John Gottman has written a practical guide for parents on how to raise a child who can understand and control his or her emotions. THE HEART OF PARENTING explains a child's different emotional needs at different ages and shows parents how to help their children calm themselves down, how to focus their attention, how to give their children better emotional support through difficult times such as divorce, and offers simple tools and techniques for parents to evaluate and improve on their own emotional parenting styles. Specific and positive advice is interspersed with case studies and anecdotes throughout. John Gottman is a professor of psychology at the University of Washington, and holder since 1979 of the National Institute of Mental Health Research Scientist Award. He is author of WHY MARRIAGES SUCCEED OR FAIL. Joan DeClaire is a journalist who has written about parenting, health and family issues for 15 years.