Nannies, Inc., a non-profit educational organization for the nanny industry, I can say that this book is a dream come true.

Having all of these resources in one place has saved me so much time and energy when researching the answers to the many questions of nannies, nanny employers and nanny placement agency owners. This book answers questions regarding the laws, the trends and the complex ins and outs of our industry.

I consider this a text book for all those working as nannies. This book is a must have addition to any nanny, nanny employer, nanny training program or nanny placement agencies' library.

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Good Friends Are Hard to Find: Help Your Child Find, Make and Keep Friends

By Fred Frankel, Barry Wetmore (Illustrator)

Publisher: Perspective Publishing;
(September 1996)
ASIN: 096220367X

Book Description

This guide teaches parents clinically-tested techniques from UCLA's world-renowned
Children's Social Skills Program for helping their 5- to 12-year-olds make friends
and solve problems with other kids. Also provided is concrete help for handling
teasing, bullying, and meanness, both for the child who is picked on and for the
tormentor.

About the Author

Fred Frankel, Ph.D., is a psychologist, the director of UCLA's Parent Training &
Children's Social Skills Programs, and a professor of medical psychology at UCLA,
where he teaches and trains pediatricians, psychologists, social workers, and child
psychiatrists. He lives in Los Angeles.

From Publishers Weekly

Parents of young social butterflies may think this book makes mountains out of
molehills, but those whose children have difficulty making and keeping friends will
likely find its practical, down-to-earth approach a godsend. Frankel, a psychologist,
helped develop the Social Skills Training Program at UCLA, where he teaches parenting
workshops on helping kids make and keep friends. Based on that program, this volume
gives a helpful overview and also allows parents to locate particular problems
(e.g., how to find friends; how to deal with bullies). Frankel advocates one-on-one
playdates as the most effective way for children to form meaningful friendships,
maintaining that organized activities like team sports aren't structured to lead
to the development of close friendships. They are valuable arenas in which kids
can touch base with peers, but the building of friendships is facilitated by
following up with one-on-one play. Tips on hosting playdates and suggestions for
avoiding frustration, boredom and conflict, (the three main stumbling blocks of
play time), are included. Frankel's advises that kids should rely on interactive
games (jumping rope, playing catch, board games) and that parents should stay in the
background during visits. He also offers concrete suggestions for organizing schedules
to make time for friends and for limiting such solitary activities as video games and
TV. Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Midwest Book Review

Good Friends Are Hard To Find is the book for any parent (or child-care provider)
whose five to twelve-year-old has no one to play with, and is outraged when other
kids tease or pick on him or her, or feels helpless when school calls with the
message that there's been a fight. Good Friends Are Hard To Find provides
step-by-step information for parents helping them to help their youngsters
make friends and solve problems with other kids. Good Friends Are Hard To Find
is a guide that also offers concrete help for teasing, bullying and meanness,
both for the child who is picked on and for the tormentor. Based on the UCLA
Children's Social Skills Program, Good Friends Are Hard To Find teaches clinically
tested techniques that really work. Good Friends Are Hard To Find is a valuable,
practical, and applicable reference book for any parenting collection.

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The Complete Nanny Guide: Solutions to Parents' Questions About Hiring and Keeping an In-Home Caregiver

By Cora Hilton Thomas

Paperback: 154 pages
Publisher: Avon Books (Trd);
(September 1995)
ASIN: 0380782286

Editorial Review
Ingram
Offers concerned parents advice on choosing between daycare and a nanny, screening prospective caregivers, managing taxes and payment, winning an employee's devotion, and finding help for children with special needs.

Reader Review
Reviewer: Ellen Barski from Roswell, GA USA
I read several books on hiring a nanny, and this was the most comprehensive and well written resource I came across. I ordered it after speaking with the author on the telephone. I was very impressed by her during our conversation and remained impressed after reading her book. Finding and hiring the right nanny for your family is one of the most serious undertakings you will ever face. Cora Hilton Thomas gives you the information to tackle this task with confidence.

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101 Simple Ways to Make Your Home and Family Safe in a Toxic World

by Beth Ann Petro-Roybal

Paperback - 120 pages (September 9, 2001) Ulysses Pr; ISBN: 1569752796

Book Description
People think of their homes as safe havens from a toxic world, but unfortunately, this is usually not the case. This book sheds light on common toxins found around the house and offers parents straightforward ways to protect themselves and their children. It covers all areas of concern including food, medicines, household cleaners, airborne particles, and the house itself.

