Kirsten Smith
Acknowledgments xiii
Introduction 1
1. Overindulgence 11
Material Overindulgence
Emotional Overindulgence
How Parents Can Avoid Overindulging Their Only Child
Self-Test
2. Overprotection 35
Why Only Children Are Often Overprotected
Learning to Let Go
Building Confidence
How Parents Can Avoid Overprotecting Their Only Child
Self-Test
3. Failure to Discipline 61
The Importance of Limits
Building Better Discipline
Defining Discipline
Making Discipline Work with a Young Only Child
Making Discipline Work with a Preadolescent Only Child
Making Discipline Work with an Adolescent Only Child
How Parents Can Avoid Discipline Anxiety
Self-Test
4. Overcompensation 93
Types of Guilt and Overcompensation
What Parents Can Do About Guilt and Overcompensation
How Parents Can Avoid Overcompensation
Self-Test
5. Seeking Perfection 113
How Only-Child Parents Can Apply Pressure
Consequences of Perfectionism
How Parents Can Avoid Destructive Perfectionism
Self-Test
6. Treating Your Child like an Adult 135
How Parents Can Prevent Childhood
Consequences of Adultifying an Only Child
How Parents Can Avoid Adultifying Their Only Child
Self-Test
7. Overpraising 159
Praising an Only Child Too Much
Making Up for Lost Time
Common Ways to Overpraise
Consequences of Overpraising an Only Child
Benefits of Appropriate Praise
How Parents Can Avoid Overpraising Their Only Child
Self-Test
Epilogue 183
Notes 185
Resources 187
About the Author 189