Raising Happiness: 10 Simple Steps for More Joyful Kids and Happier Parents

This was not a parenting book. This was a self-care book. There was almost no information on how to be a good parent. Yes, I know that she’s saying that taking more care of yourself will help you to be a happier parent, but then she should have called her book, “How Parents Can Take Better Care of Themselves.” When my kid is kicking in the midst of a temper tantrum, nothing in this book will be of any help. Any tips she did have were overly basic and vague. For example, when she talked about sibling fights, she wrote “Calm you kids down.” Really? Did she think that we needed a book to tell us to calm our kids down in the middle of a fight? Also, her book mainly consisted of examples of how she did things wrong, with comments about why not to do it that way, but without a follow up with examples on what to do. Although she sometimes said what to do, she rarely gave any information on how to do it. Plus, she was so self-deprecating throughout the book that it actually was a distraction. She should know that if you’re going to write a book, you don’t have to spend half of it negating your knowledge on the topic in order to feign humility. Drop the “I don’t know anything” act. Instead, be confident. If you don’t believe in yourself, your readers won’t believe you either.You do not need to buy this book, because here is the summary of her very basic points:1) Go out with your friends and to yoga class more2) Get along with your co-parent3) Be grateful4) Forgive others5) Be optimistic6) Don’t threaten or bribe7) Teach your kids to regulate their emotions (though she gives few examples on how to do so)8) Be mindfulHer final points are: day care is bad, TV is bad, play is good, and eat dinner with your kids. Overall, this self-care book was most unhelpful for parents who are looking for solid techniques on how to interact more calmly and positively with their children.

I have purchased this book 7 times since April. It has become my go-to gift for all my friends who are pregnant, have kids, or work with kids. And all of them have found this book enjoyable to read, with simple every day advice to follow. I don't have kids yet, but this has helped me to better interact not only with my herd of nieces and nephews, but with my spouse as well. And this book has been helpful in igniting constructive conversation between my spouse and I about how we want to raise our future children. My husband is also a high school principal and has found many of the case studies in this book to be applicable to his daily interactions with students and teachers alike.My only qualm with this book (which I'm surprised by since Dr. Carter is in the bay area) is the assumption of a woman+man partnership, and the assumption that only women pick up this book. It irks me every time. Parenting books published these days should really include same-sex partnership verbage.

I really liked reading this book the first time at a library so I bought it on Amazon. I go back to refresh myself every so often regarding how to raise my children with more ease. For example I didn't know how to resolve their conflict and had always let them take care of business. I learned to ask them questions and have them think about each other's wants and feelings. It was important to go through the steps and to realize they weren't thinking in the other person's shoe. I am still working on it but I can already see why the kids didn't get along sometimes.

To lump this book in with the myriad other books on parenting would be doing both the book and the reader a disservice. Raising Happiness goes beyond 'parenting' - it's truly a book on how to create a happiness lifestyle, and in turn raise happy kids. I enjoy Dr. Carter's anecdotes, but also appreciate that all her happiness advice is rooted in scientific study; both social and medical. This is the book that I will not only reread (and enjoy each time) but will keep on my bedside table and refer to time and time again when I'm feeling a bit overwhelmed and potentially down. Thank you for this book, for your insights, and for the happiness guidance. I have been implementing suggestion after suggestion, and to my delight, my children are flourishing and I'm a happier mom because of it! I will be recommending this to friends, giving this book for baby showers, and sharing the insights with my husband. And reading it again. And then probably again. And perhaps one more time for good luck!

First of all, I purchased the title to make sure I was adequately prepared,for my soon to be adolescent. It reinforced some old axioms and enlightened me with so many new ones I almost forgot how good a parent I thought I was and why. Then, a short way into the title Christine started laying out suggestions that would prepare and repair better adults. America and the classrooms of life would be better places if this book-bound advice was followed. So much nicer place. Well done. Do yourself and your kids a favor. Read it and follow ALL of her advice. Since you don't need a license to have a kid, this should be required reading for all expecting and existing parents. Our world would be a much better and less screwed up place.

I feel strongly that the knowledge passed on by Christine Carter is accurate and well-documented. She presents her "Raising Happiness" viewpoints both on personal experience and on her background teaching and lecturing on Emotional Intelligence, as a means of calming the soul and finding anchors of pleasantness in every day. I also teach about living in the present moment rather than dwelling on the past, and I also use the sensations of breathing,listening, touch, and loving kindness in my meditations to help myself and others learn techniques that can be guideposts for happiness. I intend to order a second copy of the book to share with my daughter, who has a toddler, and also combines family with a full-time profession.I appreciate Amazon.com for it's comments which led me to buy the book.Best Regards, Prof. O'Brien,MA, Concord's Community College, N.H.T.I.,where I teach "Communications" and "English" courses.

This is a great book and one of my favourite parenting books I've read so far. It's less of a manual type of parenting book on how to do this and how to do that. It's more of an overall approach to raising children into adults with good values and good emotional health. A very good read and my approach has changed with my kids for the better since reading it.

Very positive and empowering book to help nuture a happy child. Good insights and helpful for improving happiness in the parents too!

This book is a must read for parents who want to connect with there kids, and also give there kids an upbringing that helps there offspring to become emotionally competent. Loaded with good, well resarched information. Also many good references in the book for further studying of the subject. As a schoolteacher I also recommend this book for other teachers!

Was a good read. I enjoyed it an it was helpful.

Interesting and accessible. Not preachy but down to earth. Good advice and ideas.