Parent Child Journey

Book excerpt: Author, pediatrician, and developmental- behavioral expert Dan Shapiro, MD, divides his new parenting guide, Parent Child Journey, into ten different "miles." Each mile represents an interactive session that brings you closer to understanding your child's behavior and learning effective strategies. The first mile includes the "Gander," an assessment tool Shapiro developed to help describe your child's developmental profile-and yours too. Respecting the different learning styles of children and parents, he presents the Gander in a variety of ways: as a standard rating scale with explanatory text, but also as a picture, a song, and a map. Then, Shapiro takes parents through nine other sessions, continuing to present his evidence-based training program as a uniquely creative integration of standard discussion, real-life vignettes, richly illustrated fable, worksheets, and homework assignments. Throughout Parent Child Journey, Shapiro emphasizes, "Just because your child's behavior may be complicated, does not mean it is incomprehensible." Parent Child Journey combines serious help with whimsical presentation-supporting and teaching parents, even as it engages and entertains. With this comprehensive new guide, Shapiro reassures parents that they are not alone on this journey.