I recently had a chance to review The Birthday Rules: Critical Conversations To Have With Your Kids Ages 6-16. This was a great book that would make an appropriate stocking stuffer for parents with kids of any age, but especially those with younger kids. The book is extremely concise, yet packs a ton of information into its pages. Each section has a title page with a quick overview of the principles to talk about with your kids at that age, and then follows with a few paragraphs on each topic. The paragraphs explain key points to bring up to your kids, as well as justifications for why (for example, talking about sex is recommended pretty early, and the authors point out the young age that some kids are engaging in sexual behaviors).
The only one that I didn't quite agree with was the behaviors on texting or portable device use - they started a little earlier than I necessarily plan to with my kids. Some parents may also feel their kids aren't ready for unsupervised use of certain things as early as the book says it is - but the book is pretty much a set of recommendations, not a set-in-stone rulebook for parents.
The breadth of information in the book is very impressive, given its size. I'm glad I read it even though my kids are older than six - it confirmed a lot of the conversations we've already had while given me good milestones for future conversations with them.
Jeff Wald is a serial entrepreneur having directly raised three companies, and, as an investor and advisor, helped raise about 100 more. Jeff is the proud uncle to three nephews and three nieces. In addition, Jeff is a renowned speaker and startups and growing companies. He has a BS and MS from Cornell University and an MBA from Harvard.
Dr. Rachel Marsh PhD is an associate professor of Medical Psychology in the Division of Child Psychiatry at Columbia University Medical Center. She is the mother of three: Milo, Lyla, and Ruby. Dr. Marsh speaks worldwide and has published papers on brain function and development.
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