Bringing Up Girls

Several years ago James Dobson wrote a book called Bringing Up Boys.  At that time my daughter was a baby and I have to say I felt a little left out.  I saw on Tyndale's list of review books that he had finally written a book for us parents of girls, and I signed up for a copy right away.  I read it on the bus coming home from my blog-a-thon last week. 

Bringing Up Girls is a great resource.  It covers topics from birth to adolescence and I definitely see myself pulling it out again as Katarina gets older. With all parenting books there are going to be ideas and suggestions that work wonderfully and fit into your life, and there will also be suggestions that don't.  I felt that over all most of the suggestions and assertions made by Dr. Dobson in Bringing Up Girls were valid and useful.

There are 2 chapters devoted to fathers and daughters.  I read those chapters and found myself crying more than once.  What a precious thing a good relationship between a girl and her father can be, and how hurtful it is for a girl who doesn't have that relationship.  Chapters 4 and 18 provide an interesting look at the female brain and the developmental processes girls go through.  I have to admit that there was a lot I didn't know contained in those chapters, even though I am a girl, and went through it!  There is also a great chapter on Bullies and Best Friends.  Girls, especially in those adolescence years, can be brutal to each other, and I'm glad this topic was addressed. 

The only criticism I have about this book is that I would have liked more practical advice in some areas. Given the fact that Dr. Dobson has written many parenting books, I think that he was striving not to be repetitive with this one, but to cover new ground instead, and I can understand that.

This book was provided to me for review by the Tyndale Blog Network.  I did not receive any other compensation compensation and I was not required to say nice things.