The Black Parenting Book: Caring for Our Children in the First Five Years - Softcover

Linda Villarosa; Anne Beal; Allison Abner

9780091891404: The Black Parenting Book: Caring for Our Children in the First Five Years

Softcover

ISBN 10: 009189140X ISBN 13: 9780091891404

Publisher: Vermilion, 2003

The parents of America's 3.6 million black children under age six face unique challenges and, until now, there has not been one complete resource for them. Combining pediatric expertise, cultural wisdom, insight from leading experts, and the newest research, The Black Parenting Book finally fills this void. With stories from parents across the country and authoritative advice for all aspects of a child's early life--including sleep, nutrition, discipline, play, medical treatments, hair and body care, spirituality, and education--this is the most comprehensive book of its kind.

The Black Parenting Book also explores topics such as talking about race, finding children's books featuring African-American main characters, and deciding whether to send children to all-black preschools. Tackling issues neglected in most parenting books, this is a much-needed guide to the crucial first five years.

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Review:

Practical information, advice, and sensible answers to sensitive issues characterize The Black Parenting Book, a comprehensive guide to baby and child care for black children during their first five years. Written by Anne C. Beal (a pediatrician at Harvard Medical School), Linda Villarosa (an editor for the New York Times), and Allison Abner (an acclaimed journalist), The Black Parenting Book combines medical know-how and expert parenting advice with perspectives unique to African American parenting. Black kids are more at-risk than white kids in matters such as obesity (more than 25 percent of black children are obese), asthma, death from falls, inadvertent poisoning, and loss of self-esteem, and The Black Parenting Book deals with these issues as well as covering the basics of baby and child care (feeding, sleeping, skin, hair, bathing, toilet training). The authors raise and answer questions such as "How can I find a pediatrician who shares my values?" "Are all-black preschools best?" and "Should I straighten my child's hair?" The authors help parents prepare their children for the pain of racism, handle racist incidents, select a preschool, give support to their children during stressful times (divorce, death, moving), deal with discipline without spanking, and support spirituality and family traditions. The book handles these issues--and far more--with sensibility and sensitivity. --Ericka Lutz

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