Didier Pleux is a doctor in developmental psychology, a clinical psychologist and the director of the French Institute for Cognitive Therapy. He is the author of many successful books published by Editions Odile Jacob, including De l’enfant roi à l’enfant tyran, Peut mieux faire, Exprimer sa colère sans perdre le contôle, Un enfant heureux and Les Adultes tyrans.

How should children be raised nowadays? This question is dreaded by many parents, who feel increasingly stressed and do not know what attitude to adopt in dealing with their children. What sort of authority should parents establish, and how should they enforce it? Some parents over-psychologise the often perfectly normal difficulties that their children encounter. Yet, when a clear response to a specific situation is required parents often confuse the issue and fail to provide rules and guidelines.
Amid so much anxiety, the author argues that it is time to reconnect with less complex child-rearing principles which will be easier to put into practice.
The author’s golden rule is for parents to focus on the child, on what he is living through, on the reality of the situations he experiences, and to ignore the numerous theories on child psychology, which, in the end, just tend to confuse and baffle them. This book aims to offer advice, to define the ten rules for common-sense, de-dramatized child rearing, in order to build a better future for the child.

• Ten rules based on common sense to help you bring up your child.
• Advice for parents on managing their emotions. Teaching children to take responsibility.
• Specific situations and precise responses. Clear, guilt-free tips for parents.