Warning Signs

Book excerpt: Warning Signs provides practical methods to reduce harm to and by children. Doctors Johnson and Berdahl present the most common risk factors and warning signs, along with practical parenting advice and strategies for raising strong, safe kids and protecting them from becoming either perpetrators or victims. They explain how the "old" risk factors—child abuse and neglect, domestic violence, sexual assault, and poverty—have been compounded by new ones in the past 20 years, such as violent media, kids' entitled attitudes, parents' fear of intervention, and increases in childhood mental illness, disrupted families, substance use, bullying, access to weapons, and social media. They provide sample language for tough conversations with kids and with other adults. Full of specific, practical ideas, this book will appeal to parents who want to raise kind and compassionate children.