cover image Unlocking Parental Intelligence: Finding Meaning in Your Child's Behavior

Unlocking Parental Intelligence: Finding Meaning in Your Child's Behavior

Laurie Hollman. Familius (IPS, dist.), $17.95 trade paper (254p) ISBN 978-1-942934-04-2

Hollman, known for her articles on "parental intelligence," a term she coined, lays out her philosophy in this book. She devotes Part One to the five steps required for achieving this kind of intelligence: stepping back; self-reflecting; understanding your child's mind; understanding your child's development; and problem-solving. Part two lays out eight case studies drawn from Hollman's psychotherapy practice, spanning the parent-child relationship from infancy to late adolescence, and demonstrating how using the five steps will solve behavior problems. A brief Part Three suggests the broader good to society that will follow when children are raised under this philosophy. The underlying principle is that all behavior has meaning, but not necessarily the meaning that first occurs to parents. By understanding this meaning, parents can better respond to their children's behavior. This is a well-written, easy-to-understand book that offers parents useful tools for reflecting on their relationships to their children. Whether they can gain significant insight into their own behavior without aid from a trusted therapist is a question that will remain. Nevertheless, Hollman has penned a worthwhile read with a helpful template for handling fraught situations without resorting to kneejerk responses. (Oct.)