By L.R. Knost - Whispers Through Time: Communication Through the Ages and Stages of Childhood

by L.R. Knost

Communication is the key to peaceful, effective interactions between parents and children. When normal childhood behavior is viewed as normal instead of something to be corrected and controlled, communication creates the bridge to guide children toward developmentally appropriate growth, maturity, and independence. Written by best-selling parenting and children's book author and mother of six, L.R.Knost, 'Whispers Through Communication Through the Ages and Stages of Childhood' is a rethinking of mainstream parenting's perception of normal childhood behaviors coupled with simple, practical approaches to parent/child communication at each stage of development from tots to teens.Other books by L.R.Knost include her best-selling parenting guide, 'Two Thousand Kisses a Gentle Parenting Through the Ages and Stages' as well as her children's picture books, 'Petey's Listening Ears,' 'A Walk in the Clouds,' and the soon-to-be-released 'Grumpykins' series which are humorous and engaging tools for parents, teachers, and caregivers to use in implementing gentle parenting techniques in their homes and schools.

Genres: Parenting, Nonfiction, Education

Paperback

First published June 6, 2013

About the author

Award-winning author, feminist, and social justice activist, L.R.Knost, is the founder and director of the children's rights advocacy and family consulting group, Little Hearts/Gentle Parenting Resources ( http://www.littleheartsbooks.com/ ), and Editor-in-Chief of Holistic Parenting Magazine. Her work has been quoted from Hollywood to D.C. to South Africa, most notably in an address on children's rights to the South African Parliament by the Minister of Justice. She lives in Central Florida with her husband and the youngest four of her six children.

Books:

'Two Thousand Kisses a Day: Gentle Parenting Through the Ages and Stages' published February 2013

'Whispers Through Time: Communication Through the Ages and Stages of Childhood' published June 2013

'The Gentle Parent: Positive, Practical, Effective Discipline' published October 2013

'Jesus, the Gentle Parent: Gentle Christian Parenting' published May 2014

'Petey's Listening Ears' children's picture book for ages 2-6 published May 2011

Reviews

[Keren Threlfall · Rating 5 out of 5]

 

Having read and benefited from L.R. Knost's previous parenting book, Two Thousand Kisses a Day, I was excited to hear about her new book, Whispers Through Time: Communicating through the Ages and Stages of Childhood. 

Both of these books reflect the gentle spirit that I aspire to have as I mother my children, and reading this book also came at a crucial time in my own mothering journey. One of our daughters was having a difficult time adjusting to living differently in a new country during our 5-week trip to Ecuador. Specifically  she was wrestling with some legitimate fears that too easily became all-consuming in her life. Meanwhile, I was determined to get us settled into a rhythm and routine, and in my hard-driving efforts and reactions, I unfortunately came down rather hard on her with unnecessary strictness and really, on my part, a refusal to listen to her concerns. Instead, what she needed from me at that time was to know that Mommy was listening to and respecting to her fears. I needed to recognize that her acting out was a last-ditch effort to try to get my attention.

Good communication is essential to any relationship, and good communication between parent and child is the emphasis of this book. Knost provides practical insight and experience for many of the common issues parents face in each stage. This book emphasizes the importance of allowing our children to have a voice, and discusses some of the consequences that often show up later on when we don't listen to or respect our children as people during the early years.

Similarly to Two Thousand Kisses a Day,  Whispers Through Time  shows threads of Knost's Christian beliefs, though it is not overt or dealt with in depth in each chapter. Knost's title and theme are based on the proverb found in Proverbs 15: 1, "A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger." Most of us as parents need this reminder at some point, and Knost deals with this theme through each stage of childhood development.

As parents, we are the adults in the relationship, but we can easily slip into patterns of expecting our children to deal with issues and difficulties using far better bodily and emotional control than we have as adults, even though we have the advantage of fully developed bodies and years of exposure to wisdom and knowledge. Knost deals with this common problem by looking at childhood development, specifically examining how children communicate and learn to communicate as they grow and develop.

