Toughlove vs Parent-child relations

Both "Parent-child relations" by Jerry J. Bigner, Clara J. Gerhardt and "Toughlove" by Phyllis York are popular choices for readers interested in Families and Family. This comparison helps you decide which to read first — or whether both belong on your list.

Shared Themes

ParentingParent and child
Cover of Toughlove

Toughlove

Phyllis York

1980

How do you love an “impossible” teenager? “An effective way of uniting parents to square off against the youngsters’ own powerful peer group that endorses drugtaking and rebelliousness.”—Time Thousands of parents are finding new hope in dealing with rebellious teenagers through Toughlove, a self-help program which has grown to over eight hundred groups throughout the United States and Canada in less than six years. Now, for the first time in book form, the founders tell how Toughlove works. “You need Toughlove if you feel helpless and unable to cope with your teenagers’ behavior or if you feel victimized by them, disappointed in yourself as a parent, guilty because you think you have done a rotten job and are frightened bythe potential for violence in yourself and your children. . . . Remember, you have the right to a night’s sleep without where your kid is—or being awakened by a phone call from the police or a hospital or a drunk teenager who’s stranded somewhere.”—Ann Landers

Published 1980
Books like Toughlove
Cover of Parent-child relations

Parent-child relations

Jerry J. Bigner, Clara J. Gerhardt

1979

Now in the Ninth Edition, Jerry Bigner's "Parent-Child Relations," the classic resource for child development professionals and parents themselves, has undergone a thorough revision anchored by the vision of the late Dr. Bigner and executed by new co-author, Clara Gerhardt.Maintaining its fundamental structure and unique approach, the text uses family systems and systemic family development theory as a framework to explore how parent-child relations change in tandem with developmental changes occurring with children, adults, and the wider family system. Thoughtful updates and revisions were done to increase the effectiveness and currency of the text. The text continues to provide strong emphasis on various theoretical and practical models pertaining to parenting. For decades now, this classic text has prepared countless teachers and practitioners by its proven and practical approach, utilizing family systems and systemic family development theory to explore how parent-child relations change in tandem with developmental changes occurring with children, adults, and the wider family system. The most comprehensive and current resource available to students as they prepare for working with parents and families, and for their roles as parents themselves, this best-selling resource carries on the essential message of its originator, Dr. Jerry Bigner, and will continue to nurture future family scholars and practitioners for years to come.

Published 1979
Books like Parent-child relations

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is easier to read: Parent-child relations or Toughlove?
Reading difficulty depends on your familiarity with the genre. Check each book's page count and subject matter above, and start with whichever aligns better with books you've enjoyed before.
Can I read Parent-child relations and Toughlove in any order?
Yes — these are standalone works. You don't need to read one before the other unless they're part of the same series.
Which book is better for beginners?
If you're new to this genre, look at the shorter book with broader appeal and start there. You can always come back for the other.

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