Dr. Laura Markham - Calm parents, happy siblings: how to stop the fighting and raise friends for life

This book delivers hope and help. Laura Markham brilliantly applies her respectful, attuned, limit-setting approach to sibling dynamics. Full of realistic scenarios and scripts for how parents can turn conflict into opportunities to build skills, and turn parental dread into meaningful intervention, Calm Parents, Happy Siblings masterfully coaches parents on how to honor each childs experience, set limits, reduce conflict, and build skills for life.

Tina Payne Bryson, PhD, co-author of The Whole-Brain Child and No-Drama Discipline

Parents need all the help they can get to be the kind of parents they want to be, and to use parenting skills that influence their children to be good citizens of the world. Dr Lauras book is filled with this kind of help practical, inspiring, and encouraging through real-life examples. It would have helped me a lot when I was raising my children.

Dr Jane Nelsen, author and co-author of the Positive Discipline series

Finally, a book that answers your questions around sibling rivalry! In this insightful book, Dr Markham draws on scientific research to craft smart strategies that any parent can use to help their children resolve their conflicts with empathy, mindfulness, and peace. A must-read for every parent.

Dr Shefali Tsabary, author of The Conscious Parent and Out of Control

Adding a child to the family creates a cascade of challenges. Dr Laura Markham shows parents how to avoid common sibling difficulties, and how to convey their love, even in stressful situations, so children truly feel supported. Open this book, and youll find clarity, wisdom, workable ideas, and generous helpings of respect for parents and children.

Patty Wipfler, founder of Hand in Hand Parenting

Refreshingly positive and respectful in its tone, Calm Parents, Happy Siblings lovingly guides parents by using scripts and practical examples, essential tools for any parent with more than one child. Dr Lauras compassionate approach is empowering for parents, and liberating for children.

Lysa Parker and Barbara Nicholson, founders of Attachment Parenting International and authors of Attached at the Heart

Brothers and sisters, rejoice! Heres a family roadmap to transform bickering kids into a connected sibling team. One third of kids have a warm caring relationship with their siblings. Read this book and your family can join the ranks.

Heather Shumaker, author of Its Okay Not to Share

A phenomenal book for parents with multiple children! Dr Markham addresses all of the common sibling issues with sensible solutions to bring peace and foster healthy relationships between siblings. This book will be my constant companion for years to come.

Rebecca Eanes, author of Lasting Bonds: Building Connected Families Through Positive Parenting

Whether you are just beginning to contemplate having a second child or you are already frustrated by non-stop sibling fighting, this book is for you. I marvelled at the amount of wisdom, compassion, and practical ideas packed into its pages. The wisdom begins with her gentle reminder that we have to start with ourselves if we want to make meaningful changes in our childrens relationships with each other. The compassion is in Dr Lauras empathy for everyone in the mix including angry and worried parents. And the ideas arent just practical and usable many of them are downright fun. Youll laugh out loud just reading them, and everyone will laugh when you try them out. Wouldnt that be a nice change from bickering and clobbering?

Lawrence J. Cohen, PhD, author of Playful Parenting

As a parenting coach, I know that sibling struggles can be heart-wrenching for parents. Dr Lauras strategies are right on the money to help todays parents create more peaceful homes and stronger sibling relationships. Great work!

Amy McCready, founder of Positive Parenting Solutions and author of If I Have to Tell You One More Time and The Me, Me, Me Epidemic

This book walks parents through sibling scenarios even ones for very intense children and breaks down the specifics of how to approach common struggles, without making parents feel guilty or overwhelmed. It is a wonderful resource that gives parents the tools to not only help our children while in the midst of conflict, but also helps us teach our children how to be the loving, kind, and respectful brothers and sisters we know they can be.

Gina Osher, The Twin Coach

If you are the parent of more than one child, this is the book for you. Laura Markham begins at the beginning the how and when to tell your child that they are about to become a big brother or sister and then offers concrete suggestions to help you lay down the foundation for a healthy sibling relationship throughout your childrens lives. I know that I will highly recommend this book to all my clients.

Rev. Susan Nason, parent educator

Dr Lauras examples and coaching-based methodology make parenting siblings far less daunting.... Her book reassures us that doing our best with the right tools, including self-regulation, connection, and coaching, can build a much happier and more peaceful family.

Nancy Peplinsky, founder and executive director of Holistic Moms Network

This ebook is copyright material and must not be copied, reproduced, transferred, distributed, leased, licensed or publicly performed or used in any way except as specifically permitted in writing by the publishers, as allowed under the terms and conditions under which it was purchased or as strictly permitted by applicable copyright law. Any unauthorized distribution or use of this text may be a direct infringement of the authors and publishers rights and those responsible may be liable in law accordingly.

Version 1.0

Epub ISBN 9781473528109

www.randomhouse.co.uk

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Vermilion, an imprint of Ebury Publishing,
20 Vauxhall Bridge Road,
London SW1V 2SA

Vermilion is part of the Penguin Random House group of companies whose addresses can be found at global.penguinrandomhouse.com

Copyright 2015 by Dr Laura Markham

Dr Laura Markham has asserted her right to be identified as the author of this Work in accordance with the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988

First published in the United Kingdom by Vermilion in 2015
First published in the United States as Peaceful Parent, Happy Siblings in 2015
Published by arrangement with Perigree, an imprint of Penguin Publishing Group, a division of Penguin Random House LLC

www.eburypublishing.co.uk

A CIP catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library

ISBN 9781785040252

When you have one child, youre a parent. When you have two, youre a referee.

DAVID FROST

Before you can teach your kids to listen, identify the problem, express their feelings, generate solutions, and find common ground, you have to learn those problem-solving skills yourself.

LAURA DAVIS AND JANIS KEYSER, BECOMING THE PARENT YOU WANT TO BE

You mean the baby could be a boy? But Im your boy. I guess its okay We can always send him back, right?