Parenting on the Go: Birth to Six, A to Z

Parenting is a big responsibility, and there’s always more to learn. And yet, if there’s one thing parents of young children always lack, it’s time to read up on the best ways to raise kids. Enter Parenting on the Go by David Elkind, a well-known children’s psychologist. This is not your average parenting guide; Elkind doesn’t offer a particular method, but instead a series of short (one-two page) pieces on various topics that affect children from birth to age six. By its very nature, this book does not explore any particular topic in depth, but instead this book is meant as a place to get some quick advice. For some of the topics, such oversimplification does a disservice to parents; for some of the more complex topics (such as weaning or vaccination), Elkind’s approach ignores the complexity of the issue and leaves a lot of pertinent information out. For others, such as all three sections on sleep, Elkind’s writing serves only to support outdated information and practices while ignoring other important research. But there is plenty of fantastic information to be found here too, especially with regards to communication, schooling, and the importance of play, and Elkind’s liberal and open approach to many a topic considered taboo is commendable.