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201 Great Questions for Parents and Children

by Jerry D. Jones

Paperback (June 1999) Navpress; ISBN: 1576831477

Book Description
FEEL LIKE YOU'RE JUST NOT GETTING THROUGH TO YOUR CHILD?
This easy-to-use tool helps parents interact with their children to build mutual understanding and deeper family relationships. From simple questions about dreams and personal interpretations to deeper questions about life values, this book will help both parents and children learn to communicate effectively with each other. Useful with children of all ages living at home.

About the Author
Over the past twenty years, JERRY D. JONES has helped edit, write, or develop more than twenty-five books, served as editor of three national periodicals, and helped launch a national ministry. As a coauthor with Dick Purnell, he received a Gold Medallion Award for Beating the Break-Up Habit. Jerry lives in Colorado.

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35 Ways to Help a Grieving Child

by Dougy Center Staff (Editor), The Dougy Center for Grieving Child

Paperback - 55 pages (October 25, 1999) The Dougy Center for Grieving Children; ISBN: 189053403X

Book Description
If you know a child who has experienced the death of a mother, father, caregiver, sister, brother, or friend, you may have wondered how you can help. The thousands of grieving children and teens at The Dougy Center have taught us a lot about what does and doesn't help them. We also hear many caring parents, teachers, and adult caregivers who want to support children who are grieving but aren't sure how to go about it. In response to that concern, we've gathered together the most important stuff we've learned from the kids, and the result is this guidebook. The information in these pages is simple and practical and is drawn from the stories of the children and teenagers who have been on the front lines of grief. This guidebook addresses how to include children in decision making, what to expect from different ages of grieving children, and how to provide safe outlets for children to express emotion.

About the Author
Our practical, easy-to-read guidebook series is based on what we have learned from the over 12,000 children, teens and their families we've served since 1982.

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400 Ways to Organize Your Child :
Guide Your Child into Life Mastery by Teaching Him to Order His Personal, School and Home Life

by Cheryl R. Carter

Paperback - 112 pages (December 2000) iUniverse.com; ISBN: 0595160581

Book Description
Guide your child into life mastery by teaching him to order his personal, school and home life. This practical guide is full of tips to help parents put their kids' life in order. Parents will learn how to:

• Train children to do household chores
• Get cooperation from their children
• Manage stressful mornings
• Make bedtime routines smoother
• Help kids to remember their school assignments
• Improve kids' study habits
• Manage meal times better

Plus over 400 practical time management and organizing tips you can implement immediately with your children.
Reader Review:
I found this book to be very helpful. I also consider myself fairly well organized, but was not sure how to help my very unorganized child become organized. This book gave very helpful and insightful tips to help me help him. I like that it is quick and to the point. . it helps those of us who do not have a lot of time to read really in-depth books.

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79 Ways to Calm a Crying Baby

by Diana Greene

Paperback (November 1988) Pocket Books; ISBN: 0671662473

Editorial Review:
A treasury of warmth, wisdom and practical solutions that will calm the most tearful baby--and the most desperate parent.

Reader Review:
I must say that my husband and I would have had a much harder few years with our baby if we hadn't read this book. It gave us so many (hence the title) tricks for calming down babies. It included everything from watching the dryer to turning on the vacuum cleaner. Thank you, Diana Greene, for writing such a helpful book, and I hope Amazon.com will re-supply this book for all the other moms and dads who need some advice!

Another Reader Review:
We bought this book as desperate parents of a colicky newborn. We tried many of the suggestions to varied results. Once Cassie was about 7 months old and we were reading this book desperately, she reached out and grabbed the book and was content for nearly a quarter of an hour!! She is now 16 months and it is her favorite book. There is a baby on the cover and lots of drawings and diagrams inside which endlessly fascinate her. The little square shape is just perfect for her little hands. None of the pages are ripped (unlike every other paper book she owns). What a find! Worth every penny!

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Disclaimer

International Nanny Association does not endorse any of the publications listed on this and other pages, nor do the opinions of the authors necessarily reflect the positions of INA or its members. This is only a partial listing of resource materials available to the public. Readers are encouraged to research and inform themselves about the subjects that interest them.