First Steps in Parenting the Child Who Hurts: Tiddlers and Toddlers

"We were also asked to read this as part of adoption assessment. There's no doubt that there's a lot of useful information, particularly for children who have suffered a particularly rough start in life and anything that helps them is to be supported. However the bit I didn't like was constantly suggesting an approach and then saying (in bold) BUT DON'T DO THIS IF.. I would have found it more helpful to have chapters split out for children who have been subject to different types of abuse or neglect before being adopted or fostered as at least you could read a whole section that might be more appropriate to your child.
Some of the suggestions I just found very odd - e.g putting honey on child's mouth and then licking it off yourself or letting your child streak in the rain? I understand what the author is trying to achieve but I found it a bit off-beat for me."
~ Written on 2008-04-11

"Unfortunately we were told to buy and read this book during our "assessment" period. It is the most annoying book to read; constantly changing between refering to the child as him/her is enourmously distracting and it is written for those with an IQ of less than 50. I am sure there is a lot of useful information here but someone should really tell the author to get lessons in how to impart information."
~ Written on 2008-01-31

"I agree with the 2nd review i 1st borrowed this book from the library as we are looking into adopting a toddler, and i have to say that this book is fantastic and i am now going to buy it from amazon !It is full of practical advice alot of it is common sense but sometimes when you're in a situation you can't always think of the most straight forward solution, and this book gives lots & lots of great advice. "
~ Written on 2007-03-28

"I'm afraid I have to quite disagree with the previous foster carer who suggested that this book is only useful for those children who have been sexually abused. This is a wonderful book, easy to read, hands-on and parent-friendly. It's intelligently written and backed up with careful research. I cannot recommend it more highly for any adoptive or foster parent. It's a sad fact that today, nearly all children adopted have been through the care system with complex and traumatic histories - they're rarely babies these days. Caroline really understands this and the shock it is to the many parents who are ill-prepared for the pain their child is in."
~ Written on 2006-09-01

"I am fostering a bereaved child, and whilst I found some of the advice helpful, I found the book concentrated upon children who had been sexually abused. It would be useful to potential foster carers or adoptive parents of such children."
~ Written on 2002-02-05