In many circles and subcultures (Christian included, and in some cases Christian, in particular), it is easy to pass along beliefs and paradigms that frame a child's diversion from adult-like behavior as willful evil intent to disobey. Knost examines some of the most common of these misperceptions and helps to explain what and why the child may be acting or behaving a certain way. In general, we have a breakdown of communication, and as parents it is often easy to overlook our children's voices and believe that one-way communication is acceptable in our parenting. Instead, we need to value our children's voices and work to make them know we are listening and respecting them--loving our little neighbors as ourselves, while still providing boundaries and guidance.

This book does not at all imply that we just give into whatever our children want. Unfortunately, there is a popular dichotomy that states that if you are a parent who listens to your children, allowing them to have a voice, then you're also a parent who makes no rules or enforces no boundaries. (Knost actually gives specific guidance in dealing with both listening and with boundary-setting.) Kindness and gentleness are not weaknesses in parenting (or in life in general), and like the proverb reminds us, both often dispel angry emotions and actions. Within the framework of communication, Knost also deals with what words we use to frame our children's words and actions. If we blame natural development and variances on a child's bad intentions, we easily succumb to believing this about our children, and in turn, treating them this way. (E.g., if a baby is "overdue," we may even tend to begin this sort of framing pre-birth; we way, "he's so stubborn!" This pattern can easily continue in a way that is harmful to our relationship with our children.)

This was a book that was helpful for me to read with three children ages five and under, and I know it will be a helpful book through the ages and stages to come (and when others are repeated). I especially benefited from Knost's perspective of being a mother of adult children, while still having a baby in her house, as well as other children mixed in at older stages. This gives her the gift of a parenting perspective that has the voice of experience and age, while simultaneously allowing her to remain connected to the current struggles and joys of parenting toddler.

Table of Contents: 





About the Author:



Best-selling parenting and children’s book author, L.R.Knost, is an independent child development researcher and founder and director of the advocacy and consulting group, Little Hearts/Gentle Parenting Resources. A mother of six, her children range from 25- years down to 25-months-old. Two Thousand Kisses a Day: Gentle Parenting Through the Ages and Stages and Whispers Through Time: Communication Through the Ages and Stages of Childhood are the first in her Little Hearts Handbooks series of parenting guides. The next book in the series, The Gentle Parent: Positive, Practical, Effective Discipline is due to be released November 2013. Other works by this award-winning author include the children's picture books A Walk in the Clouds, Petey’s Listening Ears, and the soon-to-be-released Grumpykins series for ages 2 to 6, which are humorous and engaging tools for parents, teachers, and caregivers to use in implementing gentle parenting techniques in their homes and schools.

Disclaimer: I was provided with a free Kindle copy of this book to read and review, but all opinions are my own. This book is also part of a book tour, and the other reviews and posts about this book can be read here. (Due to some Internet issues on our return from Ecuador, this posting may show up a little later than originally planned.)

[The Parenting Review · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sweet, Funny, Insightful

Whispers Through Time by L.R. Knost is destined to be a dog-eared favorite, passed down from generation to generation. As long as there are children being born into this world and toddlers having tantrums and teens racing toward adulthood at an alarming pace, there will be parents who will turn to this book for guidance. Why? Not because L.R. Knost has all the answers, but because she shows parents how to find their own answers for their own children and their own families. This guidebook challenges conventional thinking with a wisdom born of experience and a healthy dose of research to back it up. Written with the same unique blend of sweetness and humor, grit and honesty, reassurance and insight that made her first book, Two Thousand Kisses a Day, a best-seller, Whispers Through Time is sure to become a runaway hit in its own right. An absolute must-have for any home library. Highly recommended!

[Colleen Mertens · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book presents more of Knost's parenting techniques for gently raising your children. If you have read other books by Knost, it basically restates the same information. Some parts are reproduced in more than one of her works. Her advice is sound but multiple books get repetitive.

[Angeliki · Rating 5 out of 5]

A tone of wisdom in a tiny book. Such an extraordinary and beautiful read. Loved it!

[Beverley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent book for parents of young children.

[Cassie Cole · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another five star book for this author. I love her advice and easy to follow explanations. This way of parenting really resonates with me. She's got a wonderful writing style as well. I'll be reading her books as reminders time and time again.

[Lynn Mathieu · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cute,delightful and informative. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book,it gave me extra help and ideas on raising my 2 boys in a more motivational and calmer meaner! A good read!

[hofthehalfdozen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I wish I had this when my first child was a babe! I would have understood him better & what my role as Momma is!