The Easy Reader Parent Handbook was developed to make Nurturing Parenting easy for parents and practitioners to understand and practice.  There are 50 chapters which present the concepts and techniques of Nurturing Parenting in a step-by-step format utilizing drawings of parents and children. The drawings serve as a visual stimulus to help parents remember how to use the skill.  Minimal words are used when possible.

Philosophy of the Program

The Easy Reader is ideal for parents with an elementary school reading level, parents with literacy limitations, and for parents studying English as a second language.

The Easy Reader is also very useful as a resource for parents who have completed their Nurturing Parenting Program and want a quick reference guide to program skills and strategies.

The Easy Reader can also double as an instructional guide by reviewing and role-playing the skills and strategies in the Handbook. The step-by-step format of the lessons makes it simple to use in teaching parents how to use new skills. The 37 chapters of the Easy Reader primarily focus on parenting skills and strategies for preschool and school-age children. The Easy Reader is not meant to serve as a resource for parenting teens.

The chapters in the Easy Reader address nine major parenting areas:

1. Nurturing as a Philosophy
   Chapters 1 and 2 present the basic foundations of nurturing as a philosophy of parenting, as well as a philosophy of life.
2. Childhood Growth and Development
   A nurturing parent understands the importance of having appropriate developmental expectations of their children. Children need to experience success to improve their self worth. Chapters 3, 4, 5, 7 and 30 address these issues.
3. Discipline with Dignity
   Dignity means to treat another person honorably. Teaching and guiding children to  be cooperative and contributing members of a family requires parents to behave dignified. Chapters 10 through 17, and 33 address the practices  of discipline with dignity.
4. Empathy
   The ability to be aware of, understand and respond appropriately to your children is the key in being a nurturing parent. Chapters 6, 7, and 8 focus on developing and practicing empathy.
5. Managing Feelings
   Recognizing and managing feelings is a basic quality of nurturing parenting. Chapters 18 through 22 address this skill area.
6. Communication
   Often identified as the major problem between parents and children, Chapters 34 and 35 present positive communication skills.
7. Self-Worth and Empowerment
   A positive self worth is the foundation for treating others with respect and value. Teaching children to use their personal power in positive ways contributes to the positive self-worth of others. See Chapters 31 and 32.
8. Making Good Choices and Keeping Kids Safe
   Smoking, drugs and alcohol use, sex, peer pressure are all issues that confront families daily. Chapters 23, 24, 36 and 37 address these issues.
9. Nurturing Routines
   Children excel when their environment is predictable and nurturing. Chapters 25 through 29 focus on establishing nurturing routines.

Easy Reader Manual Samples:
- Table of Contents (PDF)
- Sample Session (PDF)

This Item is Used in the Following Program(s):