French Children Don't Throw Food: The hilarious NO. 1 SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER changing parents’ lives Paperback – 17 Jan. 2013

Could be because it feels like my parenting philosophy is naturally similar to the tips being espoused in this book but it was great. An interesting read and full of great tips for trying to raise children who are polite and happy to be left alone! And the fact that the author is a twin Mum definitely helped me relate, personally.

Overall, I enjoyed the read. It was fun, easy to read, and I couldn't put it down. It is not another parenting guide, it is different because it is written through an anthropological perspective. It summons author's observations of French parenting, her subjects being the friends that she makes in France. She also collects her data through interviews, but those are spare. I know from other reviews that quite a lot of people have found her book annoying because all her observations were based on very elite, upper class parents. It would have helped if the author acknowledged her bias at the beginning of the book, on the other hand, she was always very transparent about the social position of her friends, so it doesn't leave any doubt as to what class of French society she is talking about. Her more general observations did make me wonder though, such as her claim that she has not once witnessed a tantrum on the French playground in all the years she's lived in France. I've just come back from a week in Brittany and guess what, I went to a local playground only once, and in that one time saw a French kid throwing a tantrum. So maybe there is something for the British expression of terrible twos after all, no matter how hard the author wants to put it all down to parenting style.All in all, I believe that you need to read this book carefully and not let it impact you too much. It is just another book on the market, and it felt that a chief value of the book was entertainment, so the analysis as a result is not very deep and is a bit shallow in places. Also, this glorification of French culture is a bit boring, French adults are not superior to people in other countries, and I do not consider arrogance a virtue. They could also cool down on their patriotism a bit, as far as I am concerned. Modesty and humility often go hand in hand with doing more good in the world and being a smarter person. And frankly, I just like warm friendly people.My main and biggest thing is - please ENJOY parenting. Do not let anyone, any author in the world, make you feel yet again that you are somehow inadequate because you are not trotting in high heels on the playground or because you might have a little squabble with your partner every now and then. Be you, it will not last long, and it doesn't matter that French would give you big eyes if they saw your kid having a snack at 11am. Personally I LOVE going down the slide with my toddler, I LOVE skipping stones in the sea with him, breastfeeding him is enjoyable and dear to me. I would feel very sad living in a culture where I felt like I couldn't go and splash in the puddles with my child. I was really looking forward to being a parent partially because I couldn't wait to play again as an adult and feel free like the wind and the sky and the rain. And guess what, I feel sexy and chic just as I am. Good luck to you all on your parenting journey xxx

I absolutely loved this book - I started reading it, because I was becoming aware that my parenting style wasn't the same as others peoples. My babies always slept through the night from 6-7 weeks, I never put had to end phonecalls because of children, I always had an active social life from baby being small, I wasnt anxious, I didnt really give a second thought as to what I was eating in pregnancy... I was aware that I was doing things differently to other "Anglophones" but I had no idea I was inadvertently doing it the French way until I saw an excerpt of this book on a blog and bought the book - now I am recommending it to all my neurotic Anglophone friends!The book is very well written - although reference is made to the authors own children, it is done so as a reference for comparison or example, not merely for the narcissism of talking about her own kids. After reading this one, I decided to also read 'Why French Children Dont Talk Back" by Catherine Crawford and I had to delete it off my Kindle at 9% because it was poorly written and I was sick of hearing endless irrelevant sagas about her own two girls.The book is witty, intelligent, and very well structured. I cannot fault it. I am still a little confused as to how this book differs from Bringing Up Bebe which I had heard about and initially was what I was looking for - is it the same book, re-titled? I can't find it on Amazon to buy.I am going to buy Pamela's other books on the subject and I hope they are equally as intelligent and entertaining, with the self deprecating humour that made the story so endearing.

I really enjoyed this book. I've worked in France and spend the summers there, and although I can see why people accuse Druckerman of stereotyping, I think there is a different attitude towards parenting.It is a wake up call for many parents - while we are encouraged to provide opportunities for education and enrichment, French children get more time to play. They also, crucially, get to see their parents as whole people, whose needs don't revolve entirely around their children. Being a mother is important, but a parent also finds time for him or herself, which teaches the child such a valuable lesson and prepares them for later in life. It also leads to greater respect for the parents. Not letting your child interrupt, and not feeling the need to entertain the child with toys or screen time, not letting your house become taken over by toys and baby paraphernalia...all sensible suggestions.I like the concept of talking to the child with respect too - it isn't dissimilar to the "RIE"/Gerber/Pikler approach. There are some cross overs in terms of setting clear boundaries, and the idea of the child as complete person capable of making wise choices.I have read this book twice now, and it has made me more aware of how I act towards my child, and how other parents act towards theirs. It has pointed out the importance of delayed gratification, and I think some terms ("sage" and "on n'as pas le droit a faire ca") are useful to have in the parenting toolbox.Even if you don't approve of/agree with the comparisons with French culture and parenting, this is a sensible, realistic perspective on parenting.