How to Be a Good Parent

To keep children clean is something that should never be attempted. It cannot be done. The mere provision of the vegetable is not sufficient; it must be actually eaten. If there is room enough for somersaults, the child can be satisfied. These are just a few of the words of wisdom on offer in How to be a Good Parent, the latest in a series of delightful advice books from the Bodleian Library that also includes How to be a Good Husband and How to be a Good Wife. As developmental psychology began to show promise, beleaguered parents were drawn to the nascent discipline with the sorts of questions that will be familiar to any parent: How does one tell a toddler "no" without triggering a tantrum? Are there circumstances in which it`s acceptable to extract good behavior with bribery? How to be a Good Parent brings together bits from the best of advice books of the 1920s and `30s, taking readers through all the challenges involved in raising a child. Among the topics discussed are good--and bad--behavior, how to dress one`s dear son or darling daughter, mealtime, and the dreaded morning and bedtime routines. A section on taking medicine offers sage advice: "Gargling is a useful accomplishment" (while perhaps not appropriate for the dinner table). In a section on playtime, parents tasked with planning their child`s birthday will warmly welcome the book`s advice to "let the children give their own parties!" By turns humorously old-fashioned and timeless, How to be a Good Parent is a charmingly illustrated guide to what any parent can tell you is the world`s most difficult job.